84. 'And repent, and do the first works' signifies so that they may invert the state of their life. Every man has the truths of doctrine in view in the first place, but as long as he does this he is like unripe fruit. He who is being regenerated, however, after having absorbed those truths, has the goods of life in view in the first place; and in so far as he does this, he ripens like fruit, and in so far as he ripens, so far the seed in that fruit becomes productive. These two states have been seen by me in the case of men when they have become spirits. In the first state they appeared turned in the direction of the valleys that are above hell; and in the second turned towards the paradises that are in heaven. This turning round of the state of life is what is understood here. That this is effected by means of repentance, and after that by the good of life, is understood by 'Repent, and do the first works'.