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MR. GEORGE COMBE'S NOTE ON THE SWEDEN-
BORGIANS IN BOSTON, U.S.

(Extracted from his Work, vol. 3, p. 146.)

"To-day we attended divine worship in the Swedenborgian chapel. It accommodates five or six hundred persons, is commodious and neatly fitted up, and generally well filled. There is something extremely amiable and spiritual in the mental condition of this class of Christians, and their service was refined and soothing. They have a spiritual interpretation for every incident and doctrine in Scripture. Wonder, Individuality, and Comparison, seemed to be predominant organs in most of the congregations."

SPECULATIVE OPINIONS IN RELIGION.
(In a Letter to a Friend.)

་་་་

DEAR SIR,-I take an early opportunity after my return home, to communicate to you the impression left on my mind by your remark, that it is of no consequence what ideas we entertain on what you termed "speculative religious opinions," instancing "the Trinity" as This impression is so much one of sadness that it dwells with me; and inasmuch as it involves a conviction, that the sentiment you expressed comes in contact with clear moral duty, I am conscientiously compelled to address you.

one.

You believe the Bible to contain, or to be, a revelation of the mind of God:-of his truth, or what corresponds to our sentiments:-with Him, perfect, with us, progressive: also, of his will:-it is of the former, as respects us, that you say, our sentiments are speculative; and it is of no consequence what they are.

This, then, is the tenor of your declaration :-The all-perfect and merciful God has revealed his mind concerning his own nature,-how you, and neit is one, and how it is trinal;-He has revealed this to cessarily with the intention of promoting your good and happiness by means of it; and you tell Him to his face, in the above-mentioned remark of yours,—that it is of no consequence, whether you realize his merciful object in revealing Himself or not:—whether understand Him rightly or not, or what is practically the same, whether you understand Him at all or not, and, consequently, as regards yourself, whether you defeat his gracious purpose in revealing his mind or not! -In short you, with all the imperfections of a creature, tell your

you

Creator, in breach of your moral duty, which requires you meekly to place yourself under his instruction, that the instruction he offers you concerning his own adorable nature is worthless!-unworthy your attention, because it is of no consequence to you whether you understand it or not! You admit that in every thing he has revealed, he had in view the happiness of his creatures; but, in direct contradiction to this admission, you affirm, that it is of no consequence to your happiness, and consequently to the happiness of others, whether any thing is gathered from this revelation, or not!

I appeal to your conscience; I appeal to your own logical mind; whether I have stated to you other than the plain truth of the case. A believer in the unintelligible doctrine of "Three Persons and One God," may partly be excused for calling his Trinity a speculative opinion, because what is not understood, cannot be reduced to practice, and therefore has nothing practical in it. But I am prepared to prove to any one, that the doctrine of the Trinity as I understand it, is eminently a practical doctrine. What, indeed, can we truly know of the Great Being who has made us to bear his resemblance, that does not involve an appeal to our powers of imitation?

Do not suppose that this appeal to you has any connexion with a wish to proselyte you. I can honestly say, that I only desire, that you may be led to embrace those religious views, conscientiously and seriously, which our heavenly Father sees best to suit your particular temperament and character, and to be best calculated for the development and perfecting of your moral powers. I can truly say, that I would rather see a man conscientiously "persuaded in his own mind," that what God has said about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is of the greatest consequence to understand, because every thing done by Infinite Perfection must be worthy of the most reverential regard; and then see him carry out to the best of his ability this great principle, even by believing in "Three Persons and one God;"-than see any one, with you, be almost guilty of blasphemy against the Divine Truth (unintentionally, and so far innocently, I admit) by affirming, that what God has revealed on any subject may be suffered to go for nothing, without any mischief ensuing.

Conscientiousness deprives error of its culpability, and so far of its hurtfulness; but it cannot make amends for the loss of the benefit inherent in truth, and of which we are necessarily deprived by error. But in the sentiment I am reprobating there is nothing of conscientiousness; and therefore there is nothing to be urged in its excuse that I know of. A man may conscientiously err and be safe; but he

cannot wilfully neglect, or pass by, conscientiously, or without blame, what he believes that God has actually revealed for his particular instruction in truth and righteousness, and solely with a view to his happiness here and hereafter.

I have too much respect for your good sense to offer an apology for this really friendly communication, which may be taken as a proof how truly I am, &c.,

***

SPIRITUAL INTERPRETATION OF 3 MALACHI, 3, 4. To the Editors of the Intellectual Repository.

