heavenly truths than others, and would persuade others to join them; but they seldom indulge in denunciations of those who differ from them.

"Their place of meeting in Sydney is the New Temperance Hall, and on Sunday night they were singing a hymn as I entered the building. There were only thirty-two persons present, and I was disappointed not to see Dr. Brereton at the desk which serves as a palpit. He usually conducts the service, and his thoughtful philosophic discourses are much appreciated. Sometimes his professional work prevents his attendance, and the congregation have to do the best they can without him. Such was the case on Sunday night, and the service was conducted by Mr. Slatter, who read the prayers and a sermon very effectively. Hymn and service books were courteously supplied to me, and I found that the hymn, being sung, commenced, "Some seraph lend your heavenly tongue,' and contained the following line, Thine Esse is a vast abyss.' This may be clear to the metaphysician, but there would not be one in a hundred in a popular congregation who would understand what "Thine Esse' meant. I could see from the service-book that the service had commenced with the reading of a few short sentences of Scripture. The hymn was followed by an exhortation or invitation to worship after the style of the dearly-beloved brethren,' etc., in the Anglican service. Then every one turned round and knelt down, while a few brief and beautiful prayers were read, concluding with the Lord's Prayer, which all followed audibly. Another hymn was sung, and the lesson for the day, taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew, was read. Then the Beatitudes were read, while the congregation stood, and a few more prayers followed.

"Mr. Slatter announced that he supposed Dr. Brereton had been detained by professional duties, and proceeded to read a discourse on 'Judgment in the Land of Spirits.' The author referred to the words of St. Paul, 'It is appointed for man once to die, and after that the judgment.' From this and other texts he argued in favour of an intermediate state hereafter, where the weak would be strengthened, and the ignorant instructed.' In a city with a population of a million souls not more than 50,000 would be so good or so bad that they would be fitted for the extremes of bliss or suffering; all the rest would need something done for them, would require the training of angels. This intermediate state is the Paradise of God, Hades, or Abraham's bosom. Paradise is not heaven, but a metaphor borrowed from the Garden of Eden, which was certainly not heaven; it was rather a place where man might have been guided by the heavenly hosts. The writer described how, according to his belief, the angels meet and guide the four thousand souls who leave this world every hour: they do not even leave the evil souls, but the evil souls leave them. Neither angels nor the Lord punish any one, but the evil spirit casts himself into the lake of fire; it is 'evil that slayeth the wicked.' According to Scripture it is the proclamation of the Gospel which shall judge men at the last judgment; this is signified by the blowing of the trumpets by the angels, and this is affirmed in the text, 'the Word which I have spoken, it shall judge a man at the last day.' As the soul in heaven will be filled with the fire of Divine Love, so the wicked soul will be consumed with the fire of zeal for all that is bad, for lust and the gratification of the appetites.

The service concluded by singing the hymn commencing—

"Jesus, Friend to sinners dear,

To my soul be ever near;

Let me all Thy goodness prove,

All the wonders of Thy love.'

HULL NEW CHURCH.

SPECIAL SERVICES.

N Sunday, November 10, special services were held in the New Church, Hull, in consequence of the generous presentation to the church, by a lady, of two tables of the Ten Commandments. These consist of large sheets of zinc, which are placed side by side over the rostrum, at the back of the chancel. They are written upon a gilded ground. Round each table is a border of vine leaves and bunches of grapes. At the head of each are olive and fig leaves entwined, and on these leaves on the first table the word Jehovah is written in Hebrew letters, and on the second table a monogram of the Greek letters Alpha and Omega.

Full choral services were rendered both morning and evening. During the morning service Madame Mudie-Bolingbroke of London O Thou that tellest," followed by the chorus. In the evening sang she sang "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd," followed by the chorus, "And the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed." Both anthems were rendered with great taste and remarkable power. In the choruses the choir of the church was assisted by several members of the Hull Harmonic Society.

The subject of the discourse delivered in the morning was "The Divine Law of the Decalogue," and in the evening "The Origin

and Destiny of Man," in relation to the theories of evolution and metempsychosis, being one of a series of evening lectures in course of delivery by the minister, Mr. Boyle. The subject was treated in a manner which showed the lecturer to be thoroughly versed in the scientific theories which he had to bring under review. He said Revelation when properly interpreted is completely in harmony with the known facts of Science, and every fresh discovery would be found to exalt our ideas of God's works and Word. The lecture was listened to with the greatest attention and interest by the large congregation assembled. The church was almost filled in the morning, and in the evening was full to overflowing, many being obliged to stand during the whole service, and some being compelled to go away disappointed at not being able to get in.

