revelation and a sight of the invisible world. From that period he devoted himself to theological studies, and composed an incredible number of books on those subjects in good Latin (but without ornaments of style), which he wrote with the utmost facility, and seldom blotted or corrected a line; he lived and died in the Lutheran communion, but always professed the highest respect for the Church of England.

"The theology of Baron Swedenborg is, in many instances, abstruse and mystical. He carried his respect for the Divinity and Person of Jesus Christ to the highest point of veneration, considering Him altogether as God manifest in the flesh, and as the fulness of the Godhead united in the Man Christ Jesus. With respect, therefore, to the Sacred Trinity, though he rejected the idea of three distinct persons, as destructive of the Unity of the Godhead, he admitted three distinct essences, principles, or characters as existing in it,. namely, the Divine essence or character, in virtue of which He is called the Father or Creator; the human essence, principle or character united to the Divine in the person of Christ Jesus, in virtue of which He is called the Son and Redeemer; and lastly, the proceeding essence or principle, in virtue of which He is called the Holy Ghost. The virtue and efficacy of the Atonement by the passion and death of the Man Christ Jesus, is considered by Baron Swedenborg as not consisting in a change and disposition in God towards man, from wrath to love and mercy, because that must be unchangeably the same, but in changing the state of man, by removing from him the powers of hell and darkness wherewith he was infested in consequence of transgression, and by bringing near to him the Divine and heavenly powers of goodness and truth in the person and spirit of the blessed Jesus, the manifested God and Saviour, whereby the infirmities and corruption of human might be approached, reached, and wrought upon, and every penitent believer might thus be placed in a state and capacity of arising out of all evils which sin had given birth to, and of becoming thus again a child of God through a real renewal and regeneration of all the parts, powers, and principles of his life, both in soul and body.1

"Baron Swedenborg, as well as Mr. Hutchinson, asserted that the Holy Scriptures contained an internal and spiritual sense to which the outward and literal sense serves as a basis or receptacle, and of consequence many of his treatises consist of his illustrations of this figurative or internal sense.

"He was a strong asserter of the free agency of man, and it must be confessed that the practical morals recommended by Baron Swedenborg are of the purest and most unexceptionable kind, with which, from the best authorities, we have reason to believe his life perfectly corresponded.

"But the most extraordinary circumstance respecting this singular character is the correspondence which he asserted he maintained with the World of Spirits. Several parts of his writings are replete with narratives respecting scenes to which he professes to have been witness in the invisible regions; these he describes by expressions borrowed from the things of this world, which he asserts, however, are only to be understood in a figurative sense, as corresponding in some degree with those he describes.

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The disciples of Baron Swedenborg are very numerous in Sweden and Germany, and have increased very considerably in England within_the course of a few years. Some attempts have been lately made to form them into a distinct Society, but these have been disapproved of by many of the most zealous admirers of the Baron, whom they assert to have been an enemy to all separation, desirous only to establish an invisible Church, or the Dominion of faith and virtue in the hearts of men, which they contend is the true interpretation of all that is said concerning the New Jerusalem or New Church of Christ."

1 Soph. and Phil.

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Miscellaneous.

MODERN INFIDELITY AND CHRISTIAN may be deliberately affirmed that the APOLOGIES. A formidable attack on great body of the Christian public has the orthodox theology, by Professor abandoned this teaching, and that the Clifford, in the Fortnightly Review, has Christianity in which millions still excited much attention, and led to trust, is as different from this as the several replies from the pulpit and the darkest night in winter from the brightperiodical press. In the course of a est and loveliest day in spring. The review of the work entitled "The Un- Christianity that still lives and still seen Universe," the Professor, speaking conquers, proclaims that man will be of Christianity, says :punished for his own sin only, that pardon is free to every repenting sinner, that love to man is the supreme proof of that love to GOD which is at once the highest duty and the highest joy of the Christian, and that heaven consists in immortality of virtue."

