The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-29
LYNcHpURG. JULY 20, isss.
70. TuE vrsaIsrAs.
TO THE nv. RoBERT HURT.

tive 10 the Heavenly DuctTtufs ot i've INV
Jerusalem. or The Lords New Church, has
been read and IFS contents duly considered.
i ann sorr, NJ the delay which has taken
place in answering yeu, which ought 20
have been done before this but II was nm.
ayoidable. in consequence Of being much
engaged 10 business, professional dntirs,
and being absent from home 10 the western
pait Of the state, At the time Of lis puhlica-
lion. By divine permission, now take up
my pen, and will endeasnr Ia give YOU my
views in as clear a mauusr as ! am capable /;
thougl. feel conscious of my inability to
do Justice Ia so important subject.
You say in yoIr letter that you have
"not prrbsed all the writings Of Baron
Swcdcnbsr,, nor those of his followers,
" aud youi object for soliciting my atteu.
ton. is With view to employ my aid In
removing serious doubts and obstinate
" difficulties in your way 10 the reception
" ofthe New Church doctrines"
Let me ask you what theological hooks
of Baron Swedenborg youhaye read, or his
followers, rs you may please TO call them ?
From good authority, think can venture
90 answer for you. OF S~edenborg's. YOU
have only read his doctrine of the Lord,
which is one among the smallest Of his the
illogical works, a treating on a single doc
trine, and Of those 1T his followers, Hind
marsh's Compendium, Ciowe's Sermons,
some few pamphlets and newspaper nd
dresses. Can IL be possible, with these
limited means and so short time, you can
be prepared TO pass so rash y judgment As
yon have done ia your letter Have you
not gone iute The very error which have
81 mnch complained of in my address to
the Clergy, which you say you have read !?
My dear sir, let mr cntreat you, If you are
are liver Of the truth, for its own sake,
which hope you are, not to DO hasty in
forming your mind upou this most iinpor
tant subject, without the USE Of the means
for making faithful and candid investga.
tion.
You say in your letter, that I "have
:" called upon the Clergy, in my address TO
them, 10 Leliese in the testimony OF Ba-
"ron Swedenborg" In this, you are un.
der great mistaae. II you will read that
sddrrssagain, you will find that have only
insisted that they should read bis theology
cal works, and investigate them fairly and
candidiy, 10 know whether they were
founded ia truth or not because they
contain various interesting explorations Of
the word OF God, which is the divine foun-
tain aud foundation of all religion. Much
wonderful and hitherto hidden information
respecting religions. is brought to light in
demonstrations religious errors are detected
and exposed--varous religious truths, too,
are manifested, recommended and confirm.
ed. Therefore, the ministers Of the gospel
must needs feed themselves particularly
Interested IN, aud in duty bound 10, d carcfil
and candid examination OF these writings !;
OF the gruund and r-asonablenrss OF those
high tiilrsby which they are announced 10
the pubic.
Let me enfrcat you TO pause little, and
consider that there are thousands, and I
may say with prepriety, tens of thousands,
who have srcady yielded To the truth of
his testimony in Europe and America, and
a goodly number of them from among the
most plsus aud learned clergy Of the old
church who are now preaching the i,ca-
veMy doctrines Of the new. Let me also
ask you, new you can say, without h.sta-
ton, aud without acknowledgement the hea-
renly doctrines Of this new church, or at
least partial one, that il II built upon a
sandy foundation feel a sorrow fryo,,r
present state, and all others, particularly
the clergy who are in similar one, aud /
nope The tine may come, when your un-
derstandng viii be more enlightened and
mere capable Of passing righteous iudg-
ment Therefore, II be- leave to cali your
attention to the catalogue OF hooks which
You have alluded To in your letter To me,
which - attached 10 my address to the
clergy, and most earnestly entreat you to
read the ~irue Christian Religion, Arcana
Ss:esiAl, Aporaiypsc Explained, Divine
Prosidence, aud rs many others VI them
rs yonrau blu, these are the principal and
the most important And venture 10 saw.
IT you give them candid pernsa1. with an
nnpreludccd mind, with pure motives, and
Win That good end in view. to know the
LORD, with his divine viii and wisdom. for
the purpose OF being comfortable thereto j:
aii those doubts and difficulties which Won
alinae 70 ~ your lettes, viii vanish, ard gu
WIN 10y divine mercy he led into the intc-
nor truths of Gods most holy divine word
at which time you will be struck with
wsnder and establishment at his great good
ness and mercy to his creatures in all ayes
rom the commencement ofcreatiop. I'M ~
tnis t'ne. lou will also there discover,
that the Theological writings of Baron
Swedenborg, carry an internal evidence of
the ruth Of his testimony, in themselves
more constncing to the understanding
mind, thsn those miracles which YOU have
called Tor as proof, in your letter. We.
me memnersofthe Lords new dispensatiou.
depend not apon Swedenbore's say so from
himself, bat upon the hue nature of what
ne has said, as being from God, MS most
holy divine word, and true philosophy. !
fouaprear in your letter, 10 .inSinlats
that the pretens'ons of Baron Swendenbore
are no hetter than those of Mahomet, mere,
Y because ne did not support them by mi.
neies. III proses any thing, it proves
Z 700 much Tor on this groasd, yeu win be,