of dominion, and temporal advantage. Delivered from this fatal error, we are now assured the blessed day is arrived in which the LORD " will shew us plainly of the Father."* The Divine Trinity in One Divine person, and that person the Lord Jesus Christ in his Divine Humanity, is made as plain to the intellectual eye from the Word of eternal truth, as that there is a finite trinity in every man, consisting of soul, body, and operation; or, in fact, as plain as that there is an omnipotent Jehovah who created the world, redeemed the human race, and preserves them by his power. I shall not attempt here to prove this important and allessential subject, that being already done in the writings of our illuminated author, EMANUEL SWEDENBORG, who presents therein the most solid, rational, and Scriptural demonstration that there is but One God in One Divine person, in whom centres the whole Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that God the LORD Jesus Christ, the invisible Jehovah of the Old Testament, manifested in his Glorified Humanity as the visible Jehovah of the New; and so convincing is the evidence furnished, that his readers must either obstinately close their eyes against divine truth; or, in humility of soul, bow the knee to Jesus Christ, confess Him the only God of heaven and earth, and in future devote their hearts and their lives to his will and laws, as the Divine source of all their mercies, their life, their happiness, and their heaven for ever. But, my brethren, when we reflect not only upon the manifestation of this most essential truth, and that we are now enabled to know, worship, and love the One Only True God as a Divine Man, in first principles and in last, the Alpha and the Omega, but also to take into our astonished view the sublime discoveries brought to light in these latter days, through the unspeakable mercy of our God in making known to us the divine science of correspondences, and thus disclosing the internal and spiritual sense of the holy Word as written agreeably to that science; in discovering to us the true nature of the Christian religion from its interior principles to their ultimate operation and effects; in opening to us the knowlege of the world of spirits; heaven and hell; the soul of man; what he is as a spiritual being, and the true nature of his resurrection; and indeed every other spiritual subject relative to our present peace, comfort, and illumination; and our state in the future life in the world to come ;-when I say, we reflect upon these inestimable favours, in what a new and animating * John, xvi. 25.

light does every circumstance relating to the LORD's Church and Kingdom appear to the mind! The holy Word of divine Revelation is beheld in its own superior splendour : not a cloud hangs over it, or intervenes to prevent its enlivening beams from illuminating the understanding, or from elevating the heart to its Divine Author. Its essential doctrines; its saving truths; its pure laws of divine order; are now seen and known to proceed from the bosom of that God whose esse is Infinite Love, and whose essence is Infinite Wisdom. We perceive that they are revealed to man in pure mercy and compassion, in order to shew him his state, bring him back to the centre and source of his felicity, and constitute him a glorified angel in the kingdom of his Heavenly Father. Every part of this divine Word when thus laid open in its internal sense, displays to us the character, attributes, and perfections of Jehovah our creator, redeemer, and saviour; and teach us that in Him there is no wrath, anger, fury, vengeance, and vindictive justice; that he is not a hard master, or partial in his favours; that he does not ordain a few to be happy, while he decrees millions to eternal misery and hell, as if he were an arbitrary unfeeling sovereign; but, on the contrary, that "He is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works ;"* that he desires the salvation of every human soul, and raises to Himself and heaven all who can be made happy consistently with the free constitution of intelligent beings, and his own unchangeable and eternal laws of order. Add to these inestimable vouchsafements of heaven, the prospects now set before us by the revelation-ever consistent with the holy Word, -of the state of man immediately after bodily dissolution; his entrance into the world of spirits as a real, living, substantial man, with every power, faculty, and sense, to associate with spirits and live for ever, and if in a state of preparation by having undergone the regenerating process in the world, he shall then enter the new heavens†, be united with angels, be an angel himself, dwell in the presence of his adorable LORD, and be a useful, glorified, and perfectly happy being in that kingdom to all eternity! Taking these most animating prospects into our view,-considering also the infinite goodness of Jesus Christ in leading us to a reception of them,-how great, how immense must be our obligations to adore his holy name, love him with all the heart, and surrender our souls and bodies with all their powers, to his blessed will and laws! Surely our obligations to be the most

exemplary Christians in the world, must be evident to every serious mind. As a member of this most holy and glorious Church, and especially as an aged minister in it,—having stood fifty years in that sacred office, and near thirty of them in this New Church, and reasonably expecting my continuance in this world will shortly be at an end,-I not only conceive it my duty to leave behind me this testimony of my firm and unshaken faith in the existence of this Church, and in all those doctrines, truths, and subjects which constitute it; but also my full conviction and assurance that EMANUEL SWEDENORG was the faithful messenger and servant of JESUS CHRIST-was peculiarly prepared by his immense erudition, and directed, and inspired to write those theological works which are published in his name, and which works are the medium, in the LORD's hand, of introducing his Second Advent into the soul of man, by opening the internal and spiritual sense of the holy Word, and of enlightening humble and sincere minds into the knowledge of the One True God, pure scriptural religion, and the eternal salvation of their souls. And I am fully persuaded that these writings will be handed down to posterity from age to age, as a most precious and invaluable gift from God our Saviour to his poor, erring, and fallen children, to guard them from spiritual darkness, infidelity, and evil! It is not the man we revere, or consider in any higher light than a faithful, humble, and illuminated writer and servant of Jesus Christ as such we receive his message. Thus also, we believe what is delivered by the Prophets and Evangelists, but it is not the men, it is the truth they have delivered, we revere, and the Divine Author of that truth we adore and serve. I shall now arrange the little spiritual property I have to dispose of, and offer each item to the acceptance of my beloved Legatees, as particularly specified in the following pages.

