"Hell Lucifer produced, and Sin the means: So Lucifer, and Sin, and Hell, are one." As hell, so evil things, its symbols upon earth, were not created by God direct, but through the evil kingdom to which they correspond. So teaches Lucifer himself. "Large shapeless brutes, or with most horrid shapes- These would be the outward symbols of our minds- And bad-ours, Angels! or projected from Ourselves as firm existences, or as Shadows from us cast, or unresolved outbursts Of souls within." With such redeeming qualities, the "Celestial Drama," while based upon a very old traditional error, may be the means of teaching some new truths. CHRISTIAN BAPTISM AND NEW CHURCH RE-BAPTISM. By JONATHAN ROBINSON. WE introduce this tract not for the purpose of reviewing it but of supplying an omission. The writer mentions that his paper was sent by one of the leading ministers for insertion in the Repository, accompanied with an urgent request for its acceptance; and he gives the "polite note" in which the editor declines to insert it. He mentions also that it was afterwards recommended for insertion by the ministers (of Lancashire and Yorkshire) at their quarterly meeting, and sent by their secretary, but again declined. The author evidently considers this the head and front of the editor's offending, for he has printed it on the title-page of his pamphlet. He has not however, in this case, given the editor's reply, which, addressed to what may be regarded as a public body, must be supposed to express his fuller and more responsible opinion. It is simply to supply this omission that the present notice appears. The reply is as follows: "43 KENSINGTON GARDENS SQUARE, LONDON, W., Feb. 5, 1874. "MY DEAR SIR,-The paper you forwarded for insertion in the Repository came once before, recommended by Mr. Hyde. The unanimous vote of the ministers' meeting I must regard as a remonstrance against my former decision respecting it. The ministers give no reason for sending it, and I might return it without explanation. Respect for them induces me to state some further grounds on which I still decline to give it a place in the Repository. 1. I can see no reason for opening the pages of the Repository to discussion on a question which was fairly and fully debated and decided by vote at the last Conference. I think the Conference would have just cause to censure the conduct of an editor who would permit a discussion in the Magazine under such circumstances. 2. Mr. Storry, I have no doubt on the same ground, removed from Dr. Tafel's account of his visit to Vienna a résumé of his address on re-baptism delivered on the occasion of his re-baptizing some adults. Would it not look like partiality to exclude a short statement on one side and admit a long argument on the other? Yours very truly, W. BRUCE. "REV. E. WHITEHEAD." IN connection with the subject of Sunday-School Teaching, treated of in a preceding part of the Magazine, we may notice two cheap Monthlies, issued by Partridge & Co., entitled "The Systematic Teacher," and "The Sunday School Reformer," which will be found to contain hints and materials that may be of use to those engaged in the important use of instructing the young. A sermon by the Rev. Dr. Tafel, on the subject of infant teaching, under the title of "Our Children" (Speirs), is more especially addressed to parents, and teaches some useful lessons as to the means of rearing them for the kingdom of heaven. Miscellaneous. EASTERTIDE.-A Broad Church clergyman has communicated to the Daily News a report on the observance of Easter "in the byways of religious belief rather than in those more accustomed paths of ritual observance to which one almost spontaneously turns on such occasions." His first visit was "to hear the Rev. Narayan Sheshadri, a converted Brahmin, preach at a Presbyterian Church at Kensington. Taking his text from Ps. lxxii. 15, 'He shall live,' the preacher said these words were too grand to refer to any of the Israelitish kings, or indeed to any mortal. They bore reference to Him who died upon the accursed tree,' that the violated law of God might be vindicated, and who was afterwards laid in the grave; but death could have no power over Him who was the Prince of Life. On the third day He was quickened, He rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, death having no more dominion over Him." The remaining portion of the sermon referred to the preacher himself, his conversion to Christianity, and his projects for the diffusion of the Christian faith among his own people. 