as an old and stale plea of minor authors; yet it may sometimes be true. It is true in my case: neither can I believe that a plea must necessarily be bad, because it is old fashioned. I affect not to write for the learned. I aim no higher in this effort to suppress error, than the production of what may be called a popular tract; or, in other words, a small book for the common people. In cases like this in which I have here engaged, it is too common for authors to expatiate, amplify, and stuff their work with criticisms and various erudite commentaries on words and phrases, until they have made a seven or a nine shillings book; and then it is a book which the poor cannot buy; and if they can borrow it, they have neither time nor talent to read it: and thus from a vain ostentation of learning they spoil a work, which, had it been brief, plain and cheap, might have been very useful. It is the practice of the Swedenborgians to print small tracts of eight or twelve pages, from the works of their great leader: those tracts are extracts from some of the most plausible parts of the baron's writings, as faith and charity, good and truth, &c. These are handed about among people who are not apprised that there may be something more behind the curtain. Such people are often captivated with specious language about faith and charity, not aware that something good might be extracted even from Mahomet's Alcoran. There are others again into whose hands these tracts fall, who are fond of any thing that is fresh; and thus it is that proselytes are frequently made to the Swedenborgian doctrines. In order that the reader may have a clear view of the object of this publication, I have spared many remarks which I could have made that I might leave room for ample quotations from the baron's works. This I deemed very material, if not essential to the success of my undertaking; for by this method people will not only hear what I have to say, but they will have it in their power to And I read and judge for themselves. may farther observe, that if I were to quote all that is eccentric and extravagant in the writings of Baron Swedenborg, I might very easily make up a fair sized octavo volume! 1 shall conclude by observing, that as Baron Swedenborg took upon himself to act the part of a mighty man of valour, in revolutionizing heaven, earth, and hell, he ought in any wise to have certified his credentials for such a mighty undertaking by a few notable miracles. Moses, who headed a new dispensation, wrought many in the name of the Lord. Jesus Christ, in his own name, wrought numberless miracles, signs, and wonders. Whilst the Baron, proclaiming himself to be at the head of a dispensation which shall last for ever, does not justify his heavenly mission by even a single miracle! The baron's friends excuse their leader, by saying that John the Baptist wrought no miracles. This plea is weak and futile. John was not at the head of a new dispensation; |