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

The following notice of Mr. Gunton's lectures in that town appeared in the Wigan Examiner of Nov. 1: "The third of a course of lectures was delivered on Tuesday evening in the New Jerusalem Schools, by Mr. R. Gunton of London, the subject being, 'The Scriptural Way of Salvation, not Substitution, but Salvation from Sin.' Mr. James Smalley presided. At the close of the address the Chairman spoke highly of the three lectures delivered by Mr. Gunton, and said that religious discourses of this kind were calculated to do much good. Mr. Lowe proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer. He said that Mr. Gunton's discourse was argumentative, clear, and contained many new ideas and some old matter very eloquently and pointedly stated. He was glad to find that Mr. Gunton's reasoning corresponded with the importance of the subject. Mr. Rudd seconded the motion, and in doing so, said there was no question as to the originality of the lecturer's views. Mr. Johnson proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and said it gave him much pleasure to see a gentleman in the chair who could listen to the religious opinions of others with fairness and Christian charity. Mr. Gunton seconded the motion, and remarked that good chairmen were very scarce. A good chairman gave confidence to the speaker. He felt that some persons might be agitated and lose their judgment in listening to certain doctrines being discussed, but Mr. Smalley would be able to sit calm and collected, exercising his judgment on the merits of the subject, as the various views were being advanced. Mr. Smalley responded, and declared the meeting closed."

Mr. G. L. Allbutt, B.A., the minister of the Paisley New Church, is delivering a series of evening lectures during the present month upon "Difficulties of the Bible, and their Explanation. The Objections of Secularists to the Divinity of the Word shown to have no Valid Foundation." Under this heading Mr. Allbutt has treated and will treat on what is meant by God resting on the Seventh Day'; Let the dead bury their dead; Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire; and Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. The attendance has hitherto been very good, and the large number of strangers present has been most gratifying.

On Sunday, November 3, the Brightlingsea Society had the pleasure of listening to two discourses from Mr. R. Gunton. On the following Tuesday the annual meeting of the Society was held, when about seventy sat down to tea. At seven o'clock the chair was taken by Mr. Deans, the minister of the Society, and the reports of the officers for the past year were read and unanimously adopted. It appeared that four new members had been added during the year, and that one had departed this life. The Society's debt had been reduced by the sum of twenty-five pounds, in addition to which a new organ had been provided and nearly paid for. The treasurer reported a slight deficiency. The question of the Sundayschool was discussed at considerable length, and various practical suggestions were made for the purpose of increasing its efficiency. Mr. Deans called attention to the necessity of supporting the Ladies' Sewing Meeting Fund, it being the intention of the ladies to hold a bazaar in the course of next year to diminish the school debt.

The Rev. R. R. Rodgers of Birmingham has received a unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the Society in Liverpool.

The Society of receivers of New Church doctrines at Wincanton, Somerset, have lately had a visit from Mr. R. Gunton, who on Sunday, November 10, preached two sermons in the Templars' Hall, the Society's usual meeting-place. The subject in the afternoon was "The New Birth or Regeneration" (John iii. 3). This was expounded in a very clear and forcible manner, as was also, at the evening service, the subject of "The Bible: a Revelation from God to Man on Spiritual Subjects" (John vi. 63). About forty persons were present in the afternoon, and fifty at the evening service, and on both occasions were most attentive to the expositions of Mr. Gunton, whose addresses were eminently calculated to instruct and edify. On the following evening a social meeting was

held, at which were present, in addition to the friends who are avowed receivers of the doctrines, a number of visitors, who evidently were much interested in the proceedings. Mr. Gunton gave a very pleasant and instructive address, in which most of the salient points of New Church theology were touched upon, and afterwards replied to several questions from the audience. Brief addresses were also given by Messrs. Shepherd, Sweetman, and Pocock. Refreshments were handed round during the evening, and the meeting, which was throughout of an extremely pleasant character, closed with singing and prayer. A good number of the Silent Missionaries were disposed of, and will no doubt bring light to some inquiring minds. Altogether, the friends were much cheered by Mr. Gunton's visit, and many desires were expressed that that gentleman might find it practicable to visit more frequently the little Society at Wincanton.

