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.
1084 NOTES TO VOLUME II.
so, as had also been represented to me by some sort of luminous
spiritual writing."
C. Afterwards Swedenborg had visions with closed eyes.
In no. 102 we read, "Afterwards I was in a vision, which is
neither a state of sleep, nor of wakefulness, nor of ecstasy;" and in
no 147, "This took place in a vision, when I was neither awake [in
the usual manner], nor asleep; but I had all my thoughts collected.
The internal man separated from the external felt all this."
D. Spirits entered by influx in a sensible manner, indeed the
sensation was as manifest as if it had been received by the bodily
senses.
In no. 179 we read, "I have noticed several times that there are
various kinds of spirits. The one Spirit, which is that of Christ, is
the only one that has all blessedness with it; by the other spirits
man is enticed a thousand ways to follow them; but woe to those
who do so. Another time Korah and Dathan occurred to me who
brought strange fire to the altar, and could not offer it; such is the
case when a different fire is introduced than that which comes from
Christ. I saw also something like a fire coming to me. It is
necessary therefore that a distinction should be made between
spirits; which, however, cannot be done except through Christ Him
self and His Spirit."
The mode in which Swedenborg noticed the approach of spirits
in 1744, is described by him in the "Spiritual Diary," no. 192 , thus:
"For nearly three years [he writes on this August 31 , 1747 ], I was
allowed to perceive and notice the operation of spirits not by a sort
of internal sight, but by a sensation which is associated with a sort
of obscure sight, whereby I noticed their presence which was various,
their approach and departure, besides many other things."
E. Often Swedenborg was infested in various ways by evil spirits,
when he was in temptations.
Almost the whole of the Diary of 1744 is a continuous record of
temptations ; of these we shall single out some of the most prominent
instances:
"Easter was on the 5th of April, when I went to the Lord’s
table. Temptation still continued, mostly in the afternoon till six
o’clock; but it assumed no definite form. It was an anxiety felt at
being condemned and in hell ; but in this feeling the hope given by
the Holy Spirit, according to Paul’s epistle to the Romans v, 5,
remained strong. The Evil One had power given him to disturb
my inmost mind by various thoughts *** The temptation came on
in the afternoon, in an entirely different manner, but strongly; for
I was assured that my sins were forgiven, and still I could not
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
