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would save all, but cannot, is no Almighty God at all; and the God who would only rescue from ruin at the price of another's suffering is the worst of all false gods, inasmuch as this is the lowest atonement below the common level of human goodness yet reached." It is alleged against Mr. Voysey, in the second place, that he has preached and published sermons contradicting the doctrines of original sin, justification by faith, the Deity of Christ, the incarnation of Christ, the second coming of Christ, and the inspiration of Scripture. In support of this second accusation a number of extracts from the sermons of Mr. Voysey are given, which express in the boldest form the most extreme views of Unitarianism. The extracts by which the charges are sought to be sustained present a strange mixture of truth and error, of fearless exposure of anti-scriptural statements in the popular teaching, and of equally anti-scriptural assertions in the effort to discover a more

excellent way. When will professed

reformers of the Church's creed discover that the grand centre of unity and fountain of light is a Divine-Human Saviour, that He is "the Way, the Truth and the Life," and that separated from Him we walk in darkness and stumble at noonday?

THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, in an address to the clergy of the rural deanery of West Dartford, referred to two of the prominent signs of the times. "No one could fail," he said, "to see that we were coming to-nay, had already entered upon-difficult times. Two great influences were actively at work, both alien to the progress of true and living Christianity-the one superstition, the other infidelity. Each of these seemed to be more active than at any former period in the history of the world. He was not speaking of England only, but of Europe. Dissenting bodies, equally with the Church, "have taken alarm at the danger which seems to be menacing the framework of society and the souls of men," but have not, in the estimation of the Archbishop, the same vantage ground as the Church for meeting these dangers. This vantage ground, however, so far as it arises from the connexion of the Church with

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the State, is threatened, and of uncertain continuance. It should, therefore, be the endeavour of the clergy "to take up a position which may be held and maintained after our work has passed to other hands. And to do this we must prove to the world that our position is a righteous one, that our Church is doing God's work." Remarking upon this position, the English Independent says, "That is the true appeal. If the Church of England can convince the age of that, she will stand, no matter what forces oppose her. If it should be made to appear that God's work is being done more simply, directly, and effectually by churches outside her pale, and on principles which she disowns, her doom is sealed. in these words the Primate is speaking very solemnly to all of us. It is the test by which we must all stand or fall. Traditions of the past are nothing, prescriptive rights and claims are nothing; they are all melting and vanishing under the keen solvent of the times in which we are living. What power of work there is in us for God, for man, is all that the world cares to consider. By effective ministry to the spiritual needs of men alone can churches in these days make their calling and election sure.

And

CHURCH CONGRESS AT LIVERPOOL.

A

From a Correspondent.-Nine of these remarkable and instructive meetings have now been held. According to custom, the business of the meeting was preceded by divine service. sermon was preached by the Dean of Chester, marked throughout by a high tone of Christian liberality and charity. It is already published. The Congress assembled in the noble building, St. George's Hall, under the presidency of the bishop of the diocese, who delivered a plain, practical, inaugural address.

Papers were read, during the successive days, on (1) Diocesan organization: (2) The Supply and Training of the Clergy; the Church and our ancient Universities; (3) Phases of Unbelief and how to meet them; (4) The Recreations of the People; (5) Education (including Sunday-schools); (6) Church work among Seamen; (7) The Capabilities of our Cathedrals.

Free discussion followed upon the

reading of each paper. The variety of opinion expressed, the extent of divergence, and, on the whole, the forbearance shown by the opposing schools and parties is worthy of imitation, and strikingly evinces the truth of the judgment passed by Swedenborg on the English character-they love sincerity. The papers which more immediately interest the readers of the Intellectual Repository are those on the " 'Supply of the Clergy," and the "Phases of Unbelief." They well deserve a study and analysis which cannot here be given them. The masterly address of the Archbishop of York to the working men of Liverpool is well worth being reprinted and largely circulated. was in a striking degree manly, affectionate, and Christian.

