An appeal in behalf of the views of the eternal world and state and the doctrines of faith and life, held by the body of Christians who believe that a new church is signified (in the Revelation chap. XXI) by the New Jerusalem ...

Front matter

MAY 2 • :m

THEOLOGICAL SEMI, MARY

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Preface

The occasion and design of the following work are sufficiently explained in the Introductory Section ; it is therefore unnecessary to say anything on those subjects here. But as the Author has arranged his materials in a form somewhat unusual, and differing from that which he would himself have deemed most eligible, some explanation of this circumstance may not be improper.

Tt was the wish of the Author that the work should contain a satisfactory elucidation of all the subjects discussed, and yet that it should be kept within a moderate compass and price. To accomplish the former object, as the views to be presented are so new to the world in general, it was necessary to conduct the investigations upon a rather extensive scale : to make, therefore, this compatible with the latter object, it was determined to introduce into the text, only such parts of the discussion as appeared most indispensable, and to throw all the subordinate and collateral inquiries and elucidations into the form of notes. And as it was found, towards the latter part of the work, that even under this arrangement the size of the volume was extending much beyond what was deemed eligible, it was thought advisable to dispose of the remaining articles of this kind in an Appendix, in which a much smaller type might be employed without injuring the appearance of the book. It would perhaps have been better if this plan had been adopted in the beginning, and all the long notes had been given in an Appendix ; but the reason why the Author preferred to give the discussions thus introduced in the shape of notes, was, because he thought that they would, in that form, be more likely to be read ; and he considers some of them to be equally necessary to his argument with what is offered in the text itself.

IV

PREFACE.

It has been endeavored, as far as possible, so to construct the notes, as that they may form one series with the text. Perhaps, however, the work may be read most agreeably and usefully, by first perusing the text of a Section through, and afterwards taking all the notes appended to it together. Those, however, who prefer small books to large, especially on theological subjects, may gratify their taste by confining their reading to the text alone : if this should sufficiently interest them to raise a further appetite, they can then, if they please, read the notes also. But the Author hopes that none will conclude, from a perusal of the text alone, that he has failed to establish his points ; since in the notes many objections are answered, and many subjects are investigated, without which the argument of the text must want its proper Ught.

The greater part of the Author's direct controversy with the Rev. Mr Beaumont, is, however, properly thrown into the Appendix, because the work itself is formed upon a far more general plan than that of a mere answer to his publication. Indeed, in the Author's estimation, that gentleman's " Anti Swedenhorg" was scarcely of sufficient importance to deserve an answer ; but he was not sorry to use the opportunity afforded by it for placing the subjects it brings forward in their just light before the view of the public.

[N. B. — ^In the present edition of this Appeal, the Appen-. dix, and some of the notes have been omitted ; this has been done, partly to reduce the size and price of the volume and partly because it was not thought necessary to republish in this countrythe more controversial parts of the work.] — Pub.

The following Works, by the Author of this Appeal :— On the Plenary Inspiration of the Scriptures, 1 vol. 8vo,g2.25. On the True Object of Christian Worship,— a Tract, 10c. On Regeneration and Good Works, — a Tract, 10c. On the Atonement, — a Tract, 10c.

Also, just published, a volume of Tracts, selected from the writings of Swedenborg, and containing a Brief Exposition of the JPqctrines of the New Jerusalem Church, 12mo. price 62 1-2 cts.

Contents

THE REFERENCES TO THE NOTES ARE MARKED By AN (n) BEFORE THE NUMBER OF THE PAGE.

SECTION I. Introduction, ^^S^ 1

The occasion and design of the work, 1.

SECTION II. The Second Coming of the Lord, 7

I. That it is not a coming in Person, but is a restoration of the knowledge and influence of the truths of the Word of God, 8. — II. That there are many circumstances and signs at the present day, which indicate that the time for the fulfilment of these prophecies has arrived, 16. — III. That there are also many circumstances which evince, that the restoration of true religion, promised under the above figures, cannot be much longer delayed, without fatal consequences, 21. — IV. That these views cannot be justly charged with enthusiasm, but that they furnish the best antidote to all spiritual deltMion, 26.

