Page:The Other Life.djvu/140

 thought must have points of divergence from all other states, giving birth to some surroundings peculiar to itself. Therefore separations take place. Each thing has an individual sphere; each standpoint a different horizon. One thing stands apart from another in space; one thing succeeds another in time.

On earth and in heaven the appearances are the same. Similar impressions of time and space are made on the senses of man and angel, but the interpretation is different. This arises from the difference between natural and spiritual thought. Spiritual thought looks directly into the causes of things. It sees the origin of spiritual times and spaces, and sees that it is mental. The angel, therefore, is not surprised at the annihilation of his space, at the shortening or lengthening of his time, events which on our earth would be incredibly miraculous.

He thinks intently from love of some friend in the remotest spiritual society, and space is nothing; and he stands face to face with his friend. He has entered into a similar state of affection and thought, and therefore projects similar things around him. Nor is he astonished if any one vanishes instantly from his sight. He knows that he