§223 divine worship 115
a. Intellect is open to what is true and volition is open to what is good: 3623 , 6125 , 7503 , 9300 ,
9930. Just as everything goes back to what is true and good, so everything about our life goes back
to intellect and volition: 803 , 10122. Angels are being perfected to eternity: 4803 , 6648.
essentials, but those in the higher heavens are of deeper wisdom than
those of lower heavens. The sermons are in keeping with the doctrines;
and just as they have homes and mansions (§§ 183 – 190 ), they also have
church buildings where the instruction takes place.
The reason things like this exist in heaven is that angels are constantly
being perfected in wisdom and love. They have volition and intellect just
as we do, and their intellect, like their intentions, is by nature constantly
striving toward perfection—their intellect by means of the truths that
constitute intelligence and their intentions through the values that con-
stitute love.a
However, the essential divine worship in the heavens does not con- 222
sist of going to church regularly and listening to sermons but of a life of
love, thoughtfulness, and faith in keeping with doctrine. The sermons in
church serve only as means of instruction in how to live.
I have talked about this with angels and have told them that people
in this world believe that divine worship consists solely of going to
church and listening to sermons, taking communion three or four times
a year, and observing other rituals according to the church’s regulations,
as well as making time for prayer and behaving devoutly. The angels have
told me that these are outward matters that are worth doing but that
they are ineffective unless there is something within from which they
fl ow, and that this something within is a life according to the principles
that doctrine teaches.
So that I could learn what their church services are like, I have occa- 223
sionally been allowed to go in and hear sermons. The preacher in the
pulpit is stationed in the east. Directly in front sit the people who are in
greater light of wisdom than others, while to their right and left are the
people in less light. The seating is laid out in a circular form so that
everyone can be seen by the preacher. No one is off to the sides and out
of the preacher’s sight. Newcomers stand by the door at the eastern end
of the church to the left of the pulpit. No one is allowed to stand behind
the pulpit; if anyone is there, the preacher loses the train of thought. The
same thing happens if anyone in the congregation disagrees, so anyone
who does is obliged to look away.
The sermons there are given with such wisdom that their earthly
counterparts cannot be compared to them: people in the heavens actually
experience a more inward light.