SECTION irr.

That man rises agan immediately after death, and is then a real substantial man in perfect human form ; and that the Resurrection spoken of in Scripture is not a resurrection of the material body, 30

Section IV

I. That the General Judgment announced in Scripture was not to take place in the natural world, but in the spiritual, 68. — II. T/iat the Last Judgment has been accomplished, 91.

* SECTION V.

A Human Instrument necessary, and therefore granted,

I. That whenever the time for the accomplishment of the Last Judgment and the Second Coming of the Lord shall have arrived, some Human Announcer of the fact, and of the truths to be then discovered, must be commissioned to declare them. 111. — II. Examination of the claims of Swedenhorg to be received into this capacity, 11.3. — III. The charge against him of Insanity, considered, 124.— IV. The objection against Swedenborg, that he wrought no miracles, considered, 132.

Section VI

Heaven and Hell, and the Appearances in them and in theIntermediate Region or World of Spirits, . 156 I. Great prejudices against Swedenborg for professing to have had communication with the spiritual world ; yet that, in his case, this was appropriate, and necessary, 158. How the author's own prejudices on this subject were surmounted, (n) ib. — II. Mi- Beaumont's injurious assertion respecting the tendency of Swe- B iv

denborg's, descriptions of the invisible loorld, considered, 160. — That Swedcnborg's views of heaven are such as must render it in the highest degrse attractive to the justly feehng mind, (n) 162. — III. That, in order to the right understanding 0/ Swedenborg's statements respecting the Appear^ces in the spiritual world, certain general truths are necessary to be known, 167. The Existence of the Marriage-Union in Heaven, and of

AN Opposite Connexion tn Hell, (n) 183

That the Scriptures represent the Lord Himself as one of the parties in a Marriage-union, and the Church as the other, (tt) 185

SECTION VII. The Trinity, as centered in the Person of the Lord

The New-Jerusalem doctrine of the Trinity takes all that is true in other systems separated from all that is false, and is such as, it might be expected, all would gladly accept, 203. — I. Solution of the objections arising out of the belief, that the Being who became incarnate loas a Son of God born from eternity, 206. — II. Solution of the objections dei'ived from the fact, that the Lord Jesus Christ, while in the world, sometimes spoke as if the Father were a Being separate from himself. That the reason was, because, so long as he was in the world, there was a part of his nature whicli was not divine ; but that it was glorified successfully, so that, at his ascension, all was divine, and one with the Father, 209

SECTION viir.

The Atonement and Mediation of Jesus Christ, . . 218 What the Atonement is, according to the Apostle Paal, 219. — Scripture use and meaning of the word, (n) ib. — I. TTiat the Sacrifices of the Mosaic laio did not represent the punishment due to sin, but the hallowing of every affection and principle of the mind, thus of the ivhole man, to the Lord, 221.— II. That the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ did not consist in his suffering the a^nishment due tn sinners, but in the halloiuing of every principle or element of his Human JVature to the Godhead, till the whole became a liviiig sacrifice, or thing fully consecrated and hallowed, by perfect union with the Divinity, 226.- — That his sufferings, and finally the passion of the cross, were the means by which this sacrifice was offered, and thus by which we are delivered from hell and raised to heaven, 220, 227. That by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the enmity or contrariety between man and God was first abolished in his own person, and then in us also ; and thus atonement is effected, 229. — HI. That the Lord is called a Mediator in respect to his Humanity, because in this he has openid a new and living way of access to his Divinity, 230. This beautifully illustrated, and with it the Lord's oneness with the Father, by Dr. Watts, (n) 231.

