428. As regards the connubial alliance of evil and falsity, be it known that evil loves falsity and wills to ally it with itself, and they also unite, even as good loves truth and wills to ally it with itself, and they, too, unite. It is apparent from this that as the spiritual origin of marriage is the marriage of good and truth, so the spiritual origin of adultery is the connubial alliance of evil and falsity. So it is that this connubial alliance is meant in the spiritual sense of the Word by adulteries, whoredoms and harlotries (see The Apocalypse Revealed, no. 134).

It is in accordance with this principle that one who is in a state of evil and weds himself to falsity, or who is in a state of falsity and takes evil as his consort, from the covenant thus formed sanctions adultery, and commits it insofar as he dares and is able. So, too, the reverse, that one who is in a state of good and weds himself to truth, or who is in a state of truth and takes good as his consort, confirms himself against adultery and for marriage, and embraces the blessed state of married life.