of man[f]. These
spirits keep themselves in that plane, and at that distance,
because their correspondence is not with the externals, but with the
interiors, belonging to man. Their action is upon the left knee, above
and a little below, with a certain vibration very sensibly felt. This
is a sign that they correspond with _the conjunction of natural things
and heavenly things_.

THE FOURTH EARTH IN THE STARRY HEAVEN, AND ITS SPIRITS AND
INHABITANTS.

157. I was conducted to yet another earth which is in the universe
beyond our solar system, which was effected by changes of the state
of my mind, consequently as to the spirit; for, as has already been
repeatedly observed, a spirit is conducted from place to place no
otherwise than by changes of the state of his interiors, which changes
appear to him in all respects as advancements from place to place, or
as journeyings. These changes lasted continuously for about ten hours
before I came from the state of my life to the state of their life,
thus before I arrived there as to my spirit. I was conveyed towards
the east, to the left, and seemed to be gradually elevated from
a horizontal plane. I was also permitted to observe clearly the
progression and advance from my former place, till at length those
from whom I had departed no longer appeared; and in the meantime I
spoke on various subjects with the spirits who were with me. A certain
spirit was also with us who, during his life in the world, had been
a prelate and a preacher, as well as a very pathetic writer. From
my idea concerning him, my spirit-companions supposed he was more
a Christian at heart than the rest; for in the world an idea is
conceived and a judgment formed from the preaching and writing,
and not from the life, if this is not manifest; and if anything
inconsistent appears in the life, it is nevertheless excused; for the
idea or thought and perception concerning any one draws everything to
its side.

158. After this I observed that I was, as to my spirit, in the starry
heaven, far beyond our solar system; for this can be observed from the
changes of state and the consequent apparent continued progression,
which had lasted nearly ten hours. At length I heard spirits
conversing near some earth, which also I afterwards saw. When I had
come near them, after some conversation they said that strangers
sometimes come to them from other places, who converse with them
concerning God, and confuse the id