against the precious things they long to communicate, they never leave us, nor relax their efforts to do us good. They continually endeavor to withdraw and withhold us from evil—to rescue our souls from the dominion of infernal spirits. They do this, because the Lord's own love is in them and in active operation; and it is the nature of this love to do good to all, and to seek the salvation and happiness of all. The angels are, therefore, in the same ends as the Lord Himself, and desire the very things that He desires. Hence they are called his ministers or "ministering spirits." (Heb. i. 14. See also Ps. ciii. 21: civ. 4.) They are images and likenesses of Himself. In them is fulfilled the great law of love delivered in these divine words: "Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.—Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt. v. 44-48.)
Such is a brief sketch of the character of the heavenly inhabitants, as portrayed by Swedenborg. And is it not precisely such as might be expected, if heaven in its essential nature be what he says it is? Is not every trait as here delineated, such as might be inferred from the alleged ruling loves of heaven?—such as follows by strict logical sequence from love to the Lord and love to the neighbor, when these loves rule supreme in the soul?
