Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 2.djvu/51

 evident from this: that the heavenly form of each one is similar to that of the whole heaven. In the whole heaven they who excel the rest are in the centre; and around them, even to the boundaries, in a decreasing order, are they who excel less. The same is evident from this also, that the Lord leads all in the whole heaven as if they were one angel; and in like manner those in each society. Hence an entire angelic society sometimes appears as a single individual in the form of an angel, which also the Lord has permitted me to see.

When the Lord appears in the midst of the angels, He does not appear encompassed by a multitude, but as one in an angelic form. Hence it is that in the Word He is called an angel; as is also an entire society. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are only angelic societies which are so named from their functions.

As an entire society is a heaven in a less form, so likewise is every angel a heaven in the least. For heaven is not without an angel but within him; for his interiors which belong to his mind are arranged into the form of heaven, and thus for the reception of all things of heaven which are without him. He also receives them according to the quality of the good which is in him from the Lord. Hence an angel also is a heaven.

It can in no case be said that heaven is without one, but that it is within him; for every angel receives the