1164. THAT MAN CAN NEVER ACCEPT GOOD AND SALUTARY COUNSELS UNLESS HE BELIEVES THAT THE LORD PROVIDES FOR ALL THINGS AND EACH SINGLE THING By quite manifold experience I have been taught that a man can enter into and accept many counsels which he supposes to be good and salutary; indeed, he can then also induce spirits, even angels, to hold the same opinion, for they only regard the good intention and seek after those things which affirm; thus good spirits and even angels can be induced to believe that that is good and salutary which nevertheless is not so. I have learnt this by repeated experience, namely, that good spirits and even angels may thus be persuaded to affirm, and even to change their sentiments according to circumstances. (As, for instance, in cases which concern the number of copies to be printed.)