The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-06-13

speaking IN times past unto the prophets,
aud IN these latter days by his sos, il an
e,idrnce of hrs speaking by his chosen
4eryant, Emanuel Swedenborg.' Nhateyi-
deuce have We, that Swedenborg was a
c boseu servant of God, aud that God did
reveal to him, mysteries in relation 10 his
church You ask il God hath not youch-
saled miraculous testimony IN favor of
Baron Swedenb0rg, such rs WAS never
yet Yoiichsaled 10 mankind since the foun-
ddlion of the world" What is thu mira
Gle IT now follows thai isto say-"th that
SwedeDborg, a man like ourselves, for the
space of tHenty-sesen Years, continually
should ENJOY open communication with
the spiritual world, 50 as to be able TO dis
course with spirits and angels, and TO see
the things OF that world, Inch, according
Ia the laws of nature, are totally concealed
from mortal eyes - Now, sir, if you will
be good enough to prove, by indisputdbi.
testimony, that Swedenborg did expert
enee all these supernatural advantages D.
Yer every mortal MAN that ever exist
ed since the foundation of the world
will lay down my pen, now employed in
opposition 10 his writings, and will .fuity
and cordially embrace his doctrine. Bul
who are the witnesses for him ? No NOR
tdt man ; only himself has seen these
things, consequently no mortal man can
testify to the truth of the facts which he
states. We have nothing, therefore, but
the naked 1c0rd Of Baron Swedenborg -
Did not Mahomet make frequent visits to
Heaven and Hell, aud converse with dis
embodied spirits, in both regions ? If We
credit his own declarations, we arc hound
10 believe the facts which he states, to be
true. And whatimpostor, ask, could not
1nd sufficient miracles in his own favour I:
suppose wee sdemnly to declare to you,
that for twelve menths past | had been
constantly in sight Of Heaven aud Hell, that
had seen and convcrsed with all the spr-
Its, both of the just and unjust, that saw
aud conrersed with Swedenborg in IIea-
vcn, and that he acknowledged 10 me, that
Though Inc was honest IN his professions
while on earth, yet that he had been car
RED away by his enthusiasm, that bis vi
slons were all chimerlcal, and many of his
doctrines false. would you believe me =
No you would Gerry correctly say, that ]
must have my declarations supported by
other testimony besides my own, before
you could yteid your assent to snch an un-
natural account. Aud yet you belicre, and
call ON me 10 bttieue the statement of Swe-
denhore, entirely unsupported by any tes-
timony, only has oNn, while you actnow-
ledge that 1t is contrary to the laws Of ma
ture. The Saviour says, " if bear witness
oi myself, my witness is not true" THIS
proposition strongly entorces a caution on
the mind, upon general principles, To re-
cel'e no such testimony, for the hest of all
possible reasons that is TO say, without
the aid of caution, we shall he beWIdcred,
amidst the cry of many one, saving, "lo,
here ! aud another, 10, there :" leaving us
in doubt, whom or what to believe ! Moses
and the prophets testified of Christ, Of his
coming, and the particular circumstances
under which he would make his appear
ancc. John, his immediate furcrnnner,
proclaimed his near approach. when he
came, IN futiIlnent Of all that had been fore
told of him, we wonder why the Jews
should have rejected him. Nay, he de-
clarcs, that he did not rely entirely upon
the testimony of John, IN his favor say
ing, have greater witness than that Of
John the works which the Father hath
gwen me to finish, the same works that
DO, bear witness of me, that the Father
hath sent me- II is here unnecessary for
me to recite all the wonderful and miracu-
lous deeds OF the Saviour, in support of the
truth OF his mission, and the divine autho-
rlty under which he acted he healed
the sick, opened the eyes of one born
bind, controlled the elements, arrcstinc
tiftn ~ their greatest rage, and raised the
dead alter four days had elapsed from the
time at which death took place. And
these things were not done in corner
they were done before many sharp sighted
opposers, who would, no doubt, ha,e de-
tocted the cheat, ifdny had been attempted
To he practised. Did Baron Swedcnhorg
ever exhibit any like testimony in his IA
Nor When and where did he throw down
ms rod, and 10y word of his power,
change II into serpent? when did he
smte the Thames, or the Tweed, or any
OF The waters of Europe, which immediate
~ rose ~ mountains on each hand, leaving
tue bed bare, 50 that an army might pass
safely Though When did he smite the lin
~ rock, from which apure & cooling stream
ISSUED hdduce any such testimony in his
favor, and in favor of his doctrines, and
will yield my assent ; bnt, until some ma
nYeStotfonS besides his own testimony, be
gwen in proof of his doctrines, |, as a rea-
Sonuote being, and serious enquirer after
frufh, declare that feel myself bound, in
duty to God, in duty to society, and in
duty to myself, to rcjectthem. Therefore,
40 not charge us with the crime of the
w''iully u obstlnately blind Jews, who wait
tor miracle in manner contrary To Gods
mode ofestablishing divine truth. | ask
only for similar evidence TO that already
furnished N the case of the prophets of old,
and ct Christ and his apostles. You take
Tor granted, what is neither self-e,ident,