The Practical Nature of the Doctrines and Alleged Revelations Contained in the Writings of Emmanuel Swedenborg

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1839 edition. Excerpt: ...knowledge and inquiry, and it may be well, in answering the objection founded upon this evil, to consider what is advanced upon the subject. After speaking of this tendency of the human mind, and of consequent attempts to explain unrevealed mysteries, it is remarked, Little as there is revealed to us of the condition of our first parents in Paradise, thus much (and let Christians never forget it) is plainly taught us, that they fell from their happy state through the desire of forbidden knowledge. It was by seeking from men to become 'as gods, knowing good and evil, ' that they incurred that loss, to retrieve which God was made man, in Christ Jesus; who 'took upon him the form of a servant, and humbled himself unto death, even the death of the cross, ' to redeem us, the children of Adam, whom want of humility had ruined, and to open to us the gates of eternal life, which presumptuous transgression had shut. How, then, can we hope to enter in, if we repeat the very transgression of Adam, in seeking to be wise above that which is written? By inquisitive pride was immortal happiness forfeited; and the path by which we must travel back to its recovery is that of patient and resigned humility. Now, certainly the wickedness of an inquisitive pride can scarcely be exaggerated. I agree, therefore, in all that is said upon this part of the subject, and sincerely desire to be guarded from a sin so fatal. But how comes it to pass, that this presumptuous knowledge, of the attempt at which Swedenborg and his followers are sometimes thought to be guilty, is such as exposes the direful evils of presumption? How comes it, that the inquisitive pride, which is sometimes laid to his charge, leads him to acknowledge principles of child-like humility? How...