occurred in the spiritual world, narrated in language suited to the external state of the Jewish mind, and also to the lowest states of reception with Christians; and they should be so understood, and the minds of, parties afterwards led onwards to perceive that spiritual things being spoken of they must be considered in connection with the laws relating to spiritual substances. Again, it was seen that an objection might arise to the parable being taken as proving the accuracy of our doctrine, by reason of the gulf not being said to be inhabited. This was met by the observation that it did not say that it was uninhabited, and by a reference to other passages of Scripture, wherein narrations of combats are stated to have taken place in some state which could be neither heaven nor hell; combats necessarily implying that there must have been combatants, besides the definite statements in the Revelations, as to the spirits confined under the altar, and other passages. The general subject was then entered upon, in three great divisions. 1st. The Scriptural proofs. 2nd. The philosophical proofs; and 3rd. As subsidiary, The evidences afforded by the past history of the Christian Church. the heart has been explored, and separation effected, judgment is announced as in the words of the 34th and 41st verses of the 25th chapter of Matthew. The philosophical division was entered upon largely, and facts adduced as to the existence of an intermediate in all cases between two opposites, and also that in the constitution of man, bodily as well as mental, an intermediate existed, as the plane by which new states of being could proceed, as the result of food, bodily or mental, being duly assimilated. The fact was also adduced that the majority of mankind died in a mixed state, being, so far as we could see by the constitution of their minds, unfitted for an immediate entrance into either heaven or hell. To which may be added that the work of judgment itself presupposes a state in which it can he effected. Thus, if after having risen, men were to pass to either heaven or hell direct, and the Books of Life there be opened, what other would it be than passing sentence first, and then entering on the facts afterwards?—a course of proceeding which would hand down the memory of an earthly judge to merited and universal opprobrium. The history of the church in the early ages of Christianity also showed that this intermediate state was believed in, a belief which the Roman Catholics have corrupted into a purgatory, whose pains and penalties can be obviated for a pecuniary consideration. The subject for the next meeting is "On Human Redemption," and a hope was expressed that our ministers would attend and assist the missionaries and others in forming a simple, definite, and, above all, a Scriptural idea respecting this great work. The time is five o'clock, on the second Saturday in March, at the Peterstreet School Room, Manchester. S. The prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and particularly Zachariah, were named as showing that such a state must have been visible to the opened spiritual sight of the prophets. The declarations of John in the Revelations, the statement of Peter that Christ preached after his resurrection to the spirits in prison, and the statement in the Acts of the Apostles that our Saviour did not ascend into heaven for forty days after his resurrection, all evidence the existence of an intermediate state. The parables respecting the Talents and the Sheep and Goats may also be adduced, as showing that the work of separation with individual spirits is effected in some state in which exist for a time both those of whom it is MINISTERS' AND WIDOWS' PENSION FUND. eventually declared, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord;" and of those of whom it is said, "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." The sheep and the goats are all likewise assembled in one general state, but separated into distinct societies, and after To the Editor. Dear Sir,-As it will, I have no doubt, be some satisfaction to the church at large to know the precise state of the Ministers' and Widows' Pension Fund, I beg to enclose you a statement, and sincerely hope that it may be an inducement to those who have not already subscribed to do so now, as it was the hope and desire of those who first suggested its formation that the funded property should, if pos sible, be raised up to £1000., which Yours very truly, THOS. F. SALTER. Aug. By Balance as per audited account, (see Minutes of Conference By Salford Society "Preston do. "Brightlingsea Society "Newcastle "Heywood £. s. d. 60 0 0 7 10 0 7 10 £75 0 47 0 0 1 9 2 10 2 4 0 0 13 7720211 4 do.... 2 0 0 do.... 0 1 "Mr. Broadfield.... "Miss Hooker (per Dr. October 16. By Dividends on Balance due to Treasurer New Church are undoubtedly tracts and books. We consider Mr. Saxton, and those who follow his example, to be the most effective missionaries in the cause of the New Church that have ever appeared. The letter, an abstract of which we here present, is to Professor Bush, and is as follows: "Book Operations by H. M. Saxton, from August 1 to September 10. "Since August I have distributed by sale 422 books, for which I have received 141 dols. 68c. "The books sold are as follows:-66 Heaven and Hell; 38 Divine Providence; 24 Divine Love and Wisdom; 26 Book of Doctrines; 37 Heavenly Doctrines and Brief Exposition, bound together; 26 Life of Swedenborg, by Hobart; 1 ditto, by Wilkinson; 12 Biographical Sketch, by Barrett; 11 Antediluvian History; 8 £. s. d, Religious Philosophy, by Des Guays; 29 Bush's Reasons; 8 Letters to a Trinitarian; 13 Earths in the Universe; 6 Dictionary of Correspondences; 2 Parsons' Essays; 2 Regenerate Life; 4 Numbers of Swedenborg's Library; 14 Bruce on Marriage; 3 Growth of the Mind; 5 Sacred Scriptures; 3 Doctrine of Life; 11 Two Worlds; 4 Immortal Fountain; 4 Doctrine of Charity; 6 Heavenly Doctrines; 2 Last Judgment; 2 Conjugial 0 10 0 Love; 5 Open Intercourse with the Spiritual World, by Barrett; 4 Four Leading Doctrines; 3 Summary Exposition of Internal Sense; 3 Doctrine of the 7 15 10 Lord; 1 Heavenly Doctrine and Doctrine of Life, bound together; 2 True Christian £75 0 0 Religion; 1 Divine Love and Wisdom; Divine Love and Wisdom from A. E., and Influx, bound together; 1 Heavenly Doctrines, English edition; 3 Sacred Scripture, White Horse, and Summary Exposition, bound together; 6 Books for Children; 5 Golden Wedding Ring; 9 Subscribers for the N. C. Messenger; 13 Influx. 