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2 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
branches of knowledge, opened for himself a way of his
own, without ever straying from sound morals and true
piety ; who, being endowed with a strength of faculties
truly extraordinary, in the decline of his age, boldly
elevated his thoughts still further, and soared to the
greatest heights to which the intellectual faculty can rise ;
and who, finally, has given occasion to form respecting
him a multitude of opinions, differing as much from each
other as do the minds of the different men by whom they
are formed !
When the riches and beauties of nature shine with the
greatest brilliancy before our eyes, then it is that we per
ceive most distinctly the shades which are inseparable
from them. On the appearance of a new light, the man
of mere curiosity sees nothing but marvels and miracles
even in its illusions. The blockhead, on the other hand,
turns all into ridicule : in his estimation, acute penetration
is subtilty, deep thought is dreaming, abstract meditation
is enthusiastic reverie, to quit the beaten track is to go
astray, and the investigation of unknown truths is sheer
madness. The wise man is not so precipitate : he does
not despise a rich mineral, because it contains some
heterogeneous substances which indicate its origin : he
endeavours to discover the variations of the needle, not
for the sake of exposing its defects, but that he may
make the best use of this admirable guide : he values an
inquiring eye, even when it ventures to direct a glance at
the sun he avoids excessive rigour, and takes care not
to judge with harshness of an ardent and laborious zeal
in the pursuit of truth : and none can find anything to
censure in Swedenborg, unless it be, that he allowed his
genius this way to go too far. *
It is thus that, notwithstanding some passages a little
difficult to explain, the fair picture of his life well merits
examination.
The excellent Bishop of Skara, Dr. Jasper Swedberg,
From this it appears that M. Sandel did not belong to the
number of those who had studied and appreciated Swedenborg’s
theological writings ; hence his testimony must be considered as
so much the more impartial. [Tafel.]
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