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HIS INTERCOURSE WITH THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 117
But it may perhaps be thought, that if, in consequence
of having been called by the Lord to a holy office, he
really had the privilege of conversing with angels and
spirits, some plain proofs of it, beyond his own assertions,
might occasionally occur. Now that such proofs did
occur, is a certain fact. He, indeed, never appeals to
them in support of his mission : he shews, in various
parts of his writings, that where the mind is not receptive
of truth by its own evidence, no external testimony will
force it in: he therefore affirms, what we shall presently
advert to, that it would have been incompatible with the
nature of the truly spiritual dispensation to be opened by
the second coming of the Lord to prove it by miracles.
To the performance of miracles, therefore, he made no
claim yet as Providence permitted him, on some occa
sions, to give full demonstration of his supernatural
knowledge, we must conclude that it was granted for some
useful end. That end may be, to afford satisfaction to
those, who, though favourably inclined towards the doc
trines of the New Church in general, would yet feel more
assured by some external tokens. On those who are
decidedly opposed to the truths contained in our author’s
writings, no external tokens whatever, we are quite certain,
would induce reception : but to others, those which follow
may be useful as confirmations : in which light, only,
they are offered.
Two of the most extraordinary instances of Sweden
borg’s access to the spiritual world, are those respecting
the Countess de Marteville, whose husband was am
bassador at the Swedish court from Holland, and the
queen of Sweden, Louisa Ulrica, wife of king Adolphus
Frederick, and sister of the celebrated Frederick of
Prussia. Many editions of these anecdotes in different
works, resting on the authority of different relaters, have
appeared; but all agreeing in substance. Both of them
are given by M. Pernetti, in the preface to his French
translation of the Treatise on Heaven and Hell, upon
the authority of Count Hôpken. Both are mentioned,
also, by Mr. Springer ; and that relating to the queen is
given in the letter of General Tuxen’s cited above; who
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