A SYSTEMATIC AND ORDERLY EPITOME OF ALL HIS
RELIGIOUS WORKS;

SELECTED FROM MORE THAN THIRTY VOLUMES,

AND EMBRACING ALL HIS

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES, WITH COPIOUS ILLUSTRATIONS
AND TEACHINGS.

WITH AN APPROPRIATE INTRODUCTION.

PREFACED BY

A FULL LIFE OF THE AUTHOR;

WITH

A BRIEF VIEW OF ALL HIS WORKS ON SCIENCE, PHILOSOPHY, AND THEOLOGY.

SECOND THOUSAND.

"There are five classes of those who read my writings. The first reject them entirely, because they
are in another persuasion, or because they are in no faith. The second receive them as scientifics,
or as objects of mere curiosity. The third receive them intellectually, and are in some measure pleased
with them, but whenever they require an application to regulate their lives, they remain where they were
before. The fourth receive them in a persuasive manner, and are thereby led, in a certain degree, to
amend their lives and perform uses. The fifth receive them with delight, and confirm them in their
lives."- SWEDENBORG.

BOSTON:

CROSBY AND NICHOLS, AND OTIS CLAPP.

NEW YORK: PARTRIDGE AND BRITTAN; FOWLERS AND WELLS.
PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT, GRAMBO, AND COMPANY.
CINCINNATI: TRUMAN AND SPOFFORD.

The design of this WORK is, to exhibit, in a condensed form, the LIFE and
WRITINGS of the most wonderful man that ever lived. The developments of the
present age and day make this a most timely production. The great objection to
the reading of Swedenborg has hitherto been, that his Writings are too voluminous.
Here is the substance of more than Thirty Volumes comprised in one, so far as it
could be done even in so large a volume, with the fullest Life of the Author that
has ever been published.

As a man of Science, and a PHILOSOPHER of Nature, as a SEER and Theolo-
gian, and as a Philosopher of spirit, it is now generally conceded that he has the
most liberal demands upon the Reason and Faith of our common Humanity; and it is
certainly a desideratum to have, in ONE VOLUME, a COMPENDIUM of so vast and
wonderful an Author. But read the TABLES OF CONTENTS, and see the interesting
and all-important subjects of which he treats.

THE following is an explanation of the abbreviated titles of the works referred to in this COMPENDIUM.

It should be remarked, in respect to the quotations from the "Spiritual Diary," that this work is not considered the same
authority as the other writings of Swedenborg, being a posthumous publication, without the author's sanction. It is evidently a
record of his private spiritual experience as it occurred from day to day, and appears to be the first brief notes and groundwork,
from which he afterwards constructed his more matured and authorized works. If there are errors in it, they are generally sup-
posed to be corrected in his authorized publications. See another note respecting the Diary, COMPENDIUM, numbers 1139, 1140. It
should be well remembered that the whole of the Diary was written before the Last Judgment, which may serve to explain some
otherwise obscure passages in it.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854,

BY CROSBY & NICHOLS,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

Hift

Friers. J. Leslie French
4-7-69
763331-291

PREFACE TO

THE LIFE.

An attempt is here made to present a fuller ac-

count than any yet, of the Life and Writings of

the most extraordinary man who has ever lived.

He was a man who has evidently done as much,

to say the least, to benefit humanity, though not

yet appreciated because of the high sphere in

which he labored, as any of the world's most illus-

trious benefactors. We are aware, when we speak

thus, that we shall not gain credence in many a mind.

Let truth and time, then, speak for themselves.

Swedenborg is evidently the most unknown man

of the world. There is more to learn, and less

learned, of his voluminous and interminable wis-

dom, than the superficial, yea, than the scientific

and philosophic of this world, are by any measure

aware of. And it is a pleasing contemplation at

this day, to see a manifestly popular and growing

desire to know more of the great Philosopher and

Seer of the latter ages, than can be found in

Cyclopædian, Biographical, and Theological' Dic-

tionaries, most of which bear false witness against

him and his doctrines. He is still regarded by

many, as an insane visionary, or somnambulic

dreamer; a very learned and good man, but de-

ranged on the subject of Theology. Others, and

their number is now largely increasing, are be-

ginning to regard him as a man of true spiritual

enlightenment, of enlarged ideas of God, of Na-

ture, and of the Spiritual Spheres, but still far

from correct in many of his principles and teach-

ings. Still another class, though as yet but small,

have a right appreciation of his noble genius and

mission.

to the labors of this "Great Humble Man," in

whose works on these interesting subjects can be

found the seeds or principles of all that is known

of the Essences, Forms, Powers and Uses of

Universal Matter; and how far he was in advance

of Bacon, Leibnitz, Newton, La Place, Kepler,

Herschel, Cuvier, or any other man, as a theorist

and author; and at the same time perfectly free

from all jealousies and animosities growing out of

any of them, as to who should be the greatest in

the Kingdoms of Nature. It may be said of him,

most truly, that "he set one foot of the compass

of truth in God, and with the other, swept all

creation, both animate and inanimate." And this

is particularly true, when we consider him as the

Seer, Theologian, and Philosopher of spirit.

In the present work, we have aimed at a fuller

presentation of him as a man of Science and Phi-

losophy, than can be found in any other Biography;

and this not only for the purpose of showing the

perfectly irrational character of those charges

against him as a mere visionary, void of a solid un-

derstanding, and how the world is mistaken in

one of her greatest sons; but also for the purpose

of showing how well prepared he was, in all the

natural knowledge which man could then acquire,

for that sacred office to which he was at last

called, as the illuminated Teacher of the New

Church.

