199. 5325. But I was asked by those who are around me - and that they were Jews, I was able to learn from many indications, without their own admission - I was asked why it had been foreseen by God the Messiah that they would fall, and seeing they were of this nature, why were they let into temptation? I replied, in order that from being earthly people, they might be made spiritual. No other means has been provided so that people may be reformed or regenerated, which is taking place constantly in the person whom God the Messiah wills to draw to heaven. And they were tempted so that they themselves might see that they are of this nature, and thus inexcusable. As to why it was permitted that they should actually fall, and thus be separated, I replied, because the worship of God the Messiah could not be commingled with the worship of the devil, which would have happened, had they retained the former in their minds. For this reason, those words [were permitted] to come true that are read in Leviticus Chapter 16 verse 16, that "the tent would dwell in the midst of their uncleanness." It is now added that they could in this way portray the True Israel, or the inner person, regardless of what quality they might be. [Jews; Sin; Temptation]