the forty-fourth Anniversary of our Printing Society,-permitted. also, to offer a becoming tribute of grateful acknowledgment to the Lord for the continued mercies of His providence, in having vouchsafed to grant us another year of exercise in the humble sphere of usefulness contemplated by this Institution.

"Life, and use, and enjoyment, appear to be connected together by so close a bond of union, that, in a state of separation from each other, they can have no permanent existence. All the visible works of creation, as proceeding from the Omnipotent, constitute a vast theatre of uses. Heaven itself, also, is a Kingdom of the noblest uses, in which, as we are instructed and may rationally comprehend, the individual amount of happiness is regulated and determined according to the allotted use of each inhabitant, and the measure of love and zeal with which he performs it for the common good of the universal angelic brotherhood. For thus, by derivation from the Lord, and under His auspices, the mind of every angel is a luminous centre, from whence the activities of good proceed, in all directions, to the remotest circumferences of the heavenly communion; whilst, in return, the uses and delights of the whole, being concentrated in the bosom of each, communicate an aggregate and continually increasing amount of blessedness, proportionate to the immensity of the Lord's Kingdom, and the perpetually augmenting number of its countless inhabitants. These glorious results of the disinterested love and practice of uses, are mercifully offered to the contemplation, and plainly and beautifully presented to the acceptance of every Christian, in the following exhortation and gracious promise of the Lord to His disciples:- Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.'-(Luke vi. 35-38.)

"If such be the order of creation,-if such be the nature of the Lord's Kingdom, founded on His divine instruction and promises,—it must be obvious that scarcely any blessing can be conceived or desired greater than that of being permitted to live, and enabled to fulfil the duties of some sphere of uses, especially such as this Society was formed to promote; for these relate primarily to the spiritual part of man, and the light and life by which he may be directed and guided to the regions of immortality. And, again, if such be the magnitude of the privilege which, of Divine mercy, we are still enabled to enjoy, let our right estimation of the gift be proved by a willing and devout tribute of praise

to the Infinite Giver; and let our just valuation of the use be demonstrated by performing it with renewed zeal and disinterested love.

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But although the capability to fill some circle of usefulness holds so dignified a position in the scale of human privileges; yet for want of the intellectual and practical light which the doctrines of the New Jerusalem most amply supply, there is probably no blessing which, speaking generally, is more widely misunderstood, nor more lightly esteemed, than this distinguished and truly angelic privilege. Assuming this to be the fact, surely the knowledge and remembrance of it ought to operate as a powerful incentive to our steadfast endeavours to correct the error by disseminating the truth, agreeably with the Lord's further instructions: * Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.'-(Matt. v. 16.)

"The Society's (operations are now, indeed, more circumscribed than formerly; but still there is reason to hope and believe, that much good is yet within the province of its labours. That the various works of your late venerated friend Clowes, the founder of this institution, have been, and may hereafter be, eminently beneficial in opening and smoothing the way to the writings of Swedenborg, and in accommodating many of the essential truths of the New Church to the minds of thousands, cannot admit of a reasonable doubt; and their practical tendency to promote the purity of Christian life, is equally unquestionable. In the regular re-publication of these works, therefore, the Society has an object worthy of its ardent and continued efforts, and a fair prospect of contributing, in no small degree, to the advancement of the Lord's new and true Church on earth and in heaven.

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Whilst speaking of Mr. Clowes's labours of love, allow me to digress a little, and advert to an interesting circumstance which had its origin during the session of the last general Conference, held in the city of Bath. A few friends from various places being assembled at a private house, the conversation turned to the subject of Mr. Clowes's 'Affectionate Address to the Clergy;' and it appearing that a long period had elapsed since it was first issued, and that nearly the whole of the existing clergy were probably in utter ignorance of its contents, or even of its existence; several of the friends were of opinion that a re-circulation of that silent messenger of affection and truth would be attended with beneficial results; and one of the gentlemen present very liberally offered to give £20. towards carrying out the object. Others contributed smaller sums; and eventually it was agreed to print an edition of 15,000 copies for gratuitous circulation. But there was still a large amount wanting to

pay the postage, although care was taken to print the Address in such a way as that it would be subject only to the charge of a penny. In order to raise the requisite amount, the Church was appealed to through the medium of the Intellectual Repository; and the appeal was successful. Many societies and individuals readily responded to the call, by forwarding various sums. The Committee of the London Printing Society voted £10. towards this object, and kindly undertook also to make arrangements to post the Address from London. Your committee also voted £10. for the same purpose. Probably not fewer than 12,000 or 13,000 have already been circulated to the clergy. About 600 or 700 have also been forwarded to the clergy of the Kirk of Scotland. A few have been sent to dissenting ministers, and the remainder will be distributed as soon as practicable. What the result has been, or may be, we have not yet the means of knowing; this, however, we may safely leave in the hands of the Great Searcher of all hearts.

"But to return to the uses which may engage the attention of this Society. You are aware that besides the writings of Mr. Clowes, we are at liberty to print and publish the works of other New Church writers. Another field of operation is thus open to the members of this Society, the cultivation of which, hitherto rather limited, is capable of being greatly improved and extended for the spiritual benefit of mankind.

