out a new path through this deep abyss, which no one can guess by his writings, he knows where man ever trod before. He has left all the com- to find them. But it matters not what or who the mentators and expositors to stand on their own footing; he neither meddles nor interferes with any of them; his thoughts are all his own; and the ingenious and sublime turn he has given to every thing in the Scripture, he has copied from no man; and therefore, even in this respect, he hath some title to the regard of the ingenious and learned world. pro person is that writes, if his writings are founded on truth, and agreeable to such learned men as are competent judges of them. The deepest and most learned, as well as most valuable pieces, are sometimes misunderstood and rejected many years, even by learned men themselves; to instance only three performances out of the many that might be duced, viz. Locke on Human Understanding, Milton's Paradise Lost, and Prideaux's Connection of the Old and New Testament. Those who have been conversant with books, especially in the trading way, cannot be ignorant of the difficulties which these valuable pieces have met with in making their way into the world; and it is as remarkable now to observe, how they have been called for and admired for many years past. It is true, when a reader comes to peruse this work, if he expects to understand him with a slight and cursory reading, he will find himself greatly mistaken; his thoughts are too sublime and lofty to be surveyed with a weak or a wanton eye; his language is quite different from the common modes of speech; and his sense is sometimes so deep and profound, as not to be readily apprehended by a common understanding. Whoever, therefore, takes this book in hand, and finds passages in it not easily intelligible, let him not throw it by as a thing of no value, nor content himself with a bare perusal; but let him read it over and over again; and let him study the drift and design of the author; and I will answer for it, that the more and oftener he reads it, the more instruction and de-ly wished to see the historical part of the Old light he will receive from it. The author has a depth, which if once fathomed (and it is not unfathomable) will yield the noblest repast to a pious mind. But if any one imagines that I say this to puff a book, in the sale of which my interest is so nearly concerned, any gentleman is welcome to peruse it at my shop, and to purchase it or not, as his own judgment shall direct him. Nothing recommends a book more effectually to the public than the eminence and credit of its author; nothing is more notorious, than that a weak performance, if it appears under a great name, shall be better received in the world than the most sublime and ingenious productions of an obscure person; so that it is not merit but prejudice that generally governs the judgment of men. Though the author of Arcana Calestia is undoubtedly a very learned and great man, and his works highly esteemed by the literali, yet he is no less distinguished for his modesty than his great talents, so that he will not suffer his name to be made public. But though I am positively forbid to discover that, yet I hope he will excuse me if I venture to mention his benign and generous qualities. How he bestowed his time and labors in former years, I am not certainly informed ; (though I have heard by those who have been long acquainted with him, that they were employed in the same manner as I am going to relate ;) but what I have been an eye witness to, I can declare with certain truth; and therefore I do aver, that this gentleman, with indefatigable pains and labor, spent one whole year in studying and writing the first volume of Arcana Calestia, was at the expense of two hundred pounds to print it, and also advanced two hundred pounds more for the printing of this second volume; and when he had done this, he gave express orders that all the money that should arise in the sale of this large work should be given towards the charge of the propagation of the Gospel. He is so far from desiring to make a gain of his labors, that he will not receive one farthing back, of the four hundred pounds he hath expended and for that reason his works will come exceedingly cheap to the public. : I further declare I have not the least reason in the world to believe him a bigot to any mode or method of religion; I know not what community he belongs to, or whether he belongs to any; if any How this great work of Arcana Calestia will succeed in the world, is impossible at present to determine. If all men of learning were of the same mind with the ingenious and pious Mr. Penny, of Dartmouth, we need not fear success: for in his letter to me, on the publication of the first volume, are these following words: “I have long ardentTestament, which seems only to regard the Jewish Dispensation, (and upon that account too lightly regarded by the major part of the Christian world) proved to be as delightful, instructive, and as necessary for the knowledge of Christians as the New. This, Arcana Calestia gives me the fullest satisfaction of, &c." A copy of