Heaven and Hell #199
199. The essential first cause of all this is that the Lord is present to each individual according to that individual's love and faith, 1 and that everything looks near or remote depending on his presence, since this is what defines everything that exists in the heavens. This is what gives angels wisdom, since it provides them with an outreach of thoughts, which in turn affords them communication with everyone in the heavens. In a word, this is what enables them to think spiritually and not naturally, the way we do.
Fotnoter:
1. [Swedenborg's footnote] The Lord's union and presence with angels depends on their acceptance of love and thoughtfulness from him: 290, 681, 1954, 2658, 2886, 2888-2889, 3001, 3741-3743, 4318-4319, 4524, 7211, 9128.
