the appointed channels to convey truth and light to every inquiring mind. In order to present our readers with a view of the importance of this volume of Lectures, we cannot do better than exhibit its contents, specifying the subject of each Lecture :- I. Introductory.-The Duty of Proclaiming, and the Blessedness of Receiving, the Doctrines of the New Church, signified by the New Jerusalem in the Revelation; especially those relating to the Person of the Lord and his Second Advent. II. The Necessity of Religion, as consisting in the Knowledge, Love, and Worship of the Lord, for maintaining the Connexion between Man and his Maker. III. The Essential Nature of the Divine Object of Worship, who is Love itself and Wisdom itself, or Goodness itself and Truth itself; and the Necessity of the reception of those holy Principles by Man, in order to his Salvation. IV. Divine Love the Moving Cause of Creation. V. The Absolute Unity, both in Essence and Person, of the Divine Object of Worship; and the Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity, as being in perfect harmony with such Absolute Unity. VI. The proper Personality, and the Divine Form, of the Lord our God. VII. That the Divine Name, Jesus Christ, is the Name of Jehovah in his Humanity; and that this is the One God, in whose Divine Person the whole Trinity centres. VIII. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Divine Nature of his Resurrection-Body. IX. The Reasonableness, together with the Scripture-Evidence, of the Great Truth, that it was the One God Himself, and not any Son of God born from Eternity, that descended from Heaven, for the purpose of Redeeming and Saving Mankind. X. The Reasonableness, as well as Scripture-Evidence, of the Important Truth, that the Assumption of Humanity into God, instead of limiting the Divine Infinity and Omnipotence, afforded the means of their more full Manifestation and Exercise. XI. Scripture Evidence of the Important Truth, that the Assumption of Humanity into God, instead of limiting the Divine Infinity and Omnipotence, afforded the means of their more full Manifestation and Exercise. XII. The true Nature of Redemption, as consisting in the Removal from Man of the Preponderating Power of Hell, and his Restoration to Spiritual Freedom. XIII. The true Nature of Redemption, as consisting in the Removal from Man of the Preponderating Power of Hell, and his Restoration to Spiritual Freedom, further considered. XIV. The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ; in what it consisted; and how it is compatible with his Oneness with the Godhead, and with the Attributes of Infinite Love and Wisdom, as forming the Essential Nature of the Divine Object of Worship. XV. Further Particulars relating to the Levitical Sacrifices, evincing that they did not represent the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ as this is commonly under stood, but that they did represent it according to its true Nature, which they greatly illustrate. XVI. Salvation by the Blood of Jesus Christ: how it is effected; and how it is con sistent with his Oneness with the Godhead, and with the Attributes of Infinite Love and Wisdom as forming the Essential Nature of the Divine Object of Worship. XVII. The Mediation and Intercession of Jesus Christ: in what those Offices consist; and how they are in Agreement with his Supreme Divinity, and with the Absolute Unity of the Divine Person and Essence. XVIII. The Mediation and Intercession of Jesus Christ: in what those Offices consist; and how they are in Agreement with His Supreme Divinity, and with the Absolute Unity of the Divine Person and Essence; and Scripture Statements Explained. XIX. The Advocateship of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit. XX. Additional Scripture Proofs of the True Doctrine of the Mediation, Intercession, and Advocateship of Jesus Christ. XXI. The Atonement: what is its Real Nature; and how it is in Perfect Harmony with the Divine Attributes of Absolute Unity and Immutable Love, and with the Concentration of the whole Trinity in the Person of Jesus Christ. XXII. The Atonement considered affirmatively: what is its Real Nature; and how it is in Perfect Harmony with the Divine Attributes of Absolute Unity and Immutable Love, and with the Concentration of the whole Trinity in the Person of Jesus Christ. XXIII. How Man is to Profit by the Divine Mercies displayed towards him in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the offer of Salvation by His Blood, His Mediation, and His Atonement. XXIV. Charity, and not Faith, the First Essential of pure Christianity. XXV. Action from Love superior to its indispensable Precursor, Action from the Obedience of Faith. XXVI. The Justification of a Sinner before God. XXVII. The Astronomical Doctrine of a Plurality of Worlds irreconcilable with the Popular Systems of Theology, but in Perfect Harmony with the true Christian Religion. The reader will, at once, see that the subjects here exhibited are of the utmost importance; and that it is of the greatest moment to our salvation that our ideas on these doctrines should be founded on a right discernment of the divine truths of the Word. No man who feels any interest in the things which concern his eternal peace, can feel indifferent as to a proper understanding of these subjects. These Lectures have been printed and published at the expense of the society established in Manchester in 1782, for the purpose of printing and publishing the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, and of other works in agreement therewith.