poses of the New Church, have resolved earthly house, so must we in our upon quitting it for a more eligible place spiritual erecting rely solely upon the of worship at Christmas next. A very counsels of the Great Architect, for suitable room at the Albion Hall, except the Lord build the house, they Albion Square, Dalston, is offered them, labour in vain that build it.' The but the rent is too high for the Society sermon was attentively listened to by a as at present constituted. It is known congregation larger than the average, of to the members that there are many which more than one-half were children. receivers of the doctrines in Dalston, The quarterly chronicle of this Society Hackney and Stepney, who are not in states that the "Mutual Improvement connection with any New Church Society Society," after a brief holiday, will reat present. If these brethren would unite sume its ordinary meetings on Thursday with the Buttesland Street Society the evening, October 8th. In addition to Albion Hall might be easily secured, their ordinary meetings two gentlemen and all concerned would doubtless be unconnected with the Society, Messrs. much benefited. Any friends desirous Church and Woodford, will lecture durof joining with or aiding us, please ing the quarter, and the Camden Road address Mr. R. Jobson, 6 Torriana choir will give a charming concert. Avenue, Camden Road, N. W., or Mr. R. course of lectures on the "Miracles of Castle, 2 Eaton Villas, Lansdowne Road, Elisha," is announced for delivery in Dalston, E. the Church by Mr. Austin, and other means of usefulness projected for the winter. A LONDON (Camberwell). Following the precedent set in April last, a sermon addressed especially to the children of LONDON (Camden Road).-The quarthe congregation, was recently preached terly meeting of this Society was held in the above Church, by the minister, on Monday, October 12th, when a fair Mr. E. Austin. The theme selected attendance of members and friends was was the correspondence, or parabolic present. After the purely formal busiteaching of the building of a house. ness had been transacted, three new The preacher treated his subject in members were admitted, and signed the a manner eminently suited to the com- roll. Dr. Tafel then gave a short acprehension of his youthful auditory, count of his missionary work in Switzerwho, as on the former occasion, occupied land and South Germany during August the pews nearest the pulpit. Having and September, but as a full account of shown that just as the actual body this appears elsewhere it will be unnecesrequires a habitation, so the soul or sary to say anything respecting it here. spiritual body needs, as it were, a The chief feature, however, was the structure of true religious principles, pièce de résistance specially provided by which must be built during our life in Dr. Tafel for the benefit of this congrethis world, that we may hereafter in- gational meeting, but which also attracthabit "a house not made with hands, ed a few friends from a great distance. eternal in the heavens," Mr. Austin The subject was "Authority in the New proceeded to lay down five rules for such Church," a subject on which it is very spiritual building. Firstly, he said, we necessary to have distinct ideas, but one must at the commencement count the on which unfortunately most vague and cost, since we have to pay for the house even erroneous opinions exist. It had by ceasing to do what we know to be been, in consequence of this, purposely wrong. Secondly, we must be careful to selected for ventilation and discussion build upon a good foundation, "for on this occasion. The paper can hardly other foundation can no man lay than be epitomized in the short space allowed that is laid, which is Jesus Christ," for this notice, and as it will be prothe only God of heaven and earth. duced elsewhere, and will probably in Thirdly, we must build a weather-tight the end be published, it is the less house,-principles which will avail us necessary. The salient points touched when the storms of life arise. Fourthly, upon were the relation of the natural we must work steadfastly, and with and spiritual senses, the Lord's second our might, lest it should be said of us, coming in the spiritual sense, the neces"This man began to build, and was not sity of a standard of truth, what the able to finish." Fifthly, just as men standard of truth ought to be to the always employ an architect to design an New Churchman, and answers to all objections heretofore advanced against the proposition that the spiritual sense as revealed by the instrumentality of Swedenborg is that standard. The conversation which followed, in which Mr. Teed, Mr. H. W. Brown, and Mr. Speirs took part, brought out a few points requiring fuller explanation, which Dr. Tafel did his best to furnish. New Jerusalem Church, Kearsly, by the Obituary. On 4th September, Mr. David Middlemist, of Hull, departed this life, aged 73 years. He was at the time of his NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE (Nun Street).