Among the ivy leaves from "The Hermitage, Epping Forest," which appear in the current No. of Fraser's Magazine, is the following upon Education: "The greatest of social questions is not land or monarchy or woman's rights, but Education; not merely or mainly alphabetic education, but moral and practical training, formation of good habits of mind and body, and, in the first place, obedience, self-control, punctuality, and diligence; then, as far as possible, apportionment of fit labour to each and to all, and exaltation of their pleasures. Fit labour for each; fit pleasure for each; both within wholesome limits. The best system of national education is that which can measure and provide for the varied natural capacities of mankind; nourishing all that is good, counteracting all that is harmful. What is good and what is harmful may not be judged absolutely, but according to the wisdom of the time and country, embodied in experienced, unselfish men; and the highest wisdom means also the truest, soundest, most thoroughly practical. The loftiest conceivable theory of education is not too fine-spun to be applicable to the dullest and coarsest human material. what is the right aim for his education? in six words-To make the best of him. that is the right aim of education."

Given any human creature, It can be given infallibly Neither more nor less than

On November 10th the Rev. J. F. Potts, B. A., gave a lecture in

the Glasgow New Church on "The Creation," being the first of a course of five illustrative of the inspiration of the Bible. The church was full.

The Mutual Improvement Society connected with the New Jerusalem Church, Wigan, has opened its fortnightly meetings for the present winter session under the most favourable conditions. It excludes theological topics, and directs its attention to interchange of thought between its members upon art, science, and literature. It has issued a very neat and most interesting programme. Among the subjects we find "The Oratorios of the Nineteenth Century," by Mr. J. Dawber, who has, though blind, attained the degree of Bachelor of Music. And, as best illustrating the range of the subjects, we may instance a lecture on "Crockery,' one of a series on common things, to be given by Mr. J. Johnson.

The following remarks at the Church of England lay and clerical Conference, held at Louth a short time ago, on the value of sermons will be of interest: "The Rev. J. H. Overton, M. A., was glad that the importance of sermons had been touched upon. There was a time, he believed, when too much was thought of sermons, but he was now of opinion too little was thought of them. Lay criticism had given the clergy a few lessons, but he thought a few lessons might be taken home by the laity. The golden period of sermons was the seventeenth century, and he had a great admiration for the austere preachers of those days-Baxter, Jeremy Taylor, and others. He was struck with one fact about the sermons of that period, that was the great deal of thought and attention required to appreciate them. Much was said now. adays about simple sermons, but they should remember the border-land between simple and silly was not very wide. Some people complained that they were not able to understand sermons, but whose fault was it? He did not say they should fill their sermons, as Jeremy Taylor did, with Latin quotations. If sermons were worth anything, they required thought and attention in the hearer. They should also remember that the sermons to which he had referred were not preached once only, they were, in many cases, preached over again. He did think that if people expected to hear good sermons they must expect to hear them over again."

JESUS UPBRAIDS THE UNREPENTANT AND PROMISES HEAVENLY REVELATIONS TO THE LOWLY. December 1, Morning-Matt. xi. 20-30. All who have a knowledge of the Lord's goodness, wisdom, and power, and who do not accept and act upon His teaching, increase their own condemnation, as it is better not to know the truth than to know it and continue in evils (vers. 20-22). Doctrine however high cannot save, unless it conform a man's life by causing him to reject evil, for in all evil there is hell (vers. 23, 24). Divine Mercy works to conceal truth from those in falses and disclose it to the simple and sincere (vers. 25, 26). All Divinity resides in the Lord's Divine Humanity, which cannot be fully comprehended by man, but what proceeds from it may (ver. 27). Nothing else should be believed but the Lord's Divine Human, because it alone can deliver from the evil and false which are hell. All ought to seek to be conjoined to it, and submit all things to His guidance, as He, while in the world, submitted all things of His human nature to the guidance of the Divine in Himself (ver. 29). After evil and falsity have been overcome the Lord's guidance is gentle and peaceful (ver. 30).

SAUL ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SINFUL FOLLY TO

DAVID.

