ch a nature, that in proportion
as it is left without restraint, it rushes on until at length each one
who is of such a character wants to have dominion over all others in
the whole globe, and wishes to possess all the goods of the others;
nay, it is not even content with this, but would have dominion over
the whole heaven; as may appear from the case of modern Babylon. Such
then is the dominion of the love of self, from which the dominion of
love towards the neighbour differs as much as heaven does from hell.
But notwithstanding that the dominion of the love of self is such in
societies, or in kingdoms and empires, there nevertheless exists even
in these a dominion of love towards the neighbour among those who are
wise from faith in and love to God, for these love the neighbour. That
in the heavens also these dwell distinguished into clans, families,
and households, although in societies together, but according to
spiritual affinities which have relation to the good of love and the
truth of faith, will, by the Lord's Divine mercy, be stated elsewhere.

[Footnote ddd: Man's proprium, which he derives from his parents, is
nothing but dense evil, nos. 210, 215, 731, 874, 876, 987, 1047, 2307,
2308, 3518, 3701, 3812, 8480, 8550, 10283, 10284, 10286, 10731. Man's
proprium consists in loving himself more than God, and the world more
than heaven, and in holding his neighbour of no account in respect to
himself, except it be for the sake of himself, consequently [in making
much of] himself; thus it consists of the love of self and of the
world, nos. 694, 731, 4317, 5660. All evils flow from the love of self
and of the world, when these predominate, nos. 1307, 1308, 1321, 1594,
1691, 3413, 7255, 7376, 7488, 8318, 9335, 9348, 10038, 10742. These
evils are contempt of others, enmity, hatred, revenge, cruelty,
deceit, nos. 6667, 7372-7374, 9348, 10038, 10742. And from these evils
all falsity flows, nos. 1047, 10283, 10284, 10286.]

175. I afterwards questioned those spirits concerning various things
in the earth from which they were; and first, concerning their Divine
worship, and concerning revelation. Concerning the Divine worship,
they said that clans, with their families, meet together every
thirtieth day, in one place, and hear preaching; and that on these
occasions the preacher, from a pulpit raised a little from the
ground, teaches them the Divine truths which lead to the good of life.
Concerning revelation, they said that