in the mind, is the spiritual or heavenly marriage; and in the degree that it takes place, the man is brought into a state of marriage union with his Maker. He is in the Lord, and the Lord is in him; and he delights to do the will of the Lord. In the degree, therefore, that this heavenly marriage takes place in any mind, the kingdom of heaven comes to that mind.
This union or marriage of good and truth in human minds, comes from the marriage of Divine Love and Divine Wisdom in the Lord; for these in Him are united like heat and light in the sun. And they proceed as one from Him, and are received by the angels as one. For the angels have no will contrary to the Lord's. They love to do what He loves to have them do. Thus they live in marriage union with Him, having in themselves—and this, from Him—the heavenly marriage of good and truth.
But the state of the unregenerate man is far otherwise. His will is opposed to the will of the Lord. Good and truth do not exist in marriage union in his mind. Evil instead of good loves are in his will, which are opposed to the truths in his understanding. He does not love to do what the truth teaches him he ought to do. And before he can come into the heavenly state, he must regard and shun as a sin against God the indulgence of every inclination which the truth condemns. Whenever we shun the indulgence of any evil as sin, that evil is gradually removed, and the opposite good affection takes its place. The truth in our understanding which revealed and condemned the evil, is thus married to its corresponding good in the will. And by a succession
