AC 8560 - "The Mouth of Jehovah"; AC 8567 - Continually Despairing of Salvation

AC 8560 - "The Mouth of Jehovah"

According to the mouth of Jehovah.
(Exodus 17:1)

That this means by the providence of the Lord,
is evident from the meaning of "the mouth of Jehovah,"
as being the truth Divine according to which they were led;
for "the mouth of Jehovah"
is here taken for a Divine utterance,
and for being led according to it, which is Providence.
The Divine Providence differs
from all other leading and guidance
in the fact that Providence continually
regards what is eternal,
and continually leads unto salvation,
and this through various states,
sometimes glad, sometimes sorrowful,
which a person cannot possibly comprehend;
but still they are all profitable to his eternal life.
These things are meant by
"journeys according to the mouth of Jehovah."

AC 8567 - Continually Despairing of Salvation

For temptations are continual despairings of salvation,
in the beginning slight,
but in course of time grievous,
until at last there is doubt, almost denial,
of the presence of the Divine and of His aid.
In temptations the spiritual life
is for the most part brought to this extremity;
for in this way the natural life is extinguished,
because then, in the midst of the despair,
the inmost is kept by the Lord in combat against falsity;
and therefore this despair
is soon dissipated by comfortings
that are in the next place insinuated by the Lord;
for after every spiritual temptation there is consolation,
and as it were newness of life.