The angels appeared to roll off, as it were, a coat from the left eye towards the bridge of the nose, that the eye might be opened and be enabled to see.  This is only an appearance, but to the spirit it seemed to be really done.  When the coat thus seems to have been rolled off there is a slight sense of light, but very dim, like what is seen through the eyelids on first awakening from sleep.  To me this dim light took on a heavenly hue, but I was told afterwards that the color varies.  Then something is felt to be gently rolled off from the face, and when this is done spiritual thought is awakened.  This rolling off from the face is also an appearance, which represents the spirit’s passing from natural thought into spiritual thought.  The angels are extremely careful that only such ideas as savor of love shall proceed from the one resuscitated.  They now tell him that he is a spirit.  When he has come into the enjoyment of light the spiritual angels render to the new spirit every service he can possibly desire in that state; and teach him about the things of the other life so far as he can comprehend them.  But if he has no wish to be taught the spirit longs to get away from the company of the angels.  Nevertheless, the angels do not withdraw from him, but he separates himself from them; for the angels love everyone, and desire nothing so much as to render service, to teach, and to lead into heaven; this constitutes their highest delight.  When the spirit has thus withdrawn he is received by good spirits, and as long as he continues in their company everything possible is done for him.  But if he had lived such a life in the world as would prevent his enjoying the company of the good he longs to get away from the good, and this experience is repeated until he comes into association with such as are in entire harmony with his life in the world; and with such he finds his own life, and what is surprising, he then leads a life like that which he led in the world.

451.  This opening state of man’s life after death lasts only a few days.  How he is afterwards led from one state to another, and finally either into heaven or into hell, will be told in what follows.  This, too, I have been permitted to learn by much experience.

452.  I have talked with some on the third day after their decease, when the process described above (n. 449, 450) had been completed, especially with three whom I had known in the world, to whom I mentioned that arrangements were now being made for burying their bodies; I said, for burying them; on hearing which they were smitten with a kind of surprise, saying that they were alive, and that the thing that had served them in the world was what was being buried.  Afterwards they wondered greatly that they had not believed in such a life after death while they lived in the body, and especially that scarcely any within the church so believed.  Those that have not believed in the world in any life of the soul after the life