But from the character of this Work, being

more of a compilation than an original composi

tion, we here make one acknowledgment for all,

of indebtedness to the various Biographers of

It is perhaps useless, to say in this Preface to a Swedenborg, especially to Wilkinson and Rich;

Life and Writings which will speak for them- also to various minor publications, such as the
selves, that he is unquestionably the most tran- "Intellectual Repository," "New Jerusalem Mag-
scendent human luminary that has ever yet snone azine,” and other works. We would gladly have
upon our dark world. Even in Science and Philos- given the usual credit, passage by passage, for
ophy, he nobly strode a century before his time, the many extracts we have made; but as the first
and his works evince, not of course without minor part of the work was made up before it was con-
errors, an intuitional and decided anticipation of templated to publish it as a Prefix to this "Com-
many of the more recent discoveries. He was a pendium" of his writings, it would be very diffi-
man, "take him for all in all," who was the most cult now to refer to the many sources, for the par
marvellously gifted of any of the sons of earth, ticular page of each publication quoted from.
both on the sides of nature and of spirit. He And as the extracts from the Biographies above
combined them both in his God-given grasp, and referred to, involve so much that is drawn from a
there can be no question, were it not for his theo- common source and from each other, particularly
logical character, by which many are yet held from the "Documents concerning the Life and
from his scientific works, that he would at this Character of Swedenborg," therefore, for all suffi-
day take a foremost rank in some of the most ab-cient purposes, we have chosen to give this gen-
struse departments of natural physics and philoso-eral credit. But where long extracts occur, which
phy. His discoveries and teachings in Geology, are characterized by the author's peculiar mode
Mineralogy, Botany, Natural History, Animal and of thinking, we have, nevertheless, with the ex-
Human Physiology, Chemistry, Crystallography, ception of the first part above referred to, given
Mathematics, Mechanics, Astronomy, and Natural the particular credit as usual.
Philosophy, show how deeply the world is indebted

COMPILER.

LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.

PART I.

filled my parents with astonishment, and made them declare at times, that certainly the an

SWEDENBORG, THE PHILOSOPHER OF gels spoke through my mouth.

NATURE.

4. From my sixth to my twelfth year, it was my greatest delight to converse with the 1. EMANUEL SWEDENBORG was born at clergy concerning faith; to whom I often obStockholm, the capital of Sweden, January served, that charity or love is the life of faith, 29, 1688. He was the third child, and the and that this vivifying charity or love is no second son, of seven children. His father, other than the love of one's neighbor; that Dr. Jesper Swedberg, was for several years God vouchsafes this faith to every one; but chaplain of a regiment of cavalry, but was that it is adopted by those only who practise finally made Bishop of Skara, in West Goth- that charity. I knew of no other faith or beland, and also superintendent of the Swedish lief at that time, than that God is the Creator Lutheran churches in London, Eng., and Penn- and Preserver of nature; that he endues man sylvania, U. S., their location in this country with understanding, good inclinations, and being about the Delaware, and their station other gifts derived from these. I knew nothin Philadelphia. He was a man of consider- ing at that time of the systematic or dogmatic able learning and abilities, free from bigotry and sectarianism, and bore an excellent private and public character. It is said that one of the family came to America and settled in Canada. The bishop mentions in his diary, "that he, his wife, and all his children, except Catharina, were born on a Sunday."

2. The character of this prelate stood high in Sweden; his voice was heard on great occasions, whether to reassure the people under the calamity of battle or pestilence, or to rebuke the vicious manners of the upper classes, or the faults of the king himself; he labored with constant and vigorous patriotism to rouse the public spirit of the country for useful and Christian objects. Swedenborg's parentage and home were, therefore, happy omens of his future life; he was brought up with strict but kindly care; was carefully educated by his father in all innocence and scientific learning; and enjoyed the opportunities afforded by the sphere and example of family virtues, accomplishments, and high station, with which he was surrounded.

kind of faith, that God the Father imputes the righteousness or merits of his Son to whomsoever, and at whatever times, he wills, even to the impenitent. And had I heard of such a faith, it would have been then, as now, perfectly unintelligible to me."

5. This information from Swedenborg himself shows at how early a period he was penetrated with that theological reform which is all in all in his latest writings; and when to this it is added, that his sayings at the time were so extraordinary that his parents used to declare that "the angels spoke through his mouth," we see how deeply were the preparations laid for that spiritual and mental condition which his mature years were to present.

6. In the sequel we shall have to point out some psychological peculiarities that occurred at "his morning and evening prayers" during his tender years; but at present we only note how free his father had left his mind of Lutheran dogmas, and how much his future course was indebted to this early respect which the Bishop paid to his son's independence. Reared as 3. The only record we have of his child- he was under a strict ecclesiastic, it is surpris hood is in a letter which he wrote late in life to ing that up to his twelfth year he knew nothDr. Beyer. "With regard to what passed in ing of "the plan of salvation," whether it argue a the earliest part of my life, about which you his own inability to learn it, or his father's wish to be informed: from my fourth to my disbelief in it, or the omission of the latter, tenth year, my thoughts were constantly en- from whatever motives, to teach it to his son. grossed by reflecting on God, on salvation, Dr. Swedberg, however, was a serious and and on the spiritual affections of man. I earnest man, and under date of April, 1729, often revealed things in my discourse which he thus writes of the subject of our memoir :