"But there is a peculiar opportunity open to all, for having their children instructed in spiritual things, on the Lord's day, and of which all should avail themselves. I refer to the Sabbath school. This institution may be looked upon as the children's church,-their proper and peculiar place of public instruction on the Lord's day. There they assemble together from their various homes; there they kneel down together to pray; there they hear and study the Holy Word and the doctrines of the Church; there they listen to a moral or religious lecture,the children's sermon; and there, finally, they raise their little voices together in the praise and worship of the Lord: Thus the Sunday School is truly the children's church. And, as parents habituate themselves, both from inclination and duty, to a regular attendance at their own church,-so, in addition to this, should they desire and require their children to attend, regularly and habitually, at the Sunday School. Have they not reason to desire this? Consider, for a moment, the benefits which a child may experience by one year's regular attendance at the Sabbath School. In the course of that period he will hear some forty or fifty moral and religious lectures, some of them explaining in a simple and intelligible manner, many of the most important doctrines of the Church; as, for instance, that concerning Heaven and Hell; concerning the Lord and the true idea which they should have of him, as a Divine Man, and a kind and affectionate Father; concerning the Holy Word, and its spiritual sense, and the science of Correspondence by which it is interpreted. Other subjects of the lectures are moral and practical; as concerning obedience to parents, concerning their conduct towards each other, and concerning their duty to the Lord, and the keeping of his commandments. Other lectures may be of a scientific character, explaining the correspondence between things natural and spiritual; as the correspondence and signification of various animals, trees, precious stones, and other things mentioned in Scripture. Thus will be laid a broad and firm foundation for the future building up of the Church in their minds. 6 "In conclusion, let us consider that by obeying faithfully the commandment of the text, Teach the Lord's words diligently unto thy children,' we may do much to change the face of the world. Childhood is the time for impressing the mind and acting on the heart. Those who are now children will in a few years be men and women, guiding the destinies of the human race. Were all the children, now growing up, instructed faithfully in a knowledge of the Lord, and in an understanding of his precepts, the world, in another generation, would present a new aspect, one far better and happier; in the succeeding generation, one still happier; and so on, till, by and by, this earth would become-what it was intended to be-a lower heaven. Each of us has his part to do in this great work; and each may do much towards it. Let us then strive, with faithful effort, with self-denial, with self-conquest, to do our duty in this respect; and then, when called away to our places in the spiritual world, we shall have the satisfaction of feeling that we have done our part to improve and bless mankind, and have aided some in their ascent to heaven." MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH, BRISTOL. (From the "Bristol Advertiser," Oct. 27.) A social meeting of the above society was held on Tuesday evening at Lodgestreet, when about fifty members and friends were present. Tea being over, the chair was taken by Mr. Bragge, sen. He observed that he had occupied his present position for seven years, and congratulated them upon their again meeting. He then read the report for the year 1854-5. It was their custom thus to meet for the purpose of hearing a report of their progress, and though there was nothing particular to notice, he was unwilling to give up the custom, since it gave them an opportunity of meeting together and encouraging friendly feeling amongst them, to express their thankfulness for God's mercies that He had permitted them to live in a day when the interior sense of the Divine Word had been made manifest, and also that they might examine their own hearts to see if they regulated their lives according to their knowledge. The Chairman then referred to the necessity for their studying the works of the Divinely-illuminated Swedenborg, with which their library was stored, that they might increase their knowledge and live a higher life," cease to do evil, learn to do well," and thus fit themselves for the highest life, even the living with God. Mr. Billings then delivered a lengthened address on the view of the Atonement held by the New Church, remarking that it could not be that they should separate themselves from all the associations endeared to them by long custom, and sacrifice the sympathy of all their friends, for the mere desire of difference; it must therefore be that the motive was a high one in which the heart was engaged. The