4773. [4805] THAT IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO JOY APART FROM USE. Several times I spoke with spirits concerning heavenly joy - that men, at this day, do not know what heavenly joy, thus what heaven, is; but that they suppose it to consist in this, that they should be cared for by angels and spirits, and should thus breathe joy in idleness; and this to eternity. That this is false, was shown them by the fact, that there are no spirits and angels who have not been men: Secondly, that in heaven, it is not permitted to be served by others, but to serve others; and that mere joy in idleness, vanishes away in a few hours or days, since it is without life. Idleness at length wearies everyone, no matter what joy they may be in. But [it was shown] that heavenly joy consists in an active life, thus in use; and that according to the use they possess joy, so that use is the subject of joy; and that the latter, without the subject from which it is derived, can never exist. Concerning the uses which angels perform, and by virtue of which they perceive joy, it was also said, that these are very numerous, and more remarkable than man ever believes. Glorifying the Lord is not a use, but a recreation; for [angels] glorify the Lord in every use. This the Lord loves. Their uses, also, are (1) to be with men, to insinuate there goods and truths, and to turn aside evils and falses. (2) To instruct spirits who come from the world. (3) To instruct infants. (4) To awaken the dead, and to lead and inform those who are awakened. (5) To watch over these, and, moreover, to attend to domestic duties there; for such things are there-which man has not known: besides other things innumerable. In these things the angels take such joy as is indescribable: for these things relate to mutual love, or charity towards the neighbor.