Theory of pneumatology : in reply to the question what ought to be believed or disbelieved concerning presentiments, visions, and apparitions, according to nature, reason, and Scripture

Front matter

THEORY PNEUMATOLOGY;

IN REPLY TO THE QUESTION,

WHAT OUGHT TO BE BELIEVED OR DISBELIEVED

Introduction

Belief of all Nations, in every Age, in Invisible Influences page 1

The Objects of this Belief corresponded with the National Character 1

Hence the Doubts of the Existence of a World of Spirits 1

Refutation of these Doubts, and Proofs of the Reality of a World of Spirits 2

The Bible the genuine Source of Truth 2

Various Parties with respect to the Belief of it 2

The First Party receives the Holy Scriptures as a Divine Revelation 2

The Second Party subjects the Bible to the Criticism of Reason, and reduces

everything to mere Morality 3

The Third Party believes nothing at all — it is the most prevalent in the present

day 3

The Intention of this Work has Reference to all these Parties 3

My Motives for it 3

The First Party is shown that, among so many thousand Deceptions, there are,

notwithstanding, real Apparitions 4

The Second Party must not regard everything inexplicable as Natural — the

Causes of the most dreadful Enthusiasm 4

Mistakes of the Third and Fourth Parties, and the various Motives by which they

are actuated , 4-6

CHAPTER I. — Examination and Refutation of the Principles of Materialism

Dreadful Abuse of the Belief in Presentiments and Apparitions of Spirits among

Jews and Heathens 7

Ratification thereof by Christ and his Apostles 7

Ideas of the first Christian Churches of the Invisible World 7

Their Ideas of the Solar System 8

Of the Abode and Influence of good and evil Angels and departed Souls 8

Accordance of these Ideas with the Bible, and the then prevalent Platonic Philosophy 8

The Pride and Ambition of the Clergy was the Cause why all these Ideas degenerated into dreadful Errors and Abuses 9

The chief Source of the most senseless Superstition — its Overthrow not accomplished by denying the Truth 10 viii CONTENTS.

Overthrow of the ancient Ptolemaic Solar System by the Copernican page 10

Scruples with reference to this 10

Consequences of the Reformation, and renewed Mistakes 10

New Philosophical Systems — The Copernican System established — Prejudicial

Consequences of this System with regard to the Christian Faith 11

Consoling Assurance with respect to these Consequences 11

Inconsistent Conduct of the Clergy at all these Discoveries 12

Origin of Materialism and Fatalism 12

The World a Machine — Its Self-Existence, which needs no Divine or Invisible Influence 13

Attempt of Philosophers to unite their Mechanical System with the Free Will

of Man 13

Hence the System of the best of Worlds — Its Absurdity 13

Horrible Consequences of this System, and yet it continues the Guiding Star

of modern Enlightening, which leads to Destruction 14

Leibnitz, the Inventor of this System, did not forebode its results 15

His Theodice 15

Not all the Disciples of this System are so deeply sunk, but are yet on the way

to it 15

Hinderances in the way of my Theory of Pneumatology 15

They must be removed 15

To these belong the Mechanism of the World, which needs neither God, nor

Angels, nor Spirits 15

Notwithstanding all these Discoveries, the Common People adhere to their Faith

and S uperstidons , 16

The Light of modern Philosophy discovered Superstition in all its Nakedness. 16

It was overthrown, but Faith along with it 16

Balthazar Becker and Thomasius 16

Basis on which the Assailers of Superstition and Faith erect their Batteries.- 16

Atheism its Result 17

Pretended Proof that there are neither Good nor Evil Angels 17

Difficulty in the Explanation of Human Nature 17

Doctrine of Indivisibility and Predetermined Harmony 17

The present System, that the Soul can do nothing without the Body 18

Melancholy and comfortless Consequences of this System 18

Development of the erroneous fundamental Principles of Materialism 18

Accomplishment and Proof of this Development 18

Our Ideas of the Visible World depend solely upon the Organization of our

Organs of Sense 18

The Organs of Sense are conscious of Things in Time and Space — Both are

their own Modes of Perception 19

God alone views the World as it really is, but not in Time and Space — therefore neither of them exist in Nature 19

