Life of Emanuel Swedenborg: Together with a brief synopsis of his writings, both philosophical and theologicalWhite, William
Religion
Life of Emanuel Swedenborg: Together with a brief synopsis of his writings, both philosophical and theological
White, William
Mystics -- Sweden -- Biography; Swedenborg, Emanuel, 1688-1772
The Prince of Prussia was brother to the Queen of Sweden, and shortly
after his death, Swedenborg being at court, the Queen perceiving him
said: “Well, Mr. Assessor, have you seen my brother?” He answered, “No.”
Whereupon she replied: “If you should see him, remember me to him.” In
saying this, she did but jest. Eight days afterwards, Swedenborg came
again to court, but so early that the Queen had not left her apartment
called the white room, where she was conversing with her maids of honor,
and other ladies of the court. Swedenborg did not wait for the Queen’s
coming out, but entered directly into her apartment, and whispered in
her ear. The Queen, struck with astonishment, was taken ill, and did not
recover for some time. After she was come to herself, she said to those
about her: “There is only God and my brother who can know what he has
just told me.” She owned that he had spoken of her last correspondence
with the prince, the subject of which was known to themselves alone.
The following is narrated by J. H. Jung Stilling:—“About the year 1770,
there was a merchant in Elberfeld with whom, during seven years of my
residence there, I lived in close intimacy. He spoke little; but what he
said was like golden fruit on a salver of silver. He would not have dared
for all the world to have told a falsehood. His business requiring him
to take a journey to Amsterdam, where Swedenborg at that time resided,
and having heard and read much of this strange individual, he formed the
intention of visiting him. He therefore called upon him, and found a
very venerable looking, friendly old man, who received him politely, and
requested him to be seated. Explaining his errand, and expressing his
deep admiration of Swedenborg’s writings, he desired that he would give
him a proof of his intercourse with the unseen world. Swedenborg said:
‘Why not? Most willingly.’ The merchant then proceeded to tell that he
had formerly a friend, who studied divinity at Duisburg, where he fell
into a consumption, of which he died. Visiting this friend a short time
before his decease, they conversed together on an important topic. The
question he then put to Swedenborg, was: ‘Can you learn from the student
what was the subject of our discourse at that time?’ Swedenborg replied:
‘We will see; what was the name of your friend?’ The merchant told his
name, and Swedenborg then requested him to call in a few days. Some days
after, the merchant went again to see Swedenborg, in anxious expectation.
The old gentleman met him with a smile, and said: ‘I have spoken with
your friend; the subject of your discourse was _the restitution of all
things_.’ He then related to the merchant, with the greatest precision,
what he, and what his deceased friend, had maintained. The merchant
turned pale; for this proof was powerful and invincible. He inquired
further: ‘How fares it with my friend? Is he in a state of blessedness?’
Swedenborg answered: ‘No, he is not in heaven; he is still in the world
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