and of conjoining him with the Lord, that is, of his salvation. The Word has come from the Lord through heaven; yea the Lord and heaven have come with it to man. Wherever the Word is read with any degree of sanctity, it opens heaven to man, and this by virtue of the style in which it is written, according to the correspondence of things natural with things spiritual and heavenly. It is thus the ladder as seen by Jacob let down from heaven, the Lord being at the top, and the angels of heaven ascending and descending thereon, whilst man is below, and when in his merely natural state, like Jacob, asleep. Hence the Word always finds man either asleep or dead. He is asleep when seeing only by the light of the world, and not by the light of heaven at the same time, (which light comes to man solely through the Word,) and he is dead if at the same time he is in evils and sins. But the Word awakes him from his sleep to the consciousness of spiritual and eternal realities, and calls him from the tomb of spiritual death to a life of righteousness and heavenly peace. Thus wherever the Word is known and venerated, it has the power of opening heaven to mankind. In China, India, Persia, Turkey, in short, in all the nations of the earth where the Word exists in the language of the people, there heaven is opened, and angels come into communication, and above all, the Lord Himself enters into conjunction with man. It was, therefore, to be expected that the first great manifestation of the Lord's second coming would be the extensive spread of His Word. This has, indeed, been most wondrously effected, as the account given below clearly testifies. No good could be done in converting the nations, and no advance could be made towards the reception of a higher and purer Christianity without a more ample diffusion of the Scriptures. This has been done, and is still being done, and the way is consequently being prepared for the descent of the Heavenly Jerusalem upon earth, which is the purest form of Christianity, or the presentation from the genuine interpretation of God's Word of every thing good and true, and consequently of all intelligence, wisdom, and happiness to man. 66 This Society was established in the year 1804, for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment, at home and abroad. At that time, it is believed, there were not more than four millions of copies of the Bible existing in the world, and translations of it, in whole or in part, had been made only in about 50 languages or dialects. "Since then, by the blessing of God, this Society has promoted the distribution, printing, or translation of Holy Writ into 148 languages or dialects, so that it is reckoned the Scriptures are now accessible to nearly six-sevenths of the human family. And if inquiry be made as to the extent to which the multiplication of the Bible so translated has been carried on, we are enabled to reply that, from the year 1804 to the present time, this Society alone has been privileged to issue upwards of twenty-five millions, four hundred and two thousand, three hundred and nine copies of the Scriptures, and has been enabled to aid other societies in the distribution of about eighteen millions more. "In Ireland, since 1806, two millions, seven hundred thousand Bibles and Testaments have been dispersed. In France, since 1818, three millions have been circulated. In 1849, twenty-seven thousand were introduced into Italy, of which the fruits are already visible in thousands of inquirers after the way of righteousness, and not a few martyrs for the truth as it is in Jesus." We are quite certain that no arguments are required from us to induce every sincere and earnest New Churchman to support, as far as in him lies, the important claims of the British and Foreign Bible Society.-EDITOR. Poetry. SAYINGS OF KING ALFRED. A Fragment, from the Anglo-Saxon; translated by M. Tupper, Esq. [From the Jubilee Edition of the Complete Works of King Alfred.] Brighton. OUR WISHES AND ASPIRATIONS. I saw an eager, smiling boy Gaze upward at the star-gemmed sky; Each wand'ring butterfly to win, I saw an earnest, serious man, His eye was filled with thoughtful light; On love, on all that makes life bright. His soul did lovingly aspire. For ever on his lips the prayer— 66 66 'Oh, raise my heart to Thee, above, Oh, make me holy, just, and true, 66 That I may live the good I love." I saw an old man, calm and bright, What are they but the highest proofs When holy age brings peaceful trust, To guide our wand'ring hearts to Heaven. A. D. G. 233 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. INTELLIGENCE FROM INDIA. Chunar, East Indies, 25th February, 1853. To the Rev. J. H. Smithson. Sir,-Some time ago I took the liberty of addressing you* on subjects of the New Church doctrine, and your reply to my questions was such as to call forth my warmest thanks. I did not, however, acknowledge the receipt of your letter at that time, because your answer was so satisfactory that nothing appeared to require immediate reply; I thought it better, therefore, to wait and see how our little New Church society here progressed before I wrote to you again. You have doubtlessly heard that Mr. Conductor J. Green, myself, and a few friends, formed ourselves into a New Church society, (the first ever formed in India,) and opened a place for public worship on the 25th November, 1850; and I am sure that you, and all our christian friends in England, will be happy to hear of its continued prosperity. More than two years has now elapsed since the formation of the New Church at this station; and although we experienced some opposition at first, yet we are truly happy to inform you and our friends in England, that through the blessing of our Heavenly Father, our feeble efforts have been crowned with success far beyond our expectations. We meet for public worship every Sunday and Thursday evenings, and our meetings are generally well attended. We have at length received a good assortment of New Church writings, hymn books, &c., which we lend to all who wish to read them. Many avail themselves of the opportunity, amongst whom are several ministers of other denominations: all are either silent on the subject or speak well of the writings. Four of the tracts received from England have been reprinted at the Benares press, and liberally circulated by the society from one end of India to the other; it is to be hoped with success, but time alone will tell. We have received some flattering accounts from Benares, Mirzapore, Buxar, Allahabad, and Ghazepore, inquiring for tracts and New Church writings; these have been * See this Periodical for 1851, p. 115. N. S. NO. 162.