THE INTENTION OF THE BOOK. A reasoning, self-sufficing thing; 63 No, indeed, the world has nothing to hope for in the solution of its enquiries from these gentlemen. But it is time to close this Introduction, and introduce the subject of it. And thus we commend this volume to our readers, because we believe that it may introduce Swedenborg to their knowledge and intimacy, and because believe he will reply to many of the questions to which the men of our age—the young men especially -are desirous of hearing replies. We believe that he will, to the eye of the candid sceptic, unveil Jesus, the Saviour of mankind, in a most divinehuman and human-divine relation to him. In the perusal of his works, more and more he will perceive that Christianity, in every phase of its development and history, meets the deepest and most intimate necessities of our nature; the grandeur and the imperativeness of the Saviour's great achievement of Redemption will be opened to him. The nature of those divine sanctifying influences, without which nothing is holy-nothing pure or good, and the glory of that future life, where the whole being of man may expand to all eternity, in Wisdom, in Love, in Divine Labour. CHAPTER II. THE BIOGRAPHY. READER, might it not seem a wonder, if a person of so extraordinary and apostolical a character, should better escape the imputation of madness than the prophets of old? O fie upon those uncharitable prejudices which have led so many, in all ages, to credit and propagate slanderous reports of the best of men, even whilst they have been employed in the heavenly work of turning many from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Were an angel from heaven to come and dwell incarnate amongst us, may we not suppose that his conversation, discoveries, and conduct of life would, in many things, be so contrary to the errors and prejudices, the ways and fashions of this world, that many would say, with one consent, that he is beside himself; and where any one of our brethren, through the divine favour, attains to any high degree of angelical illumination and communications, may he not expect the like treatment? I forget the name of the philosopher whose precepts and lectures were so repugnant to the dissolute manners of the Athenians-they sent to Hippocrates, to come and cure him of his madness; to which message that great physician returned this answer : that it was not the philosopher, but the Athenians that were mad."-DR. HARTLEY, Rector of Winwick, Northamptonshire : Preface to First English Translation of Swedenborg's Heaven and Hell. F CHAPTER II. : CONTENTS.-A Psychologic History-Life from the DialPlate and the Main Spring-The Intellectual Eminence of Sweden-Early Connections and Education of SwedenborgEfforts in Poetry-First Devotion to Science-MechanicsFriendship with Charles XII.-List of Scientific Works: the Principia and Magnetism-Quotation from the Marquis de Thomé-Scientific Discoveries in many Walks, Unacknowledged and Incontestible-Work on the Worship and Love of God, closing the Scientific Epoch: Some Account of the Book, and Outline of it-Entrance upon a New FieldEducation for the New Work-Preliminary Discussion of the Authenticity of the Memorable Relations their Remarkable Literary and Psychological Character-Gorgeousness of Paintings Are they simply Allegorical?-The Vision of the IceWorld and its Temple-the Natural History of Allegory: Are they to be regarded as Introvisionary from the Resolute Action of the Will, or simply Clairvoyant? why not Real?-Swedenborg's Illumination-Possibility of Communion with Spiritual World, from testimony of Scripture-Common Sense and Science-Argument against Swedenborg, that he wrought no Miracles-Interviews with the World of Spirits, attested from the Queen of Sweden-Kant, &c., &c.: why might not God raise Him up?-Closing Years of Life-Remarkable correspondence with John Wesley-Death-Reflections-Was He a Mystic-a Madman-an Impostora Fanatic-Summary. : SIR JAMES STEPHEN, in one of the most remarkable and original essays of modern times,-an essay, as clearly characterized by analytic thought as eloquence, has attempted to trace the mental biography of the author of the "Natural History of Enthusiasm," and The Physical Theory of another Life." He has supposed the eloquent Isaac Taylor himself to be the narrator of the growth and advance of his own mind, |