that they know and think
little about what is good. Moreover, the spirits of the earth Jupiter
are much wiser than the spirits of our Earth; they also say of ours
that they talk much and think little, and that therefore they cannot
interiorly perceive many things, and that they cannot even perceive
what good is. They conclude from this that the men of our Earth are
external men. It was also once permitted the evil spirits of our Earth
to act by their wicked arts, and to infest the spirits of Jupiter who
were with me. The latter endured them for a very long time, but
at length confessed that they could do so no longer, and that
they believed that there could not be worse spirits, since they so
perverted their imagination, and also their thought, that they seemed
to themselves as it were bound, and incapable of being extricated from
this bondage, and set at liberty, except by Divine aid. While I read
from the Word some passages on the subject of our Saviour's Passion,
some European spirits uttered dreadful scandals, with the intention
of seducing the spirits of Jupiter. Inquiry being made as to who
they were, and what their profession in the world had been, it was
ascertained that some of them had been preachers, and many of them
were of those who call themselves Members of the Society of the Lord,
or Jesuits. I remarked that these, during their life in the world, by
their preachings on the subject of the Lord's Passion, had been able
to move the common people to tears. I also added the cause, that in
the world they had thought one way and spoken another, thus that they
had entertained one sentiment in their hearts and professed another
with their lips; but that now they are not allowed to speak thus
deceitfully, for, on becoming spirits, they are compelled to speak
exactly as they think. The spirits of Jupiter were exceedingly
astonished that there could be such a variance between the interiors
and exteriors belonging to a man, that is to say, that it should be
possible to speak one way and think quite another way, which would
be impossible for them. They were surprised to hear that many who
are from our Earth even become angels, and that they are of quite a
different heart. They had supposed that all on our Earth were like
those [evil ones who were then present], but they were told that many
are not of this character, and that there are also some who think from
good, and not, like these, from evil, and that those who thi