Among the preachers who have replied to this fearless attack is the Bishop of Manchester. The subject of the Bishop's sermon is Christian love, which he presents as-apart from theories respecting the Atonement-the Gospel which the apostles taught. Of the influence of this love in promoting the improvement and elevation of society, in a way never attempted by philosophic infidelity, he gives the following examples

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"One form of this traditional conception is set forth by the popular and received theology of Christian communities. According to this, the condition of the departed depends ultimately upon the will of a Being who a long while ago cursed all mankind because one woman disobeyed Him. The curse was no mere symbol of displeasure, but a fixed resolve to keep His victims alive for ever, writhing in horrible tortures, in a place which His Divine foreknowledge had prepared beforehand. In consideration, however, of the death of His Son, effected by unknown agents, He consented to feed with the sweets of His favour such poor wretches as should betray their brethren, and speak sufficiently soft words to the You may have read-and those who destroyer of their kindred. For the have not will do well to read it-the rest, the old curse survives in its power; story of the experience of a Bishop's condemning them to everlasting torment son, connected with one of our noblest for a manifestation of His glory. To families, who came down and took lodgthe dead, then, if this be the future ings in the East of London in order that life, there is left only the choice between he might observe the phenomena of its shame and suffering. How well and life. And I am told that officers of the nobly soever a man shall have worked Guards and delicate women, nobly born, for his fellows, he must end by either venture also to this far East to see if being the eternal sycophant of a celestial they cannot do something to soften and despot or the eternal victim of a celestial civilize the lives of those whose lot is executioner. If this horrible story be cast here, each endeavouring in divers true, the noblest thing left for us is to ways to seek and to save the lost and curse GOD and die. The awful wicked- the straying and the fallen. And what ness which the popular legend ascribes is the root-idea of all this effort but to its deity is not to be got rid of by love, and the feeling of Christian any corresponding monstrosity of struc- brotherhood, and the realization of perture, by giving him five heads, or three sonal responsibility?" personalities, or a round hundred of eyes

What is the answer to the scathing description of orthodox theology we have given, and which the Bishop cites, and for which he admits there is some justification in the language of certain theological schools? It is the presentment of the moral aspect of Christianity, of "Righteousness, Purity, Love, John's three, identical, in fact, though

not in phrase, with Paul's three, Faith, Hope, Charity.'

donations almost entirely through his bankers, and the secret of the muchdiscussed cheques was well sustained. We are assured, however, that the total said to have been given has been greatly exaggerated. From the generally suitable and praiseworthy objects which he assisted, we should fancy that his banker helped him with his counsel; at least he is a man of Christian and truly Catholic spirit. . . . It was not by his advice, certainly, that a cheque of the usual munificent amount came to the Swedenborgian Society for the purchase of the works of the Swedish enthusiast to distribute among ministers of various denominations."

"I do not believe," said his Lordship, "in the Gospel of Christ being a system of magical arts, such as the sons of Scæva attempted to practise at Ephesus. It may be expanded, as everything made up of a vast number of related truths may be expanded, into a philosophical system, which you may call the Queen of the Sciences, as dealing with the highest subject which can occupy the mind, but its power over the conscience and affections of men does not dwell there. It is in its simpler forms, as it can be taught to babes, that it is most effective; as a rule of life, bidding us be pure and unselfish and kindly affectioned; as a The allusion in this paragraph high ideal stimulating us to forget the to the dissemination of the writings of things that are behind, and reach for- Swedenborg is a gratuitous insult to ward to the things that are before; as the memory of a good man, and is not an indwelling power enlightening us very complimentary to his banker. Is when we see but dimly; enabling and it inconsistent with a Christian and capacitating us where we are feeble or truly Catholic spirit to aid in diffusing incompetent; purifying us when appe- among the clergy of all denominations tite or passion are in danger of blunting the writings of the most intensely the finer perceptions of the heart, the Christian writer of the past generation! nobler purposes of the soul; laying the And when most unchristian sentiments foundation of an ampler and higher life, are rapidly spreading among Christian first for the individual and then for the teachers, when anything like an intelsociety and the race." ligent and vigorous faith in the SuThe truth and beauty of this teaching preme Deity of the Saviour and the will be readily admitted, yet most Divinity of the written Word of God thoughtful minds will feel the want is fading out of the minds of the of definite theological opinion. The preachers, not a few of whom are as moral teaching and training of Chris- apt at finding examples of error in tianity cannot be separated from its the Word as evidences of truth, is doctrinal instructions, and the public it unchristian or uncatholic to put teachers of religion will need not only to insist upon the excellency of the moral precepts of the Gospel but also to reform the creeds of the Church if they are to turn aside the shafts of their opponents, or provide for the intellectual and spiritual necessities of the age. If these somewhat coarse assaults of the faith should help them in this work, they will be overruled for good.

