But this innocence, as has been said above,
is external because it belongs to the body alone, and not to the
mind;{1} for their minds are not yet formed, the mind being
understanding and will and thought and affection therefrom. [4] I
have been told from heaven that children are specially under the
Lord's auspices, and that they receive influx from the inmost heaven,
where there is a state of innocence that this influx passes through
their interiors, and that in its passing through, their interiors are
affected solely by the innocence; and for this reason innocence is
shown in their faces and in some of their movements and becomes
evident; and that it is this innocence by which parents are inmostly
affected, and that gives rise to the love that is called storge.
{Footnote 1} The innocence of children is not true innocence,
but true innocence has its abode in wisdom (n. 1616, 2305,
2306, 3494, 4563, 4797, 5608, 9301, 10021). The good of
childhood is not spiritual good, but it becomes such by the
implantation of truth (n. 3504). Nevertheless the good of
childhood is a medium whereby intelligence is implanted (n.
1616, 3183, 9301, 10110).
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