318. THAT THE CUNNING OF THE DEVIL IN PERVERTING TRUTHS AND GOODS CANNOT BE ADEQUATELY EXPRESSED From living experience I have also now learnt that the cunning of the diabolic crew is so great that it would pervert even the heavenly ones* if it were possible. For I was encompassed by a great many of the devil's deceitful and pernicious crew who, with others in heaven in communication with them, perverted all the things I thought, which at the time were from the Word of God Messiah, and were indeed truths which my mind apprehended: and they were able in a moment to take them from my mind, and they turned them into falsities so craftily that the heavenly ones, who were some distance away, began to be disturbed to the point that they could bear it no longer, supposing that they also might be perverted. This was given me to perceive from their lamentation and complaint. Such, therefore, is the cunning of the devil who is held bound in hell, that he supposes that he is even capable of perverting the heavenly ones, who, although they are most safe, still fear for themselves. That I was encompassed by such a diabolic crew, not only was I granted to hear from the heavenly ones, but also I was aware of it from manifest sensation. This was effected by a somewhat cold wind as often as they were gathered together, and again by the coldness affecting me, likewise by an obscure sensation that they were operating, that is to say, perverting truths into falsities, and also by their scolding in a loud voice, and from their replies. This was felt in like manner by those who were then around me, who said that in the meanwhile they had been in hell, and had seen most dreadful things. Towards the end, these spirits knew that they had been near me: for hell is not in any one place, but everywhere, as also is heaven, yea the heavens and God Messiah. 1747, Dec. 8. * In the Index (s.v. Angelus) they are called "Angelic Spirits".