...

into the hands of these teachers the means of helping them to true Christian faith and aiding them in its more effective teaching? And where has this writer discovered the enthusi asm of Swedenborg? Calmness of mind and soberness of teaching are the prevailing characteristics of this great man, who is the farthest possible removed from what is generally understood by unrestrained enthusiasm.

BENJAMIN ATTWOOD, ESQ:-A writer in the Leisure Hour writes respecting GENERAL CONFERENCE. Address this eminent philanthropist: "He was not a bachelor, but a married man without family, and long a widower. He was a Fellow of the Zoological Society, and also of the Royal Botanical Society, which in its earlier years he aided by his purse and efforts." Speakof his thousand pound donations, the writer says:

"In his later years he gave his

from the General Convention of the New Church in America to the General Conference of the New Church in England. -Beloved Brethren,-In behalf of the General Convention, I have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt of your honoured President's fraternal Address.

The works of securing good and accurate editions of Swedenborg's Writings, and of spreading a knowledge of the

Doctrines of the New Church by means of books, which are mentioned in the Address, are always interesting to us. In these, and other ways which doubtless will open hereafter, we hope for the satisfaction of continued co-operation with you.

with those who loved them, with those who had confirmed them, and, in a less degree, with those who had been brought up in their obscurity. These were many; and the gloom of their false thought has overspread the earth.

On the other hand, the light enIt has afforded us much gratification kindled in Swedenborg has been upheld to learn of the gratuitous distribution by other faithful men and women, who of the "True Christian Religion" among have received it in their hearts and the clergy in your country. The same borne witness to it in their lives. Bework is continued in the United States fore the lamps which they are bearing and Canada, through the munificence the remaining darkness is melting away; of our brother, L. C. Iungerich, of and it is becoming easy for many to Philadelphia. From a report made by enjoy the truth of heaven. To every the Trustees appointed by him to have charge of this distribution, it appears that between seven thousand and eight thousand copies of the "True Christian Religion" have been given to clergymen applying for them." In response to his offer, recently made, to present the "Apocalypse Revealed," over one thousand applications have already been received, and the books forwarded. In addition to this work of Mr. Iungerich, the "American New Church Tract and Publication Society" have distributed nearly five thousand copies of the treatise on "Heaven and Hell."

There are signs and fruits of another, perhaps greater work, that of receiving the light of the New Jerusalem with humble hearts, and setting it upon the candlestick of faithful lives. Your many able writers are familiar to us as our

own.

We have learned to expect confidently from their words hopeful thought and encouragement. But what is still more important to us is that in Great Britain there are thousands of men and women thinking New Church thoughts, and faithfully trying in their homes and their daily employments to do what is good and right, from the Lord. When Swedenborg was revealing to us from Heaven the truths of the New Church, the world was in midnight darkness; and in order that he might be able to think and write the truth, his spirit was caught up above the clouds, and made a member of a society of angels. Upon him the heavens concentrated their power, and sustained him in receiving pure truth from the Lord, and in writing it. By the power of this truth thus written, the darkness was so far dispelled that it became possible for them to think truly; yet the clouds remained

one of you, dear brethren, who loves the Lord, and in no matter how small a work, tries to do His will, we owe a debt of gratitude; for you have made it easier for us to know Him, and to live from Him. Surely this is the noblest service that we can render to one another, and the most effective way in which we can do the work intrusted to us all. A true Brotherhood we become in living together from the Lord. Conjoined with Him, we are one in Him; and we are ready to work together harmoniously in any use that is provided for us.

By direction of the President of the General Convention of the New Jerusalem in the United States of America, Your brother and fellow-servant,

JOHN WORCESTER.

To the General Convention of the New Church in America.-Dear Brethren,The Rev. John Hyde, who was appointed as President of the 67th General Conference, to address you on their behalf, having been prevented from discharging the duty by long and serious illness, has deputed me to write to you in his stead. I accept the charge with deep regret that any such deviation from the intention of Conference should have been necessary, and with a full assurance that in our sympathy with our beloved and suffering friend, and in our prayers that, if in conformity with the Divine will, he may be speedily restored to his eminent usefulness in the Church on earth, you, our brethren, distant in the body, but ever near in spirit, heartily and affectionately join.

The Address prepared by our brother, the Rev. John Worcester, has been read to the Conference, which fully recipro