2164. What I learned through the conversation of the heavenly [angels] that I am permitted to mention, was the following, namely, that the case is no different, if you would like to form an idea by a comparison, such as I was shown also through a vision, than that of a polished cylinder. In it is reflected optically a beautiful image of everything lying around it. The things lying around appear without order, without form, a confusion of objects lying around, in which not the least element of beauty is apparent, much less any beautiful picture. Nevertheless, from those disordered things round about, a beautiful image is presented. So likewise does everything in the world appear before the eyes of people on earth and spirits; all and the least things appear disordered and confused, and yet to the Eye of the Lord, they make up a beautiful picture, namely, the image of a person or virgin, who is Heaven as a whole-not such as it is, but such as the Lord desires it to be, that is, that it be an Image of Him. 1748, 2 June.