41. In the spiritual world no one knows another from his name only, but from the idea of his quality. This idea causes that other to be present, and to be recognized. Thus, and not otherwise, parents are recognized by their children; children by their parents; and relatives, connections by marriage, and friends, by relatives, connections and friends. In like manner the learned are known from their writings, and from the reputation of their learning; great men and rulers by the fame of their deeds; in like manner kings, emperors and popes. All are known by these things alone. It was granted to me to converse with such; but with others this is not possible. A spirit himself is nothing else than his quality; on this account every one in that world drops his baptismal name, and the name of his family, and is named according to his quality. Hence it is that name in the Word does not signify name, but quality. As the Lord says in the Apocalypse:
Thou hast a few names in Sardis (Rev. iii 4);
and again,
I know thee by name (Exod. xxxiii 17)
(besides a thousand other places where "name" is mentioned). From all this, then, it is manifest, that no one has the Lord present with him, unless he knows His quality. This quality is made known by the truths of the Word; for, as many truths as there are in the Word, just so many mirrors and ideas are there of the Lord, for He is the Word Itself and He is the Truth Itself as He Himself says. Qualities are of two kinds: one kind pertains to the knowledge concerning Him, that He is the God of heaven and earth, the Son of God the Father, One with the Father, that all things of the Father are in Him-in a word, that He is the Human of God the Father. The other kind pertains to the knowledges of those things that proceed from Him (and the things that proceed from Him are Himself); as what He teaches concerning charity, freedom of choice, repentance, regeneration, the sacraments and very many other things. These things also make up the idea of the Lord, because they are from Him.
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