Principal points of difference between the old and new Christian churches ...

Front matter

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I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. I

Chapter I

Claims of Swedenborg — Authentic Testimonies to his truth and Soundness of Mind — More certain proofs of which than of any existing with regard to the writers of the Bible — Of the Madness of Swedenborg — Account of Mathesius — Denial of Brockmer — Proof of Mathesius* insanity — Wesley imposed upon — His Alarm . . 1

Chapter II

Some evidences of Swedenborg's Supernatural Knowledge — Supernatural Occurrence connected with John Wesley — Three Remarkable Narratives — Their authenticity — The

IV CONTENTS.

one relative to the Queen — Madame de Marteville — The Fire at Stockholm — Of the Possible and Impossible — Some Names of Witnesses in Swedenborg's Favor . . 14

Chapter III

The Value of Truth — What constitutes a True Church — The Scripture Criterion — The Claims of each Christian Sect — Superiority of True Doctrines — Way to discover the True Church — Why there are so many Christian Sects — Necessity of New Light — The Jews' Expectation of the First Advent — Cause of their Disbelief — Equal Blindness of Christians with regard to the Second Advent — Who are called the Old Church, and who are called the New Church 30

Chapter IV

Old Church Idea of the Spiritual Sense of the Bible — What every Humble Christian will confess — New Church Belief of the Spiritual Sense — Proofs of its Truth— Of the Second Advent — Proofs that it cannot be as literally described — Destruction of the "World — Account of the versions of the Bible — Luther — True Meaning of the Second Advent — Remarkable similarity of language in

CONTENTS. V

the Predictions of the End of the Jewish and of the End of the First Christian Churches — Of the Internal or Spiritual Sense of Scripture — Declaration of its Existence by the Lord and the Apostle Paul — Quotation from Swedenborg concerning Peter 37

Chapter V

Old Church Doctrine of the Last Judgment — What does not alter the Creed of a Church — A great Episcopal Minister's Opinion of the Corner Stone of Christianity — Proof that the Dead have not to wait for a General Day of Resurrection — Inconsistency of the Old Church with regard to the Last Judgment and Resurrection of the Material Body — What Paul says of the Resurrection of the Natural Body — The New Church agreeing with Paul — The Consequence — The Last Judgment Relative to each one — Particulars in regard to General Judgments — Reasons why the Revelations for the New Church were not made sooner . 59

Chapter VI

Of the Character of God — Contradictory Description of Him by the Episcopalians — Roman Catholics — Calvinists — Reference for Proofs of the Fallacy of the Episcopal Church — Impeachment of the Wisdom of God — His Repenting —

VI CONTENTS.

Punishment Explained — Fate of Infants — God a Glorious Divine Man — The Virgin Mary — Explanatory Quotation of the Div ine Humanity — Tri-personality — Texts of Scripture opposed to the Unitarians . . 71

Chapter VII

The Vicarious Atonement — The New Church Doctrine of the Atonement according to Scripture — Why the Vicarious Atonement is Unscriptural — Explanation of Mediator — Of Sacrifice for Sin — Genuine Sacrifice — Correspondence of the Crucifixion — Of the Lord's Supper — Different Views of the Old and New Church in the Ordinance — The Falsehood Implied by Communicants not "Receiving the Creed of the Church in which they Commune — Explanation of the Lord's Prayer in the Old Church — And in the New — Internal and External Man ... 90

Chapter VIII

The Old Church and New Church Concerning Faith, Charity and Salvation — Of the First Chapter of Genesis — Old Church Inconsistency with regard to Swedenborg — Internal Sense of the Word — Old Church and New Church Views of the Origin of Evil — Of Children, Remains, Good and Evil Spirits — Regeneration — World of Spirits, Heaven, Hell — Of Conversion and Regeneration, the Difference, Death

CONTENTS. Vli

Bed Repentance — Old Church Views of Heaven and Hell — New Church Views of the Life after Death, of the Happiness of Heaven, the Angels, their Employments, Marriages — Old Church Objection — New Church Answer — Two Quotations from Rev. S. Noble on the Subject of Spiritual Marriage 113

Chapter IX

Of the Sabbath — Several Quotations from Swedenborg — Of Amusements — Of Dancing — Advice with regard to the perusal of the most suitable Religious Books — Concluding Remarks • 146

