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110 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
progress, on this subject, of Mr. Wesley’s mind. It is not, however, here offered
with the view of casting any imputation on his memory. I have little doubt,
that, though some erroneous sentiments confirmed in his understanding pre-
vented him from accepting, in this world, the doctrines of the New Church, his
intentions were upright, and there was a principle of real good in his heart,
which, in the other life would throw off the errors that obscured it, and enable
him to receive the truth. This, it is probable, was seen by Swedenborg, and
was the reason of his inviting him to an interview: and thus, I trust, though Mr.
Wesley acted chiefly as an opponent to him while on earth, he may now be
associated with him in heaven. Let it, also, be remembered, that for the alleged
facts published by Mr. Wesley, Mr. Wesley himself is not responsible : he was
herein imposed upon by Mathesius. Let not, then, his followers still confirm
themselves against Swedenborg’s testimony by what Mr. Wesley published
against him : let them rather weigh, without Mr. Wesley’s prejudices, the reasons
he had, and might have had, for coming to a finally favorable conclusion ; and let
them accept the sentiments Vv^hich, we may hope, Mr. Wesley now holds, in-
stead of adhering to those which he, in all probability, has rejected."
XIX.
REFUTATION OF THE FALSE REPORTS
PROPAGATED BY
THE REV. MR. WESLEY.
" It has given much pain," says Mr, Noble in the same work, p. 243, " to the
receivers of the doctrines communicated in the writings of Swedenborg, that
the circulation of the report of his insanity should have been materially promoted
by a man so much entitled to respect as the late Rev. Mr. Wesley. It is how-
ever certain, that in the part which that respectable person took in the affair, he
was completely imposed upon by the minister of the Swedish Chapel in Lon-
don, Mr. Mathesius, who was Swedenborg’s personal and violent enemy. Mr.
Wesley, indeed, professes to give his statement on the authority of a Mr. Brock-
mer, as well as of Mathesius : this, however, was only because Mathesius told him
that he derived his information from Brockmer ; but this, Brockmer totally denied^"
as is evident from the following document :
—
*’
Refutation of the false Reports propagated by Mr. Wesley *
« Mr. Wesley asserted, in his Arminian Magazine for August, 1783, p. 438, that
he was informed by one Mr. Brockmer, of London, and also by Mr. Mathesius,
a Swedish clergyman, that Swedenborg, while he lodged at the house of the
former, ’ had a violent fever, in the height of which, being totally delirious, he
broke from Mr. Brockmer, ran into the street stark naked, proclaimed himself
* See Hindmarsh’s " Vindication of the Character and Writings of the Hon. Emanuel
Swedenborg, ^c," pp. 15-20.’ 2nd Edit.
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