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118 [Doc. 10.
STEDENBORG’S ANCESTRY.
hymns, each of which was provided with its own tune, several
of which were introduced into the work. At last Swedberg
persuaded even Prof. P. Lagerlöf, “who possessed the greatest
technical skill in everything belonging to poetry ,” to assist
them. The principles by which Swedberg thought they ought
to be governed in this important matter were these : "The
old hymns and psalms I consider it most useful not to meddle
much with. They appear to me like old ducats and rix
dalers, which are, it is true, rudely coined, uneven, and un
seemly, but yet are of good metal and value. I take more
freedom with the new hymns."
As long as the work was carried on privately by these
devoted and vigorous men, nothing occurred to interfere with
its progress ; but it was different when it passed into the hands
of committees. To a committee Swedberg himself submitted
his work. All this was done between 1691 and 1693. When
it was nearly finished, he requested of the King that the
committee, to whom the revision of the Bible had been referred,
should report on the psalm book. He cannot therefore be
charged with self-interest, or a desire to avenge himself on
the committee that rejected his revision of the Bible. His
request was granted. But not satisfied with this, he requested
also from the King that the whole work should be submitted
to the Chapter of the Cathedral at Upsal. He mentioned all
the points which he desired to see fulfilled in the printing of
the hymn book, and stated all the particulars. All of which
were approved by the Chapter of Upsal, who suggested only
a few alterations. The King was delighted, and at once
ordered that the psalm book should be printed. But Swedberg
was not yet satisfied. The Diet was to meet soon, and he
proposed that the work should be submitted to the House of
the Clergy. The matter was referred to a committee consisting
of Bishops Rudbeck of Skara, Skytte of Calmar, Gezelius of
Åbo, acting Bishop Kolmodin, and Deans Duan of Köping
and Forselius of Alingsås. Even they made only a few alter
ations ; and all the Houses approved of the work. There was,
therefore, no longer any objection to its being printed, and
accordingly in 1694-95 four different editions of it were printed,
one in quarto, one in octavo, and two others in smaller sizes.
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