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Doc. 262.] 535
TESTIMONY OF SPENCE.
it may rectify a false aspersion on Mr. Swedenborg’s character,
lately put in print by Mr. Petit Andrew’s, who I wish had in
quired better into it. Having had the favour of the doctor’s
company to dine with me and a few friends, a few weeks be
fore his decease, some of the company having heard that the
doctor had asked the question, wished to know whether Sweden
borg had mentioned when this New Jerusalem Doctrine might
be established, as at that time the regular clergy seemed almost
all to refuse it; to which the Dr. said ;-The Baron’s answer
to me was, "that times and seasons were in God’s hands,
therefore he could not positively say when ; yet thus much he
was allowed to tell him, that he would probably live thirteen
years, just to see it in its bud." "Now (says the Dr.) it is just
thirteen years that I have lived, as he foretold, to see it in its
bud, through your little society’s encouraging the printing of
his works." The Dr. also confirmed what Mr. Shearsmith and
his wife, in whose house he died, have declared upon oath,
that Swedenborg knew and foretold the Sunday evening he
was to leave them, and that, to the last, he asserted that
the "doctrine would be received in God’s good time, because
the Lord has promised it in His Word. " Mr. Andrew’s tale
from his acquaintance, that Swedenborg had affirmed he could
not die till his return to Sweden, needs no other refutation.
"I had promised," says Dr. Spence, "to return the doctor’s visit
with my spouse, the first good weather; but a few weeks after,
hearing that Dr. Messiter had died suddenly, I told my wife
that she was now too late in returning the doctor’s visit, as
his thirteen years were now quite out ; yet luckily the Dr. did
not seem to suspect it in the limited sense."
3. Several more remarkable, and some publicly authenti
cated proofs of his supernatural communications are on record,
particulary that grand testification given to the Queen of
Sweden; I allude to the secret he revealed to that Princess,
which she proved no mortal besides himself and her deceased
brother the Prince of Prussia could know anything of. The
fact is still well known at the Courts of Brunswick and Sweden,
and is of itself a sufficient proof of Swedenborg’s most extra
ordinary spiritual communications.
3
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