176. Towards that which a man derives by heredity, he continually inclines, and lapses into it; and from that source he confirms himself in evil, and also superadds more from himself. These evils are altogether opposed to spiritual life, and are destructive of it; wherefore, unless a man receives from the Lord a new life, namely, spiritual life; unless, therefore, he is conceived anew, born anew, and educated anew; that is, unless he is created anew, he belongs to the damned; for he does not will anything else and hence does not think anything else, than what belongs to self and the world even as is done by those in hell.