423. * THAT QUAKERS ESPECIALLY, WHEN THEY ENTER THE OTHER LIFE, ADORE A CLOUD UPON THE BENDED KNEE There appeared to me obscurely one like a cloud, bent upon his knees, who was adoring a cloud. When I inquired what that was, it was said that Quakers are governed by such a phantasy, because they fashion for themselves a heaven out of their phantasy, and do not know what is truly heavenly, or what faith is, for they wish for and fashion a heaven [for themselves]. These things are turned into a similar phantasy. Nor can it be otherwise, because they do not suffer themselves to be instructed by others, nor by the Word of God Messiah, but cleave to the principles they have adopted, and suppose that they are governed by the Holy Spirit, when nevertheless nothing is less true; for there are spirits who do not know what heaven is, nor who is the Lord of heaven, but still desire to be saluted as the Holy Spirit. Quaker souls increase that crowd, but they are distinguished from [other] spirits by a white line around the head of two of them, since for the most part they appear in pairs. They are called by them simple Enthusiastic spirits who only speak from their adopted principles and doctrines, and so excite enthusiasm which they esteem most particularly, so that they can be men and show themselves to be the Holy Spirit. 1747, Dec. 30. * There is no n. 422 in the manuscript.