4873. When I was finally fully awake, it was told to me that this very wicked devil (C[harles] XII 1) was in the center and that in this way by malicious tricks he entices to himself spirits who wander in sleep and then leads them into total doubt and into denial of the Divine and His protection, and that he even drives some to the point that they reject the Divine, but in sleep.
Footnotes:
1. For information on this person see footnote to passage 4704.
4873. When, at length, I was fully roused, it was related to me that the one in the midst was that very bad devil (Charles XII), and that he thus entices to himself, by malicious art, spirits who wander in sleep, 1and then brings them wholly into doubt and negation concerning the Divine and His guardianship, and that he coerces some so far that they abjure the Divine - but, in sleep.
Footnotes:
1. The phenomenon of Somnambulism is plainly, therefore, not confined to this life.
4873. Cum tandem evigilatus sum plene, tunc narrabatur mihi, quod pessimus ille diabolus (C. XII) in medio esset, et quod ita spiritus qui vagantur in somno, arte malitiosa pelliciat ad se, et tunc prorsus in dubium et in negationem adducat illos de Divino et Ipsius tutela, et quod usque eo adigat quosdam, ut abjurent Divinum, sed in somno.