Documents concerning the life and character of Emanuel Swedenborg

Front matter

EXTRA. (7.)

FR2CE 87\ CENTS.

THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY.

Part I. TESTIMONY OF PERSONAL FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES OF SWEDENBORG

I. Sandel's Eulogium on Emanuel Swedenborg , 23

II. Swedenborg's Account of Himself in a letter to his Friend the Rev. Thomas

Hartley, M. A 36

III. Testimony of the Rev. N. Collin, of Philadelphia, respecting Swedenborg 39

IV. Testimony of the Rev. Thomas Hartley, M. A. respecting Swedenborg 43

V. Testimony of Dr. Messiter respecting Swedenborg 44

1 . Letter to Prof. Hamilton 45

2. Prof. Hamilton's Reply 46

3. Letter to Prof. Traill 47

4. Prof. Traill's Reply 47

5. Letter to Prof. Gerard 48

6. Prof. Gerard's Reply 48

VI. Testimony of Mr. Wm. Cookworthy respecting Swedenborg 49

VII. Testimony of Count Andrew John Von Hopken respecting Swedenborg 49

1. Letters from Count Hopken to General Tuxen 49

2. Letter to another Friend 55

VIII. Testimony of General Christian Tuxen respecting Swedenborg 57

Letter of Swedenborg to General Tuxen 60

IX. Testimony of C. Springer, Esq. Swedish Consul at the port of London, respecting Swedenborg 61

X. Anecdotes collected by Mr. Robsahm, Director of the Bank of Stockholm, concerning the Life of Swedenborg when at Home 65

1. Swedenborg's Letter to the King 71

2. Anecdotes concerning Dr. Beyer and Swedenborg 75

XI. Anecdotes of Swedenborg when in London, collected by Mr. Provo 77

1. Lewis' Advertisement of Swedenborg's Writings 80

2. First Reception of the Writings of Swedenborg — Letter of Mr. S. Penny 83

3. Mr. Servante's Account of Swedenborg 84 vi. CONTENTS.

XII. Refutation of the false Report that Swedenborg, a few hours before his Death,

had retracted his Writings 8'

1. Letter of Mr. Hindmarsh . 8?

2. Affidavit of the Shearsmiths 86

3. Testimony of B. Chastanier SI

XIII. Anecdotes of Swedenborg while in Holland 88

1. Letter of Paulus ab Indagine 88

2. Publication of the True Christian Religion 91

Part II. TESTIMONIES TO SWEDENBORG'S INTERCOURSE WITH THE SPIRITUAL WORLD

XIV. The Queen of Sweden's Testimony concerning Swedenborg's Intercourse with

the Spiritual World 93

1. Remarks of Rev. S. Noble. . . 95

2. Confirmatory Statement of Mad. de Marteville's second Husband... 95 XV. Testimony of Captain de Stalhammer respecting Swedenborg's Intercourse

with the Spiritual World . 97

XVI. Testimony of the celebrated German Philosopher Emanuel Kant respecting

Swedenborg's Intercourse with the Spiritual World 98

Remarks by Rev. S. Noble 102

XVII. Testimony of Dr. Johann Heinrich Jung Stilling respecting Swedenborg's

Intercourse with the Spiritual World 104

XVIII. Testimony of the Rev. John Wesley respecting Swedenborg's Intercourse

with the Spiritual World , 106

XIX. Refutation of the false Reports propagated by the Rev. Mr. Wesley 110

Remarks of Rev. S. Noble 113

XX. Testimony of the celebrated Oberlin respecting Swedenborg's Intercourse

with the Spiritual World 114

Part III. LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS RELATIVE TO SWEDENBORG'S GENERAL CLAIMS

