Heaven and Hell (Harley) n. 554

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554. From an inspection of these monstrous forms of spirits in the hells (which, as already mentioned, are all forms of contempt of others and of menaces against those who do not pay them honour and respect, also forms of hatred and revenge against those who do not favour them), it became evident that, in general, they were all forms of the love of self and the love of the world; and that the evils of which these are the specific forms derive their origin from these two loves. Moreover, I have been told from heaven, and it has been proved to me by much experience, that these two loves, namely, the love of self and the love of the world, rule in the hells and also make the hells; as love to the Lord and love towards the neighbour rule in the heavens and also make the heavens; also that the two loves that are the loves of hell and the two loves that are the loves of heaven are diametrically opposite to each other.


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