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130 [Doc. 10.
SWEDENBORG’S ANCESTRY.
sorrow in a letter to Queen Ulrica Eleonora. Herein he
said, “I acknowledge sorrowfully my sins, which have provoked
the wrath of God ; I am thankful, however, that I am able
to bear it with such good courage.” Quite characteristic
are the following remarks : “ The fire had reached my study,
which was in one blaze when we came up ; all my books and
manuscripts were consumed. But what was wonderful, Johannes
Arndt’s "Garden of Paradise," and my own "Exercises in the
Catechism ,” were found lying in the ashes, with their binding
only partially burnt; from which I conclude, that God did
not altogether reject my insignificant work, and I am therefore
cheered to labour on as before, according to the measure of
grace with which I am endowed. I also saved my little pocket
Bible, which I had had constantly with me for forty-four years,
and which to me was worth as much as a hundred volumes." He
found “his heart much relieved", by the permission he received
to write about his affairs to her Majesty. No less character
istic is the close of the letter, from which we quote the follow
ing : “ I had also ready a tract about the Northern Lion, on
the basis of a dream, which a councillor in Schmalkalden had
on this subject in 1526. In his vision he saw everything that
has hitherto occurred to our gracious King, and he promised
a good and blessed result for all Christendom , a result, in fact,
by which not only the Turks, but also the heathen and the
Jews, would be converted to Jesus. If God grant me life
and grace I shall work up this vision a second time." The
letter was written on the estate of Ranacker, whither Swed
berg removed after the conflagration. Brunsbo was re -built
the same year more splendidly than before. Over the gateway
he placed the following words: Therefore now let it please
thee to bless the house of thy servant. 2 Samuel vii. 29.
Swedberg was singularly unfortunate in being visited by
fires. He did not, so far as we can learn, experience any
private losses from the great fire which raged at Skara in 1710 ;
but it caused him great sorrow and anxiety, because the new
building of the gymnasium was totally destroyed, and it inter
fered very materially with the restoration of the cathedral.
That this was accomplished within five years, was, according
to Gezelius, entirely due to Swedberg’s " industry and zeal."
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