Page:The Doctrines of the New Church Briefly Explained.djvu/193

Rh reasonable to conclude that souls also have their encompassing spheres; and that these must be spiritual, and of the same quality in every case as the souls whence they emanate. We should expect that every mind would have an encompassing atmosphere similar in its essential nature to the mind itself; that thought, true or false—affection, good or evil—would have extension, and exert an unconscious influence upon other minds, healthful or baleful according to its own nature. We should expect that every heart would constantly carry with it its own sphere—a sphere more penetrating and powerful, especially in its effect on the young and persons oftenest within its reach, than any oral or written instruction. We should expect, therefore, that there would be spheres of selfishness, hatred, conceit, pride, jealousy, avarice, contempt and revenge; spheres of doubt, fear, anxiety, melancholy, discouragement and despair; also spheres of an opposite character—spheres of love, joy, peace, humility, reverence, resignation and confiding trust; and that the particular character or quality of the spiritual sphere emanating from and encompassing each individual, would be in all cases according to the character of that individual—not according to his words or outward actions, unless these were in agreement with his internal feelings and purposes. The spiritual sphere being the