Year: 1868




lures on swedenborg last evening, at his church,
Thirty-ffth street, the subject being "Swedenborg
as Seer" After mentioning the incredulity with
which Swedenborgs CLAIMS have been received, and
quoting from his own writings to show their full
extent Mr. Giles proceeded to state the grounds for
belief In the possibility OF such gifts he claimed to
possess. l. His intromisson into the spiritual wcrld
was effected in exactly the same way as that of the
prophets and seers OF the Bible. 2. He stated the
law by which such an experience was possible
and did not ask US to accept 1t on his own
authority. g. He thus anticipated and explained
the phenomena which have attracted so much atten-
ton IN one day. Having shown the possibility of in
tromisslon In the spiritual world, the lecturer pro-
himself claimed It was necessary because men in his
day had lost all knowledge OF the spiritual world. 1t
us to such knowledge, because the evidence OF the
Bible on such subjects Is totally ignored For
ample when the Bible says that angels appear to
men it Is generally supposed that they assume natu-
raj bodies o. that purpose, whereas the truth is that
tne spiritual sight OF men Is opened 10 see them The
spiritual world more wonderful than anything
Swedcnborg relates, yet great is the general blind
ness that men do not attach any Importance to them
whatever There is now deeply ielt want OF some
definite knowledge Of these things, but there is
which Swedenborg claims to have discovered It,
All knowledge Is based upon experience, and as all
the truth about it could be regained in no other
manner. Swendenborg learned his facts from
perence, and from the facts built up his theories,
Just he had done before in natural science 1t was
necessary that he should be in both worlds
at the same time. His bodily senses must
not be laid asleep while his spiritual eyes
look into the spiritual world. The natural man
must he awake and In full freedom to weigh what IL
sees and compare 1t with and with the Bible.
Swedenborg was admitted gradually into the spiri-
tun world. His preparation was going on for many
years, and part OF II Willie he was preparing hts
great work on "The Animal Kingdom" AS soon as
he came into complete possession OF his new faculty
he resigned his secular office and commenced the
study Of Hebrew The only book he took pleasure IN
reading was the Bible. Swedenborg does not ask
credence on his own authority He gives us test as
dependent OF the man Of science. lie states the
laws OF the spiritual world, and invites US to
test them by our own experience and reason. For
example, he states that love Ii spiritual attraction
and SHOWS It's operation In the spiritual world. We
all know that this IL true. We ils workings all
around us n this word, drawing together all those
oil similar affections and DESIRES In all his long and
wide range OF experience In the spiritual world
Swedenborg never contradicted himself In a single
IN stance. Sucn u work would he simply impossible
II ne waa subject to the illusions Of AN insane fancy.
IL has been well SAID that hls account OF the spiritual
world ~ greater miracle II untrue than III true
There s a method, order, coherency and harmony In
All ms statements winch comiDcnds them. to every
human faculty. Whether he was sane or not whett-
er hls character was true false, good or evil
whether we accept or reject his doctrines, they
man the same-they carry with them the authority
OF TRUTH