(which we always notice first,) they inform us, that they have printed 500 copies of the Rev. Mr. Clowes's important work, the Translation of the Gospel of Luke, with Extracts from E. S.; and the same number of his valuable publication on Delights. Among their "Foreign Intelligence" are two highly interesting letters, one detailing accounts of the progress of the New Church in America,-the other from Dr. Taffel of the University of Tubingen in Wurtemburg, giving a narrative of his reception of the doctrines of the New Church, and of the efforts he is making to extend the knowledge of them in Germany. We give large extracts from both.

Our readers have before been apprised of the accession to the cause of the New Church of the Rev. M. B. Roche, late Rector of Trinity Church, Philadelphia: the particulars communicated in the following extract respecting this event will be found extremely gratifying :

"Within the last three months we have had a great accession to the Lord's New Church in this country, in the person of the Rev. M. B. Roche, a most respectable Episcopal Minister, and great part of his congregation. Mr. Roche met with two of the works of E. S. which I had republished here, and presented by Mr. C-- to one of the members of his church-the Doctrine of the Lord and Sacred Scriptures: he thought them dangerous books, and told the gentleman he would take care of them and keep them out of harm's way. Some months afterwards he thought he would look into those books, and see what they were like, expecting to be amused. He read the Doctrine of the Lord first, and was so struck with it, that he read it again and again, and could not refrain from pronouncing it true. He immediately began to preach 'JESUS CHRIST the ONLY GOD of heaven and earth,' without stating to any person the cause of his change of sentiments on the Trinity; and some of his congregation observed the change and were well pleased, but still ignorant from what source he drew his new views: and all his ideas soon became very near the New Church doctrines. About three or four months ago he became acquainted with Mr. C-, and soon after with Mr. L-, and others, and read many of E. S.'s writings, with eagerness and delight, and associated much with us. His sermons became so much tinctured with the New Church doctrines, that it was talked of by some persons not friendly to the New Church, and one of his episcopal brethren made a formal report to the bishop, that Mr. Roche was preaching the doctrine of the New Church, particularly on the Trinity. Mr. Roche requested an interview when he heard they determined to call him to an account; and when he attended, expecting to find the whole strength of the church, he only found the bishop and his accuser, the Rev. Mr. Kemper; and, strange to tell! the bishop contented himself, (after asking a few questions,) with relating some of the old worn-out slanders of Mr. Wesley and others against

our enlightened seer, E. S., and pronouncing him deranged, &c. and warning Mr. Roche, that if he did not preach the doctrine of the Trinity of Persons, as contained in the Episcopal Creed, he would be dealt with accordingly. Mr. Roche then gave him in writing his belief on the doctrine of the Lord, which was nearly verbatim from our articles of faith, and informed the bishop, he must preach that doctrine and no other. Thus ended this visit. In a very short time Mr. Roche found great difficulty in reading the church service, (not having a curate), and he determined to resign his situation as an episcopal minister. This to him was a serious and important step, as he was dependant on the church for his support; but he felt confident the Lord would provide,' as he was acting conscientiously: and it has turned out so. He sent in his resignation to the bishop, and delivered a farewell address to his affectionate people, who nearly all shed tears on the occasion. I was present, and never witnessed a more interesting and affecting scene; for Mr. Roche is a young man only twenty-six years of age, one of the most eloquent preachers in our city, and one of the most successful in his ministry, in gaining or awakening souls from darkness and death, unto light and new life. His congregation were so much attached to him, that many followed him, not doubting his new doctrines must be good; others had already been reading the books he had procured from the members of the New Church: and he now has a congregation of about two hundred and fifty persons warmly attached to him, and willing to subscribe to the fundamental doctrines of the New Church. You may readily suppose Mr. R.'s coming out has caused a great stir in the city, and particularly amongst the Episcopalians. This has been the case, and many are now reading the books who before were indifferent about them; and it is to be hoped numbers will be blessed with a knowledge of the truth through Mr. Roche's ministry: he preaches twice on the Lord's day, and twice during the week in the evening, in a building procured for that purpose, and always to crowded congregations. It has caused new life in our society, and we have had great rejoicing. Mr. Roche has preached in our Temple and has had several calls to preach in the country, which he attends to, and is indefatigable in his exertions to make known the truth.” The following is also important.

