AC 2406 - the second state: what the Lord does for us

AC 2406 [1-2]
The first state was described in verses 1-3 of this chapter,
a state when the good of charity exists with them
and they acknowledge the Lord,
and when they are being confirmed by Him in good.
The present verse describes the second state,
a state when among members of the Church themselves
evils start to act against goods
and when people are powerfully withheld from evils
and maintained in goods by the Lord.
This state is dealt with in the present verse
and in verses 16, 17, which follow.

As regards this matter, few, if any,
know that all people without exception are withheld from evils by the Lord,
and this by a mightier force than a person can ever believe.
For the endeavor of every person is continually toward evil,
and this both from what is hereditary, into which he is born,
and from what is actual, which he has procured for himself;
and this to such a degree that if he were not withheld by the Lord,
he would rush headlong every moment toward the lowest hell.
But the mercy of the Lord is so great
that at every moment, even the least,
the person is uplifted and held back,
to prevent him from rushing thither.
This is the case with the good also,
but with a difference according to their life of charity and faith.
Thus the Lord combats continually
with a person,
and for a person
with hell,
although it does not so appear to the person.