XXI. Letters from the celebrated J. C. Lavater, of Zurich, testifying his admi- ™

ration of Swedenborg's Writings 120

XXII. Letters from Swedenborg to Dr. Beyer, Greek Professor, and Assessor to

the Consistory at Gottenburg, on various Subjects 123

XXIII. A Declaration concerning the Doctrines taught by Swedenborg, by Gabriel

Andrew Beyer, D. D .... . 127 w

XXIV. Swedenborg's Reply to Dr. Ekebom's Deposition 145

XXV. Swedenborg's Correspondence with Dr. Oetinger, Prelate of Murrhhard in

Wurtemberg , 149

CONTENTS. vil

XXVI. Extract of a Letter from Dr. Beyer, to Dr. Oetinger 156

XXVII. Swedenborg's Letter to Dr. Menander, Archbishop of Sweden 164

XXVIII. Swedenborg's Letters to the Swedish Ambassador and to the Secretary of

State .. 166

XXIX. Swedenborg's Letters to the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, and to his

Minister, M. Venator - 167

XXX. Swedenborg's Letter to Dr. Wenngren, one of the Magistrates of Gotten-

XXXI. Remarks by Mr. A. Nordenskjold, on the different Editions of the Bible

made use of by Swedenborg , 171

XXXII. Swedenborg's Address to the Estates of the Swedish Realm, at the Opening of the General Diet, of 1761 172

1. Memorial to the Swedish Diet of the same year - 175

2. Memorial respecting Finance 178

XXXIII. Testimony of the celebrated Matthias Claudius respecting Swedenborg. . . 178

XXXIV. Memoranda respecting Swedenborg by the late Mr. Peckitt 180

XXXV. Remarks by the Marquis de Thome, on an Assertion of the Commissioners

appointed by the King of France on the Examination of Animal Magnetism 182

XXXVI. Curious Memorial of Swedenborg concerning Charles XII. of Sweden. . . 187

XXXVII. Testimony of Professor Gorres of Germany relative to Swedenborg's Scien-

tific and Philosophical Character. 191

XXXVIII. Letter of the Swedish Clergyman, Rev. Arvid Ferelius, to Professor

Tratgard, in Griefswalde, respecting Swedenborg's End 195

XXXIX. Testimony of Coleridge to the Literary, Scientific, and Theological Character of Swedenborg ,. . 198

XL. Letter from Swedenborg to the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm,

on the Hieroglyphics of Egypt 199

XLI. Discoveries in Science made or anticipated by Swedenborg • . 200

1. The Magnetic Element , , 201 •

2. Foramen of Monro • 201

3. Respiration of the Brain 202^

4. The Atomic Theory , 203

5. Chemical Equivalents of Water 203

16. Mention of a Seventh Planet 203 7. Extract from the London Forceps . . 204 8. Vitality of the Blood, . . , 205

1 9. Science of Crystallography . 206

/ 10. Invention of the Air-tight Stove . , , 207

11. Identity of Electricity and Lightning . . - . 207

XLII. Testimony of the celebrated Swedish Chymist Berzelius to the general

Merits of Swedenborg's " Animal Kingdom"* .... .,..,...,. 208 viii. CONTENTS.

XLIII. Testimony of J. J. G. Wilkinson to Swedenborg's general Merit as a Man

of Science and a Philosopher 20S

XLIV. Extracts from the earlier Volumes of the London Monthly Review respecting Swedenborg's Theological Works 209

1. The True Christian Religion 210

2. Heaven and Hell 211

3. The Heavenly Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 213

XLV. An Estimate of Swedenborg as the Expounder of the Good, the True, and

the Beautiful, from a Swedish Periodical ,. 214

XLVI. Testimony of J. D. Morell, of England, to the Rank due to Swedenborg

as a Philosopher 218

XLVII. Testimony of Ulrika, Queen of Sweden, and of the Celebrated German Savan, Wieland, respecting Swedenborg's Intercourse with the Spiritual World 224

XLVIII. Extract from the Autobiography of Bishop Swedberg, Swedenborg's

Father, respecting the Names of his Sons 230

XLIX. Testimony of the late Rev. John Clowes, in favor of Swedenborg's Theological Writings 231

^ EXHIBITING

THE CLAIMS OF THE WRITINGS OF SWEDENBORG TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC.

Respecting the celebrated Emanuel Swedenborg, the subject of the following " Documents," &c., great misrepresentations have gone abroad, and have produced, in the minds of many, most false and injurious impressions, in regard both to him and to his writings. Let, however, any one take, as a sample of his writings, those in which he delivers the doctrines of the New Church, predicted in the Revelation, as he affirms, under the symbol of the New Jerusalem ; particularly, let the sample be his work entitled, " On the New Jerusalem audits Heavenly Doctrine ;" or his " Doctrines of the New Jerusalem respecting the Lord, the Sacred Scripture, Faith, and Life /' let any one take either of these works as a sample : and if he had previously only heard the venerable and enlightened author spoken of as the deluded visionary and bewildered enthusiast he wiU be not a little surprised on its perusal. Instead of visionary statements and enthusiastic flights, he will find the words of truth and soberness, under their most legitimate stamp: doctrines deduced in the clearest manner from the literal sense of the Word of God, arranged, as to their various particulars, in the most lucid order, and supported by the strongest rational considerations. Let either of these works be perused with candor, and with the attention and devout seriousness which the subjects treated of demand, and which the mode of treatment merits ; and it is thought the reader must be disposed to admit, both that the doctrines which he delivers are truly the doctrines of the Word of God, and that the illumination by which they are so convincingly deduced from that source must have proceeded from its Divine Author. Let it then be seriously considered, whether a writer who was thus, on the most vital points of Christian doctrine, the organ of the dictates of truths could, on other parts of the same o-eneral system, be the victim of the illusions of error.