commonly received opinion that Christ suffered the wrath of God in the stead of a guilty world, was a libel upon Him whose name was Love, making Him changeful and vengeful, and was also repugnant to our best feelings. Would man allow the innocent to suffer for the guilty, and should human justice be higher than God's? Should "man be more pure than his Maker"? Christ came when men had fallen so low as to be unable to save themselves, to show them a better life, by taking our nature upon Him, and in His own Person overcoming the hells, or evils, which beset us, "leaving us an ensample, that we should follow in his steps." He said Christ's righteousness became not imputed but imparted. And that he came not to reconcile God to man, for God had never changed, but to reconcile man to God. He concluded by observing that the reproach that they had no great men, in a worldly sense, among them, was but an echo of the words of those of old,— Have any of the Pharisees believed on Him?" Truth ever had to fight against numbers-but let us not succumb. Had the great men, the truthtellers of all time, done so, where would be our knowledge-where our progress? Let us follow their example and that of our great leader, Christ. 66 Mr. James Keene, of Bath, then addressed the meeting at considerable length on the New Church doctrines of Salvation, Redemption, and Regeneration. He observed that a peculiar feature of the religions of this world was their miserability; whereas true religion leaves unchanged all our kindly sympa thies, rooting out only the evils of our nature, our selfishness, cur sinful lust and passions. The truly redeemed man would be a joyful man, singing Oh, for a seraph's golden lyre, With cords of love and tone of fire, To sing Jehovah s love!" The love which ever shines, even when the clouds of our sins hide the lifegiving light from us, and which will dissolve the brooding veil that shrouds His loving smile. For God's love is to the human soul as the orb of day is to the world, the dispenser of light, and warmth, and life. If we love good we should hate evil, for a good lover is a good hater. Man is redeemed when his will is made free to choose evil or good-for good done by a man, unless by his free choice, worketh him no benefit. Salvation was not enacted once and spoken once, but is in operation now, and will be so unto the end. Christ's life was a continual striving against evil; his life has an omnipotent power on the heart that once sees its own evil nature, and leads it into the path of peace; thus Christ correspondence, showing that all things by coming down to us raises us to heaven; in earth corresponded with things in the for "heaven is no place unless it be a heavenly world. The tri-unity of God place with God all-where; it is the being is the union of His attributes of love, good, the knowing God." Let us, then, wisdom, and power, even as the sun seek truth, and live according to our gives heat, light, and life. These feaknowledge. We do not sin if we walk tures have been worshipped in Deity up to the light we possess, but we do sin from all time, and of these love is the if we neglect to possess ourselves of the highest. There are three heavens where light to as great an extent as our own these are the respective characteristics abilities or opportunities will permit. If we have not enough light to save ourselves, we at least may obtain enough to condemn ourselves, so that, at all events, we shall know our state, and shall not imagine ourselves safe when we are not. Resurrection to the new life is an ever recurrent fact, from the time of Christ until there shall remain none needing to be born again. Lastly, let us culti vate charity did we all do this, how happy would society be! Mr. Pole next spoke. He observed (inter alia) such writings as Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," and Harvey's "Meditations among the Tombs," appeal to the external-or to fear-whereas to effect good, the internal or love principle should be appealed to. Love is life. Love is the fulfilling of the Law. Man inhabits two worlds, the natural and spiritual, and has associations in each; like associating with like. All in the natural, corresponds with the like in the spiritual. The animal world corresponds with the mind of man, wherein are gentle and savage thoughts. The vegetable and mineral worlds have also their counterparts. A garden is likened to heaven; precious stones to truths. New Jerusalem, after which we name our Church, is not a literal city, but a system of true doctrines, which in these days have descended upon earth. It is described by St. John in his Revelation, which book people affirm to be concealed, but how can a thing be concealed which is at the same time revealed? Why will men study sciences and neglect religion? Remember the parable of the talents, and what befel him who concealed his one talent! Depend not on Commentators, for they differ as much as three thousand years in determining the year one. Trust to yourselves. Bring all doctrines to the