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Doc. 10.] 127
BISHOP JESPER SWEDBERG ,
" charity does not seek one’s own good, but the good of
others. "
“On the 21st of May, 1702, the royal decree came, by
which my unworthy self was to become the Bishop of Skara.
I had never expected this. It was the fourth royal decree
I had received. And with a clear conscience I can declare
before my God, who knows everything, that I never coveted
this, never opened my mouth, and never stirred a step, still
less gave a farthing, to obtain it. For I had always been
an enemy of all importuning and bribery.” It is thus that
Swedberg speaks of the last important turning-point in his
life. This decree was dated from Prague, near Warsaw . On
May 2, 1703, he presided at his disputation for obtaining the
degree of doctor of theology, and on June 1st, he obtained
his diploma during his absence. The day after he had
occupied the chair at his disputation, which was a fast-day,
he delivered his farewell sermon in Upsal. At the close of
the service he was installed into the office of bishop by
Benzelius, at the same time as Lars Norrman, who had at
first been appointed his successor as dean of the cathedral of
Upsal, but who was afterwards appointed Bishop of Gotten
burg. On the 6th of July, Swedberg arrived in Brunsbo,
which he called his Tusculanum . Here he hoped “ to be
able to do much good.” And if many, not to say all, bishops
had done half the good which he did, the outcry against the
uselessness of the episcopal office, which is now so frequently
raised, would never have been heard. Immediately after his
accession to office he undertook journeys of visitation, in order
to obtain a knowledge of the condition of the Church, such
as every bishop ought to possess. This knowledge he in
creased by instituting a visitation every year. His duties
as ephorus, or head of the gymnasium , he discharged with the
same zeal and care. In this connection also we must men
tion that he was instrumental in establishing a printing-press
in the cathedral town. There was no apprehension of its not
being fully occupied as long as Swedberg lived; for few
have committed more to the press than he, certainly few
have printed a greater number of useful and able works.
The report of his activity spread far and wide, and even
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