There are various considerations, which, if duly reflected on, would establish the claims of this writer to the attention of the Christian world. It is generally admitted among Christians, that the prophecies of Scripture do lead to the expectation of a glorious state of the church on earth, — a state in which she shall be glorious for the clearness of her doctrinal views, and for the purity of her practice, — beyond anything which has hitherto been witnessed. Many commentators have seen, that such a state of the church is what is prefigured by the description of the New Jerusalem, in the Revelation, which is said to " come down from God out of heaven^' (xxi. 2, 10), and to be " the tabernacle of God icith men" (xxi. 3). This is the view of the meaning of that 2 prophecy taken by Swedenborg, and which is demonstrated by him with great force ol reasoning and the most conclusive Scripture testimony. If this be the true view of the subject, and if Scripture does indeed deliver the oracles of truth, this New Jerusalem, — this new and improved form of the Christian Church, — must begin to be manifested at sometime or other. The predictions respecting it cannot be allowed, by their Divine Author, to remain a dead letter for ever ; at some time or other they must be accomplished. And what times have ever yet arrived, at which their accomplishment might so reasonably be considered to be about to commence, as the times now present 1 A longer period has already elapsed since the first foundation of the Christian Religion, than has intervened between the first communication of any former dispensation of divine things to man and its modification by a succeeding one.

Neither the Antediluvian Church, nor the Noetic, nor the Israelitic, lasted so many centuries as has the Christian church already. If then a new modification of this is ever to appear — if a New Jerusalem is, ever to form the tabernacle of God with men — the present age, as the probable era of its commencement, cannot be objected against on the plea of immaturity. If, also, it is reasonable to suppose that such an era would be marked by extraordinary signs, no era, assuredly, was ever more decidedly so marked than the present. For a long period, which does not seem yet to have entirely closed, the judgments of heaven have been abroad in the earth, in a more distinguished and more universal manner than has marked any former age since the establishment of the Christian Church. The whole political and moral aspect of almost every country on the face of the globe, and particularly of every country where Christians have had influence, has been svirprisingly transformed ; and even the human mind itself, throughout, as far as is known, all the great families of man, has undergone a most conspicuous change. Is it not reasonable to suppose, that these wonderful occurrences may have been in part overruled, and in part produced, by the immediate agency of Divine Providence, with reference to the accomplishment of its purposes of mercy, in the establishment of the new dispensation of genuine Christianity, predicted under the figure of the New Jerusalem 1 — that judgments are proceeding to remove obstructions out of the way, and that beneficial influences also are in operation to prepare for its reception % Most assuredly, the most decided opposer of the doctrines now proposed as those of the New Jerusalem, cannot deny, that if a New Jerusalem is ever to appear in the form of a New Church among men, no times wearing more of the character which may reasonably be expected to mark the era of its commencement have ever yet been known, and none can be reasonably looked for hereafter in which that character shall be more strikingly displayed.

There is much, then, which gives an antecedent probability to the opinion, that, as the predictions relative to the new state of the Lord's Church among mankind, of which the New Jerusalem is a figure, must be fulfilled at some time or other, the present is actually the time appointed by Infinite Wisdom and Goodness for that purpose. But whenever the time should arrive, it is undeniably certain, that some individual or other of the human race must be enlightened to make it known. Whenever the superior clearness of doctrinal views, introductory to superior purity of practice, which, as all commentators admit, is at some period to constitute the pre-em.inent glory of the Church, should be communicated to bless her members, it is obviously indispensable, that some individual or other of the human race should receive the illumination necessary to introduce it. Some instrument or other, peculiarly enlightened, must be raised up for the purpose. If, then, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the present may be the time in which the Church, or state of the Church, represented by the New Jerusalem, is to commence, there is no absurdity in supposing that such an instrument for communicating her doctrines may already have appeared. The illustrious Swedenborg is believed by many to have stood in this capacity. He most solemnly affirms it in various parts of his writings : is there any improbability in the belief, that he may have been the instrument whicli some man must be 1 A man who makes such an assertion either believes it himself, or he does not.

