By a clear spiritual mental image I was shown that the Lord rules everyone, thus the universe, from the inward regions one after the other. When I was engrossed in this mental picture, one and all appeared like the crudest little vessels having no life at all, thus no powers, but that all things are arranged inwardly by the Lord. When I was absorbed in the portrayal given of this mental image, the spirits around me being also absorbed in a similar one, then they admitted they are absolutely nothing, of themselves dead, only having life from the Lord and being carried wherever it pleases the Lord. For now they clearly saw themselves to be such, when yet in their outer state of mind they are by admission so gross as to think that they can do all things. 1748, 28 June.