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142 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
main results of Swedenborg’s spiritual experience, was
not condemned by him. But when he came to find that
Swedenborg’s writings militated against some of the
sentiments that he had strongly confirmed in his own
mind ; these, which were his interior convictions, gra
dually threw off the exterior conviction arising from
merely outward though miraculous evidence : hence he
afterwards accepted the false report of Mathesius, * and
promoted its circulation. Indeed, there can be no doubt
that, then, such a statement as that of Mathesius would
operate as a relief to him ; for though he could not receive
the whole of Swedenborg’s doctrines, the positive proof
he possessed ofthe author’s supernatural knowledge must
often have disturbed him in his rejection of them : he
must therefore have been glad to meet with any thing
which could make him , in regard to that rejection, better
satisfied with himself. Finally, perhaps, other causes
assisted to strengthen his opposition. When first he
published the slanderous report (in 1781 ) , he still seems
to have had some misgivings ; hence he prefaced it with
the acknowledgment, that Swedenborg was a very great
man,’ and that in his writings there are many excellent
things ’ when he afterwards seemed less inclined to admit
so much, although, no doubt, he still spoke sincerely, a
little human frailty, perhaps, influenced his judgment.
It is well known that Mr. Wesley was always prompt in
taking measures to put down any thing like rebellion
among his disciples, -any thing that tended to the dimi
nution of his authority over their minds. Now it is a
certain fact, that Mr. Smith was not the only one of his
pupils who began to think the doctrines of the New
Church superior to those of Methodism among his
other preachers who came to the same conclusion, were
Mr. James Hindmarsh, Mr. Isaac Hawkins, and Mr. R.
Jackson, deceased, with Mr. J. W. Salmon and Mr. T.
Parker, still living ;+ all of whom became active promoters
6
*Who reported that Swedenborg had a fever, and that he had
been deranged ; see following document.
When the first edition of the " Appeal, &c." was published.
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