وو positions are maintained by Mr. Miller. solely with Scriptural arguments; and to his mind are entirely consistent with the orthodox doctrines of the Fall, the participation of the race in Adam's sin, redemption by a Divine Atonement, justification, the final judgment, and so on. aspects. We of course make no attempt here to pronounce upon the intrinsic truth of the matter; we only note the disposition as a somewhat conspicuous fact in the Evangelical Churches,1 and we think that, in justifying this tendency on Scriptural grounds, Mr. Miller will prove a welcome interpreter to many.' a personification of our corrupt self-love. At the same time we tender our best thanks to Mr. Presland for the important service he has rendered by calling attention so forcibly to the evil and danger to which we are all exposed through the indulgence of self-love. With all that he has written upon this point we fully agree, and hope his Having noticed the first two of these lecture will have a wide circulation, for propositions the reviewer proceeds "But it cannot fail to awaken thought and to in his thesis, that while Christ was in make the reader feel that the most the fullest sense God, there yet is redangerous enemy to his peace and wel- vealed no real three-fold division in the fare lies within his own breast. 'The Deity itseif,-we believe Mr. Miller puts prince of this world cometh,' said our in formal statement what exists as a Lord, and hath nothing in Me.' That strong and apparently growing sentiment is the great difference between Him and in American orthodox Churches.1 The us. Unhappily, the prince of this tendency among them seems at present world' finds something in us-that self- to be to worship Christ as God; to love against which Mr. Presland warns address the Deity at one time as Christ, us so earnestly.' at another time as Father, or as Divine Spirit, or as Creator, or as Ruler; yet "QUESTIONS AWAKENED BY THE to think always of God as one, though BIBLE." (From a Correspondent).—Scrib- contemplated under different names and ner's Monthly, published in London and New York, for July, contains a review of a remarkable book lately issued at Philadelphia under the above title by the Rev. John Miller of Princeton, New Jersey. The following extracts from the article will, we think, interest our readers :- "This book is a curiosity in theology. It comes from Princeton, the stronghold of rigorous Calvinism. It is by a Presbyterian minister who had hitherto maintained his 'good and regular standing,' in spite of a very sharp attack on Dr. Hodge's system of doctrine.1 The author still remains an intense believer in most of the distinguishing tenets of Calvinistic orthodoxy, and even holds to a sort of 'divine right' in Presbyterian Church government. But with equally vigorous conviction he maintains in this volume three propositions: first that the soul is not iminortal, but remains after death in complete suspension of conscious existence until the far-distant resurrection; secondly, that Christ, like every other man, inherited the guilt of Adam; thirdly, that God is not a trinity, but in the most unqualified sense one and single, and that Christ was not merely the Second Person' in the Godhead, but the whole Godhead, 'Father' 'Son' and 'Spirit' being only different names for one undivided Deity. These pro1 "Fetich in Theology; or, Doctrinalism twin to Ritualism." New York, 1874. The reviewer concludes his notice by mentioning one not altogether surprising result which the publication of this book has produced, viz., that its author "has already been suspended from the ministry by his Presbytery, and has appealed to the Synod. Whatever be the outcome of the matter with respect to Mr. Miller's external position in society his mental standpoint, as indicated in the book under notice, is one whence one would think progress to a full acquaintance with the glorious truths of a New Dispensation on the subject of the Divinity of Christ, if not in their entirety, would be at once easy and delightful. COLONIAL AND FOREIGN MISSIONS.The New Church Foreign Missions is still "the day of small things. Something, however, has been done, and, notwithstanding many discouragements, we trust that what has been done will prove the seed-sowing of a bounteous harvest. The management of these Missions is in the hands of a Committee 1 The italics are ours. annually appointed by the General Conference. From the Report this year presented to Conference, we make the following extracts : brethren of Melbourne, Australia, have made an arrangement by which the Rev. J. J. Thornton, an honoured minister of this Conference, will remove to Melbourne, and become their pastor. A resolution, wishing Mr. Thornton success in his endeavour to plant the standard of the New Church in the colony of Victoria, accompanies this report. "The Scandinavian Mission seems to be in a healthy, progressive condition. The centre of the mission is now in Stockholm, the Rev. A. Boyesen, at the request of the Swedish brethren, having removed thither in the spring of this year. The "The friends in Sydney, Australia, also Swedish brethren in Stockholm assist are anxious to secure a minister. At their him at the rate of £120 per year. Dur- request fifty copies of the new liturgy ing the last year he made missionary and of the psalms were sent to them last trips to Gottenburg, Carlscrona, Chris- year, and