SWEDENBORG, ESCHENMAYER and all of their school? Yet how utterly
irreconciliable are all their revelations!

Therefore, while I have cited illustration and example as affording
unproved or hearsay evidence, I, in fact, decidedly reject not only
all tradition, as proof on occult subjects, but all assertion from any
quarter, however trustworthy, asking the reader to believe in nothing
which he cannot execute and make sure unto himself. Tradition and
testimony are very useful to supply ideas or theories, but to actually
_believe_ in anything beyond his experience a man should take
sufficient interest in it to _prove_ it by personal experiment. And,
therefore, as I have already declared, I not only ask, but hope that
no reader will put faith in anything which I have alleged or declared,
until he has fully and fairly proved it to be true in his own person.

The history of true culture, truth, or progress has been that of doubt
or disbelief in all which cannot be scientifically proved or made
manifest to sensation and reflection, and even in this the most
scrupulous care must be exercised, since our senses often deceive us.
Therefore, in dealing with subjects which have undeniably been made
the means of deceit and delusion thousands of times to one authentic
instance, it is not well to accept testimony, or any kind of evidence,
or proof, save that which we can establish for ourself. The day is not
yet, but it is coming, when self-evidence will be claimed, and
granted, as to all human knowledge, and the sooner it comes the better
will it be for the world.

But I would be clearly understood as declaring that it is only as
regards making up our minds to absolute faith in what involves what
may be called our mental welfare, which includes the most serious