127. Men's desire to probe into mysteries of faith by means of sensory evidence and factual knowledge was not only the cause of the downfall of the Most Ancient Church, that is to say, of its descendants - to be dealt with in the next chapter; it is also the cause of the downfall of every Church. For that desire leads not only to falsities but also to evils of life.

3096. 'And ran again to the well' means a lower affection for truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'a well' as truth, dealt with in 2702, but truth that is lower. And as the subject here is the introduction of truth, a lower affection for truth is meant, as stated just above in 3094. For the difference in meaning in the internal sense between 'a spring' and 'a well' see the paragraph just referred to, where it is explained that the expression 'a spring' is used in reference to purer and higher truth, but 'a well' in reference to truth that is not so pure and is lower, as in the present chapter also where 'a spring' is used at one point, 'a well' at another. Natural truth is a lower variety of truth, and the affection for natural truth a lower kind of affection for truth. This truth enables general facts to receive light most nearly, and that enlightenment penetrates further and affects more deeply, see 3094.