1759. The language of heavenly spirits does not flow easily into the articulated sounds or words we use, because it cannot adapt to any word containing a harsh sound or hard, double consonants or a merely factual thought. 1 As a result, heavenly spirits rarely flow into [our] speech except through emotion, which softens the words into something like a stream of water or breath of air.
Spirits who are midway between heavenly and spiritual have a sweet kind of language that flows along like the gentlest of breezes, caressing the listening ear and softening the actual words. It is also swift and sure. The reason for the fluidity and charm of their speech is that the heavenly goodness present in their thoughts has the same qualities, and that there is no discrepancy between their words and their thoughts. All sweet-sounding harmony in the other life comes from goodness and charity.
The language of those who are spiritual is also fluid but not as soft and gentle. They speak more than the others.
Footnotes:
1. For more on vowels and consonants in the speech of angels, see Heaven and Hell 241. [RS]
