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1246 NOTES TO VOLUME 11.
of the churches in the capital, where he remained until 1751, when
he was appointed Bishop of Westerås. In 1757 he was elected
archbishop, and died in 1764. In politics he was in favour of the
same policy as Swedenborg advocated in 1760 ; but in church matters
was ultra-orthodox, and distinguished himself by the severe
measures he undertook to suppress superstition in Dalecarlia.
NOTE 260.
CHRISTIAN JOHANSEN.
The name of Christian Johansen is most intimately connected
with the early history of the New Church in Sweden. He was a
manufacturer enjoying the title "Directeur," and lived in Eskilstuna,
the Swedish Sheffield. In a letter which he addressed to Magister
Tybeck,3
,302 and which is dated December 23, 1782, he says, "Fifteen
years ago [in 1767] I first heard the new voice from on high, the
message of the Lord of heaven. I accepted it at once with inex
pressible joy ; for I was prepared for it. At that time I felt as if
I had been transported to heaven. Since then the Lord has been
pleased to lead me through strange states of mind, through joy and
affliction." He was deeply versed in the writings of the New Church,
and from all parts of Sweden the friends of the New Church used
to write to him, and ask him to explain difficult passages for them,
or give them advice in matters of life. On all questions whether
theological, philosophical, or practical, he was always ready with
wise and intelligent letters. His letters to Sturzenbecker, Dean
Knös, Magister Tybeck, Wadström, and others, circulated among all
the friends of the New Church in Sweden, and were copied by them.
The editor of these Documents has now before him one of these
collections of Johansen’s letters, which extend from 1780 to 1792.
In the Report of the Manchester Printing Society for 1817 the
following tribute is paid to his character: "Christian Johansen, who
was living three years ago, was celebrated for goodness, piety, and
for profound research, beyond all others, into the Writings of the
New Dispensation; possessing besides such knowledge in the different
branches of science as made him generally esteemed by his fellow
citizens. His acknowledged wisdom obtained for him the unlimited
confidence and regard of all the friends of truth, and from his letters
to them, as well as from several important tracts upon religious
subjects which he wrote, there resulted great benefit to the cause."
Dr. A. Kahl describes Johansen (Nya Kyrkan, III, p. 111) in
the following words : "Directeur Christian Johansen, was a worker
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