He who can make such an assertion without believing it himself, must be a supremely wicked impostor. But it is impossible to entertain such a suspicion in regard to Swedenborg : not only is there the most abundant external testimony to the innocence and sincerity of his character, but these are obvious from the whole of his writings themselves ; which not only exhibit throughout the purest sentiments, but breathe in every line the writer's own entire conviction of the truth of what he says. In the assertion, tlien, which we are noticing, he only advanced what he most entirely believed. He who thus makes such an assertion, must either be completely deluded, or the assertion must be true. But it will be impossible for any one who reads with attention either of the works, for example, which we have mentioned, to imagine that its writer was the victim of delusion. Not only are the views of truth which they exhibit so elevated and clear in themselves, as to recommend their own excellence to every lover of truth for its own sake, independently of all reasoning; but, as intimated before, the method in which they are arranged, the Scripture proofs by which they are supported, and the rational arguments by which they are illustrated, are all of so superior an order, as to evince in the writer the highest perfection of the rational faculties, and to render ridiculous in regard to him the imputation of self-delusion. There remains no other alternative, but that his assertion is true — that the doctrines delivered in them as those of the New Jerusalem, are really the doctrines of the New Jerusalem of prophecy — rays of that glorious light, which, as is generally believed, was eventually to shine in the renewed Christian Church.

All the other works of this illustrious author will be found equally rational, when considered apart from prejudice, and as the compositions of a man who had been specially enlightened to communicate the discoveries of Divine Truth necessary to be made at the commencement of the New Jerusalem.

His theological writings may be divided into four general classes : we will here add a slight notice of the character of them all.

We will consider his doctrinal works, as constituting the first class of his writings. To this class, then, appertain, (1.) The small volume " On the New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine." This is a purely doctrinal work, embracing a great variety of subjects, but treating them with brevity, yet in the most luminous manner. (2.) The next of the author's publications of the same character, is the other work mentioned above, in which the four leading doctrines of all genuine religion — those relating to the Lord, the Scriptures, Faith, and Life, are copiously treated, and with a weight of evidence which most of those who have read them have found irresistible. (3.) In the " Brief Exposition of the Doctrine of the New Church," intended as an introduction to the work next mentioned, the doctrines generally admitted both among the Romanists and Protestants are contrasted with those of the New Church, and their fallacies pointed out, in a very powerful and striking manner, (4.) His last work, the " True Christian Religion, or Universal Theology of the New Church, signified by the New Jerusalem in the Revelation," is, as its title implies, a complete body of divinity : it therefore embraces all the subjects which are treated of in No. 2 above, with many others, all which are elucidated at considerable length. That work, however, does not supersede the use of No. 2 : for the doctrines dehvered in No. 2, with the exception of that on the Sacred Scripture, are treated there in quite a different manner from that in which they are presented in the ♦' True Christian Religion," though with the utmost harmony in the results. As introductions, then, the three first-named works are all of great value : but whoever wishes to see all the subjects which properly belong to a body of Christian doctrine, treated at a length suited to their importance, established on copious Scripture testimony, and brought down to the apprehension by the clearest illustrations from reason and science.

should study the " True Christian Religion.^^ Doctrinal points, also, are necessarily occasionally discussed, and sometimes largely, in all his other publications.

The next and most extensive class of our author's works, is formed by those which are devoted to the exposition of the Scriptures, according to the principles explained in the *' Doctrine of the Sacred Scripture." Of these there are three : the " Arcana Ccelestia," which is an exposition of the books of Genesis and Exodus ; and two works (one of them a posthumous publication,) on the " Apocalypse." In these works the spiritual sense of the books mentioned, and, incidentally, of far the greater part of the whole Word of God, is most luminously delivered and copiously illustrated ; the author's doctrine of the existence of a Correspondence or regular Analogy between spiritual things and natural, which is such that the one answers to the other constantly and immutably, is demonstrated by such an abundance of examples as leaves it impossible to retain any doubt of the fact ; it is proved that the Word of God is written according to the laws of this Correspondence ; and the key which is thus afforded for the interpretation of Scripture is applied under the guidance of such evident illumination, that the pious and intelligent mind is delighted with the treasures of divine wisdom which are thus brought to view, and acknowledges that to mankind is now offered the blessing which the Psalmist prayed for, when he said, " Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

