253. THAT SPIRITS ALSO, LIKE MAN, BY REFLECTION ARE IMBUED WITH MANY THINGS FROM USAGE In addition to other experiences, it was also observed that evil spirits, who continually intend evil to man, are also imbued from usage to bring evil upon man unexpectedly. Thus, as often as they hear a carriage or the sound of a carriage, then, unexpectedly, as if not aware of it, they try to force me towards the carriage, besides other examples also, which suddenly inflow into their mind from usage alone. To recount these experiences is superfluous. Today, and before also, I learnt that the dragon was becoming accustomed to deceits which he had not formerly practiced, on which account he was grievously punished, lest those things should be added to his nature.* * This paragraph was written in the vacant space between nos. 253 and 254. The word hodie (today) suggests that it was added when Swedenborg was making the Index, at the end of August 1748. It is entered there (s.v. Natura) as follows: