sirable in their place, but they should certainly not engage all our time, nor constitute the principal topics of our conversation. It is the peculiar privilege of the members of the New Jerusalem to be able to converse on spiritual things, since they have the knowledges from which the greatest profit may be derived to the edification of the mind, in enabling it to see its duties and obligations in the clearest light, and in presenting the strongest inducements and the purest motives to practise and realize what is thus so clearly seen and acknowledged.

But, in the last place, I will mention the greatest advantage derived from spiritual intercourse. It is that of strongly invigorating our affections, and of exciting them to a celestial ardour in the pursuit of heavenly things. The mutual excitation of affections to the love and practise of the divine truths of the Word, is eminently calculated to promote us in the regenerate life. In a solitary mind it is almost impossible that the affections should fail of being sluggish, contracted, austere, or in some other unhappy manner defective. Spiritual intercourse, on the contrary, enlarges the heart, exalts its affections, and dignifies its designs. And it should never be forgotten, that to this immense good every member of the New Church may contribute, whatever be his station, and whatever the extent of his talents. The greatest may learn and improve by the observations of the least, and the wisest by the experience and remarks of the most uninformed. Here the noblest subjects engage the attention, and the most interesting of all concerns engross the heart. In their nature they are fraught with peace, and as they become secured, they are sources of unceasing and eternal good, for "the wisdom, which is from above," is the supreme object of pursuit. And in the pursuit of this glorious object, the best emotions that can be felt by the human heart are awakened and reciprocated. The flame which glows in one bosom is caught and kindled in another; the light which illumines one mind, sheds its lustre over all the minds by which it is surrounded. Peace and hope and joy descending from above, scatter here their richest blessings, and give a foretaste of that angelic intercourse, which every sincere Christian humbly hopes to enjoy in heaven. In short, the members of the New Church possess inestimable privileges, which it is impossible sufficiently to appreciate. If they avail themselves of these privileges, and realize the truths they possess, they will become the "light of the world," a "city set on a hill," the "salt of the earth." this paper, from the experience he has been permitted to enjoy in associating, in spiritual intercourse, with those who have a deep sense of the great importance of the New-Church doctrines, cannot sufficiently express his gratitude to the Lord, and his acknowledgment to his bre

The writer of

thren, for the many spiritual blessings he has enjoyed in their company.

f.

A MEMBER of the Monday Evening Coffee Meeting in Manchester, originally instituted by the late Rev. J. Clowes, in 1788.

ON THE "NEW SERIES," WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR

EXTENDING ITS USEFULNESS.

To the Editors of the Intellectual Repository, &c. GENTLEMEN,

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THE Magazine, of which you are the Editors, may now be justly said to have commenced a new Era," on more grounds than one. 1st., by its assuming a position, with regard to PRICE, within the reach, perhaps, of the most humble members of the New Church,—a position which has been long desired by every sincere seeker after a knowledge of the doctrines of our church, and of every ardent and zealous well wisher for her universal prosperity and success. 2nd., by its MORE FREQUENTLY being made the bearer of GLAD TIDINGS from one section of the church to another throughout the kingdom-thus oftener satisfying the minds of the sanguine and expectant. And 3rd., its more general circulation and consequent USEFULNESS, with a variety of other reasons which might be adduced, all tending to warrant its being said that the Intellectual Repository and New Jerusalem Magazine, has entered upon the commencement of a new Era."

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But, gentlemen, although the Magazine is thus elevated into a high and favourable position, and although you, as the Editors of that work, should be indefatigable in YOUR exertions in causing it to maintain, and if possible to attain a higher station than the present; still unless you meet with that encouragement and support from the church at large, by the manifestation of a greater degree of interest for its welfare and prosperity, all its present prospects as well as all your exertions will be completely blighted; the Repository will fall, and all those opportunities for the performance of much greater uses, through it as a medium, will consequently be lost.

'Tis

In your address in the first number, you stated in substance your intentions of allowing no exertions on your parts to be lacking, in order to secure the success and increased usefulness of the work. then necessary that the CHURCH should arouse and co-operate with your exertions; that SHE should feel an increased interest in the Re

pository; that SHE should EXTEND the circulation, and CONTRIBUTE to its usefulness, by every possible means that can, by the most zealous, be adopted or devised. One or two means for effecting this I beg to suggest. EVERY SOCIETY throughout the kingdom ought, if possible, to induce EVERY FAMILY connected with the church, as well as all others who are members, to become subscribers to the Repository. To effect this, appoint one of the most active to wait upon such, to impress upon them the great privileges they would enjoy by so doing; that probably such members of the family as had hitherto paid slight attention to, or perhaps no attention, but even rejected, a knowledge of our doctrines might possibly, through the medium of the Repository, have affections aroused within them that would kindle a desire for further investigation; and in such case, most likely lead to an ultimate reception and conviction of the truth. If every Society would act in this manner, I have no doubt an increase in circulation would be absolutely ensured; and consequently, one END acquired.

