flowed through them.  Moreover, the Lord flows into the ideas of little children chiefly from inmosts, for there is nothing, as with adults, to close up their ideas, no principles of falsity to close the way to the understanding of truth, nor any life of evil to close the way to the reception of good, and thereby to the reception of wisdom.  All this makes clear that little children do not come at once after death into an angelic state, but are gradually brought into it by means of knowledges of good and truth, and in harmony with all heavenly order; for the least particulars of their nature are known to the Lord, and thus they are led, in accord with each and every movement of their inclination, to receive the truths of good and the goods of truth.

337.  I have also been shown how all things are instilled into them by delightful and pleasant means suited to their genius.  I have been permitted to see children most charmingly attired, having garlands of flowers resplendent with most beautiful and heavenly colors twined about their breasts and around their tender arms; and once to see them accompanied by those in charge of them and by maidens, in a park most beautifully adorned, not so much with trees, as with arbors and covered walks of laurel, with paths leading inward; and when the children entered attired as they were the flowers over the entrance shone forth most joyously.  This indicates the nature of their delights, also how they are led by means of pleasant and delightful things into the goods of innocence and charity, which goods the Lord continually instilled into these delights and pleasures.

338.  It was shown me, by a mode of communication common in the other life, what the ideas of children are when they see objects of any kind.  Each and every object seemed to them to be alive; and thus in every least idea of their thought there is life.  And it was perceived that children on the earth have nearly the same ideas when they are at their little plays; for as yet they have no such reflection as adults have about what is inanimate.

339.  It has been said above that children are of a genius either celestial or spiritual.  Those of a celestial genius are easily distinguished from those of a spiritual genius.  Their thought, speech, and action, is so gentle that hardly anything appears except what flows from a love of good to the Lord and from a love for other children.  But those of a spiritual genius are not so gentle; but in everything with them there appears a sort of vibration, as of wings.  The difference is seen also in their ill-feeling and in other things.