When Abram departed, a certain spirit sent by him took his place, about whom he said he could fool the devil. When he came, he slipped in his deceptions quite skillfully, asking persistently, because all draw their life from the Lord, how could there be such a person [as himself]?-thus imagining that the Lord led him to his deceits. But I was prompted to reply that it has been decreed from eternity that everyone may enjoy their own life, and not be deprived of it. So he does indeed have life from the Lord, but it is just as with translucent objects shined upon by the sun, in which light is turned into colors, even dirty ones like brown or those approaching black, and other sad colors. It is the light of the sun that is changed so offensively by the object. So it is also in his case, he being an object of life who is of this character and has acquired for himself this form, that is, this nature, hence his life has been made as it is by himself, and continues. 1748, 21 Aug.