ANIMALS AND THEIR CORRESPONDENCES. By W. H. BENADE. Of all books for the young, those which tend to explain the correspondences between things national and spiritual, are, no doubt, the best. By these works, when properly prepared, the youthful mind is gradually initiated into a knowledge of correspondences, which is the science of sciences. Our thanks are due to Mr. Benade for working so successfully in this field of usefulness. This is not the first time that our brethren in America have devoted themselves to this useful labour. We well remember the "Sunday Lessons," which very clearly and beautifully explained a great variety of correspondences. Nothing in nature is so attractive to children as animals; and to teach children what animals signify when mentioned in Scripture, is gradually to prepare them for the acknowledgement and reception of the spiritual sense. In another edition of this work, we would recommend to the author the propriety of adducing more passages from Scripture to illustrate and confirm the correspondences. We cordially recommend this little work to our readers. AGNES, THE POSSESSED; A REVELATION OF MESMERISM. ARTHUR. HODSON, London. By T. S. Mr. Arthur is again before us; his numerous publications, as our readers well know, have been extensively received by a very numerous circle of admirers. Many germs of New Church truths have, by their instrumentality, been planted in the minds of thousands, both in America and England. The work before us takes up the subject of Mesmerism, which, in America, has caused more excitement and inquiry than in this country. It endeavours to shew that Mesmerism is an evil which ought not to be countenanced; and that even in cases of sickness, where it has been employed as a remedial agent, it would be better to have nothing to do with it. Its effect upon the mind, although it may allay bodily pain, is always to be avoided. But we will allow the writer to give his own explanation, which he does in the following preface : "The disbeliever in the phenomena of ' Mesmerism,' so called by some, as well as the advocate of the new science, will find in this story many things not in agreement with their views on the subject. The writer, while he admits the existence of the power called Mesmerism, assigns to it a disorderly, and therefore evil origin; and in the history drawn, exciting as it is, and to many minds improbable, has not, he believes, given an exaggerated picture. If any think so, let them ponder well the following admissions, recently made public by a professor of the art and mystery,' who is entitled to credit. He says: "I have had many subjects who, when to all appearance perfectly awake, would believe thaf a piece of blank paper was a bank note of any denomination which I asserted it to be. At Saratoga Spa, in the presence of Judge Marvin and many other gentlemen, I made a young man of excellent character take worthless paper for bank notes, and give me a written obligation for a large amount of money, which he supposed he had received. Suppose him to be the cashier of a bank-would not this be a dangerous power in the hands of a dishonest man? Or suppose him to be worth a large amount of property in real estate-he might be made to transfer it by deed in the presence of witnesses while he was under this influence, and witnesses not suspect that he was in a state different from usual. The witnesses would go into court and swear that he seemed perfectly rational and master of himself, and yet he would be in such a condition that he could not perceive any thing to be different from what it was asserted to be by the operator. Black would look white, if the operator declared it to be so. Copper would feel and look and sound like gold, if the operator affirmed it. In a word, the subject and all his property and other legal rights would be at the mercy of the operator. He could be made to sign anything—a deed or marriage contract, a confession of murder, or anything else. "Others can judge as well as I how far this power will be abused; but I perform my duty in giving a warning to susceptible subjects. Let them not lightly disregard it. They should know that when once thoroughly inducted by one person, they can easily be inducted by any person who is permitted to attempt it. They should know that they may be made to perform very improper actions, without being aware of it or afterwards recollecting it. They should know that they may be made to commit actions which in the eye of the law are criminal, without really intending to do any wrong whatever. A woman may be made to believe that any person is her father, or brother, or sister, or husband, and she will act accordingly; and afterwards she will have no recollection of it, excepting such as the operator pleases. It is my opinion, founded upon experiment, that one person in twenty is susceptible of this peculiar influence.'” It is written in the usual style of Mr. Arthur's works, full of graphic skill and pictorial beauty. GEMS FROM THE WRITINGS OF SWEDENBORG, WITH A MEMOIR. By the Rev. T. O. PRESCOTT. London: HODSON. This little work is a rich treat of intellectual and spiritual entertainment, tending greatly to the edification of the mind in heavenly wisdom. Our sincerest thanks are due to Mr. Prescott for presenting to the public so delightful a volume. Not a single article, we think, can be read without producing a salutary effect upon the mind of the reader. Here is indeed food for thought and balm for the troubled affections! The object which Mr. Prescott had in preparing this little volume is also clearly explained in the Preface. N. S. No. 155.