2477、有一次，我听见一些灵人彼此讨论以下观念：凡作为一个原则或基本假设被采用的东西，无论它是什么，都会以无数方式被证实，直到最终在那些已经证实的人看来，它完全是真的，即便它是假的；人们更容易被说服相信虚假，而不是真理。为让灵人信服这一点，我给了他们一个话题，我建议他们一起思考并讨论一下，使用外部记忆对灵人来说是否有益。灵人们讨论这类话题的方式远远超出世人的想象，甚至理解，但每个灵人都照着他的情感来讨论。倾向于肉体和世俗事物的灵人以多种方式证实，这是有益的，理由如下：这样他们就不会失去任何东西，死后将和以前一样是人；这样他们就能通过世人回到这个世界；生命的快乐就在外部记忆中；聪明和智慧不住在其它官能或天赋中。更不用说他们为支持自己的原则或假设，直到它在他们看来是真的而堆积起来的其它许多理由了。
但那时，其他灵人从相反的原则或假设思考和说话。他们知道他们所说的是真的，因为这符合神性秩序。他们说，如果灵人被允许使用外部记忆，那么他们将和以前，也就是在世为人时一样不完美。在这种情况下，与那些使用内部记忆的人相比，他们的观念将更粗糙、更模糊。因此，他们不仅会变得越来越愚蠢，还会下降，而不是上升，从而不会活到永远。事实上，再度沉浸于世俗和肉体事物会使他们又进入死亡的状态。他们还说，如果灵人被允许使用外部记忆，人类就会灭亡，因为主通过灵人和天使掌管世上的每个人。如果灵人真的从外部记忆流入人，那么人就无法从他自己的记忆思考，只能从该灵人的记忆思考了。因此，人就不再享有他自己的生命和自由或判断了，而是会被附体。过去，附体不是指别的东西。此外还有其它论据。
Potts(1905-1910) 2477
2477. I once heard spirits speaking together of the fact that whatever is adopted as a principle, no matter what it may be, can be confirmed by innumerable things, until at length, to the man who has confirmed himself, it appears entirely true even though false; and that men can be more easily persuaded of a falsity than of a truth. In order that they might be convinced of this, it was proposed to them that they should think and speak together on the point as to whether it is useful to spirits to use the exterior memory (for spirits converse on such subjects in a manner far surpassing man's belief, or even conception, but each one in accordance with his affection). The spirits who were in favor of corporeal and worldly things confirmed the proposition in question by many reasons, such as that in this way they would have lost nothing, but would be men after death equally as before; that in this way they could come again into the world through man; that the delight of life is in the exterior memory; and that in no other faculty and endowment are there intelligence and wisdom; besides many other reasons by which they confirmed themselves in their principle, until it appeared to them true. [2] But others then thought and spoke from the opposite principle, knowing that what they said was true, because it was from Divine order. They said that if spirits were permitted to use the exterior memory they would then be in similar imperfection as before, when they were men; that by so doing they would be in gross and obscure ideas, in comparison with those who are in the interior memory; and thus would not only become more and more foolish, but would also descend, and not ascend; thus would not live eternally; for to immerse themselves again in worldly and corporeal things would be to give themselves again into a state of death. They said also that if spirits were permitted to use the exterior memory the human race would perish; for every man is directed by the Lord through angels and spirits; and that if spirits were to flow into man from the exterior memory, he could not think from his own memory, but only from that of the spirit; thus man would come to be no longer in the enjoyment of his own life and his own freedom, but would be obsessed (the obsessions of former times being nothing else); besides other reasons.
Elliott(1983-1999) 2477
2477. On one occasion I heard spirits talking to one another about the fact that whatever is made a basic assumption, no matter what, can be confirmed in countless ways, and with a person who has confirmed himself in it, it can at length be made to look altogether like the truth even though it is false, and that people can be persuaded more easily of falsity than of truth. To convince them of this it was suggested to them that they should think about and discuss among themselves whether it would be beneficial for spirits to use the exterior memory. (Spirits discuss such matters in far more excellent a fashion than man is capable of believing or indeed apprehending; but each spirit does so according to his own affection.) Spirits who were in favour of bodily and worldly things confirmed in many ways that it would be beneficial, for the following reasons: That they would then have lost nothing but would be just as much men after death as they had been before; that they would then be able by means of man to return into the world; that the exterior memory contains the joy of life; and that intelligence and wisdom reside in no other capability or gift. There were yet other considerations by which they confirmed themselves in the assumption they made, so that it appeared to them to be true. Other spirits at that time however thought and spoke from a contrary assumption. They knew that what they thought and said was true, because it stemmed from Divine order. They said that if spirits were allowed to use the exterior memory their condition would in that case be as imperfect as it had been previously when they were men. That being so, their ideas would be more gross and obscure than of those who employ the interior memory. They would accordingly not only grow more and more stupid, they would also decline and not progress, and so would not live for ever. Indeed to engross themselves once again in worldly and bodily things would be to surrender themselves once again to a mortal condition. Furthermore they said that if spirits were allowed to use the exterior memory the human race would perish since all men are governed by the Lord by means of spirits and angels, and that if from the exterior memory spirits were to flow into man, man would be unable to think from his own memory, only from that of a spirit. Thus man would no longer have any life and judgement of his own but would be a man possessed. Possession of people in the past was nothing else. There are further considerations besides these.
Latin(1748-1756) 2477
2477. Quondam audivi spiritus inter se loquentes de eo quod quicquid pro principio arripitur, qualecumque sit, possit innumeris confirmari, et tandem apud eum qui se conformavit, usque ut appareat prorsus sicut verum tametsi falsum sit, et quod de falso potius quam de vero possint persuaderi; ut de eo convincerentur, proponebatur illis hoc ut inter se cogitarent et loquerentur, num conducat spiritibus uti memoria exteriore. (Spiritus inter se de talibus loquuntur multo excellentius, quam homo credere, immo capere potest, sed quisque secundum suam affectionem.) {1} Spiritus qui pro corporeis et mundanis erant, confirmabant hoc multis, ex his causis: quod sic nihil amisissent quin post mortem aeque forent homines ac fuerunt ante; quod sic potuissent iterum per hominem venire in mundum; quod in memoria exteriore sit jucundum vitae; quodque in nulla alia facultate et dote sit intelligentia et sapientia; praeter plura alia, quibus se confirmabant in principio suo, usque ut hoc appareret illis ut verum. Sed alii tunc ex principio opposito cogitarunt et locuti sunt, scientes quod verum, quia ex ordine Divino; dicebant, si liceret spiritibus uti memoria exteriore, quod tunc in simili imperfectione forent, in qua prius cum fuerunt homines: quod sic in crassis et obscuris ideis prae illis qui sunt in memoria interiore: et sic non modo stultescerent magis et magis, sed etiam descenderent non ascenderent, ita nec viverent in aeternum; immergere {2} enim (o)se iterum mundanis et corporeis, foret se iterum dare in statum mortis: tum si spiritibus uti liceret memoria exteriore, quod humanum genus periret, unusquisque enim homo regitur a Domino per spiritus et angelos, si spiritus ex memoria exteriore influerent in hominem, non potuisset homo ex sua memoria, sed ex spiritus, cogitare, ita homo non suae vitae et sui juris fieret amplius, sed foret obsessus; obsessiones olim non aliud fuisse; praeter plura. @1 A o parentheses.$ @2 immergi.$