I was disappointed: he acknowledged that the Word has a spiritual sense; but his knowledge of it seemed scanty and obscure. He told me, he regretted that he had never been able to procure Swedenborg's works, in which the Word is explained as to its spiritual sense, these works not having been translated either into French or German, and the Latin copies being so scarce, that he could never procure them. The works of Swedenborg which he possessed, were the Heaven and Hell, Divine Love and Wisdom, Divine Providence, and, if I mistake not, a German translation of the Earths in the Universe. "The different biographers of Oberlin have carefully concealed his predilection for the writings of Swedenborg; they all agree, however, that he had peculiar views concerning heaven and hell and the human soul. And M. Morel, who has recently written memoirs of Oberlin, says, ' Oberlin had much originality in his conceptions, and his most singular ideas bore the impress of a great soul: he attached an emblematical sense to colors. His ardent imagination, nourished by the mystical works of Swedenborg, delighted to bound over the threshold of the tomb, and to expatiate in the mysterious world which awaits the soul, when separated from its earthly bonds."* PART III. LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS RELATIVE TO SWEDENBORG'S GENERAL CLAIMS. XXI. LETTERS FROM THE CELEBRATED J. C. LAVATER,† OF ZURICH, TESTIFYING HIS ADMIRATION OF SWEDENBORG'S WRITINGS. not It is not known (says Dr. Tafel), whether Swedenborg wrote in reply to Lavater, or ; it is very probable that, as these letters contain nothing but inquiries arising from a trifling curiosity, he did not reply, but left him, by continuing to read his (Swedenborg's) writings, to form his own judgment. That Lavater continued to be a diligent reader of the writings of Swedenborg, is evident from certain treatises which he wrote On the Lord, On Redemption, and The Atonement, which are written in the strictest agreement with Swedenborg's doctrines on those subjects. * See La Nouvelle Jerusalem, Deux. Année, 233. + See New Jerusalem Magazine for 1790, pp. 179 and 245, where two letters from Lavater the celebrated author of the" Treatise on Physiognomy, &c.," are inserted; the editors say that the orignal Latin letters were then in their possession. "I doubt not but you are often troubled with letters from foreigners with whom you are unacquainted, and as you are much engaged in meditation, business, travels, and the company of persons of renown, you will probably consider the present application from an unknown Swiss as trifling and impertinent: yet knowing that so great a man was my contemporary, I could not help inquiring of him a few things which seemed to me to be of the greatest importance, as I know no person in the world but yourself (who have given proofs of an extraordinary and almost divine knowledge), capable of resolving my questions, I shall therefore take the liberty of proposing them, and trust you will condescend to satisfy me therein as soon as possible. "I. I have been engaged these three years with heart and soul in writing a poem on the future happiness of Christians, and have lately written several letters particularly to Zimmerman, the present celebrated physician to the king of England, an Hanoverian, and my intimate friend, to the end that I might collect the opinions of the wise and learned, before I should publish the poem itself. I most fervently wish to have your opinion also, which would be of great use to me; but as I do not know whether you are conversant with the German language, I would willingly send you a copy, or, if you please, translate the principal parts into Latin. "II. I have a long time been convinced from the Holy Writings and my own particular experience, that God frequently favors faithful and ardent prayers in such a manner, that on account of them not only wonderful things have been done, but even real miracles effected. I am now writing a dissertation on that subject, and therefore beg to know your opinion. You may probably not doubt that God and Christ still work miracles for the sake of the faithful, who are much united to him; perhaps some certain instances, which are beyond doubt, may have come to your knowledge. Is it true that a very pious girl at Stockholm, of the name of Catharine Fagerberg, has, when asked, by means of prayer, and an extraordinary faith, quickly cured many persons otherwise incurable? Could you furnish me with certain and authentic proofs of the truth thereof? 66 III. I have heard and read much of your familiar conversation with the spirits of the deceased; may I be permitted, most respected man, to propose to you some questions, from a mind that is very sincere and filled with respect towards you, by the solution of which I may be convinced concerning these almost incredible reports. "1. Felix Hess, a friend of mine, died March 3, 1768,--whether he will appear to me, while I am living, and when, and in what manner?-whether he will reveal anything to me respecting the happiness of those in heaven, or concerning my ecclesiastical destination on earth? (I fervently desired him before his death to comply with my request if possible.) "2. Henry Hess, brother to the deceased, my very good friend,-whether, and when, he will be convinced of that power of faith and prayer which I teach, and of which he still doubts?-and which of the inhabitants of Zurich, who are yet in a doubtful state, will be convinced? "3. Shall I ever be so happy as to converse with angels or spirits of the de ceased without any false fanaticism, and without disobedience against the commandment of God, not to interrogate the dead; and by what manner of life, or by what virtues, I could arrive at so high a privilege? "4. Whether the dream I had June 9, this year, proceeded from Felix Hess? "Be not angry, thou most excellent and learned man, with a very studious disciple of truth, who will neither be rashly credulous, nor a disbeliever, but has an open breast, ready to receive from his inmost soul whatever truth beams forth. Farewell; do not suffer me long to wait in vain for an answer. May God and Christ, to whom we belong, whether living or dead, be with you. "JOHN CASPAR LAVATER. "Zurich, Switzerland, Aug. 24, 1768." LETTER II. "Most noble, venerable, and beloved in Christ our Lord, "I have taken the liberty of writing to you a second time, as it is likely you may not have received my other letter on account of your travels; but I have at last learnt by what means this will probably reach you. "I revere the wonderful gifts thou hast received of our God. I revere the wisdom which shines forth from thy writings, and, therefore, cannot but seek the friendship of so great and excellent a man now