Page:Swedenborg, Harbinger of the New Age of the Christian Church.djvu/253

 was the restitution of all things.' He then related to the merchant with the greatest precision what he and what his deceased friend had maintained. My friend turned pale, for this proof was powerful and invincible. He inquired further—'How fares it with my friend? Is he in a state of blessedness?' Swedenborg answered, 'No, he is not in heaven yet; he is still in hades, and torments himself continually with the idea of the restitution of all things.' This answer caused my friend the greatest astonishment. He exclaimed—'My God! what, in the other world?' Swedenborg replied—'Certainly, a man takes with him his favorite inclination and opinions, and it is very difficult to be divested of them: we ought therefore to lay them aside here.' My friend took his leave of this remarkable man perfectly convinced, and returned back to Elberfeld. . . . That Swedenborg for many years had frequent intercourse with the inhabitants of the spiritual world, is not subject to any doubt, but is a settled fact."

Another statement given by Jung-Stilling, as he had it from "a certain beloved friend for many years, who is far advanced in Christianity," is as follows:—