{Footnote 1} The understanding is receptive of truth, and the will of good (n. 3623, 6125, 7503, 9300, 9930).  As all things have relation to truth and good, so everything of man’s life has relation to understanding and will (n. 803, 10122).  Angels are perfected to eternity (n. 4803, 6648).

222.  But essential Divine worship in the heavens does not consist in going to church and hearing preaching, but in a life of love, charity, and faith, in accordance with doctrine; preachings in churches serve solely as means of instruction in matters of life.  I have talked with angels on this subject, and have told them that it is believed in the world that Divine worship consists solely in attending church, listening to the preaching, observing the sacrament of the Supper three or four times a year, and performing other acts of worship according to the requirements of the church; also devoting special times to prayers, and at such times, behaving devoutly.  The angels said that these are outward acts that ought to be done, but are of no avail unless there is an internal from which they proceed, which is a life in accordance with the precepts that doctrine teaches.

223.  That I might learn about their meeting in places of worship, I have been permitted at times to attend and to hear the preaching.  The preacher stands in a pulpit at the east.  Those who are in the light of wisdom more than others sit in front of him; those who are in less light sit to the right and left of these.  There is a circular arrangement of the seats, so that all are in the preacher’s view, no one so sitting at either side as to be out of his view.  At the entrance, which is at the east of the building and on the left of the pulpit, those stand who are being initiated.  No one is permitted to stand behind the pulpit; when there is any one there the preacher becomes confused.  It is the same if any one in the congregation dissents; and for this reason the dissenter must needs turn away his face.  The wisdom of the preachings is such as to be above all comparison with the preachings of this world, for those in the heavens are in interior light.  The church edifices in the spiritual kingdom are apparently built of stone, and those in the celestial kingdom of wood; because stone corresponds to truth, and those who are in the spiritual kingdom are in truth, while wood corresponds to good, and those in the celestial kingdom are in good.{1} In that kingdom the sacred edifices are not called churches but houses of God.  In that kingdom they are without magnificence; but in the spiritual kingdom they are more or less magnificent.

{Footnote 1} “Stone” signifies truth (n. 114, 643, 1298, 3720, 6426, 8609, 10376).  “Wood” signifies good (n. 643, 3720, 8354).  For this reason the most ancient people, who were in celestial good, had sacred buildings of wood (n. 3720).

224.  I have also talked with one of the preachers