so much experience, that were I to recite all that I have seen and heard on this subject, it would fill a volume. This I can testify, that there is no faith at all, neither can there be any, with those who are in corporeal and worldly love without that which is celestial and spiritual; and that what some may regard as faith, is mere science, or a persuasion that such a thing is true because it serves their love.
Many also from among those who supposed that they had faith, have been brought to those who really had it; and when communication with them was opened, they perceived that their faith was no faith at all. They also confessed afterwards that mere belief in the truth and in the Word is not faith; but that to love truth from heavenly love, and to will and do it from interior affection, is faith.
It was also shown that their persuasion, which they called faith, was only as the light of winter, in which there is no heat. In that season, therefore, all things on the earth being bound in frost become torpid and lie buried beneath the snow. Wherefore as soon as the rays of the light of heaven fall upon the light of this persuasive faith, with them it is not only extinguished, but also becomes as thick darkness wherein no one sees himself. And their interiors become so darkened at the same time, that they understand nothing whatever, and at length become insane from falsities.
Therefore all the truths which such persons had
