From much experience I have been given the knowledge that evil spirits are kept in a spiritual bond, that is, in an aura of uprightness by the Lord, and while they are kept in that aura, it does not appear to them that they are thus being restrained from evil. And even though I was allowed to see that they were being held in this way, they did not perceive otherwise than that they were free, and by no means in any bond. And because this happens freely and not by force, they imagine they are upright of themselves, when yet the aura of uprightness and goodness comes from the Lord, which they do not realize in that state, so they ascribe goodness to themselves. But they see at once that it is not from themselves the moment that spiritual bond, so to speak, is loosed, that is, the moment the strength of the aura of goodness is diminished. Then as far as it is let loose, so far they rush into evils, nor can they restrain themselves at all, as has been proven by much experience. The an-gels likewise are kept in the Lord's aura of goodness. 1748, 26 Aug.