Introduction

My first edition of this work appeared in New York in the year 1846. It was favorably received in this country. I had the inestimable satisfaction of learning that it had served to lead many readers to a knowledge of The True Christian Religion ; they ultimately became sincere embracers of the new dispensation. In England, also, it w x as deemed sufficiently useful to reprint at the publisher's expense, unsolicited by me, and even without my knowledge. The London edition appeared in 1850. In the London Intellectual Repository, of January, 1850, the Reviewer speaks of it in these words : " Contrast is one most important means of seeing the truth : and this little work, which in a brief space contrasts many points of the New and of the Old Doctrines together, is well calculated to be of service to the general reader, and also to the novitiate and the mature member of the church. It has been prepared by an American lady, who speaks from

X INTRODUCTION.

a vivid and enlightened perception of these 'points of difference.' "

In re-perusing the work in subsequent years, I found I could very greatly improve it, and thereby enlarge the sphere of its use. Therefore, I carefully revised and greatly enlarged the present edition, with but one object in view, namely, the hope that it may prove useful to all who may read it.

LOUISA W. TURNER.

323 Fourth Av., New York, June, 1855.

Dedication

TO MY DEARLY BELOVED DAUGHTER:

My dear Child, —

If Divine Wisdom, in the course of His Almighty Providence, should see fit to permit you to live in this world till you reach the years of womanhood, at which time you may be enabled to understand the subsequent pages, I dedicate them to you, in proof of the deep love I feel for you, with the earnest request that you will then read them, and study to practise the teachings they inculcate. As all true love seeks the happiness of its object, and, as there is no enduring happiness which is not founded upon true religion, hence, the highest duty of Parents is to teach their children the way that leads to Heaven, which will at the same time conduct them safely through the joys and sorrows, the prosperities and

Chapter I

Claims of Swedenborg — Authentic Testimonies to his Truth and Soundess of Mind — More certain Proofs of which than of any existing with regard to the Writers of the Bible

— Of the Madness of Swedenborg — Account of Mathesius

— Denial of Brockmer — Proof of Mathesius' Insanity — Wesley imposed upon — His Alarm.

Swedenborg repeatedly and most solemnly avers, that in the year 1745 the Lord God selected him to publish to this world the mysteries and truths of the spirit world, with which, from that period, he was permitted to have open intercourse for twenty-seven years, lasting till his death, which occurred at the age of eighty-four. During this whole long period, as he read the Bible, the LORD taught him the internal sense thereof by the science of correspondences, for the purpose of enlightening the world with regard to the true doctrines of Scripture, about which mankind was at that time in gross error, owing to their evil lives, and their understanding the Scriptures merely in the literal sense. The truth of these claims is to be found in the internal evidence of his writings, and the testimony of a large number of conspicuous and undoubted witnesses to the unerring integrity, practical piety and benevolence of Swedenborg's character. He possessed all the virtues that adorn a truly good man, united with genius, wisdom, the most extensive learning, and a clear and most sound intellect through life, as well as excellent bodily health. To all this, a number of highly respectable, and some eminent persons, who were on terms of personal intimacy and friendship with Swedenborg for years, have given their unequivocal testimony. Among the number are as follows : the Rev. Nicholas Collin, a native of Sweden, and pastor of the Swedish church in Philadelphia in 1817, at which time he published his testimony in the " Philadelphia Gazette " of Aug. 5th, 8th and 10th. This gentleman was personally acquainted with Swedenborg, and speaks in the highest terms of him.

The next testimony is from a public document, an oration delivered in the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, on the occasion of Swedenborg's death, by the Chevalier de Sandel, Superintendent of the Mines, and Knight of the Order of the Polar Star, at a meeting of the Academy, held in the great hall of the House of Nobles, Oct. 7th, 1772.