64 Leaving this Presbyterian Church betimes," continues the writer, "I was able to take a passing look at the Swedenborgian Church of the New Jerusalem, in the Mall, Kensington. The Communion table at this commodious and elegant place of worship was beautifully decorated with chaplets and wreaths of flowers most tastefully arranged above the sacred table, while upon and around it were symbols of the Resurrection. Appropriate hymns and anthems were finely given by the choir, including a selection from Mendelssohn's Athalie, 'Heaven and earth displayed.' The Rev. Dr. Bayley took as his subject the Glorification of Jesus, having for his text, Ought not Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?' He commenced by calling attention briefly to the sufferings, and to the necessity for the sufferings, of our Saviour to work out man's redemption; but he said we must never forget that the sorrows of Infinite Love, which out of mercy stooped to suffer and die for man, were but the preludes to the glory that was to follow. Jesus was the Crucified, He is the Glorified One. Many Christians have a weak and melancholy religion because they do not advance from contemplating the Saviour crowned with thorns to the Saviour crowned with glory. In Continental churches you will see the Saviour in numberless instances still held forth as a babe. It is true the Infant Saviour appeared as a babe, but that was only the beginning of His Divine career. Unto us a Child was born, unto us a Son was given; but He became as to His manhood, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. He is not now a babe, but King of kings and Lord of lords. Others represent the Saviour to their minds as still suffering on the Cross, bleeding still, pleading still; the crucifix is Jesus to them. But this is not the true or the edifying view the Scriptures present to us now. He suffered once, He is for ever glorified. He endured all that men and infernals could heap upon Him-scorn, contumely, agony, death 'But death was crushed beneath His feet; Dr. Bayley said the Glorification of Jesus was largely set forth in Scripture. It meant the perfect purification of the Humanity of Christ, which was effected after each temptation and trial, until Christ and the Father became completely one; the Father in the Son, like soul and body, altogether attuned into perfect harmony. The consequences of this Glorification were-first, that the Holy Spirit flowed from the Saviour as the Fountain of Salvation, the spring of spiritual strength to every believer; secondly, the Glorified Saviour became the manifested as well as merciful God to Christians; thirdly, He commenced the union between God and man in Himself, continued it in His Church by uniting the good and loving of every cline into one body whose heart beats with love to Him and to all its members, and this uniting love will go on through the Church, attracting the world, subduing the world, and blessing the world, until earth and Heaven form one grand whole, adoring Jesus Glori fied, permeated by His spirit, doing the impudence to go about with his His will, realizing the grand promise and prophecy of Scripture, The Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day there shall be one Lord, and His name one.' We have given this report almost entire, as a fair specimen of the honest endeavour made by the public press to truthfully represent New Church teaching. The report is extended to several of the established churches, commencing with St. Alban's, where "the ritual was as ornate as ever, the vestments being of cloth of gold. In addition to the usual decorations, a huge cloth of gold cross on a white ground took the place of the white cross on the black ground which covers the reredos during Passiontide. The church was crowded.' case. phrases and conventionalities, and long sanctimonious face, the world would believe him. And therefore men had come to believe that religion was an organized hypocrisy, they had found that people who called themselves religious people were no better and sometimes worse than other people, because they had worn a mask which others had not the courage to wear. What they wanted was to lay hold of the vital part of religion, and that was righteousness.' INDIAN FAMINE.-The fearful calamity which has befallen our fellowsubjects in India has called forth a large amount of warm sympathy and earnest desire to mitigate their sufferings. The most earnest and liberal proposals NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH.- of the Government are warmly seconded On more than one occasion in the course by the people, and the feeling is extenof frequent services in his diocese the sively prevalent that we hold India, not Bishop of Manchester has preached on for its advantages to us, but for the this subject. His discourse has dis- benefits we are able to confer upon its cussed the improvements of society teeming population. The growth of during the present century, and with right sentiment, and the progress of the out distinctly affirming that this is the New Age in the political government fulfilment of the prophecy, leaving the and social relations of the nations of the impression upon the mind that in the earth, is in no case more conspicuously judgment of the preacher such is the manifested than in the comments of the In concluding his discourse on public press on this severe affliction. this subject at Halliwell, the Bishop The following, from the English Indesaid:-" The great trinity of Christian pendent, is but the echo of many similar