2596. One morning there was a choir at a distance from me. From the representational objects presented by this choir I was given to know that they were Chinese, for those objects were - a variety of woolly goat, also a cake made of millet, and an ivory spoon, and the idea as well of a floating city. They desired to come nearer to me, and when they had joined me said that they would like to be alone with me so that they might reveal their thoughts. They were told however that they were not alone, and that others were present who were annoyed with them for so wishing to be alone when they were but guests. On perceiving this annoyance in the others they began to wonder whether they had sinned against the neighbour and whether they had laid claim to something which belonged to others. (In the next life all thoughts are communicated.) I was given to perceive their disturbance of mind. It consisted of a recognition that they had perhaps done harm to those others and also of shame on that account, together with other right affections, from all of which one was made aware that they were endowed with charity. Soon after this I spoke to them, and at length about the Lord. When I called Him Christ I perceived a certain revulsion on their part; but the reason for that revulsion was found to lie in the fact that they had brought it from the world, where they had acquired it from their having known Christians who led worse lives than themselves and had no charity. But when I simply called Him Lord they were inwardly moved. They were then informed by angels that Christian teaching more than any other in all the world enjoins love and charity, but that there are few who live according to that teaching.