It

Our

SWEDENBORG SOCIETY. In the July number of the Magazine we gave an extended notice of the proceedings of the anniversary of this important and influential Society. notice, however, did not give any particulars from the Committee's report, some of which we now supply. There has been no occasion during the year to reprint any of the publications of the Society. The Society's operations, therefore, so far as relates to printing, have been in aid of efforts abroad. An Icelandic translation of the "Heavenly Doctrines" has been printed, and is in course of circulation. The same work has also been printed in Italian, and is prepared for circulation in Italy, as intimated in our report of the Conference. The Index Biblicus" has been completed by Dr. Kahl, and is now received into the Society's stock. The Swedish translations have also been aided by contributions towards the cost of their printing and publication. The sales of the theological works have been 3372, the donations, 173; of the philosophical works 110 have been sold and 6 donated-making a total issue of 3661, exclusive of 60 copies of “ 'Spiritual Meditations," and 783 of "Review of White's Life of Swedenborg."

The attention of the Committee was naturally directed to the effort making by our American brethren for the publication of Swedenborg's manuscripts, and of certain documents relating to his life and labours. The Committee, though not quite satisfied of the pro

priety of employing for this purpose their ordinary funds, yet ventured to grant £100 a year for two years, relying upon adequate funds being raised in response to an appeal for this object. A sub-committee was also appointed to examine the subject, but further assistance in this work, is left to the new Committee.

During the year the Society has received a legacy of £50 from Mr. B. Bucknall, of Stroud, and an intimation of one of £300, payable on the death of his niece, left by Mr. Le Cras, of Jersey. The Committee bequeathed to its successors an abundance of prospective employment. "The new documents discovered by Professor Tafel are of great value, as furnishing materials for a more full and complete biography of Swedenborg than it has yet been possible to produce. The Italian translations should be pressed forward, the providential opening for publishing the works in Italy affording an opportunity which should engage our best attention. The Norwegian and Swedish translations will also continue to require assistance. It is also hoped that small page editions of the works, in handsomer form, will soon be put to press.' In some of these labours the Committee will be aided by the co-operation of the Committee appointed by the Conference to obtain subscriptions in aid of the labours of Professor Tafel. There is need of the utmost efforts of both Committees if this important work is to be brought to a successful issue, and it is manifestly an immediate and earnest effort which is required.

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cording to the price at the booksellers, very much exceed the possible debt to the printer, the latter has been allowed to go on with the printing of Arcana Coelestia,' without giving any account. At last, after many renewed admonitions, the long-expected account has now appeared, and we find that the debt of the Society to the printer a nounts to 4869 r. dr., 28 öre Riksmynt about £270, 10s. 3d.), though the interest on the money for the past years has, to no small advantage to the Society, not been demanded. According to the prices at the booksellers, the value of the unsold writings, belonging to the Society, amounts to 27,049 r. dr. 33 öre Riksmynt (about £1502, 14s. 8d.), but as these writings can only gradually be realized, the directors have no other means than to appeal to an interest in our good cause and to address the members of the New Church, both in this country and abroad, and thus by private subscriptions endeavour to pay off the abovementioned debt to the printer and to obtain assistance for the publishing of

Arcana Coelestia' in a continued and new Swedish translation. The directors offer to present books published by the Society to a value corresponding to the gift, if the giver should wish this. The translation for the seventh volume, with which the third volume of the original edition will be ended, is ready to be printed.

"It is to be hoped that every one who, attentive to the signs of our day, feels how important it is that a Swedish translation of Swedenborg's first and greatest theological work may be published as soon as possible in his native country, will according to his means contribute towards the attainment of this end. May the Lord give His blessing to this!

"An account shall be given every year of the money that may come in.

"Joh. U. Lönblad, Chairman. "Joh. Ad. Seven, Secretary. "Carl Aug. Schneider, Treasurer. "Christianstad, May 1869."

A compendium of the Society's accounts from the month of October 1858 accompanies this report. From this compendium it appears that the total income has been 22,167 r. dr. 06 öre, and the total expenditure 21,792 r. dr. 83 öre, leaving the small sum of 374

r. dr. 23 öre towards the Society's indebtedness.

