What the Writings Testify
What the Writings Testify
NOTES:
Swedenborg's Personal States
Swedenborg declares that the second coming of the Lord was effected "by means of a man who can not only receive the doctrines of that [new] Church with the understanding, but also publish them in print." (TCR 779)
His personal understanding of the things he was inspired to write necessarily varied according to the spiritual light in which he was. Such varied perception was for the sake of his instruction by the Lord. (See AC 6608, CL 231, De Verbo 5, TCR 504, SD 4820)
He wrote and published his Writings "by command of the Lord" (Doc. Lord, preface, AR 962, cp Docu. 245X, 252E, Eccl. Hist. 8), but in their preparation he used his enlightened judgment and followed his conscience. (BE 1, AR 134, 752e, SD 438, CL 166) Thus he always retained full use of his rational mind, acting as of himself (DP 290), even when, on occasions, for the sake of information, he was "obsessed" by spirits as were the prophets. (SD 2659, 2665, 3963, compare AC 6212)
He gained his information about the spiritual world gradually and it increased with his experiences, as is clearly revealed in his "Spiritual Diary". And while every indication shows that he was a regenerating man, who could on this account be a companion of angels, the Divine inspiration which he enjoyed was not dependent on the advancing states of his personal regeneration. Angels were sometimes present who aided his memory (CL 73e). Yet while writing down the doctrine of the New Church, no spirit dared nor did any angel wish to introduce anything alien; nor did Swedenborg take anything from himself. (AR, preface)
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