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24 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
When the riches and beauties of nature shine with the greatest briUiancy be-
fore our eyes, then it is that we perceive most distinctly the shades which are
inseparable from them. On the appearance of a new light, the man of mere
curiosity sees nothing but marvels and miracles even in its illusions. The
blockhead, on the other hand, turns all into ridicule : in his estimation, acute
penetration is subtilty, deep thought is dreaming, abstract meditation is enthu-
siastic reverie, to quit the beaten track is to go astray, and the investigation of
unknown truths is sheer madness. The wise man is not so precipitate ; he does
not despise a rich mineral, because it contains some heterogeneous substances
which indicate its origin : he endeavors to discover the variations of the needle,
not for the sake of exposing its defects, but that he may make the best use of
this admirable guide : he values an inquiring eye, even when it ventures to
direct a glance at the sun : he avoids excessive rigor, and takes care not to judge
with harshness of an ardent and laborious zeal in the pursuit of truth : and none
can find anything to censure in Swedenborg, unless it be that he allowed his
genius this way to go too far.*
It is thus that, notwithstanding some passages a little difficult to explain, the
fair picture of his life well merits examination.
The excellent Bishop of Skara, Dr. Jasper Swedberg, a clergyman full of zeal
but free from bigotry, was still Chaplain of the first regiment of cavalry of the
guard, when his first wife, Sarah Behm, daughter of Albert Behm, Assessor of
the Board of Mines, brought him his second son, Emanuel Swedberg ; who was
born at Stockholm, the 29th of January, 1688.t He was named Swedenborg,
when he was elevated to the rank of nobility,^ together with his sisters, in 1719.
Nature and art form the ornaments of the earth : birth and education form
those of the human race. A fruit-seed does not always produce a tree which
yields as excellent fruit as that which produced it ; which often is owing to the
modifications effected in the tree by art, which occasion a difference in its pro-
ducts, but do not at all alter its nature. Experience supplies us with a great
many similar instances in our own species. But it would be hazarding a para-
dox were we to attempt to determine, how far certain virtues are hereditary in
families, or are introduced into them by education. Be this as it may, it cannot
* From this it appears that M. Sandel did not belong to the number of those who
had studied and appreciated Swedenborg’s theological writings ; hence his testimony
must be considered as so much the more impartial.
—
Tafel.
t According to a letter of Swedenborg’s, written in Latin and printed at London in
1769, the year of his birth was 1689. But this is a mistake : for according to the note
which he delivered in himself, to be inserted in the register of the Nobles, and which
is in the hands of M. Stierman, Counsellor of the great Chancery, independently ol
other proof that might be given, Swedenborg was born in 1GS8. As to the place of his
birth, the register has Upsal ; but this ought to be Stockholm.
—
Note of M. Sandel.
X From the fact of his having been elevated to the rank of nobility, an honor cus-
tomarily granted to the families of the bishops, it has been generally supposed that he
had a title, whence that of Baron is usually given him. But in Sweden there are noble
families to which no title belongs ; and the male representative of families enjoys a
seat in the House of Nobles, answering to our House of Lords, in the Diet or Parlia-
ment of the country. Thus the privileges attached to this rank, are, in the head of the
family, as Swedenljorg was at the time of his elevation to it, the same as belong to the
lowest rank of nobility in England. In Sweden, exclusively of the princes of the blood,
there are but three ranks of nobility ; to the lowest of which no title is attached, but
only certain privileges ; to the second belongs the title of Baron ; and to the third that
of Count. Thus the rank of Count, in Sweden, is equivalent to our Duke, that of Baron
to our Earl, and the head of an untitled family enjoys a rank equal to that of our Lord
or Baron.
—
Editors.
I
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