Divine Origin of the Organization of Human Nature 20

Caution against Idealism 20

Proof of the Assertion in the Paragraph preceding the last 20

W hat the Sensible World is 20

For this we are organized — To this belongs the Copernican System 20

But for the Super-Sensible World, the Bible Idea is the true one 21

CONTENTS. ix

The Mechanical System is onr sure Guide in the Sensible World, but is Death

and Destruction in the Super-Sensible page 21

The Plan of the best World is a childish Idea 22

Mode of acting with respect to the Divine Counsels 22

The Sensible World consists of Beings which are entirely unknown to us.... 22

Intimate Connection of the Super-Sensible with the Visible 22

Light is the Medium 23

Division of the whole Creation into the Sensible or Visible World, and the Invisible or World of Spirits 23

Man enters the latter at Death 23

The Inhabitants of the World of Spirits, who are in the two Kingdoms, consist

of Good and Evil Angels and Human Souls 23

Their Influence on the Invisible World 23

The System of Materialism rejected, and the free Theocratic System put in

its place 23

CHAPTER II.-^Remarks upon the Nature of Man. Warning against soaring too high 25

Good and Evil Angels act upon the Visible World, but our Reason and Senses

are seldom conscious of it 25

Proof that Mankind are by no means referred to these Influences, but solely to

the Divine Government 26

The Actio in Distans is unnatural in the Visible World, but natural in the Invisible 26

Sense of the terms Foreboding and Presentiment 26

Correct Idea of the Human Body in former Times 27

Total Ignorance of the Soul, and how it operates upon the Body 27

A newly opened Source of Knowledge 27

Animal Magnetism — Its Origin, Abuse, and Truth 27

Assured Sources of its Correctness and Certainty 27

Limitation to undoubted Results 28

Somnambulism 28

Exaltation of the Powers of the Soul 28

Seeing from the Region of the Heart 29

Radiant Atmosphere around the Magnetizer, and looking into his Interior 29

Perception of others through the Magnetizer 29

Rapport — Perfect, exalted Consciousness — Reading from the Region of the

Heart 29

Remarkable Book on the Inward Man 30

Account of an extremely interesting Somnambulist at Lyons 30

Remarks on the foregoing Account 32

Somnambulists read the Thoughts in the Souls of others 32

An Example of this 32

They attain an Insight into the World of Spirits, bring astonishing Intelligence

thence, and know what takes place at a Distance 33

The most uninformed Somnambulists attain in their Bodies a correct Acquaintance with their Disease, and prescribe the most effectual Remedies for it. .. 33 Somnambulists often act like Sleepwalkers, but in a more perfect manner 31 x CONTENTS.

Notwithstanding the greatest Physicians are convinced of all this, they do not

dare to act upon it, because it contradicts their System page 34

Of Ether — The Theories of Light and Sound are inadmissible and unsatisfactory 34

Proof that Ether is the Uniting Medium between the Visible and Invisible

World 35

The Nervous Power or Animal Spirit is Ethereal 35

How this Light-Being and the Rational Soul unite in the Body 36

Three component Parts of Man — Body, Light-Covering, and Spirit 36

The two latter constitute the Human Soul 36

More minute Description of the Human Soul— Half Animal, half Angel 37

The Soul is naturally not visible 37

The Somnambulists see it as an azure blue glimmer of Light 37

Its Atmosphere about the Body 37

The Soul works naturally through the Medium of the Brain and the Nerves —

In the Magnetic State, without either 37

In the latter State, the Soul operates in a much more lively and exalted Manner than in the former 37

It expeiiences nothing of the Visible World, except in Itapport 38

It is incomprehensible, that these remarkable Discoveries are not taken advantage of psychologically 38

The Eternal Spirit must have a Medium by which it feels and is felt — This is

Ether 38

Inferences drawn from Magnetic Experience : 38

They prove the Existence of a Covering of Light — that the Soul possesses the

Body merely for the Visible World, and, without it. is much more perfect, &c. 38

What passes in the Soul at Death 39

The Objection refuted, that the Somnambulists use the Nerves and the Brain.. 39

Further important Conclusions regarding the State of the Soul after Death 40

Hysteric and melancholy Trances are nothing more than a naturally-produced

Somnambulism 40

All Visions, Revelations, and Prophecies, which occur in this State, are nothing but the Consequences of Somnambulism ; and not Divine, but the Effects of

