and to Oxenstierna. To the latter he also forwarded a copy of his Via Lucis, in the hope of stimulating the slight interest in the Pansophia that the statesman had evinced in the previous year. In particular he asked him for a criticism of the didactic principles contained in chap. xvi. This letter shows what extravagant expectations he entertained of the part that Oxenstierna was to play in the support of Evangelism. “Since we live in hope,” he wrote, “that the fall of Babylon will give an opportunity for the restoration of Zion, and since we see that the time is drawing near, I am of opinion that you ought not to remain in ignorance of our views on this matter, since you are one of those in whose hands the rod of judgment has been placed.”
These expectations were increased by his old school-companion Drabik, of whom he had, for a long time, heard nothing. Drabik, who was living in Hungary, sent a copy of fourteen revelations that had been made him from heaven. These spoke of the brilliant future in store for the Evangelical Church, and in particular of the exaltation of Comenius, who was destined to make the good news known to all nations. Comenius had already had an unfortunate experience with the prophecies of Kotter and of Poniatowska, whose weak point was their unfulfilment. This time he was more wary, and replied that, before he accepted any prophecies as true, he must examine them, as well as the prophet, carefully. In the meantime he would pray God to give him light.
It now began to dawn on de Geer that the scholar whom he was paying to write class-books for Sweden was spending his time over matters philosophical and theological. In answer to a remonstrance from Wolzogen, who complained that time was passing and that nothing had been produced, Comenius answered that it was too soon to expect any result. He was writing books and not copying them; his work was on a totally new plan, and needed time and labour to make it harmonious in all its details. If the Swedish children had no school-books, let them employ themselves in learning their own language, Scripture history,
