Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-02-06

after a careful examination OF the merits Of the
subjcct-from sense Of justice to the petition
ers as well as regard to tho best interests o
the State, recommend the proposition contained
in the petition, TO the favorable considerable ion o.
the House.
The Receivers of the Doctrines of the New J e.
rusaIem Church, Revealed in the Writings
of Emanuel Swedenborg, to Christians OF
! all Denominations:
BRErHREN:--'Fhat come great spiritual event
is considered as near at hand, bv vast bodies oil
Christians throughout the world, is manifest
Within the last few years numerous volumes
have been written 10 prove that the second com
ing Of TIE LoRD, or the Millennium, IS not very
distant, and some, from inierpre la ions which they
have given to the prophecies OF Scripture, have
gone so far TO fix the period at Il very
early day. Semo Of the circumstances which
have given rise to this widespread impression,
are more than ordinary spirit Of inquiry into
religious doctrines, which characterizos ali sects
Of the church; endcavor, hitherto unknown,
10 disseminate the truths of the Gospel anon
the heather nations. By missionaries, aud by
printing IN their ious languages the ''glad IL
dings of great joy; the prevalence Of less war
like spirit among some OF the nations OF ChristeH-
dom, and general disposition 10 reform civilized
mankind. by Sunday and Infant Schools, by BIZ
bic and Temperance Societies, and by a great
variety of institutions designed to advaece reii-
.'signs of the times should Dc considered as the
forcrunner of mighty event, is very natu-
raj; and when behold the wonderful dIscOye-
ries of science and philosophy, which, By means
Of steam, have brought nations and families nea-
rer % each other, and by various improve menls
in the arts, have greatly augmented the powers
Of human production for the supply OF physical
wants, " are led to conclude that preparations
are making for placing man III d more elevated
position in the scao Of being than he has here
toforo occupied: and especially AZ those improve
ments are accompanied by the means Of introdu
eng more general education through the pub
lie schools, and cheaper acqui:iIion Of knowl-
edge through the press.
But, notwihs tanding all these displays of the
Divine Agency, most Of which hive made their
appearance within the last fifty years, CHRISTMAS
are by no means agreed as to the Precise time at
which the anticipated event will ;ike place, Or
the particular circumstances with which it
will be accompanied. With most 1t them there
exists mere belief IN some underlined, incom- /
PrehensIbe event, the period Ct which human
reason cannot ascertain, for, "of that day and
hour knoweth no man." aud which, in the opinion
Of some, an immediate reveIa ion aono is compe- I
tent to settle. But is immediate revea ton on
this subject essential to that end? This a ques-
ton which deeply concerns the whole Christian
Church. OF the possibility of such revelation
no believer IN the Scriptures entertain
doubt; and we have authority for the assertion.
II.
we should be careful 10 be too ready to reject
lis probability. OF those who be ieve. not only .
III the possibility of immediate rove ation. but
IN the absolute need of one in the present divided
state OF the church, are 10 be ciasssd the Receiv-
ers of the Writings of Emanuel SvedanboTg; and
as committee Of that body, appointed by the
Middle Convention of the New Jerusalem Cnurch
in tho United States, to put forth this address, we
do here most solemnly affirm, as we shall have to
answer at future day, our entire and deliberate
that In the writings Of that commits
stoned servant OF THE LORD, is to be found such
q revelation.
La making this public avowal, and in giving
our reasons for this conscientious belief we are a.
ware that VIC shall incur the mputafon of super
stition, or ianatIclsm; but considering it duty
10 make known to others what we have 90 much
reason to knolc to be true. we cannot shrink from
It's performance. 1t has been The fate Of others.
far more enlightened than ourselves 10 be scoffed
a, de:ded, and even put DEATH for promul-
eating the truth. But whilst we remember that
the early Christians, who. amidst odum and per
secution, proclaimed the first advent of The Lord.
succeeded in gaining to their side many who at
first believed tnat too much learning had made
them mad, or. that too little disqualified them for
insiructIng others, we do not despair of some
cess IL our announcement of HIS second advent.
not IN the flesh, bu, in the power md glory of His
Holy Word, through His revelation Of its spiritu-
al sense.
Many Of you TO whom this appeal is addressed.
have, no doubt, heard of the name Of SWEDEN
BORG, and most of you have probably believed
tha, he vas deuded mystic. q mailman. The
same thing once happened to most of as who
now acknowledge the authenticity OF his writings.
We were all, like yourselves, brought up and ed
ucated in one or other of the various sects of the