SECTION II.

TO MINISTERS AND LEADERS OF SOCIETIES.

EVERY institution of a public nature requires distinct offices, and persons to fill them with qualifications and talents best adapted to the duties required. And if in civil and wordly institutions care be taken to make choice of and appoint persons of

suitable talents and abilities to fill the offices of such institutions, how much more so in a religious, spiritual, and divine institution, such as the Church, in which not merely the temporal interest and prosperity of men are to be promoted, but their spiritual, and eternal prosperity and happiness!

It would give me very sincere pleasure to see an academy or academies established in the New Church, to instruct young persons in the languages, and in every other department of science necessary to their becoming useful in society, and qualified for any important office which their learning, talents, and abilities might enable them to fulfil. But admitting they pass through such a previous useful education, I cannot say that I think this to be the whole of what is necessary to prepare a person for, or constitute him a proper and approved minister of the New Church :-It appears to me, from the writings of our author, that all the preachers in the new heavens are of the LORD's appointment; consequently they are the subjects of his divine approbation, and therefore every way qualified for the office and the work in which they are engaged. The New Church on earth is one with that in the heavens. It is in conjunction with the Lord Jesus Christ, and under his peculiar care, direction, and government. It is therefore a fixed sentiment with me, that no man is a divinely approved and appointed minister of the New Church, except he be in an humble and renewed state of mind, and is led by the Divine Providence, in various ways, to incline to the work of the ministry, and by a peculiar influence is preparing, and prepared, for that sacred office. Under this influence from above, he feels his mind impressed with a strong desire and ardent affection to go forth into the LORD's vineyard and become the servant of his Church, and devote his time, talents, and abilities to the dissemination of divine truth, and thus to promote the good of his fellow-immortals, the increase of the LORD's kingdom, to the glory and honour of his adorable name, and this apart from all interested and selfish views, as to temporal emolument, dignity of station, the praise of men, or any merely worldly consideration whatever. The man who comes forth in this way as a minister, is, I conceive, of the LORD's choice and appointment; will be endowed with gifts and talents suited to his work and office; and be an approved, a useful, and a worthy minister in the New Church. Should he be in some degree a learned man, acquainted with languages, the sciences, and the different departments of useful

knowledge peculiar to the present world and state, these attainments, no doubt, might be employed with considerable advantage in the service of his Divine Master; but all these latter united in one person, I say again, cannot constitute him a faithful and divinely chosen minister of the LORD's Church. In addition to these outward acquirements he must be a truly spiritual man; acquainted with spiritual scientifics and knowledges, and the various stages, states, and changes in the regenerate life; his life's love must be devoted to the sacred work, and under a peculiar influx and illumination from Jesus Christ to discharge his duties faithfully, from pure motives, and to the right end. Such a minister will deserve the respect and esteem of his brethren; and it would be well for him to be at liberty from all worldly incumbrances, by being decently provided for by the Church; that so he might improve his talents, discharge his duties with comfort, and thus be more abundantly useful from being at liberty to devote all his time and energies to his ministerial duties.

You, my brethren, who are ministers will acknowledge with me, that the sacred office we fill is one of the most important in which a rational being can be engaged. It is neither to be lightly taken up nor carelessly discharged. A faithful minister is an ambassador of the LORD,-a labourer in his vineyard,—a servant to his Church,—and a herald to proclaim and announce the will of his Master. He is called a shepherd, a watchman, and an overseer. He is commanded to go forth and preach the gospel of his LORD, build up his Church, teach the truth, lead to the good of life, admonish, reprove, and exhort. He is solemnly charged to be faithful, to give warning to all, lest by his neglect, any should die in their iniquities. From these considerations it is most evident, that a true minister has a work to do, duties to discharge, and stands in a situation between God and man of the most solemn character, and involving the most weighty obligations. And here I must say, that I fear some Christians, even of the New Church, think too little of all this, and do not properly estimate the weight and importance of the duties of the ministerial office. It may be thought by some, that if the minister enter the pulpit on a Sunday and deliver a discourse or two, he has done his work, and has nothing more to do till the Sunday again returns. But I am assured from example, divine testimony, and long experience, that the work of a minister embraces many more duties and subjects than merely writing or delivering a sermon. If he be in any just