SECTION IX. The Christian Lri-E, 235

Gross scandals advanced on this subject by Mr Beaumont, 235. That a life of righteousness, but not of Pharisaic righteousness, is, as taught in Mat. v. 19, 20, the way to heaven; and that this doctrine, in all its integrity and purity, is that of the JVew Church and of the writings of Swedenborg, 2S7.

AN APPEAL, &c.

TO

THE REFJLECTING OF AL,L DENOMINATIONS.

Section I. Intr Od Uction

Allow me, with respect and affection, to address you, as men who assign their due value to serious things, on a subject of, as it appears to many, no inconsiderable importance.

The existence of a body of Christians who humbly trust that they belong to the New Church of the Lord, predicted in various parts of the Holy Scriptures and called, in the twentyfirst chapter of the Revelation, the New Jerusalem, has, for some time past, attracted a considerable degree of public attention. It is generally known that tlie Views of the Eternal World and State, and the Doctrines of Faith and Life, held by these persons, are those which are delivered, as deductions from the Word of God, in the Writings of the Hon. Emanuel Swedenborg ; who is by them regarded as a distinguished servant of the Lord, raised up for this work by as express an interference of Divine Providence, as that by which a Luther was raised to effect ihe Reformation from the corruptions of the Church of Rome, or even as that by which a Paul or a John the Baptist was called forth to teach the great truths of Christianity itself, or to announce the first advent of its Divine Author. But while it has thus been known that such a body of Christians exist, and that such is the origin of their views and doctrines, the greatest misapprehension in general prevails as to what those views and doctrines are, and the grounds on which they are embraced ; for, unhappily, they have been heard of by

Introduction

the public at large, only, for the most part, through the misrepresentations and perversions of adversaries and calumniators. We, who have embraced them, feel an entire but humble assurance, that, were they seen in their true colors, all the Reflecting, of all Denominations, would immediately admit, that they are worthy at least of deep consideration and serious attention; and we are assured further, that, were such consideration and attention bestowed on them, numbers would rise from the investigation with a conviction of their truth. If they are true, to have just or erroneous conceptions of them cannot be a matter of indifference: permit then one of those who have not hesitated to stake their salvation upon their certainty, to address a serious Appeal to you in their behalf Great activity has been used, through a great variety of channels, to possess your minds with totally false and extremely injurious conceptions respecting the illustrious Swedenborg and his writings: allow therefore, I intreat you, one who has maturely considered both, to disabuse you respecting them, — to disperse, by a fair statement, the clouds of misrepresentation in which the sentiments received by us have been involved, — and to bring to your acquaintance views of Divine Truth which appear to be at once elevated and well-founded; views which, we venture to assure you, challenge the strictest scrutiny of Reason, and come supported by the plainest testimony of Scripture. Yes, ye who prize the inestimable gift of Reason ! permit me to say, that never was a more gross deception practised on mankind, than when it lias been attempted, by idle tales and false imputations, to make you believe, that Reason, and what is commonly but improperly termed Swedenborgianism, are uncombineable terms. And to you, ye sincere lovers of the Scriptures! allow me to declare, that to persuade you that writings and doctrines like those we espouse, which place the truths of Scripture in their own genuine light, are at variance with the truths of Scripture, and th4t they originate in delusion, is to impose on you an extravagant delusion indeed.

Were I left to my own choice in regard to the form which this Appeal should assume, it would be different from that which I am compelled by circumstances to adopt. Having a rich store to select from of the most

INTRODUCTION.

