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INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. 21
ing the nature of heaven and hell, and man’s state after death in general, would have
been conducive to the welfare of mankind under the Christian dispensation, in that
form of it founded by the Apostles, the Apostle Paul would doubtless have been per-
mitted to communicate the knowledge which had been imparted to himself But this
objection does not lie against the knowledge of the subject communicated in the writ-
ings of Swedenborg, if to him it was really granted, as we have seen there is so much
reason for concluding, to be the organ of imparting the knowledge necessary for the
Christian Church under the new dispensation of it predicted by the symbol of a New
Jerusalem. It would be strange indeed, if, amid the beams of light which are promised
under this dispensation, not a ray shovild be afforded to chase away the dreary gloom
which everywhere prevails, beyond its precincts, in regard to the state of man after
death—if, in the glorious state under which it is generally believed that Christianity
should at length appear on earth, no specific knowledge should even then be afforded
respecting the nature of heaven and hell. It is, then, in strict conformity with the
most reasonable expectations, that Swedenborg should have been enabled to clear-
up this matter a:lso ; and to reject the information communicated through him, because
it was not communicated to the Apostles, would be just as reasonable, as to reject the
knowledge imparted through the Apostles because it was not as plainly revealed
through Moses and the prophets. But his writings on this subject form much the
smallest of the four classes into which we have divided his works. His treatise " On
Heaven and Hell,’’ and *’
On the Last Judgment,’’ are the only distinct and original
works which properly belong to it ; for that " On the Earths in the Universe" is a mere
republication of the appendixes to some of the chapters of the " Arcana Calestia :" but
many particulars which come under the same description are given in appendixes
called " Memorable Relations,"* to the chapters of the " Arcana Ccelestia," and the
’*
Apocalypse Revealed," among his expository works, of the " Conjugial Love," among
his metaphysical and moral works, and of the " True Christian Religion," among his
doctrinal productions.
Those who may think the subjects of the above works interesting, but have not
had any previous knowledge of the author, will naturally be desirous to possess some
information respecting his station in life and personal character. This wish may be
gratified by a perusal of the prefaces to those of his works which were first published
in English; viz., the little work on the " Intercourse between the Soul and the Body,"\
the treatise " On Heaven and Hell," and the " True Christian Religion :"X in which
also, together with the prefaces to the " Arcana Ccelestia," and to the *’
Apocalypse Re-
vealed," are contained very satisfactory vindications of his leading sentiments.§
* For a description of the nature of these " Memorable Relations" see below.
t Translated by the Rev. Mr. Hartley, M. A., Rector of "Winwick, Northamptonshire,
who was personally acquainted with Swedenborg.
t Translated by the Rev. John Clowes, M. A., Rector of St. John’s, Manchester.
§ Several works expressly devoted to the defence of his character and writings have
also been published, the principal of which are, " Letters to a Member of Parliament on
the Character and Writings of Baron Swedenborg, in Refutation of the Calumnies of the
Abbe Barruel," by the late Rev, J. Clowes, M. A., Rector of St. John’s, Manchester
;
"Letters to Dr. Priestly, fyc, being a Defence of the Nciv Church, fyc." by Rev. R.
Hindmarsh; "A Vindication of the Character and Writings of the Hon, Emanuel Swe-
denborg, against the Slanders and Misrepresentations of the Rev. J. G. Pike, fyc," by the
same ; and " An Appeal in Behalf of the Views and Doctrines of the New Church, Sfc,"
by the Rev. S. Noble. See also a very able work by the Rev. Augustus Clissold, M. A.,
formerly of Exeter College, Oxford, entitled, " The Practical Nature of the Doctrines and
alleged Revelations contained in the Writings of the Hon. E. Swedenborg, together with
the Peculiar Motives to Christian Conduct they suggest, in a Letter to His Grace the Lord
Archbishop of Dublin."
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