this letter was printed at large in the Daily Advertiser of Christmas day, 1749. Now this delightful, instructive, and necessary knowledge, cannot be expected from this part of Holy Writ, unless the historical part of the Old Testament be allegorized in some such manner as our Latin author has here done it. And the great and learned as well as the inspired St. Paul, clearly gives encouragement to this way of writing, Gal. iv. 24. And our author neither rejects nor disturbs the literal sense by his allegorical exposition. Soon after the publication of Mr. Penny's letter before mentioned, a grave, judicious and learned gentleman was pleased to call at one of the booksellers where this famous Latin book was appointed to be sold; and when he had cast his eye over part of the work, he inquired who the author was; but being told that the author would not be known, -"Well," (said the gentleman) "I confess that at these years I am not fond of new acquaintance, but should be extremely glad to have some conversation with him; for," (continued he, with great earnestness,) "I never saw, nor heard, nor read, of so surprising a man in all my days!" Any one of small judgment may guess at the cheapness of the work, when he finds that six hundred and forty quarto pages in Latin, of the first volume, are sold for no more than six shillings, unbound. But this second volume, which is now publishing in Latin and English, will be unaccountably cheap, as any one may conclude, even from the postage of the Latin copy from abroad: for the bare postage of this first number cost no less than twelve shillings, and now it is printed, doth make fifty-two quarto pages in the English tongue; and all to be sold for no more than eight pence, which is not half the price that such a quantity of paper and print is generally sold for. The postage of the second number came to eighteen shillings; and that of the third amounted to one pound two shillings; and yet these two numbers are to be sold for no more than ninepence each; so that from hence it is easy to imagine account is too lightly regarded by the major part of how cheap the whole will be, especially when printed in such a grand and pompous manner at so low a price. But it is the generous author's absolute command that it should be so, who, it is plain, wants neither purse nor spirit to carry on his laudable undertaking. As the copy comes from a foreign country, and as one number may contain nearly double the quantity of another, it is utterly impossible to fix a certain regular time for the publication of each. But this the public may be assured of, that when a fresh number is published, it shall be advertised in the newspapers. Those who are pleased to give their orders to the news carriers, will have every number as certainly as though they were apprised of the certain time of its coming out. And the price will be printed on the title of each English number, (and every Latin number will be of the same price with the English,) so that the readers may be sure that they will not be imposed upon; for sometimes the bulk of the work will plainly appear to be worth five times as much as will be required for it. Those who are so happy as to be well acquainted with the Latin tongue, will be highly delighted with the author's elegant and sublime language. the present Christian world), proved to be as delightful, instructive, and as necessary for the knowledge of Christians as the New. This the Arcana Celestia gives me the fullest satisfaction of. But the illumined author, whoever he is, (is it Mr. Law?) must expect a considerable army of gown men to draw their pens against him: it is a blessing their power is prescribed within impassable bounds. "The favor of a line in answer, to know what dependence I may make upon you, will very much oblige, Sir, your most humble servant, "STEPHEN PENNY. "P. S. Perhaps the author was concerned in the publication of Mr. Hutchinson's works? Has he published any other work, and at what price?'” To this the bookseller appends the following notice: "This large Latin book is neatly printed in 4to. ; and sold by Mr. Nourse, at the Lamb, opposite Katharine Street, in the Strand; Mr. Ware, at the Bible on Ludgate Hill; and by John Lewis, printer of the same, as above mentioned; price 6s. unbound." Notice of the London Monthly Review. 501. In the London Monthly Review for 1844, is an article on the discoveries in science made by Swedenborg, concluding thus: First Reception of the Writings of Swedenborg. 