The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-11-18
LYSCHpURG, NOVEMBER 10. 1898
TOR THI v1RatN1AE.

which appeared in the Nrginlan ct the 4ih
inst. seems 10 have re crived some very er-
roneous impressions respecting The opmIdns
held hy lhe members of the Nov Jrrusa-
,em church, and the grounds upon which
heir belief il fonndrd, Nhlch ! should br
most happy 10 remove. II there DOES exist
any similarity between the states ot those
who desire In prnrirate into The mys'crle.
of free masonry, aud those who are willing
foexaminr the doctrines of The New Church
and the flnd If information contained ~
the writings of the Hon I'm. Swedenborg,
this similarity surely does moi commence
bef,rc The masonic ceremonies OF initiation
have been perl"rmed for lis well known
thai all the sources of Information which
are open Ia thuse who believe III The divine
mission of Baron Swedenharg are equally
30 To those who do not But should no
vice in free.nasonIy apply the Information
offered him respecting the various objects
presented to his senses ~ the sanctnhrIes
of that ancient aud Admired author, IL no
better purpose than 10 Willy and turn them
into ridicule. without even endeayoring 10
comprehend their use aud meaning, his
candor and good sense would perhaps be
as lightly esteemed by the most intelligent
members or the fraternity, ~ the tensures
90 literally bestowed upon the works OF
Baron Swcdenborg 10y those men who treat
them in u similar manner, are, by those
who, from their intimate acquaintance with
them, aud an experimental knowledge OF
The benefits 10 be derived from th"r peru
sal are fully convinced of their Inesllnable
value. NJ superstition can be more erro-
neous, or more injurious 10 the receivers oi
Baron Swedenborg's testimony, than the
one assumed by our author, 10 wit; that
their assent 10 the doctrines he taught, and
TO his interpretations of scripture, IS found
ed npon a previous bclielln his divine mis-
sion. The converse of this supposlllon IS
true. They believe that the doctrines laugh
BY the Baron Swedruborg are true, because
they are con, need that his interpretations
of scripture are founded upon, aud framed
by, an ANALYSIS of the sacred text so accu-
rate and complete, IA 10 give them a Ger
talnty not inferior Ia that ot mathematical
demonstration aud II is the utter impOssl-
billty of accounting upon any other grounds
for the means by which he became posses
sed of the knowledge he dlscloses, which
Ia. compelled the greater Number Of them
10 Sitli Il SHOW bHl h'N'hfh haA''' w NV
belief Of his extraordinary illumination and
intercourse with the spiritual world, and
thus 10 subdnc that Epcureau ar Saducee-
an spirit OF incredullty, respecting every
thing supernatural which was common To
Them with the majority OF christians at the
present day.
The members of the New Church un-
feignedly believe the Holy Scriptures 10
contain the word of the Lord, and they are
incapable of believing as OR anonymous
writer seems TO conceive they do) amy part
Oft t. be- 3" tissue of absnrdltlcs and con
tradictlons,n in any SENSE whatever. They
are therefore unwilling 10 admit that any
expressions used IN scripture, which, by
Interpreting themjn the same manner az
If they were used by proiane wr'ers,
would turn the sacred text into a " tissue
of absurdltics aud contradictions" ought
thus to be interpreted. That such passages
do occur in scripture, must br evident 10
every une, nj all conversant with them
nor have pOus christians, who duly re,t-
renee the Word of the Lord, ever pretend
ed 10 interpret them thus, bal have, on tic
contrary, always passed them over, with
an humble acknowledgement of their ina
billS 10 comprehend them, accompanied
by deyout prayer IN the Lord al his own
appointed time 10 reveal their sacred con
tents, for the comfort aud Instruction of his
church. Such prayers were surely not
unreasonable, and Why should II be thought
thing impossible ~ be believed, that The
Lord may have ,ousirsNfed 10 answer them
and 10 rcmeVe The seals from oil that book
which he alone WAS worthy to open. Bu
ifhe has been pleased to do 81, and 10 com
NIT this new revelation OF his everlasting
gospel toa chosen servant, in order 10 max,
IL known To all who are willing 10 receive
IT, how IL this important fact to be ascer
tanned y Surely not by filing our mind
with prejudices against the divine messcu
ger, whilst Ne refuse fairly 10 m,estigat,
tie evidence he offers, or even to read hi
works. Our anonymous author seems to
shudder at the idea that the key 10 the in
ternal contents of the divine word shOulC
have been delivered by the Lord Ia tn,
hands of the Baron Swedenborg, az eN
trenely ridiculous, and that II would be- Z
qually 50 to dispute with his followers ahon
them. surprising them 10 be visible only I,
those who receive his testimony but h,
seess 10 forget that the whole process %
unlocking the scriptures is described il
works which arebciore the public, aud thu
the key that opens them is thus place,
within the reach of al. who are willing [,
apply it, and Ia convince themselves of tn,
fact by their own experience. The eyi
deuce offered to the public on this mos
important subject, is briefly this. In
work entitled Arcana Celestia, the hon
author gives an exposition of the interna
sense Of Genesis and Exodus, from which
Il appears that they contain in one coanecl
ed series, most interesting and satisfacto
ry account of the original generation of tn
spiritual aud celestial man of the church
OF has fall, and redemption by the Lord
who for that purpose was pleased to as