303. Those who are the innermost are as bases and as multiple centers, like the stars in the heavens, to which all other things relate, as to their centers.

That the Kingdom of God the Messiah is most perfect order, and perfection itself, and consequently form itself, can be evident to anyone. So because it is most perfect form, it must also have its centers, or its bases, spiritually understood. Those who are innermost and most of all under the mercy of God the Messiah, are such centers - likened to the stars of the heavens [Dan. 12:3], in which there is a reflection of the Kingdom of God the Messiah, as there is in all and the least things of nature.

But the arrangement among these centers I cannot find out, still less describe, because this goes beyond the human understanding, which is deeply ignorant of heavenly forms. 1747, the 5th day of December.

The word "righteous" has taken on a bit of negative shading in modern language. That may be because we hear it most often as part of the word "self-righteous," a rather scathing term for someone who thinks he is quite a good person -- almost certainly better than anyone around him -- and is in a position to judge others without being judged himself. The original word, however, is not negative at all: A righteous person is simply someone who does what is right. The spiritual meaning of "righteous" reflects that: people described as "righteous" act from a love of serving others, and that love is "righteousness." This is commonly described as "the good of charity," "charity" meaning a state of caring for others.