It has been endeavored, as far as possible, so to construct the notes, as that they may form one series with the text. Perhaps, however, the work may be read most agreeably and usefully, by first perusing the text of a Section through, and afterwards taking all the notes appended to it together. Those, however, who prefer small books to large, especially on theological subjects, may gratify their taste by confining their reading to the text alone: if this should sufficiently interest them to raise a further appetite, they can then, if they please, read the notes also. But the Author hopes that none will conclude, from a perusal of the text alone, that he has failed to establish his points; since in the notes many objections are answered, and many subjects are investigated, The greater part of the Author's direct controversy with the Rev. Mr Beaumont, is, however, properly thrown into the Indeed, in the Author's estimation, that gentleman's "Anti Swedenborg" was scarcely of sufficient importance to deserve an answer; but he was not sorry to use the opportunity af- forded by it for placing the subjects it brings forward in their [N. B.-In the present edition of this Appeal, the Appen- dix, and some of the notes have been omitted; this has been done, partly to reduce the size and price of the volume and partly because it was not thought necessary to republish in this The following Works, by the Author of this Appeal :-- ON THE PLENARY INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES, I vol. 8vo, $2.25. ON THE TRUE OBJECT OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP,-a Tract, 10c. Also, just published, a volume of TRACTS, selected from the wri- tings of SWEDENBORG, and containing a BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE THE REFERENCES TO THE NOTES ARE MARKED BY AN (n) BEFORE THE NUMBER OF THE PAGE. The occasion and design of the work, 1. THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD, I. That it is not a coming in Person, but is a restoration of the knowledge and influence of the truths of the Word of God, 8.- II. That there are many circumstances and signs at the present day, which indicate that the time for the fulfilment of these prophe- cies has arrived, 16.-III. That there are also many circumstances which evince, that the restoration of true religion, promised under the above figures, cannot be much longer delayed, without fatal consequences, 21.-IV. That these views cannot be justly charged with enthusiasm, but that they furnish the best antidote to all spir- That man rises agan immediately after death, and is then a real substantial man in perfect human form; and that the Resurrection spoken of in Scripture is not a resurrection of the material body, 30 B I. That the General Judgment announced in Scripture was not to take place in the natural world, but in the spiritual, 68.-II. A HUMAN INSTRUMENT NECESSARY, AND THEREFORE GRANTED, I. That whenever the time for the accomplishment of the Last Judgment and the Second Coming of the Lord shall have arrived, some Human Announcer of the fact, and of the truths to be then discovered, must be commissioned to declare them, 111.-II. Ex- amination of the claims of Swedenborg to be received into this ca- HEAVEN AND HELL, AND THE APPEARANCES IN THEM AND IN THE INTERMEDIATE REGION OR WORLD OF SPIRITS, 156 I. Great prejudices against Swedenborg for professing to have had communication with the spiritual world; yet that, in his case, this was appropriate, and necessary, 158. How the author's own prejudices on this subject were surmounted, (n) ib.-II. Mr Beaumont's injurious assertion respecting the tendency of Swe- iv denborg's, descriptions of the invisible world, considered, 160.— That the Scriptures represent the Lord Himself as one of the parties in a Marriage-union, and the Church as the other, (n) 185 SECTION VII. THE TRINITY, AS CENTERED IN THE PERSON OF THE LORD 201 The New-Jerusalem doctrine of the Trinity takes all that is true in other systems separated from all that is false, and is such as, it might be expected, all would gladly accept, 203.-I. Solution of the objections arising out of the belief, that the Being who became incarnate was a Son of God born from eternity, 206.-II. Solution of the objections derived from the fact, that the Lord Jesus Christ, while in the world, sometimes spoke as if the Father were a Being separate from himself. That the reason was, because, so long as he was in the world, there was a part of his nature which was not divine; but that it was glorified successfully, so that, at his ascension, all was divine, and one with the Father, 209 SECTION VIII. THE ATONEMENT AND MEDIATION OF JESUS CHRIST, What the Atonement is, according to the Apostle Paul, 219.Scripture use and meaning of the word, (n) ib.-I. That the Sacrifices of the Mosaic law did not represent the punishment due to sin, but the hallowing of every affection and principle of the mind, thus of the whole man, to the Lord, 221.