"No man having drunk old wine, straightway desireth new, for he says, the old is better," (Luke v. 39.) He divinely teaches us that the mind, when once imbued with principles, sentiments, and ideas, how soever false these may be, cannot straightway desire new principles and doctrines, howsoever true, for he says the "old is better." Hence a new state of things is a work of gradual progress. The divine love, which is the essential feature of the Divine Providence, can never break any principle or persuasion once voluntarily formed and established in the mind. To do so would be to act contrary to the very nature of love, which is gentleness itself. It can inperceptibly bend and incline, and by adding "here a little and there a little," it can gradually convert the mind, provided the heart be willing, to the full acknowledgment and love of truth. Now, that Dr. Woods, Dr. Pond, and others who have taken up the pen against the doctrines of the New Church, have drunk deeply of the “old wine," is abundantly evident; and therefore it is not to be expected that they will straightway desire the new. Of course, when the new is presented to them, their mental states, being, by previous education and long-cherished habits of thought, organized to see and to live in the old system, will not straightway desire any change. But with very many good souls at the present time, who are serionsly seeking the Truth, the "old wine" of the old church, in all its forms and divisions, is absolutely sour. All such are invited to the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, when, from heartfelt joy, they will exclaim to the bridegroom,—" Thou hast kept the good wine until now.” It is gratifying to see that the tone and manner of the opponents to the New Church are becoming more calm, considerate, and rational. In former years, when Pike and Beaumont wielded their pens against the new and holy cause, the flood of their abuse reminded us of the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth after the woman to destroy her. But a far more calm and considerate tone now characterizes the opponents. They begin to feel that there is something great and powerful in the cause they intend to oppose; and they equip themselves according ly for the battle. No sneer and derision, no ribaldry and mockery, will now suffice; no puisne lance will now avail. The coat of mail and the furbished sword are indispensable to the contest. And the opponents see, that although the cause is in its infancy, yet the cradle contains a Hercules, who will destroy all the serpents,-the progeny either of malice or of prejudice, which may attack its prosperity and its growth. Dr. Woods, from the calm and considerate manner in which he has raised his objections against the New Church and its doctrines, deserves attention. One thing is quite obvious, that Dr. Woods sat down to his task without having previously read even a single volume of Swedenborg, before he began to seek for objections. He consequently had but a narrow field of view, and has mistaken many points, and misunderstood their mutual relations, which he would not have done had he given the subject, and the numerous volumes developing the principle and doctrines of the New Church, a proper and serious attention. Professor Bush, in his reply, has therefore frequent occasions to put him right, even with the facts and data of the system he attacks; and then convinces him that his objections are raised not against the facts and truths of the system, but against his own misapprehension of their nature and import. Dr. Woods, however, is a generous opponent; he makes large concessions, and admires many things which Swedenborg has written. Indeed, he appears not desirous to find any fault with him whenever he writes from his own rational mind; but when he speaks of angels and spirits, and, from "things heard and seen," describes their condition and states, Dr. Woods becomes impatient and angry, and ascribes what he says to a species of insanity. Thus Dr. Woods says :— “There are many doctrines contained in Swedenborg's writings which we believe, because they are agreeable to reason and Scripture. We are not indebted to him for the knowledge of these doctrines, though we may be under obligations to him for presenting some of them before us in a clear and striking manner. For example, we have believed, without any reference to his writings, that the mind or spirit is essentially the man. We have believed that man continues to exist after the death of the body, a real and true man, in the full possession of the power of perceiving and knowing, loving and hating, enjoying and suffering. And we have believed that he has all his mental powers and faculties, as a rational and moral being, in a higher degree of activity and perfection after death, than before. We have believed that the spirits of men in another world, even before the resurrection of the body, are not only capable of intercourse with the infinite Spirit, but of communicating their thoughts and feelings to one another, and that far more perfectly than was ever done by means of bodily organs in the present life. We have believed that the state of man in the other world will be according to the predominant affection which he exercised, and the habits he formed on earth; and that an unsanctified man is incapable of holy pleasures, and could not be happy in heaven, even if he were permitted to dwell there. We have believed in the existence and agency of good and evil angels; and we have believed that they have a real influence in and upon the minds of men,—the good angels a salutary influence, and wicked angels a hurtful influence, though we have not always called it an "influx." We have believed that the Lord Jesus, being truly God, is the proper object of supreme worship, and that according to the example of the Apostles and primitive Christians, our prayers are to be addressed to him, as really as to the Father. We have believed that friends and acquaintances will fully recognize each other and be associated together in the world of spirits; that all the holy, whether they die older or younger, will, in some way N. S. No. 100.