482. But how they form consociations and also how they are dissociated [shall be said]. Spirits, because they are most ingenious, and much more ingenious than men in the body, know from various things that a soul is of such a nature that he can be in harmony with their consociation. The test of it is this, that they lead the spirit into conversation, so that they may follow his ideas, and thus make him speak according to his ideas and their own: the agreement or the repugnance is manifestly felt - it was sometimes manifest even to me. Hence they know what things are contrary to, or in agreement with, themselves, and they lead man accordingly; for they follow the series of his thoughts, and at the same time inspire affections, and in this way they lead, so that the man supposes that he speaks of himself, when nevertheless it is nothing else than consent. But things of any kind which a spirit intends for evil are bent by Jesus Christ to the good of man. 1748, Jan. 17.