Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
56 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
ably to its prevailing tenets, you may perpetrate any villainies, and yet be saved.
The doctrine of the priests is Polytheism. They assert that Oiie is the creator of
the world, and another the author of religion ; they make all to depend upon faith
and momentary salvation. But the doctrine of Swedenborg is the most rational
of all Christian doctrines, and urges as its first object, to be of good and honest
principles. There are two circumstances in the doctrine and writings of Swe-
denborg : the first is his Memorable Relations ; of these I cannot judge, not having
had any spiritual intercourse myself, by which to judge of his assertions,* either
to affirm or contradict them, but they cannot appear more extraordinary than
the Apocalypse of John, and other similar relations contained in the Bible: the
second is his Tenets of Doctrine ; of these I can judge : they are excellent, irrefu-
table, and the best that ever were taught, promoting the happiest social life. I
know that Swedenborg has related his memorabilia bond fide. I asked him once,
why he wrote and published these memorable relations, which seemed to throw
so much ridicule on his doctrine, otherwise so rational; and whether it would
not be best for him to keep them to himself, and not to publish them to the
world? But he answered, that Ae had orders from the Lord to publish them ; and
that those ivho might ridicule him on that account would do him injustice; for, said he,
why should 1, who am a man in years, render myself ridiculous for phantasies and false-
hoods. I have sometimes told the king, that, if ever a new colony were to be
formed, no religion could be better, as the prevailing and established one, than
that developed by Swedenborg from the Sacred Scriptures, and this on the two
following accounts : 1st. This religion, in preference to, and in a higher degree
than, any other, must produce the most honest and industrious subjects ; for this
religion places properly the worship of God in uses. 2dly. It causes the least fear
of death, as this religion regards death merely as a transition from one state into
another, from a worse to a better situation ; nay, upon his principles, I look upon
death as being of hardly any greater moment than drinking a glass of water. T
have been convinced of the truth of Swedenborg’s doctrine from these arguments
in particular, viz. That One is the author of everything, and not a separate person
the Creator, and another the Author of religion ; that there are degrees m everything,
and these subsisting to eternity—the history of creation is unaccountable, unless
explained in the spiritual sense. We may say of the religion which Swedenborg
has developed in his writings from the Word of God, with Gamaliel :
’
If it be of
God it cannot be^ overthrown ,-
but if it be of man it unll come to nought.’
" H6PKEN."
The above testimony must surely be allowed to carry the greatest weight, both as it
refers to the character of Swedenborg himself and of his writings. On the former sub-
ject, the assertions of a person of such rank and knowledge of the world, and founded
on forty-two years intimacy, are beyond all exception ; and on the latter, the opinion of
a man of such intelligence, and such evident prudence and caution, is entitled to the
highest respect. m
* See above p. 51, where the nature and use of the memorable relations are explained.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
