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:

1148. 'After the Flood' means from the time when this new Church emerged. Similarly this is clear from what has been stated in previous chapters. Actually the end of the Most Ancient Church and also the start of the Ancient Church is described by the Flood. It should be noted that the Church before the Flood is called the Most Ancient Church, but the Church after the Flood the Ancient Church.