"I gave you some account of the Abingdon society, and Mr. Hhe has since been ordained to the ministry, and they are going on well. The Rev. Mr. Weeks continues his labours of love and use, and the Lord blesses them abundantly; we hear from him very frequently, and he always cheers us with something consoling.

"We have had an application from a society in and near Wooster, state of Ohio, consisting of forty persons, desiring that Mr. S might be ordained their minister, to administer the ordinances of Baptism, Holy Communion, and Marriage. We have authorised the Rev. David Powell,

of Stubenville, Ohio, to perform that duty: this society was unknown to us twelve months ago.

"I have one more remarkable proof that the Lord works by means in his New Church, and that truth is dealt out according to the state of the recipients.

"Above five years ago a person called on ine for some of the writings of E. S. He informed me he understood we held ideas similar to his own, on the divinity of the Lord, and he wished to investigate them ; I entered into conversation with him, and endeavoured to explain our views fully and generally on the subject of our doctrines; he appeared well pleased, and I gave him a good stock of our books, among which was Mr. Hindmarsh's Seal on the Lips. I saw him again in the course of some months, and he said the books were liked, and his people were reading them he was a Free-will Baptist Preacher. I saw him once after that in the same year, and gave him some more books. From that time, until about two months ago, I never saw him; I met him by accident; he informed me they had two considerable congregations in the state of New Jersey, one about six miles from Philadelphia, the other about twenty miles off; that when he was absent, and they had no preacher, they frequently had one of their congregation to read from "the Seal on the Lips" for them that their creed was taken principally from that valuable book, and their hymns from our collection of hymns; that they had published a large edition of fifteen hundred hymn books, in which the doctrines of the New Church were set forth, and they had nearly disposed of them all, and that it was their intention to republish the "Seal on the Lips," very soon. These people are now performing a great use; they are an intermediate link in the great chain, between the New and the Old Church; they can approach people that we cannot get at, and who in time will seek the Lord in his true church without fear.

"The Society of Free-will Baptists at Frankford, about seven miles from the city, increase in numbers, and love and zeal in the New Church. I think you have been informed of their having embraced our doctrines; they still retain their name of Free-will Baptists, and baptize by immersion, but they are full believers in the Divine Humanity of our Lord, and the resurrection of the spiritual body, the internal sense of the Word, &c. and we make no doubt, ere long, they will assume the name of the New Jerusalem Baptists. But why should we dispute with them about names, or form in baptism; for my part, I expect to see whole congregations of New Church men, worshipping the LORD JESUS under the form in which they had been educated and accustomed, and let that be Methodist, Quaker, Presbyterian, or Baptist, it will make no difference in the sight of our Lord, for He looks at the heart, and not at the form. We look forward with great confidence to an increase in the New Church from the ministers of the Old Church: we know of many at present, who are reading the

writings, and are favourable, particularly to the Doctrine of the Lord, and which, once received, is as leaven to leaven the whole lump."

