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140 [Doc. 10.
SWEDENBORG’S ANCESTRY,
we direct the reader to “Sweden’s Literature" ( Sveriges Sköna
Litteratur) 2nd edit., Vol. I, p. 265. The examinations in the cate
chism he always held himself. “A bishop, dean, or rector," he
says, “ ought not to consider himself too good for these exercises,
and ought not to leave them to the curates, as is done in
so many places.” Such examinations on Sunday afternoons,
he sometimes held for three hours, being assured “that more
good is done by them , than by artistic preaching." He does
not seem to have had profound philosophic views in theology,
but with those he did possess, he operated more deeply and
profoundly than a mere philosophic or doctrinal theology is
able to do. “ Theologia realis” was of more importance for
him than “ theologia verbalis ;" inasmuch as the latter without
the former was in his eyes almost equivalent to nothing.
“Faith of the head ” (hjärne tron, i. e. brain faith) and “ devil’s
faith ” with him were synonymous expressions, while he called
the usual faith in his own terminology the “great faith " ( Stor
tron ). That the episcopal office is a good office he understood
negatively in the following manner : " This office is not ad
ministered by sitting in the Cathedral-chapter, and letting
others bow before one ; by ordaining and installing clergy
men, by delivering funeral sermons for good pay, by going
round and visiting, from which benefit is derived again,
and by which sons and sons-in -law are advanced in the world .”
A very characteristic occurrence illustrating this, Swedberg
relates in the following manner. · While at the Diet (1723 ?)
the Queen asked after his wife and children. He answered,
“One daughter I have with me, and her husband, Magister
Unge, a member of the House of Nobles. Will you grant
them the favour of humbly waiting upon you?”—“Very wil
lingly.” They went with me to the castle. The Queen asked,
whether he was a vicar or pastor ? I answered, "He is my
curate.” “A curate ? ” “Yes, it is his misfortune to be my
son- in -law . Otherwise he would have long ago obtained a
good living. Bishops generally advance their own. And
yet he is a learned and able man, and has travelled much."
The Queen asked whether there was not a good living vacant.
I answered, “ Wånga.” This was at once promised to Unge.
“ Better hear him preach first, so that Your Majesty may be
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