*1. Whether a sign that I have been sent by the Lord to do what I am doing is necessary?

Reply. Nowadays there are no signs and miracles because they compel outwardly but do not persuade inwardly. What did the miracles in Egypt, and Jehovah's alighting upon Mount Sinai accomplish among the Israelitish nation! Did they not one month later nevertheless make a golden calf for themselves to worship as Jehovah! What did the Lord's miracles among the Jewish nation accomplish? Did they not nevertheless crucify Him! It would be the same today if the Lord were to appear in the clouds together with angels and their trumpets; see Luke xvi 29-31. Nowadays enlightenment will be the sign, and from this will come recognition and acceptance of the truths of the New Church. Among some it will also be an enlightenment that speaks, and that is more than a sign. But perhaps some sign will still be given.

2. Whether I have spoken with the Apostles? Reply. I have spoken with Paul for a whole year, and even about what he wrote in Romans iii 28. I have spoken on three occasions with John, once with Moses, and a hundred times with Luther, who confessed to having adopted faith alone, contrary to the advice of an angel, for the sole purpose of being separated from the Papists. But with angels I have spoken for 22 years now, and I do so daily; it is with them that the Lord has connected me. There has been no need to mention these matters in the books I have published. Who would believe them? Who would not say, Give me a sign that I may believe? This everyone would say who does not see it.

3. Why I, from being a man of learning, was chosen? Reply. It was in order that men may be taught and understand naturally and rationally the spiritual things that are being revealed at this day, for spiritual truths have their correspondence with natural truths, for spiritual truths are based on natural truths and owe their continued existence to them. That there is a correspondence of all spiritual things with all things in man, and also with all things on earth, see the work HEAVEN AND HELL n. 87-102, 103-15. I was therefore introduced by the Lord first of all to the natural sciences; in this way was I prepared, from 1710 to 1744, in which year heaven was opened to me. Everyone else as well is led by means of natural towards spiritual things, for man is by birth natural, by upbringing moral, and afterwards by being born from the Lord spiritual. In addition the Lord has granted me to love truths spiritually, that is, not for the sake of reputation nor for gain, but truths for their own sake; for the man who loves truths for their own sake has his sight of them from the Lord, the Lord being the Way and the Truth, John xiv 6; but the man who loves them for the sake of reputation or gain has his sight of them from himself, and seeing them from self is seeing falsities. Falsehoods that have been confirmed have shut the Church, and therefore truths confirmed rationally will open it. Who otherwise is able to understand, recognise, and receive spiritual things that are transcendent! The dogma handed down by the Papists and accepted by the Reformed that in theological matters the understanding must be kept in obedience to faith has again shut the Church. What then is going to open it but an understanding enlightened by the Lord? For these matters, see APOCALYPSE REVEALED n. 914.

4. I am sorry you have suffered on account of your translation of the book HEAVEN AND HELL, yet what suffers more nowadays than truth itself! How many are they who see it, or indeed wish to see it! Do not therefore become weary; you are a defender of the truth.

I am etc. Yours most sincerely Eman. Swedenborg

Stockholm 11 November 1766

* During the interval between the dispatch of Oetinger's two letters mentioned above and Swedenborg's receipt of them, Swedenborgs und Anderer Irrdische und Himmlische Philosophie was declared heretical by the government in Wurtemburg. After brief references to having now read the remainder of Swedenborg's works he had received and to having suffered personally on account of his government's declaration of heresy, Oetinger then wrote:

'In your letter you bear solemn witness that the Lord Himself appeared to you, and Himself sent you to do what you are doing. I believe that your sight has been opened like that of Gehazi, to see things that are without parallel. I believe that you, being a renowned philosopher, have become a prophet and seer such as lived in primitive times. But since the spirits of prophets who speak through the spirit are subject to the prophets who are able to speak according to the spirit (I Cor. xii 1), you will readily submit to being put to the proof.' And later on Oetinger declares:

'Give us a sign that your doctrine of the New Jerusalem is true. God cannot say anything that is opposed to His spirit. I pray you therefore that you beg of the Lord who has appeared to you, that you may talk with John himself as to whether he says yes to your exposition. You may boldly pray to talk with the twelve Apostles, more than with Enoch, and to speak with Paul, whose epistles you do not quote. Would you have yourself believed more than Paul? more than John! Did not Paul say, Let another gospel be to them an open curse? Why is it that we cannot find in your writings that you have talked with the twelve Apostles or the twenty-four elders? Could it not happen, as Paul said, that a feigned angel of light who is opposed to the literal sense of John has concluded and said, I will be a lying spirit in Swedenborg (2 Chron. xviii 21)?' The primary source of Swedenborg's reply of 11 November is found on pages 211-12 of H. W. Clemm's book mentioned above. Item 3 however, the question 'Why from being a philosopher I was chosen?' is apparently misplaced as it is clearly occasioned by the request coming at the end of Oetinger's letter of 4 December:

'One thing more I ask - that you write an account of your life; how, and by what interior incidents it came about that from a philosopher you became a revelator.'