touchstone of truth. "Prove all things-hold fast that which is good," and rest firm in the belief that there is but one God, that is Christ. Mr. Trobridge treated further as to there are three kingdoms on earth, the animal, vegetable, and mineral. There are the sun, moon, and stars, and throughout all things this correspondence exists. Mr. Hyat then gave a history of his wan derings, from the Calvinistic Churches through Deism, Unitarianism, and Socialism, until he found "a rest for the sole of his foot" in the Church of the New Jerusalem. Between the speeches sacred pieces were performed by a small but efficient choir. The meeting concluded by singing and prayer, and the usual votes of thanks. MISSIONARY AND TRACT SOCIETY, The Committee observe with much satisfaction the estimation in which the uses of the society are held by those who require assistance, and it is ever a source of great pleasure to them to be the medium of affording the assistance applied for. They have accordingly just made arrangements for Mr. Kennerley to visit St. Ives (Huntingdon), and Chatteris, where there are small societies, and Boston, and perhaps Louth, where there are zealous receivers. They have also an application for assistance towards a course of lectures at the large and rising town of Bradford. Of the importance of these efforts there cannot be. two opinions, or that they will be productive of good to the cause of the church. The Committee are, however, painfully sensible that the society is not justly appreciated by those to whom they have to look for the means of affording assistance, whether societies or individuals. If it were not so, the appeal recently made in the Report, and in the "Repository," and the "New Churchman" for October, would have been more extensively responded to. Notwithstanding the low state of the 4 0 funds, the Committee-unwilling that the uses of the society should be in abeyance have caused to be printed two new pithy tracts, of four pages; 1st, "On the Existence of God;" 2nd, "What do the Scriptures mean by the terms 'Father and Son '?" These, from their style, will doubtless prove very effective; the one with unbelievers in revelation, the other with tri-personalists. They are sold at a price that just covers the cost―2d. per dozen; and it is desirable they should be widely circulated. They can be had in any quantity of the publisher, Mr. White. The first issue of the Monumental edition of "Noble's Appeal" being exhausted, and a number of copies being ordered, the Committee have put to press an edition of 1,000 copies, so as to meet the expected demand. This would not have been done for some time had they waited till a sufficient number were subscribed for; two members of their body, however, to prevent delay, guaranteed the payment of the necessary outlay. The object of this notice is two-foldto show, not only what the society is capable of doing, but what it has actually in hand, and to reiterate the appeal for pecuniary support from those who, from their own experience of their value, rightly esteem the doctrines of the New Church. Unless the hands of the Committee be adequately strengthened, the operations of the society cannot be carried on with the vigour they ought. The Report of the past year will be forwarded, on application to, the Secretary, to any subscriber who may not have received it, or to any other person desiring it. Donations and subscriptions may be forwarded, by post-office order or otherwise, to the treasurer, Mr. Wm. Maxwell, Bell Yard, Lincoln's Inn, or to the secretary, Minerva Place, Barnsbury Park. H. BUTTER. Nov. 19th, 1855. REPRINT OF THE "MONUMENTAL EDITION OF THE APPEAL." To the Editor. Dear Sir,-The applications for this work are so numerous that the Committee feel bound to make an earnest appeal to the Church to enable them immediately to print another thousand. Mr. White, the Swedenborg Society's bookseller, stated at the last committee that he believed he had lost the sale of at least 100 copies; and many of the applications to him being from persons not connected with the church, his inability to supply them is much to be regretted. It will be remembered that the price is the same as the last edition, viz., 10 copies or more, 2s. per copy; less than 10, 2s 6d. per copy. The booksellers' price for those not ordered will be 3s. Less than 1,000 could not be printed and sold at those prices without loss, and the funds of the Missionary and Tract Society do not justify them in making the outlay. We trust, therefore, that exertions will be made by the proper persons in each society to ascertain what number of copies they wiil take, and let us know by the 1st of January; and also that those amongst us who are blessed with wealth will send their orders for tens and twenties for gratuitous distribution, or for sale, to Sunday school children. One gentleman in London took 50 copies of the last edition, and has ordered 20 of the reprint for that purpose; others who can afford to do something of the same kind, each in his own degree, would be performing, in our opinion, an important use both to the church and the community. Relying, therefore, upon the hearty coöperation of my brethren,-I remain, dear sir, Yours sincerely, R. GUNTON, Secretary. 