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FIRST RECEPTION OF HIS WRITINGS. 83
nearly double the quantity of another, it is utterly impossible to fix a certain
regular time for the publication of each. But this the public may be assured of
that when a fresh number is published, it shall be advertised in the newspapers.
Those who are pleased to give their orders to the news-carriers, will have every
number as certainly as though they were apprised of the certain time of its com-
ing out. And the price will be printed on the title of each English number (and
every Latin number, will be of the same price with the English), so that the
readers may be sure that they will not be imposed upon ; for sometimes the
bulk of the book will plainly appear to be worth five times as much as will be
required for it.
" Those who are so happy as to be well acquainted with the Latin tongue,
will be highly delighted with the author’s elegant and sublime language."
First Reception of the Writings of Swedenborg*
The first volume of the Arcana CcelesUa, containing the explanation of the first fifteen
chapters of Genesis, was published in London, in the Latin language, in the year 1749,
and was the earliest of Swedenborg’s theological works. Our readers will not be dis-
pleased to see the following letter,t from, probably, the first person who embraced the
truths it contains, expressing the satisfaction he derived from it. Though not a docu-
ment of any decided importance, it is interesting as a curiosity, and as evincing that the
truths of the New Church found some receivers on their very first publication. This
letter was sent to the Daily Advertiser^ formerly a popular newspaper, of Christmas-
day, 1749, by the publisher of the work, and is introduced by his business-like note, to
the Editor, as follows :
—
*’ Sir,
" If you will insert the following letter in your paper, it may induce the curious
in the learned world, to peruse a work very entertaining and pleasant, and oblige,
" Sir, yours, &c.
"John Lewis.
" ’ To Mr. John Lewis, in Paternoster-Row, Cheapside, London.
" ’ Dartmouth, October 15, 1749.
**
’ Mr. John Lewis,
" ’
Sir,—Accidentally reading the advertisement of the Arcana Cadestia, excited
by the oddness of the title, I presently ordered my friend in London to send me
one. The extraordinary degree of pleasure the reading of it has given me, and
the yet more expected from what more is to be published, induces me to request
advice as often as any new publication happens, which I apprehend to be de-
signed annually. My reason for troubling you, is, because I very rarely see any
of the public papers, and, consequently, future advertisements may escape my
knowledge ; which, I hope will excuse me.
" ’ I have long ardently wished to see the historical part of the Old Testament,
which seems only to regard the Jewish dispensation (and upon that account is
too lightly regarded by the major part of the present Christian world), proved to
be as delightful, instructive, and as necessary for the knowledge of Christians as
the New. This the Arcana Codestia gives me the fullest satisfaction of. But the
* See Intellectual Repoiitory for 1826, p. 179. f Mentioned above p. 82.
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