believe them, we are far removed from the possibility of conviction. If the spiritual body was manifested to our senses, we should see no more signs of life than we see in the natural body; and when the spiritual body is seen, it will be liable to the same objections and disbelief that the natural body is subject to. Then why say that one is alive and the other dead?

The body being a subject of diseases is to the affirmative mind irresistible evidence that the body is alive.

It must not be supposed that we believe that the body lives independently of the soul; this is not our idea. We believe that the soul and the body are essential parts of the same constitution, the soul being the internal, the body the external, and that neither can exist without the other. Hence there are no souls without bodies, nor bodies without souls, but throughout the whole universe, spiritual and natural, wherever there is an existing man, there is soul and body united, and both are equally alive.

We would remark that no class of passages selected from the Writings of Swedenborg under the influence of a mind biassed by any particular notion, however true it may be in itself, will lead to a correct understanding of the author. We might quote in abundance to shew that our ideas are in agreement with Swedenborg, but to quote conflicting passages would not prove that we were right. The adoption of such a course would be rather to abuse the author, and embarrass, if not mislead, the noviciate and the simple.

We now leave the subject to the readers of the I. R. to judge for themselves, as to whether our essay does or does not stand in opposition to the teaching of Swedenborg; and whether the rational principle described is not the one which is generally understood both by the simple and the intelligent in and out of the Church.

S. S.

THE MAGAZINE.

THE present number completes a volume, which we hope will not be deemed unworthy of a place beside those which have preceded it.

Among the new contributions which we expect for the coming year, we are happy to be able to announce a series of articles upon the Trees, Plants, and Flowers mentioned in the Word, by Leo Grindon, Esq. The first of these will appear in the January number.

The author of the article in the October number, entitled Confirmations of New Church Teaching, in which he treated of the stone implements of Great Britain, in reference to Swedenborg's teaching respecting Primeval Man, will supply other articles of the same description.

Mr. M'Cully will write some papers on Philosophers in their relation to Swedenborg, such as Descartes, &c.

These we need hardly say will make the Repository for 1873 a Magazine of information and instruction at once most interesting and useful; and which, with other articles by efficient writers of a more directly spiritual and religious character, will provide our readers with abundant and varied matter.

608

Miscellaneous.

correspondent, and appears on another page. The Spalding Free Press published a long and interesting account of the services at Spalding. From this notice, which has been sent us, we learn that the attendance was good and the audiences interested in the discourses. The subjects of discourse on the Sabbath were "The Holiness of the Sabbathday," and "How we ought to think of the Almighty: why we ought to pray

for." The subjects on the week nights were "Samson's great strength, and why it lay in his hair;" "The Descent of the New Jerusalem," and the "Question of the Philippian jailer, What must I do to be saved? and the answer to the question." Brief descriptive notices of these lectures and sermons were given, the entire report occupying nearly a column.

NATIONAL MISSIONARY INSTITUTION. the missionary field. An account of -Mr. Gunton reports that since his last Mr. Gunton's lectures and discourses communication on page 562, he has at Gainsboro' has been sent us by a visited Ipswich, where he preached twice, baptized two infants, and administered the Sacrament of the Holy Supper. While there he also took orders for six copies of the T. C. R. He also paid a visit to Mr. Brooks at his farm residence, Sibton Grange, near Saxmundham, a gentleman who has lately become much interested in the doctrines of the Church, and who desires that lectures should be given in that district when found practicable. He to Him; and what we ought to pray next went on a missionary tour into Lincolnshire, spending one Sunday at Gainsboro', one Sunday at Grimsby, and one at Spalding. During these visits he delivered seven discourses on the Sabbaths and lectured eight times: great interest was aroused in each place, and much seed sown, not only by the discourses and lectures, but also by the books sold, and the tracts circulated. At the three places named nearly 200 copies of the "Future Life," "Brighton Lectures," and "Nature of Spirit" were sold, and about 25 copies of the "True Christian Religion.' In addition an arrangement was made with three gentlemen to keep on hand and sell the books, which have already been sent to them, viz., Mr. Hannam of Gainsboro', Mr. O. T. Olsen, 2 Railway Street, Grimsby, and Mr. Watkinson, Free Press Office, Spalding. Mr. Gunton also received an order from a recent receiver for the 12 vols. of the A. C., and from another gentleman the T. C. R., Noble's Appeal, and several others of the works of E. S. Very many interesting incidents could be named, but space forbids. Mr. Gunton also visited Lincoln with a view to future missionary operations there, and while there had given to him the names of two receivers, and it was further made known to him that one lady who worships with the Baptists, while going round to sell the tickets for their tea, was circulating leaflets from Swedenborg, one of which was placed in his hands. This journey, more than any previous one, Mr. Gunton says, has convinced him, that the time has fully come to work vigorously in

