Note 10 — LETTER LXII.
Reading edition
The author seems to have looked for no other account of Swedenborg than what his ignorant believers could furnish. At the age of twenty he published a collection of Latin poems under the title of Ludus Heliconius, sive Carmina Miscellanea quæ variis in locis cecinit, &c. Charles XII. valued him for his scientific knowledge, and profited by it. He took him with him to the siege of Frederickshall; the roads were impassable for artillery, and Swedenborg made a canal, cutting through mountains and raising valleys, by which his battering pieces were conveyed. He was a great favourite with Charles, and deservedly so; for it is said that no person, except Linnæus, ever did so much in so short a time. In all the North of Europe he was held in the highest estimation, till, in the year 1743, he abandoned science to print his waking dreams, and become the founder of a new church.
Swedenborg died at London in 1772, and after lying in state was buried at the Swedish church near Radcliffe Highway.—Tr.
[11]
What if Earth Be but the shadow of Heaven, and things therein Each to other like, more than on Earth is thought? Milton.—Tr.
[12] And to receive the superfluous and impure uncleannesses which are cast out from the whole work.—Tr.
[13]
Das portas para dentro logo entrando, De grande fábrica hum moinho tinha, O qual moendo estava, e preparando Tudo o que havia de ir para a cozinha; Moido, e brando dentro assi mandando O mantimento, que de fóra vinha, Com esta proporçaõ conveniente Se repartia, e hia a toda a gente. Neste moinho junto os dous porteiros, Estando juntamente em seu officio, Duros e rijos trinta e dous moleiros, De grande força, e util exercicio; Daqui tirados fóra outros primeiros Foram por grão fraqueza, e vicio; E os que agora moiam com destreza Todos branco vestiam por limpeza. Tinha cada hum delles sua morada Em dous lanços de penedo, que havia; Entre elles huma Dona exprimentada, Esperta andava, e prompta, noite e dia: E della era approvada ou reprovada A farinha de quanto se moia, Provando se era saborosa, e alva, Porque era ella gentil mestra de salva. Da Creaçaõ e Composiçaõ do Homen.
Immediately upon entering the gates there was a mill of great fabric, which was grinding and preparing all that was to go to the kitchen; sending on, thus ground and softened, the provisions which came from without, to be distributed in convenient proportions to all the people. Near the two porters in this mill, and equally employed in their business, were two-and-thirty sturdy millers, of great strength and useful exercise. Others, who had held this place before them, had been turned out for their weakness; and these, who now ground skilfully, were all clothed in white for cleanliness. Each of these had his dwelling in two pieces of wall, and between them was an experienced dame, who was awake and ready night and day; all the corn which was ground was approved or rejected by her, she trying if it was white and savoury, for she was a gentle housekeeper.—Author's note.
The reader need not be apprised that the situation of these Millers is in the Mouth gate of the town of Mansoul, according to Bunyan's allegory.—Tr.
[14] Their Creed and Pater-noster may be added as curiosities.
I believe that Jehovah God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, is one in Essence and in Person, in whom is a Divine Trinity, consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and that the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is that God.
I believe that Jehovah God himself came down from Heaven as Divine Truth, which is the Word, and took upon him Human Nature, for the purpose of removing Hell from Man, of restoring the Heavens to Order, and of preparing the way for a New Church upon Earth: and that herein consists the true Nature of Redemption, which was effected solely by the Omnipotence of the Lord's divine humanity.
I believe in the Sanctity of the Word, and that it containeth a threefold Sense, namely, Celestial, Spiritual, and Natural, which are united by Correspondences; and that in each sense it is Divine Truth, accommodated respectively to the Angels of the Three Heavens, and also to Men on Earth.
I believe that evil Actions ought not to be done, because they are of the Devil, and from the Devil.
I believe that good actions ought to be done, because they are of God, and from God; and that they should be done by Man, as of himself; nevertheless under this Acknowledgment and Belief, that they are from the Lord, operating in him and by him.
I believe, that immediately on the Death of the material Body (which will never be reassumed,) Man rises again as to his spiritual or substantial Body, wherein he existeth in a perfect Human Form; and thus that Death is only a Continuation of Life.
I believe that the Last Judgment is accomplished in the Spiritual World, and that the former Heaven and the former Earth, or the Old Church, are passed away, and that all Things are become New.
I believe that now is the Second Advent of the Lord, which is a coming, not in person, but in the Power and Glory of the spiritual Sense of his holy Word, which is Himself. And I believe that the Holy City, New Jerusalem, is now descending from God out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband.
Their Pater-noster is of more curious complexion.
Father of us, who in the Heavens; let be sanctified the Name of Thee. Let come the Kingdom of Thee. Let be done the Will of Thee, as in Heaven, and upon the Earth. The Bread of us the daily give to us this Day. And remit to us the Debts of us, as and we remit to the Debtors of us. And not bring us into Temptation, but keep us from the Evil. Because of Thee is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory into the Ages. Amen.
This, they say, is perhaps too literal to be used in public worship as yet. It will, however, serve to give the English reader an idea of the idiom of that language which the Lord made use of, when he was pleased to teach us how to pray. And it may also, by the arrangement of the words themselves, in some measure point out the order of influx from the Fountain of all Life; for the first word in this divine prayer, viz. Father, is the Universal that flows into and fills all the succeeding parts, just as the soul flows into, and fills every part of the human body derived from it.