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CHOWBENT, LANCASHIRE.

Mr. R. G. Sheldon visited this place by invitation, on the Evening of the 3rd of September last, after having performed service, by appointment of the Manchester Missionary Institution, at Leigh, on the same day. The place of worship known by the name of Harrison's Chapel was kindly lent for the purpose, and we are happy to add that it was filled; many persons were unable to enter, and therefore could not hear the subject of the Lecture which had been previously announced to be On heaven and its joys. The views offered, excited astonishment and admiration in many enquiring minds; and the ability manifested by the preacher, was spoken of in high terms. This active and intelligent Missionary is considered as a great acquisition to the Missionary Institution, and we sincerely hope he may be enabled to continue his laborious and praiseworthy exertions.

UPHOLLAND.

WE have been edified and delighted this day, (Oct. 1st.) with a Missionary visit by the Rev. D. G. Goyder: he preached from Mark iv. 28. The process of regeneration was beautifully described, and the necessity of reciprocity on the part of man, was ably insisted on, and demonstrated to be indispensably requisite to capacitate man for heavenly bliss. The dangerous and delusive notions on instantaneous conversion were placed in a striking point of view; their mischievous and wicked tendency were clearly shewn. We trust that the time is rapidly advancing when Missionary efforts to make known the descent of the New Jerusalem may often be witnessed at Upholland. Obed.

CHARITY SERMONS AT LEIGH.

THE Rev. D. G. Goyder, of Liverpool, preached the Annual Sermons in support of the Sunday School at this place, on the 24th of September. The discourses were well adapted to the occasion; the necessity of enabling the rising generation "to cleanse their ways," to think correctly of the DIVINE BEING, and to obey the divine laws, was clearly pointed out, and strongly urged. The attendance was very numerous; some of our benevolent friends from Bolton, Wigan, Upholland, Chowbent, West-Houghton, Worsley, and Manchester were present. We cannot omit noticing the fine appearance of those Female Scholars who were selected to attend on account of want of room to accommodate the whole School; for neatness and decorum few can surpass them, and all well-disposed christians would have been delighted with their singing.

LIVERPOOL.

We are pleased to hear that the Church in Liverpool has once again united, we hope this union will now be permanent-for in union there is strength, and from that strength prosperity and every possible good will arise. We are informed that Mr. D. G. Goyder was one principal cause of this union; indeed he was solicited to become their minister, but this he very prudently declined.

GOSPEL OF ST. MARK.

We have the pleasure of informing our readers, that the Rev. J. Clowes has just published the Gospel according to Mark, translated from the original Greek, and illustrated by extracts from the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, together with Notes and Observations of the translator. It is a neat and handsome volume, price 6s. The Church is now in possession of a correct translation of the Four Gospels, from the pen of this able and respected writer. We shall notice more fully this excellent Work in our next.

MINISTERS WANTED.

We regret to say that the following Societies in connexion with the New Jerusalem Church are at this time without Ministers, viz.

Edinburgh,
Glasgow,

Newcastle-upon-Tyne,

Bristol.

SITTING AT THE DOOR.

VARIETIES.

The permanency of eastern customs is very remarkable. Those who lead a pastoral life in the east, at this day, frequently placed themselves in a similar situation to what is recorded of Abraham (Gen. xviii. i.) CHANDLER says, in his Travels in Asia minor, p. 180, "At ten minutes after ten we had in view several fine bays, and a plain full of booths, with the Turcomans sitting at the doors, under sheds resembling porticoes, or by shady trees, surrounded by flocks of goats.

ABRAHAM'S PAYMENT TO EPHRON.

Ancient nations have discovered a singular coincidence in the management of their money. The Jews appear to have used silver in lumps, hence we read that Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, Gen. xxiii. 16. Amongst them it was perhaps of various dimensions or weights; and certainly, on some occasions at least, impressed with a particular stamp. The Chinese also do the same. Macartney says, "there is no silver coin in China, notwithstanding payments are made with that metal, in masses of about ten ounces, having the form of the crucibles they were refined in, with the stamp of a single character upon them, denoting their weight."