-VOL. XIII. 3 I "The object of this volume, (says Mr. P.) is to present, in a collected form, some of the striking and beautiful passages scattered through the works of Swedenborg, each extract, while attractive in itself, embodying at the same time some important principle of the New Church theology or philosophy. "The Compiler was led to undertake the work from observing, in his reading of Swedenborg, how often passages occurred, of such a character as to be interesting and valuable, not only in the connection in which they stood, but also in a separate form. It struck him, that a selection of such passages, published in a small volume, might be both pleasing and useful;-useful, not only from the matter contained in the extracts themselves, but also by becoming the means, perhaps, of leading some minds to the precious works from which they were taken. “With these views, the writer undertook the task of selecting and transcribing the passages which are contained in the present volume;-which, though a work both of considerable time and labour, was yet a pleasant one, for it kept the mind within the sphere of those pure and heavenly truths of which the extracts treat. That the Divine blessing may go with this volume, and cause it to be a guide and a solace to many minds, is the earnest prayer of the Compiler." As this volume, introduced by an excellent biography of Swedenborg, is suited for the pocket, it might well be adopted as a companion to read on a railway journey; we cannot imagine a more delightful friend. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. FORTY-THIRD REPORT OF THE LONDON copies of Mr. Hancock's edition of the PRINTING SOCIETY. We have much pleasure in laying be fore our readers a copious abstract of the operations of this highly useful Institution. "The committee mentioned in the last report that the Rev. Mr. De Soyres had undertaken the revision of the 'Apocalypse Revealed,' and that it was then in the press. One thousand copies of it have since been printed. "The Rev. Mr. De Soyres has since offered his valuable services to the society, and has now nearly completed the revision of the third volume of the 'Arcana,' which requires to be put to press immediately, and of which also the committee recommend the printing of an edition of 1,000. "The Manchester School Union has recently made an application to the committee for 500 copies of the True Christian Religion' from the stereotype plates, to be distributed in penny numbers amongst the children attending the schools. The success attending the distribution by the Union last year of 1000 'Heaven and Hell,' did not permit the committee to hesitate in granting the above request; and they have the gratification of thus forwarding, on a large scale, the main object for which the society is established-the dissemination of the invaluable treasures committed to their charge. "In consequence of some published strictures on Mr. Hancock's last edition of the Heaven and Hell,' the committee have had their attention particularly directed to that work on several occasions during the past year; and Mr. Hancock, for whose self-imposed task your grateful thanks are due, has with the greatest labour and most painstaking accuracy again gone through the entire work, which is now in the hands of the committee, and ready for the press. "The Heaven and Hell' will shortly require reprinting, as will also the first volume of the 'Apocalypse Explained,' theConjugial Love,' and the Earths in the Universe.' "Mr. Rich is still proceeding with his revision, or rather new compilation, of the Index to the Arcana,' and it is going through the press as fast as the nature of the work will allow. The committee hope that it will not be long before the society are in possession of the entire Index. "When the Apocalypse Explained' has been reprinted, the whole of the works will have appeared on the standard page, excepting the ninth volume of the Arcana,' of which there is on hand a considerable stock. It is, however, in a very good state, and well printed, and need by no means prevent members from entirely completing their sets. "The committee have made donations during the year to the amount of £17. 15s. 4d., at the trade value, and again congratulate the society on the uses of the power thus conferred upon them. "The committee have also to inform you that the Rev. Henry Wrightson has testified his earnestness in our cause by the largest donation ever yet made by any member during his life: you Ihave to thank him for £100. And Major Younghusband, to whom the writings were introduced by Mrs. Col. Taylor in India, and whom you thanked last year for £50., has again presented the society with two donations amounting together to £45. 18s. "The committee have continued throughout the year to advertise the works to a considerable extent. "The total number of books sold has been 1,161, and the produce at trade price £272. 14s., being £45. more than the former year, though there is a falling off in the number of the books. "The committee cannot omit from their report some allusion to the great meeting of the members and friends of the New Church held at the Freemasons' Tavern on the 19th of August last year, at which 1,500 persons were present, and hundreds left who were unable to gain admission.' You saw there the leaders of our little band; you heard their speeches, and you joined in the expression of your deep enthusiasm. It was the first opportunity you had had of being face to face, as you have long been heart to heart, with the inestimable Dr. Tafel. M. Le Boys des Guays, M. Oegger of Versailles, and others of our fellow-labourers in other lands were there. France and Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, and Spain, America, and England, were all represented there, 'to proclaim universally that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one only object of love and worship, the Everlasting Father, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace;' that 'in Him all the fulness of the Godhead (the Divine Trinity) dwells bodily;' and that the only way to salvation is the acknowledgment of this great truth in heart and life, and the manifestation of it in our own conduct through the keeping