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Doc. 244.] 281 .
SWEDENBORG TO HÖPKEN.
ledged, as has been the case in many places abroad. But
as I am doubtful whether this change has already taken place
in Stockholm, I have delivered only one copy to Bishop Benzel
tjerna¹0 with strict injunctions that it is by no means to be
communicated to any one else ; for Benzelstjerna in my esti
mation is a rational man even in theology, and does not accept
irrational things from obedience to faith. The reason why a
preference is accorded to Catholics is stated in no. 105 and
the following numbers ; but there is another reason besides,
because the purpose is to establish a universal church in all
Christendom. When this preliminary treatise was finished,
the whole heaven from east to west, and from south to north,
appeared to me covered with beautiful roses of a dark scarlet
colour, so that all who were present with me in the world of
spirits , were astonished at it ; this was a sign of the assent
and the joy of the New Heaven. * In the short treatise which
I have sent you , as well as in all my former writings I do
not mean a Son of God born from eternity, but the Son of
God conceived and born in the world, in whom there is the
Divine Trinity. In the Apostles’ creed, which was the con
fession of faith of the Apostolic church, no other Son of God
is mentioned, nor is any other meant in the Gospels, Luke i,
32, 35 ; Matt. iii, 17 ; xvii, 5 ; John xxi, 31 ; 1 John v, 20, 21 .
The reason , however, why the Nicene Council afterwards
adopted the tenet of a Son of God from eternity, and added
still another Divine person , was , that it could not discover
another expedient for expelling the erroneous doctrine of
Arius ; and for this reason especially the present church in
sists that reason shall be bound, and placed under obedience
to faith. But that this does not transcend man’s comprehension,
and that he is able to see and thus to believe , may be seen
in no. 117, and after it in no. 44. †
* The same phenomenon is described by Swedenborg in a "Sketch of
an Ecclesiastical History of the New Church," (see Volume VIII of the
photo-lithographed MSS., p. 1) in these words: "After the Brief Expo
sition.’ &c. had been written, the angelic heaven from the east to the west,
and from the south to the north, appeared of a dark scarlet colour with
the most beautiful flowers ; it appeared so before me, the kings of Denmark,
and others. At another time it had a beautiful flaming appearance."
+ Compare postscript to Document 241.
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