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INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. xiii.
purpose. But whenever the time should arrive, it is
undeniably certain, that some individual or other of the
human race must be enlightened to make it known.
Whenever the superior clearness of doctrinal views,
introductory to superior purity of practice, which, as all
commentators admit, is at some period to constitute the
pre-eminent glory of the Church, should be commu
nicated to bless her members, it is obviously indispen
sable, that some individual or other of the human race
should receive the illumination necessary to introduce it.
Some instrument or other, peculiarly enlightened, must
be raised up for the purpose. If, then, it is not un
reasonable to suppose that the present may be the time
in which the Church, or state of the Church, represented
by the New Jerusalem, is to commence, there is no
absurdity in supposing that such an instrument for com
municating her doctrines may already have appeared.
The illustrious Swedenborg is believed by many to have
stood in this capacity. He most solemnly affirms it in
various parts of his writings : is there any improbability
in the belief, that he may have been the instrument which
some man must be ? A man who makes such an asser
tion either believes it himself, or he does not. He who
can make such an assertion without believing it himself,
must be a supremely wicked impostor. But it is im
possible to entertain such a suspicion in regard to
Swedenborg : not only is there the most abundant ex
ternal testimony to the innocence and sincerity of his
character, but these are obvious from the whole of his
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