living. If it is true what is reported, God will show to thee how much I seek to converse with thee in the simplicity of my mind. I am a young man not yet thirty years old, minister of the gospel: I am and shall be employed in the cause of Christ as long as I live. I have written something on the happiness of the future life. Oh! if I could exchange letters with thee on this subject, or rather converse! I add a writing : thou shalt know my soul. One thing I beg of thee, thou divinely inspired man! I beseech thee by the Lord not to refuse me, In the month of March, 1768, Felix Hess, my best friend died, a youth of Zurich, twenty-four years of age, an upright man, of a noble mind, striving for a Christian spirit, but not yet clothed with Christ. Tell me, pray, what he does; paint to me his figure, state, &c. in such words, that I may know that God in truth is in thee. I send also a cipher writing, which thou wilt understand if it is true what is reported of thee: I request it may not be shown to any person. "I am thy brother in Christ. Answer very soon a sincere brother: answer the letter I have sent, and in such a manner, that I may see what I am believing upon the testimony of others. Christ be with us, to whom we belong, living or dead. "Zurich, Switzerland, Sept. 24, 1769.” "JOHN CASPAR LAVATER. XXII. LETTERS FROM SWEDENBORG TO DR. BEYER,* GREEK PROFESSOR, AND ASSESSOR IN THE CONSISTORY OF GOTTENBURG, This gentleman, in the year 1766,† became one of Swedenborg's most intimate friends, and one of the most active promoters of his sentiments. This drew upon him a severe persecution from the Consistory at Gottenburg. The matter was carried before the supreme government, when, in compliance with an order from the king, Dr. Beyer presented to his majesty, Jan. 2, 1770, a declaration of his sentiments in regard to the doctrines of Swedenborg. Towards the close, the amiable and learned author expresses himself thus; "In obedience to your majesty's most gracious command, that I should deliver a full and positive declaration respecting the writings of Swedenborg, I do acknowledge it to be my duty to declare, in all humble confidence, that so far as I have proceeded in the study of them, and according to such gifts for investigation and judgment as I possess, I have found in them nothing but what closely coincides with the words of the Lord himself; and they shine with a light truly divine." The following are certain letters which Swedenborg wrote to this learned and pious individual. LETTER I. To Dr. Beyer. "I have now at length arrived at the end of the Apocalypsis, and send you, Sir, eight copies thereof, two bound, and six in sheets, which you will please to dispose of in the following manner: one copy for yourself, one for the bishop, one for the dean, one for Dr. Rosen, one for the mayor (Mr. Patterson), and one for the library; the other two you may lend out to your friends. At the conclusion of every chapter there are memorable relations separated from the text by asterisks, which you will please to read over first, whereby a fundamental knowledge will be acquired of the miserable state to which the reformed churches are reduced by the doctrine of faith alone. I am now going from this place for England, where some disturbance has most likely arisen, as the bishops of England are strongly pointed out in the memorable relations, but necessity required it.—I remain, &c., * See New Jerusalem Magazine, 1790, p. 30, where the following letters are said to be faithfully translated from the original by J. Strand. † We have seen above p. 75, the way in which Dr. Beyer first became acquainted with Swedenborg and his writings. It may be seen in the Intellectual Repository, vol. i. (first series,) p. 113: it has also been since published in the form of a small tract: for it contains a masterly vindication of the sentiments selected by the Consistory for condemnation. This document we shall adduce below. LETTER II. To Dr. Beyer. "With regard to the writings of St. Paul, and the other apostles, I have not given them a place in my Arcana Calestia, because they are dogmatic writings merely, and not written in the style of the Word, as are those of the prophets, of David, of the Evangelists, and Revelation of St. John.* "The style of the Word consists throughout in correspondences, and thence effects an immediate communication with heaven; but the style of these dogmatic writings is quite different, having, indeed, communication with heaven, but only mediate or indirectly. "The reason why the apostles wrote in this style, was, that the New Christian Church was then to begin through them; consequently, the same style as is used in the Word would not have been proper for such doctrinal tenets, which required plain and simple language, suited to the capacities of all readers. 66 'Nevertheless, the writings of the apostles are very good books for the church, inasmuch as they insist on the doctrine of charity and faith thence derived as strongly as the Lord Himself hath done in the Gospels, and in the Revelation of St. John, as will appear evidently to any one who studies these writings with attention. "In the Apocalypse Revealed, No. 417, I have proved, that the words of Paul, in Rom. iii. 28, are quite misunderstood; and thus the doctrine of justification by faith alone, which at present constitutes the theology of the reformed churches, is built on an entirely false foundation.—I remain, &c., "Amsterdam, April 15, 1766." "EMANUEL SWEDENBORG. 66 LETTER III. To Dr. Beyer. I arrived here on the 8th of this month. The voyage from England hither was made in eight days. The wind was favorable, but attended with a violent storm, which occasioned so short a passage. I have since received yours of the 17th September, and am glad to find yourself and my other friends are well at Gottenburg, to all of whom you will please to present my compliments. "I wish much blessing to the intended publication of the Library of Sermons,† and send you herewith my subscription for the same. I presume you will use all necessary precaution in this work, because the time is not yet arrived, that the essentials of the New Church can be so received; the clergy, who have so much confirmed themselves in their tenets at the universities, find it difficult to be convinced: for all confirmations, in things pertaining to theology, are, as it were, glued fast in the brains, and can with difficulty be removed; and, whilst they remain, genuine truths can find no place. Besides, the new heaven of Christians, from whence the New Jerusalem from the Lord will descend (Rev. xxi. 12). is not yet perfectly settled. See the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Sacred Scripture, No. 113 †The title of a work written by Dr. Beyer. |