480. THAT THE WORST OF ALL THE SPIRITS IN THE ULTIMATE HEAVEN ARE THOSE WHO PROFESSED THEMSELVES TO BE CHRISTIANS: ALSO THE JEWS I have learnt from much experience, that the worst of all the spirits in the ultimate heaven are those who in the world are called Christians. These, for the most part, have no faith, but they persecute and hate all things which are of the true faith, nor do they suffer themselves to be instructed. They are tenaciously insistent; indeed, they are most deceitful, and weave together such deceits against the Lord,* against faith in Jesus, and against the faithful, that one cannot but be astonished that such [hatred] should adhere to their "animus " or inrooted nature, for they then act from their disposition and when they are left to this, they resemble the furies. The Mahomedans, indeed, who are teachable and suffer themselves to be led and easily receive faith, are very greatly astonished at this. After the Christian, [the worst] are the Jews, except those who have worshiped Abraham as God; these also are very deceitful. The meekest of all are the Africans, concerning whom see above [nos. 432, 453]. 1748, Jan. 15. * With the exception of the reference in n. 258 to "the prayer of our Lord", this is the first occurrence of the word Dominus [Lord], instead of Deus Messias [God Messiah]. In the next few numbers the term God Messiah occurs, but after this only "The Lord".