MISCELLANEOUS. lecture appeared to give general satisfaction. Though it was intimated on the bills that questions on the subject of each lecture would be permitted at its close, none were asked; the lecture, however, not being of a controversial nature, I hardly expected that any would be raised. At the second lecture there were some 50 more present; and the whole audience listened with marked attention to the simple but irrefutable arguments proving that there is a God, and that the soul is immortal. A sceptic made a lame attempt to show that the learned found a difficulty in drawing the line of demarcation between the animal and man, referring, in proof of his statement, to the controversy between a professor and another savan on the subject of the gorilla; but I pointed out that their dispute was not whether this largest species of the monkey tribe was a brute or a human being, but solely whether the conformation of its brain was similar to that in the human subject,-one contending that it was, and the other the reverse; and that the question was determinable, and had been determined, by the common sense and perceptions of mankind; it being universally seen by every unsophisticated mind, that though a man might make an ape of himself, no amount of training could ever transform an ape into a man. The lecture on the Trinity and Atonement, at which about the same number was present, was listened to with the most intense interest. On this occasion a party who had formerly belonged to the Primitive Methodists, but who had since joined the Baptists, endeavoured to prove the distinct personality of the Holy Spirit; in this, however, I need not say he signally failed. The subject of the Future Life proved most attractive, all the seats being filled, and many being compelled to stand. The subject was not only listened to with the most marked interest, but several parts of it called forth plaudits from, seemingly, the whole audience, and a prolonged peal of approbation greeted me at the close. My former opponent, who advocated the personality of the Holy Spirit, took up the chief opposition, and contended for the pre-existence of angels, and their fall, to the creation of man; and in reply to the passages usually brought in support of that view, I pointed out to him that he must first demonstrate from the Scripture 487 that angels were previously created, which I did not hesitate to say that neither he nor any one else could; for unless it could be proved that there was a creation before the beginning, it was evident the possibility of such a thing was precluded, by the amount of creation from the beginning to the close, as recorded in Genesis, chap. i. This was too much for my opponent, who never once attempted, though continually brought back to the point, to meet the case as put on my side. Of course the popular doctrine of the Devil was likewise brought into the debate; and whilst answering the objections of my opponents, I threw out some collateral ideas on those parts of the Scripture where the serpent, &c. was spoken of, to the evident satisfaction of a large portion of the audience,—indeed, a majority appeared favourable at each of the lectures. Many persous attended all the lectures, among whom were some youths, who seemed very deeply interested. Considering that I was a perfect stranger, and that in the large hall over our heads an interesting diorama was opened during the delivery of the course, the success was beyond what could have been expected; and as I learned from various quarters, the views were favourably received, and likely to make a lasting impression. Some tracts I had were received with the greatest eagerness. Yours truly, WOODVILLE WOODMAN. the New Church; but when she saw their beneficial influence upon the life and conduct in our preparation for another world, she embraced them with all the fervour of a singularly affectionate and susceptible spirit,—they became, indeed, her great joy and consolation. For fortyeight years she has been a most faithful and loving wife and companion to her bereaved husband, whose grief is now tempered by the comforting assurance of soon meeting her again in that state "when the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." She was a tender and ever-watchful mother; and her children's children have learned to bless her memory and her love. She felt herself ready to depart; and those who still survive her, cherish the sweet confidence that her blameless life, deep piety, and single-minded love of use, have fitted her for those mansions of bliss upon which it was ever her delight to meditate and converse. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Departed into the spiritual world, September 1, 1864, aged 32 years, Elizabeth Ann, the beloved wife of Mr. J. Parkinson, of Preston, and daughter of the Rev. E. D. Rendell. The immediate cause of her death was tetanus, brought on by extreme exhaustion, in which state she lingered in intense suffering for the space of a week, when she was mercifully released from the thraldom of physical disorder and mundane things. The writer has known the subject of this notice from a girl of twelve years of age, with whom he has been more or less associated during the long period of twenty years, and can truly say that she has been always amiable in his sight as a dutiful daughter, a devoted and faithful wife, an affectionate mother, and a sincere friend. She was not demonstrative in her religious profession; but her love of the Holy Word and the doctrines of the New Church was evinced by her assiduity as a teacher in the Sundayschool, and subsequently by her punctilious attendance on public worship in the church, surrounded by her family. No trivial circumstance could induce her to neglect this duty. That her character and deportment was amiable, is evidenced by the esteem in which she was held by her neighbours and acquaintance, which called forth expressions of regret at her removal, and from her nearest friends deep sorrow. To her sorrowing husband and young family her loss will be irreparable in this world; but we are assured in the heavenly verities of the New Jerusalem, that all who die in the true faith of the Lord's most holy name, become ministering angels to the dear ones who are left behind, and by inconceivable means from within become instruments of blessing to be seen and realised in the heavenly word. "What I do now, thou knowest not, but thou shalt know hereafter." On Sunday, September 11th, our esteemed friend, Mr. E. J. Broadfield, of Manchester, very kindly officiated for her afflicted father in the church at Preston, and gave an admirable funeral discourse on the morning of that day, in which he paid a worthy tribute to the memory of the dear departed—he had known her for a period of sixteen years. It was felt to be edifying in a high degree. G. S. [In the first obituary notice in the last number the name Selby should have been Lobley.] TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. All communications to be sent to the Editor, the Rev. W. BRUCE, 43, Kensington Gardens Square, London, W. To ensure insertion in the forthcoming Number, communications must be received not later than the 15th of the month, except recent intelligence, which will be received till the 18th. National Missionary Institution, and Students and Ministers' Aid Fund.