luminous truths and most satisfactory doctrines, upoa every subject that is interesting to a man, to an immortal, to a Christian, I naturally should give, to the most important things, the largest share of attention, bestowing a more cursory notice on matters of inferior moment. There are no sentiments entertained by us, or advanced in the writings of Swedenborg, which v/e are not satisfied are pure and genuine truths: but in every extended system of doctrine there are truths of higher and of lower importance; as in the system of the visible heavens "one star difiereth from another star in glory," and as the representative breast-plate of Aaron not only included the ruby and the diamond, but also the agate and the jasper. In making then an Appeal to you in behalf of our views, were I left to pursue the most natural course, I undoubtedly should place the richer gems, the rubies and the diamonds, in the more prominent light, and give to the inferior a subordinate station. The great truths respecting the Nature, Person, and Attributes, of the Lord God Almighty; the work of Human Redemption; the duties of Repentance and Reformation; the process of Regeneration ; the entire Inspiration and exalted Spirituality of the Word of God; the certainty of a Future Retribution; the true Importance of the Present Stage of Existence as that in which man makes up the form and character of his spirit and internal life, and thus fixes his state, either for happiness or misery, to eternity; the pure Glories of Heaven, and the real Terrors of Hell; the Wonders of the Divine Government, or of Divine Providence, which extends to the minutest occurrences of human life, and in all that it either appoints or permits primarily regards eternal ends: — these, and such as these, are the subjects which occupy the distinguished stations in the doctrines which we believe to be those of the New Jerusalem, and in the writings in which those doctrines are delivered: on these they present views A'hich are indisputably heavenly and exalted: on these then the pen of an Apologist would naturally dwell at the greatest length and with the most delight, secure that in all that he should offer respecting them the mind of the unprejudiced reader could scarcely fail of finding the most decided satisfaction. But they who have set themselves to crush, if it were possible, the rising New Church in its infancy, — as Herod sent to slay

INTRODUCTION.

all the children in Bethlehem of two years old and under,— naturally take the opposite course. Some of them, indeed, as the late Dr Priestley and a few others, have undertaken to oppose the leading doctrines of our church by argument; but the greater number have endeavored to keep our real doctrines, as far as possible, out of sight, offering, and then combating, such a garbled statement of them as can give their readers no just idea of what they are; while they have ransacked the pages of our valued Author in quest of everything which, on being brought forward by itself, separated from its conte.xt, and from the explanations necessary to its right apprehension, might appear most repugnant to the ideas commonly entertained, and might with most plausibility be made the ground of opprobrious animadversion ; especially when heightened by exaggeration and misstatement, which have often been supplied accordingly; not to meation the many absolute fictions, void of all foundation either in truth or in probability, which have shamelessly been propagated respecting Swedenborg, his writings, and their admirers. In appealing to you then in behalf of our sentiments, it is necessary to follow the course marked out by our opponents; and as they have endeavored to raise prejudices by chiefly dwelling upon parts of our author's system and writings which are of very inferior importance, I shall be obliged to give, to such subordinate points, a much larger proportion of attention than they otherwise would demand. I shall take then for my guide, as to the subjects necessary to be discussed and to be set in their true liglit, a late publication by the Rev. G. Beaumont, of Norwich, which he denominates " The Anti-Swedenborg: or a Declaration of the Principal Errors and Anti-scriptural Doctrines contained in the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg." My reasons forgiving my Appeal a particular reference to this publication, are, first, because the author of it declares, that some Lectures delivered by nie in the city of Norwich were the occasion of his work; and secondly, because this work has been the occasion of many misrepresentations of our sentiments and of ourselves in the theological Reviews and Magazines, the editors of several of which, taking it for granted that Mr Beaumont's reports and views are correct, have recommended his work, have repeated his statements and thus have given

INTRODUCTIOxV.

