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. 314.] 1037
SWEDENBORG AND ETINGER.
Judgment? Answer. Not at all. People ought to be better
instructed on this subject; but because the teachers will not do
it, therefore so many phenomena happen, which bear witness of
such an intermediate state. Pontopidan wrote a book on the
intermediate state. Dr. Vinzenzi also ; and likewise Engelhard,
a general superintendent of the Church in Würtemberg, and
his book passed the censorship of the Consistory.
"III. Whether Swedenborg is a seer like those that existed
formerly? Answer. There is no end as yet of Joel’s pro
phecy [ii, 28, 29]. Men hate fictitious miracles, and therefore
they reject in Swedenborg’s case the most sacred effects of
the Spirit. The old Fathers of the first three hundred years
have frequently taught these things. Now Swedenborg proves
that he is a seer, and this cannot be denied in Stockholm .
It would be desirable, however, to distinguish his visa and
audita (things heard and seen) into such as are certified by
witnesses, and those which are not. It is quite possible for
arbitrary things to be mixed up with them; wherefore it is
necessary to examine them. This Prelate Etinger has done,
and therefore he is persecuted. It is against Scripture,
(1 Thess. v, 20, 21) to prove a thing in order to hold fast
.
what is good, and then to make the whole thing contemptible
because others think differently.
"IV. Whether the punishments of the damned, as described
by Swedenborg, are not ridiculous and nonsensical? Answer.
They appear so at first sight, and also have been judged so
by some ecclesiastics in Sweden. Nevertheless this is a most
serious matter. Sin considered in itself is also nonsensical ;
as will be seen some time intuitively. Therefore the Sacred
Scripture says in Ezek. xxxii, 27, that the iniquities of the
wicked shall be upon their bones; and in the Catechism it is
taught that ’the bodies of the damned shall be terrible.’ From
the treatise on Dogmatics, which Prelate Etinger has deduced
from the idea of life (ex idea vita*), it appears (p. 381, §. 21 )
that the damned shall be encompassed with the unperishable
fantasies of their former life. This has passed the censorship
of the Consistory. But if it is maintained that his ’ Heavenly
* Sylloge Theologiæ, &c., Heilbronn, 1753.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
