nestly endeavouring to make known the truth to their neighbours. For this purpose one of our friends, Mr. Evans, has promoted, by sale and loan, the diffusion of many New Church publications, and arranged a short course of lectures, which were given in November last by Mr. Gunton. Advantage was taken of Mr. Storry's visit to the eastern counties to continue this service, by two lectures in the Lecture Hall. These lectures were on the Supreme Deity of the Christian Saviour, and the Divinity and Divine Inspiration of the Bible. They were attended by from thirty to forty persons. Though the attendance, however, was small, the interest manifested in the subjects was considerable, and at the close of the lectures several expressed their warm approval of the doctrines expounded. At both the lectures were persons who had come some distance to be present, and who seemed to carry away with them a very favourable impression. The smallness of the attendance will not, therefore, prevent the performance of a use, and need not discourage future efforts. As members of the New Church, we are not to despise the day of small things, but labour on in faith and patience until the little one become a thousand and the small one a strong nation, for assuredly the Lord will hasten it in His time. BRIGHTLINGSEA, WIVENHOE, AND ST. OSYTH.-These societies have recently been visited by the Rev. R. Storry, who delivered two discourses on Sunday, the 30th of August, in their beautiful new church, which was comfortably filled. On the Tuesday and Thursday evenings following, lectures were given to quite as numerous audiences as those of the Sabbath. In addition to the members of the society, many strangers were present. The most marked attention was given by all, and we have reason to believe that the cause of the Church in this thriving society was refreshed and strengthened. While in the neighbourhood Mr. Storry lectured also at Wivenhoe and St. Osyth. At both these places are neat and suitable places of worship, and at each was a good attendance. The seeds of truth have evidently found good ground in this part of the kingdom, and have taken firm hold of the minds of the people. It is surprising to see the large church erected by our friends at Brightlingsea so completely filled by an attentive and interested congregation. Already the sittings provided are nearly, if not entirely occupied, the congregation having increased since the opening. At Wivenhoe the society is smaller, but it is not without signs of progress. It is refreshing to witness the zeal of some of our friends, and we cannot but hope to see them successful in their efforts to build up the Church. MISSIONARY AND TRACT SOCIETY.—The Treasurer begs to intimate that the report of the society is printed, and has been circulated so far as the addresses of the subscribers were known. Any subscriber or friend not having received a copy, may obtain one at either of the churches in London, or on application by letter to the Treasurer, R. Gunton, 83, Guilfordstreet, London, W.C., who will also be glad to receive the names of new subscribers, and the subscriptions of the present members. "The Brighton Lectures," by Dr. Bayley, now printed by this society, to be sold at 6d. per copy, will shortly be ready. Every member of the Church should make a point of giving one copy of this most useful and acceptable little book to a friend. NEW CHURCH COLLEGE-We are requested to state that Dr. Beverley Bogg is engaged as Principal, and that his duties will commence on the 29th instant. Dr. Beverley Bogg is the eldest son of the late John Bogg, Esq., of Louth, and thus belongs to one of the best known and most highly respected families in the Church. He was in the first class at his matriculation at the University of London, and took honours there. He graduated at the University of St. Andrew's, and has since travelled extensively, both east and west, to Asia on the one hand, and the western coast of America on the other. Some three years ago he sent us a new translation of one of the minor prophets, and a short time since he sent the secretary of the college a printed specimen-leaf of a New Church Commentary on the book of Genesis, with marginal references to the works of Swedenborg. Dr. Beverley Bogg is married to a lady who is well qualified to add to the happiness and improve the manners of any students or pupils who may reside at the college. NOTTINGHAM.-We have been favoured with the copy of a letter addressed to the Rev. James Matheson, pastor of the Congregational Church, Nottingham, on the writer's resignation of membership to join the New Church in that town. After enumerating a number of the leading doctrines of the "True Christian Religion," which had especially delighted him, the writer proceeds-"The grand central doctrine is, that God is One, both in essence and in person, in whom is the Divine Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that Jesus Christ is that God, at once our Redeemer, Regenerator, and Sanctifier, and therefore the only Object of worship. This doctrine contrasts favourably, in my mind, with the orthodox doctrine, which I could not understand, nor therefore intelligently believe. This I can both understand and believe; there is in it no contradiction of terms, as in the orthodox statement. The elucidation of the spiritual sense of the Word has afforded me the greatest instruction and delight, both as read and preached, throwing a new and interior light on the sacred page, 'unfolding it in all its fulness and infinitude, its sanctity and divinity, its glory, and its power.' In giving my opinion of the practical tendency of this system of doctrine, I cannot do better than adopt the words of an American author, who