10168. Love that is indeed conjugial is a union of two minds, and this is a spiritual union. Any spiritual union comes down from heaven; therefore love that is indeed conjugial springs from heaven and its very existence (esse) can be traced back originally to the marriage of goodness and truth there. The marriage of goodness and truth in heaven has its origin in the Lord, which explains why in the Word the Lord is called Bridegroom and Husband, and heaven or the Church is called Bride and Wife. It also explains why heaven is compared to a marriage.