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162 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
not have been proper for the purpose ; which reqmred plain and simple lan-
guage, suited to the capacity of all readers. Nevertheless, the writings of the
apostles are to be regarded as excellent books, and to be held in very high
esteem, inasmuch as they insist on the two essential articles of charity and faith,
in the same manner as the Lord Himself has done in the gospels, and in the
Revelation of John ; as will appear evidently to any one who studies those
writings with attention. In my Apocalypse Revealed, I have pointed out that pas-
sage (Romans iii. 28), which has been, so misunderstood, and so imperfectly
explained, as to have given rise to that erroneous doctrine of justifying faith,
so fatally introduced into the Reformed churches.’ Let us now judge of this
charge alleged against him. In truth, I could more readily and speedily do
away with many of the errors with which he is reproached, and from which
he must be freed, if you, reverend Sir, would allow me to introduce, instead of
my own arguments, Swedenborg’s own defence, as exhibited in his writings,
for surely there never was a man who wrote in such agreement with Scripture
and reason.
VIII. " Miracles and prophecies carry no proofs of an enlightening conviction
;
besides we dare not look for them at this period of the world. To satisfy our-
selves upon this point, let us examine Matt. xii. 32, 39; xvi. 4; Mark viii. 11,
12 ; Luke xii. 5, 7 ; John xx. 29, and what Swedenborg himself says in his An-
gelic Wisdom concerning the Divine Providence, 129, 135, and Conjugial Love, 535.
To me it appears that the most divine seal, and the one most suitable to the
state of all men, respecting Swedenborg’s case, is this, that his principles har-
monize with sound reason, and that a lover of his writings will find his way
cleared by their means from so many doubts, so many contradictions, and so
many doctrines revolting to sound reason. Truth, as far as it deserves this
name, cannot but be comprehensible and in agreement with itself, if we are
disposed to view and consider it in its own ground, and in its own order; but
who can reach those higher truths—I mean those divine, and consequently,
hidden ones—without a revelation from God ? These Swedenborg has brought
to light, and by no means ascribes them to his own researches, as several pas-
sages in his writings clearly prove ; for example. Angelic Wisdom concerning the
Divine Providence, 135, and the latter part of the preface to the Apocalypse Revealed;
also in the work concerning Conjugial Love, 532 : and surely mankind never re-
ceived the revelation of heavenly and divine truths with greater marks of cer-
tainty than the present ; if, therefore, they are not accepted, when they are now
so rationally presented, it cannot be expected that their acceptance can be ac-
complished by the assistance of miracles and prophecies ; for how can heavenly
doctrine become ours, if it be not accepted with our will and understanding ?
That Swedenborg has knowledge of hidden occurrences, has been proved by a
few well attested instances, but he is no ways disposed to avail himself of them
to procure assent and credibility to his writings,
" IX. And further, reverend Sir, I would not wish you to take Swedenborg’s
declaration, in the conclusion of his work upon Conjugial Love, respecting the
future publication of his doctrines, as if thereby he meant to set himself up for
a prophet, and to maintain that in the course of two years the New Church
would be established. It is the doctrhie of that church, to which be alludes,
and which he promised in two years should be published, which accordingly
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