500. The first volume of the Arcana Calestia, con"In conclusion, we record our opinion positively, taining the explanation of the first fifteen chapters and not relatively; wholly, and without reservaof Genesis, was published in London, in the Latin tion, that if the mode of reasoning and explanalanguage, in the year 1749, and was the earliest tion adopted by Swedenborg be once underof Swedenborg's theological works. Our readers will not be displeased to see the following letter, from, probably, the first person who embraced the truths it contains, expressing the satisfaction he derived from it. Though not a document of any decided importance, it is interesting as a curiosity, and as evincing that the truths of the New Church found some receivers on their very first publication. This letter was sent to the Daily Advertiser, formerly a popular newspaper, of Christmas day, 1749, by the publisher of the work, and is introduced by his business-like note, to the Editor, as follows: "JOHN LEWIS. "To Mr. John Lewis, in Paternoster Row, Cheapside, London. stood, the anatomist and physiologist will acquire more information, and obtain a more comprehensive view of the human body, and its relation to a higher sphere, than from any single book ever published; nay, we may add, than from all the books which have been written (especially in modern times) on physiology, or, as it has been lately named, transcendental anatomy. "Swedenborg reasons not on any hypothesis, not on any theory, not on any favorite doctrine of a fashionable school, but on the solid principles of geometry, based on the immutable rock of truth; and he must and will be considered at no distant period the Zoroaster of Europe, and the Prometheus of a new era of reason, however at present the clonds of prejudice may intervene, or the storms of passion obscure the corruscations of his intellect." Extract from the Commencement of Wilkinson's Biography. 502. "There is, in the present day, a constantly increasing inquiry among intelligent persons, respecting the life and labors of Swedenborg, whose "Dartmouth, October 15, 1749. name begins to be whispered, with more or less "MR. JOHN LEWIS, respect, and with undefined feelings, throughout "Sir, — Accidentally reading the advertisement Christendom. We are no followers of Swedenof the Arcana Calestia, excited by the oddness of borg, although we accept his views of Christianthe title, I presently ordered my friend in London ity, but not because he discovered them, but beto send me one. The extraordinary degree of cause they were there to be discovered, and are pleasure the reading of it has given me, and the true. The truth, we believe, is not arrested or yet more expected from what more is to be pub-contained by any man, but as soon as found, the lished, induces me to request advice as often as mind may pass from that level, and rise from any new publication happens, which I apprehend to it as a vantage ground to new truths. It is, therebe designed annually. My reason for troubling fore, in the service of the public, and not of you, is, because I very rarely see any of the pub- Swedenborg, that we write these pages; for the lic papers, and, consequently, future advertisements time has come when every enlightened man and may escape my knowledge; which, I hope will ex- woman ought, for their own sakes, to know of Swedenborg and his pretensions. cuse me. "I have long ardently wished to see the historical part of the Old Testament, which seems only to regard the Jewish dispensation (and upon that "For consider the case. Here was an author, flourishing in the last century, whose principal works were written from 1721 to 1772, and who, tions exist that in another five and twenty years the field occupied by this author must be visited by the leaders of opinion en masse, and whether they will or no; because it is not proselytism that will take them there, but the expansion and culmination of the truth, and the organic course of events. The following pages will have their end if they be one pioneer of this path which the learned and the rulers are to traverse." enjoying at first a good reputation as a scientific and practical man, saw that reputation gradually expire as his own mind unfolded in his works, until at length he was only known as a visionary, and the fact of his early career was scarcely remembered by his few surviving contemporaries. There was every reason why his works died to that age. He had a firm faith, from the first, in the goodness of God, in the powers of the mind, in the wisdom and easiness of creation, and in the immovable firmness of revelation; later on, a belief too in Testimony of Professor Gorres, spiritual existence, in a sense intelligible to all Of Germany, Professor of Roman Catholic Themankind. In his case, there was a breaking of ology at one of the German Universities. shell after shell - a rolling away of delusion after 503. "Throughout the whole of Swedenborg's delusion, until the truth was seen to be itself real voluminous works every thing appears simple and -to be the true creation, the world above and be- uniform, especially as to the tone in which he fore the world, of which mortal creatures are made. writes, in which there is no effort at display in the How could so substantial a personage-a man whose imaginative powers, nothing overwrought, nothing spirit and its relations were a body and a force-fantastic, nothing that can, in the remotest degree, be seen at all in the last century, when the public be construed into a morbid bias of a prevailing wave ran in spring tides towards materialism, mental activity, nothing indicating a fixed idea, or frivolity, and all conventionalities? The savage manifesting any peculiarity of a commencing menmight as easily value a