(Development of Creation, T. S. Strange, p. 87). Glacial periods have existed for ages (Giekie's Ice Age), and then given way to temperate, and then to equatorial conditions on every part of the earth, induced by the slow precession of the equinoxes, but, as a whole, there is no reason to believe that throughout that immense period there has been any diminution of supply from the sun to the earth. The movement has been rather from less perfection of life to greater, from less perfect forms to those of greater excellence, and to greater multiplicity and variety of species.

How carefully these Christian philosophers reject the idea of a resurrection of the material body will appear from the following extract (p. 33) :

"When scientific thought was once more directed to the subject of IMMORTALITY, it was easily seen that the doctrine of the resurrection in its vulgar acceptation could not possibly be true, since a case might be imagined in which there might even be a contention between rival claimants for the same body. We might, for instance, imagine a Christian missionary to be killed and eaten by a savage, who was afterwards killed himself.

"It is, indeed, both curious and instructive to note the reluctance with which various sections of the Christian Church have been driven from their old conceptions, and the expedients, always grotesque, and sometimes positively loathsome, with which they have attempted to buttress up the falling edifice. Some deem it necessary that a single material germ or organized particle should survive until the resurrection. Boston, again, in his Fourfold State goes still further, adopting the theory that a single particle of insensible perspiration which has escaped from us during life, will be sufficient to serve as a nucleus for the resurrection body; so that, according to the disciples of this school, the resurrection will be preceded by a gigantic manufacture of shoddy, the effete and loathsome rags of what was once the body being worked up along with a large quantity of new material into a glorious and immortal garment, to form the clothing of a being that will live for ever. have only to compare this hideous and grotesque conception with the noble and beautiful language of Paul, to recognize the depth of abasement into which the Church had sunk through the material conceptions of the Dark Ages."

We

The important truths and consequences which follow the recognition of the spiritual body, on which all the sentiments, emotions and determinations, which have been active during life, have stamped their impress, are well expressed in the following (p. 204) :

"This thought has been developed by the Rev. Alexander Macleod, D.D., in a work entitled The Books of Judgment. This author points out that in many causes it may not be even necessary to appeal to the universe for the record that is therein written, for this is sufficiently stamped upon the body itself, and he then draws a vivid and lurid picture of the sensual man, in whom the mortal body is like a parchment written within and without, a truly mournful and terrible record of the deeds done in the body.

"But if all this is possible with an organism possessing so little plasticity as the natural body, and where the wish of the individual is to preserve a respectable exterior, what must be the case in the spiritual body of such a man? . . What a hideous and horrible likeness must not that foul thing have that issues forth from the grave and gate of death, into the presence of the Unseen and Eternal."

Nor can we say, as our authors do once or twice, that whatever has had a beginning must also have an end, for in that case, man having had a beginning must also have an end, and then what would become of the doctrine of immortality, which it is the very object of this book to uphold. Immortality comes from man's inmost spiritual organism being conjoined to God, an INMOST, higher even than his own consciousness, and therefore he cannot destroy it, nor can any one else. Man is immortal, because he is anchored on the eternal. Because God lives for ever, as the fountain of life, man lives for ever as the recipient of the stream. As man, the microcosm, by this perpetual, although derived life, which is abundantly supplied, will everlastingly continue, so the universe, yea, the visible universe, as well as the

UNSEEN, will endure for ever, to supply the Divine Love with an increasing multitude of immortals, whom Infinite Benevolence desires to bless. Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him all ye stars of light. Praise Him ye heaven of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the Name of the Lord: for He commanded, and they were created. He hath established them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass. J. B.

DICKINSON'S THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY (R. D. Dickinson, London) is but recently started. The April number contains several well-written articles of great interest. One on the Natural Basis of our Spiritual Language maintains and illustrates the typical character of the Israelitish history in a much more exact and comprehensive way than we generally find in commentaries. Such a recognition of symbolism gives promise of a coming recognition of a still more perfect interpretation of the Old Testament histories. An excellent article is that by Dr. M'Cosh, "Ideas in Nature overlooked by Dr. Tyndall." The paper relates chiefly to the sensational address delivered by the Professor before the British Association, but deals generally with the doctrine of Causation, as treated by the materialistic philosophers. The writer shows himself a match for Dr. Tyndall in his own domain, and treats the subject with great intelligence and power. An article "On the Work of Christ in the World" gives some enlightened views of His glorification and its effects. The writer sums up thus:"The work for man must be complete, that the work in him may be most effective; the sensible presence of Christ must be withdrawn, that His spiritual presence might be fully realized. He came into the world that He might get near to men; He went away that He might get nearer still; the paradox is an accurately stated truth. He came that He might manifest Himself to the senses; He withdrew His sensible presence that He might present Himself spiritually and directly to the soul. Christ is now

before every soul, with all He ever did or bore, in all the relations He ever took. The Gospel is not a mere record of what He once said, but His living Word. His earthly experiences are not mere history, but the forms which His perpetual grace to sinful men has taken-forms apt and sufficient for all men in all times."

