INTRODUCTORY
prosperity, or for any other earthly or selfish benefit. Swedenborg is always in harmony with these three distinguishing features of God's seers and prophets. To him, as to them, "the word of the Lord came, saying." If he tells more than they about the unseen world, it is because the world needs and can incorporate into spiritual character more and deeper knowledge. And this knowledge, as now revealed, is of such a kind as to harmonize with human freedom—not to overpersuade, nor hypnotize, but to lead to a deeper, truer, more rational, more practical and yet more spiritual life than the world has ever known.
The second, third and fourth chapters, respectively, treat of the spiritual world from the point of view (1) of common or intuitive perception; (2) of Swedenborg's philosophy as illustrated by modern science especially; and (3) of Swedenborg's personal experience, "from things heard and seen."
These chapters, first given in the ordinary course of pastoral duty, are published by request. That they may be of some little service, not only in correcting erroneous impressions, but in helping to establish a rational belief in the wondrous fact that death is only the gateway to endless life, and to help to so build up character here that the future may reveal the Divine presence and His peace, is the hope and prayer of
The Author.
