AC 1767, 1776 - Reading the Lord's Word

AC 1767

When the Word of the Lord is being read
by a person who loves the Word and lives in charity,
or by a person who from simplicity of heart
believes what is written
and has not formed principles contrary
to the truth of faith which is in the internal sense,
is presented by the Lord before the angels
in such beauty and in such pleasantness,
with representatives also,
and this with inexpressible variety
in accordance with all their state at the time,
that every particular is perceived as if it had life,
which life is that which is in the Word,
and from which the Word had birth
when it was sent down from heaven.
From this cause the Word of the Lord is such,
that although in the letter it appears crude,
there are stored up in it spiritual and celestial things
which lie open before good spirits, and before angels,
when the Word is being read by people.

AC 1776

It may seem a paradox,
but still it is most true,
that the angels understand
the internal sense of the Word
better and more fully
when little boys and girls are reading it,
than when it is read by adult persons
who are not in the faith of charity.
The cause has been told me,
and is that little boys and girls
are in a state of mutual love and innocence,
and so their most tender vessels are almost heavenly,
and are simply capacities for receiving,
which therefore can be disposed by the Lord;
although this does not come to their perception,
except by a certain delight suited to their genius.
It was said by the angels
that the Word of the Lord is a dead letter;
but that in the person that reads it
it is vivified by the Lord
according to the capacity of each one;
and that it becomes living
according to the life of his charity
and his state of innocence,
and this with inexpressible variety.