Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
Doc. 270. ] 581
CHARGE OF INSANITY.
writings had been communicated to him by the Lord or His
angels,’ &c.
"We know from a still better source, than this pretended
count whose name is not even known to his countrymen, that
this assertion is absolutely false and fictitious : for Mr. Springer,121
a respectable Swedish merchant who retired to London twenty
years ago and a pious man with whom we frequently meet,
and who was intimately befriended with Swedenborg, has given
us all possible information on this subject in the presence of
a large and respectable company. The substance of what he
has told us is this, that when he felt his last hour approach
ing, the coming of which he had some time before foretold,
and being at the time in the enjoyment of all his senses, he
desired to receive, and accordingly did receive the sacrament
of the eucharist from a Swedish clergyman, by the name of
Ferelius ; and in the conversation which ensued afterwards,
he advised him very strongly to attach himself to the doctrine
of the New Jerusalem, without minding the opposition which
he would meet with from men in general, and particularly
from his colleague Mathesius,118 another Swedish minister, who
had already expressed himself strongly against these doctrines."
Mr. Chastanier’s testimony is fully borne out by that of
Ferelius himself in Document 267, A, no. 3, and B, no. 1 ;
and it is also confirmed by the information which Mr. Hindmarsh
collected on this subject from Mr. Springer, and stated to
Mr. Gomm in Document 269, B (p. 576).
DOCUMENT 270.
CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE CHARGE OF
INSANITY BROUGHT AGAINST SWEDENBORG.
The charge of insanity was first raised against Swedenborg
during his life-time, when, as Robsahm tells us (Vol. I, p. 47),
"a cunning stratagem was planned by some members of the
House of the Clergy, by which he was to be summoned be
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
