This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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Heaven Revealed.
BEING
A POPULAR PRESENTATION OF SWEDENBORG'S DISCLOSURES ABOUT HEAVEN,
WITH THE
CONCURRENT TESTIMONY OF A FEW COMPETENT AND RELIABLE WITNESSES.
BY
B. F. BARRETT,
Author of "The New View of Hell," "The New Dispensation," "Footprints of the New Age," "The Question Answered," etc, etc.
"If the phenomena of the Spiritual World are real, in the nature of things they ought to come into the sphere of Law."—Henry Drummond.
PHILADELPHIA:
PORTER & COATES.
1885.
Copyright.
SWEDENBORG PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION.
1885.
Preface.
IT is nearly fifty years since the author of the present work commenced a serious and thorough examination of the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. He was told that this illustrious seer claimed to have enjoyed open intercourse with the denizens of the spiritual world for many years, and to have been divinely commissioned to write a detailed account of what he heard and saw in that world; and the treatise known as "Heaven and Hell" was placed in his hands for perusal. After reading a few pages, the book was laid aside, the present writer saying to himself: "All this may be true, or it may not. We have no means of knowing. There is no adequate test whereby the truth or falsity of such alleged disclosures can be determined. Why, then, should I waste time over such a book?"
It is easy for me, therefore, to pardon the incredulity of Christians touching this astounding claim of the great seer, and to excuse the prevailing reluctance to give any thought or attention to his alleged disclosures concerning the other world. For probably most of them think as I did, that we have no means of proving either the truth or falsity of such pretended revelations. What is to be gained, therefore, by an examination of something which can neither be proved nor disproved? Will it not be a waste of time?
But when, after thorough and careful study of Swedenborg's theological system. I found myself compelled by irresistible force of evidence to accept it for just what it claims to be—a divinely authorized revelation of new and heavenly truth. I was satisfied that he was a man ordained and sent of God, and that his disclosures concerning Heaven and Hell must also be true. Then turning my attention to his pneumatology, I very soon found that this, too, rests on a foundation not less solid and secure than his theology; and that its truth is susceptible of proof to an extent I had not suspected—susceptible of a verification, indeed, closely approximating the demonstrations of exact science.
The purpose of the present volume is, to lay before the reader some of the evidence which carried conviction to the writer's own mind, that what Swedenborg has revealed concerning the heaven of angels is no mere fancy sketch, but literally and unquestionably true. A number of reliable and independent witnesses have been summoned in the case, such as Scripture, reason, analogy, human experience, the known laws of our mental and moral constitution, the hopes and perceptions of the wisest and best men, the revealed character of the Heavenly Father, and the undeniably wholesome and benign tendency of the disclosures themselves.
Now, if we have the concurrent testimony of all these witnesses in support of the truth of Swedenborg's disclosures, what is the verdict we might reasonably expect on the subject, from an intelligent and fair-minded jury? Had he performed miracles like those recorded in the New Testament, and had his miraculous power and deeds been ever so well authenticated, would this have been half as convincing to a rational and truth-seeking mind, as the agreeing testimony of the above named witnesses? Or would it have been half as well suited to the requirements of a reasoning and reflecting age?
Probably every Christian minister is plied with questions now and then concerning the life beyond the grave, which he would be glad to answer, but feels his utter inability to do so; and most ministers would, no doubt, greatly rejoice to have a full and strictly accurate account of the spiritual world, its nature, inhabitants, phenomena and laws—an account as full and reliable as an honest and intelligent traveler who had spent twenty years or more in Japan, might be expected to give us of that country. They would doubtless find it an immense aid in their work of helping souls on the way to heaven.
And the author believes that every minister who reads this volume with close attention and without prejudice, will be satisfied that such a report of the world beyond has actually been made. And he has himself derived so great satisfaction and spiritual help from the disclosures to which he here invites attention, and is so anxious that others should share what has been to him such a rich repast, that he feels like making personally a large discount from the price of the present volume, to every minister and theological student in our land, who will promise to read it with close attention and a sincere desire to know the truth.
On several of the subjects treated in these pages, the author is fully aware that most of the churches of to-day have outgrown and rejected the views that were entertained a hundred years ago; such, for example, as "Work in Heaven," Sex and Marriage in Heaven," "Children in Heaven," "A Heaven for the non-Christian World," etc. And the fact that the views commonly held and taught on these subjects to-day, are in substantial agreement with those revealed through Swedenborg, should be taken as presumptive evidence that his disclosures on other subjects also are true.
And if a minister's ecclesiastical relations to-day, are in no wise affected by his open rejection of the old dogmas of the damnation of some infants and of all the Heathen, and of incessant oral prayer and psalm-singing in heaven, or by his acceptance of the new and more rational views on these subjects, there is no reason to believe that they would be seriously affected by his embracing and teaching the entire pneumatology of Swedenborg, so far, at least, as this can be shown to be in agreement with Scripture, reason, experience, and the known laws of the human soul.
But the strongest evidence of the truth of Swedenborg's revealings about Heaven, and that which, above all else, should commend them to the thoughtful and earnest inquirer, is their wholesome practical tendency—their unquestionably elevating and benign influence upon the believer's life and character. The author hopes that the reader will not lose sight of this consideration, nor forget to give to it the weight which its importance demands: Remembering these divine words:
"For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble-bush gather they grapes."
And no more should we expect that wholesome and benign influences would be shed forth upon the believer's mind and heart, from false or fantastic teachings, from the speculations of a mere theorist, the hallucinations of a dreamer, or the oracular utterances of an innocent but self-deluded fanatic.
Germantown, June 24, 1885.
Contents
| I.— | 13 |
| II.— | 19 |
| III.— | 34 |
| IV.— | 54 |
| V.— | 64 |
| VI.— | 72 |
| VII.— | 80 |
| VIII.— | 95 |
| IX.— | 110 |
| X.— | 122 |
| XI.— | 134 |
| XII.— | 148 |
| XIII.— | 162 |
| XIV.— | 176 |
| XV.— | 192 |
| XVI.— | 200 |
| XVII.— | 209 |
| XVIII.— | 221 |
| XIX.— | 228 |
| XX.— | 244 |
| XXI.— | 256 |
| XXII.— | 268 |
| XXIII.— | 284 |
| XXIV.— | 295 |
| XXV.— | 306 |
| XXVI.— | 319 |
| XXVII.— | 346 |
| XXVIII.— | 364 |
| XXIX.— | 377 |
HEAVEN REVEALED.
ABBREVIATIONS
OF THE WORKS OF SWEDENBORGH QUOTED IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES.
| A. C. | stand for | Arcana Cœlestia. |
| H. H. | " | Heaven and Hell. |
| A. R. | " | Apocalypse Revealed. |
| A. E. | " | Apocalypse Explained. |
| D. P. | " | Divine Providence. |
| C. L. | " | Conjugial Love. |
| L. J. | " | Last Judgment. |
| Spl. D. | " | Spiritual Diary. |
| D. W. | " | Divine Wisdon. |
| Doc. L. | " | Doctrine of Life. |
| T. C. R. | " | True Christian Religion. |
| N. J. D. | " | Doctrine of New Jerusalem. |
| D. L. W. | " | Divine Love and Wisdom. |