Disease 40

Causes of a natural Magnetic Sleep 41

Carnal Affection one of its fruitful Sources 41

Several remarkable and dreadful Instances of it 42

Substantial Proof that the holiest Souls in this State are not secure against Deception ^ . 43

Important Destiny of Man, and the Duties resulting from it , 44

Singular Effects of Nervous Disorders ,. 44

Appearances in a waking State, as well as in Trances, from natural Causes. .. 45

Appearances from the Invisible World 45

The Boundaries of both 45

Even the most sacred and sublime Appearances may be the Effects of a diseased Imagination 45

Its lamentable Consequences 45

The highest kind of Apparitions founded in the Nature of Man, is when the

Individual is able to t-how himself elsewhere, while ajive in the Body 46

CONTENTS. xi

Very remarkable Occurrence in America page 46

The Circumstance explained, and ltemarks upon it 48

Several Degrees of Detachment of the Soul from the Body 48

Sleep — Dreams — Sleepwalkers 43

Trances of hysterical and hypochondriacal Individuals 49

Complete Detachment in Death 49

In one Person this D etachment is easier than in another 49

Secret Means for attaining it 49

More minute and lucid Explanation of the Occurrence in America 50

On Self-Appearances, when any one sees himself 51

Imaginary Apparitions 51

The Question decided where Natural Appearances cease, and those from the

Invisible World commence 51

On the capability of entering into Connection with the Invisible World in this

Life 52

The longing of certain departed Souls for this Intercourse 52

Nature of the Invisible World, and its Situation 52

Hades 52

Departed Souls are as much afraid of the Apparitions of the Living, as the latter are of them 53

Wherein the capability of Intercourse with Spirits consists 53

Swedenborg's History 54

He was no Deceiver 54

Proof that his affair with the Q,ueen of Sweden is true 55

His announcing at Gotteuburg a Fire taking place at Stockholm 55

He shows a Widow where her deceased Husband had deposited a Receipt .. 55 Remarkable and authentic Account of what passed between Swedenborg and

a Merchant of Elberfeld 56

What is Truth and Error with respect to Swedenborg 58

Note by American Editor — More recent Views of Swedenborg's Character... 58

Incontestable Conclusion respecting the Nature of Man 59

Caution against the Invisible World — How to act in such a case 62

CHAPTER III. — On Presentiments, Predictions, Enchantments, and Prophesying. Real Presentiments 63

Developed Faculty of Presentiments 63

Witchcraft 63

Predictions, and real Divine Prophecies 63

Real Presentiments 63

Remarkable Presentiment of the late Professor Boehm 64

Philosophical Explanation of this Presentiment refuted 65

True and Biblical Explanation of real Presentiments 65

Incomprehensible Absurdity of Materialism 66

Remarkable Presentiment of my late Principal, Mr. Spaniar 66

Its Certainty 67

Objection refuted 68

Madame do Beaumont's Account of a remarkable* true Presentiment 63 xii CONTENTS.

Another of a Housekeeper, who foreboded that an Arbor would be struck by

L ightning PAGE 69

Presentiments— the Object of which is not easily ascertained 70

Von B renkenhof 's Dream 70

Probable Object of this Dream 71

Very remarkable Prophetic Dream of the Princess Nagotsky, of W arsaw 72

Three similar Dreams regarding the Lottery by Dr. Knape 73

Presentiments communicated by a pious Preacher 78

Reflections upon such apparently aimless Dreams 79

Insufficiency of Materialism in the Explanation of these Facts 80

Substantial Deductions from this dark affair 80

Principles of my Theory of Pneumatology, and of real Presentiments 81

Aimless Forebodings and Dreams 88

What the Faculty of Presentiment is — Its Development 88

How the Faculty of Presentiment operates 89

Lasting general-developed Faculty of Presentiment — Several kinds of such

Persons 90

The first kind is, when the Faculty of Presentiment is developed by the Practice of Godliness 90

