I heard spirits talking among themselves about how they might become good, saying that they would pray to the Lord that they may become good. But they could not, because they prayed from themselves, not knowing what to ask. Then they said that they would constantly think about the Lord, but this also accomplished nothing, because it was from themselves. Next they said that they would be still and await liberation [from self], but even this, being from themselves, was not permitted. Therefore, stunned and confused, they said that now they did not know at all what they should do. And they added that people on earth are allowed to do these things, but not spirits, because their condition is different. From this it should be clear that whatever is from themselves has not good in it, and consequently that they cannot obtain anything thereby, but only by what is from the Lord. 1748, 22 March.