Heaven and Hell (Harley) n. 372

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372. Good and truth conjoined with an angel or a man are not two but one, since good is then of truth and truth is of good. This conjunction may be likened to a man's thinking what he wills and willing what he thinks, when the thought and will make one, that is, one mind; for thought forms, that is, presents in form that which the will wishes, and the will gives delight to it; and this is why a married pair in heaven are not said to be a pair, but to be one angel. This also is what is meant by the Lord's words:

Have ye not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they twain shall become one flesh? Therefore, they are no more twain, but one flesh. What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Not all can receive this word but they to whom it is given. Matt. xix. 4-6, 11; Mark x. 6-9; Gen. ii. 24.

This is a description both of the heavenly marriage in which the angels are and of the marriage of good and truth. "Man's not putting asunder what God has joined together" means that good is not to be separated from truth.


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