"Well-born Sir, "As I shall leave next week for Amsterdam, and as I understand that the religious trial of Drs. Beyer and Rosen has been settled by the Privy Council in an unexpected manner [cf. Document 245, T], and as this will probably be talked about for a long time in Gottenburg, I have the honor to communicate to you what I submitted on this subject to His Majesty, so as to break the force of the malicious comments, which will no doubt issue from the mouths of certain persons, originating in their interior stupidity and perversity. "Two gentlemen of the Supreme Court of Appeals [Justitiae Revisionen] told me that the Privy Council was the pontifex maximus in religious matters. At the time I did not make any reply; if, however, they should repeat this statement to me, I should say that, far from being the pontifex maximus, they are simply the vicarius vicarii pontificis maximi, since Christ, our Saviour is alone pontifex maximus; that the Houses of the Diet are His vicarius, and therefore are responsible to Him; and that the Privy Council is the vicarius of the Houses of the Diet, and only as such has plenipotentiary power; and, consequently, it is the vicarius vicarii pontificis maximi. Nor am I able to see in what their pontifical power consists, as they have simply assented to the opinion expressed by the Consistory of Gottenburg; and, without examining any of the religious subjects in my books, have nevertheless prohibited them. The Roman Pope's styling himself pontifex maximus is due to arrogance; for he claims and takes upon himself all the power of Christ, our Savior, making the people believe that he is Christ upon earth. "I have not yet received any answer from the Privy Council; and when the subject was before them last week, it was resolved that it should be postponed, until those members who had gone into the country returned. I am well aware that they strike me upon my right cheek, but how they will be able to wipe off what the other cheek is anointed with, I cannot tell. "Please give my kindest regards to Doctors Beyer and Rosen, and to all the rest who believe in our Saviour. I remain, with all respect and affection,

"Your most obedient servant, "Em. Swedenborg." "Stockholm, July 19, 1770." * Documents Concerning Swedenborg, Vol. 2, pp. 378-379. [The same sentiments, only in a rather more extended form, Swedenborg communicated to the Chancellor of Justice and the three Swedish Universities of Upsala, Lund, and Abo in a letter wherein was enclosed a copy of that which he had addressed to the King. A copy of this letter, which constitutes Document 245, AA, he also enclosed to Dr. Beyer.]