From the PREFACE. The first edition of this work was published in the year 1846. As it has long been out of print, and as applications have frequently been made for it which could not be answered, it has been thought expedient to issue a second edition. In preparing it for the press, the whole has been subjected to a thorough revision. Some things have been added, but more suppressed; and especially those parts which were of a somewhat indelicate character. The works of Swedenborg contain many things which are indelicate, -- grossly so, -- things which ought never to have been written, much less translated. The worst of these passages were omitted in my first edition, and more would have been, but that, as I had undertaken to review Swedenborg, I felt bound to exhibit him in something like his true character. But from the present edition everything is excluded which will be likely, on the ground above indicated, to give offense. When I entered upon the examination of Swedenborgianism, fourteen years ago, great efforts were being made by Prof. Bush and others, to disseminate the doctrine, and give it currency with the people. Public lectures were delivered in our cities and villages, and select portions of the writings of Swedenborg, neatly printed and done up, and accompanied with prefatory and explanatory remarks, were industriously circulated. In these circumstances I felt -- nor was I alone in the impression -- that something should be done. Swedenborg must be thoroughly reviewed and canvassed. A little tract -- an article of a few pages -- a series of short newspaper paragraphs, would be to no purpose. Someone must go thoroughly into the subject, plough it up from the bottom, and make a full exposition of it. Then the community would be in a situation to understand it; and a like labor would not be called for in time to come. From those who take exceptions to the peculiarities of Swedenborg, the most common reply has been: "You are not in a condition to judge of him; you do not understand him; you have not read his works." To obviate an objection like this, and at the same time to qualify myself for the undertaking I had proposed, I got together first of all, the religious publications of Swedenborg, amounting to more than thirty volumes, and the works of his principal disciples and advocates, amounting to forty volumes more, and gave them an attentive perusal. Some of them were read more than once, and notes were taken of them. Meanwhile, I was not able to find a single volume on the other side of the question....