The Practical Nature of the Doctrines and Alleged Revelations Contained in the Writings of the Hon. E. Swedenborg; The Peculiar Motives to Christian Conduct They Suggest in a Letter to His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Dublin, Occasioned by His Observations on (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838. Excerpt: ... himself and his followers; more especially as, under the circumstances we have mentioned, the probability is that enthusiasts would arise, and that many, consequently, would be deluded. It is remarkable that the introduction of new dispensations by the Almighty seems, in general, to have given occasion for opposite and rival claims to the truth. When Moses wrought miracles before Pharaoh, counter miracles were said to be wrought by the magi. When Christ cast out devils from the possessed, similar claims to miraculous power were asserted to exist among the Pharisees. When Christ assumed the character of King of the Jews, rival pretensions were made by others. "Before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves, who was slain, and all as many as obeyed him were scattered and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him; he also perished, and all as many as obeyed him were dispersed"(Acts v. 36). At the second coming of Christ into the world, we are told, it shall be the same; "for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect"(Matt. xxiv. 24). Thus at the end of the old and the beginning of new dispensations arise false and true prophets in every direction, whence pretensions of both kinds become so mixed up one with the other, that unless possessed of a clear spiritual discernment, a person runs the risk of receiving the false as the true, or the true as the false, or of rejecting indiscriminately both together, and so, in order to avoid the snare of enthusiasm, of falling into the pit o...