isfactorily have explained to himself the various objects and phenomena he had beheld.

From seeing, as explained by Swedenborg, that the Lord's kingdom is a kingdom of uses, Oberlin resolved all the exertions and operations of his life into one element -USE. He taught his people, that to be useful, and to shun all evil as sin against the Lord, in being useful, is the truly heavenly life.

I afterwards was eager to embrace the opportunity of enjoying some conversation with Oberlin on the spiritual sense of the Word. But in this matter 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.

[We add an interesting memoir of Swedenborg, by one who knew him intimately, of which but an imperfect copy has been hitherto published. A translation from the original Swedish into German was sent to Dr. Tafel, and by him inserted in his magazine, from which we have had a translation into English made for this work.]

A MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF EMANUEL SWEDENBORG, BY HIS CONFIDENTIAL FRIEND, CARL ROBSAM, DIRECTOR OF THE BANK OF SWEDEN.

Assessor Emanuel Swedenborg, well known throughout Europe for his literary labors, died in London, March 29, 1772, in his eighty-fifth year. The Royal Academy of Science in Stockholm, on the 7th of December, 1772, caused an appropriate address to be delivered in honor of him.

Posterity will desire to know how this good man conducted in his domestic relations and in his intercourse with those around him; but since the death of his two only servants, an

aged gardener and his wife, very few remain with whom he lived on terms of familiarity, or to whom he spoke of his intercourse with the spiritual world.

As I enjoyed the great privilege of being often admitted to his house as a friend, and often enjoyed his society abroad, in company with my relatives as well as by myself, I have been requested by a most respectable person, to describe what I can recollect to have seen or heard concerning him.

Adjoining Swedenborg's house was a garden in the form of a square, about the length of a stone's throw. His own room or study was also small, and contained nothing elegant. It was all he wanted, but would have satisfied few other men.

Although a man of extensive learning, his study contained no other books than the Hebrew and Greek bibles, with indexes of his works written by his own hand, whereby he was saved the trouble of looking through all he had written when referring to certain passages.

"When

Swedenborg often labored through the whole night, and had no stated periods for employment or repose. He said, I am sleepy I go to bed."

From his only servant, the old gardener's wife, he required no services excepting that she should make his bed and bring a large pitcher of water to his study daily. He generally made his own coffee at the fire in his study, and drank it often day and night, made quite sweet with sugar. When he remained at home, his dinner was a small loaf or roll, and boiled milk. He took neither wine nor any other heating drink, and seldom eat anything at night. When in company he would eat with the company and drink wine, but always very moderately.

Many persons visited his house out of curiosity to see so remarkable a man. For their entertainment, in the year 1767 he had a handsome summer-house erected, with two wings. In one of these wings he had his valuable library placed, and in the other the gardening tools were arranged. He afterwards had two other summer-houses erected. One of these, in the middle of his garden, was built after the model of one he had seen at a nobleman's seat in England. The other was outwardly in the form of a square, but could be turned into an octagonal room by folding back the doors across the corners. To add to the amusement of his visiters and their children, he also had a labyrinth constructed in a corner of his garden, and a secret door which on being opened, discovered another door with a window in it. This door and window appeared to open to a beautiful garden beyond, containing a shady green arcade with a rich cage hanging under it; but the window

was a mirror and presented to the eye only a reflection of the objects around.

In front of his house he had a small garden which gave him great pleasure. It was ornamented with figures of animals and other things, cut in box after the Dutch fashion. It cost a considerable sum annually to keep this garden in repair : but in the last years of his life he neglected it, and it went to decay. He always gave the whole income of his place to the gardener.

From winter to spring he kept a fire constantly in his study, where he often made coffee, which he drank frequently night This habit rendered it necessary and day, without cream. that he should always have a fire at hand, in addition to the circumstance that he had no regular time for sleep.

His sleeping room was always cold, and in the depth of winter he used three or four English blankets on his bed. But I recollect one winter when he was so cold that he was obliged to have his bed moved into his study.

As soon as he awoke he went into his study, where he kept glowing coals, and had ready the means of kindling a quick fire of dry wood and birch-bark. He kindled his own fire and immediately sat down to write.

In his saloon stood the marble table, which he afterwards gave the College of Mines. This room was neat and conveniently arranged.

His dress was very simple, but neat and convenient. During the winter he wore a garment of reindeer skins, and in summer a study-gown, both well worn as became a philosopher.

It sometimes happened that when he prepared to go out, without the observation of his people, some singularity might be observed, denoting that his mind was occupied with other things than his personal appearance. For instance, I once saw him at my father's, where he was invited to dine, with one shoe-buckle of plain silver, and the other set with precious stones. A young lady in company laughed and jested not a little on the circumstance.

