566. The natural man makes a person like an animal; he takes on the likeness of an animal through the life he leads. So such people appear in the spiritual world surrounded by animals of all kinds, which are correspondences. A person's natural regarded in essence is nothing but animal, but he can become a human being because he has the extra gift of being spiritual. If this does not happen as a result of his ability to become one, he can pretend to be human, though he is nothing but an animal that can talk. For his speech comes from his natural rationality, but his thought from spiritual madness; his actions come from natural morality, but his love from spiritual lust. His actions viewed by a spiritually rational person are hardly different from the movements of a person stung by a tarantula, what is called St Vitus' dance*.
[2] Is anyone unaware that a hypocrite can talk about God, a robber about honesty, an adulterer about chastity, and so on? But unless a person had the gift of being able to shut off or open up the door which connects thoughts and utterances, and intentions and actions, and had prudence or cunning there to act as door-keeper, he would rush into crime and cruelty more fiercely than a wild beast. But after death everyone has that passage opened, and then it is clear what sort of person he was. However, he is kept under restraint by punishments and imprisonment in hell. Therefore, kind reader, look into yourself and fish out one or two evils in yourself, and turn away from them for religious reasons. If you do so with any other intention or for any other purpose, your rejection will be simply to hide these evils from the world's gaze.
* This term is now only applied to a different condition.
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