The next most important testimony is from a man of great eminence and learning, who says in some letters to General Tuxen, that he had not only known Swedenborg for fortytwo years, during the latter portion of his life, but had also daily frequented his company. These letters were published in the New Jerusalem Magazine in 1790 - 91, and were written by no less a person than Count Andrew John Van Hopken, one of the institutors of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, who served for a considerable time in the quality of Secretary, and who was afterwards for many years Prime Minister of the kingdom, and also one of the sixteen Senators, which made him the second person in the kingdom, and this man distinctly affirms that Swedenborg " possessed a sound judgment upon all occasions ; that he saw everything clearly, and expressed himself well on every subject." Such testimony ought, surely, to have more weight, with reasonable beings, than the wholly unsubstantiated reports of his insanity.

The next testimony is from the pen of General Tuxen, in a letter to Mr. Nordenskjold, dated May 4th, 1790, and published in the N. J. M. The General expresses himself thus : " I thank our Lord, the God of Heaven, that I have been acquainted with this great man [Swedenborg] and his writings. I esteem this as the greatest blessing I ever experienced in this life and hope I shall profit by them in working out my salvation."

Dr. Gabriel Andrew Beyer, Professor of Greek Literature and Assessor in the Consistory of Gottenberg, became one of Swedenborg's most intimate friends and active pro-

THE OLD AND THE NEW CHURCHES. O

moters of his sentiments. In consequence, by order of the king, Dr. Beyer presented to his Majesty a declaration of his favorable opinion with regard to Swedenborg, dated Jan. 2d, 1770, which may be seen in " The Intellectual Repository," vol. i. (first series), p. 113, &c. It has also been republished in the form of a tract.

Besides the above testimony of his own countrymen, and of other foreigners, some who knew him in England have added their unequivocal testimony to his truthfulness and soundness of mind. Of these, the principal is the Rev. Thomas Hartley, M. A., Rector of Winwick, in Northamptonshire, who, in 1781, wrote the most satisfactory testimony in Swedenborg's favor, declaring his unwavering and firm belief in the claims of Swedenborg, and the truth of his writings. This is still to be found on record in the preface to the English editions of the works " Concerning the Intercourse between the Soul and Body," and " Concerning Heaven and Hell," also in " The True Christian Religion," in the form of a letter to the translator, (the Rev. John Clowes,)

D POINTS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

one of the best men who ever lived. This latter gentleman was ordained an Episcopal minister, and as Rector of St. John's Church in Manchester for fifty years, he preached to his Episcopal congregation the doctrines published by Sivedenborg ; notwithstanding which he was permitted to retain his rectorship till his death, which occurred a few years ago, respected and beloved by his congregation, who erected in his church splendid pieces of sculpture to his honor, both during his lifetime and after. He has translated into English many of Swedenborg's Theological works ; besides he has himself written many books on the same subject The Rev. John Clowes was also the contemporary of the great Swede, and in 1826 wrote a letter to the Rev. S. Noble, (author of " An Appeal in Behalf of the New Church," another English defender of Swedenborg's Theology, and but lately deceased). The letter alluded to w r as with regard to the Rev. John Wesley's favorable sentiments of Swedenborg, about the time of spring in 1773, owing to a remarkable circumstance which had lately taken place ; this will be related in the next chapter.*

The Rev. Thomas Hartley was on terms of intimate friendship with Swedenborg, which he not only deemed an honor, but among the greatest blessings of his life. Mr. Hartley himself was well known and highly esteemed by the religious characters of that day.

An eminent physician of that time, Dr. Messiter, also personally acquainted with Swedenborg, has given his testimony in his favor in his correspondence with Dr. Hamilton, Professor of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh, in 1769. f

Another Englishman, whose approbation of Swedenborg's sentiments was strengthened by personal acquaintance, was Mr. William Cookworthy, a man of most superior character ; the friend of the first Lord Camelford, and of Captain Jarvis, afterwards Earl of St. Vincent, and the associate of many of the

* It may be seen in the Rev. S. Noble's own words in his M Appeal."

t See Intellectual Repository, yol. iii. (first series,) p. 449, &c.

literati of his day. This gentleman testified his satisfaction with Swedenborg and his writings, by joining with Mr. Hartley in translating the treatise Concerning Heaven and Hell, and defraying the whole expense of the printing and publication.*

Though to the unprejudiced and reasonable, further proof of the truth of Swedenborg's claims cannot be required, yet there is still one which ought to have some weight, being on oath before the Lord Mayor, by two respectable persons who had no interest in the matter, viz., Mr. and Mrs. Shearsmith, in whose house Swedenborg died in London. Thev made an affidavit, dated Nov. 2d, 1785, in which they aver, " that he enjoyed a sound mind, memory and understanding, to the last hour of his life." f The Rev. S. Noble, in his " Appeal," says of them, " Many are now living, of whom I am one, who can bear witness to the strong

* See a memoir of him in the Intellectual Repository, new series, vol. i. p. 439, &c.

t See the affidavit at length in the " New Magazine of Knowledge," for 1791.

