Spirits were told [this], because I realized by a spiritual mental image, that they are never to be venerated; for they constantly want it, insisting that they should be feared and that others including people on earth should venerate them. This is their greatest pursuit. But because their state of mind is continually changing, and they can neither think nor speak on their own power, nor recall any matter on their own, nor punish, nor reward, they are therefore not to be venerated. Only the Lord must be venerated, Who knows all and the least things, and rules the universal heaven and earth, Who rewards, and does what is good. Angels, likewise, are not to be worshipped, much less adored, for the good they do is not theirs, but the Lord's, as all angels confess. Otherwise they are not angels. Yet honor is shown them, to the degree that they are the Lord's. 1748, 12 June.