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Doc. 314.] SWEDENBORG AND ETINGER. 1029
Assessor of the College of Mines in Sweden, wrote a large work
in folio, which is most costly [ Opera philosophica et mineralia,
1734]. This I call Earthly Philosophy in opposition to the
following, which is of a heavenly origin, and which he has
published in thirteen works that are still more valuable. Should
you find therein propositions which appear objectionable, re
member the twelve Ephesians in the Acts (xix, 21) , who ‘had
not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost,’
and, nevertheless, were thought worthy at once to receive the
Holy Spirit; notwithstanding they were ignorant of one of the
chief grounds of faith, and opposed to the Scripture. Does
not Swedenborg place the Scripture higher than any one else ?
and does he not wish to have his experiences judged thereby?
Is not all he says well connected? And does he not appeal
to many witnesses ?" &c.
Soon after this book appeared, it was condemned in un
measured terms by Ernesti38 in his "Neue Theologische Biblio
thek;" while it was favourably reviewed in the "Erlanger Ge
lehrte Anmerkungen" (
Learned notices of the University of
Erlangen), February 8, 1766. By these reviews attention was
directed to the work, and under a decree dated March 4, 1766,
the Würtemberg government, acting under the advice of its
Consistory, ordered the whole edition of the work to be con
fiscated, and Prelate Etinger was at the same time called
upon to defend himself. This he did in the following letter
addressed to the Duke of Würtemberg himself:
A.
ETINGER TO DUKE CHARLES OF WÜRTEMBERG.
"I am called upon to defend myself on three
points; 1. On the motives by which I was influenced, 2. Re
specting the publication of the work, and the censorial per
mission for printing it, and 3. Respecting the sale of the
printed work.
In connection with the first point I have to state that
standing before the gates of eternity, being ill even unto death,
I was impelled to write the book by an inward call to satisfy
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