§281 angels’ innocence 149
c. All the people in the inmost heaven are innocents: 154 , 2736 , 3887 ; and therefore they look to
others like infants: 154. They are also naked: 165 , 8375 , 9960. Nakedness is innocence: 165 , 8375.
Spirits have a practice of witnessing to their innocence by taking off their clothes and standing
naked: 8375 , 9960.
d. All the good of love and the truth of faith need to have innocence within them if they are to be
good and true: 2526 , 2780 , 3111 , 3994 , 6013 , 7840 , 9262 , 10134. Innocence is the essential element
of what is good and true: 2780 , 7840. No one is allowed into heaven unless she or he has some
innocence: 4797.
e. [Swedenborg’s note at this point refers the reader to the note in § 278 above.]
what they call the fi rst step toward wisdom. These angels are also naked,
because nakedness corresponds to innocence.c
I have talked a lot with angels about innocence and have been told 281
that innocence is the inner reality of everything good and that therefore
anything good is good to the extent that there is innocence within it.
Consequently wisdom is wisdom to the extent that it derives from inno-
cence, and the same is true of love, thoughtfulness, and faith.d This is
why no one can enter heaven unless he or she has innocence. This is what
the Lord meant by saying,
Let the little ones come to me, do not forbid them, for of such is the
kingdom of the heavens. I tell you in truth, whoever will not accept the
kingdom of the heavens like a little child will not enter into it. (Mark
10 : 14 – 15 ; Luke 18 : 16 – 17 )Little ones in this passage, as elsewhere in the Word, mean the innocent.e
The state of innocence is described by the Lord in Matthew 6 : 24 – 25 [ 25 –
34 ], but in pure correspondences. The reason good is good to the extent
that there is innocence in it is that all good comes from the Lord, and
innocence is being willing to be led by the Lord.
I have also been told that truth cannot be united to good or good to
truth except by means of innocence. This is also why angels are not
angels of heaven unless there is innocence in them, since heaven is not
within anyone until the truth has been united with the good within. So
the union of the true and the good is called the heavenly marriage, and
the heavenly marriage is heaven.
I have also been told that true marriage love derives its origin from
innocence because it comes from the union of the good and the true that
engages the two minds, the minds of husband and wife. When this union
descends, it takes on the appearance of marriage love because the spouses,