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34
[Doc. 5.
GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
and another of silver in his shoes ; an instance of which
absence of mind I myself saw at my father’s house, where
he was invited to dine ; and which occurrence greatly amused
several young girls, who took occasion to laugh at the old
gentleman.
12. It was difficult for him to talk quickly; for he then
stuttered, especially when he was obliged to talk in a foreign
tongue. Of foreign languages, in addition to the learned
languages, he understood well French, English, Dutch, Ger
man, and Italian; for he had journeyed several times in these
countries. He spoke slowly ; and it was always a pleasure to be
with him at table, for whenever Swedenborg spoke, all other
talk was hushed; and the slowness with which he spoke had the
effect of restraining the frivolous remarks of the curious in the
assembly. At first he used to talk freely about his visions,
and his explanations of Scripture, but when this displeased
the clergy, and they pronounced him a heretic or a downright
madman, he resolved to be more sparing of his communications
in company, or at all events to be more on his guard, so as
not to offer an opportunity to scoffers of inveighing against
what they could not understand as well as himself.
13. I once addressed the pastor of our parish, an old and
esteemed clergyman, and asked him what I ought to think of
Swedenborg’s visions and of his explanations of the Bible.
This honourable man answered me with the spirit of true
tolerance: “Let God be the judge, how these things are in
reality! But I cannot pass the same judgment upon him
that many others do ; I have spoken with him myself, and I
have found in company where he was with me, that he is a
pious and good man ."
14. It was also remarkable, that Swedenborg, unlike sec
tarian persons, never tried to make proselytes, or to force his
explanations upon any one. This I know from a conversation I
had with him , as to whether it is possible for any other man to
come into the same degree of spirituality in which he was. He
said, “ Take good care ; this is the direct road to insanity: for
when a man pores over spiritual and hidden things, he cannot
protect himself against the delusions of hell, which then come
over him and trouble him , when from his natural man and by
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