a wide circulation to the injurious impression ho has labored to excite. As observed above, had I chosen my own ground in this Appeal, the form of it would have been different from that which, under the existing circumstances, it will assume: but the advocates of the >'ew Church, though without any confidence in themselves, are at all times wilhng, conscious of the invulnerability, in every point of their sacred cause, to leave the choice of the ground to their opponents, and to meet them in any line of attack they may think proper to adopt. To legitimate argument, (though it is seldom, alas! that any thing of that kind is employed against us,) we hope to be enabled to oppose legitimate arguir.ent from sounder premises; to misrepresentations of facts or sentiments, the statement of such facts or sentiments in their proper colors; to misapplications of Scripture, Scripture justly applied and fairly explained; and to the artifices of falsehood, the honesty of truth. But we will not return railing for railing; nor, because the most scandalous imputations have been fabricated to be affi.xed on us, will we retort with anything of the kind against our accusers. Wc commit the whole cause, with perfect composure as to the issue, into the hands of Him whose cause we believe it to be; and while we are grateful that we have been enabled to behold the truth, on subjects of the deepest importance t« human welfare, in, as we are satisfied, its own genuine light, we will not be offended with those who as yet see diHerently, nor cherish the smallest spark of personal ill-feeling towards the bitterest of our opponents. They, as well as we, are in the hands of a merciful God, who, as our doctrines assure us, does not visit with severity for involuntary, much less for well-intentioned error: and though we cannot but believe that our adversaries, especially when they misrepresent and malign us, are in error, wc strive to cherisii the hope, in every case where there is any possible ground for it, that the error is involuntary and well-intentioned

Beside occasional notices of other assailants, I intend then, in the following pages, to answer all the objections raised by the Rev. G. Beaumont in the work above mentioned: 1 do not propose, however, to follow that gentleman's steps in a servile or captious manner, or to keep him or his objections constantly before the reader. My design rather is, to take occasion, from his objections, 1*

INTRODUCTION.

to open, upon general principles, the subjects brought under discussion; so that this Appeal may include a general exposition of the sentiments of the New Church upon the most important of her doctrines, and especially upon those subjects, even when of quite inferior moment in themselves, in regard to which the most common and plausible objections, have been raised, and the most injurious misconceptions have gone abroad.

I intreat you then, my serious friends, to whatever denomination, as regads the profession of religion, you may belong, to enter on the perusal of this Appeal with candid minds, and with a sincere desire to see the truth, wheresoever, and with whomsoever, it may be found. And as the best preparation for thus seeing it, allow me to request you to raise your hearts, in prayer for right direction and illumination, to the Truth Itself Personified, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are assured in his unerring Word, that He is " the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world;"* He declares himself that He is the " Truth, "| and again, that He is " the Light of the world," and that " he that followeth Him shall not abide in darkness, but shall have the light of life -."J whatsoever then may be your present opinions in regard to his nature and person, you cannot doubt, if you believe the Scriptures, thai he has the power of imparting the light of truth to the mind that looks to him for it. Nor can you doubt that, to the reception of any gift from him, faith in his power to confer it is a necessary preliminary. When the tv, o blind men intreated his mercy, while on earth, He said unto them, " Believe ye that I am able to do this?" and on their answering in the aflirmative, " then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And," the sacred record adds, " their eyes were opened. "§ Who does not see the correspondence between the communication of the light of day to the eye and of the light of truth to the mind? and that the one miracle was performed to represent the other? Whatever then may be thought of the Lord Jesus Christ, evident it is that He is set forth to us in the Scriptures as the Being from whom the inestimable gift of the perception of divine truth is to be received; and that, in

SECOND COMING OF THE LORD.

order to its reception, He is to be applied to with confidence ill his power to bestow it. Be your ideas of Him then, in other respects, what they may, permit me to beg of you to believe, that He really has this power; to elevate your hearts towards Him with corresponding desires; and in this frame of mind to weigh the statements and considerations, which, in the following Sections of this Appeal, will be laid before you. Under this guidance, I cannot refrain from hoping, that you will be led to the conclusion, that what our opponents call " principal errors" arc in reality momentous truths, and that what they denominate " anti-scriptural doctrines" are in fact the very doctrines of the Scriptures. But do not let the fear of being brought to this result by the devout experiments which I have presumed to recommend deter you from making it: do not refuse to put your minds, on this occasion, under the sole guidance of the Lord Jesus Christ, from an apprehension, that He who is the Light and the Truth may by any possibility guide you into error.

SECTION IL

The Second Coming of the Lord.

