From revealing Experience, I have learned that souls can be deprived almost entirely, or partially, of their reasoning and understanding abilities, and likewise have them restored again; for the understanding and reasoning faculty is a gift of God the Messiah Alone. When the reasoning and understanding abilities are taken away, the souls are devils, and they act only from a kind of natural instinct, and just as if in sleep. When these abilities are restored to them, they do not know but that they had been asleep. These facts were demonstrated over a period of many days. When understanding has been taken away, they behave in that state in accordance with the evil rooted in them - each one according to the nature of their root, and to be sure, against order, against heaven, and its truths. In short, they are devils of diverse qualities. It was visibly shown that it was taken away from them, as were their natural instincts afterwards. These are not like the instincts of brute animals, but issue from the diabolic impulse to strive continually against things spiritual and heavenly, and to think they have power, and do everything, from themselves. 1747, the 21st day of December.