Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
ADDRESS OF THE REV. J. CLOWES. 275
themselves touching the two essentials of Christian faith
and life, viz., the Divinity of the Christian Redeemer,
and the Necessity of Good Works.
"But you will say, perhaps, we would give immediate
assent to the doctrines delivered by Baron Swedenborg,
provided their authority had been supported by miracles ;
and we are of opinion, that in a matter of so much im
portance, there was an expediency, and even a necessity,
that some such supernatural testimony should have been
superadded, in aid of that which is to be collected from
the mere verbal declarations of the writer, and the ap
parent truth of his doctrines. But let me ask in reply,
What kind of miraculous testimony would you have
required on this occasion ? The Jews required of our
Lord a sign from heaven ; and not content with the
wonderful miracles He had wrought for their conviction,
in healing the sick, raising the dead, giving sight to the
blind, feet to the lame, and ears to the deaf, they were
urgent for some other still more extraordinary token of
the truth of His mission. This, you will allow, was a
criminal perverseness and obstinacy amongst the Jews ;
but do you not offend in like manner on the present
occasion, respecting the credentials of the Swedish
Scribe? Do not you overlook the real great signs and
miracles, which have been wrought for your conviction,
whilst you require such other signs and miracles, as
perhaps, if granted, would not produce conviction ; or,
if they did produce conviction, would possibly but increase
thereby your condemnation ? I could wish this matter to
be well considered and understood by you, being well
aware, that such as object to Baron Swedenborg the want
of miraculous testimony, have never yet given the nature
of that testimony a proper degree of serious attention.
For let me ask, Has not a miraculous testimony, and this
of a most extraordinary nature, such as was never yet
vouchsafed to mankind, since the foundation of the world,
been vouchsafed in the present instance ? What could
be a greater miracle than that a man, like ourselves, for
the space of twenty-seven years continually should enjoy
open communication with the spiritual world, so as to be
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
