In order that this may be understood, I will mention an
arcanum: Heaven is distinguished into innumerable societies, and so is
hell, from an opposite principle; and the mind of every man, according
to his will and consequent understanding, actually dwells in one
society, and intends and thinks like those who compose the society. If
the mind be in any society of heaven, it then intends and thinks like
those who compose that society; if it be in any society of hell, it
intends and thinks like those who are in the same society; but so long
as a man lives in the world, so long he wanders from one society to
another, according to the changes of the affections of his will and of
the consequent thoughts of his mind: but after death his wanderings are
collected into one, and a place is accordingly allotted him, in hell if
he is evil, in heaven if he is good. Now since all in hell are
influenced by a will of evil, all there are viewed from that will; and
since all in heaven are influenced by will of good, all there are viewed
from that will; wherefore imputations after death take place according
to the quality of every one's will and understanding.
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