, a Swedish enthusiast, and the founder of a well-known, although,
, a Swedish enthusiast,
and the founder of a well-known, although, we trust, declining sect, was born at Stockholm J.n. 29, 1689. His
father was bishop of West Gothia, and it may be supposed
that his education was good, since he published a volume
of Latin poetry when he was only twenty years old. The
title was, “Ludus Heliconius, sive Carmina Miscellanea,
quie variis in locis cecinit.
” The same year he began his
travels; and having visited England, Holland, France, and
Germany, returned in 1714 to Stockholm, where two years
after, he was appointed by Charles XII. assessor of the
metallic college. His studies during this part of his life,
were chiefly devoted to mathematics and natural philosophy; and he was essentially useful to his king by enabling
him to convey his heavy artillery by water, where they
could not go by land. He published about this period,
many scientih'cal and philosophical works; and succeeding
to the favour of queen Ulrica Kleanora, after the death of
Charles XI I. was by her ennobled in 171I>. In pursuance
of his duty, as belonging to the metallic college, he travelled to view the mines, and then inspected aiso the manufactures of his country. In consequence of this, he
published several tracts on subjects relating to the philosophy of the arts. He returned to Stockholm in 1722,;.nd
divided his time between the duties of his ofiice and his
private studies. In 1733, he had completed his great
work, entitled “Opera Philosophica et Mineralia,
” which
was printed under his direction in In the year 1743,
” he says, in one of his works, “the
Lord was graciously pleased to manifest himself to me, in
a personal appearance; to open in me a sight of the spiritual world, and to enable me to converse with spirits and
angels; and this privilege has continued with me to this
day.
” From this time, he devoted his very able pen to
such subjects as this most extraordinary state of mind suggested. He published, “De cultu et Amore Dei,
” Lond.
De telluribus in mundo nostro solari,
” De Equo albo in Apocalypsi,
” De nova Hierosolyma
” “De Ccelo et Inferno
” “Sapientia angelica de
Divina Providentia,
” Amsterdam, Vera Christiana
religio,
” Amst.