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m DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
pany, enjoy a moderate glass, but was always in one equal temper of mind,-
and cheerful.
" He had a fire constantly kept up in his study from autumn, through the-
whole winter, until spring, but his bed-room was (contrary to the usual custom
in Sweden) always cold; and according as the cold was more or less severe, he
made use of three, or four blankets. When he awoke he went into his study^
where there were always live coals, on which he laid wood with birch rind ;,
having a number of little bundles ready for convenience, and to make a quick
fire before he set himself down to write.
•’
In his parlor was a table of black marble, on which one would have sup-
posed, at first sight, that a hand of cards had been carelessly thrown, it being so
well imitated. He made a present of this table to the Royal College of Mines,
who preserve it with great care. This room was neat and genteel, but furnished
in a plain style.
" His wardrobe was simple, yet suitable to the season. He wore in wdnter
a fur gO’Wn, and when at home in summer a morning robe. He usually spoke
very distinctly : when he began to talk in company every one was silent, as well
from the pleasure they had of hearing his discourse, as from a sense of his well
known great erudition, which he did not show but on occasions in which he
found himself compelled tO’ prove his assertions, or the little weight of argument
of some with whom he conversed. Besides the learned languages, in which he
was well versed, he understood the French^ English, Dutch, German,-and Italian,,
having often travelled in those countries.
" In general, he would not enter into dispute on matters of religion : if he was
necessitated to defend himself, he did it with mildness and in few words; but if
any one would not be convinced, and became warm in argument, he retired,,
saying, ’ Read my writings attentively and without prejudice, they will answer
you in na-y stead, and will afford you reason to change your ideas and opinions
on such things.’
" He used, at first, freely to speak of his visions and spiritual explications of the
Scriptures; but as this displeased the clergy, who proclaimed him a heretic and
madman, he resolved to be less communicative of his knowledge in company,
or, at least, more cautious, lest the censorious should have room to blame what
they could not comprehend like himself. Mr. Robsahm once addressed the
rector of the parish where he lived (an old and respectable clergyman), asking
him what he should think of Svvedenborg’s visions and explanations of the
Bible? The venerable man answ^ered, ’
God alone can judge of this, but I can-
not think him to be such a person as many do : I have myself conversed with
him, and in companies where we have been together, I have found him to be
a good and holy man.’
" It was remarkable, that Swedenborg never endeavored to persuade any
person to receive his ophiions ; he was once asked, whether it might be possible
for any one, but himse-lf, to arrive at the same degree of spirituahty ; he replied,
’Take good care, for the natural man lays himself open to temptations, when,
by his own speculations, he tries to find out celestial things that transcend his
understanding.’ He then declared, how the Lord has taught us in the Lord’s
Prayer to pray, Lead us not into temptation,- which means, that we ought not, from
our own po^>ver and knowledge, to doubt of the divine truths revealed to us ?
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