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1038 [Doc. 314.
APPENDIX.
and Earthly Philosophy,’ which he has written in order that
it may be examined, contains things opposed to our religion,
this is not in accordance with the former act of censorship.
"Neither in this, nor in any other of his books are there
any Sabellian or Socinian errors which are opposed to religion ;
not even an error like that of Dr. Hedinger who denied the
descent to hell, or like those which Marcus Osiander has
imputed to Arnd.
"V. Whether the punishments of the damned do not include
the idea of a purgatory? Answer. Many mix up the idea of
a purgatory with that of an intermediate state. The punish
ments of the avaricious, the arrogant, the voluptuous, which
are the natural consequences of the productive force of ideas,
are not purgatory. Some expressions in respect to the state
after death seem ridiculous, as where it is stated that some
in the large space after death have a place assigned to them
in the posteriors, others in the big toe, and still others in the
abdomen. Yet this is a natural consequence resulting from
the human form. The large space after death is by necessity
either infinite, or else finited in a form at the good pleasure of
the Lord. From John v, 27, it may be inferred that that form
is the human. A round figure, or a polygon, consisting of an
infinite number of sides would not be so natural, as they
would lack the relation of right and left. Swedenborg brings
to light again, by the Divine will, those primitive ideas respect
ing the state after death which we find in Irenæus, Tertullian,
Cyprian, Chrysostom ; and indeed in a pretty similar manner ;
and if there was nothing else to praise in Swedenborg’s writ
ings than this, it may be presumed that these writings will
do more good than harm...
"VI. Whether it is allowable to treat such matters at large
as in the Sacred Scripture are treated only in a short compass ?
Answer. The pearls in the Scripture must be distinguished
from the every-day nutriment respecting the blood of Christ,
His passion, His death and resurrection. The important
principle of space and time belongs to the pearls ; and in
proportion to the increase of knowledge in every age, this subject
must be more extensively treated. There are temptations at
the present time, which did not exist in former times ; there
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