- decease the oldest receiver of the New On Sunday, September 20, a presentation Church teachings in Hull, having emwas made to the minister, Rev. W. Ray, braced them in his youth. He was a of a large quarto Bible, elegantly bound, sincere professor, always delighting in and having an illuminated inscrip- the strong conviction of the truth of the tion, "Thy Word is a Lamp unto my doctrines, and though not a controver feet and a Light unto my path." The sialist, ever ready to join in conversavolume is interspersed with numerous tion with any sincere Christian, or with coloured plates, and contains also an those who sought for information on the historical and chronological introduc- important subject of religion. During tion, concordance, copious marginal a painful illness, his mind was fully readings, references and annotations. at rest in reliance upon his religious The presentation was accompanied with principles, and he felt the assurance the following letter:-"Presented to the that his sufferings were a needful preRev. W. Ray, minister of the New paration for the change which awaited Jerusalem Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne, him. He left small legacies to several by myself and family, as a small token Institutions connected with the New of our esteem, and appreciation of his Church, including £30 to the building valuable services at Nun Street. Also fund of the Hull New Church Society. of his Christian humility and courtesy, especially to strangers who attend the services. Hoping he may long live to use the Bible sent, and have the Divine blessing on his ministry. -Wm. Garden." This token of esteem is the more encouraging as it comes from a family brought to the Society by recent lectures. Another course of Sunday and week-day evening lectures are to be delivered shortly. JOHN JEWITT. ERRATA. We are desired to make the following correction in the Paris letter which appeared in our last month's :-For "Russian Divine," read "Russian Prince;" for "M. Minor," read "M. Minot ;" for "M. Cherrier," read "M. Chevrier.' Births. On August 24, 1874, at 6 Torriana Avenue, London, Mrs. R. Jobson of a son. On October 20th, at 82 Barnsbury Road, London, the wife of Mr. Wm. Spear of a son. Marriage. am On 13th September, at Peckham, London, Mrs. Sarah J. L. Howell, aged 40 years. She and her husband assisted to form the Camberwell Society in 1863, and although distance and domestic cares prevented her from regularly attending public worship, she was affectionate member of the Church, and ever endeavoured to enlist the sympathies of her children in its welfare. Her amiable and consistent demeanour caused her to be respected by all who knew her, and her sudden departure to the spiritual world is acutely felt by her family and friends. On September 28th, at 4 Squire's Mount Cottages, Hampstead Heath, whether he had been taken for the benefit of his health, Leonard Theodore, only child of the Rev. John Presland, was removed, at the age of six months, to his heavenly home. Certain that it is for ever"well with the child," and sustained by divine consolation and the sympathy of many loving friends, his parents, who have twice before experienced a similar bereavement, trust that this third treasure laid up for them in heaven, will fix their hearts there more and more, and help, every day, to On the 23rd of September, at the lead their footsteps thither. CURSING TURNED INTO BLESSING; OR, THE CHRISTIAN SENSE OF THE 109TH PSALM. THE Psalms as a whole are eminently adapted, even in their literal sense, to express the pious aspirations of the soul in all its varied states of light and darkness, hope and fear, joy and sorrow, peace and tribulation. As these are states which every serious Christian knows by experience, and which, to a certain extent, succeed each other as certainly, if not with as much regularity, as day and night, summer and winter, sunshine and shade, serenity and storm; no portion of the inspired Word is more familiar or precious to the true members of the Church than these Divine compositions, which are truly the Christian's songs in the house of his pilgrimage. Nothing can be more suitable to seasons of spiritual light and gladness than those Psalms which express exultation on account of the privileges and blessings of the sanctuary, or the treasures of the Word, more especially in states of illumination and joy which have been opened up in the mind by the presence of the Lord, as the light and life of the soul. Equally suited to the darker and sadder seasons of Christian experience are the many pathetic Psalms which so mournfully express the feelings of the heart oppressed with remorse, or subdued by suffering, where the tried one complains of having eaten ashes like bread, and mingled his drink with weeping (cii. 9). And in all states, how cheering and supporting are those representations of the Divine love and mercy that place the Lord before us as the Being who pities His children; who knoweth our frame, and remembereth that we are dust; who forgiveth all our iniquities; who healeth all our diseases; who redeems