LONDON NEW CHURCH MISSIONARY TRACT SOCIETY.-A letter dated 22nd September was placed before the Committee 1st October 1869, from Rev. John Presland, Secretary of Conference, directing attention to the resolution passed at the Conference for the purpose of charging a percentage on all funds administered by Conference; and in answer thereto it was resolved"That this Society expresses its willingness to pay to the Conference 5 per cent. per annum on all sums administered by it on behalf of this Society."

LONDON NEW CHURCH PROPAGATION SOCIETY. Since our last notice in the Magazine, we have had time and opportunity to judge somewhat approximately of our chances of success at Holloway. Our average Sunday evening attendance since our commencement has been over thirty, more than two-thirds of which number have been strangers, and as an earnest of what we hope to accomplish, we have two or three regular attendants who, we have every reason to believe, are in the process of becoming New Churchmen. Upon Sunday evening, Oct. 3rd, owing to our having previously advertised in one of the local papers and distributed several hundred handbills in the neighbourhood, announcing a lecture upon "The End of the World," by Mr. Ramage, we had a large accession to our ordiuary numbers, and the following Sunday, when the same gentleman discoursed upon the Resurrection, the audience, upon the strength of the first advertisement and lecture, was still very good. We cannot doubt that by far the greater number of the converts we may make will ultimately and very naturally find their way to greater, more certain, and more satisfactory centres of New Church teaching than our little mission hall in the Hollowayroad, and we therefore cannot help thinking that it is incumbent upon the New Church Societies in London to lend assistance to a good cause, from which they would ultimately derive advantage. Such assistance would supply the deficiencies which we now feel, and loosen our energies from pecuniary restraint. We need the number of our members, both active and honorary,

doubled; we want occasional lectures from those men of mark in the Church whose sufficiency and excellency as teachers are undoubted; and we stand in need of the warm hand of fellowship from those Societies, both within and beyond London, who earnestly desire to encourage all well-directed efforts to propagate the truths of the New Church amongst the people. Furnish us with these advantages, and we are reasonably certain of an ultimate and not very distant success.-C. E. Basebe, Secretary, 68, Pratt Street, Camden Town, N. W.; C. E. Waddington, Treasurer.

ORDINATION OF MR. S. PILKINGTON. -We extract from a local paper, somewhat abridged, the following account of this service, which took place in the Chapel at Ramsbottom, on Sunday morning, September 26. Mr. Pilkington has been settled with the Ramsbottom Society about two years. services have been found acceptable and useful, and an application was, therefore, made to the last General Conference for his ordination. This application was complied with, and his ordination fixed as above.

His

The edifice was crowded with persons who appeared to take deep interest in in the proceedings, which were of a peculiarly solemn and impressive character. The ordination service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Bayley, of London, and the Rev. W. Woodman, of Kersley. The deacons in attendance were Mr. William Bentley and Mr. John Berry. At the conclusion of the ceremony an anthem was very creditably rendered by the choir, and a sermon, appropriate to the occasion, was preached by the Rev. W. Woodman, from John xv. 16, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain." The preacher commenced by observing that in addition to the solemn character of these utterances of the Lord, when they considered the circumstances under which He spake them, they came with double power to minds that were capable of reflecting upon the great work He had to accomplish. It was just before He suffered on the cross - that last, that deepest trial which He underwent for their eternal salvation and deliverance from the

power of hell. He was prompted by

use.