The Danger of this State, and how those have to act who find themselves in it 91

The Conduct of others in such Circumstances 91

Very important Caution regarding such extraordinary Gifts 92

Remarkable Faculty of Presentiment in Madam W., of S 93

Reflections upon it 90

Confirmation of my Theory 96

Magic — Warning against it 97

Apparition of Admiral Coligny 98

Most remarkable Prediction of M. Cazotte, at Paris, in the year 1788 98

Proof of the Truth of this Narrative 104

An Addition to it, and to the Proof of its Truth 105

Reflections, Conclusions, Warnings, &c 107

Second-Sight — a Consequence of a developed Faculty of Presentiment 109

A singular Instance of this kind in the Province of Nassau 110

Another from the Westphalian County of Mark Ill

Explanation of Second-Sight; being a Consequence of a developed Faculty of

Presentiment , 113

Duty of the Police with respect to it 113

Explanatory Remarks on Second-Sight 113

Materialists not only deny all Phenomena from the Invisible World, but also brand them with Infamy, because they are experimental Proofs of the Christian Religion 114

Elucidation of this Proof 115

What is incumbent on such Occasions 115

Causes why such-like Apparitions are so seldom inquired into 116

How the true Christian ought to act in this Case 116

An important Remark 117

On Witchcraft and Enchantment — their Possibility 117

On the Power of Satan — He can now injure no one, except by the Man's own Fault 118

CONTENTS. xiii

No more can Witches and Magicians page 119

Origin and History of Witchcraft 119

An instructive Narrative, explanatory of this dark affair 121

Such suspicious Characters should be dealt with in a rational and Christian-like

Manner 122

The accusing anyone of Witchcraft a horrible and yet not uncommon Crime.. 122 Remarkable Account by Eckhartshausen of the Effects of certain Perfumes.. 123

Appearances over Graves — probably Resurrection-Germs 126

Note by American Editor, on " Resurrection- Germs" 126

Why Magic Potions, Perfumes, &c, are prejudicial to Health 127

Various Means used by Heathen Nations to pi-ocure Intercourse with the Invisible World 127

All these Acts were forbidden by the Mosaic Law 128

The Witch of Endor, Saul, and Samuel 123

Extremely important Results of my Theory of the developed Faculty of Presentiment 128

Exhortation to Prudence with regard to the Times that are approaching 129

Proof that the real Bible-Miracles were not wrought by Magnetism, &c 131

Proof that the developed Faculty of Presentiment must by no means be confounded with the Gift of Prophecy 131

Real Character of the Prophets and their Predictions 135

My Ideas of Balaam 136

CHAPTER IV. — On Visions and Apparitions

Superstition has caused Accounts of Apparitions to be received with Ridicule;

but all do not proceed from Superstition 137

Proof of the Possibility and Reality of Apparitions of Spirits, against Philosophers and Theologians 13-8

What I mean by Visions 138

Rule by which a Vision may be distinguished from a real Apparition 139

Very remarkable Apparition of a Spirit that seeks to induce one of its Descendants to dig for Treasure, and leaves striking Marks of its Presence on a Bible

and Handkerchief 140

An important Appendage to this Narrative 158

Proof of its Authenticity 159

Explanation how the Seer's Faculty of Presentiment became gradually developed, by which Difficulties are cleared up 160

Dreadful State of a departed Spirit, which is still fettered by Attachment to

E arthly Things 161

Proof that the Requests of the Spirit were improper, and that the Seer was iu

the right not to fulfil them 161

Illusive Appearances 162

Proof that Spirits possess a Creative Power 162

What would probably have been the result, if the Spirit had been obeyed 162

Explanation how the Spirit was able to read Writing 163

Important Inferences from the Fact that the Spirit, when angry or melancholy,

streamed Fire from his Fingers 163

Why he appeared in the Clothes he commonly wore 164 xiv CONTENTS.

Gradual Progress of Spirits after Death, with which their Appearance and

Costume correspond page 164

On the Intercourse and Social Relations of departed Souls 165

Further Suppositions 165

Proof that both the Spirit and its Superiors were in Error 166

Well-founded Supposition that the Work of Redemption is carried on after

Death 166

Remarkable Apparition, which proves that we ought not to be presumptuous

with regard to the Invisible World and its Circumstances 167

Apparition of Augustus II., King of Poland, to Field-Marshal Von Grumbkow 168

Certainty of the Fact 170

Causes which might have induced the Soul of the King to appear to Grumbkow 170 Psychological Definition of the mode of Thinking and Imagining after Death.. 171 Whether we shall, after Death, contemplate the Works of Creation, and that

