Spiritual Experiences (Buss) n. 2811

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2811. CONCERNING GENERA OF CERTAIN [KINDS] THEFTS, WHICH ARE MANIFESTED IN THE OTHER LIFE. There are secret thefts, yea of the minds [animorum] of man, so that they attempt in a thousand modes to gain and insinuate themselves into the minds of men, yea by a sort of theft, to wit: by wholly putting on that which is pleasant and dear to another so as to present themselves, as it were, in the same person, and when in the life of the body they have acquired to themselves, by actuality, such a kind [genus] of theft, of which there are genera and species, then everyone is determined according to his nature acquired by actuality - certain to scarcely any other end than self-repose, their own pleasantness, praise, and that they may snatch [these] from others, but these are not injurious: but others seek a similar [think] and act more ingeniously, and at length having acquired that nature for ends that are different, for instance, to snatch away the goods and honors of others in any manner whatever: such are the worst. There are given genera and intermediate species, as well genera and species of captivating the minds of others, as genera and species of ends, for which they are solicitous, also genera and species of the modes in which they strive therefore, and of the modes in which it is manifest in the eyes of man, or hidden from them. These [things] were shown me by living experience through two spirits known [to me] in life. - 1748, August 14. There are also such as captivate minds [animos]: still as they put on persons for sake of adultery, they are adulterous thieves. This also is one genus as respects ends, which are adulteries.


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