Page:The New View of Hell.djvu/133

 nature to do this. And who can doubt that it will do it? The illumined Swedenborg assures us that it actually does do it; and he tells us how. Nothing can exceed the extent and beauty of the Divine beneficence, as displayed in the provision made for those in the other world, who, by a life of evil here on earth, have confirmed themselves in a state of opposition to the Divine, and to the laws of their own inner and heavenly life.

"Life is love," is a remark often made by Swedenborg. And a man's ruling love is his life. His character is according to the nature of this love;—pure and heavenly if the love be pure; vile and infernal if the love be selfish. The ruling love is the inner and ever active force, perpetually working to mould the whole outer man—his words, tones, looks and actions—into perfect correspondence with itself.

Look at the face of an inveterate miser. How visibly is the spirit that prompts and sways him imprinted there! Or that of the confirmed inebriate—is it not the very image of bestiality? Or listen to the tones of the hardhearted, cruel and malignant—are they not in perfect agreement with the affections from which they proceed? So with hate, revenge, jealousy, despair—every strong passion or deep, feeling long indulged—its manifest tendency is to mould the countenance and the whole outer man into perfect correspondence with itself. And on the other hand who has not seen the very beauty, brightness and joy of heaven beaming from the face of one in