One other paper we must notice. The testimony of organic life is intended to prove the distinction between life and every form of matter, leading up to the conclusion that life is not the effect but the cause of organism. The writer argues for the truth of the Scripture doctrine of the unity of God, among other facts from nian being everywhere a religious being, and under this head introduces these remarks:-"We have spoken of the presumption in favour of believing the united testimony of good men in all communions, in all ages of the Church, and we might add that the agreement of the saints of all times and all countries, even in pagan lands, in believing many of the great doctrines of monotheism, creates also a presumption that the guidance of the Spirit of Truth has not been wanting. But even in cases in which the multitude of saints has not spoken, even on points of rarer interest, or of deeper and more peculiar experience, the voice of a man of holy character is entitled to weight; it creates a presumption in favour of the truth of what he says, strong in proportion to his holiness, and to the glow of Divine love within him. The saying that love is luminous is attributed to Swedenborg; it embodies a pregnant truth, acknowledged, in some form, by wise and holy men both before and since the Apostle John, who says, "He that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and knoweth God."

SWEDENBORG SOCIETY.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

THE Sixty-fifth Anniversary of this Society was held at the Society's House, 36 Bloomsbury Street, London, W.C., on Tuesday, the 15th June, the chair being occupied by Dr. Stocker. The meeting was very well attended, and great unanimity characterised the proceedings. The Rev. Dr. BAYLEY offered up a prayer, and letters from several friends who were unable to attend were read. One was from the Rev. A. Clissold, M.A., who said :

"I beg to return to the Committee my cordial thanks for their increased exertions, and to express my gratitude to the Lord for blessing them with increased prosperity. May I draw attention to the fact that the revival of Devotion to the Sacred Heart is leading to the revival of discussions concerning the true doctrine of the Incarnation. In a letter from Archbishop Manning with which I was favoured some time ago, he says, that in treating of this subject it is absolutely neces sary to keep strictly to the terminology of the Church. Whereas, according to Swedenborg, this terminology is merely scientific and scholastic, which has therefore no life in it, and being thus a dead terminology it cannot express the marriage union between the Divinity and Humanity of the Lord. In fine, the ideas conveyed by this very terminology must be included among those things which the Lord put off in the process of glorifying the Humanity. Failure of strength obliges me to conclude this letter, which I do with the expression of devout wishes for a still increasing prosperity of the Society, and that it may be guided and governed by the Spirit of the Lord, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life.

The Rev. Dr. Tafel :-"I write to express to you my great regret at not being able to attend the anniversary meeting of the Swedenborg Society, in the welfare of which we all take such deep interest. But as the Birmingham friends are laying the memorial-stone of their New Church edifice on Wednesday next, and as they are very anxious to have the New Church friends of London represented on that occasion, I hope that the friends of the Swedenborg Society will kindly excuse my absence. Besides, the mere account of the operations of the Society Committee during the last year, as set forth by yourself and our worthy Secretary, will be so eloquent in itself, as not to need the help of my feeble voice to commend it to the favourable consideration of the members of the Swedenborg Society and the friends of the New Church at large. My absence also, I hope, will be partly atoned for by the presence on your table of the first volume of the Swedenborg Documents, which has at last reached the light of day. May it be instrumental in advancing the cause of the New Church, and in placing the memory of Swedenborg in its true light in the eyes of mankind." The Rev. J. Presland also wrote:-"I much regret that absence

from home will render it impossible for me to attend the annual meeting of the Swedenborg Society next Tuesday. I need scarcely say that if in town I should certainly be present to render all the support in my power to an institution which I consider second to none in the uses it accomplishes, and consequently in its claims upon our sympathy and active help."

Mr. H. R. WILLIAMS, writing from Tunbridge Wells, said: "I regret I shall not be present at the annual meeting of the Swedenborg Society on Tuesday, which I hope will be fully attended, and be interesting and useful."

