Author of the "Avoidable Causes of Disease," Marriage and its Violations," "The Wine Question in the Light of the New Dispensation, "A Reply to the Academy's Review," and "Deterioration of the Puritan Stock." THE TRUE HOPE OF MANKIND AT THIS DAY IS NOT IN LOOKING BACKTO JUDAISM, ROMAN CATHOLICISM, PROTESTANTISM, OR ANY OF THE FORMS OF THE PAST-BUT FORWARD AND UPWARD TO THE NEW JERUSALEM, WHICH IS NOW, IN THIS NEW AGE, DESCENDING FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. Free to the Clergy of America. REV. AND DEAR SIR: PHILADELPHIA, July, 1885. The undersigned would respectfully call your attention to the fact that three of Emanuel Swedenborg's most important works are offered, free of cost, except for postage, to the Clergy of America, and Theological Students who are studying for the ministry. Two of these books, "THE TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION," and "THE APOCALYPSE REVEALED," are offered by Mr. L. C. IUNGERICH, of Philadelphia, and the third, "HEAVEN AND ITS WONDERS, AND HELL," by "THE AMERICAN NEW CHURCH TRACT AND PUBLICATION SOCIETY," also of this city. Arrangements have been made for the distribution of these volumes through the large and well-known publishing house of J. B. Lippincott & Co., 715 and 717 Market Street, Philadelphia, to whom all orders for the books must be sent, accompanied by the postage, as follows, viz.: Postage on "The True Christian Religion" 20 cents. ""The Apocalypse Revealed" 66 66 66 . 18 66 66 "Heaven and its Wonders, and Hell" 13 It is because the donors of these books believe that there will be found in them a clear solution of all the difficult points of doctrine that disturb, perplex, and separate Christians from each other, keeping so many honest and sincere people out of the churches, and strengthening infidel sentiments, that they are so desirous of placing them in the hands of clergymen, whose office it is to teach spiritual truths and lead souls heavenward. If you have never given the writings of Swedenborg a careful examination, we would mos arnestly and respectfully ask you to avail yourself of the opportunity now offered for doing so. You will find his statements of doctrine clear, comprehensive, and rational, and always based on the Word of God. There are no appeals to passion or prejudice in any part of his works, but every where he addresses himself to man's reason, without the assent of which no truth can be received into the mind. It is now about twelve years since the offer of Swedenborg's works was first made to the clergy of America, an 1 thus far about twenty-five thousand copies of "The True Christian Religion," twenty-three thousand copies of "Heaven and Hell," and eighteen thousand copies of "The Apocalypse Revealed" have been asked for, and sent. During the twelve years in which the distribution of these works has been going on a large number of letters have been received from clergymen of all denominations who have received and read them, and many have expressed in the strongest terms their great indebtedness for the spiritual light and comfort received through the perusal of these wonder ful writings. Again respectfully asking your attention to a matter of such great concern to human souls, We are, yours most respectfully, Committee of JULIEN SHOEMAKER, Author of the "Avoidable Causes of Disease," "Marriage and its THE TRUE HOPE OF MANKIND AT THIS DAY IS NOT IN LOOKING BACK- NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR PREFATORY NOTES. OVER VER twelve years ago the late Mr. L. C. Iungerich, of Philadelphia (as is stated on the second page of the cover to this volume), offered to give to such clergymen as would send the postage and express a desire to receive the books, a copy of Emanuel Swedenborg's work, entitled "The True Christian Religion," and the work entitled "The Apocalypse Revealed"— two large volumes; and the American New Church Tract Society offered, on the same terms, "Heaven and Hell," by the same author. A large number of the above works were distributed to clergymen annually, owing to the efforts made by means of notices, advertisements and circulars, by the donors and the gentlemen engaged in their distribution. About eight or nine years ago, the present writer, fearing that many clergymen who had obtained the above works, and others who might obtain the same thereafter, having little or, perhaps, no idea of the vast importance of the truths therein contained, to the church and the world, might stand them upon their shelves and never read them; and also for the purpose of calling the attention of the clergy more generally to the above-named gift-books, and especially for the purpose of giving them some general idea of the contents of the above works, wrote a tract of twenty-four pages, entitled "An Address to the Clergy," and upon the second page of the cover he printed a circular notice of the gift-books, similar to the one on the same page of the cover of this volume. Over 50,000 copies of the above Address were sent to as many different clergymen, which resulted in a rapid and large increase of the applicants for the gift-books. Some five or six years ago, feeling that the circulation of the above Address had been useful, and that we have in the writings of Swedenborg and in the science of correspondences, and in the spiritual sense of the Sacred Scriptures and True Doctrines revealed by the Lord for the benefit of the men of |