2277. From that vivid experience lasting several hours, I was later taught by what I believe with conviction was an actual voice, that the prophets of old had been obsessed in this manner, so that spirits at that time, when they took possession of them, took over their whole body, and it was then as if nothing of the person was left, while spirits possessed all things down to the very least, and hence conducted themselves so insanely. The Lord, however, was guiding them so that they would not bring evil on anyone. Thus nothing at all belonging to those who were obsessed was left to them. Whether it was the same with the prophets who wrote, and knew nothing of the things being spoken, or how much they knew-whether it was only words they had not understood-I do not yet know.