458. The faces of hypocrites are changed later than those of others, because by practice they had formed a habit of so managing their interiors as to imitate good affections; consequently, for a long time they appear not unbeautiful. But as that which they had assumed is gradually put off; and the interiors of the mind are brought into accord with the form of their affections, they become after a while more misshapen than others. Hypocrites are such as have been accustomed to talk like angels, but interiorly have acknowledged nature alone and not the Divine, and have therefore denied the things of the Church and of heaven.