200. THAT MANY OF THE INTERIOR THINGS OF THE WORD OF GOD MESSIAH CAN BE LEARNED, NOT FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PRESENT HUMAN RACE, BUT FROM THAT OF THE ANCIENTS AND OF SPIRITS Very many things occur in the Word of God Messiah, both in the Old and in the New Testament, which cannot but appear unintelligible, but this is because the human race living at this day has so entirely changed from those who lived in the Ancient Church, and from those who lived afterwards in the Primitive Church. These, if they were living now, would have been able to know this well from experience and revelation in themselves; moreover, it can also be better known from the state of the spirits or human souls who now fill the ultimate sphere of the heavens. This also is the reason why it is allowable to adduce from them experiences of things which at this day are obliterated, as it were, and in this way make good the ignorance. These things [were written] in the presence of spirits, who were indignant that experience should be gained from them. 1747. Sept. 15, o.s. As what is meant by being drunk, by blushing, and similar things.