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Doc. 10.) 103
BISHOP JESPER SWEDBERG .
In this learned man Swedberg saw the priesthood in its noblest
aspect. He took part with great satisfaction in the doctrinal
classes which Edzardus held every Sunday afternoon with his
young people ; he praised his zeal in the conversion of the
Jews, and saw with delight how he laid his hands upon the
heads of his grown up children, and blessed them , “just as
the patriarch Jacob blessed his sons Ephraim and Manasseh,
and just as Christ blessed the little children ;" and Swed
berg added, "I am unable to describe in what a godly and
earnest manner this man lived; may God bless his soul in
His eternal kingdom !" We must be pardoned for dwelling
so long on the persons on whom Swedberg himself loved to
dwell so much ; for from these he received impressions which
exercised a great influence on his own sphere of activity.
The time now drew near when Swedberg had, in accordance
with the terms of the royal permission, to hasten home to his
own country. On July 30, he travelled from Hamburg to
Lübeck, which he left on the 2nd of August for Stockholm,
where he arrived on the 7th.
The regiment to which Swedberg was attached as chaplain,
was ordered to Upland ; so that he had not much to do with
it. Immediately after his return home he therefore removed
to Stockholm, “to preach by higher orders to the court,
and perform the same kind of service as the other royal
chaplains ;" he supplied the pulpit also for the royal chaplain,
Schäfer, for a whole year, without any recompense. His
ministerial disinterestedness was severely tried about this time;
for his predecessor, Isogæus, claimed one half of the income
of his regimental chaplaincy for the year he was abroad ;
and Swedberg stood this trial so well, that he yielded to
the claim, without wasting another word upon it. He even
rejoiced, almost like a child, at his having been able to bear it,
as may be judged from his own words, "How good and ex
cellent it is, not only to read, teach, and preach God’s Word, but
also to live in agreement with it, and to practise it accordingly;
especially for us, ministers of the gospel ! I, therefore, always
pray King David’s beautiful prayer: ’ Incline my heart, O Lord,
unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.’ So little was
I ever troubled about receiving my stipend, that I never sent a
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