0 0 5 12 1 N.B.-The sum of £384. 17s. Id. is the gross amount of the funded property belonging to the above fund. DISPOSAL OF NEW CHURCH BOOKS ;- The following is an account of the useful labours of Mr. Saxton, in disposing of New Church books and tracts by sale and distribution, on his travels in different parts of America. We have much pleasure in printing this interesting account in our Periodical, as an inducement for New Churchmen in this country, especially for those engaged in commercial travelling, to follow the admirable example of Mr. Saxton. as the principal means of making known the doctrines of the "The H. H. were nearly all bound in cloth, and contained the Doctrine of Faith bound in. The Book of Doctrines includes the Heavenly Doctrines, Brief Exposition, Sacred Scripture, White Horse, Lord, Faith, and Life. "I have distributed gratuitously 200 copies of the "Address" to the People of Michigan and Northern Indiana; 20 Corner Stone Tract; 2 Heavenly Doctrines; 2 Brief Exposition; 1 Charity; 1 Bush's Reasons. "The D. P. and D. L. W. were chiefly of the Publishing Society's edition. "I am welcomed wherever I go, not only by New Churchmen, but by many others. There are multitudes of people who rejoice in the idea of having something better than the old dogmas. "A few days since, as I was about to leave a village, I called on a man whom I had not before seen. He seemed very glad to see me, and more glad to see the books. He said he had wondered that the N. C. people did not employ persons to distribute the books. He had never had an opportunity of getting any of the publications, and hence knows but little of them; but he had an idea that they contained something important and valuable. He bought Book of Doctrines, H. H., D. P., D. L. W., Biog., and Ante. Hist., and requested that if ever I came to the place again, I should make his house my home. He does not pretend to be a New Churchman; but although he is externally connected with the Episcopal denomination, I think he is internally receptive of influx from the New Heavens. "People often wish me success, and request me to call on them again. 66 Niles, Mich., Sept. 10, 1851." SHORT AND PITHY TRACTS. To the Editor. Dear Sir, I am very sorry to inform you, that the Manchester Tract Society have declined to carry out my proposition respecting "Short and Pithy Tracts. They allege as a reason, that "they do not conceive that the printing of addresses comes fairly within their legitimate province, and they therefore regret their inability to comply with the suggestion of the Rev. R. Edleston." It thus appears, that they do not condemn the plan, but they suppose that they are not the proper party to carry it out. The London Tract Society have not yet replied. The application to them was delayed, and they have not had time to decide. I trust that they will take a more favourable view of the suggestion, and adopt it. If any private individual were to undertake to carry out the plan himself, it would be at great risk and inconvenience; for it is scarcely probable that he would be supported to the same extent as the Tract Societies would. Great difficulty and cost would also occur in transmitting the tracts from Leeds to other towns; and if an agent were appointed in London, he would require at least 25 per cent. for his trouble, which would considerably enhance the price. And on the other hand, if a number of persons were to join together to bear the expense and trouble of the undertaking, it would look like instituting another rival tract society. This would be unpleasant. It would be much better, therefore, if one or other of the two societies already in existence would undertake the project. To reject it upon the plea that the printing of addresses does not come within their legitimate province is somewhat lame. It is catching at a name. Call the addresses, which we propose them to be, small tracts, and the difficulty will be removed. Tracts come within their "legitimate province," if addresses do not. Some persons have thought that the printing of the works of Swedenborg, and the Synoptical Tables," were not within the province of a tract society; but we rejoice to see that one of the tract societies has not been troubled with nice scruples about its "legitimate province" in this respect, but has pushed on and performed a use that was needed. I wish they would do the same with my suggestion. It has met with general approval. Many persons have written to me, expressing their approbation of the plan. One writer says, "I am delighted with your idea of publishing short and pithy tracts on the doctrines of the New Church. I shall be happy to subscribe ten shillings, and doubtless many others would be found to coöperate in So excellent a plan." Another says, "I have read with extreme pleasure your letter in the Repository, and also your pithy and complete overthrow of the tripersonal belief respecting God. I am sure such an article, and of the same length, if used as a small tract for general distribution, would be of great use, and I beg to say that I will do what lies in my power towards the object." A third says, "Your observations in the Repository this month I highly approve of, and think the subject of very great importance. Your short tract