Year: 1872

From the chronological Journal


SWEDENBORG'S WRITINGS
As matter Of information concerning the doc


trines and beliefs of consider rable body of SINCERE


wOrshippers, we cheerfully give space to ]. e.,
jealous New Churchman and ply sician who tell
us something more about SwedenbOnrg and hi;
teachings. Readers are expected in this, as ia al
other matters. to exercise their own judgments
free, if possible, from prejudice, bigotry and su
porstitutiOn.l


Editor PhrenOlogical JOnrnd.-
have noticed in your periodical al
advertisement of the writings Of
Emanuel Swedenborg. As, doubtless,
most OF your readers have never read
any of his writings, a brief state
ment of some of the prominent ideas
contained in them may not be unin-
teresting to such.


Swedenborg lived and wrote about
a century ago. He was a distinguish.
ed philosopher before he commenced
writing on theological subjects. Most
of his theological were publised anon
ymously, only in one of his last
works. The. True Christian Reli-
gion," at the earnest advice of his
friends, did he add to the title of the
work his name, thus: by Emanuel
SwedenbOrg, servant of the Lord
Jesus Christ" 1t was an important
idea with him that men should re-
ceive the revelations made by and
through him neither on authority nor
persuasively, but because they per.
ceivc them to be true. Yet nc
prophet, seer, or disciple has more
emphatically proclaimed his mission,
for he says: II have been called to
holy Office by the Lord himself
l sacredly aud solumnly declare that
the Lord himself has been seer ofme,
and that he has sent me to do what
do, and for such purpose he has
opened and enlightened the interior
part of my soul, which is my spirit, so
that | can see what is IN the spiritua
world. and those that are therein, and
this privilege has now been granted to
me for twenty-five years. But in the
present state of infdelity can the
most solemn oath make such a thing
credible or TO be believed? Yet such
as have received true Christian light
and understanding will be convinced
of the truths contained in my writings
which are particularly evident in the
book of Revelations Revealed. :
Who, indeed, hath hitherto known
anything of consideration of the spir-
itual sense of the Word of God, the
spiritual world, or of heaven and hell,
the nature of the life of man, and the
state of souls after the decease of the
body? 1t is to be supposed that these
and other things of like consequence
are to be eternally hidden from Chris
tians?'


In letter to the King of Sweden,
with characteristic simplicity and
bOldness, he said: "When my wri-
tings are read with attention and cool
reflection lin which many things are
to be met with hitherto unknown), it
is easy enough to conclude that |
could not come to such knowledge
but by a real vision, and converse
with those who are in the spiritual
world. am ready to testify with
the most solemn oath that can be Of
fered in this matter, that l have said
nothing but essential and real truth,
without any admixture of deception.
This knowledge is given to me by
our Saviour, not for any particular
merit of mine. but for the great con-
cern of all Christians salvation and
happiness


When asked why philosopher was
chosen to this Office. he replied, "To
the end that the spiritual knowledge
which is revealed at this day might
be reasonably learned and naturally
understood because spiritual truths
answer unto natural ones, inasmuch
as these originate and flow from them
and serve as foundation for the for
mer."


To the Swedish clergyman who
visited him a short time before his
death, and who urged him to Iecant
what he had written if it was not true,
he replied with great zeal and en-
phasis: AS true as you see me be-
fore you, SO true is everything l have
and / could have said more
had l been permitted. When you
will see all things as have stated and
described them, and we shall have
much to discourse about with each
other."


He claims to have had intercourse
with the spiritual world. which world
S not far distant, but Immediately as
iociated with the natural world. and |
% have conversed with its inhabi-
ants face to face, as man converses
With his fellow man here, for over
wenty- seven years; and he claims
o have had advantages over all 9TH
n men who have ever conversed with
pirits. insOmuch that he was special
y permitted by the Lord and protec-
ed and guided by angels that he
night view the heavens and hells, and
,e able to reveal to men the state of


n. i IL