of His divine com. mandments. us. "We mention this meeting so prominently, because it was so excellent a demonstration of New Church doctrines, and it reflected so brightly on our church, that we see no reason why it should not become an annual delight to Not that we could expect on all occasions to have the presence of all our foreign friends, though of that perpaps we need not entirely despair; but the friends of the New Church have it entirely in their power to have annually as large a meeting if they will only make the necessary exertions; and the committee feel, as you will no doubt do, that the anniversary of this society would be the most fitting opportunity for expanding itself into these large dimensions. "The circumstances of the times, too, are most favourable for a new effort in this direction. Our church has never sought to engraft mysteries and priestcraft upon its doctrines. Its creed is simple because it is true, and it appeals to the reason and not to enthusiasm or prejudice. Have we ever come before the world with our doctrines, or have we ever found a humble seeker after truth, without obtaining converts? That the world should know of the existence of these heavenly truths is all we ask, knowing as we do that they can give precisely what at this epoch the minds of men are yearning for. Our task is every day becoming less difficult, and in the general chaos of religious doctrines we see and know the pleasant places where all good men may meet and worship." The committee having alluded to several interesting items respecting Sweden, and also respecting the call from India to translate the doctrines of the New Church into the languages of the East, (see this Periodical for 1851, pp. 232, 274,) the report concludes as follows: "Our report has embraced a wide field--but it is because the human mind all over the world appears to be longing for the treasures of which we are the humble custodians. Is it not a position of the highest responsibility, to know and to appreciate the doctrines of the New Church-to know them all sufficient for the wants of mankindand to see the lamentable state of confusion in which the religious world is floundering, for want simply of what we have to offer for their acceptance? Where else is the religious creed which is large enough to embrace all minds, and to introduce into the world a principle which shall make all things new;' which shall do away with the distinctions of high church and low church, and all the numberless and bewildering sects into which the Christian world is divided, and shall bring them all with us to worship the one only God, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ"? The receipts of the society have been Its disbursements. but that to believe in certain dogmas is alone essential, we cannot expect anything else than a religion of hypocrisy. This error-which exists to a greater or less extent in all churches-arose in the Roman Catholic Church long before the Protestant Church existed, and it is because Luther allowed this corruption to pass unreformed, that a second reformation becomes necessary. We of course grant that faith is necessary as a means to the practice of religion, but it is to mistake the cause for the effect, and the means for the end, to make faith the religion of the Christian. Regeneration in man is the object of religion, but if we make belief our aim, and not regeneration, there can be little or no effect produced on the conduct, and without that there is no regeneration. The object of Christ's coming was to publish the truth, so that men might make application of that truth to their lives and turn from their sins; but to make belief everything, and the practice of religion nothing, is to render the religion of Christ worse than useless. The Protestant Church made great progress at the Reformation, but so far as her standards are concerned, she has made none since. While this is nominally 0 her state, she has in reality made much progress, for happily very few men believe in contradictory doctrines, and these unfortunately abound in her creed. No intelligent Christian denies that works, or the practice of religion, is necessary to salvation; and yet that belief is incompatible with 'justification by faith alone!"-p. 38. £884 12 11 Balance in hand...... £202 5 CHURCH REFORM. A pamphlet by A. Alison, Esq., entitled "Our Future Policy," addressed to the "Electors of the United Kingdom," has met with a very extensive circulation, and awakened very much interest, as is evident from the high tone of approbation in which nearly all the newspapers in the kingdom speak of it. In his "Second Address" there is a chapter on "Church Reform," which will be found full of interest to the friends of progress, and especially to the members of the New Church. This reform is not merely a reform of external abuses, but it is a doctrinal reform. And the chief point of doctrine at which the reforming power is to be directed, is that of "Justification by Faith only," which, as our readers know, is the principal doctrine of the Protestant Church. Thus the author of this pamphlet says: "If we believe that the practice of religion is not necessary to salvation, Again he says: "It is by a consistent protest against superstition, and unfurling a better standard than that of 'Justification by Faith,' that the Protestant Church can stand in the day of trial. Let the reformed Protestant Church protest against all present miracles, both internal and external, and let her banner be justification by faith in the love of God, and in the obedience of man, and strong in the power of truth, she shall speedily vanquish and overcome all her enemies. Salvation in consequence of faith alone leads to another error no less injurious: we allude to the doctrine of the Priesthood. If it be true that everything is transacted for us in heaven, and that we can do nothing for ourselves, we require a Priesthood to |