telescope or a theodolite as Europe estimate a Swedenborg at such an era. Accordingly, in proportion as he transcended brute matter and dead facts, he vanished from its sight, and was only mentioned with ridicule as a ghost seer- the next thing to a ghost. But how stands the matter now? The majority, it is true, know nothing of Swedenborg; and it is for them we write. But the vast majority of those who do know- and the number is considerable in all parts of the civilized world-regard him with respect and affectionate admiration; many hailing him as the herald of a new church upon earth; many as a gift of the same provident deity who has sent, as indirect messengers, the other secular leaders of the race, the great poets, the great philosophers, the guiding intellects of the sciences; many also still looking towards his works in order to gain instruction from them, and to settle for themselves the author's place among the benefactors of his kind. We ourselves are in all these classes, allowing them to modify each other; and perhaps, on that account, are suitable to address those who know less of the subject, for we have no position to maintain but the facts of the case. "Now whence this change in public opinion? It has been the most silent of revolutions, a matter almost of signs and whispers. Swedenborg's admirers have simply kept his books before the public, and given them their good word when opportunity offered. The rest has been done over the heads of men, by the course of events, by the advance of the sciences, by our new liberties of thought, by whatever makes man from ignorant, enlightened, and from sensual, refined and spiritualized. In short, it is the world's progress under Providence which has brought it to Swedenborg's door. For where a new truth has been discovered, that truth has said a courteous word for Swedenborg; where a new science has sprung up and entered upon its conquests, that science has pointed with silent-speaking finger to something friendly to, and suggestive of, itself in Swedenborg; where a new spirit has entered the world, that spirit has flown to its mate in Swedenborg; where the age has felt its own darkness and confessed it, the students of Swedenborg have been convinced that there was in him much of the light which all hearts were seeking. And so forth. The fact then is, that an unbelieving century could see nothing in Swedenborg; that its successor, more trustful and truthful, sees more and more; and strong indica tal derangement. Every thing he undertakes is We never Extract from the Memoir by Rev. O. Prescott Hiller. 504. "A man, a human being like ourselves, - has been chosen by the Divine will, as the instrument for conveying these truths to the world. And as Moses, a man like ourselves, was chosen of old, to be the instrument for bringing into the land of Canaan the people with whom a representative Church was to be established, and who was called too, (man though he was) up into the mount to speak with God, and receive the tables of his law;- -as Paul, a man, too, like ourselves, was chosen, at the commencement of a former dispensation, to be an apostle to teach the new truth to the world, and, in order to enlighten and strengthen him for that work, was admitted in spirit to a view of the heavens and even of the Lord Himself: - so now, in our own day, at the commencement of another Dispensation of Divine truth, at this the time of the Lord's second coming in the light of the Spiritual Sense of His Word, has another individual, - a man, like ourselves, been raised up as the instrument for making known to the world the truths and doctrines of that New Church which is about to be established on the earth- the New Jerusalem. The herald will not be received nor believed, for a time; he has been, and he will be, slandered and reviled; he has been and will continue to be, by some and for a while, pronounced a mystic and a madman; the interested, the prejudiced, and the self-confident will scoff at him, as the proud Athenians scoffed at Paul preaching to them the truth-as the doctors of the Jewish Church scorned the words of Him who was the Truth itself. But these things will be only for a time. Truth is strong and will prevail.' There 128 are always a few candid and earnest minds in the the sweet and tender influences of the divine love, community, anxious for the truth, and ready to seek is perceived to proceed from this Divine Fountain, Yet such is the transcendent it wherever it is to be found, and to follow whither-as its only source! soever it leads. Such there were, even in Swe- glory, gain, and happiness imparted to every penidenborg's lifetime, men too of high character, tent and devout receiver of the above Heavenly Add to this, the nearness and connecintelligence, and education, who perceived the Doctrines. truth of the principles he taught, received them tion between this world and another, demonstrated with delight, and sought to make them known to by such a weight of irresistible evidence; the great others. Since his death, the number has been evangelical doctrines of Faith, of Charity, of Resteadily increasing, in all parts