1. THE LAST JUDGMENT [posthumous]

The English

The English appear a little to the right, toward the front, on a plane just above the head. The light in them seems more interior than that in others in the Christian domain, and it is by means of this light that they receive spiritual influx flowing in from above. They instantly perceive what flows in and at once accept it, and they do not let it descend as grossly into their natural self as others do. So it is that the spiritual element in their natural self also appears clear, whereas in others more dim. But they who are of such a character are those who loved rectitude and honesty, and acted uprightly and honestly, and who at the same time thought about God in accordance with religion.

5368. ¹ The Dutch nation is such that it excels in judgment from an earthly light [lumen]. From this earthly light they see things quite rightly, especially things in the world; and because they are constantly thinking about their business, [these things] are not seen more inwardly in heavenly light although it is hidden away in their earthly being. On this account they can also grasp what is true in religion, although when they are convinced, they turn their back and don't care about it much. They are not so much interested in profit as in doing business itself. For them doing business is itself their end in view and love, and money is the means; therefore they love the latter on account of the former. The avaricious are different: for them money is their end in view and love, and business is the means.

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