Swedenborg could not talk fast without difficulty, and when he attempted it was apt to stammer, especially when he spoke in a foreign tongue; of which, beside the learned languages, he understood French, English, Dutch, German and Italian ; in each of which countries he often travelled.

He spoke very deliberately, and it was a great pleasure to sit with him at table. As soon as he began to speak all conversation ceased, and the slowness of his delivery served to increase the curiosity of the listeners.

At first he spoke freely of his visions and the revelations made to him of the spiritual sense of the holy scriptures; but this displeased the clergy, and they raised a cry against him of heretic and madman. After this he became more reserved in mixed companies, and more cautious at all times, lest he should give occasion for the ill-disposed to abuse the truths they were not able to receive.

I once turned to the rector of the parish where I lived, an old and faithful minister, and asked him what he thought of Swedenborg's visions and explanations of the bible. The venerable man answered mildly, "God be judge of those matters; "but I cannot think Swedenborg such a man as many believe him to be. I have myself conversed with him when we have met in company, and I am convinced that he is a good

man.

It was remarkable that Swedenborg never attempted to make proselytes, nor ever pressed upon any one his explanations of the Word. In a conversation with him, I once asked whether it would be possible for any other man to attain to the same degree of spiritual light which he enjoyed. He answered, "take good heed upon that point. A man lays himself open to grievous errors when he tries by barely natural powers to search into the mysteries of the spiritual world."

He further said that it was to guard us against such dangers that the Lord taught us to pray, "lead us not into temptation," which meant that we are not allowed, in the pride and self-confidence of our own natural understandings, to doubt the divine truths of revelation. "You know," said he, "how often students, especially theologians, who have penetrated deeply into useless knowledge, have become insane." He added, "I never thought to be brought into the spiritual state in which I am; but the Lord has set me apart for the purpose of laying open the spiritual meaning of the prophets and the Revelation made to St. John. Before that time my attention was turned to the natural sciences, such as chemistry, mineralogy, and anatomy." This led me to ask how and when it was given him to see and hear what was done in heaven and hell. To this he gave me the following answer.

'I was at London, and one day dined rather late by myself, at a boarding-house, where I kept a room, in which at pleasure I could prosecute the study of the natural sciences. I was hungry, and eat with great appetite. At the end of the meal I remarked that a vapor, as it were, clouded my sight, and the walls of my chamber appeared to be covered by frightful creeping things, such as serpents, toads, and the like. I was

filled with astonishment; but retained the full use of my perception and thoughts.

The darkness attained its height and then passed away. I then perceived a man sitting in the corner of my chamber. As I thought myself entirely alone, I was greatly terrified, when he spoke and said, "eat not so much!" The cloud once more came over my sight, and when it passed away I found myself alone in the chamber. This unexpected event hastened my return home. I did not mention the subject to the people of the house; but reflected upon it much and believed it to have been the effect of accidental causes, or to have arisen from my physical state at the time. I went home; but in the following night the same man appeared to me again. He said, "I am God the Lord, the Creator and Redeemer of the world. I have chosen thee to lay before men the spiritual sense of the holy Word. I will teach thee what thou art to write." On that same night were opened to my perception the heavens and hells, where I saw many persons of my acquaintance of all conditions.

'From this day forth I gave up all merely worldly learning, and labored only in spiritual things, according to what the Lord commanded me to write. Daily he opened the eyes of my spirit, to see what was done in the other world, and gave me, in a state of full wakefulness, to converse with angels and spirits.'

Swedenborg seldom went to church; partly because what he heard there was at variance with the revelations made to him, and partly on account of the disease of the stone, which troubled him. He also absented himself from the holy supper, and during the sitting of the imperial diet, in 1760, two bishops, who were his relatives, remonstrated with him in a friendly manner upon the subject. Swedenborg answered, that religious observances were not so necessary for him as for men differently situated; for since he had been called by the Lord, he was associated with angels and heavenly spirits. They represented to him that his attendance upon the rites of religion set a good example for others, of which he suffered himself to be persuaded, and partook the holy supper at a church, which after the fire in 1759, was temporarily fitted up for the congregation of St. Mary's Church.

Some days previous he asked his old domestics what clergyman he should go to, to perform that holy rite; for he was not much acquainted with the preachers. The elder chaplain was mentioned. No," said Swedenborg, "he is a passionate man, and a fiery zealot as a preacher; I have heard him thundering from the pulpit with little satisfaction."

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