of the world. And pentance and Remission of Sins, of Temptation, within a few years past, many of the profound and Reformation, Regeneration, and the Freedom of original thinkers of the age have repaired to his the Will, opened, explained, and enforced, accordpages, as their chief source of instruction, and have ing to their edifying and important meaning; the acknowledged that they could find there satisfac- nature, also, and effect of the Last Judgment, the tory answers to their inquiries, that could be found Lord's Second Advent, and the descent of the New nowhere else, in the whole range of moral, theo-Jerusalem, presented to view in all the brightness logical, and philosophical writers. The signs of and fulness of truth, and confirmed by the testithe times are now giving token of a change and a mony of the sure Word of prophecy; and some great change, in the view generally entertained of faint idea may then be formed of the immense debt this author. As he becomes more known, surprise of gratitude, owing at this day from all the famiand admiration take the place of neglect and con- lies of the earth to their Heavenly Father. For tempt; the earnest searchers for truth wonder that who, except that Father, whose tender mercies they had not been directed to this light before are over all His works,' could thus cause 'His the intellectual and the learned are astonished that light to shine in darkness' for the deliverance of they had passed by a thinker and writer, who far His people from evil, from error, and from destrucexcels them both in intellect and learning; and the tion, and, at the same time, for the guidance of admirers and collectors of great names are begin-their feet into the ways of righteousness, truth, ning to admit his into their list. And we venture and salvation? To his praises, and most unthe prediction, that as years roll by, and these writ- feigned thankfulness on this occasion, the author ings are examined, explored, understood, more is lastly urgent to add his ardent prayers, that the and more thoroughly as the world grows wiser above glorious light' may shine in every corner and better- -as the darkness of old error passes of the habitable globe, until the whole earth beoff, and the light of truth increases-the name of comes that blessed tabernacle of God,' which was SWEDENBORG will shine the brightest in the whole announced to be with men,' in which 'God will galaxy of great names, and his memory be revered dwell and be with them their God, and wipe away as that of the most powerful and most useful of all all tears from their eyes' (Rev. xxi. 3, 4)." the human instruments whom Heaven has raised up, to communicate truth, goodness, and happiness to mankind." Testimony of the late Rev. John Clowes, A. M., The New Church. 506. "The reception of the Doctrines of the New Church has slowly, but constantly increased, from the time when Swedenborg began to teach them, up to the present moment. Those who become fully impressed with their truth, and with the desire to live according to them, usually endeavor to connect themselves with each other, and to form 505. "The author (of this Memoir) cannot con- societies for the purpose of mutual encouragement clude his narrative, without offering up to the and instruction. This effort commonly results in Father of Mercies his most devout and grateful the building of churches, establishment of preachacknowledgments for the extraordinary privilege, ing, and performance of religious services, very and inestimable blessing vouchsafed him, in having much in the ordinary congregational and episcopal been admitted to the knowledge and acknowledg-forms. There are now in England some seventyment of the truth and importance of the doctrines five ministers or preachers of the Doctrines, and unfolded by Swedenborg from the Word of God in the United States about sixty. The number of as the genuine doctrines of christianity. For what worldly glory, gain, or happiness, can stand in competition with this-to know Jesus Christ to be the only true God,' and to be allowed to approach and worship Him in his Divine Humanity; to be delivered thus from all perplexity as to the proper object of worship; to see, at the same time, the divine volume of Revelation opened; its interior treasures displayed; its evidence and authority thus confirmed by its divine contents; its apparent contradictions reconciled; whilst all that is divine and holy, all that is good and true, all that is calculated to excite the veneration of intelligent beings, and the affection of penitent ones; all, in short, that has a tendency either to enlighten the human understanding, or to purify the human will; either to edify, by the bright and proud lessons of divine truth, or to soften and console by places, however, where receivers are known to reside, is much larger, being in the United States, about four hundred and fifty. There are also many known in France, Germany, and Sweden, and some in other countries. In Sweden the New Church Doctrines have not been preached openly as such, on account of the established church; but it is understood that many of the clergy