Page:Swedenborg, Harbinger of the New Age of the Christian Church.djvu/256

 miracles; for they are simply testimonies that I have been introduced by the Lord into the spiritual world and have intercourse and converse there with angels and spirits, in order that the Church, which has hitherto remained in ignorance concerning that world, may know that heaven and hell really exist, and that man lives after death a man as before; and that thus no more doubts may flow into his mind in respect to his immortality."

The occurrence of the Stockholm fire is variously related. Immanuel Kant's account, gathered by him with great care for a correspondent, seems most complete and trustworthy, with R. L. Tafel's correction of the date. Says Kant—

"The following occurrence appears to me to have the greatest weight of proof, and to place the assertion respecting Swedenborg's extraordinary gift beyond all possibility of doubt:—

"In the year 1759, toward the end of July, on Saturday at four o'clock P. M., Swedenborg arrived at Gottenburg from England, when Mr. William Castel invited him to his house, together with a party of fifteen persons. About six o'clock Swedenborg went out, and returned to the