Page:The Other Life.djvu/232

 speak through him as the Angel of Jehovah did to the children of Israel. This mode of revelation and instruction is not available, for the divine sphere would instantly throw the evil spirit into such agony that thought would be impossible. Instead of being an inspired oracle he would be at the best a raving maniac.

Divine truth, descending by interior influx and dictation into the minds of evil spirits, is turned into its opposite falsity. Swedenborg saw this fact experimentally proven. The Word of God thus passed through the minds of those in hell would be written out externally in opposite characters, making it the Book of Hell, as full of hatred and falsehood as it really is of love and wisdom. Teaching by inspiration is then impossible also.

Why not send the loving and shining angels to them as missionaries of light and peace? The sphere of the angels is abhorrent to the devils. They would be inflamed with direful animosity at their approach, as a den of serpents would rear their heads and writhe and hiss and strike at the advance of a little child toward them. The influx of heavenly light throws them into total darkness; the influx of heavenly love excites their evil passions into fearful activity. These things are not