1218. THAT POWER IS OBTAINED ONLY BY MEANS OF VASTATIONS I spoke with spirits who were being vastated, and who despaired because they were unwilling to believe what they were told about it, namely, that power to become angels is only obtained by means of vastations, and that before they have by gift from the Lord obtained such power that they can be led like the angels, they cannot be admitted; also there must be an impletion of power before their admission. There is, therefore, vastation even after they have become angels, since there are still present very many filthy natural things in consociations which rebel and as it were ferment; while these are being dissolved, the spirits are in consequence sent away, and again admitted. Thus one can never be completely infilled with power, for there are always things that must be removed, so that the spirit may grow better. Wherefore spirits are gifted by the Lord with nothing but faculties so that they can be led in truth and good, which are superadded. And thus when these produce equilibrium, and the spirits are led in good and truth by the Lord, they then seem to themselves to be good, and it seems that evil and false things are blotted out, which however is not the case. 1748, Mar. 7.