also a complete set of Swedentianstad, and Tarna. On the 23rd of borg's writings, a present from the SweJune last he preached in Wester Gott- denborg Society. Your Committee have land in the Church at Sventorp to a been made by Mr. Bateman the custocongregation of 1300 people. During dians of £430 for the friends in Sydney, his absence from Stockholm the pulpit being one half of a sum left by the late is filled by Mr. Manby, the editor of Mr. Brett of Sydney to Mr. Bateman, the monthly organ of the Scandinavian for general New Church purposes. Your Church, which is a paper of the size of Committee have decided that this money the American New Jerusalem Messen- is to accumulate until the friends in ger. Since the Rev. Mr. Boyesen's Sydney are able to build a church, when removal from Copenhagen, his place has it will be handed over to them." been taken by Mr. Alfred Helleman, a candidate of theology, who, on the 15th of last month, issued the first number of a Danish New Church Monthly. The Scandinavian Mission was assisted during the last Conference year to the extent of £30. "The friends in Germany, three years ago, constituted themselves into the German New Church Society," and last year they adopted a provisional Church order, according to which the government of the New Church in Germany is vested in ecclesiastical superintendents (Kirchenvorsteher) who act under the executive council of their Society. These ecclesiastical superintendents, who are with them in the place of ministers, are elected for three years; and any one is eligible for this office who is recommended by at least twelve members of the general Society. "The friends in Vienna are in danger of losing their minister, the Rev. Hermann Peisker. Their troubles are set forth in an Address to the General Conference which they forwarded to the Secretary of your Committee on Foreign and Colonial Missions. As their case, upon investigation, seems a very deserving one, your Committee request that their Address be read at a full meeting of Conference. VIENNA. The following account of this Society is extracted from a letter of Dr. S. M. Cate, which appears in the New Jerusalem Messenger of August 8th:-"The hall in which the New Church services are held is at No. 9 Drilaufer Strasse. The hall is small, looking out upon a court that is free from noise, and in other ways seems to meet very well the needs of the Society here. It will seat about seventy-five persons, and was pretty well filled each Sunday we have been there, principally with men, and who apparently were for the most part from the working class. The people seem very much attached to their minister, and the minister seems thoroughly in the love of his work. But the poor man is in much trouble. His people are poor and have not much to pay. Besides, being raised in the Catholic Church, whose ministers are paid by the Government, they have not been accustomed to pay for their religion, and hence giving is not so much of a habit as to be second nature. The result is the good minister has almost no support. "Last Sunday the semi-annual meeting of the Austrian (N.C.) Association (as nearly as I could translate the name from memory) was held in the hall "In the Colonies the cause of the New immediately after the morning worship, Church seems to be prospering. The and I remained to hear and see what was done. Under the direction of the president the various reports were read upon the general state of the Church in Austria, and of the Church work done in Vienna the preceding six months. "One report particularly struck me. It was that of the treasurer of the New Church Society of Vienna. . . The Society had received from all sources, in six months, nearly 350 guldin; had paid 296 for rent, fuel, and other incidental expenses, which left 54 guldin for the minister for six months' support. When you consider that a guldin in gold is less than fifty cents, and in the Austrian paper money is worth only about forty cents, you will see this is a figure in which a man cannot possibly support a wife and two children. "During the session of the Association many were called upon for remarks, and responded in short and pithy speeches. An address to the New Church in England was read.” Bible and Swedenborg's works in the original languages, but it is possible that several years will pass before I shall be provided with the knowledge which is necessary for a man who wants to be ordained as a minister of the New Church. It will much depend upon the circumstances how long it will take to make the necessary preparation. "I hope our monthly paper will increase our congregation a little more; I think it is the only way to make people acquainted with the literature of the New Church. There prevail in this country so many prejudices against the works and the name of Swedenborg, that there will be many difficulties to overcome before the light of the New Church will be able to penetrate the thick clouds of material interests. Nevertheless, I hope our work will not be fruitless, and that some people will get their eyes opened. New "I passed two and a half years in the The address here alluded to was re- United States (from 1870 to 1872), and ceived by the General Conference, was in Chicago I was made acquainted with publicly read and considered by the Swedenborg's works and the Conference, and is published in the Church. At that time I did not intend appendix to the "Minutes." It is a to study Swedenborg's works in the painfully affecting document, and should original language, but only in English, be thoughtfully considered by the which I did in my leisure time. Both Church in this kingdom. The Church in America and here in Denmark, until needs help, and without it cannot maintain its public worship and continue the work in which it is engaged. the 1st of December 1876, I worked as engineer and architect, and it was only this year, when I heard that Pastor Boyesen was going to move to Stockholm, that I resolved to prepare myself for the sacerdotal office." COPENHAGEN.