4743. [4749] CONCERNING GENII AND SUBTLE SPIRITS. There were two with me, who did not ascend higher than the loins. They, for several hours at night, while I was awake, perceived all the ideas of my thought, even to the least, and also to the minute little affections, even the least, and the changes of all of them, so that nothing escaped them, and also more things with me, than I could have known and perceived - and this in a moment, as it were, in an instant. And then they bended these things, in a thousand modes, into contraries; so that there was nothing which they did not thus suddenly bend. They took away all my delight and pleasantness. This was their intention and deed. This lasted for several hours. I afterwards spoke to them, and they then perceived better than I, whatever I thought. It was granted to say that they were infernals, and in contraries to those things which are of heaven; and that heaven does not take away anyone's delights and pleasantnesses, but promotes them in every way; and that heavenly joy consists in that. This, also, they discerned clearly. I then asked whether they wished to come into heaven. They said that they did wish it. I said, that, in that case, they would not be able to live, for their delight is contrary to it. They said, if. this was so, they did not wish to come thither It was afterwards granted to speak with them concerning their lot; that such delight will be taken away from them, and that they will then become most stupid, since their interior delight gave them that dexterity and penetration; also, that they will then remain in torment until that light is extinguished; and that, if there is aught of good in the remains, it will abide; thus, so far as that [good] could diffuse itself, so much of life would they possess: that this is but slight may be evident. Then I spoke also with others, recently come from the world, and said that some infernals are very penetrating, and nevertheless infernal, and that the sagacity which is called cleverness, contributes nothing to salvation, but good and delight thence and penetration from this delight, thus from the light [lux] of heaven. [4750] I also reasoned with them, that they could know, since they are so penetrating, that they are opposed to the Divine; that all those evils, which they intended are turned into good by the Divine, and that it is thus given not only to know of what quality are many infernals, but also by virtue of the contrarieties, to perceive the more of delight and pleasantness; for all things are relative, and without the perception of contraries there are no relatives, which have their extension according to the perception of opposites which exists. These things they understood quite sagaciously, and also affirmed to be the case. They were after this exhibited to others, who said that they were most hideous infernals, or devils. They said, moreover, that they wished to refrain; but it was replied that they were unable, because when they are in their delight, they are then sleepless; so that they are not able to think and will by any other means than from that delight. Their delight has the property of causing sleeplessness.