-The Committee meet on the fourth Monday in each month, at 36, Bloomsburystreet, at 6-30 p.m. Missionary and Tract Society.-New address of Mr. Sandy, the Treasurer-Louisa Villa, Alleyn-road, Norwood, London S. CAVE AND SEVER, Printers by Steam Power, Hunt's Bank, Manchester. "GIVE US TO-DAY OUR DAILY BREAD."* A Sermon by the Rev. O. PRESCOTT HILLER. THIS petition, when viewed in the light of the internal sense, is most comprehensive-it means, Give us, O Lord, every moment, all things we need for the body and the soul. The expression to-day signifies, in the spiritual sense, perpetually, every instant, and also to eternity. That such is the signification of "to-day" and "daily" in the Word, is evident from the fact that, in the Israelitish or representative church, the daily offering of a lamb was called a perpetual burnt offering. The same truth may be seen from the fact that, in the spiritual sense, by day is signified statethus, "to-day," or "this day," signifies "in this state." Keeping before us this signification of "to-day," we may offer up the prayer in the evening as well as in the morning, in sickness or in health, in trouble or in joy; in all it is applicable, for the petition is, that in this present state, whatever it be, whether of mind or of body, we may be gifted from the Lord with all things needful for us. 66 It may be remarked that the phrase "our daily bread" would have been more correctly translated "our sufficient" or our needful" bread. As the sentence stands in the common version, there appears to be a needless repetition of the word "day," which there is not in the original. It should be "Give us to-day our sufficient [or our needful] bread.” Let us now consider the meaning of the term "bread." By "bread," in a natural sense, is signified food in general-all that sustains the bodily life.* But in a spiritual sense, it signifies all mental food-all that supports the spiritual life or life of the soul. Thus, it signifies all goodness and truth, or love and wisdom; for these sustain the soul's life: this is the food of angels, and also the food of our spirits, even now, while we are preparing to become angels; it is the food that nourishes us to life everlasting, and according to our reception of which we are growing inwardly into angelic form and beauty. In this sense the Lord calls Himself "Bread." "I am," He says, "the Living Bread which came down from heaven; if any man shall eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever." The Lord calls Himself "Bread," as being essential Goodness and Truth, the veriest food and life of the soul. Now, the petition is-"Give us this day our needful bread." Give us this day-this hour-this moment—all we need for our bodies and our spirits. Let us consider the petition, first, in its natural sense, and afterwards in its spiritual. When we kneel down and offer up this prayer, as we should do daily, we ask that the Lord, in His providence, will supply us with what is needful for our bodily wants, and for those of our families, or for such as are dependent upon us. And if this petition is offered in a humble and devout spirit, we may be sure it will be answered. The Lord knows all our wants, even to the minutest particular: "Your Heavenly Father," said the Lord, "knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him." And He is both able and willing to supply them. Is He not the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of the universe? Is He not the Owner of all things? "The world," says He, "is mine, and the fulness thereof." "Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills."§ Nay, when He was in the world, dwelling as a man amongst men, did He not show his omnipotence by creating bread instantaneously, and feeding five thousand with five loaves?-for, as it is declared, "He had compassion on the multitude, because they had nothing to eat, and He would not send them away fasting, lest they should faint by the way." And will not the same Jehovah Jesus, the one Lord of heaven and earth, have compassion on any of His children, whoever or wherever they be, who cry to Him for food, and ask Him for the necessaries of life? Assuredly He will. Do not you think He knew, before you were born, everything you would need till the day of your death,-yes, and to eternity after? *See Judges xiii. 15, 16, where a kid is called bread. Matt. vi. 8. § Ps. 1. 12, 10. + John vi. 51. || Matt. xv. 32. 66 GIVE US TO-DAY OUR DAILY BREAD." 491 And would He have brought you into being without knowing that He could provide for you? No; your minutest want was foreknown, and in his Divine foresight is already provided for. He knows where you are to get each morsel you are to eat, every article of clothing you are to wear, and the roof that is to shelter you. For He has Himself declared that "the very hairs of our heads are all numbered," that "not a sparrow falleth to the ground without our Father, and that we are of more value than many sparrows;"* and He bids us "Fear not, therefore." We may, then, pray for our "daily bread" with full trust that the Lord, in his providence, will supply us, and those dependent upon us, with all we need, provided we look to Him, and at the same time do our duty. But it may be asked, If the Lord is our Heavenly Father, and if He knows all our wants, and is able and willing to supply them, why does He require us to pray for them? why will He not supply them without prayer? The answer is, Because He wishes us to feel and to acknowledge our dependence upon Him. And the reason He so wishes is, to prevent our falling into proud and self-dependent states of mind, the effect of which would be to separate us from Him, and thus to shut out the influence of His Spirit, which would be to shut out heaven and eternal happiness. The first end of the Lord in regard to us, is to secure our salvation, our eternal happiness in heaven; for that we are created, for that we live. Now, heaven is not merely a place, but a state of the mind; it is a state in which the heart is open to the Lord, and so is receptive of the blessednesses which are ever-flowing from Him who is the One Source of all blessing. Now, it is humility that opens the heart; it is the state of looking up, and child-like dependence, and devout gratitude, that opens the mind, and conjoins it to the Lord, and so enables it to receive that flood of joy and bliss which He pours into every soul that is open to receive it. This, then, is the reason why the Lord requires us to pray, and to ask for what we want, even in natural things, namely, to accustom us to look to Him and depend on Him, and so become conjoined to Him in spirit, in order that we may receive peace of mind even in this world, and after death life everlasting. It is thus from the Lord's love and desire for our good and happiness that He requires us to pray. But now, it is to be remarked, that while the Lord requires us to pray for our daily bread, He also requires us to labour for it, that is, we are to obtain it from Him, not directly, but indirectly. We are not |