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112 [Doc. 10.
SWEDENBORG’S ANCESTRY.
the door of the vestry stood Schäfer, another priest, “one of
the right kind ” who asked jeeringly : “ What sort of comedy
are you playing there ? ” Swedberg who had heard the latter
part of his speech, answered : “God shall one of these days
play comedy with you, if you call this holy work and this
godly act a comedy !"
What encouragement, but at the same time also what
temptation to self-exaltation, does there not lie in such marks of
favour, as the above, which were shown to Swedberg ! There
is still more reason for such an exclamation in the promise His
Majesty made him one day : “ Ask of me what you will, and
you shall have it.” This was an instance of royal favour,
such as few besides him have ever experienced ; it also was
a fiery trial through which he had to pass, and which few have
endured as well as he. "From that day," so he confesses, "I
became more serious and more earnest in everything I spoke
and in everything I represented, so that I never asked for
anything, either for myself or for my family ; not even a half
farthing’s worth ;” but he asked for other deserving men, as
well as for the needy, whose cause he advocated in his most
approved style, and his petitions were always granted ; he also
spoke in favour of schools, academies, churches, and for the
purchase of godly books. “When I found that I had ever
freer access to His Majesty, I prayed to God fervently, that
I might not exalt myself in consequence, nor abuse this
favour; but that I might make use of it for the honour of
God’s name, for the service of His Church, and for the sake
of the common welfare, performing faithfully the duties of
my office, knowing the inconstancy of royal favour, especially
when enemies and envious persons find something to insinuate
and to gossip about. On this account I observed the following
two rules at court : first, never to meddle in anything that did
not belong to my office, and least of all in political or worldly
matters ; secondly, never to speak ill of any person, not even
of my worst enemy or persecutor." There is not a shadow
of doubt that Swedberg kept his word ; and it was no small
matter he had proposed to himself. When he was asked
for his advice, in appointing any an office or
occupation, it might well happen that he did not always pro
one to
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