Page:The Doctrines of the New Church Briefly Explained.djvu/219

Rh they are with him, and conjoin themselves with the thoughts of his affection. . . Hence the speaking spirit is in the same principles as the man to whom he speaks, be they true or false; and likewise excites them, and by his affection conjoined to the man's, strongly confirms them. . ..

"From this it is evident to what danger a man is exposed, who speaks with spirits, or manifestly feels their operation. Man is ignorant of the quality of his affection, whether it be good or evil, and with what other beings it is conjoined; and if he is in the conceit of his own intelligence, his attendant spirits favor every thought thence derived. So it is, if any one is disposed to favor particular principles enkindled by a certain fire which belongs to those who are not in truths from genuine affection. When a spirit from similar affection favors a man's thoughts or principles, then one leads the other as the blind lead the blind, until both fall into the pit. The Pythonists of old were of this description; likewise the magicians in Egypt and Babylon." (Ap. Ex. 1182.)

The idea which the Christian church in the middle of the last century entertained concerning the spiritual world, was extremely vague and indefinite—so much so, indeed, that it could hardly be called an idea. Multitudes were beginning to doubt, and not a few to deny, the immortality of the soul; and those who believed in it had no