New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-11-09
r He T r [ B Z n E /.
rMANUEL SWEDENBORG.

Philosopher and Theologian Of the 18th century.
This article treats of principles until lately new
,otne great majority of Southern readers. lard y,
sovever, as the progress of opinions advanced by
ss Swedish Philosopher have been IN this coun-
~ in comparison with their appreciation IN Eu-
,oDe BY many of the most profound thinkers Of
bs are, it is manifest from recent Indications
,roughout the length and breadth OF our land
that the startling developments made by Emanuel
Sredenborg, in his various works Oh theology,
40 now commanding an attention and inquiry,
rbch. if they prove his principles TO be true, will
ronart, ere long, a fresh impulse TO social pro-
moss. inll1se new life into the body theological,
esonsoinr to every PhiIanthropic and Christian
heart. and must ultimately effect revolution in
many existing religious systems
There is no doubt great beauty and sublimity
IN the spirit and general tone of thinking OF swc
ipnborr it has always been marvel 10 us, there
FIRE. who, from peculiar circumstances, have been
.d to read. and to hear much said on the sub
sct.) why SO much ridicule has always been lev
ssed AGAINST his compositions, and even against
,Sose persons more bold than their neighbors,
Who from right motive, honestly seeking for
-nth wopd venture to read, should do SO IN fear
and trembling, lest they too should expose them
selves to public dcrlsion. Marvellous as this
may appear Ii liilS Aliuiti'S "ge Il ~
less, true.
These topics having been taken up sevcrally,
and discussed at length IL the Review before us,
We need not, therefore, dwell upon them. The
Reviewer then goes on 10 say, that notwlthstand-
ing all these circumstances thGt have retarded
the rise and progress of the Church Of Sweden
borr. the progress Of his doctrines, and the pre-
sent respectable, and even imposing position of
the denomination IN America, are little less than
miraculous, brought about, too by no prcsump-
ton or angry ZEAL but by all the modesty and hui
mlity that characterized the earthly career of It's
great founder.
The Reviewer furnishes It's readers with the
lie, doctrines and also list OF the various works
published by Swedenborg--the subjects OF which
they treat, and in inany instances, the opinions
entertained by the literatl Of The times III which
they were written from which we gather that, By
common consent, Swedenborg was regarded as
the most learned man III his country, gifted with
30 happy genius, and so fitted Tor every science,
as to create the general impression that he was
inspired
The able Reviewer has really gone into this m
.eresting subject con cmore, and has done ample
justice to it, We have no doubt, whatever effect
may be Produced upon the understandings of his
readers, that the present Review will induce adj
ditonal inquiry, and lead many a serious and m
auential scholar 10 investigate Tor himself the
theological system of Swedenborg-a system
which he, the accomplished Reviewer, has pre-
sened in very captivating colors--ln form
beautiful and impressive. He has certainly shown
It to be system capable OF scrptural defence,
and not wild speculative theory, to be treated
with neglect and rldcule.
In conclusion, we extract the following pas
sages as fair specimen Of the happy style IN
which the Reviewer clothes his language and
sentiments. He, in speaking OF the tlmdity with
which many persons approach the perusal OF the
works of Swedenborg, says;
aStll, there has been singular tlmldity
evinced even by bold thinkers, IN respect to the
very perusal of his works. They have been read
by stealth, away from company-trec from the
curiosity of the prying eye. Persons have been
afraid, as if they We're engaged IN some NEGRO
mantle orgies, to breathe word 10 their friends
of their peculiar and forbidden occupation. They
have come TO their teacher, as Nicodemus came
to the Saviour, in the night time, and have hist
ened to his instructions with equalincredu!lty and
equal wonder. The ridicule eyeled at the cee-
brated Swede by DR.. Southey, more than quar-
ter OF a century ago, in his Esprlella's Letters,
has led many to turn with indifference and con-
tempt from his worlss-works full OF light and
consolaton-lest they, too, If detected III their
perusal, should come IN for share of the sarcasm
OF some lively and witty satirlst. The style IN
which these compositions are clothcd-ln some
degree eccentric and umque-but deriving It's
snguarty rather from the elevated character of
the subjects treated Of, than from any want Of
tact and skill III the writer, has deferred others
VINO have commenced the examination OF them,
from proceeding much3eyond the threshhold-
Prescriptive NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. biases-pnde
toplnion-of opinion inlbibed III other schools
long entertained, and mistaken ior truth-these
have stood i'll the way of others. Then the pre-
tensions oil Swcdcnborg, scarcely less lofty than
those OF prophet, though preferred with mo-
oeSty and even humility, which, taken IN con-
nectlon with the solemn and startling develop
mentS he hasmadc, and the unbemshed purity OF
his life and manners, forbid the slightest suspicion
OF mposture-thesc pretenSlons wesay, have led
Others to affirm that his mind may have been
shattered and warped from It's heaithful tone-a
t go VIZ hio", oilHc preferred against d great
er than Swedenborg But 10 those who are IN
sp'Fed with larger Share OF courage--who can
recognize intellectual superiority, in some cases,
where there Is more than Slight divergence from
old and beaten paths-who have been willing to
say to worldly considerations, Get We behind
me- and TO authority. Thou art not my mas
Ter IN mattersof this nature;'--to those who have
been animated more by love Of truth. than
alarmed by fears OF reproach and contumely to
those, who ike the wisest of sageS, could send
up from the mmost depths OF Their being, tee
earnest entreaty, I" Give me understanding" TO
soch-and there are not a few of them-the
works of the author under consideration have
proved rare treasure.
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