791. THE ODOR OF SCANDALS I perceived the general sentiment of spirits to be so composed of scandals, that they would not acknowledge the Lord as the Lord of the universe and the Savior of all; this was the general sentiment which I perceived. I therefore compared it to a kind of odor, for anything like this can be compared to an odor, and it is also represented by an odor. As often as it is pleasing [to the Lord], it is also sensed as an odor, both by man and by spirits. That odor was then perceived; it was like that of stinking water, or of water defiled with refuse. I sensed this, and it was told me that such is the odor of those scandals. 1748, Feb. 15.