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.

In Leviticus 26:16, this signifies the lust of evil. (Arcana Coelestia 8364[4])

In Deuteronomy 28:22, this signifies spiritual disease, or some evil destroying the life of good, or falsity destroying the life of the understanding of truth. (Arcana Coelestia 8364[3])