Spiritual Experiences (Odhner) n. 3011

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3011. spirits to himself by this art and this persuasion, and convince them that he was sent, thus an angel, of the Lord, which he was attempting by the same persuasion, but in vain because he had been found out. This all shows that there are spirits that can persuasively convince others that they come forth from the Lord, and allure many spirits who are upright and do not know better into their company. Yet they are evil, and in fact insane, as I was also prompted to tell him, imagining himself to be the Lord with a mad conviction, than which anything more insane cannot exist. It just comes to mind that certain fanatics are like this, also Quakers who are even after death convinced that the holy spirit has spoken with them, because they imagine someone to be from the Lord who persuades [others] that he is the Lord. Yet this is not the sign of the Lord's presence, but the sign is truth of faith concerning the Lord.


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