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be innocence. But it is otherwise with those who have confirmed themselves in falsities, and have thus contracted such a life of the false as to refuse and oppose all truth; and still worse with those who, from evil desires, have confirmed themselves in false principles, so that falsities and lusts constitute one life; for these are they who sink themselves down into hell. (A. C. 845.)

It is said (Rev. xii. 6) that the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God; and afterwards that she got the wings of an eagle, and flew to her own place, by which is signified that the church which is called the New Jerusalem is to tarry among those who are in the doctrine of faith separate from charity, while it grows to its fulness, until provision is made for its reception among greater numbers.

But in that church there are dragons who separate faith from good works, not only in doctrine but also in life; whereas the rest in the same church, who live the life of faith, which is charity, are not dragons although among them; for they think that it is agreeable to doctrine that faith produces the fruits which are good works; and that the faith which justifies and saves, is to believe those things which are in the word and to do them.

But the dragons are of quite another way of thinking. But what the sentiments of these latter are, the former do not comprehend; and since they do not comprehend, neither do they receive them. From which