按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of working metals。 In fact he studied no science without advancing it。
In youth he learned Hebrew； Greek； and Latin； also the oriental
languages； with which he became so familiar that many distinguished
scholars consulted him； and he was able to decipher the vestiges of
the oldest known books of Scripture； namely： 'The Wars of Jehovah' and
'The Enunciations；' spoken of by Moses （Numbers xxi。 14； 15； 27…30）；
also by Joshua； Jeremiah； and Samuel；'The Wars of Jehovah' being the
historical part and 'The Enunciations' the prophetical part of the
Mosaical Books anterior to Genesis。 Swedenborg even affirms that 'the
Book of Jasher；' the Book of the Righteous； mentioned by Joshua； was
in existence in Eastern Tartary； together with the doctrine of
Correspondences。 A Frenchman has lately； so they tell me； justified
these statements of Swedenborg； by the discovery at Bagdad of several
portions of the Bible hitherto unknown to Europe。 During the
widespread discussion on animal magnetism which took its rise in
Paris； and in which most men of Western science took an active part
about the year 1785； Monsieur le Marquis de Thome vindicated the
memory of Swedenborg by calling attention to certain assertions made
by the Commission appointed by the King of France to investigate the
subject。 These gentlemen declared that no theory of magnetism existed；
whereas Swedenborg had studied and promulgated it ever since the year
1720。 Monsieur de Thome seizes this opportunity to show the reason why
so many men of science relegated Swedenborg to oblivion while they
delved into his treasure…house and took his facts to aid their work。
'Some of the most illustrious of these men；' said Monsieur de Thome；
alluding to the 'Theory of the Earth' by Buffon； 'have had the
meanness to wear the plumage of the noble bird and refuse him all
acknowledgment'； and he proved； by masterly quotations drawn from the
encyclopaedic works of Swedenborg； that the great prophet had
anticipated by over a century the slow march of human science。 It
suffices to read his philosophical and mineralogical works to be
convinced of this。 In one passage he is seen as the precursor of
modern chemistry by the announcement that the productions of organized
nature are decomposable and resolve into two simple principles； also
that water； air； and fire are NOT ELEMENTS。 In another； he goes in a
few words to the heart of magnetic mysteries and deprives Mesmer of
the honors of a first knowledge of them。
〃There；〃 said Monsieur Becker； pointing to a long shelf against the
wall between the stove and the window on which were ranged books of
all sizes； 〃behold him！ here are seventeen works from his pen； of
which one； his 'Philosophical and Mineralogical Works；' published in
1734； is in three folio volumes。 These productions； which prove the
incontestable knowledge of Swedenborg； were given to me by Monsieur
Seraphitus； his cousin and the father of Seraphita。
〃In 1740；〃 continued Monsieur Becker； after a slight pause；
〃Swedenborg fell into a state of absolute silence； from which he
emerged to bid farewell to all his earthly occupations； after which
his thoughts turned exclusively to the Spiritual Life。 He received the
first commands of heaven in 1745； and he thus relates the nature of
the vocation to which he was called： One evening； in London； after
dining with a great appetite； a thick white mist seemed to fill his
room。 When the vapor dispersed a creature in human form rose from one
corner of the apartment； and said in a stern tone； 'Do not eat so
much。' He refrained。 The next night the same man returned； radiant in
light； and said to him； 'I am sent of God； who has chosen you to
explain to men the meaning of his Word and his Creation。 I will tell
you what to write。' The vision lasted but a few moments。 The ANGEL was
clothed in purple。 During that night the eyes of his INNER MAN were
opened； and he was forced to look into the heavens； into the world of
spirits； and into hell；three separate spheres； where he encountered
persons of his acquaintance who had departed from their human form；
some long since； others lately。 Thenceforth Swedenborg lived wholly in
the spiritual life； remaining in this world only as the messenger of
God。 His mission was ridiculed by the incredulous； but his conduct was
plainly that of a being superior to humanity。 In the first place；
though limited in means to the bare necessaries of life； he gave away
enormous sums； and publicly； in several cities； restored the fortunes
of great commercial houses when they were on the brink of failure。 No
one ever appealed to his generosity who was not immediately satisfied。
A sceptical Englishman； determined to know the truth； followed him to
Paris； and relates that there his doors stood always open。 One day a
servant complained of this apparent negligence； which laid him open to
suspicion of thefts that might be committed by others。 'He need feel
no anxiety；' said Swedenborg； smiling。 'But I do not wonder at his
fear； he cannot see the guardian who protects my door。' In fact； no
matter in what country he made his abode he never closed his doors；
and nothing was ever stolen from him。 At Gottenburga town situated
some sixty miles from Stockholmhe announced； eight days before the
news arrived by courier； the conflagration which ravaged Stockholm；
and the exact time at which it took place。 The Queen of Sweden wrote
to her brother； the King； at Berlin； that one of her ladies…in…
waiting； who was ordered by the courts to pay a sum of money which she
was certain her husband had paid before his death； went to Swedenborg
and begged him to ask her husband where she could find proof of the
payment。 The following day Swedenborg； having done as the lady
requested； pointed out the place where the receipt would be found。 He
also begged the deceased to appear to his wife； and the latter saw her
husband in a dream； wrapped in a dressing…gown which he wore just
before his death； and he showed her the paper in the place indicated
by Swedenborg； where it had been securely put away。 At another time；
embarking from London in a vessel commanded by Captain Dixon； he
overheard a lady asking if there were plenty of provisions on board。
'We do not want a great quantity；' he said； 'in eight days and two
hours we shall reach Stockholm；'which actually happened。 This
peculiar state of vision as to the things of the earthinto which
Swedenborg could put himself at will； and which astonished those about
himwas； nevertheless； but a feeble representative of his faculty of
looking into heaven。
〃Not the least remarkable of his published visions is that in which he
relates his journeys through the Astral Regions； his descriptions
cannot fail to astonish the reader； partly through the crudity of
their details。 A man whose scientific eminence is incontestable； and
who united in his own person powers of conception； will； and
imagination； would surely have invented bette