7. The first state is the state which precedes, both the state existing from earliest childhood onwards and that existing immediately before regeneration; and it is called a void, emptiness, and thick darkness. And the first movement, which is the Lord's mercy, is 'the Spirit of God hovering over the face ¹ of the waters'.

Footnotes:

5976. THE SPIRITS AND ANGELS PRESENT WITH A PERSON - continued

It was shown in the section at the end of the previous chapter [in 5849] that two spirits from hell and two angels from heaven are present with each person; that they provide communication both with hell and with heaven and also enable a person to be in freedom.