Mystics And Mysticism. No. Iv.

MYSTICS AND MYSTICISM . No . IV .

LOUDON ; SATURDAY , MARCH 20 , 1869 .

One of the most extraordinary men of the seventeenth century was Emanuel Swedenborg , and one who has left his stamp behind him in the Church of the iSFe-v Jerusalem . We have tried in

vain to verify the statement of Dumas that Swedenborg actually was a member of the Craft , but there can be very little doubt , that if he was not , his works played a considerable part in the formation of several of our degrees . The Masonic

quack , par excellence , Joseph Balsamo , derived no small portion of his machinery for swindling from Swedenboi ' . ; ' but where Swedenborg was all heart and imagination , Balsalmo was all stomach and crib . Swedenborg , however far he

has wandered away from the truth , went in the way which he expected would lead to the truth . Balsamo , or Cagliostro , as he styled himself , was an incarnate lie .

Swedenborg was born at Stockholm in the year 1 GS 9 , his father being Jasper Swedborg , Bishop of West Gothland . Educated by his father in the worst school of Lutheranism , his highly imaginative mind became rapidly imbued with

most preposterous views . His studies embraced theology , philosophy , mathematics , ancl the natural sciences . He first appeared in print as a poet in 1710 , his book being printed at Skara , under the title of Oarmina Miscellanea . The four

subsequent years he spent in travelling through England , Germany , Holland , and Eranee . Eeturning to Upsal , he published his " Dcedalus Hyperboreas / ' which contained experiments and observations in mathematics aud philosophy .

Charles the Twelfth had his attention strongly attracted towards him , and appears to have taken considerable interest in his labours , for in 171 G he appointed him assessor in tho College of Mines . He invented a rolling machine , by means of which

a shallop , two galleys , and four large boats , were transported by Charles to the siege of Frederickshall , with cannon , over five leagues of mountain and valley , from Strcimstadfc to Idefjal . In 1719 , Queen Ulrica enobled him , and changed his name

from Swedborg to Swedenborg . In his capacity of Mining Assessor he spent much ot his time in foreign countries , and has given information valuable to the world . In 174-3 ,

his views changed , and a religious mania seized upon him . " Whatever of worldly honour and advantage / ' he writes with regard to the high position he held in the Academies of Upsal , Stockholm , and Petersburg , and the consequent

desire of eminent foreign scholars to correspond with him , " may be in these things , I hold them as matters of low estimation , compared with the honour of that holy office to which I have been called by the Lord Himself , who was graciously

pleased to manifest Himself to me , His unworthy servant , in a personal appearance ; to open to me a sight of the spiritual world , and to enable me to hold converse with spirits and angels ; ancl this privilege has continued with me to this day .

Erom that time I began to print and publish various unknown areana , which have been either seen by me or revealed to me , concerning Heaven and Hell , the state of men after death , the true worship of God , the spiritual sense of the Scriptures , and many other important truths , ten diner to salvation and true wisdom . "

His ideas of the spiritual world are what might be expected from an inoffensive visionary , overcome by the wanderings of a disordered imagination . "I have conversed / ' he said , " with defunct apostles , popes , emperors , kings ;

Avitithe late church reformers , Luther , Calvin and Melancthon . ' * In his opinion the hereafter is little different from tho present . His doctrine is sensual entirely , and man when he dies continues to eat , drink , and be merry . The next world

is full of houses and palaces , gardens in which to take delight ; gold , jewels and books play no mean part , and this earth is only left behind to bo superseded by another , so close alike , that Jack Falstaff could not srumble at the absence of "that

poor creature small beer / His zeal tor the propagation of his novel views led him to vast expense iu printing aud travelling . He was a pure visionary , without the ambition of rank or even riches . In the domestic circle he was free

and sociable ; abroad , the heavy-browed recluse . He died in London in March . 1772 , and his remains , after lying in state , were deposited in the Swedish Church , Wellclose-square . Swedenborg has many followers in the present

day , but it is almost impossible to give a vidimus of the creed of this sect , mixed np as it is with so much sound sense , and such utter folly . They maintain the Unity of God , but this Unity is Christ , who thev suppose always existed in a