BIOGRAPHY OF SWEDENBORG.

Every particular which can be collected relative to the character and biography of Swedenborg, must be interesting to the admirers of the writings of that highly illuminated Scribe. It is therefore with pleasure that we are enabled to give the following account, written by a living witness, with whom many of the members of the New Jerusalem Church, in Philadelphia, are personally acquainted, and who has frequently acknowledged to them, that he was the author. Mr. Collin, though advanced in years, still continues to perform the duties of pastor of the Swedish church. He is not a receiver of the writings of Swedenborg, but is extensively known, and is justly esteemed for his piety, good sense, and scientific attainments. The article first appeared in " the Philadelphia Gazette" in detached numbers, on the 5th, 8th, and 10th of August, 1801, and was copied into "the American Daily Advertiser," on the 11th of the same month. From the date of the conversation between Mr. Collin and Swedenborg, which took place in 1766, to the year 1801, it will be seen that 35 years had elapsed. Although as to substance there can be no doubt of the correctness of Mr. Collin's memory, yet with due deference to that respectable gentleman, we cannot but remark, that we are of opinion he must have misapprehended one of Swedenborg's expressions. We allude to that which is expressed by Mr. Collin in the following words, "that if any important. spiritual or temporal concern of mine had been the case, he would then have solicited permission from those angels who regulate those matters." Now, as far as we are acquainted with the writings of Swedenborg, we have no recollection of his ever having inculcated the idea, that application for any favour, natural or supernatural, should be made to angels, but to the Lord alone. We cannot therefore but conclude, that the declaration was either misunderstood, or mis-remembered.

The letter from Swedenborg to a friend, quoted by Mr. Collin, was addressed to the Reverend Dr. Thomas Hartley, a divine of the Church of England, who was, we believe, the first of the English clergy who received the doctrines of the New Church. That excellent and learned man, who first translated some of Swedenborg's works from the original Latin, in company with Dr. Messeter, waited upon Swedenborg three or four days before his death,.

and earnestly pressed him to declare "whether all he had written was strictly true, or whether any part or parts thereof were to be excepted ?" Swedenborg replied, "I have written nothing but the truth, as you will have it more and more confirmed hereafter, all the days of your life, provided you always keep close to the Lord, and faithfully serve him alone, in shunning evils of all kinds as sins against him, and diligently searching his sacred word, which from beginning to end bears incontestible testimony to the truth of the doctrines I have delivered to the world." ED.

ANECDOTES OF SWEDENBORG.

By Nicholas Collin, Rector of the Swedish Church in Philadelphia.

Swedenborg's writings have, for some years, in this country, been objects of curiosity to many persons, and they have also gradually won disciples to his doctrines, either in the whole or in part. From this have arisen frequent and sedulous inquiries on the character and life of this remarkable man. It having been reported, that I had conversed with him, and otherwise for certain knew several facts concerning him, I have been requested by several persons, some of them living in distant parts, to communicate such information. To gratify them, and also to prevent mistakes that arise in repeating verbal relations, and even in copies of letters, I choose to state what I can impart in print; and prefer the vehicle of a gazette to that of a pamphlet, as more speedy and general.

I shall begin with a comment on the account Swedenborg left of himself in an answer to a letter from a friend, which is inserted in the English translation of his Treatise concerning Heaven and Hell.

"I was born at Stockholm in the year of our Lord 1689, January 29. My father's name was Jesper Swedberg, who was bishop of West-Gothia, and of celebrated character in his time: He was also a member of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, formed on the model of that in England, and appointed President of the Swedish Churches in Pennsylvania and London, by King Charles XII. In the year 1710, I began my travels, first

into England, and afterwards into Holland, France, and Germany, and returned home in 1714. In the year 1716, and afterwards, I frequently conversed with Charles XII. King of Sweden, who was pleased to bestow on me a large share of his favour, and in that year appointed me to the office of Assessor in the Metallic College, in which office I continued from that time till the year 1747, when I quitted the office, but still retained the salary annexed to it as an appointment for life. The reason of my withdrawing from the business of that employment was, that I might be more at liberty to apply myself to that new function to which the Lord had called me. About this time a place of higher dignity in the State was offered me, which I declined to accept, lest it should prove a snare to me. In 1719, I was ennobled by Queen Ulrica Eleonora, and named Swedenborg, from which time I have taken my seat with the Nobles of the Equestrian order, in the Triennial Assemblies of the States. I am a Fellow, by invitation, of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, but have never desired to be of any other community, as I belong to the Society of Angels, in which things spiritual and heavenly are the only subjects of discourse and entertainment; whereas in our literary societies, the attention is wholly taken up with things relating to the body and this world. In the year 1754, I published the Regnum Minerale at Leipsic, in three volumes, folio; and in 1738, I took a journey into Italy, and staid a year at Venice and Rome.

