are evil spirits with him, who dominate him so fully that the angels, though present, can scarcely do more than guide him, so that he shall not hurl himself into the lowest evil, and bend him to some good—­to some good by means of his own desires, indeed, and to some truth through even fallacies of sense.  Then, through the spirits who are with him, he has communication with the world of spirits, but not so much with heaven, for the evil spirits rule with him, and the angels only avert their rule.  When, however, a man is regenerated, then the angels rule and inspire in him all good and truth, and a horror and dread of evil and falsity.  The angels lead the man indeed, but serve only as ministers, for it is the Lord alone, Who, by angels and spirits, governs man.

—­Arcana Coelestia, n. 50

It is an office of the angels to inspire charity and faith in a man, to observe the direction his enjoyments take, and to restrain and bend them to good, as far as they can in man’s free choice.  They are forbidden to act violently, and so to break a man’s cupidities and principles; but are bidden to act gently.  It is also an office of theirs to govern evil spirits who are from hell.  When evil spirits infuse evils and what is false, the angels instill what is true and good, by which they at least temper an evil.  Infernal spirits are continually assaulting, and angels constantly giving protection.  Especially do the angels call forth goods and truths which are with a man, and oppose them to the evils and falsities which the evil spirits excite.  Hence a man is in the midst, nor does he apperceive the evil or the good; and being in the midst, is free to turn himself to the one or to the other.  By such means angels from the Lord lead and protect a man, and this every moment, and every moment of a moment.  For, should the angels intermit their care a single instant, man would be plunged into evil from which he could never afterward be led forth.  These offices the angels do from a love which they have from the Lord; for they know nothing pleasanter and happier than to remove evils from a man, and to lead him to heaven.  That this is their joy, see Luke, XV, 7.  Scarcely any man believes that the Lord has such a care for man, and this continually, from the first thread of his life to the last, and on to eternity.

—­Arcana Coelestia, n. 5992

WHOLESOME AND UNWHOLESOME COMMUNICATION

Many believe that a man can be taught by the Lord through spirits who speak with him.  They who believe so, and will this communication, do not know, however, that it is attended with danger to their souls.  While a man is living in the world, he is in the midst of spirits as to his spirit; nevertheless spirits do not know they are with man, nor a man that he is with spirits.  But as soon as spirits begin to speak with a man, they come out of their spiritual state into the man’s natural state; and then