seemed to me also well adapted for the purpose intended. The tract societies should give immediate attention to it. I send you a shilling's worth of stamps towards any small expense you may be under in bringing the thing before the church at large." All this is encouraging, and sufficiently warrants me to press the subject upon the attention of the tract societies. They would incur no loss by adopting the plan; for a ready a series of tracts upon their own responsi sale would be found for the tracts. If, bility. The plan can be arranged afterhowever, they should still decline, rather wards. In the meantime I shall be glad than the want should remain unsupplied, to receive the suggestions of others.it would be well for those who approve I am, &c., R. EDLESTON. of the suggestion, to unite and bring out Marriage. Married, on Tuesday the 23rd December, at the New Jerusalem Temple, Newcastle-on-Tyne, by the Rev. J. Cull, Mr. Henry Piper, to Rebecca Jane, third daughter of Mr. Thomas Plomer, Herrish Cottage, Dorsetshire. Obituary. preached on the occasion, by R. G. Died, on the 2nd day of August, 1851, in the 85th year of his age, John Nuttall, of Heywood. The deceased became a member of the New Church Society at Heywood about forty years ago, before any place of worship was erected there, and while the meetings of the society were held at the house of Mr. James Ashworth. He was an intelligent recipient of our doctrines, which were his solace through a long old age, and his hope and comfort at his departing hour. His life made one with his faith; and he died respected and lamented by a large circle of friends. P. Died, at Liverpool, on the 20th of July, 1851, aged 52 years, Mr. Daniel Griffith. He was brought up in the most rigid Calvinistic doctrines. About the year 1834 the subject of this memoir borrowed the True Christian Religion from a friend, who attended some lectures in Gerardstreet, the place where the New Church Society then assembled. He felt, after reading a good portion of it, strong opposition to its contents. He took the book to another intimate friend of his, for the purpose of effectually refuting and condemning what he called its pernicious and anti-Christian doctrines. His friend, however, greatly to his astonishment, greedily devoured its contents, and be came a member of the New Church. Mr. Griffith was wonderstruck at what he then considered the weakness of his friend, and prayed earnestly that God Almighty would shew him the danger of giving heed to such doctrines. His friend, however, could not be induced to Died, at Headingley, near Leeds, on give up such abundant treasures-a shy- the 12th November, 1851, Mr. Titus ness took place, which continued some Turton, after a long and painful illness. time. Mr. G. being a man of thought His complaint was paralysis; he was for and reflection, was induced to reconsider many weeks unable to sleep in a bed, or the matter, and the result was his full to speak, or to walk, and had only the and unqualified acquiescence in the truths imperfect use of his left hand, with of the new dispensation. Not only did which he made known his wants by he admit the truth into hisunderstanding, writing. He was formerly connected but, what is still more important in pro- with the Independents; but for many moting the real welfare of man, he culti years he had been a worthy and intelligent vated those elevated and pious feelings to receiver of our heavenly doctrines. which all the truths of the New Church During the last few years of his life he so infallibly point. Often has the writer has been deeply tried by what are comof this notice witnessed the dexterity monly called misfortunes, which he bore with which, in a few pointed questions, with considerable patience and resignahe could silence, if not satisfy, those who tion. His great source of consolation opposed the truths of the New Jerusalem. was the doctrines of the New Church. Our brother lived a truly Christian life, They guided his life, and were his prinand died a Christian death, in humble cipal theme of conversation in health, and confident hope of a joyful entrance and they sustained and cheered him in into heaven. A funeral sermon was sickness and in death. R. E. Cave and Sever, Printers, Palatine Buildings, Hunt's Bank, Manchester. He would be esteemed but an unskilful physician who, having determined the diagnosis of a disease, should be unable to prescribe the remedy. Yet many social physicians there are in this day, who take much credit to themselves for the ability to depict, in colours sufficiently black and terrible, the manifold evils that afflict the world; and who, while self-complacently describing the symptoms, forget that the patient is dying of the disease. For men to be taught that their state is unutterably bad, is good, if the unpalatable lesson be followed by the more agreeable instruction in the means of becoming better. But to assault the ears with one continuous wail of woes, present and to come, unmingled with a word of solid, sanative truth, as a help to the removal or prevention of these, is not the part of practical wisdom. And yet this is the condition to which more than one literary oracle of our day is reduced. The evils of the time loom large before them, and in the armoury of the past they find no weapon of fitting keenness and temper to cope with this new race of giants. To our incipient church, lofty on the pedestal of their own intelligence, they give no ear, but hopelessly anathematise the evils they know not how to cure. Not that the world is wholly destitute of men who conceive that they both know the root of the evils that oppress our race and the means of its extirpation. There are many such, and in high places. And though these means have been tried with wholly bad success, -though time by centuries and space by thousands of square miles have been afforded for N. S. No. 147.-VOL. XIII. L |