rived and communicated from the Lord, he might be enabled to make known the real nature of the Holy Scriptures, and the true doctrines contained in them.
Now pretensions like these, proclaimed in times when scepticism concerning things of a spiritual nature and the eternal world has paralyzed the faith of millions, and even taken up a visible possession in too many of the minds of professed believers, are not likely to be extensively received or correctly understood at their first promulgation. They do not agree with the desires of mankind, who have descended into states of the plainest naturalism—they coincide not with expectations formed by the influences of error—they are opposed to the common prejudices of the world; but above all, they are associated with intelligence which exposes the popular opinion of Christianity as inexplicable dogmas, and a mass of corruption.
But upon what evidences are pretensions of such an extraordinary nature to be supported? To answer this enquiry many considerations are requisite. Among the first stands the character of the man who announces them, and the manner of his doing it. Swedenborg speaks of his commission and intercourse with the spiritual world with the utmost frankness and modesty, yet with a fervour and earnestness for which nothing but their reality can account. He was the son of a bishop of Sweden, a circumstance which may be regarded as unquestionable evidence of his early initiation into the principles of piety and elementary learning. His education was subsequently carried on at the University of Upsal; and he was distinguished very early for the success with which he cultivated classical literature. He afterwards, studied the sciences with the utmost diligence, and to enlarge his knowledge he travelled into the principal countries of Europe, and opened out correspondence with the most eminent professors. On all hands he is confessed to have been one of the most distinguished philosophers of his time, and a scientific writer of the utmost celebrity. He was a nobleman and one of the legislators of his country,[1] holding in it, at
- ↑ He was ennobled in 1719, when he was 31 years of age, by Queen Ulrica Elenora, and then named Swedenborg. The family name was Swedborg. From that time he took his seat with the nobles of the Equestrian Order in the Triennial Assembly of the States of the Realm.
