An Essay on the Credibility of Swedenborg; In Which His Claims as the Announcer of the Dispensation Mentioned in Prophecy Under the Figure of the New Jerusalem, Are Briefly Considered and Defended (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: AN ESSAY THE CREDIBILITY OF SWEDENBORG. INTRODUCTION. A slight acquaintance with the history of mankind is sufficient to show, that those to whom the world is indebted for its advancement in morals and science, have not always been able to command attention or ensure respect, but have frequently endured the opposition of power, the frown of bigotry, and the ridicule of ignorance. That the discoveries or dictates of mere human beings should have been disregarded or contemned by those who were unwilling to acknowledge superiority, does not excite much surprise, when the blindness and pride of man are remembered. But if we extend our observation to the inspired messengers of God, we find that they likewise experienced neglect, contempt, and persecution, though they exhibited what has since been thought to entitle them to unreserved veneration: and even He who in support of his doctrines brought the most astounding evidence of Almighty Power, was, when he sojourned upon earth, " despised and rejected of men." It cannot, therefore, be maintained with any colour of plausibility, that the rejection or slow reception of any doctrine or divine communication, proves it to be unworthy of credence or examination; northat truth has an irresifitible tendency to subdue error or obtain belief. Indeed the occurrences of every day might inform us, that assent is not invariably produced by an abstract judgment of the understanding; or, rather, that the understanding is frequently influenced by the desires of the will: consequently, if that which is proposed for acceptance be contrary in its nature and effect to those desires; if it question their lawfulness or restrain their indulgence; they will, however imperceptibly, attempt to induce the understanding to resist such a proposition a...