MANCHESTER PRINTING AND TRACT SOCIETY.-The series of pithy tracts entitled "Leaves from the Tree of Life" issued by this Society, is being succeeded by another series, in which important truths are treated at greater length and with a fuller illustration. Of this series, published under the general title of "Bible Truths in Rational Light," five numbers have been issued. The titles of these are, "What must we do to be saved?" "Heaven;""The Divine Trinity in the one Person of the Lord Jesus Christ;” “Redemption, deliverance from the powers of hell, and not from the wrath or justice of God;" and the "Resurrection of Man, not the resuscitation of his natural body, the Christian's hope." The last three of this series is the publication of three lectures delivered in the Town Hall, Hulme. These were reported by a professional reporter and corrected by the author. They are distinguished by considerable freshness and novelty of treatment, and are calculated to excite attention and lead to further inquiry. As a favourable specimen of the mode of treating his subjects, we may refer to the tract on the Trinity.

"The ques

tion," says the author, "What think ye of Christ? lies at the very basis of Christianity. Of all Christian theology, this question must necessarily form the very foundation. Nor should we be condemned for the expectation that, in various ages of the world, new and fresh light on this highest of all subjects might be communicated to men. So long as the promise of the Word reads, "The time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in parables, but I shall show you plainly of the Father,' so long will the Church be justified in the expectation and hope of increasing knowledge upon this most important of all themes.'

Church?" At the close of his lecture, which is in course of publication, the Professor gave notice of a series of resolutions which he will submit to Conference at its next meeting in August 1873. After concluding his lecture on this most important subject, he stated the programme of the institution for the coming season, from which we quote as follows: "The object of this College, at least of the branch which I represent, is to promote sound theological learning in the New Church; and by sound theological learning I mean all that, in which the general doctrines of the New Church are fortified by particulars drawn from all parts of the writings of the Church. After some other preliminary observa- In the theological class which will be tions, the author presents the following commenced in November, the doctrines propositions, to which the attention of the reader is invited. "I. There is one only true God, of whom we can only think as one Divine Essence, one Divine Person, one Divine Form. II. That this one Divine Person has made various manifestations of Himself, suited to the times, states, and capacities of man. III. The full, glorious, and allsufficient manifestation of God was in the Lord Jesus Christ. IV. That out of Jesus Christ we can see only a poetic and metaphysical Trinity; but that in Jesus Christ we may see the Divine Trinity personally exemplified and revealed." These propositions are illustrated by much scripture teaching and sustained by clear statement and cogent reasoning. The other tracts also are not less powerfully written. The one on "Redemption" may be noted for its treatment of the scriptural argument for redemption by conflict. The several branches of inquiry and particulars of evidence are also divided under separate headings into short sections so as to engage the attention of the reader and facilitate the remembrance of the argument. The use of tracts, however, is in their extended circulation, and we trust that these valuable publications will be widely circulated, and extensively and carefully studied.

NEW CHURCH COLLEGE.-On the 15th of October Professor Tafel delivered in the library room of the College his introductory lecture to the Theological Course at the New Church College. The subject of his lecture was, "Are we to have a distinctive ministry in the New

of the New Church will therefore be presented in the light in which they appear, when all the parts illustrating one subject are brought together. The subjects that will be discussed will not therefore be treated so much in the form of set lectures, as in conversations on particular doctrines or points of doctrine. The first subject that I intend to bring forward is the relation between spirit and matter, and the degrees in the spiritual and in the natural worlds, showing their relations to each other; which will lead to a discussion on the degrees in the human mind, and in heaven and hell, and in the world of spirits, and their mutual relations. The questions in our theological class will be brought forward for inquiry, and not for debate; that is, the object of the theological class will not be to debate whether the teachings of Swedenborg are true or not, but it will be to establish the true meaning of everything that he has taught. The theological class will meet, therefore, as a class of learners, and not as a board of judges. With this understanding I am authorized by the council of this College to invite all young men who desire to be rationally grounded in the doctrines of the New Church to become members of this class." In agreement with this programme about twelve younger and older gentlemen met Professor Tafel on the 7th inst. to listen to the first of his doctrinal expositions. The first subject that was discussed was the difference between "Divine Good" and "Divine Truth." The lecturer showed that the former was the Divine Itself, and the latter the Divine Proceed

