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With these functions and labors of the father we are concerned only as they throw light on the character and ability transmitted to the son. We learn his piety, his faith manifested in charity and good works, his loving zeal in the cares intrusted to him, his learning, his integrity and boldness for the right, and his indefatigable industry. All these traits were indispensable for the discharge of the mission to be intrusted to the son. And another characteristic, less common with other races, he held from his Scandinavian ancestry, of utmost importance to the son—his constant sense of Divine and angelic supervision of the affairs of men. In his first year at Upsal Jesper had such a wonderful dream that he did not know whether he ought not to call it a ​revelation. He said, "No human tongue can pronounce and no angel can describe what I then saw and heard." He firmly believed that "God's angels are especially present in this sacred office [of Divine worship]." He felt sure that he was specially protected by angels from malign influences and directed in his studies at the University. How essential was this trust and confidence in Divine and heavenly influences to the service in store for his son Emanuel we shall see as we go on.

Of Emanuel's childhood he himself wrote late in life in answer to the inquiries of his friend Dr. Beyer, "From my fourth to my tenth year I was constantly engaged in thought upon God, salvation, and the spiritual experiences of men; and several times I revealed things at which my father and mother marvelled, saying that angels must be speaking through me. From my sixth to my twelfth year I used to delight in conversing with clergymen about faith, saying that the life of faith is love, and that the love which imparts life is love to the neighbor; also that God gives faith to every one, but that those only receive it who practise that love." Thus early was he ​imbued, doubtless by his father, with what remained the contention of his life. Born in Stockholm, removed with his father to Upsal when four years old, he received there his education as a schoolboy and later as a student in the University. His thesis at the conclusion of his course was a series of selections from Greek and Latin authors, together with some from Scripture, presenting certain moral and religious sentiments accompanied with apposite reflections, indicating his trend of thought at that time of life. Little more is known of his life at the University, but he was doubtless living with his sister Anna and Benzelius, his father having removed to his bishopric. From his letters to these much loved friends we learn what we know of his next ten years of study pursued mostly abroad. Within a few months after leaving the University he wrote from his father's home at Brunsbo begging of Benzelius letters to some English college, that he might there improve himself in mathematics, or in physics and natural history. He adds to his request—