251, Lambs Conduit-street, London. A CONSUMMATED CHURCH. It is seldom (says the Editor of the "New Jerusalem Messenger") that we see the actual condition of the first Christian Church more forcibly delineated than in the following paragraphs from a late Primary Charge of the Episcopal Bishop of Rhode Island. The truth of his statements is undeniable. Do we need an additional argument to prove the truth of Swedenborg's assertion, that "this last time of the Christian Church is the very night in which former churches have come to their end"? "Here is the first unfavourable indication that we notice, the broken, distracted condition of Christendom, the want of organic unity, the absence of that centralizing and harmonious oneness, which is so essential to great success. The world is not to be converted by flying detachments, going out from the army of Christ, each marching where it pleases, and doing what it pleases, and never remaining long enough anywhere to hold the territory it has subdued. And comparatively little will be done in exterior conquest, while so much of our strength is wasted in internecine warfare. Five-sixths of all our theological intellect is expended in mutual controversy and recrimination. While the world is perishing for lack of knowledge, and multitudes, even in Christian lands, have never heard of Jesus, except when His sacred name is used to point a jest or adorn a blasphemy, we are discussing and rediscussing questions of which the very terms are possibly undefinable, and the same arguments are used and the same rejoinders made, for the thousandth time, leaving all parties where they were at the beginning. "There are other indications, within the borders of nominal Christendom, still more suggestive and alarming. The very citadel of our faith is destined soon to experience an assault, which it will require all our wisdom and strength successfully to repel. The infidelity of the last century is well nigh extinct. It was so openly identified with licentiousness and anarchy, that it worked out its own cure. It used for the most part the small weapons of ribaldry and ridicule; it had no earnestness; it offered nothing to man as a substitute for the faith of which it would deprive him; and so the very instincts of humanity rejected it. "But the approaching controversy will be of another character. The adversary is wiser now than he was a hundred years ago. Scepticism is now allied to a philosophy more subtle and attractive; it unfurls the white banner of philanthropy over its legions; it even emblazons that banner with the imprint of the open Bible with a bar sinister on one of its covers; it has enlisted the strong cohorts of physical science; it sends its missives over into the Christian camp, in the shape of harm less novels, exquisite and heart-moving poems, secular newspapers and reviews, statistical reports, plans of amelioration, and sermons labeled with Scripture texts. It sounds forth the popular cry, 'The Bible the religion of Protestants! The right of private judgment the great principle of the Reformation!' then divorces the Book from historical Christianity as embodied in the Church; then takes up the Book with the forceps of hermeneutical criticism, dissects the modern theory of a self-authenticated, plenary, mechanical inspiration, lays bare the weakest argument in defence of Revelation that ever burdened Christianity, and raises the shout of victory. The people listen and say, 'It is the voice of a god! we will be Bibliolators no longer!' And then, for want of any thing else to worship, each man adores himself; and renders divine honours to his own transcendent reason." NEW CHURCH COLLEGE, ISLINGTON. To the Editor. Dear Sir,-As there are some of our friends who feel an interest in the establishment of a New Church college, they will be glad to know that twelve months from the signing of the deed of gift, &c. of the property in Devonshire-street, expired on the 10th instant, and that as both Mr. Crompton and I were seen on the evening of the following day at our little Church at Islington, there was ocular demonstration that we had both survived the period when the statute of mortmain would have operated to prevent the trustees from realizing the property without legal difficulty. A meeting of the trustees will be called in December to consider what further steps, if any, should be taken, to realise the intended uses of the Institution, which now possesses in land, buildings, money and books, about two thousand pounds, (£2000.) and has an annual income of about thirty pounds, (£30.) with no expenses at present. I remain, &c., Obituary. Died, at Glasgow, on 1st Nov., 1855, in the 83rd year of his age, Alexander HENRY BATEMAN, Sec. to the New Church College. Russell, Esq., formerly of Pendleton, Manchester. Mr. Russell was a native |