in the popular estimate of Swedenborg and his writings, which has taken place within the last few years.
Equally significant, and marking the same tendency of modern religious thought, are the recent utterances of distinguished preachers and writers who have never been in any way identified with the so-called "receivers" of Swedenborg's teachings. Thus the author of that grand prose poem, "The Heart of Christ," says of Swedenborg's "essential system:"
"It has a unity of its own, and an organic connection with Christianity, such as avouches itself the genuine development of the Christian system. His cosmology, his theology and his pneumatology are the Christian revelation breaking into more full and rational light from the seals of the letter which had kept and preserved it."
Rev. Charles G. Ames, in an article in the Christian Register (Oct. 23, 1875), entitled "An Estimate of Swedenborg," after telling his readers that he does "not accept him as an absolute oracle or authority," says:
"No man ever looked into Swedenborg far enough to learn what he means, without receiving a profound impression, and confessing to a large indebtedness. His increasing influence appears in nearly all recent and important modifications of religious thought; in the most salutary and effective preaching of our times; in the growing reasonableness, catholicity and humanity of the churches; and in all aspirations toward a more perfect social order. Or, if we may not trace these better tendencies to his influence, we must at least say they prove his breadth and insight; for they all move, if unconsciously, in the direction whither his finger points."