-The Report of the Committee on Foreign and Colonial Missions informs the Church of the departure of Mr. Boyesen from this city, SYDNEY. The Sydney Morning and the appointment of Mr. Alfred Herald of May 19th gives a brief notice Helleman as leader of the Society. In of a social meeting of members and the Messenger of August 1st is a letter friends of the New Church, held in the from Mr. Helleman, under date June new Temperance Hall, on the 15th. 28th, from which we make the following extract :-"I hope that this paper (The Danish N. C. News, which is published monthly) will open the eyes of many Danes who have before been ignorant of spiritual life, and have lived in the thick darkness of material interests. Sixty persons were present. After tea Dr. Brereton presided over the evening's proceedings, which consisted of a concert of music by several ladies and gentlemen amateurs, which was highly enjoyed by all present. Brief addresses were given at intervals during the evening. "Before our minister, Pastor A. T. Boyesen, left for Sweden, he recomISOLATED RECEIVERS AND THE NAmended me to the congregation of 'the TIONAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-The New Jerusalem Church' at Copenhagen, Committee of this Institution desires to and the congregation has elected me to call the attention of Isolated Receivers be the leader of Divine service, and the to the importance of Missionary labours, chairman (during the absence of Pastor that all that we are able to do may be Boyesen) of its managing Committee. I done to introduce to the minds of men have already commenced to study the the Light of the Holy City; and therby to dispel the darkness at present existing on the nature of the Divine Being, the Holy Word, the Eternal World, and other kindred all-important subjects, With a view to this end the Committee suggests as a practicable proceeding that Isolated Receivers should make inquiries, each in his own locality, respecting Halls where Lectures can be delivered, by whom Lecturers can be received, and other particulars, and forward the same to the Committee through its Secretary, ARTHUR FARADAY, 42 Hatton Garden, London. member united with the Head is also united with every other member, and would not be in the body if it were not thus united with the other members. Again, the Lord says, "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one for another. Who ever wanted to keep apart from those he loved? Love binds together, and is the "bond of perfectness.' What would be the consequence if each atom of matter refused to be joined to any other atom, all the earths in the universe would be dissolved. And so would the Church if all its members stood apart and reMEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH.-This fused to unite with one another. That question is at the present time occupy- the Lord intends the Church to be a ing the attention of some of the Societies visible organization appears from the of the Church in Lancashire. A con- representation of it as "a city set upon siderable number of young people have a hill, which cannot be hid.' Thus it grown up in these Societies, some the is an organization of a visible kind. children of New Church parents, others 2. Have not some good men thought in connection with the several Sunday- that it would have been better not to schools. Comparatively little systematic have formed the present organization of instruction has been given them respect- the New Church? not think it wise to withdraw from the Church with which they were in fellowship. But they never taught that any one should refuse to join any organiza tion who was not already a member of one. ing the duties and privileges of member- Answer. The good men to which you ship, and comparatively few have con- refer were members of a Church, and nected themselves closely with the though they had received the light and Church. Recently Mr. Henshall, the love of the New Dispensation, they did zealous Colporteur and Missionary preacher of the Manchester and Salford Missionary Society, has been invited to give addresses on "the duty and advantages of Church-membership," and to answer inquiries on this subject, in the Societies at Failsworth and Rhodes. Three questions were proposed at these meetings, which we give, with Mr. Henshall's answers. 