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TESTMONY OF COUNT A. J. VON HOPKEN. 51
the best penned, at the diet of 1761, on matters of finance, were presented by him.
Tn one of these he refuted a large work in quarto on the same subject, quoted all
the corresponding passages of it, and all this in less than one sheet. Of his
method of teaching we see proofs in all his writings which relate to, or are
founded on, the Arcana Calestia. He might, with or without reason, which I do
not indeed venture to determine, be accused of having given a heated imagina-
tion too free play in his revelations. But, for my own part, I have nothing on
which I could found this criticism. Whether, or no, our Lord, in our times, grants
to particular persons particular revelations ; what the nature of such revelations
is ; and what is the criterion for distinguishing the genuine from the false : of all
this I have no solid grounds for judging. The author of the Monthly Review
judges admirably in every other respect except on matters of divinity; and his
testimony on that head avails nothing with me. I once represented, in rather a
serious manner, to this venerable man, that I thought he would do better not to
mix his beautiful writings with so many memorable relations,’^ or things heard and
seen in the spiritual world concerning the states of men after death, of which
* A considerable portion of Swedenborg’s writings consists of what he calls memora-
bilia, or memorable relations " of things heard and seen" in the spiritual world. (See
above p. 33, where the manner in which he saw them is explained.) At the conclusion
of every article on doctrine, in his large work, entitled, The True Christian Religion, or
the Universal Theology of the New Church, as well as at the conclusion of the explanation
of every chapter of the Word, as to its spiritual sense, in the Arcana Ccelestia, and
Apocalypse Revealed, he has added one or more of these memorable relations, which
always tend either to illustrate the doctrine in question, or to convey some important
information respecting the state of man after death, or respecting his state as a spirit in
the spiritual world, in which he is to live for ever, either in states of ineffable happiness
in heaven, or of unspeakable misery in hell, according to his previous life in the world.
The information, therefore, which these memorable relations profess to communicate is
of the utmost moment, and consequently claims the most serious attention of every
thinking mind. Levity and worldly-mindedness, we know, make light of everything
spiritual; but seriousness and piety are delighted to become acquainted with things
which concern the spirit of man, and v.^hich point out, in the most effectual manner,
the way to holiness and consequent happiness, aiid present the most powerful persua-
sives to desist from evil of every kind, and to seek peace and pursue it. This is the
eflect which the reading of the memorable relations, contained in the writings of Sweden-
borg, will invariably have upon the sincere and pious mind. All the objects and phe-
nomena of the spiritual world are, according to Swedenbovp-, directly correspondent to
the states of the inhabitants, so as perfectly to represent, in outward emblems, the af-
fections and thoughts, that is, the real life, whether good or evil, of the spirits whom
they surround. That this is the fact. Holy Scripture, when read with any degree of
spiritual discernment, amply testifies. Thus, in the first Psalm, " The man who walketk
not in the counsel of the ungodly, ^c, is pronounced blessed, and is comjJared to a tree
planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, tvhose leaf also
shall not xoither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper ." Now, here the tree, the rivers of
water, the fruit, and the unfading leaf, are not only mere figures of speech, but are
emblems corresponding to the blissful state of the good man, and depict the delightful
scenery by which he is surrounded when he becomes an inhabitant of the spiritual
world, or when he comes into heaven after death. That there are spiritual objects
and phenomena in the spiritual world, as cognizable to the spiritual eyes and senses of
spirits, as material objects and phenomena are cognizable to the natural eyes and
senses of men, although not subject to mechanical and chemical laws, as are material
objects, see above p. 33. And in respect to the Vv^cked, and the abominations of wicked-
ness, it is evident from many parts of the Scriptures, that every evil principle, and every
wicked lust is represented by outward emblems which correspond to them, and which
portray them to the external senses of spirits ; we will only adduce one passage from
the prophet Ezekiel, chap. viii. 9, 10: ^^
And he said unto me. Go in, and behold the
wicked abominations that they do here ; so I went in and saw, and behold evert porm of
CREEPING THINGS AND AB03IINABLE BEASTS, fltncZ all the idols of the housc of Isracl, por-
trayed upon the wall round about." The prophet saw these things in vision, that is.
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