In the course of much and daily experience, I have noticed that evil spirits were able to carry out or exercise their malice at one time a lot, at another little. The reason for this was today disclosed to me more clearly than formerly, namely, that to the extent that their restraints are slackened or loosened by God the Messiah [working] through angels, they carry on in evil ways; but to the extent that angels are active, their bonds seem to be tightened, that is, their power of action is taken away, so that finally they can do nothing, and do not even know what they were about to do. It is as if the amount of slackening and tightening of their bonds were being precisely and exactly weighed, as on a scale, depending upon what degree of liberty God the Messiah wills that the person [they are with] be let into. It is such an exact balancing that it cannot be described on account of the countless number of different cases. Likewise, when they are permitted to speak in a condition of slackened bonds, they say horrible and filthy things, whereas in the condition of tightened or so to speak pulled in reins, or [restricted] freedom, they speak from themselves, or from others. When from others, which also occurs with immensely great diversity, then they say things they do not want to say, such as truths contrary to their character - or else, they simply do not know what they are saying. 1747, the 2nd day of September (old calendar). From all this it follows that they are nothing, or less than a nothing.