GENTLEMEN,

A RECEIVER of the doctrines of the New Church, who has long languished on the bed of sickness, and who, living at a distance from any society, and consequently deprived of the pastoral instruction of a minister, wishes to know the spiritual sense of Malachi, chap. 3, ver. 3, 4. "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years." My mind has frequently dwelt upon these words, and the spiritual sense, I am certain, will afford me, through the divine blessing, much strength and consolation. By explaining the passage you will greatly oblige

AN AFFLICTED READER.

In sincere prayer that spiritual strength and consolation may be afforded to our afflicted friend, we subjoin from the Writings of E. S. the spiritual interpretation of the passage. The Lord's coming to judgment, both in its general and in its particular sense, is here described. The "refiner's fire" denotes temptations, and the process of judgment; "the sons of Levi" are those who belong to the spiritual church, and who are, consequently, in some degree of charity and faith, but not yet sufficiently separated and purified from the impurities of our natural state. By Levi is signified charity, or spiritual good, and by the " sons of Levi," truths from that good. "To purge them as gold and silver," signifies the purification of goodness and truth from evils and falses; for gold signifies good and silver truth. "That they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness, or justice." The oblations and offerings presented to the Lord in the Jewish

Church, were representations and testifications of such things as are offered from the heart, which are things of faith and charity: hence "an offering in righteousness" denotes the acts of life and worship springing from genuine good, or from sincere love to the Lord and our neighbour. Hence such "offerings" are pleasant (or, as in the original, sweet) unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years," or, as in the most ancient and ancient churches, when sincere love to the Lord and the neighbour prevailed. (See A. C. 9293, 8159. A. E. 242, 444.) Our afflicted friend will hence see, that all sickness and distress are mercifully overruled by the Lord for the purification and regeneration of those who look to him as their Saviour God; they are the "refiner's fire" in which those states of humiliation, submission, and resignation are produced, in which heaven with its beatitudes can be received and enjoyed.

A QUESTION.

To the Editors of the Intellectual Repository. GENTLEMEN,

If some one of your correspondents will, in a future number of your valuable Magazine, favour the Church with an exposition of the words contained in Zechariah, ch. 14, verses 4 to 11, they will oblige

Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
Sept. 8th, 1842.

A CONSTANT Reader.

EXTRACT FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE LATE MR. SALMON.

To the Editors of the Intellectual Repository.

GENTLEMEN,

HAVING been favoured, through the kindness of a friend, with some of dear Mr. Salmon's truly excellent letters, it has been suggested, by another friend, that they would prove very useful, if inserted in the Repository, to many an afflicted Christian. I shall now copy an extract, and if you testify your approbation by inserting it, it is my intention occasionally to send more.

Stroud, Aug. 7, 1842.

Dear Sirs, yours respectfully,

MARIA WATHEYS.

YOUR letter excited more than usual tenderness, pity, and prayer for you; more especially that an increase of faith and patience may be given you, that you may hold out to the end, and then find our most N. S. No. 34.-VOL. 3.

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merciful Lord your present help in time of trouble. Of this we have no doubt, however much your bodily afflictions may increase, because we are persuaded you see the necessity of them, and are humbled by them you see the use of them and improve them-you see the love there is in them, and desire to be thankful for them. Under these consoling views I must say that great as is the blessing of health, yet pain, sickness, and trouble are greater blessings still, for they certainly are the means in the Lord's hands, to raise us to heaven. And here I feel myself led to observe, how would it raise our thoughts above all things in this transitory world, to reflect that our Lord himself, whom cherubim and seraphim continually adore, once led a suffering life here below, and all this for our salvation. As you know we can have no real lasting quiet in the spirit, till we become conformed to Him our living Head, let us more than ever settle ourselves upon the basis of a true acquiescence in his will, contentment of heart under the occurrences of life, patience with ourselves and the humours of all about us, as well as a cheerful submission to the demands of the present hour. I say, as you know these things, go on, my dear suffering friend, in the strength of the Lord, and in the power of his might. Resign yourself more fully into his blessed fatherly hands; lean upon his almighty arm; repose on his tender compassionate bosom, who pities and loves you more than all language can express; and then you will more than ever prove him to be your guide unto death-in death your comfort, and after death your everlasting portion.

My dear wife desires me to say, that she hopes, if not permitted to meet her again personally in this world, you will meet her in that happier world above,

Where tears, and sighs, and partings are no more.

There, my dear friend, as you justly observe, "How different our states will be, and how we shall rejoice at each others escape from this world of sin, pain, and affliction!" We certainly shall, when we meet together in our heavenly Father's kingdom; and it is my sincere prayer that we may meet all our dear friends in the realms of endless day, when we have passed through the storms and tempests of this troublesome world.

If you are tempted at any time to think that the Lord has forsaken you, remember, my dear friend, that he said to Zion on a like occasion, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Therefore, my dear suffering friend, take

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