173. [173] They who were in faith alone persecuted me. They brought persecution upon me* by bringing me into a state like that in which they themselves were by means of a like respiration and a like pulse; thus also into like thought and affection. And, in respect to God and salvation, I was in an obscure cloudiness as though immersed in water; and it was perceived that I had no communication** with heaven; and it was said that they have a similar communication. * Tafel has, eamque mihi intulerunt; the MS., me persecuti mihi intulerunt. In SE 5827 it is, Se congregarunt, et violentiam inferebant, "They gathered themselves together, and inflicted violence." ** See SE 5827.