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3S DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
have never sought admission into any other literary Society, as I belong to an
angelic society, wherein things relating to heaven and the soul are the only sub-
jects of discourse and entertainment ; whereas the things which occupy the at-
tention of our literary societies are such as relate to the world and the body. In
the year 1734, 1 published, at Leipsic, the Regnum Minerale, in three vols, folio 5
and in 1738, 1 took a journey into Italy, and staid a year at Venice and Rome.
" With respect to my family-connexions, I had four sisters. One of them was
married to Eric Benzelius, afterwards promoted to the Archbishoprick of Upsal
:
and thus I became related to the two succeeding Archbishops of that See, both
named Benzelius, and younger brothers of the former. My second sister was
married to Lars Benzelstierna, who was promoted to a provincial government.
But all these are dead : however, two bishops who are related to me are still
living : one of them, named Filenius, is Bishop of East- Gothland, and now offi-
ciates as President of the Ecclesiastical Order in the Diet at Stockholm, in the
room of the Archbishop, who is infirm ; he married my sister’s daughter : the
other, named Benzelstierna, is Bishop of Westermania and Dalecarlia ; he is the
son of my second sister. Not to mention others of my relations who enjoy sta-
tions of dignity. I live, besides, on terms of familiarity and friendship with all
the bishops of my country, who are ten in number ; as also with the sixteen
senators, and the rest of the nobility ; for they know that I am in fellowship
with angels. The king and queen also, and the three princes their sons, show
me much favor : I was once invited by the king and queen to dine at their table
—an honor which is in general granted only to the nobility of the highest rank
;
and likewise, since, with the hereditary prince. They all wished for my return
home : so far am I from being in any danger of persecution in my own country,
as you seem to apprehend, and so kindly wish to provide against; and should
anything of the kind befal me elsewhere, it cannot hurt me.
" But I regard all that T have mentioned as matters of respectively little mo-
ment ; for, what far exceeds them, I have been called to a holy office by the
Lord himself, who most graciously manifested himself in person to me, his ser-
vant, in the year 1743; when he opened my sight to the view of the spiritual
world, and granted me the privilege of conversing with spirits and angels, which
I enjoy to this day. From that time I began to print and publish various arcana
that have been seen by me, or revealed to me ; as respecting heaven and hell,
the state of man after death, the true v/orship of God, the spiritual sense of the
Word ; with many other most important matters conducive to salvation and
true wisdom. The only reason of my latter journeys to foreign countries, has
been the desire of being useful, by making known the arcana entrusted to me.
*’
As to this world’s wealth, I have what is sufficient, and more I neither seek
nor wish for.*
" Your Letter has drawn the mention of these things from me, with the view,
as you suggest, that any ill-grounded prejudices may be removed—Farewell
;
and from my heart I wish you all felicity both in this world and the next
;
which I make no doubt of your attaining, if you look and pray to our Lord.
" Eman. Swedenborg.
"London, 1769."
* This remark is an answer to an offer by Mr. Hartley, to supply him with money*
should he have occasion for it.
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