Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 1.djvu/114

 concerning the speech of angels. The man also thought, in a similar manner in the world when he thought within himself; for then he did not think from the speech of his body, but only saw the things thought of; and at the same time saw more in a minute, than he could afterwards utter in half an hour.

That the state of man when he is in his exteriors is not properly his own, or that of his spirit, is also evident from this consideration: that when he is in company in the world, he speaks according to the laws of moral and civil life, and his interior thought governs his exterior as one person governs another, to prevent its passing beyond the limits of decorum and good manners. The same is evident also from this, that when a man thinks within himself, he also thinks how he must speak and act in order to please, and to obtain friendship, good-will, and favor; and this by methods foreign to his inclination, thus otherwise than he would do if he acted from his own proper will.

From these facts it is evident that the state of his interiors into which the spirit is let, is the state that properly belongs to him; and was therefore the man's real state when he lived in the world.

When a spirit is in the state of his interiors, it plainly appears what the man's internal and real