1. May not a man be a member of the Lord's Church without joining any outward organization? Answer. The Lord has not left this an open question. He says, "I will build My Church;" His Church, therefore, is a building. But there could be no building if all the stones stood apart and were not constructed into a building. Again, the Lord says, "I am the Good Shepherd. Each member of His Church is one of His sheep; these He gathers into His fold, that there may be one fold and one Shepherd. The Lord is also "the True Vine;" the members are branches. The Lord is the Head of the Church, the members are the body. Now, while each branch is united to the Vine, it is also united to every other Branch. So with the body; every 3. But one says that the Church of Christ is not an ecclesiasticism? Answer. The Lord's Church is a household of brothers and sisters, and we become of this household by the new birth, without which no one can see the kingdom of God. "The Lord's portion is His people, Jacob is the lot of His inheritance." The Lord makes all His people kings and priests; hence St. Peter calls the Church "God's heritage." The Lord is the great Pattern of the Church. He commenced His ministry after His baptism, and so the Church begins hers after being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Like her Lord she heals the sick, teaches the ignorant, and feeds the hungry. She carries the Cross, is despised and rejected of men, has even to be crucified with Him that He may be glorified in His people. All the Lord's promises are made to the Church. "Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of events of the life of our Lord on earth, and the history of some of the principal personages of the Bible. Much valuable and easily remembered instruction, Mr. Speirs thought, might be conveyed to the minds of children in the teaching of hymns and texts of Scriprhyme, and he particularly recommended ture to the young. As the scholars advanced in years, he thought they should be taught thoroughly the historical parts of the Word, with such helps as could be obtained from the use of maps, models, etc., and gradually led up to the higher wisdom of the internal sense. He mentioned several books that would be of use to the teacher in the several stages of his work, but deprecated too much dependence upon them. The instruction, he insisted, should come from the teacher as his own, to meet with any success, and special preparation should never be neglected. A discussion followed the reading of the paper, and the meeting was brought to a close by the president pronouncing the benediction. The next meeting, which will be the first annual one, will be held at Camden Road Church on the 24th October. LONDON NEW CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. The quarterly meeting of this Association was held at Buttesland Street, on Wednesday evening, July 18th, about twenty friends being present. The chair was taken by the president, Mr. S. B. Dicks, who expressed regret at the small attendance, which he explained was due to the fact that four other New Church meetings were being held in London on the same evening. After the preliminary business of the meeting had been disposed of, Mr. James Speirs read a paper on the subject of "The Order of Instruction in Sunday Schools." He spoke of the great power of LONDON NEW CHURCH ASSOCIAearly associations, and especially of home influences in forming the future character TION.-This Association, regarding the of children. Religious instruction, he institution of home meetings for readsaid, did not commence in the Sunday ing the writings of the Church as calschool, but began as soon as a child was culated to prove valuable auxiliaries to able to receive impressions from without. the various Societies of the New Church These early impressions were often very in London, have appointed a Committee strong and lasting, and it behoved parents to encourage their formation and to aid to take care that they should be con- them by making use, from time to time, ducive to good. The affections largely influenced in these early days, and Church in London, or any other availwere of publications connnected with the the example of parents was one of the most powerful agents in moulding the dis- able means; and to report at suitable positions and minds of children. He periods to the Association the progress urged the importance of entire sincerity on made. The Secretary of this Committee the part of the parents and guardians of is Mr. Tarelli, 38 Londesborough Road, very young children, and the necessity of Stoke Newington. teaching them early right principles of action. When children were received at an early of a children's service of song has beLONDON (Camberwell).—The holding age into Sunday schools, he thought that an annual institution at this the kind of instruction afforded them come should be as much as possible such as church, and one of these popular meetthey would receive from a kind and judi- ings was held there on one of the cious mother. The teaching should be Wednesday evenings in July. The rather by talking than by reading to the performers were the Sunday scholars, children, and the simplest language should assisted by some members of the choir, be used. The idea of the Lord Jesus and the conductor was, as in previous Christ as the Great God and Father in Heaven should be first instilled, and the years, Mr. Camp Penn, jun., the fruits of whose careful training were abunchild should be taught to think of Him as dantly manifested by the performers. a near and loving Being, rather than a mighty and distant one. This great truth A fairly large muster of the friends of having been established in the mind, it the children and other members of the should then be made familiar with the congregation gathered in the church, |