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Doc. 256.] CUNO’S ESTIMATE OF SWEDENBORG. 479
a theologian more than arrogant. Suffice it to say that his
language as a theologian sounds thus : As a divine I have
received a calling immediately from the Lord; I have been
sent from heaven in order to disabuse the whole world of its
prejudices, and to discover arcana which no man has ever
before known. This is the reason why I am writing so many
books ; but if any one does not choose to believe the testimony
I bear concerning myself, he must not read my books. * How
modestly, on the other hand, he writes as a philosopher (p. 451 ,
Latin edition ; Vol. ii, p. 366, English edition) , ’ Should any
one undertake to impugn my sentiments, I have no wish to
oppose him; but in case he desire it, I shall be happy to
explain my principles and reasons more at large. What need
however is there of words ? Let the thing speak for itself.
If what I have said be true, why should I be eager to defend
it?-surely truth can defend itself. If what I have said be
false, it would be a degrading and silly task to defend it.
Why therefore should I make myself an enemy to any one,
or place myself in opposition to him.’
5. "While writing the above a little work was brought to
my notice which had been printed at Königsberg in 1766, thus
three years ago, bearing the following title : ’Dreams of a spirit
seer explained by dreams of metaphysics.’ The author does
not give his name.† He uses a fiery and satirical pen.
Mr. Swedenborg is his spirit-seer, and he seeks to make him
ridiculous; and yet he has no proper knowledge of him, and
constantly calls him ’ Schwedenborg ;’ perhaps because he has
* Swedenborg’s own language is perhaps still stronger : for he declares
in so many words that the Lord effected His Second Coming through his
instrumentality. See footnote to p. 467. It is singular that Cuno throughout
his whole lengthy account of Swedenborg and his writings, never mentions
the Lord’s Second Coming and its connection with Swedenborg’s mission;
although this had been very clearly explained by Swedenborg, in sundry
places especially in the Apocalypsis Revelata, no. 320; see also footnote
to p. 467.
"The Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliothek,’ Vol. IV, p. 281, calls him
I. Kant and says : The jocular and at the same time profound spirit in
which this little work is written, sometimes leaves the reader in doubt
whether Mr. Kant desired to ridicule metaphysics, or to make spirit-seeing
credible."
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