INSOLVENT NEGRO.

magnetised steel bar are not necessarily situated at its extremities; but, by a particular mode of touching, (which he has laid before the Royal Society) he has been able to produce bars, both of whose ends have similar poles, whilst the middle of these bars exhibit the opposite polarity. The same gentleman has also verified the fine discovery of Mr. Barlow, as to magnetism affecting or residing only in the superficial parts of masses of iron or steel; and has experimentally proved, that magnetised flat bars, one-tenth of an inch thick, are equally powerful with bars of considerably larger dimensions and weight, under the same extent of surface.

THE CLERGY

of the city of Rome consist of nineteen cardinals, twenty-seven bishops, 1450 priests, 1532 monks, 1464 nuns, and 332 seminarists. The population of Rome, with the exception of the Jews, consisted, in 1821, of 140,000 souls.

ANCIENT COPY OF THE GOSPELS

in one of the most ancient churches in Christendom.

At Kertch (near the sea of Azov, says a Russian Officer) I saw one of the most ancient churches in Christendom, having probably been built 1500 years ago. Four columns of "A negro of one of the kingdoms of Persian marble support the cupola; the African coast, who had become and although some parts are added to insolvent, surrendered himself to his the original building, the whole is of creditor; who, according to the a light and handsome architecture. established custom, sold him to the They preserve here a copy of the Danes. This affected his son so Gospels and the Acts, in Greek, much, that he came and reproached beautifully written on parchment, his father for not rather selling his more than 500 years ago. We visited children to pay his debts; and after the mountain which goes by the much entreaty, he prevailed on the name of the Chair of Methridates. captain to accept him and libcrate The town of Kertch contains about his father. The son was put in 4000 inhabitants of both sexes, for chains, and on the point of sailing to the most part Greeks; and the place the West Indies, when the circum- is, altogether, rising in importance, stance coming to the knowledge of its situation being very favourable the governor, through the means of for trade. Mr. Isert, he sent for the owner of the slaves, paid the money that he had given for the old man and restored the son to his father." This points out that Africans are not destitute of the feelings of humanity nor of parental love.

MAGNETISM.

"Mr. J. H. Abraham some time since discovered, that the poles of a

LACONICS.

Friends are all very true when nothing is required of them beyond friendship; but when you rely on them, they bend, and your fancied hope of support departs from you.

A good conscience is better than two witnesses-It will consume thy griefs as the sun dissolves the iccIt is a spring when thou art thirsty

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-A staff when thou art weary-A screen when the sun burns thee-a pillow in death.

LITERARY NOVELTIES.

numbers which have appeared of the proceedings of this society are full of poetry and philosophical dissertations, distinguished by pure, correct, and elegant Hebrew, and by a profound knowledge of Jewish tiquities.

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Hebrew Literature.-The Society formed in Amsterdam for the culti vation of the Hebrew language and literature, continues its researches and its publications with persever- The Gospel according to St. Mark, ance and success. The different translated by the Rev. J. Clowes, 6s.

Obituary.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

DIED at Norwich, Oct. 6th, 1826, in the thirtieth year of her age, Miss Mary Warne: she was a very affectionate member of the New Church, the writings of which she first became acquainted with about eight years ago at a reading meeting at Norwich. Shortly afterwards she came to London, where her interesting appearance and pleasing manners soon introduced her into almost every Society and family of the New Church. Here, in the prosecution of her profession (which was that of Music and Singing) she sometimes underwent much exertion, and having caught cold, which brought on a cough and a declining state of health, she, with advice, returned to Norwich for the benefit of her native air. Here she lingered about eleven months, in the course of which she manifested much fortitude and resignation to the Divine will; and feeling that she was in the hands of her heavenly Father who does all things wisely and well, she contentedly waited her appointed time, when her spirit gradually withdrew from its earthly incumbrance, and she died the death of the righteous.

