4717. CONCERNING A FEIGNER OF HONESTY, A DEVIL. ((There are those in the other life, who, from their speech and from the sphere thence, appear as if honest, and, by means of that external appearance of honesty, they induced others to believe that they were such; and they were [so] estimated, and seemed so to themselves. And, in the other life, they persuade others that they are of such a character: hence upright spirits are around them, knowing no otherwise; but these are simple external spirits, who are afterwards removed. Some are of such a character, and they are inwardly spurious, being in self-love, revenge and hatred against those who do not favor them, and in cruelty; and all these things they conceal under the appearance of honesty, and, by that appearance, induce others to believe that such things [self-love, etc.], are just and equitable, and that cruelty ought to be exercised against such [as do not favor them]; and they [the others] are easily persuaded by such representations. They speak altogether after an honest manner, but, inwardly, they are such as has been described. One was shown as to what sort of devil he was; and it was an extraordinary quality. Such are the feigners of honesty. They are willing to be styled devils, if only they might be able to rule the hells and to be supreme among those who fight against good and truth. They are never appeased except by being worshipped as gods: as [they wished] in the world, so do they wish in the other life. They appeared on the left side at a certain height, and at a certain distance at the back. But they are severely punished, as I also heard, until they refrain from seducing others by the appearance of honesty: and that appearance was taken away from this one, [alluded to above], that is, the simple were removed, and, then, he spoke in a different tone. It is principally by the tone of the speech that they seduce; and, thus, they have a certain external dignity, and hence authority.))