The Rev. W. J. BAIN, a Congregationalist minister of Leamington, whose name is referred to in the Report in connection with the recent discussion as to the admission of Swedenborg's Works into the Free Library of that town, and who had been invited by the Committee, wrote to say that, owing to engagements, there, was only the barest possibility of his being present, but that if it were possible he would come. Mr Bain in his letter said :-" You will understand, of course, that I am not a follower of Swedenborg. I profoundly sympathise with his spirit as one who has sought to know God's Word with an individual feeling in a time of dead formality, and who grasped with wondrous daring the great Truth of the invisible and spiritual in connection with the Divine Revelation and Christian Life, in an age and under circumstances when religion was reduced pretty much to the level of a state enactment and a political means of influence. I regard his life and works as a link in that chain of great minds, and greater lives, through whom God is gradually bringing out the fulness of His Truth. His influence at this time compels attention. Personally, too, I feel indebted to this teacher for many a bright and vivid suggestion in the reading of his comments on God's Truth. I should very much like to have been present in your meeting. In a time like ours, evidently a transition state as to Christian doctrine, it becomes us to keep ears and heart open, and to watch with prayerful earnestness." Messrs. JOSEPH CLARKE, JAMES GILBEY, and MILTON SMITH having been appointed Scrutineers, the Chairman said :

We are again permitted by the Divine Love of our Heavenly Father to celebrate another anniversary of the Swedenborg Society, and in the few words which, as President, I have the privilege and pleasure of addressing to you, I would (without at all trenching upon the annual report drawn up by our esteemed friend and Secretary, Mr. Elliott) just ask you to follow me whilst I endeavour to draw a comparison between the attitude of the world of mind (with reference to knowledge and truth) as it existed at the close of the last century, with its condition at the present time; and let us, in the second place, dwell upon some of the good results which we may earnestly hope have been achieved by this most valuable Society during the past years of its existence.

On looking over the New Jerusalem Journal for the year 1792, in an article prefaced "The Signs of the Times," the writer, immediately

after the introductory remarks, says: "It is a matter of peculiar regret that at the present period there are many books and few readers, and of those who read how few are influenced in their practice by those books really valuable which are perused." Since the above remarks were written and published, may we not say of the present age, how many are both the readers and books, what a glut of books, periodicals, and pamphlets are at present in circulation; and well indeed would it be if all who read took good heed to the nature and character of the mental food they were indulging in, and instead of filling their minds with some of the light and trashy literature of the day, were to study, in the first place, their Bibles; and, secondly, the works of our best authors, and whilst doing so, would endeavour to master them by marking, learning, and inwardly digesting their contents. For example, what mental exercise could give more enjoyment than the perusal of some of the writings of Swedenborg, now issued at so cheap a rate by our Society?

The number of books in circulation at the present time is something marvellous, and this in a large measure has been owing to the remis sion of taxes on paper-the steam press, railways, ocean steamers, and telegraphs, effecting an increased and increasing communication between nations, causing a desire amongst the peoples of the earth to know more of each other. What an enormous power for good has not the press exerted, and as a rule, how true and upright are the comments on the events of the day in our daily journals!

On looking back at the commencement of the present century, may we not discern how wonderfully the Almighty was preparing the way for disseminating the truths of the New Dispensation by the formation, just a few years prior to the foundation of this Society, of the British and Foreign Bible Society-a Society which, since its formation, has spread seventy-three millions of copies of the Divine Word over the length and breadth of the world;-a Society which has copies of the Bible in languages of the East, which some members of the Asiatic Congress, lately meeting in London, had never seen, and which has printed and circulated copies of God's Word to tribes since extinct; and to show the difference in feeling towards it at its first formation and now, Low Churchmen (as they were styled) and Dissenters then formed its chief support; now archbishops and bishops deem it an honour to belong to it.

In these days there is certainly a vast wave of progress carrying men forward in every department of thought. This has been particularly seen in the religious world, by congresses held within the last year or two, both in America and in our own country, for helping forwiard the religious life; and are we not now witnessing the spectacle o thousands upon thousands of individuals attending the religious services of Messrs. Moody and Sankey, testifying at least by so doing an anxiety on the part of many as to the state of their souls? And are there not now good people of all shades of religious belief desirous to be up and doing something for the glory of God and the welfare of mankind?