-VOL. XIV. supplied as far as we were able: some have written for and obtained New Church hymn-books, and have public worship regularly at their homes. Thus you see how wonderfully the Lord is working his way, and establishing his Truths in the hearts of men, even in this dark land of idolatry and sin. How gratifying it must be to the New Church Tract Society in England thus to see the fruits of their labour, when it is known-and it is the wish of the New Church society here that you will make it known, in such way as you may think best-that a few of their tracts, placed by mere accident or mistake in a box containing tracts and other writings of the Baptist denomination, and sent by Mr. Green, of Birmingham, to his brother, Mr. Conductor J. Green, of this place, was the means of opening our eyes and kindling a spark of heavenly truth and love, which has begun to shine in six different stations in Indiawhere the pure truth of the Word and the genuine doctrine of christianity have become known and loved; and since these tracts have been circulated in almost every station in India, there are doubtlessly others, of whom we have not yet heard. May the Lord continue to bless the efforts of his servants in the cause of truth to the conversion of thousands around us, that they may share the blessings we now enjoy! The church at this place will, I fear, shortly be left without a leader, as both Mr. Green and myself, who have hitherto conducted the means alternately, are about to leave the station. Another step in promotion will remove Mr. Green to some other station in the upper province, and I expect to return to England in the early part of next year, (D.V.) when I may have the pleasure of seeing you personally, as Manchester is my native home. This will take away the main support of the church here: but we leave it in the hands of Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps; in other respects it may prove a blessing to the cause, since Mr, Green will then have opportunity of proclaiming the glad tidings to those who perhaps have not yet heard of the New Church. A friend of Mr. Green's, writing to him the other day, says "If you come to this station, 2 G I hope you will leave all your New Church notions behind you, for the benefit of the old men at Chunar." But should it please the Lord to send him to Agra, I should not be surprised to hear that he has converted his friend to the cause of truth, and many more, too, who are now walking in darkness. Mr.Green was a member of the Baptist denomination for a period of thirty-five years he has been most assiduous in searching after truth, and his delight is to make known these truths to others, that they may share the benefits. I forgot to say that we have always a tea party on the anniversary of the formation of our little church, when appropriate addresses are delivered. I have been present at three of these meetings, and happier evenings I never spent. Mr. Madeley, of Birmingham, would, I am sure, be most happy to know the contents of this letter, should you have time and opportunity to correspond with him. With sincere affection, in which the whole church joins, I am yours sincerely in the Lord, J. M. BIRCH, Schoolmaster. Chunar, 26th February, 1853. P.S. Since writing the accompanying letter, Mr. Green received a note from Buxar, (a copy of which I send,) from which you will see that there is a demand for New Church writings in this country. We have hitherto received our books from Mr. Green, of Birmingham, but as both Mr. Green and myself expect shortly to leave this station, we cannot do so in the present case. We wish, therefore, to impress upon the minds of the New Church Book Society, the necessity of their opening an account with some respectable bookseller at Calcutta for the sale of their books, as we feel sure much good would result from such an undertaking. There are Messrs. De Rozario and Co., or Messrs. Hay and Co., of Calcutta, both respectable houses, who would doubtlessly undertake the sale of the society's books if requested. The Church Society here have requested me to make the above statements, in hopes that you will make the same known to the New Church Book Society should opportunity offer.--I am yours most sincerely in the Lord, J. M. BIRCH. [Extract.] "Buxar, 12th February, 1853. “My dear Brother, I have received the four pamphlets, which I will return with the other books you kindly lent me. I am happy to inform you that the Lord Jesus Christ has in his goodness given us another babe, a daughter, on the 4th instant; and as there is no New Church pastor here, I will baptize her in the former, and will instruct all my children in the doctrines of the New Church. I shall feel much obliged if you will write to the New Jerusalemı Tract Society, and procure for me the Arcana Cœlestia, or the Heavenly Arcana, contained in the Holy Word, or Words of the Lord unfolded, beginning with the Book of Genesis,' together with 'The Wonderful Things seen in the Spiritual World, and in the Heaven of Angels. With Index.' By the publication, I see there are 13 vols. demy 8vo. value £3. 18s. Od. Kindly mention, that upon their order I will pay any one in India the amount, together with any other expenses attached. "You cannot conceive how joyful I have been since I had the pleasure of receiving those lovely writings, Heavenly Truths, which you sent me;-may the Lord reward you in the day of reckoning. With united love to self, family, and all the brethren. (Signed) "THOMAS MITCHELL.” EXPLICATORY REMARKS ON THE FIRST ARTICLE IN THE MISCELLANEOUS DEPARTMENT OF LAST MONTH. By the Conference Minutes, (p. 48,) the "assailant" (so called) is permitted to reply "for the purpose of explanation." I beg to premise that my former paper was written rather in the character of an inquirer than in a belligerant spirit; and that I endeavoured carefully to guard against giving offence: but from the general tenour of the reply, I am doubtful as to my success. I further state, in explanation, that no "demand" was made upon W. M. by me to defend himself to me, so that my intention has been at least misunderstood. Neither did I make any attempt to "force" upon the writer the use of any particular terms; but after expressing my own ideas, I left it as an open question. I think there is no lack of courtesy in addressing W. M. thus-"Possibly I may be wrong in this opinion; if so, I shall feel obliged if the writer of the article will set me right on this |