approach nearer its internals, and yet, at the same time, those who thus differ may all be in and of the Church. For charity, not faith, is the essential of the Church, and much less are its external forms essential. But in the "Universal Theology," No. 55, there is a passage still more directly to the point. It is as follows: "As to what concerns the order according to which the Church is established by God, it is this; that God is in all and every part of it; and the neighbor is he towards whom order is to be exercised. The laws of that order are as many as there are truths in the Word; the laws which relate to God, will make its head; the laws which relate to the neighbor, will make its body, and the ceremonies will make the dress:" and just before, speaking of certain regulations of civil government, it is said, "These, like the dress, may be changed." The ceremonies, therefore, or the external forms and order of the Church, being only its dress, "may be changed."

Having thus endeavored to show the truth of the principle, that the external order of the Church may and ought to be changed, according to circumstances, I will conclude with a few remarks in relation to certain general principles, which, it would seem, should govern us, in undertaking to establish an external order for the Church at this day.

Men, at the present day, whether of the Old Church or of the New, are as yet far from being in a regenerate state. The evil spirit of Self-love is continually rising up in the heart, with its tendency

to make gains for itself, and to exercise dominion over others. With that enemy the good are perpetually battling in their own bosoms; and it would seem the duty of all the members of the Church to aid each other in this work of self-conquest. In regard to the ministers of the Church—they are, as a body, (it is not to be doubted,) upright, sincere, and spiritually minded men, desirous of doing their duty, of serving their neighbor, and humbly worshiping the Lord. Yet, they are but men,-men, not regenerate, but only striving to become so. And it should be the endeavor of those, at whose call and desire they have undertaken the high but arduous and responsible trust committed to them, of teaching men the way to heaven and leading in it-to assist them in discharging their duties in such a manner as will most conduce to the good and regeneration of all, both ministers and people.

Now, the experience of past ages, the history of the Christian Church shows, that clergymen are pure, pious, faithful, and useful, just in the proportion that they devote themselves exclusively to the spiritual duties of their calling-the simple teaching of goodness and truth, and the example of a life according to them. But if their minds, their thoughts and affections, are drawn away to external things, to the affairs of outward management and government, they seem to lose in a degree that simplicity and piety, that devotion to spiritual and heavenly things; and they begin to grow worldly and selfish, calculating and scheming the love of power, that deepest and most

subtle, and most truly infernal, of all the evil passions of the human heart, rises within them, and grows and strengthens, till it drives out all good and true affections. Then, though they may go into their pulpits, week after week, and intellectually teach the truth, yet the pure love of truth for its own sake does not shine in their eyes; nor any longer does the soul of truth, goodness, beam forth from their faces, kindling the hearts of their hearers with affection while the words uttered fill their understandings with light. Their preachings fall cold and heavy on the ear, for they want the life of love.

The records of the past Church show, we think, beyond question, the truth of this view. Should not the New Church draw thence a lesson of wisdom, and avoid this catastrophe? And it may be, I believe, in a great measure, avoided. It may be avoided by paying less attention to the externals, and more to the internals, of the Church; by thinking less of the "mint, anise, and cummin," and more of "judgment, mercy, and faith;" by "doing these things," and only "not leaving the other undone." Let the external organization of the Church be as simple as possible; let there be no more ranks and divisions in the ministry, than absolute necessity and the manifest wants of the Church require; and especially, let the ministers be relieved as far as possible from affairs of external government and management. The ministers of the Church desire, or ought to desire, no power, but that of teaching truth and doing good; and all temptation to act

from lower motives, should, as far as possible, be removed from them. There should be no ranks or titles to excite pride; no wealth to cherish avarice or worldliness; and no inducement, whatever, of earthly gain or benefit, to draw away their thoughts from heaven. Leave them to the unambitious but delightful task, of doing what they can to make themselves and their fellow-men wiser, better, and happier. To sum up the whole. In regard to the external order of the Church, we need not, as I conceive, disturb or harass ourselves about it, at all. It is a thing that will take care of itself. There is no need of occupying our minds with schemes and plans for the complete external organization of the Church, which, when finished and brought to perfection, will be useless, and utterly unsuited to our state. When the spiritual wants of the Church call for some external regulation or provision, all we have to do is simply to supply the want according to the best of our judgment, and then wait for another call. Thus, little by little, the Church will come into order. As the soul is formed, the body will be formed also. We have only to obey the command of the Lord, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," and "all these things will be added unto" us. We have only to take care of the internals, and the externals will take care of themselves.

SERMON XXV.*

ON THE USES OF CHURCH CONVENTIONS.

He hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."-MICAH vi. 8.

THE essence of the Church is goodness and truth: these, and these only, constitute the essential principles of the Church. For the Church is the Lord's kingdom on earth; and the Lord's kingdom, whether on earth or in heaven, is an image and likeness of the Lord Himself, because composed of those who are in his image and likeness. Now two Divine principles constitute the Lord Himself, namely, Love and Wisdom: the Church therefore is constituted of two principles which are derived from and correspond to these,-goodness and truth. Whoever has these two principles within him, is a member of the Lord's Church-it matters not by what name he may be called, to what religious denomination he may be

* Delivered in Cincinnati, May 23, 1844, before the New Church Western Convention, and first published at the request of that Body.