FIFTY years ago the name of Emanuel Swedenborg was seldom seen in the public journals; and his writings were rarely referred to by scholars or theologians except in terms of contempt and derision. But the case is otherwise now. In the onward march of Christian civilization, and in the development and growth of a larger toleration, truer freedom, kindlier feelings and juster judgments in nearly all the churches, there has come to be a higher and truer appreciation of the great Swede and his teachings in almost all educated circles, and especially among the acknowledged leaders of religious thought.
Within the last few years the change in the popular estimate of this man and his writings, has been quite remarkable. This change is indicated by the frequent and respectful mention of his name in the public journals; by the altered tone and tenor of their criticisms; and especially by the continually increasing demand for his writings among the most earnest inquirers and advanced thinkers of these New Times. And the universal testimony of all who study his works sufficiently to fairly grasp their meaning, is, that there are no other works which so richly reward the humble and earnest seeker after spiritual truth; none so sure to resolve the doubts of every honest doubter; none that shed such a blaze of light on the two great Books of God—Nature and Revelation; and none that bring Scripture, reason, science, history, individual experience and the accepted laws of the human soul, into such complete and beautiful harmony.
In illustration of the changed and rapidly changing estimate of Swedenborg and his teachings here referred to, I may quote the recent utterances of some of our ablest journals, and the opinions of a few impartial judges, deep thinkers and faithful teachers of the highest truths.
The New York Independent says:
"There is, in Swedenborg's writings, a marvelous insight—a vision of the higher truths of philosophy and religion, to which few men have attained. No Christian minister should fail to acquaint himself with the main principles of his system."
The Chicago Advance says:
"Swedenborg deserves to be studied as a philosophic writer not often excelled in profundity, acuteness, variety, and consistency of thought. We confess to having read for years past some portion of his works with intellectual and spiritual profit; and we imagine, at least, that we can trace his influence in the conceptions and reasonings of many modern authors of distinction, who do not always give Swedenborg the credit which he deserves."
The New York Christian Union says:
"Certainly no man living up to the spirit of the tenets of Swedenborg, should be other than a sincere, humble and sweet-minded Christian."
The New York Evening Post says:
"It is safe to say that Swedenborg's system has produced a very profound influence upon modern religious thought. It has materially changed methods of presentation of old and almost universally accredited truths. Its influence has been all the more potent because silent and unrecognized. Certainly he who desires to understand the religious convictions of the present age, cannot afford to be ignorant of the contribution which Emanuel Swedenborg has made toward them."
The Pittsburg Gazette says:
"No system of religion in these latter days has awakened so much interest as that of Swedenborg; and with it, a desire to understand its deep mysterious workings."
The Chicago Evening Journal says:
"There is not a reflective person in the world whom Swedenborg's writings will not interest. Count him a visionary, a man maddened with 'too much learning,' or a 'spiritualist;' and yet there is that in his philosophy, however we may treat it under the prejudices of our early training, which makes us wish that his writings were true, or that we dared to adopt his belief."
Similar opinions have latterly been expressed by many other journals scarcely less prominent than those here quoted. And they indicate the remarkable change in the popular estimate of Swedenborg and his writings, which has taken place within the last few years.
Equally significant, and marking the same tendency of modern religious thought, are the recent utterances of distinguished preachers and writers who have never been in any way identified with the so-called "receivers" of Swedenborg's teachings. Thus the author of that grand prose poem, "The Heart of Christ," says of Swedenborg's "essential system:"
"It has a unity of its own, and an organic connection with Christianity, such as avouches itself the genuine development of the Christian system. His cosmology, his theology and his pneumatology are the Christian revelation breaking into more full and rational light from the seals of the letter which had kept and preserved it."
Rev. Charles G. Ames, in an article in the Christian Register (Oct. 23, 1875), entitled "An Estimate of Swedenborg," after telling his readers that he does "not accept him as an absolute oracle or authority," says:
"No man ever looked into Swedenborg far enough to learn what he means, without receiving a profound impression, and confessing to a large indebtedness. His increasing influence appears in nearly all recent and important modifications of religious thought; in the most salutary and effective preaching of our times; in the growing reasonableness, catholicity and humanity of the churches; and in all aspirations toward a more perfect social order. Or, if we may not trace these better tendencies to his influence, we must at least say they prove his breadth and insight; for they all move, if unconsciously, in the direction whither his finger points."
It were easy to multiply quotations of a character similar to the foregoing. And the opinions here expressed are the more deserving of consideration, from the fact that they are impartial and independent—none of them coming from pronounced "Swedenborgians," or persons identified in any way with that body of people known as "the New Church."
But Swedenborg's theological writings are voluminous, making altogether about 15,000 octavo pages; and costing from forty to eighty dollars, according to the style and finish of the edition. Now, but a small proportion of our active American population, have the means and inclination to purchase, or the time to read, so large an amount of theological literature, however elevated or precious in its character. And it will be long before we can reasonably expect to see all the works of Swedeuborg in the libraries of persons of wealth and leisure, or even on the shelves of any considerable portion of our professedly religious teachers. Besides, there is much repetition in his works; and much that would not interest the general reader, however it might be prized by the critical scholar or theological student.
In view of these facts and considerations, it is proposed to issue, under the supervision of the "Swedenborg Publishing Association," a series of small volumes in the style of the present one, under the general title of The Swedenborg Library; to consist of extracts from the theological writings of the Swedish sage, so arranged as to make each volume complete in itself, and to give the reader a clear idea of the author's teachings on the various subjects treated of;—references to the particular works whence the extracts are taken, being uniformly added.
The purpose of the proposed series is, to meet a growing popular want, by presenting in a neat, compact and inexpensive form, such portions of the teachings of this enlightened author as seem best suited to the general reader. It is believed that the essential features and vital portions of the new theology can be compressed within the compass of ten or twelve small volumes; and that the selections can be so made that the volumes shall present a full and clear view of the new doctrines and philosophy, be better adapted to the mass of American readers than the unabridged works, and at the same time be furnished at a price not exceeding one-fourth the cost of these latter. To realize this expectation, or justify this belief, will be the effort of the Editor, as it is the desire of the Association under whose auspices the series is issued.
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