262. Because of the reactive nature inherent in it, the natural mind or self acts in opposition to matters connected with the spiritual mind or self when it loves itself and the world above all else. It also finds delight then in evils of every kind, such as in adulterous affairs, in fraudulent practices, in acts of vengeance, and in blasphemies, and other like things. And it also credits nature then as responsible for the creation of the universe. Moreover, it uses its rational faculty to defend all of these things. And once it has formed its arguments in their defense, it either perverts the goods and truths of heaven and the church, or stifles them, or rejects them, and at last it either runs from them, or turns its back on them, or hates them. This it does in spirit, and only in the flesh to the extent that it dares to speak in accord with its spirit in the company of others without fearing the loss of reputation and the consequent loss of honor or gain. When a person is of such a character, he then causes his spiritual mind to become gradually more and more tightly closed. It is especially his defenses of evil by falsities that close it. This is the reason that confirmed evil and falsity cannot be eradicated after death. They are eradicated only in the world through repentance.