5713. All who are in hell are the causers of sicknesses, though varying ones, for the reason that all the hells are steeped in desires and cravings for what is evil. That being so, they are antagonistic to the things of heaven, and for this reason they exert an opposite influence on man. Heaven, which is the Grand Man, preserves the interconnection of all things and keeps them safe from harm; hell, having opposite intentions, is destructive of all things and sets them at variance with one another. This being so, if those in hell are brought into contact with man they bring sicknesses and at length death. But they are not allowed to enter the actual solid parts of a person's body, nor the parts making up his internal organs or his other organs and limbs; they do not enter anything else than his evil desires and false ideas. Only when he falls sick do they enter any further, into the kinds of uncleanness that are the essence of sicknesses. For as has been stated, nothing ever comes into being with man unless a cause also exists in the spiritual world. If the natural part of a person's being were separated from the spiritual part it would be separated from the entire cause from which it has its being and so from all that brings it life. Even so, this does not make it impossible for a person to be healed by natural remedies, for the Lord's providence works in co-operation with means such as these. I have been enabled through much experience to know the truth of this, on so many occasions and during such lengthy periods that I have not been left in any doubt at all. For evil spirits from such places have been brought in contact with me often and for lengthy periods; and according to their presence they introduced feelings of pain and also sicknesses. I was shown where those spirits were and what they were like, and I was also told where they came from.