3005. From this one may also realize what a looking through faith is, and what faith is, for some think that faith is nothing, when yet a looking through faith can do all things, as also a looking from all the facets of faith with conviction. But faith is such that insofar as the looking at the Lord is from the person's self, so far it recedes from the Lord and has no power, but insofar as it is from the Lord, so far it has power; the same is true of conviction regarding matters of faith. Otherwise they are like that mad person. It is an insanity not unlike that of those who thought they had been god the father, and god the son, and this with insane conviction; and those who thought they had been Charles XII, who were sent to be among the raving. They are also like this who want to obtain faith by their own powers. 1748, 31 Aug.