Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 2.djvu/45



HE angels of each heaven do not all dwell together in one place, but are distinguished into larger and smaller societies according to the differences of the good of love and faith in which they are. They who are in similar good form one society. Goods in the heavens are of infinite variety, and every angel is such in character as is his own good.

The angelic societies in the heavens are also distant from each other according to the general and specific differences of their goods. For distances in the spiritual world are from no other origin than from a difference in the states of the interiors; consequently, in the heavens, from a difference in the states of love. Those are far apart who differ much, and those are near who differ little. Similarity brings them together.

All in each society are arranged among themselves according to the same law. The more perfect ones, that is, those who excel in good, consequently in love, wisdom and intelligence, are in the middle. Those who excel less are round about them, at a distance varying with the degrees of their perfection. This arrangement