Page:The Life and Mission of Emanuel Swedenborg.djvu/44

 Queen Ulrica Eleonora, with the name of Swedenborg, and his son-in-law Benzelius with the name of Benzelstierna; after which they were entitled to seats in the Diet. The Bishop himself retained the name of Swedberg, and died with it, 1735, in eighty-second year of his life and the thirty-third year of his bishopric. Since the last fire his hand had trembled, so that he wrote with difficulty; and during the last year his memory had failed. But his eyes were not dim to the day of his death. With wonderful industry and perseverance he had accomplished many undertakings, while others not less worthy—such as the Swedish translation of the Bible—had failed through the jealousy of others. Previous to his last fire he had written his autobiography for each of his children. One copy alone, of over a thousand pages, was preserved. This is still in existence, but has never been printed. The name that he has left behind him is that of "a man who, if he had lived a few hundred years earlier, might have increased the number of Swedish saints, and whose learning, industry, exemplary life, good intentions, and zeal for God's glory deserve to be venerated even by a more enlightened century." But of his real character it will be useful for us to take a closer view, in order to be prepared for what we shall discover in the inheritance of his son Emanuel.

There can be no mistake in attributing to Bishop Swedberg great energy of character, honesty of purpose, bold frankness of expression, hereditary and early-acquired piety, and kind love for his fellow-men. His long life was spent in hard, enterprising labor, with no obvious selfish interest, but for the good of mankind. And withal he was constantly acknowledging God as the source of all blessings, and the permitter of all punishment. All the misfortunes that come to him, he confesses to be deserved recompense for his sins; for all the good he accomplishes he returns thanks to God. His confidence in the presence of spirits and angels, as well as in the Providence of God, was remarkable, and sometimes bordering on