Page:The Other Life.djvu/74

 what we love; for light comes from heat and wisdom comes from love.

Swedenborg has a beautiful line which ought to be the motto of every church or association of men:

"Ex concordia lux; exdiscordia umbra."

From union of hearts comes light; from discord, darkness.

A church or society of men banded together without genuine brotherly love, is a mere debating-society where discussions produce only confusion and doubt. The reason why such beautiful light and such magnificent objects exist in every heavenly society is, that the members are organized on the basis of love to God and each other, the genuine source of all spiritual light.

The atmospheres of light about the heavenly societies are indescribably beautiful. Some of them are of silvery, some of golden hues. Some have the sheen of pearls or diamonds or other precious stones. Some appear to be composed of brilliant infinitesimal flowers; some of the minutest rainbows wonderfully woven together; and others of the microscopic faces of infants and cherubs. The light of our world is feeble and dim in comparison with the flaming splendors of those heavenly societies in which the love of God