Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 1.djvu/125

Rh The separation of evil spirits from good ones is effected in this second state, for in the first state they are together; since while a spirit is in his exteriors, he is as he was in the world, thus as an evil person with a good one there, and as a good person with an evil one. But it is otherwise when he is brought into his interiors, and left to his own nature or will. The separation of the evil from the good is effected in various ways; generally by their being led around to those societies with which they had had communication by good thoughts and affections in their first state, and so to those whom they had induced, by external appearances, to believe that they were not evil. They are usually led around through an extensive circle, and everywhere their real character is shown to the good spirits. At the sight of them the good spirits turn themselves away; and as they turn away, so likewise the evil spirits who are led around, turn their faces away from them to the quarter where their infernal society is, which they are about to enter. Not to mention other methods of separation, which are many. (H. H. 498-511.)