6. [To Oetinger, November 11, 1766]
1. Is a sign, that I have been sent by the Lord to do what I am doing, necessary?*
Answer: Signs and miracles are not given at the present day because they compel outwardly and do not persuade inwardly. What effect did the miracles of Egypt, and the descent of Jehovah upon Mount Sinai have upon the Israelitish nation, which yet, a month later, made themselves a golden calf, and worshiped it as Jehovah? What effect did the Lord's miracles have upon the Jewish nation, which yet crucified Him? It would be the same at this day were the Lord to appear in a cloud with angels and trumpets; see Luke 16: 29-31. At this day the sign will be illustration, and hence acknowledgment and reception of the truths of the New Church; moreover, with some, there will be speaking illustration. This is more than a sign. But perhaps some sign will still be given.
2. Have I spoken with the Apostles?
Answer: I have spoken with Paul for a whole year-also concerning what he wrote in Romans 3: 28. I have spoken three times with John, once with Moses, a hundred times with Luther who confessed that, contrary to the admonition of an angel, he had adopted faith alone solely for the sake of a separation from the Papists; but with angels I have spoken now for 22 years, and am speaking with them daily. These the Lord has adjoined to me.
There was no need to mention this in my published books. Who would believe it? And who would not say, Give me a sign that I may believe? and this every one would say, who does not see it.
3. Why from being a philosopher I was chosen?
Answer: It is for the reason that the spiritual things which are now being revealed may be taught and understood naturally and rationally; for spiritual truths have correspondence with natural truths, it being in these that they terminate, and upon them they rest. That there is a correspondence of all spiritual things with all things of man and also with all things of the earth, may be seen in the work on Heaven and Hell n. 87-102, n. 103-15. Therefore, I was introduced by the Lord first into the natural sciences and thus prepared, and this from the year 1710 to the year 1744 when heaven was opened to me.** Moreover, every man is led to things spiritual by means of things natural; for man is natural by birth, moral by education, and spiritual after being born of the Lord. Moreover, the Lord has granted it to me that I loved truths spiritually, that is, not for the sake of honor or for the sake of gain, but for the sake of the truths themselves; for he who loves truths for the sake of truths sees them from the Lord, the Lord being the Way and the Truth (John 14: 6). But one who loves them for the sake of honor or gain sees them from himself, and to see from oneself is to see falsities.
Falses confirmed have closed the Church, therefore truths confirmed rationally will open it. Who otherwise can understand, acknowledge, and believe things spiritual which are transcendent? The dogma handed down by the Papists and received by the Reformed that in theological matters, the understanding must be held captive under obedience to faith, has again closed the Church. What then shall open it save an understanding enlightened by the Lord. But of this, see Apocalypse Revealed n. 912.
4. I am sorry that you have suffered because of your translation of the book on Heaven and Hell,*** but what suffers more at this day than truth itself. How many are those who see it? nay, who wish to see it? Therefore, be not discouraged; you are a defender of truth.
Stockholm Nov. 11, 1766
Your most devoted servant, Eman. Swedenborg
* Oetinger (1702-1782) was a disciple of Jacob Boehme. He was a firm believer in orthodox Lutheran theology, and despite all his reading of Swedenborg's works, never entertained any doubts as to its truth. But he firmly believed that God had commissioned Swedenborg to reveal the nature of life after death. Oetinger had studied Boehme, he cultivated the society of men who claimed to have spiritual visions, and in Swedenborg's works he saw the most complete revelation of the spiritual world. His theology, he rejected, and especially his exegesis of the Scripture which he thought to be destructive of the plain meaning of the Holy Word. "God calls his instruments for one thing only" (Ehmann, Oetingers Leben u. Briefe, p 772). ** In August 1710, Swedenborg made his first visit to England. His second visit was in May 1744. *** Oetinger's previous letter of October 7 notes: "But, O my Sir, you will hardly believe how much I have to suffer on your account because I translated the first volume of your book [The Arcana Coelestia?], and, indeed, only the things seen."