our life from destruction, and crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies (ciii.). But while the book of Psalms is replete with the language of pure devotion suited to the various states of Christian experience, there are some portions of them which breathe a spirit of severity and cruelty and even of revenge, which no real Christian can utter for himself in their plain literal meaning. No more striking instance of this occurs than in the 109th Psalm, where the writer utters the bitterest and most awful imprecations against the man who is his enemy. "Set thou a wicked man over him, and let Satan stand at his right hand. When he is judged, let him be condemned; and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few, and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be continually vagabonds and beg; let them seek their bread out of the desolate places. As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him; as he delighted not in mercy, so let it be far from him. As he clothed himself with cursing like as with a garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones. Let this be the reward of mine adversary from the Lord, and of them that speak evil against my soul." It is possible to conceive that these sentiments might be uttered by one who so understood religion as to believe that, while he was commanded to love his neighbour, he was at liberty to hate his enemy. But no such sentiments can be uttered nor in any degree cherished by the Christian, who is expressly required to love his enemies, to bless them that curse him, do good to them that hate him, and pray for them that despitefully use him and persecute him. It might seem to be sufficient to pass over such portions of the Jewish Scriptures as unsuited to the genius of the Christian religion. This however would not only leave a blank in the Divine Book of Life, but would make a blot upon it, and to a corresponding extent, on the human book of life, which, at best, can never be more than an imperfect copy of that which has been written by the finger of God, to the end that it may, as far as possible, be transcribed to the living page of the human heart. The Divine inspiration of the Scriptures makes it impossible that any parts can be otherwise than replete with heavenly instruction, and conducive to spiritual improvement. And even in this sense and respect, to take away from the words of the Divine Book, is really to take away from our part in the Book of Life. No part of the Holy Word has been written in vain-no part is superfluous and may be removed, no part is temporary and can die out. The Word is a Divine whole which can have no redundant parts-a perfect body which can have no superfluous members-a seamless garment which admits of no division-an eternal covenant which can never wax old. It has in some places an outer garment which may be removed an outer sense or meaning which is conventional and therefore temporary, and which may disappear with the time and people to which that sense was adapted. But when that sense which is con ventional and temporary is removed universal and eternal truth is disclosed. The existence of a spiritual sense in this Psalm may be evident from its being, to some extent at least, prophetical. The words, "Let his days be few, and let another take his office," are applied by the apostle Peter to Judas, who by transgression fell (Acts i. 20). But these words are a part of a series, and express but one of the many like imprecations that the writer utters against his enemies. This particular "curse" cannot consistently be severed from the others with which it stands connected. When the Apostle repeated this one imprecation in application to Judas, it was because it was the only one that the occasion called for. The apostles were met to select a successor to Judas, and it was only necessary for Peter to quote so much of the Psalm as to show that, the traitor having fallen by his own hand, it was meet that another should take his office. And as Judas represented the Jewish Church, the Psalm in its internal historical sense relates to that dispensation. In this its proximate sense it does not predict, it only describes, the state of the Jewish Church at the period of the Lord's coming into the world. It describes that Church as being so utterly degraded and corrupt, so confirmed in falsity and evil, as to be utterly incapable of restoration. Those ills which in the literal sense are uttered in the form of imprecations, are in the inner sense simply descriptions of the character and irretrievable ruin of the Church among the Jews. Destitute of charity and faith, which are the constituents of the Church, it would cease to be a church even in name, and another would take the place from which it had by transgression fallen: The internal sense treats of other and still higher subjects. Like all the other Psalms, this one, in its inmost sense, relates to the Lord, who was represented by David; and the enemies of David, when understood in relation to the Lord as the Redeemer, are the spirits of |