thero are well acquainted with Swedenborg's writings, and instruct their people in accordance with them, although not openly professing the source of their instruction. "The Receivers of the Heavenly Doctrines of the New Jerusalem Church, await patiently to be joined by their fellow-men, in the glad confidence that there is a good time coming, when the whole Christian world will rejoice in the light of the New Jerusalem.” — Hobart's Life, p. 276. INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPENDIUM. phy of the day. "The secret of heaven" (says Emerson) "is kept from age to age. No imprudent, sociable angel, ever dropped an early syllable to answer the longing of saints, the fears of mortals. We should have listened on our knees to any favorite, who, by stricter obedience, had brought his thoughts into parallelism with the celestial currents, and could hint to human ears the scenery and circumstance of the newly-parted soul." * This is the utterance of the merest, most refined naturalism of our age. So low has philosophy fallen in her high places! Yet it expresses the yearning wants of the human soul. The transcendental Philosophy of this age would get down upon its knees for any, even the faintest whisper, from the mysterious dwellings of eternity. But upon such ears, no sociable angel ever dropped a syllable! It would be better to ascribe the cause to the right party. THE Compiler of this work has endeavored to answer a want which has been deeply felt, and which, at the present crisis, seems more pressing than ever. It is a time of unparalleled interest in spiritual truths. It is a time, in God's Providence, when the old systems of theology are evidently breaking up and passing down the stream of Time when ancient authorities are questioned with a bold and determined aspect—and the most keen and searching glances are sent into every creed. It is a time, too, of much doubt and confusion of the most bare and unblushing infidelity-of a deeper and wider knowledge of Nature on the one hand, and a more lamentable ignorance and denial of God on the other. It is, as a consequence, an age of extremes. The freedom of the human mind, for which we are now so distinguished, has revealed to many the hideous deficiences of the so called Protestant faith, and driven them to a refuge in Catholic authority. It has become too evi- Now, that we are approaching an Era of marked dent, that the prevalent theology will not bear the spiritual truth, it would seem useless to deny. piercing test which it is now submitted to that Notwithstanding the immensely higher truth which the better reason flees from it, a million times in has, at least for a century, been already in the secret, and many times in open affront; and that world, to wit, in the pages of our Author, yet Provthus, where the religious tendencies predominate, idence is evidently now permitting an external and there is either a backward movement to the visible communication from spirits out of the maChurch of Rome, to save the fear and trouble of terial body, with the men of our earth, to the end, thinking, or a melancholy indifference to all that among others, that the sensual philosophy of our demands a Philosophy commensurate with Faith; times, and the gross unbelief of the church and while on the other hand, where the natural reason the world, may find its proper antidote in these predominates, there is a tendency to flee from all tangible and sensuous phenomena. Of the heights venerated "theologies," to the open fields of Na- and depths of this most palpable demonstration, of ture and her pantheistic enticements. There is a its measure of truth, and falsity, of its infernal demiddle class, who still strive to reconcile their va- ceptions, and the willingness with which so many rious theologies with the Reason that so urgently thousands are led astray by a converse with the impels, and who are really doing much to save other world, we here say nothing. Of its amount many fragments of truth, and adapt them at once of honesty we here say nothing. It is sufficient to the science, philosophy, and theology of the here to say, that no one can take a survey of the soul. But amidst the whole, what dread confu-wide extent and practice of this very evident demsion and scepticism! How much doubt, even of onstration from the invisible world, without bethe future, immortal life of man! lieving that a more than ordinary movement is taking place in the world of spirits. To believe that it will all come to nothing, does not comport with the best ideas of Providence. Should it even al end here, it would not be without a stirring up of the minds of hundreds of thousands of those who most needed it, to a faith, realization, and knowl But again, we are opening into new and strange wonders. New indeed, to those who now first realize them; not so new in the history and experience of man. The whole Past has been fruitful of a varied spiritual experience; and we are now really experiencing nothing but what has been better and more fully attested in ages long since gone by. Not so, however, the sceptical philoso * Representative Men, p. 140. |