She always appeared at home and in her delight, while conversing upon religious subjects, and on the doctrines of the New Church, and this delight seemed to increase and heighten as she approached her departure, so much so, that latterly she appeared to be attentive to, and dwell with increased delight upon, only those subjects and realities which belong to that world, which was just about to open upon her. Those who availed themselves of the pleasure of visiting her in her illness, and of discoursing with her upon those subjects, for the fruition of which, she manifested so much preparation, almost forgot they were talking to an earthly inhabitant, and when they departed from her, the time of their visit seemed to have been past like the sweet moments of a vision, which may hereafter be reflected on, but not easily recalled. A Funeral Sermon was preached on Sunday Evening, October 22nd, at Friar Street Chapel, London, by the Rev. M. Sibly, from John xi. 16, to a very attentive congregation.

POETRY.

A POETICAL EPISTLE,

Received by Mr. Le Cras of Salisbury, from a Methodist preacher, expressing his firm belief in the Doctrines of the New Jerusalem.

DEAR Sir, no joy or peace of mind,

Or comfort now of any kind,

Can I obtain on earth:

The more I read the books you lend,
The more I find my judgment bend
To give conviction birth.

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And never will from it depart,
While love inflames my breast.

And down I'll look, with just contempt,
On gro'vling views; and be exempt
From cloaking o'er my creed;
I'll take my stand, and face the world,
And should reproach at me be hurl'd,
I'll be from cringing freed.

But stop!-methinks I boast too much;
I would not wish on pride to touch,
Lest I should slide away:

Yet still of firmness I'm possess'd
Enough to know which creed is best,
And act without delay.

I long to vindicate "The Truth,”
To magnify to age and youth,
The depth of Love Divine;
I'll study close, I'll study long,
That I may round the list'ning throng,
These tidings glad, entwine.

Till then, if I your priest can aid,
And by your church a reader made,
I'll cheerfully comply;

But still in this I wish it known,
Tho' volunteer'd I have I own,
I'm willing to stand by.

The New Church Faith, I now adopt,
(For of all other creeds I'm lopt)

By which to live I would;

I've weigh'd, impartial, all its parts,
And find it void of senseless arts,
But full of solid good.

Your humble servant I remain,

And ever shall subscribe the same,

J. M.

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ON THE PERNICIOUS TENDENCY OF FALSE DOCTRINES.

WHERE is the man whose heart has been expanded by a principle and feeling of charity, but must lament and deplore the desolating influence of those absurd and irrational dogmas which at this eventful period are ascendantly operating on men's minds, and leading them unconsciously to the very vortex of irretrievable ruin. In the existence of so dangerous an innovation, (and its existence is far too obvious to admit of a doubt) it surely calls loudly on every friend to humanity to lift up his voice with strength, unalarmed by the stigmas and reproaches inflicted on him by the immoral and profane, to warn his fellow pilgrims of that tremendous gulph which idolatry and superstition have opened to allure them to their destruction, and by timely argument and persuasion, endeavour to snatch the devoted victims of deception and fanaticism, as brands from the burning."

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Reflections of this sort will not fail to arise in the mind of the true Christian when he is called on to notice the delusive security into which men of the most atrocious and abandoned characters are led as it were, hood-winked, by the inculcation of those blas phemous sentiments which are gradually undermining the bul warks of christianity, extinguishing every noble and generous feeling of our nature, and paralyzing every effort at moral improvement, and the cultivation of religious knowledge and virtue.

Prior to the total corruption of genuine christianity, delinquents, the inmates of our prisons, were for the most part committed to a spiritual adviser of sound orthodox principles, whose duty it was to reform the vicious, correct the impenitent, and to pour the heal. ing balm of religious consolation into the bosoms of those who had No. 12.-1826.

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