The Georgetown news., 1856-03-06

lures, the nature of Heaven and Hell, and
the life of a man after DEATH and fit him
for that mission, he says, for over twenty
years he had the interior of his soul opened,
so that he could see what was in the spirit
ual world, and converse with those inhabit-
ing there, as though they had been men up
on the earth. That this was so, some will
believe, and many do believe, and their
number is increasing; and others will sterniy
deny. Those who credit Divine revelation
will acknowledge the possibility of a mans
being so situated; and with such the credi-
bility Of the Swedish sect will turn simply
upon the necessity Of Gods using human
instrument, and the character of the doc
trineS he promulgated. And so Sweden
borg wished to be judged. He says: "Do
not believe me because | have seen heaven
and hell discoursed with angels, and been
admitted to the precincts Of the Divine
presence. Believe me because | tell you
what your consciousness and your intuitions
will tell you. If you do not see the truth
of my developments authenticated by the
oracles Of your own mind, reject them.
have no miracles to offer as proof, and if |
had, they would be unavailing in lack of
internal evidence" This appeal Of his to
| the consciousness for the truth of doctrines
which he founded upon the Bible as he un-
derStood it, has been remarkably success
ful, whether his teachings were true or not.
We have never yet been able to find the
person, who attentively and extensively
read the writings of SwedenbOrg, land they
are so numerous that thousands Of pages in
many volumes alone contain them,) who
did not become a believer therein. He
wrote entirely in Latin, and in a style diff
cult to entertain; yet to the constant reader
it comes nearer to religious poetry than
theological discussion.
The reason of his being called to reli-
gious mission he stated to be the beginning
of new era in the world, occasioned by
the sitting of the last Judgment; which he
affirmed took place in 1857, and the second
advent of Christ, which he thought to be
spiritual, and which his disciples say has
been since taking place. To this fact they
attribute all the advancement that has been
made in governments, in church, in physi-
cal science and mental action since
Whether so or not, the fact is certain that
century than in thousand years previous,
and what took an age once is now done in
day.
Swedenborg's system of doctrines is too
too extensive for us to even to name. 1t
does not appear that he ever intended them
for sectarian purposes, and it was not till
several years after his death, which occur
red in London, in 1872, and in his eighty
fourth year, that a church was founded on
them. Gradually they began to create a
sensation in Sweden and in England in par
ticular, and since that they have had inhu-
ence in most countries, and are now en-
braced by some of the most distinguished
scholars in the world. Their first church
was organized in this country in 1898, and
now their societies are everywhere in the
| land, and their doctrines are also preached
extensively by the Universalists, Unitari-
ans and COngregationalists who do not ac-
knowledge whence they derive them. We
knew an orthodox minister preaching for
years, within ten miles of Boston, who made
them the burden of his discourses. Lately
Spiritualists have sought Swedenborg as
like unto them, though they are wide apart.
After all, Swedenborg may have been in
sane. We leave his followers and oppo-
nents to settle that question; but if so, his
was singular madness, and it is singular
that it captivates the learned and logical;
and perhaps more singular that it spreads
in this day through all classes Of society
1t is way-mark in the tide of affairs that
we will do well to note Boston Paper.