929. 'I will no more strike every living thing, as I have done' means that man would never again be able to destroy himself in that way. This is now clear from what has been said above. The situation is this: When a person has been regenerated he is withheld from the evil and falsity residing with him. At this point he does not perceive anything other than that he does good and thinks truth from himself. This however is an appearance or illusion, for he is being held back from evil and falsity, powerfully so. And being withheld from evil and falsity he cannot destroy himself. If that rein on him were slackened in the least or if he were abandoned to himself he would rush into every evil and falsity.