writes thus:'From its essential principles, it lays its requisition upon the very inmost acting of the intellectual and moral man, and from the clear analysis it affords of the constituent elements of his being, he is enabled to discriminate more accurately the character of his motives and aims; indeed he is conscious from this source of an exploring and inquisitorial power in these doctrines which he not only had never experienced, but had never conceived under any other; he continually feels them probing his affections and thoughts to the quick, detecting the fallacies induced upon his understanding by an evil love, and stripping off the disguises which falsify the real ends of his conduct; in this respect he finds the writings without a parallel; he has never met with anything that so searches his soul as with a lighted candle, that so acts upon him with the refiner's fire and fuller's soap as the Divine casuistry which is brought to bear upon his latent evils in these doctrines.' I have not accepted these tenets hastily, but after much anxious thought, fearful lest I should be in any degree relinquishing truth and embracing error; yet I may say that from the first introduction of these doctrines to my notice, up to the present, there has been a growing conviction of their truth. I am now thoroughly convinced that they are unquestionably and unassailably true. They are doctrines which I can love, and in which I can repose as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast,—as a rock, on which may be built a house that shall stand, and not fall, despite the assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil. While admitting that the reception of correct theological ideas in the understanding will not insure their effect on the life, I feel persuaded that it is quite impossible to over-estimate the importance of clear and accurate views on subjects of such paramount importance; believing, as I do, that thought concerning God which is agreeable to truth opens heaven, while error does not. That the spirit of truth does not lead man by means of error, but by means of truth, is unquestionable. These being my views, I have a strong desire to become identified with the New Church, having been with them in spirit for some time already, and as I believe I shall then worship in a sphere more suited to my state, and be within hearing of truths more adapted to my spiritual wants. I therefore beg, with the greatest respect, to tender my resignation, and request you will kindly intimate my intention to the Church on the first opportunity.-Yours very truly, SAMUEL GODDARD." Marriage. On the 19th August, at the New Jerusalem Church, Melbourne, Derbyshire, by the Rev. Edward Madeley, of Birmingham, Mr. J. William Tonks, of the latter town, to Miss Emily, eldest daughter of the late Mr. Edward Chater, of Edgbaston. Obituary. On the 21st April, in the 50th year of her age, after some years of patient suffering from ill health, terminating in consumption, Rebecca, wife of Mr. John Prowse, of Kentish Town, London. She was a grand-daughter of the late Rev. Manoah Sibly, by whom she was baptized, and of whose society she became a member, when of mature age, and after his death she, with the society, joined and formed the Argyle Square society, then under the ministration of the late Rev. T. C. Shaw, now under that of Dr. Bayley, by whom her remains were committed to the ground. She was a firm believer in the doctrines of the Church, and a regular attendant on its worship, when her health permitted. The separation and removal of her spirit from a body always weak, and of late years very infirm, will doubtless be to her a great blessing and gain, though to her surviving husband a very sad loss. Quick, sensitive, affectionate, and deeply imbued with a high appreciation of the doctrines and principles of the Church, she will be missed by a circle of relations and sympathizing friends. Her end was peace. J. B. On the 23rd August, at Bloomsburystreet, London, Miss Mary E. Alvey, aged 29 years. Born of New Church parents, she had learned to appreciate the worth of our heavenly doctrines, and to be interested in the various agencies engaged in their public dissemination. She was one of the little band that met in 1853 to establish the South London Society, and ever subsequently gladly assisted in all efforts to extend its usefulness. The circumstances connected with her decease were exceedingly distressing. She had been suffering from a severe attack of diphtheria, but by medical aid was apparently steadily recovering. when exhaustion unexpectedly ensued, and she suddenly passed away into the spiritual world. Her removal is keenly felt by her sorrowing friends and fellow-members, and her memory tenderly cherished by them. In the midst, however, of their grief, they are consoled by the thought that whilst on earth she had faithfully striven to obey the Divine will; and their chastened hearts would therefore ever reverently breathe the prayer, "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." On the 2 th of August last, Mr. Joseph Partington, of Oldham, aged 31 years. On the morning of his death he was obliged to leave his employment on account of illness, and proceeded towards his home, which was situated at some distance. In the afternoon he was found drowned in a very small brook, into which he had apparently fallen in a fainting or apoplectic fit. In him the small society at Oldham has suffered a severe loss. He had been trained from early years in the knowledge of the great truths of the new dispensation, and was well grounded in them, having been long connected with the Middleton society and Sundayschool. He was one of the most active and useful of the founders and conductors of the Sunday-school connected with the Oldham society. He was very successful in teaching music to children, and never seemed more happy than when surrounded by a number of the scholars, teaching them to sing hymns and anthems for anniversary and other occasions. The Sunday following his death will not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed the heartfelt sorrow of the children. As superintendent of the School he was eminently useful and successful, and will long live in the affections of the children. His decease was improved on Sunday evening, September 13th, by a discourse INSTITUTIONS OF THE CHURCH. Missionary and Tract Society, Swedenborg House, Bloomsbury-street.