108. The same phenomenon can also be illustrated by the following experience:
I had with me African spirits from Ethiopia. One day their ears were opened so that they heard people singing one of the Psalms of David in a temple in this world. The spirits were moved with such delight by this that they began to sing along with them. But presently their ears were closed again, so that they no longer heard anything from there; and then they were affected with a still greater delight, because it was a spiritual delight. And at the same time they were filled with intelligence, because the Psalm had to do with the Lord and redemption. Their increased delight was owing to the fact that they were given a communication with the society in heaven which was in conjunction with those who were singing the Psalm in the world.
It was apparent from this experience and many others that a communication with the whole of heaven takes place by means of the Word.
It is for the same reason that, of the Lord’s Divine providence, there exists a universal commerce of the kingdoms of Europe, principally of those where the Word is read, with nations outside the church.
