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150 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
mind at tkis period, and how he endeavored to bring the importance of Swedenborg’s
theology and his spiritual discoveries before the world. We shall subjoin a few extracts
from his Biography :
—
*’
The Consistory," says Oetinger," was highly incensed against me, and through
the assistance of the prelate Faber, who had for some time acted against me,
although at first he had been one of my best friends, had induced the Privy Coun-
cil to send me an interdict, that if Swedenborg should come into this part of
Germany, T was not to receive him. This interdictory communication troubled
me, and 1 appealed to his Serene Highness, who was of my opinion, that the
Holy Scripture should be interpreted without employing worldly philosophy;
and he said to me, that if I had a thousand persecutors they should not hurt me.
Faber defended the opinion, which was contrary to that of the enlightened duke,
and endeavored to refute me in a dissertation De Sensu Morali, in which he as-
serts that the philosophy of Wolfius should be laid as the basis ofjuris naturcSy
and that, consequently, 7^5 and theology should be measured and determined ac-
cordingly, I refuted this position in my book on the Philosophy of the Ancients,
This so much annoyed Faber that he came into the Consistory, and endeavored
to procure measures to coerce me, but 1 remained firm, and knew that God was
with me."
In order to understand this, it is necessary to be known that, at that time, it
was a subject of discussion amongst many theologians in Germany, whether
fixed principles of philosophy should be adopted as the basis of Scriptural in-
terpretation ; the philosophy of Wolfius was that which some theologians agreed
to adopt. Oetinger opposed this theological movement, and maintained that
the grundweisheit of Scripture, that is, its interior truths and evidence, should be
the means of its interpretation.
*’
Swedenborg," says Oetinger, in another place, " is, in my estimation, the
forerunner of a new era. That, in the kingdom of Jesus Christ upon earth, ac-
cording to Dan. ii. 44, vii, 27, the faithful will have a faculty, by which they
will be able to hold communion, and converse with those who are in the
marriage of the Lamb, cannot be doubted. For according to Heb. xii. 22, the
faithful have come to Mount Zion, and to an innumerable company of angels,
not only infaith, but by means of the gifts of the Spirit, they can also come into
communion with them,’ and hear and see them. This gift, or this office, by
which others, who cannot see and hear, may be instructed in the things of
heaven, ought not to be doubted or denied in respect to Swedenborg, because
the facts evinciug Swedenborg’s communication with the world of spirits, are
denied by nobody in Stockholm,* and these facts prove that Swedenborg’s asser-
tion is right, when he says, that he has communication with the world of
spirits."
" Hence," continues Oetinger, ** it may be seen, why God has, at this time,
permitted such a man as Swedenborg to arise, and why he was educated by
his father, a most venerable bishop, and of noble rank, so carefully in innocence,
and ill scientific learning; all these preparations, under Providence, tended to
fit him to pass through the most important events, which no other man has had
to experience. As Swedenborg is the instrument of restoring the lost commu-
* These facts were the memorablo occurrences mentioned above pp. 93-103. *
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