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ANECDOTES COLLECTED BY MR. ROBSAHM. 75
church doctrines ; neither did he seek to make any
proselytes, not even communicating his thoughts and
sentiments, but to those whom he thought virtuous, dis
posed to hear them with moderation, capable of compre
hending them, and lovers of truth.
“ He explained to Mr. Robsahm, the reason why the
clergy at that time were so unwilling to receive his inter
pretations of the Scriptures. It is, said he, because they
confirm themselves in the doctrine of faith alone, from
the schools, the colleges, and the universities ; and having
confirmed themselves in some evil, do not see that evil as
evil, but find every day more pleasure in it, and vice
versâ. Besides, added he, although they see and find
that I speak truth, their ambition to preserve their repu
tation in the world, will not suffer them publicly to profess
what they are convinced to be irrefutable truths. This
conversation passed just after Swedenborg had been
visited by the famous clergyman Dr. Rutstrom, who
died in his confinement in the palace of Stockholm, a
little while after the revolution in 1772. Swedenborg
said, that Mr. Rutstrom acknowledged it all ; but his life
and actions proved, that he held his own tenets dearest
to him. The chaplain to the Russian embassy, Mr.
Oronoskull, a monk of the order of Alexander Newsky,
who was at Stockholm with the ambassador Count Oster
man, led a very orderly and decent life (contrary to the
usual custom of many Russian priests); he borrowed
Swedenborg’s works, which he read with great pleasure ;
he was likewise anxious to see and converse with such an
extraordinary man. Mr. Robsahm fulfilled his desire,
and invited him and Swedenborg to dinner, in company
with the late president of the Royal College of Com
merce, Mr. V. Carleson, the counsellor of the Chancery,
Mr. Berck, and some other gentlemen. During dinner,
the priest, among other things, asked of Swedenborg,
whether he had seen the Empress Elizabeth. He replied,
I have often seen her, and I know she is in a very happy
state. These words occasioned the priest to shed tears of
joy. Her good sentiments towards her people, said
Swedenborg, were after her decease known in the other
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