THE OLD AND THE NEW CHURCHES. V

terms of respect in which they always spoke of their noble lodger."

Among the intimate acquaintances of Swedenborg who testified to his truth and soundness of mind, besides those mentioned, are also Mr. Springer, formerly Swedish Consul at the port of London, and Mr. Robsam, Director of the Bank of Stockholm. These, and a great number of other witnesses, (which it would be tedious to name,) form an array of unquestionable testimonies to the truth and sanity of Swedenborg, far greater than can be brought forward to the truth and sanity of any historian, or of the Prophets, Apostles, and Evangelists. Is it, then, reasonable to doubt the greater evidences of truth, and to believe the lesser ? As stronger proofs of the sanity and truth of Swedenborg are extant than can possibly be produced with regard to the sanity and truth of the writers of the Bible, if justice were done, Swedenborg's writings would be believed as veritable as the Bible ; particularly as their internal evidence show them to be in perfect agreement with the Scriptures.

It is objected that Swedenborg was said to be mad ! — But where is the proof? Was not the Saviour also said to be mad ? " And many of them said, he hath a devil, and is mad, why hear ye him ? " (John x. 20.) Also the Apostle Paul, was he disbelieved because he was accused of madness by one high in authority ? " Festus said with a loud voice, Paul thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad." (Acts xxvi. 24.) As in neither of these two great instances was the accusation true, nor is it true in the case of Swedenborg ; the falsehood of which allegation in his case can be proved by well authenticated published documents, and by some still living witnesses. The whole story was a fabrication by Mr. Mathesius, minister of the Swedish chapel in London, who was a bitter enemy of Swedenborg, and violently opposed to his doctrines. This Mathesius reported that while Swedenborg was lodging at Mr. Brockmer's house in 1743, he was seized with a violent fever attended with delirium, from which he never recovered. The first evidence of the falsehood of the report is, that it was not put in circulation till near forty years after the alleged event of the fever. It is well attested that Swedenborg never had the fever, but through life enjoyed excellent health. Mr. Mathesius asserted that Mr. Brockmer had related the circumstance of the fever and delirium to him. There is on record a total denial of this assertion from the lips of Mr. Brockmer himself, testified by the Rev. Robert Hindmarsh,* who was still living to confirm the denial when published in the first edition of " Noble's Appeal." Furthermore it is well attested that Mr. Mathesius himself became insane shortly after his fabrication of Swedenborg's insanity, and he might have been laboring under its commencement at the time. Proof of Mr. Mathesius' insanity is to be found in the Intellectual Repository for January, 1830, wherein is related a conversation held May 2d, 1787, by Mr. Provo with Mr.

* See his excellent work, entitled, " A Vindication of the Character and Writings of the Hon. Emanuel Swedenborg," &c, p. 19, 20. See also The New Magazine of Knowledge for 1791, which not only contains a refutation by Mr. Robert Beatson, of the above story, but of the principal of the strange misrepresentations of Swedenborg's sentiments, published by Mr. Wesley in the Armenian Magazine.

Bergstrom, Master of the Kings' Arms (Swedish) Hotel in Wellclose Square. Mr. Bergstrom relates that Mr. Mathesius went lunatic one day when he was about to preach in the Swedish church. Mr. B. says, " I was there and saw it ; he has been so ever since, and sent back to Sweden, where he now is : this was about four years ago."

Mathesius related his fabrication of Swedenborg's insanity to the Rev. John Wesley ? who was imposed upon by it, and helped to circulate the report ; probably for the purpose of putting a check on the increasing number of his own pupils, who were discovering that the New Church doctrines were better than those of Methodism. That Mr. Wesley should have taken alarm is not surprising, when he found so many of his own preachers becoming active promoters of Swedenborg's teachings. Among those are to be numbered the following : the Rev. Samuel Smith, Mr. James Hindmarsh, Mr. Isaac Hawkins, Mr. R. Jackson, Mr. J. W. Salmon, and Mr. T. Parker.

