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I
TESTIMONY OF DR. MESSITER. 47
To the Professor of Divinitij in the University of Glasgow.
Rev. Sir,
Had I the honor of your acquaintance I should not have addressed you in the
general term of Professor of Divinity, and therefore hope your candor will not
suffer you to construe my ignorance into a disrespect I would not willingly be
thought guilty of. The Hon. Mr. Swedenborg has desired me to send you, as a
present from him, some late Tracts of his writing, I hope not more extraordinary
than true. As I have had often the honor of conversing with him, I can with
great truth assert, that he is truly amiable in his morals, most learned and hum-
ble in his discourse, and superlatively affable, humane, and courteous in his
behavior; and this joined with a solidity of understanding and penetration far
above the level of an ordinary genius. Thus much I know of him, and there-
fore sacredly affirm, though not without an humble deference to your opinion of
his writings. If this character be allowed him, as I am confident it will in time,
it will remove the most general objections offered by the most violent and daring
Deists to revealed religion, viz., that the authors [who profess to have received
revelations] are obscure illiterate enthusiasts. The two last charges, his writings
(if not what is above said) will soon refute, and the first will be removed by the
account given of himself in the letter to his friend, which you have at the end of
the Summaria Expositio. Though I must beg pardon for having taking up thus
much of your time, I must yet take the liberty to remark, that the translation of
the above-mentioiied Treatise is designed as a present for any English reader
you might think proper to present it to, but as it is very indifierently executed, I
am confident it will do the author no honor, and therefore wish he had omitted
it. I shall be glad to be honored with a line on receipt of the books, and on any
future convenient occasion shall be happy to receive your opinion of them.—
I
am, Sir, with the greatest respect, your most humble and most obedient servant,
" H. Messiter."
The Professor’s Reply.
" Sir,
" I am favored with yours of the 23d October, signifying that you had sent
me as a present, from the Hon. Mr. Swedenborg, some of his late Tracts. The
box with the books came to my hand some days before I received your letter,
and you may judge of my surprise when I could not conjecture how or by
whom they were sent. I beg you will be so good as to return my thanks to the
honorable gentleman for his present. I dare not presume in a hasty manner to
pass any judgment upon performances which seem to contain several things not
a little extraordinary. Considering the excellent character you give the author,
I am persuaded he has the interest of religion at heart, and every friend of that
interest cannot but wish success to intentions so pious and so dishiterested. I
am sorry you think the translation of the Summaria Expositio so ill executed, be-
cause it is natural to apply to the translation for a general notion of the author’s
principles and views ; and, if I mistake not, the original is not to be found in
the parcel which I have received.—I have the honor to be, with great respect,
Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
"R. Traill.
"College, Glasgow, Nov. 3, 1769."
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