It was said that the Providence of the Lord is unceasingly exerted to modify and mitigate evil, alike in its origin and in its effects. Swedenborg very beautifully and amply illustrates this truth, and shows that the Divine Providence is equally with the wicked and the good. The wicked man, of his own free choice, continually plunges himself more and more deeply into evil; because as he wills and does evil, he introduces himself more and more deeply into infernal societies. But the Lord, by a thousand invisible means, continually withdraws him from evil; and where a cure or complete prevention is impossible, mitigates his fearful fate by providing circumstances and situations in life which serve to lead the evil into less hurtful developments. The operation of the Divine Providence in saving man begins at his birth, and continues to the end of his life. The Lord sees what a man is, and what he desires to be, consequently what he will be; therefore the Lord foresees his state after death, and provides for it from his birth to the end of his life; with the wicked He provides by permitting and continually withdrawing them from evils; with the good He provides by leading them to good. Thus the Divine Providence is continually in the effort to save men; but more cannot be saved than desire to be saved. Those who acknowledge God and are led by Him, desire to be saved; and those who do not acknowledge God, but guide themselves, do not desire to be saved: for the latter do not think of eternal life and salvation, but the former do. This the Lord sees; but still He leads them according to the laws of His Divine Providence, against which He cannot act, for to act against them would be to act against Himself. Now, as the Lord foresees the states of all after death, and knows the places of those who are not willing to be saved, He, as far as is consistent with human freedom, labors to soften man’s evil; and if He cannot lead him to heaven, still preserves him from sinking to the lowest hell. From this it follows that every man may be reformed, that there is no such thing as predestination, and that it is a man’s own fault if he is not saved. All are created for heaven, and none for hell; and if man sink into perdition, he does so through his own obstinacy, and through the deliberate choice of a life of evil. As saith the Apostle: “The Lord is long-suffering to usward, _not willing that any should perish_, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter iii. 9. And the Lord himself says: “Fear not, little flock; it is your _Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom_.” Luke xii. 32.