Page:Swedenborg, Harbinger of the New Age of the Christian Church.djvu/226

 had an angelic disposition, there would nevertheless be in it faults caused by weakness, together with other shortcomings; and if these were ferreted out, reported, and exaggerated, this government too might be undermined by calumny, and thereby gradually a desire might be raised among the well-disposed to change and destroy it. The best government, and that which is most wisely arranged, is our own government in Sweden; inasmuch as all things are connected here as in a chain, and are joined together for the purpose of administering justice from the highest leader to the lowest citizen."

Swedenborg spoke from much experience, having been in friendly relations with several kings and queens, an officer of the government thirty years in the College of Mines, and being in the Diet of the party which curtailed the royal power, retaining the supreme control in the Houses of the Diet themselves. This was in 1762. The next year his views prevailed and his first measure was passed, forbidding bank loans on movable property. The year after, however, against Swedenborg's advice, a too sudden and radical measure was adopted and the whole ground was lost.