Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
EXTRACTS FROM THE MONTHLY REVIEW. 211
appearance of Christ, when the Supreme God united himself to the man Christ
Jesus. He contends that a trinity of persons was not the primitive faith of the
church, and that, by the Nicene and Athanasian trinity, the whole Christian
church has been perverted. He is a warm advocate for charity and good works,
he abhors the notion that faith alone is requisite to salvation, and speaks of the
doctrine of predestination as detestable.
" His account of the decalogue, of which he gives what he calls the natural,
spiritual and celestial meaning, is very imperfect, as the second commandment
is omitted, and the tenth divided into two, to form the ninth and tenth : This we
have heard has been done in the church of Rome, but we apprehend has not
been the practice in Protestant churches.
« Concerning the spiritual world which Baron Swedenborg has so frequently
visited, he tells us that there are in it lands, plains and valleys, mountains and
hills, as in our earth ; that there are also fountains arid rivers, gardens, groves
and woods, houses, palaces and cities, writings, books, offices, and em-
ployments, gold, silver, precious stones, &c., as there are also in ours; but
that all these things are created in an instant according to the ideas and affections
which arise among the angels and spirits who inhabit those regions. In the dif-
ferent visits this writer has paid to them, he has conversed, we are told, with
many persons of every rank and of all nations and countries. In the close of
the present work, he gives a short account of the situation allotted to the inhabi-
tants of different countries or religious professions, and to some of the more re-
markable individuals among them. Possibly the curiosity of some of our read-
ers may be excited to hear what is the state of our own countrymen according
to the relation of this noble visionary ; but we doubt whether the view of it will
contribute much either to their edification or amusement."
(The writer then proceeds to give the substance of Swedenborg’s relation respecting
the English in the spiritual world, which, as it is accessible in his works, we omit.
He then concludes by saying :)
" Although this remarkable production abounds with such amazing conceits
and extravagancies, it must be regarded as a curiosity of enthusiasm, and may
afford some entertainment to those who understand Latin, and have leisure for
the perusal of so large a volume."—M. R. Vol. XLV. 1772, p. 580.
The next is a notice of
HEAVEN AND HELL.*
" Count (Baron) Swedenborg is certainly to be ranked among the wonders ofthe
age ; for though enthusiasts and visionaries have arisen at all times, it is very rare
to meet with one who so calmly, yet confidently, and with so much simplicity and
cool reasoning, relates the frequent interviews he has had with the world of
spirits. He informs us of many conversations which he held, on a variety of
subjects, with angels ; he talks distinctly of their appearance, their garments,
their habitations, their language, governments, &c. &c. and at the same time he
seems to speak against the imaginary reveries of visionaries and enthusiasts,
not having the smallest apprehension that he himself may be reckoned in the
number. Let the reader only attend to the following short passage, taken from
* " A Treatise concerning Heaven and Hell ; containing a Relatic.i of many wonder-
ful things therein, as heard and seen by the Author, the Honorable Emanuel Sweden-
borg, of the Senatorial Order of Nobles in the Kingdom of Sweden. Now first trans-
lated from the original Latin. 4to. 10s. 6d. boards. Phillips. 1778."
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
