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Doc. 10.) 105
BISHOP JESPER SWEDBERG .
and to honour. I went to his Majesty (Charles XI) at the
castle, and in all humility made him acquainted with this ;
he immediately pulled out his purse filled with ducats, took
a handful, and gave them to me without counting them.”
Fresenius says, that a proper fulfilment of the duties of
a royal chaplain is the most difficult thing in the world.
Few have done justice to this office, as Swedberg did. It
is true he had a court to preach to, where there were ears
open to hear the truth, as we know of the pious Queen Ulrica
Eleonora, and even Charles XI used to listen to the testimony
of the truth ; and this was also uttered by Swedberg with a
frankness which proved that he filled his office without respect
of persons. To the schools, which were in a lamentable
condition, his care was especially directed. Here, however,
he had to break through thick ice. He knew no better method
than to present his wishes, both in private and public, to
the King. Accordingly, on Friday, May 4, 1686, he delivered a
sermon in the castle at Ulriksdal, where the King, the Queen,
the Queen-dowager, the Crown-prince, and many courtiers were
present. His text was, “ The children of Israel did as their
fathers before them had done." This text gave him an opportu
nity of making some sharp observations, in which he showed
the necessity for the Christian instruction of children, and for the
institution of schools. Towards the close of the sermon he said,
"I will tell you, your Majesties, what God has spoken about
you, in the Old Testament, viz. that kings ought to be the
labourers of the Church, and princesses, its nurses. This word
is certainly not obeyed, by appointing certain persons to act
as godfathers and godmothers in your stead. No, you must
take better hold, you must actually promote the education of
the young, must see that the schools and their teachers are
doing well, and that every thing is put in proper order.” He
expressly mentioned the country of Sweden, and the city of
Stockholm , as places where the gravest abuses prevailed, A
week after, he delivered a sermon on the same subject. Being
very fond of illustrations and parables, he introduced school
children as dramatis personee ; he let them state their own
necessities, and showed with powerful words how little all the
polish of culture and refinement could do to replace the want
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