in a superior Manner than at present 171

What is to be inferred from Self-Apparitions 1 72

Three Instances of it 172

Proof that no one ever died from a mere Impression of the Imagination 173

The possibility of it from violent Mental Emotions 173

It is supposed that our Friends, after Death, sympathize in our Fate, and are

about us 174

Remarkable warning Apparition respecting the Duke of Buckingham 175

Remarks upon it 178

Why the Apparition did not appear to the Duke himself 179

Another Proof that our deceased Friends sympathize in our Fate, but often

mistake in the choice of the Means of Help 179

Extract from a Letter regarding a very remarkable Apparition 181

Proof that it was no empty Vision 183

Proof that Hades ought not to be feared 184

What is requisite for this Purpose 184

State of a Soul to which Hades is painful 184

Means of attaining to Rest 186

Explanation of the Apparition mentioned in the Letter 186

Caution to the Seer of it 286

Observations and Instructions with respect to the Black Spirit 186

Further important Reflections regarding the Faculty of Presentiment and the

Resurrection-Germ 187

Another Mode of proceeding in case of Apparitions 187

Narrative of the Apparition in the Caroline College, at Brunswick 1 88

Absurdity of the Efforts made by modern Philosophers to explain away this

Fact, as well as every other of the same Nature 193

The true reason of it 193

The real Cause why Doerien appeared after his Death 194

Important Rules for dying Christians 194

Remarks upon (he Man without the Wedding Garment — Matt, xxli 195

Further explanatory Observations relative to this Apparition , 195

What is requisite to hoar a Spirit speak audibly 196

Remarks on the Creative Power of Spirits .*-.- 196

Swedenborg's Account of Spiritual Speech and Hearing (note).......,...,-, 196

CONTENTS. xv

O pinion of the Conduct of Professor eder page 3 97

Very remarkable Apparition to Duke Christian, of Saxe-Eisenberg 197

Observations upon it 202

Caution respecting religious Intercourse with Persons of a different Sex 202

The Importance of being reconciled before entering the other World 203

How a departed Spirit may feel and distinguish between Heat and Cold, Light

and Darkness 203

Inquiry why the Reconciliation of the two Spirits took place in the eartldy

Stale 204

Proof of the melancholy Consequences produced in Eternity by absurd feelings

of Rank 205

Important Rules of Conduct with respect to Rank 205

Particularly for Rulers 206

Application of these Ideas to the Apparition of the last two Spirits 206

Probable Reason why Prince Christian ordered himself to be buried in 0_uick-

Lime 207

On Spirits that wander about without any Object 207

Remarkable Narrative of the Apparition of the Spirit of a Capuchin Monk 207

Admirable Courage of the Observer, which might have been dangerous to him 213

What he ought to have done 215

The Spirit of the Capuchin does not belong to the Class of merely noisy

Spectres 216

Probable Reasons why the Spirit of the Capuchin acts the part of a Sackbearer 216

Why he was heard so dreadfully at the happy Death of a Protestant 217

Why the Spirit appeared twice in the Figure of a Capuchin, but did not let

himself be seen by my Friend 217

Inconceivable Conduct of People at the Appearance of Spirits 217

Singular Remark, that Spirits have no Rest till their Remains are regularly

interred 218

Such Requests proceed from mistaken Ideas 218

How to act in such Cases 218

A Hint of some importance, that it is proper to inter dead Bodies 219

Account of the celebrated White Lady, and where she appears 219

Authenticity and Truth of this Apparition 220

Two irrefutable Testimonies 220

Further Account where, how, and when the White Lady appears 220

She has only spoken twice 221

A peculiarly remarkable Apparition of the White Lady, occasioned by the neglect of a Charitable Institution 221

The White Lady is not in a State of Salvation, much less of Perdition 222

Her probable History and Parentage 222

Her name is Bertha Von Rosenberg, and she lived in the fifteenth Century 222

Her Marriage with Johann Von Lichtcnstein proves very unhappy — hence her

mental bitterness, which hitherto prevents her Salvation 222

She is left a Widow, builds the Castle of Neuhaus, and institutes a yearly

Feast for the Poor 223

Her Place and Manner of Appearing more precisely fixed 223

Probable Reasons why she wanders about, and occasionally appears 224

Her State is not desirable — She is still in Error 884 xvi CONTENTS.

Apparitions of Spirits do not produce Amendment PAGE 224

Concluding Remarks 225