Page:The New View of Hell.djvu/195

 the principles which govern us in our ordinary intercourse with men—these are the indices which reveal the character of our spiritual associates. If our prevailing desire and effort be to know and do the will of the Lord, then angels are our companions; our spirits consort with the white-robed throng we breathe the atmosphere of heaven.

But if our ends be mean and selfish; if we are heedless of the Divine commands, or deaf to the still small voice of duty; if our prevailing purpose be to do our own will- rather than the will of God; then, our spiritual associates belong to the realms below; we are in fellowship with devils; we breathe the polluting air of hell.

We have but to look, therefore, at our governing principles of action—at our dominant feelings, dispositions and motives—at our chief end and aim in life, in order to learn the character of our invisible associates. Accordingly Swedenborg says:—

"All spirits are distinguished in the other life by this: They who intend evil to others, are infernal or diabolical spirits; but they who intend good to others, are good and angelic spirits. A man may know which class he is among, whether angelic or infernal spirits. If he intends evil to his neighbor, thinking nothing but evil concerning him, and actually doing him evil whenever it is in his power, and finding delight in doing it, then he is among the infernals, and also becomes an infernal himself in the other life. But if he intends good to his