graces was faith, hope, and love. Faith in intimations:-"The administration of a personal God, hope in improvements dominions so vast and various is a prowrought by moral and spiritual rather blem of profound difficulty; but hitherto than by natural forces, and love which we may, on the whole, congratulate worketh no ill to his neighbour. The king- ourselves that we have solved it with a dom of God which Christ came to set up fair success. The history of their acupon earth was one of righteousness. A quisition will not bear looking into too paragraph from an American newspaper closely. Alas! there are no title-deeds had been going the round of the Eng- of empire which are free from the stains lish press, headed 'Something wanted of violence and blood. But having rein Religion,' and on reading it he found ceived the empire as a legacy from our it was the old idea of righteousness; fathers, we are doing our best to adsomething to make men more honest, minister it in the spirit of modern to make tradesmen sell unadulterated political philosophy; regarding our articles, to make manufacturers manu- power as a sacred trust, and the welfare facture honestly the goods they sold, of the teeming millions over whom we and that they should be as described. are called to rule as a charge committed And he thought it was what they did to us, and for which we are responsible want. They had had a deal too much before the world and before God. . . cant. If a man in his trade was not Our right to rule India rests ultimately quite as honest as he ought to be, who on our power to help and to save her if he had to sell a thing to his neigh- beyond all the rulers who have gone bour took advantage of his ignorance, before us, and we are at this moment or in his home was not either a good face to face with a calamity which will husband or father, yet if that man had test that power to the uttermost." RITUALISM. The growth of this movement in the Church of England naturally occupies a good deal of attention on the part of Churchmen who are afflicted by its Rome-ward tendencies. An organization has been formed among Evangelical Churchmen to oppose its progress, and they have sought the aid in this work of the Wesleyans and other dissenting communities. The bishops have met the movement without vigour and without effect. They have spoken against it, but their timidity of action has rather fostered than checked its growth. The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, in his charge to the clergy, describes the movement as a "CounterReformation movement," and says that, whenever sufficiently sustained by numbers and perfected in organization, it will "reveal its ultimate aims with clearness and decision." He describes it as a reaction from infidelity. "Catholic truth, it is urged, must now not only be preached, but be seen and felt; the eye must influence the soul, the outward must suggest the reality of the inward, and scepticism must be contrasted with the tangible realities of a material worship.' Upon this the Times remarks: "What is this but a confession of the weakness of a body which can develop no better answer to the rational scepticism of the day than an irrational access of superstition? The strength of Ritualism, in fact, lies in the absence of any strong movement within the Church, and the only means of counteracting it which can be ultimately effectual will be found in the cultivation of a more reasonable and more manly theology. If its recent rate of progress should be continued much longer, it must inflict fatal injuries both on the position of the Church of England and on the cause of religion itself. If Anglicanism is to be transformed into an emasculated travesty of Roman Catholic superstition, some vigorous popular impulse will deal with it very summarily, and it may carry much that is really valuable in its fall. ... The advance of scepticism demands the exercise of very considerable intellectual energy. In a word, nothing in the long run can beat falsehood except truth, and a little vigorous argument is likely to go much further than a great deal of mere moral persuasion." REV. THOMAS VASEY.-One of the eminent self-taught men who have adorned the annals of Wesleyan Methodism was the Rev. Thomas Vasey, a Methodist minister of the old school, intensely attached to his work and to his people, yet rising by culture to heights of religious character and gentlemanly refinement far above the teaching of his creed. Christian culture brings us nearer to Christ, opens to the mind a perception of His supreme Deity, and gives to the soul a sense of the true nature of His kingdom. This experience on the part of this esteemed minister appears in the following account of his last hours:-"I feel now as ready to die as to go into the next room. It is only rising to a higher position, like going from breaking stones on the highway to a more respectable vocation. God will give me work to do in the upper kingdom. I feel sure of this.' To his wife he said, I am so happyI was never so happy