1628. Certain spirits, out of an ingrained curiosity, were eager to learn still more of the matters revealed to me, but they had found out that if they longed to learn them, they were not allowed to. For this reason, in order to learn them they were trying to keep thinking that they did not want to know them. This attempt was at once perceived, and they were told that in this way they would not come to know them, because they were using trickery by pretending not to want to know, as they were well aware. The spirits affirmed this, saying that they are trying in this way to find out more. So I told them that they should not do this, but should be without desire, and then it would be left to the Lord to give in His good pleasure. This they did attempt, but they were trying to do so from their own power, which was still an artifice and their own endeavor or will, as they also affirmed because this was plainly visible by a spiritual mental image. When they asked how they should go about it, they were told that they should not do anything from their own power, but act without introspection. But because they were unable to do this, they tried to be devoid of all effort, abandoning all will power so as to passively await [activation]. But when they tried to do this, again they were told that it was not genuine to abandon themselves to effortlessness, so they said that they could not possibly learn how to behave, for whatever they do in accordance with what has been commanded, is still not genuine. The reason is that then they are not being led by the Lord, but wanting to lead themselves, and wanting to endeavor, or will, and to act from their own power. Therefore, they should know that all their effort should be the Lord's, so that nothing is theirs. So when they endeavor from their own power, it is nothing but sin, which the Lord does not support. To be guided and to live from the Lord is therefore something that neither man nor spirit is aware of, so they suppose such a life is not life, when yet it is the real life. While one should not endeavor from one's own power, neither should one let oneself give up all effort. These are very inward matters, which are so difficult to believe, because they are neither understood, nor perceived.