"With respect to my family connections: I had four sisters; one of them was married to Eric Benzelius, afterwards made Archbishop of Upsal; and thus I became related to the two suc ceeding Archbishops of that see, both named Benzelius, and younger brothers of the former. Another of my sisters was mar, ried to Lars Benzelstierna, who was promoted to a provincial government; but these are both dead; however, two Bishops who are related to me, are still living; one of them is named Filenius, Bishop of Ostrogothia, who now officiates as President of the Ecclesiastical order in the General Assembly at Stockholm, in the room of the Archbishop who is infirm; he married the daughter of my sister: the other, who is called Benzelstierna, Bishop of Westmannia and Dalecarnia, is the son of my second sister; not to mention others of my family who are dignified. I converse freely, and am in friendship with all the Bishops of my country,

who are ten in number, and also with the sixteen Senators, and the rest of the grandees, who love and honour me, as knowing that I am in fellowship with Angels. The King and Queen themselves, as also the three Princes their sons, show me all kind countenance, and I was once invited to eat with the King and Queen at their table, (an honour granted only to the Peers of the realm) and likewise, since that, with the Hereditary Prince. All in my own country wish for my return home, so far am I from the least danger of persecution there, as you seem to apprehend, and are also so kindly solicitous to provide against; and should any thing of that kind befal me elsewhere, it will give me no con

cern.

"Whatever of worldly honour and advantage may appear to be in the things before-mentioned, I hold them but as matters of low estimation, when compared to the honour of that holy office to which the Lord himself hath called me, who was graciously pleased to manifest himself to me, his unworthy servant, in a personal appearance, in the year 1743, to open in me a sight of the Spiritual World, and to enable me to converse with Spirits and Angels, and this privilege hath continued with me to this day. From that time I began to print and publish various unknown Arcana, that have been either seen by me, or revealed to me, concerning Heaven and Hell, the state of men after death, the true worship of God, the spiritual sense of the Scriptures, and many other important truths tending to salvation and true wisdom and that mankind might receive benefit from these communications, was the only motive which has induced me at different times to leave my home to visit other countries. As to this world's wealth, I have what is sufficient, and more I neither seek nor wish for.

"Your letter has drawn the mention of these things from me, in case, as you say, they may be a means to prevent or remove any false judgment or wrong prejudices with regard to my personal circumstances. Farewell; and I heartily wish you prosperity both in things spiritual and temporal, of which I make no doubt, if so be you go on to pray to our Lord, and to set him always before you.

"London, 1769."

"EMAN. SWEDENBORG,

Comment on the foregoing account given by Swedenborg of himself.

His family connections were such as he relates, and well known in Sweden; some of them by myself personally; particularly Bishop Benzelstierna. The mention of his father, being, though honourable, modestly short, I shall enlarge upon it. This Jesper Swedberg was well qualified for one of the principal Bishopricks in Sweden, by his piety, learning, integrity, benevolence, and all other virtues. His plain manner of living enforced his zealous remonstrances against pomp and luxury, which if not very common, yet were the more pernicious in that distressful period, when Sweden had lost her veteran armies, depended in a great measure on lads and old men for the combined forces of Russia, Poland and Denmark, and was moreover, consuming by famine and pestilence. The bishop's influence animated that patriotic fortitude, which sustained such burthens and misery, and blazed in so many battles! His popularity gave particular energy to some public regulations, which lessened the havock of pestilence: a judicious and pathetic address to the people, convinced them that interring in new grounds was a necessary measure, though a temporary sacrifice of their laudable attachment to the consecrated grounds in which the earthly remains of their beloved relatives reposed. The bishop was for many years superintendent of the Swedish mission about Delaware. His letters to the clergy and the congregations, which are preserved on its records, bear witness to his zeal, kindness, and love of science. He requested of the missionaries to inform him of any extraordinary events in the moral and physical world, which happened in these parts of America. Some of these relations are recorded: one I find less credible, but founded on popular belief, and in part on some very remarkable facts. As this excellent man has been charged with a fondness for the marvellous; and the same foible is imputed as hereditary to the son, I will candidly mention the only fact within my knowledge, which may be so construed: A female head-dress, called in French fontange, made up of laces or ribbons to a monstrous height of several stages, had long been an object of his indignation. In a parish of his diocese, a female still born child had a monstrous excrescence on its head, very similar to this ornament of the ladies. He regarded this as an ominous commination from Heaven, against the