December 1, Afternoon..—1 Samuel xxvi. 21-25. The sovereignty of the natural man, though it tries to destroy the future ruler of the soul, the David in us, the spiritual principle which should guide us, is spared by the latter when it comes within its power; for the spiritual does not hate the natural, but the natural, which comes first, and which rules first, should serve the spiritual, and though Saul is the first king who rules in us, and though he tries to destroy David, David does not lift up his hand against the Lord's anointed. He appeals instead, as he cherishes no malice and spares his enemy, to the Lord to guard and guide him in all his troubles. The angels never seek to repel the assaults of the evil, for they know they can do them no harm; and that if they attempted to resist evil by evil, and not by good, they would avert themselves from the Lord's protecting care.

Printed by MUIR AND PATERSON, 14 Clyde Street, Edinburgh, and published by JAMES SPEIRS, 36 Bloomsbury Street, London, W.C.

SWEDENBORG.

96 pages, crown 8vo, sewed, 3d. ; by post, 44d. Reflections respecting the Works of Swedenborg and the Doctrines of the New Jerusalem Church, by RAO BAHADOOR DADOBA PANDU

RUNG.

The gentleman above named is a man of mark in India.

...

Published for the SWEDENBORG SOCIETY by JAMES SPEIRS, 36 Bloomsbury Street, London.

By the Rev. A. CLISSOLD, M.A.

Crown 8vo, cloth, 2s.

Sancta Cœna;

WHAT DOES SWEDENBORG REALLY THE CHEST TEA COMPANY

TEACH?

Ninth Edition, crown 8vo, cloth, 3s.
post Tree.

An Appeal in behalf of the
Doctrines taught in the
Writings of Emanuel
Swedenborg.

BY THE

Rev. S. NOBLE.

(LIMITED).

Offices: 31 SEETHING LANE, E.0.

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"Here is a volume in which they are honestly expounded and the life and character of Swedenborg honestly described. So that by the perusal of a work of not quite 500 pages every reader can judge for himself who and what Swedenborg was and what he taught. We think that the unprejudiced reader will find that Swedenborg had far better grounds in reason and Scripture, for some of his views at least, than is commonly imagined. Like Professor BUSH of America, we have been astonished at the extent to which Scripture is quoted, and fairly enough too, in support of those views, and at their reasonableness and general harmony with the nature and order of THE CHEST TEA COMPANY (LIMITED),

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"Messrs. Dunn & Hewett show a charming case, which is beautifully arranged, displaying Cocoa in every form. The Grocer, May 11, 1878.

"Messrs. Dunn & Hewett of London, the wellknown manufacturers of Cocoa, Chocolate, and Essence of Coffee, have obtained Two Silver Medals."-Mercantile Shipping Register, October 1878.

"If actual instructiveness and scientific value go for anything, the case of Dunn & Hewett will not pass unrewarded."-Glasgow Herald, Aug. 5, 1878.

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And at Paris and New York.

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The Birkbeck Building Society's Annual Receipts exceed Four Millions -How to purchase a house for two guineas per month, with immediate possession and no rent to pay. Apply at the Office of the BIRKBECK BUILDING SOCIETY, 29 and 30 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane. How to purchase a plot of land for five shillings per month, with immediate possession, either for Building or Gardening purposes. Apply at the Office of the BIRKBECK FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY, 29 and 30 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane. How to invest your money with safety. Apply at the Office of the BIRKBECK BANK, 29 and 30 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane. Deposits received at vary ing rates of interest. Current Accounts opened with persons properly introduced, and Interest allowed on the minimum monthly balances. English and Foreign Stocks and Shares purchased and sold, and Advances made thereon. Letters of Credit and Circular Notes issued. A Pamphlet, with full particuları, application.

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He showered his cheerful beams of light, investing all with joy.

Responsive to his ardent smiles, above, beneath, around, The landscape thrilled with gladsomeness, its only drear alloy

The shade that, where the pilgrim went, was cast upon the ground.

The flowers, with chalice opened wide, incaught the scattered beams

Of light translucent, as they fell, and quick upon the scene Outflung them, prompt transmuted into myriad-tinted gleams Of flaming gold, and violet, and red, and blue, and green. Aloft the rustling foliage of nobly-spreading trees

Spoke peace in gentle whisperings; and from the leafy bower

Hung clustered sprays of golden fruit; while on the winged breeze

Were wafted myriad fragrances from fruit, and leaf, and flower.