- College, Devonshire-street, Islington.-Second Thursday Tract Society, Schoolroom, Peter-street.-Third Friday. Missionary Society p.m. 6-30 8-0 6-30 6-30 7-0 Members of Conference are invited, when in London, to attend the National Missionary, and when in Manchester, to attend the Missionary and the Tract Societies. Errata. In the September No., page 392, 10th line from the bottom, for "true doctrine clothed," read "true doctrine is clothed." Page 394, 7th line from the end, for "if the doctrines are corroborated in this," read "if the doctrines are corroborated in this manner." CAVE AND SEVER, Printers by Steam Power, Hunt's Bank, Manchester. T Preached before the General Conference, August 11th, 1868, by the Rev. J. Bayley. "And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not wither, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed. It shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary. And the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine." (Ezekiel xlvii. 12.) THE words selected for our theme this evening are part of a description of a sublime vision beheld by the prophet Ezekiel. That prophet was one of the captives who had been bewailing their lost country and temple, and sighing through long years for home and freedom once more. In the thirtieth year of their calamitous transportation Divine mercy began to give them hopes of better days, and the prophet opens his account of a series of wonderful and refreshing views in the spiritual world. "The heavens," he says, "were opened to me, and I beheld visions of God." (i. 1.) These visions, in their natural application, represent figuratively the restoration of the Jewish nation to their own land, under the type of the resurrection in the valley of dry bones; the restoration of their worship under the vision of the new temple; and the fertility and prosperity of the country under its own laws; its own penitent people, and the worship of the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, is shadowed in its outward application to the Jews by the grand scene of an ever-living, ever-swelling river, as presented in the chapter before us. All this was literally fulfilled. The earthly Israel was reinstated. The Jews were restored; their fond hopes were fulfilled. A new temple rose, and new songs of praise ascended from Zion. New life and prosperity came with the renovated nation; and the glory of the latter house was greater than the glory of the former; for the Lord of the Sabbath, one greater than the temple, TAUGHT, AND WAS WORSHIPPED THERE. But, besides the special application of the grand visions of this prophet to the outward Israel, there is a wide, a general application to the souls of the whole human race. And this invites our deeper meditation, for it concerns us; it concerns all nations, and all kinds and conditions of men. It applies to our time, and to all time; to our souls, and to all souls. Every human being whose highest sympathies have not been awakened, is a captive, imprisoned in some of the numerous forms of mental slavery. There are slaves of ignorance, slaves of superstition, slaves of worldliness, of vanity, of pride, of fashion, or of some special idol of their own. All are sinners, and they who commit sin, we are informed by the highest authority, are the slaves of sin. Man's better nature is shackled, but it mourns and yearns for better things. Like the captives by the rivers of Babylon, they weep when they remember Zion. The remains of heavenly excellence in the soul will not forget Jerusalem. There are holy feelings that have been implanted by the Lord, and strengthened by the gentle lessons of a mother's love, which still prefer Jerusalem above their chief joy. The teachings of early youth, like Æolian harps breathed upon by the atmosphere of heaven, send forth a mournful music, which sighs for purity and heaven. There is also the prophetic instinct hope, like Ezekiel among the captives, as he tells us in the first verse of the prophecy. To this prophetic feeling the Lord shews visions, the heavens are opened, and it beholds visions of God. The first vision was the magnificent scene in which the Divine Love is seen in the midst of the whirlwind, the symbol of change, as a fire infolding itself, and out of which issue the wheels of Divine Providence, involved in wondrous ways, a wheel in the middle of a wheel. They are all full of wisdom, full of eyes, and all impelled by affections, the fiery living creatures that accompanied every wheel, and were the sources of all their motions. If we look around, we behold mental captives on every hand, captives of ignorance, of error, of falsity, and sin; and while we seem powerless in ourselves to change the scene, we may still look up and behold Infinite Love preparing to make a change. Infinite, unsleeping, untiring Love, working through the wheels of Providential Wisdom, is preparing for a new era of liberty and light, of justice, and charity, and peace. But the preliminary by which alone this golden age of use |