1355. THAT SPIRITS CAN BE GREATLY MISLED IN THEIR JUDGMENTS CONCERNING SOULS That spirits can be greatly deceived concerning such judgments, see above [nos. 921-933, 1220]. Hence it can be evident that when a soul is in their company, and is reduced by them and by others into a certain affection or cupidity, the spirits then examine him by speaking, and force him to speak also. This is easily done. When they hear his conversation flow without interruption, as if from himself, they then judge that he is of a certain nature, when nevertheless it is the affection or cupidity which thus, as it were, speaks, and the soul is not of such a nature. Into a state of such affections or cupidities every soul can be easily reduced, and he then speaks from the state of that cupidity as if from himself, and according to this spirits immediately judge concerning his life. This judgment is sometimes false. I have observed something similar to this examination of souls in my own case, thus from living experience; wherefore the Lord alone knows the interior and the more interior things of men and souls. 1748, Mar. 15.