Spiritual Experiences (Odhner) n. 3115

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

3115. he cannot be led differently, but has thus been led by means of the best things, and if he were led differently, sees that greater evil would come to him, or evil instead of good. Therefore the Infinite Power, which sees all things down to the least detail, and future things as present, is able to arrange, and because He is able, also does arrange things in this way. For by leading and bending evil, which continually tends toward a worse and the worst evil, can be understood to mean that one who is evil desires [to go] into the worst, thus wanting to lead himself, but that the Lord bends him into a lesser evil, and one as small as ever possible. In short, all the moments of life are necessities, because the human being is such as he is, continually desiring and striving to plunge himself into the worst evil. 1748, 10 Sept. # #


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church