275.  The angels in the same heaven, or in the same society of heaven, are not all in like wisdom; their wisdom differs.  Those at the center are in the greatest wisdom, and those round about even to the borders are in less wisdom.  The decrease of wisdom in accord with the distance from the center is like the decrease of light verging to shade (see n. 43 and 128).  Their light is in the same degree as their wisdom, since the light of heaven is the Divine wisdom, and everyone is in light in the measure of his reception of wisdom.  Respecting the light of heaven and the varying kinds of reception of it see above (n. 126-132).

276.  XXXI.  The state of innocence of angels in heaven.

What innocence is and its nature few in the world know, and those who are in evil know nothing about it.  It is, indeed, visible to the eyes, as seen in the face, speech and movements, particularly of children; and yet what innocence is, and especially that it is that in which heaven is stored up in man is unknown.  In making this known let us proceed in order, and consider first the innocence of childhood, then the innocence of wisdom, and lastly the state of heaven in regard to innocence.

277.  The innocence of childhood or of children is not genuine innocence, for it is innocence not in internal form but only in external form.  Nevertheless one may learn from it what innocence is, since it shines forth from the face of children and from some of their movements and from their first speech, and affects those about them.  It can be seen that children have no internal thought, for they do not yet know what is good and what is evil, or what is true and what is false, of which such thought consists. [2] Consequently they have no prudence from what is their own, no purpose or deliberation, thus no end that looks to evil; neither have they anything of their own acquired from love of self and the world; they do not attribute anything to themselves, regarding all that they have as received from their parents; they are content with the few and paltry things presented to them, and find delight in them; they have no solicitude about food and clothing, and none about the future; they do not look to the world and covet many things from it; they love their parents and nurses and their child companions with whom they play in innocence; they suffer themselves to be led; they give heed and obey. [3] And being in this state they receive everything as a matter of life; and therefore, without knowing why, they have becoming manners, and also learn to talk, and have the beginning of memory and thought, their state of innocence serving as a medium whereby these things are received and implanted.  But this innocence, as has been said above, is external because it belongs to the body alone, and not to the mind;{1} for their minds are not yet formed, the mind being understanding and will and thought and affection