This can indeed be the sure conclusion, based on their constant effort to destroy man, for they desire nothing more eagerly. So when they are released to their freedom and passion, as if unbridled they rush with enjoyment to destroy mankind and their fellow spirits. But they are held in bonds. From this we may also conclude that just as the Lord is the source and cause of all goodness, it follows that the evil are the source of all evils. But this is still not very plain except on the basis of quite continuous experience. They have tried constantly to cast me into dangers, even when I was not at all aware of it, as when they tried to throw me under carriages [253]. It became plain to me by their wanting almost to force me, but it was in vain. Likewise when I would be walking along water. The effort always persists, but it is restrained by the Lord. It is the same in many other instances, namely, that they try to obstruct everything good, and when they are permitted to do so, any resulting misfortune and evil comes from them, thus evils [brought on] either directly, or more remotely. When more remotely, they deny that they are the causes, yet they confessed it was so on demonstration, such as was done today by a kind of experiment. Their fields of energy [see 973-82], or of working evil, are of such a nature that they sometimes strive unconsciously against good, for their field is repugnant to every effort of good. It is for this reason also that unless they are told, they do not know they are the origins [of the evil].