143. Nowadays it may seem strange that 'beasts' and 'animals' in ancient times meant affections and similar things residing with man. But because people had heavenly ideas then, and because such things are also represented in the world of spirits by animals - by such animals in fact as resemble those affections - this alone is what they therefore understood when they spoke in this fashion. And this alone is what is meant in the Word whenever beasts are mentioned in general or in particular. The whole prophetical section of the Word is full of things such as these, and therefore anyone who does not know the particular meaning of any beast cannot possibly understand what the Word contains in the internal sense. But as slated already, there are two kinds of beasts - evil ones, because they are harmful, and good ones, because they are harmless. Good beasts, such as sheep, lambs, and doves, mean good affections. Here, because the subject is the celestial man, or the celestial-spiritual man, the same applies. The fact that 'beasts' in general means affections has been confirmed from several places in the Word quoted already in 45, 46. So there is no need of further confirmation.

3742. The truth that there is but one life alone and that this flows from the only Lord, and the truth that angels, spirits, and men are merely recipients of that life, I have been made to know from so much experience that not even the smallest shadow of doubt has remained. Heaven itself sees with perception that these things are so, insomuch that the angels have a clear perception of that life flowing in and also of the way in which it flows in, as well as a perception of the extent and the nature of their reception of it. When their state of reception is more complete they enjoy the peace and happiness that is theirs - otherwise their state is one of unrest and of some anxiety. But to so great an extent do they make the Lord's life their own that they perceive themselves to be living seemingly of themselves, even though they know that they do not live of themselves. They make the Lord's life their own because His love and mercy towards the entire human race desire it; that is to say, He wishes to impart Himself and what is His own to everyone, and in actual fact does so insofar as they are receptive of Him, that is, insofar as they are His likenesses and images in whom the life of good and the life of truth are present. And because such Divine endeavour proceeds from the Lord unceasingly, His life, as has been stated, is made their own.