Page:Swedenborg, Harbinger of the New Age of the Christian Church.djvu/155

 "The Lord speaks with the man of the Church in no other way than by means of the Word, for He then enlightens man so that he may see the truth; and He also gives perception so that man may perceive that it is so. But this takes place according to the quality or the desire of truth with man, and the desire of truth with man is according to the love of it. They who love truth for the sake of truth are in enlightenment, and they who love truth for the sake of good are in perception."

Of the manifestation to him of the Divine purpose, and of further steps necessary in preparation, we now learn many things from his Spiritual Diary:—

"During several years"—he notes, Aug. 27, 1748—"not only had I dreams by which I was informed about the things on which I was writing, but I experienced also changes of state, there being a certain extraordinary light in what was written. Afterward I had many visions with closed eyes, and light was given me in an extraordinary manner. There was also an inflow from spirits, as manifest to the sense as if it had been into the senses of the body; there were