Page:The Doctrines of the New Church Briefly Explained.djvu/261

Rh love, or to the suggestions of selfishness or worldly greed. Every soul on earth is in near relation with other souls, most of whom have laid aside their fleshly covering, and are no longer visible to the eye of sense; for the natural eye can see only the objects which belong to the realm of nature.

But we may know the character of our invisible associates, by carefully attending to the motives which we allow to govern us in our ordinary daily intercourse with others—to our ruling purpose, our ends and aims in life. If these are selfish, base, and grovelling, such is the character of our associate spirits; but if unselfish and righteous, so are our invisible companions;—we walk in company with angels and inhale their inspiring breath, while we tabernacle in the flesh.

"Angels and spirits are continually associated with man—angels from heaven and spirits from hell. . . He cannot see them except by the eye of his internal man which, for several reasons, is not opened in him during his abode in the world." (A. C. 5848, '9.)

"The character of the spirits associated with a man, is according to the man's own character. If he is covetous, the spirits are covetous; if haughty, the spirits are haughty; if desirous of revenge, so are the spirits; if deceitful, the spirits are of like character. An [evil] man attaches to himself spirits from hell according to his life." (A. C. 5851.)