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122 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
ceased without any false fanaticism, and without disobedience against the com-
mandmitil of God, not to interrogate the dead ; and by what manner of life, or
by what virtues, I could arrive at so high a privilege?
" 4. Whether the dream I had June 9, this year, proceeded from Felix Hess ?
" Be not angry, thou most excellent and learned man, with a very studious
disciple oftrath, who will neither be rashly credulous, nor a disbeliever, but has
an open breast, ready to receive from his inmost soul whatever truth beams
forth. Farewell ; do not suffer me long to wait in vain for an answer. May
God and Christ, to whom we belong, whether living or dead, be with you.
"John Caspar Lavater.
" Zurich, Switzerland, Aug. 24, 1768."
LETTER II.
•’
Most noble, venerable, and beloved
in Christ our Lord,
" I have taken the liberty of writing to you a second time, as it is likely yo^
may not have received my other letter on account of your travels ; but I have
last learnt by what means this will probably reach you.
" I revere the wonderful gifts thou hast received of our God. I revere th(
wisdom which shines forth from thy writings, and, therefore, cannot but seek!
the friendship of so great and excellent a man now living. If it is true what is
reported, God will show to thee how much I seek, to converse with thee in the
simplicity of my mind. I am a young man not yet thirty years old, minister of
the gospel : I am and shall be employed in the cause of Christ as long as I live.
I have written something on the happiness of the future life. Oh! if I could
exchange letters with thee on this subject, or rather converse ! I add a writing :
thou shalt know my soul. One thing I beg of thee, thou divinely inspired man !
I beseech thee by the Lord not to refuse me,
" In the month of March, 1768, Felix Hess, my best friend died, a youth of
Zurich, twenty-four years of age, an upright man, of a noble mind, striving for a
Christian spirit, but not yet clothed with Christ. Tell me, pray, what he does ;
paint to me his figure, state, &c. in such words, that I may know that God in
truth is in thee. I send also a cipher writing, which thou wilt understand if it
is true what is reported of thee : I request it may not be shown to any person.
" I am thy brother in Christ. Answer very soon a sincere brother : answer
the letter I have sent, and in such a manner, that I may see what I am beUev-
ing upon the testimony of others. Christ be with us, to whom we belong, living
or dead.
•’John Caspar Lavater.
’ Zurich, Switzerland, Sept. 24, 1769."
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