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writers have laughed at the gates of pearl； and the diamonds which
stud the floors and walls of his New Jerusalem； where the most
ordinary utensils are made of the rarest substances of the globe。
'But；' say his disciples； 'because such things are sparsely scattered
on this earth does it follow that they are not abundant in other
worlds？ On earth they are terrestrial substances； whereas in heaven
they assume celestial forms and are in keeping with angels。' In this
connection Swedenborg has used the very words of Jesus Christ； who
said； 'If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not； how shall
ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things？'
〃Monsieur；〃 continued the pastor； with an emphatic gesture； 〃I have
read the whole of Swedenborg's works； and I say it with pride； because
I have done it and yet retained my reason。 In reading him men either
miss his meaning or become Seers like him。 Though I have evaded both
extremes； I have often experienced unheard…of delights； deep emotions；
inward joys； which alone can reveal to us the plenitude of truth；the
evidence of celestial Light。 All things here below seem small indeed
when the soul is lost in the perusal of these Treatises。 It is
impossible not to be amazed when we think that in the short space of
thirty years this man wrote and published； on the truths of the
Spiritual World； twenty…five quarto volumes； composed in Latin； of
which the shortest has five hundred pages； all of them printed in
small type。 He left； they say； twenty others in London； bequeathed to
his nephew； Monsieur Silverichm； formerly almoner to the King of
Sweden。 Certainly a man who； between the ages of twenty and sixty； had
already exhausted himself in publishing a series of encyclopaedical
works； must have received supernatural assistance in composing these
later stupendous treatises； at an age； too； when human vigor is on the
wane。 You will find in these writings thousands of propositions； all
numbered； none of which have been refuted。 Throughout we see method
and precision； the presence of the Spirit issuing and flowing down
from a single fact；the existence of angels。 His 'True Christian
Religion；' which sums up his whole doctrine and is vigorous with
light； was conceived and written at the age of eighty…three。 In fact；
his amazing vigor and omniscience are not denied by any of his
critics； not even by his enemies。
〃Nevertheless；〃 said Monsieur Becker； slowly； 〃though I have drunk
deep in this torrent of divine light； God has not opened the eyes of
my inner being； and I judge these writings by the reason of an
unregenerated man。 I have often felt that the INSPIRED Swedenborg must
have misunderstood the Angels。 I have laughed over certain visions
which； according to his disciples； I ought to have believed with
veneration。 I have failed to imagine the spiral writing of the Angels
or their golden belts； on which the gold is of great or lesser
thickness。 If； for example； this statement； 'Some angels are
solitary；' affected me powerfully for a time； I was； on reflection；
unable to reconcile this solitude with their marriages。 I have not
understood why the Virgin Mary should continue to wear blue satin
garments in heaven。 I have even dared to ask myself why those gigantic
demons； Enakim and Hephilim； came so frequently to fight the cherubim
on the apocalyptic plains of Armageddon； and I cannot explain to my
own mind how Satans can argue with Angels。 Monsieur le Baron
Seraphitus assured me that those details concerned only the angels who
live on earth in human form。 The visions of the prophet are often
blurred with grotesque figures。 One of his spiritual tales； or
'Memorable relations；' as he called them； begins thus： 'I see the
spirits assembling； they have hats upon their heads。' In another of
these Memorabilia he receives from heaven a bit of paper； on which he
saw； he says； the hieroglyphics of the primitive peoples； which were
composed of curved lines traced from the finger…rings that are worn in
heaven。 However； perhaps I am wrong； possibly the material absurdities
with which his works are strewn have spiritual significations。
Otherwise； how shall we account for the growing influence of his
religion？ His church numbers to…day more than seven hundred thousand
believers；as many in the United States of America as in England；
where there are seven thousand Swedenborgians in the city of
Manchester alone。 Many men of high rank in knowledge and in social
position in Germany； in Prussia； and in the Northern kingdoms have
publicly adopted the beliefs of Swedenborg； which； I may remark； are
more comforting than those of all other Christian communions。 I wish I
had the power to explain to you clearly in succinct language the
leading points of the doctrine on which Swedenborg founded his church；
but I fear such a summary； made from recollection； would be
necessarily defective。 I shall； therefore； allow myself to speak only
of those 'Arcana' which concern the birth of Seraphita。〃
Here Monsieur Becker paused； as though composing his mind to gather up
his ideas。 Presently he continued； as follows：
〃After establishing mathematically that man lives eternally in spheres
of either a lower or a higher grade； Swedenborg applies the term
'Spiritual Angels' to beings who in this world are prepared for
heaven； where they become angels。 According to him； God has not
created angels； none exist who have not been men upon the earth。 The
earth is the nursery…ground of heaven。 The Angels are therefore not
Angels as such （'Angelic Wisdom；' 57）； they are transformed through
their close conjunction with God； which conjunction God never refuses；
because the essence of God is not negative； but essentially active。
The spiritual angels pass through three natures of love； because man
is only regenerated through successive stages （'True Religion'）。
First； the LOVE OF SELF： the supreme expression of this love is human
genius； whose works are worshipped。 Next； LOVE OF LIFE： this love
produces prophets；great men whom the world accepts as guides and
proclaims to be divine。 Lastly； LOVE OF HEAVEN； and this creates the
Spiritual Angel。 These angels are； so to speak； the flowers of
humanity； which culminates in them and works for that culmination。
They must possess either the love of heaven or the wisdom of heaven；
but always Love before Wisdom。
〃Thus the transformation of the natural man is into Love。 To reach
this first degree； his previous existences must have passed through
Hope and Charity； which prepare him for Faith and Prayer。 The ideas
acquired by the exercise of these virtues are transmitted to each of
the human envelopes within which are hidden the metamorphoses of the
INNER BEING； for nothing is separate； each existence is necessary to
the other existences。 Hope cannot advance without Charity； nor Faith
without Prayer； they are the four fronts of a solid square。 'One
virtue missing；' he said； 'and the Spiritual An