4580. CONCERNING AFFIRMATIVE DOUBT, AND NEGATIVE DOUBT. MIRACLES. I was surrounded by many spirits, with whom I spoke; and they wished that this or that should be done, so that they might thence know whether the power of the Lord was so great as was said. But it was replied, that this could have been done, but it would be of no use, since they wanted to infer thence just as from miracles, the power of the Lord. It was said that certain spirits are in affirmative doubt; some in negative doubt. The former can be convinced; but the latter never. For they would constantly form for themselves such [objections] anew, even if the thing should go on for ever; for they inwardly deny it. The reason is, that they who have been in the good of life, are in doubt at the start, but in an affirmative manner because good itself is the recipient of the affirmative, or the faculty of receiving is in good itself; of which they are unaware while in the doubt. These are able, by such signs [as are alluded to above], by experiences, and by miracles, to be led to certainty. If they are such as are in the evil of life, they cannot be because evil is the recipient of the negative: hence every such doubt is led thither, and becomes, gradually, negative, also.