Page:Swedenborg, Harbinger of the New Age of the Christian Church.djvu/296

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

EMANUEL SWEDENBORG

heaven—clouds drawn from the ill-understood and misinterpreted letter of the Word. The proof of Swedenborg's mission will be found in the fulfilment of this sign—to each one in the clearer vision that by the interpretation of Swedenborg he now obtains of the Lord of heaven throughout His Holy Word. This sign no one can see for another, but every one must see for himself, and in very truth only by the aid of the Holy Spirit. But though this special enlightenment is to be found in the interpretations of Swedenborg as nowhere else, the coming of the Son of Man was to be as the light that shineth out of the east even unto the west. And while none but students of Swedenborg' s writings can recognize in him the harbinger, the Christian world perceives that new light is being diffused. The historians point to the middle of the eighteenth century as the date of the breaking of the light. Soon after that date apprehension of the impending judgment began to subside. The Church began to feel new life. As century after century the time for judgment is left behind and the new life of the Church becomes better established, more and more generally will be recognized the truth of Sweden-

284