Some were with me of those who had collected passages from the literal meaning of the Lord's Word. While I was collecting passages in the Lord's Word and at the same time directing my mind to their inward meaning, they were attending only to the meaning of the letter. And I can confess, there was such darkness, and there was such repugnance, so to speak, and strain, it was like walking in deep sand and having to lift up the feet each step. When I wanted to lift my mind, they pulled me back, so that it was extremely tiring both for them and for myself, for it was a labor that wearied both parties. This prompts me to infer how those will be who cling only to the letter and study it, when they are about to hear the inward parts of the Word: there will be constant repugnance, and constant laboring, besides the pleasure they take in the letters, as in scattered sand, where they like to walk, not longing to elevate themselves toward inward regions. It also shows with what difficulty they are lifted up in the other life toward inward regions and toward heaven. For in the other life, the letter and literal meaning is nothing, and must be blotted out, just as the body must be with respect to the soul, before they can be lifted up toward heaven. 1748, 23 June.