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TESTIMONY OF DR. MESSITER. 41
Tothe Professor of Divinity in the University of
Glasgow.
"REV. SIR,
"Had I the honour of your acquaintance I should not
have addressed you in the general term of Professor of
Divinity, and therefore hope your candour will not suffer
you to construe my ignorance into a disrespect I would
not willingly be thought guilty of. The Hon. Mr.
Swedenborg has desired me to send you, as a present
from him, some late Tracts of his writing, I hope not
more extraordinary than true. As I have had often the
honour of conversing with him, I can with great truth
assert, that he is truly amiable in his morals, most learned
and humble in his discourse, and superlatively affable,
humane, and courteous in his behaviour ; and this joined
with a solidity of understanding and penetration far above
the level of an ordinary genius. Thus much I know of
him, and therefore sacredly affirm, though not without
an humble deference to your opinion of his writings.
If this character be allowed him, as I am confident it will
in time, it will remove the most general objections offered
by the most violent and daring Deists to revealed religion,
viz., that the authors [ who profess to have received reve
lations ] are obscure illiterate enthusiasts. The two last
charges, his writings (if not what is above said) will soon
refute, and the first will be removed by the account given
of himself in the letter to his friend, which you have at
the end of the Summaria Expositio. Though I must beg
pardon for having taking up thus much of your time, I
must yet take the liberty to remark, that the translation of
the above-mentioned Treatise is designed as a present for
any English reader you might think proper to present it to,
but as it is very indifferently executed, I am confident it
will do the author no honour, and therefore wish he had
omitted it. I shall be glad to be honoured with a line
on receipt of the books, and on any future convenient
occasion shall be happy to receive your opinion of them.
-I am, Sir, with the greatest respect, your most humble
and most obedient servant, " H. MESSITER."
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