"It is no slight encouragement to unwearied perseverance and activity to behold, as time rolls onward in rapid progression, that every successive year furnishes additional evidence that the human mind is gradually being more and more prepared for the investigation and discernment of spiritual truth, the detection of fallacy and error, and a more clear and rational discrimination between the corruptions of Christianity and Christianity itself,-between the confusion and darkness of the mis-called religious systems which are solely or chiefly of human origin,-and the simplicity and brightness of that pure, practical, spiritual religion which the Word of God is seen to develop in proportion as its unerring pages are rightly understood and duly appreciated. To whatever direction of the religious world we turn our eyes, whether far or near, the convulsive symptoms of agitation, disquietude, and change, are plainly and fearfully visible. The teachers and the taught are alike confounded, and striving alike to confound each other. And while each conflicting party loudly proclaims concerning opposite principles, 'The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord are these,' the humble recipient of the New Jerusalem verities fixes his mental eye on the divine warning which accompanies this display of the vaunted Temple,

'Amend your ways and your doings. Trust ye not in lying words.' (Jer. vii. 3, 4.) And he beholds, in the Babel-like confusion around him, the certain signs and convincing evidences of the spiritual fulfilment of the Lord's solemn prediction relative to His nominal Temple or fallen Church, as conveyed in the following words: There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.' (Luke xxi. 6.) Under this aspect alone, such a state of things can hardly be viewed without painful sensations. But when they are regarded, according to the Lord's further instructions, as the harbingers of His second advent, and of the ushering into the world of a new and glorious dispensation of religious truth and goodness for the salvation of man, they then present an aspect which cannot fail to sooth and cheer the otherwise drooping and desponding mind. The Lord therefore adds, 'When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.' (Ver. 28-31.)

'When we take an enlarged and comprehensive retrospect of the mental movements which are daily being manifested, we may clearly discern therein, and have great reason to rejoice in discerning, the mighty hand of God, and the superintending care of His merciful providence to promote the happiness of all His humble disciples, of every name and nation,—all in whom there remains any spiritual good or the heavenly love of doing good, and the unfeigned desire to understand the sacred truths of Divine revelation, and thus to learn the will of the Lord, and practice faithfully the prescribed duties of true religion. These, wherever they may be, have the distinguished name of 'the ELECT;' and for whose sake it is declared, Those days shall be shortened;' and to whom, also, as a salutary precaution in the midst of religious strife and perplexity, Jesus said, 'In your patience possess ye your souls.' In the various religious denominations there are doubtless many such; many who, on account of the principle of goodness derived from the Lord, which is still alive in their hearts, are called 'the elect,'-who, as a 'remnant' of the true Israel, desire to emerge from the bondage and darkness of erroneous doctrines, and to breathe the genial air of spiritual light and liberty. Here, then, my brethren, is ample encouragement to unabated perseverance. Let us, therefore, not be weary in well-doing, but labour to turn their eyes and direct their steps to that holy city, the New Jerusalem, wherein the LAMB is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in

the light of it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day; for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.' (Rev. xxi. 23—26.)"

REVIEWS.

IMPORTANT DOCTRINES OF THE TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, Explained, Demonstrated, and Vindicated from Vulgar Errors; being a Series of Lectures delivered at the New Jerusalem Church, in Cross-street, Hatton Garden, London. By the Rev. S. NOBLE, Author of the Plenary Inspiration of the Scriptures Asserted, &c. &c. London: HODSON, 2, Clifford's Inn Passage, Fleet-street; NEWBERY, 6, Kingstreet, Holborn. Manchester: KENWORTHY, Cateaton-street. pp. 504.

THIS volume of Lectures has, for some time past, been occasionally announced to the public, and many have been anxiously awaiting its appearance. Knowing the great ability of the author in discussing subjects of doctrine connected with the theology of the New Church, this volume, we think, will, like the other productions of the same learned writer, take a high stand in the estimation of all unprejudiced minds, who are seeking pure Scriptural and rational views of Revealed Truth, and of the genuine Doctrines of Christianity. We can sincerely congratulate the public on the appearance of these Lectures; especially when we consider (as is abundantly demonstrated in the first article of this number of our Periodical), the present awful state of things in the theological world. Every thing in relation to the primary and essential doctrines of Christianity is in the utmost confusion and darkness; so that despair, as to the possibility of finding the right path to the knowledge of truth, appears to be hovering, like an ominous bird of night, over the minds even of the sincere and the pious. In such a state of things, what can be more welcome to such minds than a volume of Lectures on Important Doctrines of the True Christian Religion"?— Lectures which open new views of every doctrine of revealed truth, carefully separating the wheat from the chaff,-the pure truths of the Divine Word from the vain traditions of men, must needs be heard and read with attention by the candid and reflecting; and we doubt not that it will be hence seen, that "Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together;"—that all the doctrines of the New Church are in delightful harmony, founded solely upon the truths of the Word, of which they are