63. I. That people whose faith is divorced from charity are meant in the Word by goats is something shown by my experience in the spiritual world. Everything seen in the natural world is seen also in the spiritual world. There are houses and palaces, parks and gardens, and in the latter trees of every kind. There are fields and farms, meadows and pastures, and flocks and herds, all appearing just the same as in our world. The only difference is that in our world they have a natural origin, while in the spiritual world they have a spiritual origin. Consequently, because angels are spiritual beings, they see things that have a spiritual origin, just as people see things that have a natural origin.

[2] Things seen in the spiritual world are all correspondent forms, for they correspond to the affections of angels and spirits. That is why people who have an affection for goodness and truth, and so for wisdom and understanding, live in magnificent palaces, surrounded by parks full of trees corresponding to their affections, which are surrounded in turn by fields and meadows, with flocks resting in them, all of which are manifestations of those affections.

In contrast to these, however, are the correspondent forms around people possessing evil affections. Either those people are shut up in workhouses in the hells, workhouses that are without windows, but which are nevertheless illuminated by a kind of phosphorescent light, or they dwell in deserts and live in huts, surrounded by completely barren stretches inhabited by snakes, dragons, owls, and more that correspond to their evils.

[3] Between heaven and hell there is an intermediate place called the world of spirits. Everyone comes into this world immediately after death. People there also enjoy similar dealings, one with another, like those between people on earth. Everything seen in that world is a correspondent form, too. Seen there also are gardens, groves, and forests, with trees and bushes, as well as fields of flowers and grass, together with animals of various kinds, some gentle and some savage — all corresponding to the inhabitants’ affections.

[4] I have quite often seen sheep and goats there, and sometimes combats between them, like the combat described in Daniel 8 I have seen goats with horns curved forward and horns curved backward, and I have seen them rushing in a rage upon sheep. I have seen goats with two horns, which they used to strike the sheep. And when I looked to see the meaning, I saw some people arguing with each other about charity and faith.

It was apparent from this that faith divorced from charity was what appeared as a goat, and that charity which gave birth to faith was what appeared as a sheep.

Because I have quite often seen these things, I have been given to know for certain that people whose faith is divorced from charity are meant in the Word by goats.