Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-05-17
For the Chronicle.
SWEDENBORG.
Something About his Life and Works.

Swedenborg was born at Stockholm
Sweden, January q, 1858. His early
life wasremarkable forpietyand learn
ing. In 1909 he took his degree Of
Doctor of Philosophy. In 1710he be-
gan his travels through Europe and
continued them about FIVE years, in
England, France and Holland, study
ing mathematics, philosophy, astrono-
myand mechanics. Iu ZIG, at the age
of 20, Charles the XII. King of Swe-
den, appointed him general assessessor
over all the mines and metallic works
of the nation.
He publisheda great number of phil
osophicai and scientific works up to
1745, when he began to center his great
learning on theology. As a natural
theologian, Swedenborg thus far stands
unrivaled. He looked through ma
ture, up to natures Godi"
We now pass on to another man and
author, to the seer and theologian. At
S years of age (l745), he says, he was
called to holy Office by the Lord, Who
opened his sight to view the spiritual
world, and granted him the privilege of
conversing with spirits ard angels. >
He now resigned his Office of assessor
and girded himself to works Of his new
commission, which was to develop
truths of which the religious world had
never dreamed, and his unfoldings of
Gods word, of heaven and hell, are as
far in advance of the commonly re-
ceiyed opinions of professed christians,
as theirs are in advance of Judaism, of
which his religious works contain
abundance of internal and external
evidence. Swedenborg says, no one is
bound to receive his writings on his
own ipse dirit, or say so; but examine
and decide according to reason and in
trinsic evidence.
The following arethe Rules of Life
which he laid down for his own guild.
ance:
1. Often to read and mediate on
the Word of the Lord. 2. To submit
everything to the will of Divine Prov
idence. 8. To observe, in everything,
a propriety of behavior, and always to
keep the conscience clear. 4. To dis
charge, with fidelity, the functions of
his employment and the duties of his
office, and to render himself in all
things useful to society"
His scientific and philosophical
works are equal to thirty common oc-
tavo volumes and his theological works
% as many more; making in all sixty
'ctavo volumes, embracing every sub
ect of thought and feeling of which it |
S possible for any one to conceive
Probably about three -fourths of his
works are published in English, and |
'an be had in thiscountry. 1t is re-
fact, that in his theological |
works he never so much as mentions
me of his previously written works.
EXTRACT FROM swEDENBoRG.
There are five classes of those who
cad my writings. The frstreject them
ntirely, because they are in another
or because they are in no /
aith. The second receive them as sci
ntiflcs, or as objects of mere curiosity.
The third receive them intellectually,
nd are in some measure pleased with
hem, but whenever they yrequire an ap-
to regulate their lives, they
emain where they were before. The
ourth receive them in a persuasive
manner, and are thereby led, in a GER
ain degree, to amend their lives and
erform uses. The fifth receive them
nth delight, and confirm them in their
ives"