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410 TESTIMONY OF CONTEMPORARIES. [Doc. 252.
"P. S. Your epitaph on Swedenborg is very beautiful,
true, and worthy of the subject. "*
B.
SECOND LETTER OF COUNT A. J. VON HÖPKEN28 TO GENERAL
CHRISTIAN TUXEN.201
"Sir,
"From your long silence, I conclude you have not
been satisfied with my last, containing my opinion on the late
Assessor Swedenborg’s System of Divinity ; and from your letter
of March 8th, I perceive I have some cause for my suspicions.†
In every science but divinity, a man may give his opinion positive
ly, and, if it be erroneous, endeavour to make others embrace
it also ; for this does not destroy the calm and quiet of the
conscience. It is quite indifferent in the other life, with regard
to happiness, to believe with Ptolemy, that the earth rests in
the centre, and that the sun, with the other planets, revolves
around it in twenty-four hours ; or with Copernicus, the opposite.
But as soon as the question is on a subject relating to
salvation, which is to satisfy the conscience at every period
of life, then my thoughts are of a more tender nature, and I
am bound to use caution in communicating
them to others.
The late Swedenborg certainly was a pattern of sincerity,
virtue, and piety, and at the same time, in my opinion, the
most learned man in this kingdom ; but all these qualities,
which are so many evidences of an honest, virtuous, and pious
life, do not, at the same time, prove, that he could not err
like other men. What to my judgment may appear evident,
convincing, and indisputable, may to others appear obscure,
complicated, and problematical. So different are our intel
lectual faculties, as well as our education and circumstances ;
* This epitaph which was composed in the Swedish language will be
found in Note 210.
+ General Tuxen himself says on this subject, "I embraced an opportunity,
after the death of Swedenborg, of writing to his eminent brother, and of
putting several questions to him, which he did not directly answer, yet
very politely sent me the letters hereunto subjoined" (see Document 255,
no. 22).
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