Thomas Hiller’s father John Frederick Hiller was a methodist preacher who was converted to follow the spirtual writings of Emanuel Swedenborg (1688 – 1772), possibly one of the first converts in the Kent area.
Thomas Hiller followed in his father’s faith and became an advocate of Swedenborg through the early days of the New Church which was founded on Swedenborg’s writings.
We know of John Frederick Hiller’s introduction to Swedenborg through the published Sermon by Manoah Sibley on the occasion of John Frederick’s funeral. The full text of this is available at Google Books, the relevant extract reproduced below:
From a document put into my hands by a son, well
The Preciousness of the Death of Saints. A Funeral Sermon, Occasioned by the Death of Mr. John Frederick Hiller … Preached November 3, 1816. Published 31.12.1816 by W. Molineux
known to most of us present, a steady member of this
Society, I have extracted the following, as containing
what, I conceive, will be considered gratifying anecdotes
concerning him.
At the time of his departure on the 6th of September
last, he was in the 73rd year of his age, and
had been a devout recipient of the New Jerusalem
Verities for about twenty years; more than twenty
years preceding which, he had been a follower and
preacher in the Wesleyan Connection. Whilst in this
Society, he heard of Baron Swedenborg, and wished
much to examine his writings, but was prevented by
those of that Connection, unto whom he looked up as
better informed than himself. However, about the
year 1795, losing some of those friends which bound
him so closely to the Old Church, he made application
to the then only three friends at Margate professing
the Heavenly Doctrines, who readily seconded
his wishes, and furnished him with several of the
works of our illuminated Scribe, No sooner ‘did he
begin reading, than he perceived the beauty of the
doctrine concerning the Lord, as the only God of
Heaven and Earth, and commenced immediately from
the pulpit to announce the same, which was soon
rumoured abroad, and, being pitied and lamented by his
religious connection, his congregation were persuaded
to leave him—so, that at length, he found himself in
the pulpit alone, and thought it useless to continue his
exertions any longer in that channel.
Soon after he visited London, and was baptized into
the faith of the New Church, by Mr. Proud, in Cross
street, Hatton-garden.
From his first setting his hand to the plough, he
never looked back; but, like the man digging in the
field, finding the treasure hid therein, went and sold
all that he had to purchase it. Often did he mourn
his long ignorance of his God; he grieved for having
suffered himself to be prevented from inquiring after
him.
A few hours previous to his death, when apparently
he was in good health and spirits, he observed, that he
felt himself so happy, that if it pleased the Lord, and
he had no one to mourn after him, he should be glad
to go that night.
Whenever his business called him to London, it was
his greatest pleasure to attend the public worhip of
the Lord, in his New Church; the last time he met
with us, was but a short period prior to his decease.
It would appear he had a presentiment, that his time
was near its close, as, for the last six days, he had been
settling all his temporal concerns.
He observed on the evening of his departure, that
now he had not one thing belonging to this world on
his mind, as he had made provision for his wife, in
case she should survive him.
About an hour and a quarter before he breathed his
last, after the sudden stroke of death was given, he
observed my hour is come. Sinners! behold me die!
His departure was as if falling into a pleasant sleep.
And who can doubt but in him is verified the Divine
teaching of our text, that precious in the sight of the
Lord is the death of his Saints? and that our friend is
now happily seated where there is no more death, nor
sorrow, nor crying? for the former things are wiped
away.
I have not the relatives before me to address. One
of his sons, known as Capt. Hiller, is a worthy
Member of this Society of the Lord’s New Church:
and who, I trust, knows something of the death of Sin
and the life of Righteousness: and possesses, like his
father, a sincere and steady affection for the Kingdom
of our Lord and Saviour. May he, like him, also per
severe to the end, and receive the crown of life.
In a document of Hiller’s dated 1838 we have further insight into the Swedenborgian teachings that John Frederick held dear and how these passed to Thomas. It is clear that such beliefs were seen as radical and threatening even to other non-conformists at the time!
To Mr. Townsend on the writings of Baron Swedenborg.
But this Great Prophet of the Lord can tell
That man exists and how in Heaven or Hell,
Explains the deep arcana of the word,
And proves that Jesus Christ is God and Lord
Not persons three in office and power.
But One in Three, is God the Lord
As Body, Soul, and Act, in more [?] is One
So Father!, Son!, and Spirit!s! One!
In form as Man is God! in Human Form.
We worship and approach God! and Man! in One!
He hears our prayers thus Christ Body’s means
Just so approach’d is Man: the Soul within
(The Body we draw near) unseen by Human eye
That fast immortal, particle of Eternity.
Bright gem of God!, a charge to man intrusted
Its faculties, and Powers, vast immense
Exceeding thoughts, which if improved soars high
and scales the mount of God!, and there angelic sings
But if degraded sinks to Hell, and falls though
Pity’d by His Maker!, God!: sad thought yet true
The original of the foregoing lines was written by my father (J.F.Hiller)
about the year 1798 in a letter to George Townsend of
Ramsgate a Calvinist Preacher, on hearing him
from the pulpit “declare that the writings of Eman’l
Swedenborg were Devilism refined. intreating his con-
gregation by no means to read them nor in any way
listen to those who did read”, I had a copy of the letter
which I valued for its intrinsic worth, which by some
means I have lost. Dover 14th March 1838=82 Thos. Hiller