What correspondence is is not known at the present day, for several
reasons, the chief of which is that man has withdrawn himself from
heaven by the love of self and love of the world. For he that loves
self and the world above all things gives heed only to worldly
things, since these appeal to the external senses and gratify the
natural longings; and he does not give heed to spiritual things,
since these appeal to the internal senses and gratify the mind,
therefore he casts them aside, saying that they are too high for his
comprehension. This was not so with the ancient people. To them the
knowledge of correspondences was the chief of knowledges. By means of
it they acquired intelligence and wisdom; and by means of it those
who were of the church had communication with heaven; for the
knowledge of correspondences is angelic knowledge. The most ancient
people, who were celestial men, thought from correspondence itself,
as the angels do. And therefore they talked with angels, and the Lord
frequently appeared to them, and they were taught by Him. But at this
day that knowledge has been so completely lost that no one knows what
correspondence is.{1}

{Footnote 1} How far the knowledge of correspondences excels
other knowledges (n. 4280). The knowledge of correspondences
was the chief knowledge of the ancient people; but at the
present day it is wholly forgotten (n. 3021, 3419, 4280, 4749,
4844, 4964, 4966, 6004, 7729, 10252). The knowledge of
correspondences flourished among the Eastern nations and in
Egypt (5702, 6692, 7097, 7779, 9391, 10407).


88. Since, then, without a perception of what correspondence is there