before. I have had such a manifestation of Jesus! He came to me and said, 'I have come to take you into My arms,' and He has taken me, and is folding me to His breast, and it is like a bed of roses.' The day before his death he said, 'How sweet to be going home! I shall have a fine day to-morrow.' The next day, as he lay with clasped hands, he whispered, Lord Jesus, into Thy hand I commend my spirit.' These were his last words. They looked, and Thomas Vasey had gone home." THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF THE FUTURE. The changes which have taken place in our day-school system is necessitating and will continue to necessitate increased attention to the best means of promoting the efficiency of our Sunday schools. This question has occupied the attention of "the London Convention of Sunday School Teachers," which held a public session in March last, in Weigh-House Chapel. Commenting upon this meeting, the English Independent of April 2nd says:"Scholars who, during six days in the week, are being taught by cultivated men and women, will not submit to be instructed on the Sunday by those whose ignorance reveals itself whenever they open their lips. Children are keen critics, and if they hear their Sunday school teacher breaking those rules of grammar which they have had drilled into them so painfully, there will be a corresponding loss of respect. Yet it is affirmed that the majority of the most FOREIGN AND COLONIAL NEW CHURCH MISSIONS. In our last we reported the proceedings of the Committee appointed by the last General Conference to aid our foreign brethren in their missionary operations. We extract the two following letters relating to these missions from the New Jerusalem Messenger of March 25th: undertaking shall not die for want of material support.-I am sincerely yours, "A. T. BOYESEN. "Copenhagen, Feb. 25, 1874." The "THE ITALIAN MISSION.-It will not be unacceptable, I think, to the readers of the Messenger, if I make a brief statement in it of the past operations and present state of the Italian Mission, and I do this the more readily because it is among them that the best friends and principal supporters of the work are to be found. The Mission of the New Church in Italy dates from the month of January 1871. It began with my lectures in Turin. The Missionary Committee, which was formed in Florence to sustain the enterprise, provided for my support by a yearly allowance of 4000 francs (out of which I was to defray all incidental expenses), which, however, at the end of two years was reduced to 3000. My lectures in this city were held at first in a room in my own apartments fitted up for the purpose, but afterwards in a hall large enough to accommodate two hundred persons. number of attendants at the private lectures varied from ten to twenty-three, at the public ones from twenty to sixty, only a very small proportion of them being women. The result of these lectures promised for a few months to be very satisfactory. About twenty of my "EDITOR OF MESSENGER.-Dear Sir, most regular hearers seemed favourably -Your letters of January 31st and Feb- inclined towards the heavenly doctrines, ruary 4th are duly received, and I am and the appearance was that we should glad to acknowledge the receipt of the shortly be able to organize in Turin a inclosed draft for 260 Danish rigsdaler. New Church Society. Unfortunately, I thank most heartily our kind brethren however, this fair promise, as I soon of the New Church in the United States had occasion to perceive, was deceitful. for the charitable interest they are tak. In proportion as I became acquainted ing in the great work of the Scandi- with the men and the things about me, navian Mission. We have indeed for a I was obliged to conclude that nearly long time been in a very distressed state all my hearers were moved, not so much for want of support, having for more by any earnest religious feeling as by than three-fourths of a year not received mere curiosity to hear the new views I any assistance from our friends in was then expounding with regard to the America and in England; but the above spiritual nature of man and the invisible mentioned sum, and 139 rigsdaler, sent world. They were to a great extent last month from some friends in Lon- Spiritists, and finding in our doctrines don, is an encouraging token of the what seemed to favour their false nosympathy of our brethren. We need it tions, they showed themselves much very much; for although the members pleased with them, and some even exof our society are constantly and slowly erted themselves zealously to forward increasing, it will still be some years the undertaking. Meanwhile, my social before the Scandinavian Mission can intercourse satisfied me that the morals support itself. Meanwhile we hope that our kind friends in America and in England will continue to help us, that this promising and very important tributions has not allowed us of late to meet 1 I am sorry to say that the state of the conour engagement for even this reduced amount. A. E. F. |