1385. Er zijn geesten, die tot de streek van de huid, vooral van de schubachtige huid behoren, die over alles willen redeneren en geenszins gewaarworden, wat goed en waar is, en die het zelfs hoe meer zij redeneren, des te minder gewaarworden, doordat zij in het redeneren de wijsheid stellen, en ook zo als wijs gezien te worden. Hun werd gezegd, dat de wijsheid van de engelen bestaat in het innerlijk gewaarworden of iets goed en waar is, zonder geredeneer; maar zij begrijpen niet, dat zo’n innerlijke gewaarwording kan bestaan Het zijn diegenen, die in het leven van het lichaam het goede en het ware verward hebben door wetenschappelijke en filosofische dingen, en zich vandaar voor geleerder hielden dan anderen en die van te voren niet enig beginsel van het ware uit het Woord hadden opgenomen; en zij hebben daarom minder gezonde rede.

1388. The second kind of perception, as has been stated, is common to all, existing with angels to the height of perfection, and with spirits according to the particular character of each one; that is to say, they know the character of another as soon as he approaches, even when he does not say a word. It shows itself immediately by means of a certain remarkable influx. A good spirit is recognized not only from the goodness within him but also from the faith there, and from each word he uses as he is speaking, while a wicked spirit is recognized from his wickedness and unbelief, and from each word he uses as he is speaking. They are recognized so plainly that one could never be mistaken. Something similar occurs among men who likewise, from another person's gestures, looks, and speech, are sometimes able to know what he is thinking, even though something different is expressed in his speech. With man such knowledge is natural, but it has its origin in and receives its character from that which exists in spirits, and so from the spirit of the individual himself and from his communication with the world of spirits. This communicative perception from this source derives in the first place from the Lord's will that all goods should be communicable and that all people should be stirred by mutual love and so be happy. This being so, such perception reigns universally among spirits also.