* The society feel See an address in our present number, page 304, delivered at the last annual meeting of this society, by the President. assured that, by the publication of this volume, they are rendering an efficient service to the holy cause they desire to promote, and that an institution thus distinguished by its uses, is deserving of the encouragement and support of all the brethren of the New Church. We desire to acknowledge our gratitude to the Lord, who in his Mercy and Providence is constantly providing suitable means for the advancement of His true Christian Church;-our thanks are due to the author of this volume, who, of the Divine Mercy, has been enabled to produce it; and we readily acknowledge our obligations to the Society who have printed and published it. For further particulars respecting the circumstances which originated these lectures, and to other matters connected therewith, we refer the reader to the author's preface. PRIMARY CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES, &c. By JAMES KEENE. London : J. S. HODSON, Clifford's Inn Passage, Fleet-street, and W. NEWBERY, 6, King-street, Holborn. pp. 51. THIS publication consists of four discourses delivered by Mr. Keene, the intelligent and active leader of the society at Bath. The first discourse treats of Conversion, Repentance, Remission of Sins, Regeneration, Justification, Sanctification, and Salvation. All these subjects are discussed in the order here stated; some of which are presented in a striking and edifying light to the reader. The more clear and convincing we can make these important doctrines to our meditation, the more our hearts will be interested in the great realities of the spiritual life. The author has led his audience and his readers into certain trains of useful and edifying reflexions; but on the subject of "Remission of Sins," he observes "The REMISSION OF SINS is the blotting out of the evils repented of by a life of purity and truth, in which case they are forgiven of God, blotted out, and, as stated in Ezekiel xviii., 'his transgression shall not be mentioned unto him.'" p. 8. Now much depends on a proper conception of the "Remission of Sins." Although the Scriptures speak of our sins as being "blotted out," yet this is speaking according to the appearance, and not according to the reality. When our sins are, of Divine Mercy, through repentance, removed, they appear to be blotted out; they still, however, exist, and although they were removed as far as the east is from the west," they would still adhere to our fallen nature, which can never be utterly extirpated. The New Church theology developed by Swedenborg, lays, consequently, great stress upon this important point, and warns us against the belief of our evils being utterly extirpated and blotted out, since such a sentiment would tend to inflate the mind with ideas of its own inherent self-righteousness and merit, &c.; whereas, when the edifying truth is seen, that the remission of sins consists in the removal of them after repentance, to a distance greater and greater from the centre of our life's love, in proportion as we repent or repudiate, reject and abominate evil, because to cherish it and practice it is to sin against God,—when this truth is seen and felt, the mind can always be kept in states of proper self-acknowledgment, and consequently in states of self-abasement and humility before the Lord. We are perfectly aware that the respected author of these discourses is equally convinced of this truth as ourselves; but when we state things in a permanent form for the public-litera scripta manet-we cannot be too particular in conveying the genuine truth of doctrine on the subject we discuss. The second discourse is entitled:-What is the meaning of Election and Predestination; and who are the Elect? On this subject there are many useful and striking remarks. The ideas of the old theology, which are now rapidly passing away, are exhibited from their proper authorities, and contrasted with the universal loving-kindness and tender mercy of the Lord, whose infinite love desires, with the utmost ardour, that all should come to the knowledge of Truth, and that all should be saved. The subject of the third discourse is,-Who are the Successors of the Apostles? And what Church possesses an Authorized Interpretation of Scripture? This subject, which an arrogant church has made so much of, to extend and confirm its spiritual dominion, is discussed by the writer with considerable energy, and will afford the reader who does not fancy himself to be one of the successors, much pleasure in the perusal. The concluding