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HIS CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. OETINGER. 203
learned Dr. Veesenmeyer, at Ulm, this very letter, written
by Swedenborg himself, and was kindly permitted to take
a perfect copy of it."* Oetinger translated the Heaven
and Hell, the Earths in the Universe, and some extracts
from the Arcana Calestia. He also took a lively interest
in the dispute which took place in the Consistory at Got
tenburg respecting the theological writings of Swedenborg.
Hence arose a storm of bitter animosity against this wor
thy man, in which he suffered much mental anguish. In
his Biography he says many things respecting his state
of mind at this period, and how he endeavoured to bring
the importance of Swedenborg’s theology and his spiri
tual discoveries before the world. We shall subjoin a few
extracts from his Biography:
"The Consistory (says Oetinger, ) was highly incensed
against me, and through the assistance of the prelate Faber,
who had for some time acted against me, although at first
he had been one of my best friends, had induced the Privy
Council to send me an interdict, that if Swedenborg should
come into this part of Germany, I was not to receive him.
This interdictory communication troubled me, and I ap
pealed to his Serene Highness, who was of my opinion,
that the Holy Scripture should be interpreted without
employing worldly philosophy ; and he said to me, that
if I had a thousand persecutors they should not hurt me.
Faber defended the opinion, which was contrary to that of
the enlightened duke, and endeavoured to refute me in a
dissertation De Sensu Morali, in which he asserts that
the philosophy of Wolfius should be laid as the basis of
juris nature, and that, consequently, jus and theology
should be measured and determined accordingly. I re
futed this position in my book on the Philosophy of the
Ancients. This so much annoyed Faber that he came
into the Consistory, and endeavoured to procure measures
to coerce me, but I remained firm, and knew that God
was with me."
-
:
In order to understand this, it is necessary to be known
that, at that time, it was a subject of discussion amongst
* See also the same work, p. 35, where this letteris inserted.
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