That under the effect of Wesley's declining influence, he should have forgotten the impression made upon his own mind with regard to Swedenborg, by a very remarkable circumstance which had occurred nearly ten years previous, is not surprising when it is remembered how often our interest^ or pride of opinion, influences our belief.

Chapter II

Some Evidences of Swedenborg's Supernatural Knowledge — Supernatural Occurrence connected with John Wesley — Three Remarkable Narratives — Their Authenticity — The one relative to the Queen — Madame de Marteville — The Fire at Stockholm — Of the Possible and Impossible — Some Names of Witnesses in Swedenborg's Favor.

Some very remarkable circumstances in the life of Swedenborg are so well attested by so many highly respectable and undoubted authorities, they are to be found in so many books and respectable magazines, that it is idle to deny their truth. The first we shall relate is with regard to John Wesley ; attested to, among others, by the Rev. John Clowes, Mr. Houghton (his intimate friend, who heard it from an eye witness, Rev. Samuel Smith), and John Isaac Hawkins.

The Rev. Samuel Smith, in company with several other Methodist preachers, in the latter end of February, 1772, was receiving instruction from Rev. John Wesley, when the latter gentleman was amazed by the receipt of a letter in nearly the following words :

" Great Bath Street, Cold Bath Fields, Feb. 1772. " Sir, — I have been informed in the world of spirits that you have a strong desire to converse with me ; I shall be happy to see you if you will favor me with a visit.

" I am, Sir, your humble servant,

" Eman. Swedenborg."

"Wesley frankly acknowledged to the company that he had that desire, but that he had never mentioned it to any one.

Wesley replied to Swedenborg that he was closely occupied preparing for a six months' journey, but that he would do him the pleasure to call on him after his return to London. To which Swedenborg replied that it would then be too late ; as his (Swedenborg's) death would occur on the 29th of the next month.

Wesley went on his tour, and when he returned to London the 10th October of the same year, he learned (if not before) that Swedenborg had departed this life on the 29th March previous. Rev. John Clowes in a letter to Rev. S. Noble relates that Richard Houghton, Esq. of Liverpool, his own intimate friend, and also that of Mr. "Wesley, had told him, as near as he could remember, in the spring of 1773, that Wesley, on a late visit to Liverpool, had expressed his sentiments to him (Mr. H.) of Swedenborg' s writings in the following terms : " We may now burn our books of Theology. God has sent us a teacher from Heaven, and in the doctrines of Swedenborg we may learn all that it is necessary for us to know." His having ten years after believed the false report of Swedenborg's insanity does not at all invalidate the above circumstance ; it was very natural for him to entertain exalted sentiments of Swedenborg when he himself had just experienced an evidence of Swedenborg's intercourse with the spirit world.

Another instance of the same nature is connected with the Queen of Sweden, Louisa Ulrica, wife of King Adolphus Frederic, and sister of the celebrated Frederic of Prussia. This is attested to, after diligent investigation, by the celebrated philosopher, Emanuel Kant, together with the narrative connected with the Countess de Marteville (printed in German Harteville), whose husband was ambassador at the Swedish court from Holland — and also the story of the great fire at Stockholm. These three narratives are related as most positive and undoubted facts by eye witnesses of the circumstances, by men of standing who had every opportunity of discovering the truth of the matter, some, too, who were not receivers of Swedenborg's doctrines, though they could not resist the attested evidences of these facts. Kant says in a letter (which is published at length in a number of works) to Madame de Knoblock, afterwards widow of Lieut. Gen. Klingsporn, a literary lady of quality, thus : " These accounts I received from a Danish officer, who was formerly my friend, and attended my lectures ; and who at the table of the Austrian Ambassador, Dietrichstein, at Copenhagen, together with several other guests, read a letter which the 2