discourse is on the Principal Reasons for Believing the Doctrines of the New Church. These reasons are well discussed under three heads-1. Because they are Scriptural; 2. Because they are Rational; and 3. Because they are Practical. As to this latter part, we select the following extract, which concludes the work: : "Our practical duty, then, is to earnestly seek the truth, in order that, by the truth, we may be convicted of our evils and errors. Our duty, after conviction, is to turn to the truth, which is conversion, and to beget within us a hatred of evil, which is true repentance. If our repentance be sincere, the next duty will be to direct our lives in an opposite direction, and our progress herein will be advancement from state to state in the regeneration. But here, if the error of many Christians prevail—not predestinarians alone, but those who acknowledge human freedom-if the error of many of these prevail, that regeneration is an instantaneous birth unto perfect righteousness, N. S. No. 80.-VOL. VII. 2 A the practical excellency of Christianity is destroyed by the vainest of all vanities, selfrighteousness, and further progress stopped. The truth is, that regeneration is the work of a whole life, not a moment to be lost; and he who is convicted of sin is not all at once convicted of all his sins. In the human heart-deceitful above all thingsthe most advanced in the regeneration has still his secret, latent evils, or tendencies to evil, to discover; and every successive step is attended with new convictions, new causes for repentance, and new resolves to conversion and further progress; and it is by gradual and successive steps that the new birth unto righteousness is attained. Before a man can be justified, all his desires and thoughts, all his acts, must, by the purification of his heart and mind, be brought into strict conformity with the Word of God; when this is the case, he will be sanctified and saved. He will then desire the order of heaven; he will delight in its purity and truth; and then will heaven be presented to his acceptance, and all the blessings of the angelic host will be his for ever.-Amen!" MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF To the Editor of the Intellectual Repository. The General Convention of the Societies of the New Church in the United States was held in Philadelphia, on the 10th to the 13th of June. Fifteen societies were represented by eleven ministers and thirty delegates. There were also a number of receivers of the Heavenly Doctrines present from several States, some of whom took part in the deliberations, who were not delegates. They, together with the delegates, were entertained at the houses of the brethren in the city, and by the brethren in Frankford and Darley, in the immediate vicinity of the city. The sessions of the Convention were held in the New Jerusalem Temple, situated in the southern part of Philadelphia. The sittings lasted three and a half days, having commenced on Wednesday at nine o'clock, and closed on Saturday at one o'clock. During the recess which was had in the middle of each day, a very appropriate collation was provided by the ladies for all who were in attendance. Indeed nothing seemed to be left undone on the part of the members of the Philadelphia, Frankford, and Darley societies, to render the visit of their friends from abroad as agreeable as possible. The business transacted was about the same as usual in previous years. A long report was made by the Tract Board, with the view of awakening an interest in the New Church in this country to distribute tracts, and thus to follow the example of our brethren in England, in this laudable work. The board have published seven new tracts the last year, and eighteen in all. The last one published is Mr. Clowes's "Affectionate Address to the Clergy." Prefixed to the address is a sketch of the life of Mr. Clowes, containing_sixteen pages, by Rev. B. F. Barrett. The convention appointed a committee to raise funds and to take measures to supply every clergyman in the United States with a copy. One person handed to the committee fifty dollars towards this object. It is the intention of the committee to follow up the subject vigorously, and in so doing, they do but follow the lead of our brethren in England. The convention 66 recommends to associations and societies of the New Church, and to receivers everywhere, the formation of tract depositories, with a view to increasing the tract enterprise." Professor Bush was in attendance, and by request of a committee delivered a lecture, on the evening of June 12th, to a large and attentive audience, giving his reasons for leaving the doctrines of the Old Church, and embracing the New. He has delivered the same lecture in New York, and will probably deliver it in other places. A warm sympathy is felt in his movements in all parts of the country. The convention passed resolutions recommending his " Swedenborg Library" to the support of the Church, and appointed a large committee to obtain subscribers for it. This work has already extended to the twenty-second number, six of |