The mind of a man is his spirit which lives after death; and a man's
spirit is constantly in company with spirits like himself in the
spiritual world. Man does not know that in respect to his mind he is
in the midst of spirits because the spirits with whom he is in company
in that world, think and speak spiritually. The spirit of man,
however, while in the material body, thinks and speaks naturally; and
spiritual thought and speech cannot be understood, nor perceived, by
the natural human being; nor the reverse. Hence, too, it is that
spirits cannot be seen. Yet when a man's spirit is in society with
spirits in their world, then he is in spiritual thought and speech
with them, too, because his inner mind is spiritual, but the outer
natural; wherefore by his inner nature he communicates with them, and
by his outer being with men. By this communication a man perceives and
thinks analytically. If there were no such communication, man would no
more think than a beast, nor any differently from a beast. Indeed,
were all commerce with spirits cut off, a man would instantly die.
--_True Christian Religion, n._ 475
"MINISTERS OF HIS, THAT DO HIS PLEASURE"
Man is quite ignorant that he is governed by the Lord through angels
and spirits, and that there are at least two spirits with a man and
two angels. Through the spirits a communication of the man with the
world of spirits is effected; and through the angels, with heaven. As
long as a man is not regenerated, he is governed quite otherwise than
when he is regenerated. While unregenerated, there are evil spirits
with him, who dominate him so fully that the angels, though present,
can scarcely do more than guide him, so that he shall not hurl himself
into the lowest evil, and bend him to some good--to some good by means
of his own desires, indeed, and to some truth through even fallacies
of sense. Then, through the spirits who are with him, he has
communication with the world of spirits, but not so much with heaven,
for the evil spirits rule with him, and the angels only avert their
rule. When, however, a man is regenerated, then the angels rule and
inspire in him all good and truth, and a horror and dread of evil and
falsity. The angels lead the man indeed, but serve only as ministers,
for it is the Lord alone, Who, by angels and spirits, governs man.
--_Arcana Coelestia, n._ 50
It is an office of the angels to inspire charity and faith in a man,
to observe the direction his enjoyments take, and to restrain and
bend them to good, as far as they can in man's free choice. They are
forbidden to act violently, and so to break a man's cupidities and
principles; but are bidden to act gently. It is also an office of
theirs to govern evil spirits who are from hell. When evil spirits
infuse evils and what is false, the angels instill what is true and
good, by which they at least temper an evil. Infernal spirits are
continually assaulting, and angels constantly giving protection.
Especially do the angels call forth goods and truths which are with a
man, and oppose them to the evils and falsities which the evil spirits
excite. Hence a man is in the midst, nor does he apperceive the evil
or the good; and being in the midst, is free to turn himself to the
one or to the other. By such means angels from the Lord lead and
protect a man, and this every moment, and every moment of a moment.
For, should the angels intermit their care a single instant, man would
be plunged into evil from which he could never afterward be led forth.
These offices the angels do from a love which they have from the Lord;
for they know nothing pleasanter and happier than to remove evils from
a man, and to lead him to heaven. That this is their joy, see _Luke_,
XV, 7. Scarcely any man believes that the Lord has such a care for
man, and this continually, from the first thread of his life to the
last, and on to eternity.
--_Arcana Coelestia, n._ 5992