For the encouragement of those who may wish to try the experiment, I will just state that the Society with which I am connected, has YET only made a PARTIAL canvass amongst its members; the consequence is, that nearly four times the number of copies will be required; and it is hoped when the canvass is completed, it will be considerably more. And I have no doubt that similar would be the result with other societies, with zealous perseverance.

Another way of materially relieving your arduous duties, and at the same time, of making the Magazine more useful and interesting, is, that every Society contribute notices and reports of all meetings of importance, such as annual, half yearly, and quarterly tea meetings, &c., with every other variety of information respecting their state and progress. Also notices of all general public services, such as charity sermons, anniversaries, &c. &c. The state and progress of their Sunday Schools; with suggestions as to the best method of conducting and teaching. Also how to enkindle and keep alive a ZEALOUS SPIRIT, for in this, if I am not mistaken, many New Church Societies and Sunday Schools are GREATLY DEFICIENT. And let not parties be deterred from favoring you with this information, on the plea, they "can't write ;" for I have no doubt you will, with pleasure, admit the substance of any communication you may be favoured with containing NEW CHURCH NEWs, in whatever form you may receive it, provided it be well authenticated.

And shall we not all be stimulated to greater exertions when we hear, through your valuable publication, of the exertions of others to

disseminate the doctrines of truth, and of their success? There is nothing so cheering and encouraging as GOOD EXAMPLE. Therefore let each society be a good example to every society-stimulating each other in the performance of good uses,-in an unlimited perseverance in the dissemination of the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem. And let every society shew to the world that we have a cause at heart with which our affections are completely engrossed, and that we esteem it worthy of a dedication of the best of our talents.

And should the Church generally respond to your invitation, by supplying an increase of matter as well as an extended circulation, I have no doubt, ere long, an increase in the size of the Magazine will be a consequence; and I hope it will become a question at the ensuing Conference, necessary by an increase of interesting information, and warranted by an extended and unexpected circulation,-whether the Magazine shall not be enlarged.

It is the intention of our society to put you in possession of every information which will have the tendency of interesting your pages respecting all meetings, charity sermons, anniversaries, &c. &c. I hope other societies will do so too.

By way of carrying profession into practice, I now beg liberty to inform you, that on Sunday, the 5th inst. the quarterly tea meeting of our society took place, when about eighty friends took tea, after which a very agreeable and useful conversation took place on the second commandment; when it was endeavoured to be shewn by the various speakers, that the Word of God, unlike other books, contained within its sacred pages INFINITE WISDOM, adapted to the capacities and states of ALL, whatever those states might be; from the most simple in heart, through all the various orders and degrees, up to the most exalted of finite intelligence and wisdom. That all, according to their perceptions, could discover therein truths affecting their life and practise; that to say the Word contained this or that meaning ONLY, whether spiritual or natural, was to finite it. That the simple could learn from that commandment that the Lord's NAME should not be profaned and used in vain LITERALLY, while the more intelligent could discover in the NAME of the Lord all his qualities, perfections, and attributes-infinite love and infinite wisdom-that he could trace something of the Lord in himself; something of goodness and truth by derivation, which required constant care and watchfulness over the corruptions of his nature, lest he should profane and pervert these principles by a mixture with what is evil and false, and thus no longer be preserved by the Lord in a state of guiltless innocency.

Having already trespassed considerably upon your time and space,

I am compelled to conclude without entering further into the particulars of our interesting meeting, which separated, each well satisfied with the happy sphere that seemed to pervade.

With the sincerest wishes for the prosperity of our common cause, I remain yours very truly,

Kersley.

CORRESPONDENT.

THE GREAT FACILITIES NOW AFFORDED FOR RECIPROCAL COMMUNICATION BY THE PENNY POSTAGE.

To be able to communicate with each other, and mutually to interchange ideas for each other's improvement and benefit, is one of the greatest privileges of our race. How miserable is the state of that man All that we

who is cut off from all communication with his fellows! possess and enjoy, we have received through the medium of others; and the more direct, speedy, open, and free the communication between man and man becomes, there is every reason to hope that a greater amount of goodness and intelligence will arise. In commerce and manufactures, every one knows how desirable it is to have a speedy and cheap conveyance for merchandize, and how much mercantile interests are thereby promoted and secured. But in the transactions of mind, as well as in those of commerce, the advantages of a speedy and cheap communication are equally great; and when we consider the superiority of mind over matter, we must say that these advantages are unspeakably greater. There is spiritual merchandize as well as natural; the mind must be clothed and fed as well as the body; and the more easy and free the communication between mind and mind becomes, the greater will be the amount of intellectual and moral food and raiment for the nourishment and protection of man's better part-his immortal soul. Man cannot arise out of the lower principles of his nature but through the operation of the higher principles of his being,—his rational and spiritual principles. These must be brought into activity, and directed to their proper and legitimate objects, before man can rise out of his merely animal nature. We therefore hail, with intense delight, the facilities now afforded by the legislature for so cheap and speedy a communication between man and man; and we cannot but consider this great benefit to mankind as one of the signs of a new influence operating for good to the human race.

To introduce and to establish the New Church upon earth, the cultivation of man's intellectual powers, as well as the free and speedy communication of thought and affection, is indispensable; and the