6475. I once heard what was told to certain evil spirits who were in the world of spirits and whose thoughts were constantly ones of opposition to the Lord. (What spirits from hell are like when they are in the world of spirits, see 5852). They were told to produce someone speaking truthfully about any angel in heaven - or if they could, to point out anyone in heaven - who did not acknowledge the Lord, anyone who did not acknowledge that He was the life in all people and that they derived all they possessed from Him. But those evil spirits remained silent because they could not do it. Some of them who believed that heavens also existed in which the Lord was not acknowledged went around in search of such; but they came back, having failed in the attempt.
[2] Those spirits were told in addition that the thoughts of all in hell are ones of opposition to the Lord, and that those in hell attribute nothing superhuman whatever to Him, even though most of them say they acknowledge the Supreme Being, by whom they mean the Father. But they nevertheless lead lives of hatred and revenge, and wish to exalt themselves constantly above others and be venerated as gods; and in this way they make a hell for themselves. It is altogether different with those who acknowledge the Lord and at heart believe in Him. From this it is also clear that the Lord flows into all, both in a general manner by means of heaven and also in specific ways, as well as in a universal manner, directly from Himself. It is also clear that where the good of charity exists, He is present; and He is also present where the opposite exists, but only in a way that allows Him to give them life, and as far as possible to lead them away from evil.
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