A third class of our author's writings consists of works which are not strictly upon doctrinal subjects, nor yet directly expository of the Scriptures ; but which treat ol important questions in sacred metaphysics and morals. To this class belong, (1.) The volume on the " Divine Love and Wisdom ;" (2.) That on the " Divine Providence j^' (3.) The work on " Conjugial Love ;" and, (4.) The tract on the '* Intercourse between the Soul and the Body." The subjects discussed in these works, are all as interesting as they are important. They disclose, in a manner which has never before been attempted, the intrinsic nature of the human constitution, throw uncommon light on the great processes of creation, unfold as much of the nature of the Divine Being Himself as can be comprehensible to the human mind, and discover the laws by which Divine Providence acts — thus '^ justifying," incomparably more convincingly than was ever done before, " the ways of God to man."

The fourth and last class of the writings of Swedenborg contains those in which he describes the nature of the life after death, and the state of man in the eternal world. It is from a misrepresentation of his writings of this class that Swedenborg is so often spoken of as a mere visionary and enthusiast ; though if the terms, visionary and enthusiast, mean a person who dreams of things which have no real existence, and is carried away by the mere force of his imagination, a more false imputation was never thrown on the character of any one, than by the application of such epithets to the always calm and rational Swedenborg. Heaven and hell are doubtless real existences, howsoever defective may be our notions of their nature : and, most assuredly, nothing can with more reason be expected, than, when the superior light should be vouchsafed which Scripture teaches us was to accompany the dispensation of the New Jerusalem, of which it is said that *' the glory of God did lightenit, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Rev. xxi. 23) ; and " there shall be no night there" (xxii. 5) — no intellectual darkness and lack of knowledge — that then the darkness which is generally allowed to prevail among Christians, in regard to the state of man in eternity, should be removed, and some clear and satisfactory knowledge respecting it should be supplied. When Dr. Jphnson was once told of a certain person who published a visionary work, in which ne stated, that, like the Apostle Paul, he had been " caught up to the third heaven," and had had " abundance of revelations," the witty dogmatist replied, " That he would have been more like the Apostle had he kept his revelations to himself" And this was a just observation.

Had the Divine Wisdom seen that any specific information respecting the nature of heaven and hell, and man's state after death in general, would have been conducive to the welfare of mankind under the Christian dispensation, in that form of it founded by the Apostles, the Apostle Paul would doubtless have been permitted to communicate the knowledge which had been imparted to himself But this objection does not lie against the knowledge of the subject communicated in the writings of Swedenborg, if to him it was really granted, as we have seen there is so much reason for concluding, to be the organ of imparting the knowledge necessary for the Christian Church under the new dispensation of it predicted by the symbol of a New Jerusalem. It would be strange indeed, if, amid the beams of light which are promised under this dispensation, not a ray shovild be afforded to chase away the dreary gloom which everywhere prevails, beyond its precincts, in regard to the state of man after death — if, in the glorious state under which it is generally believed that Christianity should at length appear on earth, no specific knowledge should even then be afforded respecting the nature of heaven and hell. It is, then, in strict conformity with the most reasonable expectations, that Swedenborg should have been enabled to clearup this matter a:lso ; and to reject the information communicated through him, because it was not communicated to the Apostles, would be just as reasonable, as to reject the knowledge imparted through the Apostles because it was not as plainly revealed through Moses and the prophets. But his writings on this subject form much the smallest of the four classes into which we have divided his works. His treatise " On Heaven and Hell,'' and *' On the Last Judgment,'' are the only distinct and original works which properly belong to it ; for that " On the Earths in the Universe" is a mere republication of the appendixes to some of the chapters of the " Arcana Calestia :" but many particulars which come under the same description are given in appendixes called " Memorable Relations,"* to the chapters of the " Arcana Ccelestia," and the '* Apocalypse Revealed," among his expository works, of the " Conjugial Love," among his metaphysical and moral works, and of the " True Christian Religion," among his doctrinal productions.

Those who may think the subjects of the above works interesting, but have not had any previous knowledge of the author, will naturally be desirous to possess some information respecting his station in life and personal character. This wish may be gratified by a perusal of the prefaces to those of his works which were first published in English; viz., the little work on the " Intercourse between the Soul and the Body,"\ the treatise " On Heaven and Hell," and the " True Christian Religion :"X in which also, together with the prefaces to the " Arcana Ccelestia," and to the *' Apocalypse Revealed," are contained very satisfactory vindications of his leading sentiments.§

* For a description of the nature of these " Memorable Relations" see below.

t Translated by the Rev. Mr. Hartley, M. A., Rector of "Win wick, Northamptonshire, who was personally acquainted with Swedenborg.

t Translated by the Rev. John Clowes, M. A., Rector of St. John's, Manchester.

