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 3. Fear that they contain a subtle poison which, if touched or approached, may imperil the soul's salvation.

4. Fear that, if their teachings prove true and are accepted, they may disturb the reader's social relations and compel him to dissolve his ecclesiastical connection.

These are the chief obstructions to the spread of the New-Church writings among that class of persons who are prepared to understand and receive them—who are really hungering for the spiritual nutriment they contain, but know not where to find it. And the removal of these obstructions would seem to be the chief work of the New-Church missionary at this time.

It was mainly for this purpose that the "Cloud of Independent Witnesses to the truth, value and spiritual helpfulness of Swedenborg's Teachings" was prepared. And in the estimation of many competent judges it is well fitted for the special work for which it was intended—is, indeed, a powerful, and ought to prove a successful agent for the removal of all the above-named obstructions. For it shows, by extracts from the letters of more than a hundred ministers, and copious quotations from the published writings of a few of the most eminent, that the prevailing prejudice against Swedenborg's teachings has arisen wholly from ignorance and current misrepresentations of