194. THAT SPIRITS AND ANGELS SUPPOSE THAT THEY ACT AND SPEAK FROM THEMSELVES, ALTHOUGH IT IS FROM OTHERS I have also often observed that spirits or angels acted and spoke with me and supposed that they did so from themselves, when yet it was from other spirits, interior and more interior than themselves, to whom it was given the lower of loosening and tightening the bond of the will and of the mouth, as said above [193]. When I had observed and told them this they were indignant for a little while, but still they could not but acknowledge it. From this it is permissible to conclude that there are continuous mediations, arranged in an incomprehensible manner by God Messiah, consequently that there are also successive mediations of permissions which always increase as to the intention of evil, the more there is a descent to evil spirits. Hence it follows that the permissions of the higher angels have regard to better ends than those of the lower angels, in their order; and that the permission remaining to them immediately from God Messiah, is for the sake of the best or final end, namely, for the sake of the heavenly kingdom, as far as men are concerned, and thus for the sake of the glory of Jehovah. 1747, Sept. 2, o.s.