-VOL. IX. M suited to their condition, have the means of improvement, and will make rapid advances in intellectual and moral excellence, and in heavenly enjoyment. We have believed that intelligent, moral beings are spread, in vast numbers, over the whole material creation, and have employments and pleasures suited to their nature and condition; though we have never had the means of knowing whether the distinction of sexes and the institution of marriage everywhere prevails. "These and other doctrines we have believed, on the ground of evidence arising from reason, conscience, and revelation. And this belief has preceded our acquaintance with the writings of Swedenborg, and has been wholly independent of them; and yet these doctrines are taught by him, in this way, with more or less clearness, and with a mixture of his own fancies, and, in some instances, illustrated very happily. But my present object is not to dwell upon the truths which Swedenborg taught, but to point out his errors. And however great the number of truths found in his writings, all the doctrines of his which are not manifestly agreeable to reason and Scripture, must be regarded as errors." Our space will not permit us to make further extracts from the work; nor is this necessary, as the work itself is now accessible, at a moderate cost, to our readers, whose libraries of New Church literature should not be considered complete without this valuable addition. The objections of Dr. Woods relate to many points, and cover considerable ground. This has given Professor Bush an opportunity of explaining many subjects, and of setting them in their proper light. The service thus rendered to the noviciate in the reception of the New Church doctrines is truly great, as some of the objections might probably occur to him on his first acquaintance with the intellectual and theological system of Swedenborg; and the "Reply" to Dr Woods would serve for other objectors. Professor Bush, therefore, has, through the Lord's Providence, rendered an essential and lasting benefit to the New Church. Considering the comparative short period that Mr. Bush has been in the New Church, his skill in polemics is truly remarkable. The numerous extracts from the voluminous works of Swedenborg quoted in his "Reply," prove his extensive reading of that most extensive author. The "Reply," is written with that peculiar beauty and power of style which seems to characterize all Mr. Bush's compositions. There is nothing harsh, austere, or abrupt. A deep, though soft tone of Christian feeling pervades the work,—a quality which is exceedingly precious in the excitements of controversy. The work, we repeat, should be possessed by every New Churchman; like Mr. Noble's "Appeal," or Mr. Mason's "Job Abbot," it is an armoury whence weapons may drawn for the defence of the Truth. be SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS FOR EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH; WITH MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS FOR EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK. By the Rev. THOMAS GOYDER. pp. 133. London: NEWBERY, Kingstreet, Holborn; HODSON, Clifford's Inn Passage, Fleet-street; MUSKETT, Norwich; KENWORTHY, Manchester; BUCKNALL, Stroud; OTIS CLAPP, Boston, United States, America. 1848. A LIFE of charity and piety is the truly Christian life. Whatever tends to promote this life should be welcome to every heart. Piety and charity, or the genuine love of the neighbour, have often been divulsed and separated from each other. In the Pharisee there was much semblance of piety, but there was no charity in the heart. This is the case in every fallen church, and in every unregenerate man who bears the Christian name. Our righteousness must, indeed, exceed this low standard, otherwise we cannot possibly enter into the kingdom of heaven. But this cannot be except in proportion as we join charity to piety. There is either a sad mistake abroad in the New Church, or a sinful neglect in respect to the cultivation of piety. It should, however, be well considered, that charity cannot long subsist in the heart, if the duties of piety be neglected in our conduct. Piety is the safeguard of charity, and charity is the life of piety. The little work before us is well calculated to keep alive true sentiments of piety, and thus to aid the truly Christian life. But we will let the author explain the design of this Manual :— "The design of this little Manual of Spiritual Reflections, is to furnish short expla nations of Scripture subjects, which might, with a portion of the Holy Word of God, be read in the family circle on the morning of each day of the month; and which, when concluded with prayer, would afford materials for the mind to reflect on for the remainder of the day. It is also hoped that it may prove useful in assisting families and individuals in their private devotions, when, from an ardent love to heavenly states of life, they are willingly engaged in throwing into the daily sacrifice, the salt that has not lost its savour. "The Devotions for the Evening might consist in reading a portion of Holy Scripture, concluding with the Evening Prayer for the day. "If the present little work should be found worthy, the author intends to publish, at future convenient opportunities, a similar Manual for every month in the year; so that the whole would then contain three hundred and sixty-six distinct subjects. Should this, in due time, be realized, the present work may then be considered as belonging to the month of January only. "That the Divine blessing may accompany every effort to extend the spiritual kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ in the world, is the sincere and constant prayer of the author." Such is the design of the author; and our readers are especially invited to procure the work itself, that they may see and experience how well calculated these "Spiritual Reflections" are to awaken sentiments of piety, love, and intelligence, and to strengthen the mind in its heavenward course of Christian duty and holiness of life. Poetry. THE ASPIRATIONS OF A YOUNG CONVERT. Almighty Jesus!" King of kings!" Thou hearest when the ravens cry, But grant me, Lord, with contrite heart, That angels may exulting see Thy saving power extends to me. From strength to strength supported still, Help me to bear my needful cross, And count as gain Thy people's loss. When sins invade, and tempests lower, Grafted in Thee,-the living Vine, Thus, Lord, let close conjunction be |