no other motive but His infinite love, which filled His humanity when He was upon the earth, and which now beamed forth from His glorified person. His love was like Himself-the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Hence in that infinite love, in all the arrangements and economy of His Divine Providence, He regarded the welfare of mankind-their highest interests, their eternal advantages. All temporal things were subservient to these, and thus He told His apostles, whom He had ordained as the the first ministers of the Christian Church, that they had not chosen Him, but He had chosen them, and ordained them, that they should go and bring forth fruit, and that their fruit should remain-that it should be permanent in themselves, and that its effect should be permanent amongst those with whom they laboured. Thus they saw that the ordination of the ministry was an ordination of heavenly It was not an honour that was conferred upon man for personal considerations, or for his private advancement, but for the greater uses of the Lord's Church, as the centre of the blessings that could make them happy for ever. In Mark they were told that Christ ordained the twelve that they should be with Him, that He might send them forth to preach, and that they were accompanied with the power to heal sickness and cast out devils; here they had the same doctrine of use again propounded. First, to preach, that was, to instruct; secondly to heal -to cast out devils, or the sin that lurked in the human breast, and restore to men their spiritual life. Not that human power could accomplish this; the Lord was the great agent; man was only the instrument; but the Lord operated through instrumentalities; and the dignity of use was thus adapted to the office of the ministry, to perform all those behests for the human family which the Lord had provided, and which were the highest aim of His Divine love. But let it not be thought that therefore the ministry would stand higher before the Lord than the congregations. souls are mine," said the Lord; they were all equally His; they all stood on the same level before Him; but the ministry had a distinct use to perform

"All

no

for the sake of the people and for the honour of the ministry rather than of the minister, except so far as the honour of the office reflected on the person who faithfully fulfilled it, and accomplished with fidelity that use for which the ministry was provided and appointed. They had also authority in the Divine Word for using the peculiar ceremony in ordination which they had that morning witnessed. From the earliest period down to the present time ministers were inducted into their office by the imposition of hands. The first case they read of was that of Joshua, and in the case of the Apostle Paul there was another striking exemplification. Not only had they full Divine authority for the service they had been engaged in that morning, but they had also the promise that spiritual and Divine results would follow from it. The laying on of hands was again enumerated as one of the doctrines of the Church in the sixth chapter of Hebrews, where St. Paul placed it in the same category as repentance; and in writing to Timothy he first gave him this caution-Lay hands suddenly on man." It was a very solemn and responsible office. No doubt in those days it was effected by the personal authority of the bishop, but, fortunately, in their Church the imposition of hands was removed into the power of the Church at large by their Conference; consequently the Church had to sanction the induction of Mr. Pilkington before he could be ordained. After some further remarks, the preacher said that as to the position their friend occupied that day, enough had been said in the exhortations and service to impress his mind with the fact that he was not to raise himself above his congregation. He had to regard use. Humility did not imply that which was crouching and craven; the most humble of all beings was the Lord Himself who ruled over all. The office upon which Mr. Pilkington had entered should have for its object the leading forward of his people under a deep sense that he was labouring under the auspices of the Lord; to try to build them up in unity and spiritual intelligence; in fact they could not better express themselves on that point than had Swedenborg on the same subject-"to teach them truth

and to lead them to good." Faithfully had Cowper described the man who was inflated with spiritual pride, and of whom he said

To exalt absurdly not his office, but himself. The great object of all who entered the ministry should be to exalt the office, and this they did by increasing its usefulness.

In the afternoon and evening, the Rev. Dr. Bayley preached sermons suitable to the occasion in the Oddfellows' Hall, collections being made at the conclusion of each.

On the Monday evening following these services, Dr. Bayley delivered a lecture on "Woman-the God-given help for Man," to a very numerous audience. Having made a few prefatory remarks on the general scope and importance of his subject, Dr. Bayley said he would base his observations on the 4th and 5th verses of the 19th chapter of Matthew:-"Have ye not read that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh. These words, when carefully considered, bring before our attention the true principles of marriage and also the duties and privileges which belong to it. God made them male and female, and said For this cause," for this reason, that is, because he had made them male and female, shall a man cleave to his wife, and they twain, &c. Before these words were uttered by our Lord, the notion had been introduced into the world that marriage, although useful for some purposes, yet was not so pure, holy, and orderly as a state of celibacy. This notion, to a very considerable extent, has lingered amongst mankind down to the present age. Now the position he ventured to take on this subject was this: that for all purposes, and for every use in life, marriage, in the sight of God and of all reasonable beings, is most pure and holy. The declaration that it is wisest and best for all purposes that the male and female should be united in holy wedlock seems so simple that the wonder is that anybody can be found who should think otherwise. If it were better to remain unmarried, God would have made each human being sufficient for all the purposes of life, and not have made such a

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