The following is from the letter of Dr. Emanuel Taffel, of Tubingen:"I return you many thanks for the ready kindness you shewed me in answering all my questions in yours of the 6th of May last. Your advice and remarks are most interesting, as I had been a long time alone, and entirely ignorant of the state of the New Church, and as the reports which I found, in books, were old, I was desirous of entering into correspondence with a member of the New Jeruaslem Church, and to connect myself with it, but I had no direction. A feeling which I could not account for prevented ine from avowing my attachment to its doctrines, not having the power to defend them, any more than to defend myself, especially against mortifying accusations; not that I was deterred by the fear of man, but I was afraid of profaning the holy cause, and of being wanting in argument to defend it effectually: it is too sublime a cause to trifle with, and not to be able to say all in its support. When I began to study the Theology, there fell from my eyes, as it were, scales! I was soon convinced that the doctrine is true; and this conviction was increased as I was reading the 1st chapter of the Arcana Cœlestia, (for we have here in the library of the University the 1st vol.). From that time I found myself at liberty to speak of Swedenborg, but only to those who asked for information about him, as it was a rule with me to be silent on the subject, defending the doctrine by reason or the Word. Dr. Steinkopff, of London, was at Stutgard; I went to see him on purpose to get information; he appeared so liberal, that I thought I could ask all questions I so much wished to be answered respecting the friends of Swedenborg, (as it was the purport of my journey:) but I got no information whatever from him. At last I wrote to the Exegetic society*, for it was the only direction I had; no answer came. To Mr. Steinkopff, and some others who had asked me, I had acknowledged my belief in the truth of Swedenborg's writings; it became more and more public. My ecclesiastic superiors questioned me on the subject, and I answered in the affirmative. They then asked, Did I believe all the memorable relations, and all he said he had seen and heard in heaven? I said, Yes. Some of them told me that I could not in conscience continue in the ministry of the church of my country. They gave notice of this to the Consistory or Ecclesiastic Court. I was resolved not to withdraw from ecclesiastic functions, but to do nothing against my belief and the Lord's commandments. I felt that the Lord would enable me to defend the holy cause. The time was fast approaching to take upon me ecelesiastic duties; I asked leave of absence for a year, in order to visit Sweden, and collect all that I could to strengthen the cause; to examine with care all the circumstances of the life of Swedenborg, all that spoke for or against him, as I was persuaded that truth ought not to fear the

* A Society which formerly existed at Stockholm,

light of a liberal enquiry. Before that time I had got acquainted with a few people more or less attached to the doctrines of Swedenborg; Mr. A at Schorndorf, notary, and Mr. P——, counsellor of finances, to the king, and his brother, with their families; likewise Mr. B―, a merchant at Redenburg: Dr. M--, my friend, and some common people had got acquainted with the new light by me: all met at Stutgard; they were most of them against a journey to Sweden; wishing to try first at home a tranšlation of some of the works. But we had no means, these people having nothing to spare from the expenses of their families; besides, a fit of illness prevented my setting off. So I was obliged to remain in my country, and nothing remained to be done, but to try to print by subscription a few of the books of Swedenborg, the most useful of which had never been printed here: 1st, the Doctrine of the Lord; 2nd, respecting the holy Scriptures; 3rd, Doctrine of Life; 4th, on Faith; 5th, Apocalypse Revealed; 6th, Last Judgment; 7th, Continuation; 8th, Divine Love and Divine Wisdom. After having asked the Lord's help, I published the prospectus, (this prospectus I had translated into English, in order to send to your societies, before I knew you, but I had no opportunity, neither any direction,) on the 17th De. cember, 1821. It contains 24 pages 8vo. and Mr. Ghas sent it to England, perhaps to you; it contains favourable testimony to Swedenborg, furnished by friends and others, and some enemies: the sentiments of Dr. Beyer, Hartley, Count Hopken, and General Tuxen, upon the merits of the writings, some account of their effects on the mind, and some remarks how to judge of them. The consequence was, that many people were more or less gained over in favour of Swedenborg; it made great noise. Dr. S and some others wrote something in opposition, and had it printed: Herod caused children of two years old and under to be killed.' I thought it necessary to defend the holy cause, which Dr. S- had depreciated with the public; so I caused to be printed (and I do believe sine ira et studio), on the 19th March, 1822, an answer that appeared in the Suabia Mercury: my end was in great part accomplished, notwithstanding there remained many enemies amongst those of exterior worship; they don't know its doctrine, and are for the most part engaged in other pursuits, and nothing but the doctrine can dispel the darkness that encompasses those who are to be regenerated. I have only 110 subscribers, but I trust in the Lord that he will provide the means wanting. My aunt lent me as much as will enable me to print the books, No. 1, 4, and 6, and they will be printed this autumn in two vols. the 1st vol. I sent you by Leipsic, before I had your answer, because I could send it to you free of expense. If I had foreseen before I began printing, that I should be obliged by the oppositions, &c. to make such a long preface, I should not have printed 3000 copies; however the opinions were divers on the necessity for such a number; Mr. L― of Giessen was vexed when I said No. III.-VOL. I.

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