§ Several works expressly devoted to the defence of his character and writings have also been published, the principal of which are, " Letters to a Member of Parliament on the Character and Writings of Baron Swedenborg, in Refutation of the Calumnies of the Abbe Barruel," by the late Rev, J. Clowes, M. A., Rector of St. John's, Manchester ; "Letters to Dr. Priestly, fyc, being a Defence of the Nciv Church, fyc." by Rev. R. Hindmarsh; "A Vindication of the Character and Writings of the Hon, Emanuel Swedenborg, against the Slanders and Misrepresentations of the Rev. J. G. Pike, fyc," by the same ; and " An Appeal in Behalf of the Views and Doctrines of the New Church, Sfc," by the Rev. S. Noble. See also a very able work by the Rev. Augustus Clissold, M. A., formerly of Exeter College, Oxford, entitled, " The Practical Nature of the Doctrines and alleged Revelations contained in the Writings of the Hon. E. Swedenborg, together with the Peculiar Motives to Christian Conduct they suggest, in a Letter to His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Dublin."

INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS.

The first *' Document" which we shall adduce is of the very first authority, which gives a detailed view of his whole hfe and writings, including a list of those works by which he had gained a distinguished reputation as a philosopher, before, in the fiftysixth year of his age, he received that particular illumination, which caused him, during the remaining twenty-nine years of his life, to employ his pen exclusively on spiritual subjects. The " Document" alluded to, is a discourse respecting the life and character of Emanuel Swedenborg, delivered in honor of his memory, before the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm.

PART I. TESTIMOi\Y OF PEKSONAL FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES OF

SWEDENBORG.

I. Eulogium

ON

EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.

Pronounced in the Great Hall of the House of Nobles, in the name of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, October 7, 1772, by M. Samuel Sandel, Counsellor of the Royal Board of Mines y Knight of the Polar Star, and Member of the said Academy,

TRANSLATED FROM THE SWEDISH.

Gentlemen,

Permit me to entertain you this day upon a subject, which is not of an abstracted or remote nature, but is intended to revive the agreeable remembrance of a man celebrated for his virtues and his knowledge, one of the oldest members of this Academy, and one whom we all knew and loved.

The sentiments of esteem and friendship with which we all regarded the late M. Emanuel Swedenborg, assure me of the pleasure with which you will listen to me while he is the subject of my discourse : happy should I be could I answer your expectations, and draw his eulogium in the manner it deserves ! But if there are some countenances, of which, as the painters assure us, it is extremely difficult to give an exact likeness, how difficult then must it be to delineate that of a vast and sublime genius, who never knew either repose or fatigue ; who, occupied with the sciences the most profound, was long engaged with researches into the secrets of nature, and who, in his latter years, applied all his efforts to unveil the greatest mysteries ; who, to arrive at certain branches of knowledge, opened for himself a way of his own, without ever straying from sound morals and true piety ; who, being endowed with a strength of faculties truly extraordinary, m the decline of his age, boldly elevated his thoughts still further and soared to the greatest heights to which the intellectual faculty can rise ; and who, finally, has given occasion to form respecting him a multitude of opinions, differing as much from each other as do the minds of the different men by whom they are formed !

When the riches and beauties of nature shine with the greatest briUiancy before our eyes, then it is that we perceive most distinctly the shades which are inseparable from them. On the appearance of a new light, the man of mere curiosity sees nothing but marvels and miracles even in its illusions. The blockhead, on the other hand, turns all into ridicule : in his estimation, acute penetration is subtilty, deep thought is dreaming, abstract meditation is enthusiastic reverie, to quit the beaten track is to go astray, and the investigation of unknown truths is sheer madness. The wise man is not so precipitate ; he does not despise a rich mineral, because it contains some heterogeneous substances which indicate its origin : he endeavors to discover the variations of the needle, not for the sake of exposing its defects, but that he may make the best use of this admirable guide : he values an inquiring eye, even when it ventures to direct a glance at the sun : he avoids excessive rigor, and takes care not to judge with harshness of an ardent and laborious zeal in the pursuit of truth : and none can find anything to censure in Swedenborg, unless it be that he allowed his genius this way to go too far.*