663. Indeed, it is true both of man, and of the newly arrived soul, that there is nothing whatever except evil coming from themselves. In any thinking or acting from oneself, it is impossible to conceive of anything so small and insignificant that it is not evil. In fact, it is evil when one thinks about wanting to do good from oneself, or wants to turn oneself [to God]. And sometimes I have been so distressed that I did not know what I should think or do that was from myself, that would not be evil. So also were the spirits distressed, as they clearly showed, and acknowledged. It is different when one does this from innocence, for then the Lord is guiding, and whatever is from the Lord in a person is good. 1748, 6 February.