I will call your attention, my reflecting brethren, in the first place, to the important circumstance announced to us in the prophetic parts of the New Testament, and commonly known by the name of the Second Coming of the Lord; with the important consequence of such coming, or rather part of it, which is described in symbolic language as the descent from heaven of a New Jerusalem. For it is because we understand tiiese great piedictions in a different sense from that in which most persons at the present time apprehend them, and because we believe that, in their only true sense, they are at this day receiving their fulfilment, that so many attempts are made to hold up both us and our sentiments to derision. In this respect we are treated just as were the first converts to Christianity by the Jews. The Jews were looking for the coming of the Messiah, as the hope of Israel;

SECOND COMING OF THE LORD.

yet were they almost unanimous in persecuting the small band of their brethren who affirmed that their hope was fulfilled. Christians have ever been looking with hope for the second coming of Him whom the Jews rejected: yet are too many of them eager in the persecution of those who affirm that this hope also is fulfilled. To our case then may be most exactly applied the noble apology of Paul when pleading before Agrippa. " I stand," says he, " and am judged, for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews."*

I propose then, in this Section of my Appeal, to undertake the defence of those who stand in the same situation among their brethren, the professors of Christianity, as the Apostle Paul and the other first Christians did among their brethren, the professors of Judaism: and I earnestly intrcat you, as believers of the Scriptures,— as holders of the Christian's hope, candidly to consider what I have to offer. There is nothing in the sentiments I shall present which ought to offend any one, but, on the contrary, much that every one may regard with delight. If by any means prejudices have been instilled into the minds of any of you, permit me to request you to lay them aside till you have fairly heard both sides of the question; and pray do not consider me as your enemy, because, with much respect and affection, and without intending the smallest offence to any one, I lay before you what, from the bottom of my soul, I believe to be the truth.

First then, I propose to shew, That the second coming of the Lord is not a coming in person, as most persons, in consequence of taking quite literally the symbolic language of prophecy, have hitherto supposed, but that it means the restoration of the true knowledge of divine subjects, or of the genuine doctrines of the Word of God, accompanied with their corresponding influence on the heart; in other words, that it is the revival of the true church of the Lord among mankind; in which mode of considering it, it is more particularly meant by the manifestation of" the New Jerusalem. In the sec-

• Acts xxvi. 6, 7.

SECOND COMir<G OF THE LORD.

ond place I will shew, that there are many circumstances and signs in the situation of the world at this day, which plainly indicate that the time for the divine interference described in Scrpiture as the second coming of the Lord has arrived. In the third place I will point out, that there are circumstances in the state of the world at this day in regard to religion, which evince that the restoration of true religion, promised under the figures of a second coming of the Lord and establishment of a New Jerusalem, cannot be much longer delayed without the most serious injury to the best interests of the human race. 7\nd I will conclude with shewing, that there is nothing in our views of this subject which can be justly charged with enthusiasm, but that, on the contrary, they furnish the best antidote to every species of fanaticism and spiritual delusion.

L With regard to the first of these subjects then, it is first to be observed, that nothing is more true than a rejnark which has been made by almost every commentator that ever wrote upon the fulfilment of prophecy; namely, Thai the exact meaning of the prophecies is never understood, till the time of their accomplishment. This was strikingly experienced in regard to the prophecies which announced the coming of the Lord in the flesh. Although the whole Jewish nation knew from those prophecies that a Messiah was to appear, and the more learned among them could even point out truly where he would be born, they were so much in the dark respecting everything else that concerned him, looking only for a carnal and not a spiritual Saviour, that when he did come they rejected him and put him to death. And even the disciples who received him, — even the twelve apostles whom he peculiarly selected, — so much partook of the common errors of their countrymen, that they disputed which of them should be the greatest, or have the highest post, in the temporal kingdom which they supposed he was about to set up.* Even at the moment of his ascension they asked him whether he would not restore the temporal kingdom of Israel;tand it was not till they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit from their glorified Lord, that they had just ideas of the nature of that kingdom into which they had been