The streamlets babbled happiness; the crickets chirped their glee;

The birds in rippling melodies sang gratitude and praise To Him who made and blessed them all; and, flitting glad and free,

Lark, linnet, thrush, and nightingale poured out their roundelays;

While flower-like painted butterflies, and busy bustling bees, And thousand thousand lace-winged flies, danced in the

blithesome air

Like animated gleams of light: yea, nothing but could please Both mind and heart, both ear and eye, both smell and taste, was there.

Yet hungry, thirsty, heedlessly, with heavy step and slow, The pilgrim through the valley passed, nor drank, nor ate,

nor saw.

'Mid blaze of light, his eye was dark; 'mid streams whose noisy flow

Seemed say to him, " Drink, drink of us!" the clamour failed to draw

A listening ear or heeding glance, although a burning thirst Had parched his tongue and blanched his lips. And though on every side

Hung luscious fruit, yet hunger gaunt-of agonies the worst, A hunger close allied with death, remained unsatisfied.

O pilgrim, why so wilfully in darkness drape thine eyes? Why only thou to cheerful day prefer the gloom of night? From all else, in this smiling light, responsive smiles arise!"

The pilgrim murmured hopelessly, "No! no! there is no light!"

"And why, O hungry wanderer, why not outstretch thy

hand,

And pluck and eat the golden fruit that all around thee hangs?

Why hungry, when of plenteousness this is the favoured land?"

Then answered he, "There's naught can stay this hunger's ceaseless pangs!"

"And wherefore, thirsty wanderer, dost walk with haggard look,

And burning lips, and fevered tongue, when upward near thee burst,

From rocky bed, the fountains cool that feed the crystal brook?"

He answered, in despairing tones, "There's naught can quench this thirst!"

"And why, O joyless wanderer, why not unlock thine ears, And hearken to the jocund sounds that wait to flood thy soul

With joy as of the soaring lark, that knows not woes nor fears?

Why hearken not to whisp'ring trees, and streams that softly roll,

And vocal wing of humming bee, and merry song of birds?
All these in happy chorus speak their burden of delight,
And chant His praise, who made them all, in sounds more
plain than words."

"To me," he sadly answered, "all is silent, hopeless night!" "But light is bathing everything; how then, 'There is no light'?

And food abundant only waits thy willing, outstretched hand;

And rivers inexhaustible flow near thee fresh and bright. O drink of them! Why thirsty be, in this well-watered land?

The sun shines clear above thy head; uplift thine eyes and

see;

And look around on everything that basketh in his light; And know that all is made for thee, wilt thou but shake thee free

Of doubts, and fears, and disbeliefs, that wrap thee round with night.'

And, traversing the valley of this transitory life,—

A vale of gloom and weariness to those whose spirit's eyes Are tightly closed; but vale of light, with every blessing rife,

To those whose glances rapturous bespeak them heavenlywise ;

Thus, traversing life's valley, with heavy, hopeless tread,
Their shadows falling darkly on the verdure-vestured sod,
Go, pilgrims, blindly journeying, though God shines over-
head;

And though His arms encircle them, their cry is still, "No
God!"

Their souls' immortal appetites demand immortal food; Their hunger by the bread of heaven alone can be assuaged, And by the streams of life their thirst. But still, their minds imbued

With self's deceitful phantasies, their prisoned souls incaged In self's mean, darkened dwelling-place, they will not eat nor drink,

Though clustered fruit hangs near to them, from branches bending low

Of trees of life celestial, which softly fringe the brink Of streams that from th' Eternal Fount of living water flow.

"This cramped and darkened prison-house is all there is!" they say ;

"There is no life beyond the grave, no light, no love, no hope!"

They wot not heaven is near to them, and everlasting day.
O why, 'mid all-revealing light, in darkness blindly grope?
Why, heedless, close thy spirit's eyes? why stop thy spirit's
ears?

When opening them will usher thee, from soundless, joyless night,

To heaven of light and melody; and, for thy doubts and fears,

Will give thee hope, and confidence, and ever new delight. Uplift thine eyes! unlock thine ears! The Sun of Right

eousness

His beams is shedding over thee; and words of tenderest love,

That speak the heavenly Father's heart that yearns His child to bless,

Are calling thee, from life of self, to life of heaven above, Are calling thee, from weary paths of anxious, worldly fears,

To paths of joyous gladsomeness in realms of endless day, Where death and pain shall be no more, where God shall dry all tears,

And hunger, thirst, and weariness shall aye have passed away. H. SWIFT.