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in a dark state. For example: the circumstances of devastation, punishment and condemnation, which in the Word are frequently mentioned as inflicted by the Lord, are produced only by the members of the church, who devastate, punish and condemn themselves. It appears, indeed, to the man who is the subject of these evils, as if the Lord devastated, punished and condemned him; and by reason of its so appearing it is said to be so, agreeably to such appearance. For unless man were instructed by appearances he would never suffer himself to be instructed at all; since what is contrary to appearance he does not believe or comprehend, except at a late period of life, when his judgment is ripened and he is endowed with the faith of charity.

This is the case with the church. When it is in darkness, the Lord is obscured to the apprehension of its members, so as not to appear, that is, not to be acknowledged; although the Lord is never obscured, but man, in whom and with whom He would abide. Nevertheless, the obscuration is spoken of as if produced by the Lord. (A. C. 1838.)

It is to be observed that neither with man nor angels are any truths pure, that is, without appearances. Nevertheless they are accepted of the Lord as truths if good be in them. To the Lord alone appertain pure truths, because divine; for as He is essential good, so also is He essential truth.

But what appearances are, may appear manifestly from those passages in the Word where it is spoken