It should be remembered that at the time Swedenborg wrote his
theological works, the church had fallen into rank materialism and
superstition. That Swedenborg should have received his illumination, or
revelation, direct from the Lord, only serves to prove that the mortal
consciousness clothes the revelation with whatever personality appeals to
it, as having authority.
Thus, the angel Gabriel was the dictator in the case of Mohammed, and the
"Blessed Mother" of the Hindu reveals to them the vision of _mukti_.
Swedenborg says of his vision: "God appeared to me and said, 'I am the Lord
God, the Creator and Redeemer of the world. I have chosen thee to unfold
the spiritual sense of the Holy Scriptures. I will myself dictate to thee
what thou shalt write.'"
In "The True Christian Religion," published shortly before his death he
says: "Since the Lord can not manifest Himself in person as has been shown,
and yet He has foretold that He would come and establish a new church,
which is the New Jerusalem, it follows that He is to do it, by means of a
man, who is able not only to receive the doctrines of this church with his
understanding, but also to publish them by the press.
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