AC 3330 - the spiritual person in the beginning

AC 3330
That in the spiritual person, in the beginning truth, has the dominion,
is chiefly because in his first state there are delights
of the love of self and of the world which he believes to be good,
and which apply themselves to his truths,
and for the most part produce the affection of truth in him;
for he thinks that truths may be serviceable to him
either for honor, or for gain, or for reputation in the world,
or even for merit in the other life.
All these things excite this affection of truth in him,
and also enkindle it;
and yet they are not good, but evil.

Nevertheless the Lord permits
that such things should influence him in that first time,
because otherwise he could not be regenerated.
Intelligence and wisdom come in time;
in the meanwhile
through these truths the person is introduced into good,
that is, into charity;
and when he is in this,
then for the first time
he perceives what is good, and acts from good,
and then judges and draws conclusions from this good concerning truths;
and those which do not accord with this good he calls false, and rejects.
Thus he rules over truths as a master over his servants.