heaven, involves the idea of light, being derived from a verb which signifies to see; and that the original word translated hell, involves the idea of darkness, being composed of two words, which together mean impossible to see, or where one cannot see. Here, again, let that magic Key, the law of Correspondence, be applied; and observe the result.
Light and darkness, like all other objects, have a two-fold signification—an outer and an inner, or a natural and a spiritual meaning. Light in its natural sense, is the light of the natural world, which affects our natural organs of vision. But spiritual light is of a different nature, though in perfect correspondence with the natural. It is the light of the spiritual world; and although in its essence it is divine truth, it appears before the eyes of the angels as light. They see by means of it. This light proceeds from the Lord who is the Sun of the spiritual world—a Sun that appears to the angels immeasurably more brilliant than the sun of our world appears to us. It is the light of this spiritual Sun which illumines the minds of both angels and men. This is "the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
And as natural darkness is the absence of natural light, so spiritual darkness is the absence of spiritual light. But there are two causes of natural darkness; one is the absence of light, and the other is a diseased state of the organs of vision. The darkness from the first of these causes is seldom of long duration; and if the