Ambassador had lately received from Baron de Ludzow, the Mechlenburgh Ambassador at Stockholm ; in which he says that he, in company with the Dutch Ambassador, was present, at the Queen of Sweden's residence, at the extraordinary transaction respecting M. de Swedenborg, &c. It can scarcely be believed, that one ambassador should communicate a piece of information to another for publicuse, which related to the Queen of the court where he resided, and which he himself, together with a splendid company, had the opportunity of witnessing if it were not truer Among others who attest to the truth of these narratives are : Professor Schlegel, Count Hopken, Capt. Charles Leonard de Stahlhammer, Knight of the Royal Order of the Sword ; M. Dieudonne Thiebault, a French Savant, Prof, of Belles Lettres in the Royal Academy of Berlin, (the last relates having heard from the Queen's own lips the affair with regard to herself) ; Chamberlain D'Hamon, brother-in-law to the Count de Marteville, M. de Schwerin, eye witness of the affair with the Queen; Mr. Springer; M. Pernetti,

French translator of the treatise Concerning Heaven and Hell, and General Tuxen.

The story relative to the Queen is as follows : The Queen of Sweden, having a desire to put Swedenborg's supernatural knowledge to the test, one evening (in 1759) that he came to her court took him aside and begged him to inform himself what her deceased brother, the Prince Royal of Prussia, had said to her at the moment of her taking leave of him for the court of Stockholm. She added, that what the Prince had said was of a nature to render it impossible for her brother to have repeated it to any one ; and that it had never escaped her lips. The Queen did not believe Swedenborg could get the information ; consequently, when he returned a few days after, while she was at cards and requested a private audience, she told him he might communicate what he had to say before the company ; but when he assured her it was of such a nature that he could not relate it before witnesses, she then became agitated, and giving her cards to another lady led the way to another room, where she posted M. de Schwerin at the door, and then advanced with Swedenborg to the farthest end of the room, where they could not be overheard. Swedenborg then told her the day, hour and very spot where she had taken leave of her brother, of the manner of parting, and the very ivords he said to her at the time ; upon which information the Queen almost fainted.

The incident relative to the Countess de Marteville is as follows : The Count de Marteville, Ambassador from Holland to Stockholm, having died suddenly, a shopkeeper demanded of his widow the amount of a bill which she remembered had been paid in her husband's lifetime ; but, being unable to find the receipt, she was advised to consult Swedenborg who could communicate w T ith the dead. This she did, and a few days after Swedenborg informed her when her husband had paid the bill, and where he had put the

receipt, which she subsequently found in the place described.

The narrative of the great fire at Stockholm is related thus : In the year 1756, towards the end of September, on Saturday at four o'clock,

P. M., Swedenborg arrived at Gothenburg from England. Mr. William Castel invited him to his house, together with a party of fifteen persons. About six o'clock, Swedenborg, after leaving the company for a little while, returned quite pale and alarmed, announcing to them that a dangerous fire had just broken out in Stockholm, which is three hundred English miles from Gothenburg, at the Suder Malm, and that it was spreading very fast. He was restless and went out often. He told them that the house of one of his friends was already in ashes, and that his own was in danger. At eight o'clock, he joyfully exclaimed, "Thank God! the fire is extinguished the third door from my house." This incident occasioned great alarm through the whole city. It was announced to the Governor the same evening, who, on Sunday morning, sent for Swedenborg requesting him to relate the particulars of the fire, which he did. And on Monday evening a despatch arrived from Stockholm, bringing accounts of the fire precisely as Swedenborg had related. On Tuesday morning, the royal courier arrived at the Governor's, bringing the same accounts, and stating that the fire was extinguished at eight o'clock.*

To those who would pronounce the foregoing narratives impossible, we would ask, — By what superior wisdom are we enabled to decide what is possible and what is impossible ? Some will answer that common sense and reason can decide. What is human reason ? Is it not another name for our own experience ? And whatever is foreign to our own experience is commonly said to be unreasonable, deceiving ourselves as did the king of Siam, of whom Locke relates, in his Essay on Human Understanding, when the Dutch Ambassador told him of the cold being so intense in his country that it would sometimes congeal water into an icy substance sufficiently strong to sustain the weight of an elephant, the king, judging from his own experience, replied : " Hitherto 1 have believed the strange things you told me, because I look upon you as a sober, fair man; but noiv I am certain

* For further particulars and other instances of the same nature, the reader is referred to " Noble's Appeal."