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138 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
prehension of sacred truths, ability to explain and defend them, and a courage prepared
to suffer anything rather than renounce or disguise them. We also are presented with
some of the reasons which led him to his conclusions, and which will he found well
worthy of the most serious consideration.
DECLARATION, &c.
**
It is your Majesty’s most gracious order, that there should be sent in an un-
equivocal representation of the light in which the members of theXonsistory re-
gard the principles of Assessor Swedenborg.
"This high order, in agreement with the memorial of the chancellor of justice,
dictates the manner in which this representation is to be regularly drawn up,
after every possible information has been collected from his voluminous writ-
ings.
" Having been from my infancy watchful respecting the established form of
doctrine, and zealous for its protection, of which some of my poor attempts in
writing are proofs, it happened about four years ago that I met with some of
Assessor Swedenborg’s works. His mode of writing on theology at first ap-
peared to me incomprehensible, and without interest ; but being led forward by
curiosity to peruse about half a volume with calm attention, I discovered import-
ant reasons to form a resolution not to desist until I had perused the whole ojf
his writings on that subject: and, may I be permitted to observe with the most
profound submission, that notwithstanding I devoted to the perusal of them
every moment that could be spared from the duties of my official situation, by
which I was enabled to read some of them over and over, still could 1 wish to
be allowed to weigh them many years longer, in order to qualify myself to give
a mature account of their important contents. The theological works of Asses-
sor Swedenborg are all printed, in large quarto-, in Latin.
" Before 1 proceed to my most humble ’ Declaration,’ it behoves me seriously
to consider what is the power and testimony of the Holy Word, and at the same
time to keep in sight the rules and orders of the church; and as far as I adhere
to these, I hope my ’ Declaration’ will be graciously judged of, as coming from
one who is not influenced, on this occasion, by the consideration of who and
where, and by what men of high reputation the subject of theology has been regard-
ed as decided. Your Majesty graciously gives permission, even to the meanest
of your subjects, to substantiate his opinions on the best ground he is able. Our
Lord’s own words are :
’
But he not ye called Rabbi : for one is your master (teacher)
even Christ ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth : for
one is your father which ts in heaven. Neither be ye called masters (teachers) : for one
is your master (teacher), even ChrisV (Matt, xxiii, 8, 9, 10).
’• Accordingly, the compilers of the Articles of Faith received in the Swedish
Church say, * We believe, acknowledge, and teach, that the only rules and guides
by which all doctrines and all teachers of doctrines must be viewed and judged are,
and can be no other than, the writings of the prophets and apostles, both in the
Old and New Testam.ent. Holy Writ alone is acknowledged as a measure, rule,
and judge ; by which, as by a touchstone, all doctrines must be accurately in-
vestigated and decided upon as to whether they be true or false.’
" As, therefore, doctrine is deemed pure so far only as it flows from the Word
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