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38 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
works. In his letter to Dr. Hamilton at Edinburgh, Dr.
M. says,
" As I have had the honour of being frequently ad
mitted to the author’s company when he was in London,
and to converse with him on various points of learning,
I will venture to affirm, that there are no parts of mathe
matical, philosophical, or medical knowledge, nay, I
believe I might justly say, of human literature, to which
he is in the least a stranger ; yet so totally insensible is
he of his own merit, that I am confident he does not
know that he has any ; and, as himself somewhere says of
the angels, he always turns his head away on the slightest
encomium."
Dr. Hamilton, in his answer, candidly says,
"I have seen enough to convince me that the honour
able author is a very learned and pious man,-qualities
that shall ever command my respect."
So, in his letter to Dr. Gerard at Aberdeen, Dr.
Messiter, speaking of Swedenborg’s works, says,
"They are the productions of a man whose good
qualities, resulting from his natural and acquired abilities,
I can with much truth, from my frequent converse with
him, assert, are a high ornament to human nature.
Credulity, prejudice, or partiality, seem to have no share
in his composition or character ; nor is he in the least
influenced by any avaricious or interested views. A
proof of this last assertion was afforded me, by his re
fusing an offer of any money he might have occasion for
while in England, which was made him on a supposal,
that his want of connexions in a place where he was a
stranger might prove an obstacle to his divine pursuits."
We will, however, adduce the letters of Dr. Messiter
to the Scotch Professors :
To the Professor of Divinity at Edinburgh.
"October 23, 1769.
" REV. SIR,
" As I have not the honour of knowing your name,
I hope you will not attribute that deficiency in the
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