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Doc. 245.] 285
INTRODUCTION.
contained in the former system ....a long and wearisome re
ligious contest would no doubt have been prevented." On
p. 14, he continues, "A calm exegetical and critical exami
nation of Swedenborg’s system, however, was never considered
for a moment ; nothing was thought of but the stringent
measures insisted upon by Aurelius, by which the circulation
of Swedenborg’s writings might be stopped.’ Beyer’s and
Rosén’s opponents, without making any previous examination,
took it at once for granted, that Swedenborg’s system was un
biblical and heterodox, and they, consequently, appealed first
to the Consistory and afterwards to the higher authorities, as
though they were tribunals of inquisition, with the keys of
loosing and binding doctrinal questions in their hands, and
which, without any previous examination and investigation,
might pass sentence of condemnation in the most uncompro
mising spirit of hierarchy. The majority of the Consistory,
nevertheless, disappointed the expectations of the dissatisfied
members of the clergy in this respect. Bishop Lamberg178 was
not willing to treat this question in an inquisitorial fashion,
and the attempt to make of the Consistory a tribunal on matters
of faith miscarried in the very first instance. The majority
of this body, consisting of Bishop Lamberg, and the "lectors "
Beyer,22 Rosén,45 Roempke,187 and Wallenstråle, 188 did not
consider themselves called upon, ’as the most competent judges
in theological matters,’ to express an opinion with regard to
the actual value (halt) of Swedenborg’s doctrines, since thus
far they had not had the opportunity of procuring for them
selves his expensive theological writings, and still less had they
time to study them."
Dr. Beyer, at the request of the Consistory, had prepared
the draught of a reply to the resolution passed at the meet
ing of the clergy in 1768. From this we make the following
extract :
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