Spiritual Experiences (Odhner) n. 509

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509. About Mohammed

Mohammed, in accordance with his own wish, also underwent temptations; that he had this desire, I could also infer from several circumstances, and he was certainly tempted this night by something done by the dragon. While I was sleeping quite pleasantly and dreaming about almost nothing else than the meaning of the word "Comforter" (Paraclyti), spoken of in John [14:16-26, 15:26, 16:7 ff.], and matters related to Him, then the dragon pretended in front of Mohammed that I was awake, speaking and answering as though he were I, about which, however, I was entirely unaware. Consequently, since Mohammed could not see otherwise than that I was so corrupt, and this for the whole night, he was driven to doubts about Jesus Christ, whether His power was so great, since the dragon had been able to lead even me astray in regard to truths. When I awoke, he said, still undisturbed, what I am like - that I am wavering - and that this surprised him. But when I told him that this had taken place in sleep, and that I knew nothing about the conversation, that I had only been thinking about the comforter, and the like, he was surprised. This was also proven to him by a certain experience, which was, that the dragon tried to force me to sleep. These things show that Mohammed stood steadfast in his belief, even though he was tempted in this way. 1748, in the night between 22 and 23 January. (See the continuation.)


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