-II. That the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ did not consist in his suffering the punishment due to sinners, but in the hallowing of every principle or element of his Human Nature to the Godhead, till the whole became a living sacrifice, or thing fully consecrated and hallowed, by perfect union with the Divinity, 226.-That his sufferings, and finally the passion of the cross, were the means by which this sacrifice was offered, and thus by which we are delivered from hell and raised to heaven, 226, 227. That by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the enmity or contrariety between man and God was first abolished in his own person, and then in us also; and thus atonement is effected, 229.-III. That the Lord is called a Mediator in respect to his Humanity, because in this he has opened a new and living way of access to his Divinity, 230. This beautifully illustrated, and with it the Lord's oneness with the Father, by Dr. Watts, (n) 231. SECTION IX. 218 - THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, 235 Gross scandals advanced on this subject by Mr Beaumont, 235. That a life of righteousness, but not of Pharisaic righteousness, is, as taught in Mat. v. 19, 20, the way to heaven; and that this doctrine, in all its integrity and purity, is that of the New Church and of the writings of Swedenborg, 237. I AN APPEAL, &c. то THE REFLECTING OF ALL DENOMINATIONS. SECTION I. INTRODUCTION. ALLOW me, with respect and affection, to address you, as men who assign their due value to serious things, on a subject of, as it appears to many, no inconsiderable importance. The existence of a body of Christians who humbly trust that they belong to the New Church of the Lord, predicted in various parts of the Holy Scriptures and called, in the twentyfirst chapter of the Revelation, the New Jerusalem, has, for some time past, attracted a considerable degree of public attention. It is generally known that the Views of the Eternal World and State, and the Doctrines of Faith and Life, held by these persons, are those which are delivered, as deductions from the Word of God, in the Writings of the Hon. Emanuel Swedenborg; who is by them regarded as a distinguished servant of the Lord, raised up for this work by as express an interference of Divine Providence, as that by which a Luther was raised to effect the Reformation from the corruptions of the Church of Rome, or even as that by which a Paul or a John the Baptist was called forth to teach the great truths of Christianity itself, or to announce the first advent of its Divine Author. But while it has thus been known that such a body of Christians exist, and that such is the origin of their views and doctrines, the greatest misapprehension in general prevails as to what those views and doctrines are, and the grounds on which they are embraced; for, unhappily, they have been heard of by E the public at large, only, for the most part, through the misrepresentations and perversions of adversaries and calumniators. We, who have embraced them, feel an entire but humble assurance, that, were they seen in their true colors, all the Reflecting, of all Denominations, would immediately admit, that they are worthy at least of deep consideration and serious attention; and we are assured further, that, were such consideration and attention bestowed on them, numbers would rise from the investigation with a conviction of their truth. If they are true, to have just or erroneous conceptions of them cannot be a matter of indifference: permit then one of those who have not hesitated to stake their salvation upon their certainty, to address a serious Appeal to you in their behalf. Great activity has been used, through a great variety of channels, to possess your minds with totally false and extremely injurious conceptions respecting the illustrious Swedenborg and his writings: allow therefore, I intreat you, one who has maturely considered both, to disabuse you respecting them, to disperse, by a fair statement, the clouds of misrepresentation in which the sentiments received by us have been involved,—and to bring to your acquaintance views of Divine Truth which appear to be at once elevated and well-founded; views which, we venture to assure you, challenge the strictest scrutiny of Reason, and come supported by the plainest testimony of Scripture. Yes, ye who prize the inestimable gift of Reason! permit me to say, that never was a more gross deception practised on mankind, than when it has been attempted, by idle tales and false imputations, to make you believe, that Reason, and what is commonly but improperly termed Swedenborgianism, are uncombineable terms. And to you, ye sincere lovers of the Scriptures! allow me to declare, that to persuade you that writings and doctrines like those we espouse, which place the truths of Scripture in their own genuine light, are at variance with the truths of Scripture, and th4t they originate in delusion, is to impose on you an extravagant delusion indeed. Were I left to my own choice in regard to the form which this Appeal should assume, it would be different from that which I am compelled by circumstances to adopt. Having a rich store to select from of the most |
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