Spirits complained exceedingly when they had heard certain truths, such as that they are nothing, that they are only vessels, and instruments of life, that from their own power they can do nothing good, and the like. These truths considerably aggravated and offended the spirits, especially those stirred with self-love, whereas others learn truths in a pleasant state. So they complained, why should they learn in a state of mind so hard and depressed? For those truths very much aggravated them. Then the thought arose among angels and spirits, why are they taught in a depressed state? The answer was given them that the state of mind they are in when they learn has a way of returning or being recalled together with those same truths, so that when a similar truth returns or is recalled to mind, especially when it has become familiar, and more or less one's own, then that sadness also returns, which is made cheerful by the Lord and becomes pleasantness. In this way the sensation of it is enhanced, as is everything in relation to its diversities, even its opposites. This is evident from many things in nature, from taste, odor, every object of sight, from a thousand other things, from harmonies in music, [etc.] 1748, 11 June.