This class has already met with such favour as to necessitate the formation of an auxiliary class for the study of Greek, in order to the reading of the Gospel in the original tongue.

DERBY.-On Sunday, September 15th, being the anniversary of the Sunday School, two eloquent and impressive sermons were delivered by Mr. Ramage of London; very good congregations being present both morning and evening. The friends deeply appreciated the visit of Mr. Ramage, which will be held in The services grateful remembrance. were interspersed with singing by the children-special hymns being selected for the occasion-which made them exceedingly delightful, so that altogether a most happy day was passed. We may also add that the collections were good.

On the Sunday previous to the visit of Mr. Ramage (September 8th) Mr. Joseph Ashby of the New Church College, London, preached for us, as we have been without a minister since the removal of Mr. Presland to Argyle Square, London. Mr. Ashby had been with us on two former occasions, and the friends liking his mode of presenting the New Church doctrines, invited him to come again At the close of on the above date.

ing, and he proved conclusively from Gospel according to St. John. The subthe writings that the appellation jects treated in November were "The "Divine Good" is applicable both to Word pre-existent and incarnate." the Father and to the Son, while the appellation "Divine Truth" can be applied only to the Holy Spirit, and he exposed incidentally the fallacy contained in the commonly received creed of the New Church, where Love or Divine Good is identified with the Father, Wisdom or Divine Truth with the Son, and Power with the Holy Spirit. The lecturer then showed the identity of Divine Truth or the Divine Proceeding with the "Word" in John i. 1, 4, 14, where he called attention to a mistranslation in the received version of the Scriptures, where the 3rd and 4th verses are made to refer to "God" instead of to the "Word;" he referred especially to the "Heavenly Doctrine" n. 263, where Swedenborg translates the passage in question thus: "And all things were made by it (per illud)," i.e. by the Word or Divine Truth. Attention was then directed to those passages where it is declared that Divine Truth is the only substance of which all other substances exist, and that it is thus the substance of which all the heavens and all the earths are formed. The degrees in Divine Truth were then discussed on the basis of A. C. 8443, and A. E. 627; and it was shown how these various degrees of Divine Truth come into existence, referring to Swedenborg's teaching the evening service a special churchin A. C. 7270. The relation between meeting was held, when Mr. Ashby the Divine Truth and the Spiritual Sun was unanimously elected to become was then taken into consideration, and our minister-and, on being called init was shown that Swedenborg takes the to the church to hear the result, was spiritual sun sometimes in a more ex- warmly received by the friends. The tended, and sometimes in a more limited feeling between minister and people besense; thus at one time defining the coming sympathetic produced a sphere of Lord Himself to be the Spiritual Sun, love and charity, which gave us a sense and at another time limiting the appella- of what the angels must feel when they Mr. tion Spiritual Sun to the two supreme are of one mind and one heart. degrees of Divine Truth. In his next Ashby commenced his ministerial lalecture the Professor promised to show bours amongst us on the 13th of October. the distinction between the Divine Morning subject-"The One Lord Truth before, and after, the incarnation, whom we worship," Mark xii. 30-31, and he said he would call attention to Evening-from Luke iv. 18-19,—“The the trine which exists in Divine Good or Spirit of the Lord is upon me," &c. in the Divine Itself, and in Divine Truth or in the Divine Proceeding. Professor Tafel will deliver his theological lectures on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month, and on the alternate Thursdays Mr. Barlow, the Principal of the College, has just commenced an open course of expository and doctrinal lectures on the

On the following Tuesday a reception meeting was held in the schoolroom, when we had a full attendance of friends, all the space being occupied. After partaking of an excellent tea together, Mr. Clemson was called to the chair, and the business of the meeting commenced. The chairman took a cursory