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the letter presents a striking contrast with the Old. There indeed are life and immortality brought to light. The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus places this great truth not only in the clearest light, but in the most practical form. And had no other hint been given of a futurity of happiness or misery for the human being, this would stand out in bold relief as the revelation of a truth that lies at the foundation of all real virtue and all true happiness. And here the comparison is between opposites in their ultimate condition and final results, and the judgment or decision demanded of us is truly for life or death, bliss or woe. Solemn is the appeal which this last of all truths makes to us, and it is one to which we shall do well to take heed.

The comparison and judgment so necessary for a wise decision, may be appropriately and profitably made at the present season. We have passed through another year, and have seen and experienced its progressive advancement from its commencement to its close. In the course of that period we have had its varieties unfolded and its opposites disclosed; and all the impressions which those changes make upon the soul and the mind have changed or modified our state, and left us different from what we were before those impressions were made. We have perhaps spiritually had our days of joy and our days of sadness; we have perhaps experienced the truth of the Divine promise to the children of Noah, that "while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease." (Genesis viii. 22.) All these vicissitudes are required to bring us to a state of perfection. As the earth would not be habitable if the same unvarying temperature, and the same degree of unshaded light prevailed, no more could the soul and mind of man be the habitation of living thoughts and affections, or even of knowledge itself, if it lived continually in the unclouded and unvarying light of truth, and enjoyed the same unchanging influence of love. All states are formed from varieties and from opposites. Cold is as necessary as heat, darkness as light. All opposite and varying experiences enter into and enrich the mind when it is turned to the Lord, and disposed to see His providence in all states, and in all the circumstances of life. We therefore find in the Word the whole creation, with all its creatures, and all its changes, called to unite in the praise of God, because all are designed to accomplish His purposes -"Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons and all deeps, fire and hail; snow and vapour, stormy wind fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars, beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying fowl; kings of the earth and all people, princes, and all judges of the earth; both young men and

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maidens, old men and children; let them praise the name of the Lord." All of us have experienced some of these states, some of us may have had some experience of them all; and how wide is the range of that experience, from the lowest natural up to the highest celestial, from the tribulations of the natural mind up to the peacefulness of the celestial, where wisdom and innocence meet in the old man and the little child!

All things tend to the glorification of the Lord that have a tendency to improve the state of man; and experience confirms the declarations of Holy Writ, that all things work together for good to them that love God. Only let the love of God be exalted to its true place in our hearts, and all things and all states will become instrumental in purifying, increasing, and confirming that love, and making us more conformed to the image of the All-perfect Himself.

But looking beyond ourselves individually to the body of which we are members, there are calls upon us for comparison and judgment. What have we as a body experienced, what have we accomplished, during the past year? Compared with what we were and did during the previous year, what are we and what have we done during the past? Are our societies larger and more healthful and active than they were a year since, or were at any former period? These are questions which each society can best answer for itself, and it is one on which each and all of them should form a judgment; and that judgment, whatever it be, should lead to zeal and action, that the result may be improvement.

From our societies we may next look to our institutions. How are they affected by such a comparison? Are they better supported, better conducted? and can they show better results than they did twelve months ago?

From our societies and institutions we may turn to our men, whose function it more especially is to superintend and guide the existing machinery for doing the work it is the duty and purpose of a church to perform in the world. And here we have first to count our losses. Since last year at this time, two of our most laborious men have been removed from amongst us, but who have passed away ripe in years and rich in useful works. The Rev. W. Mason, after nearly half a century of active and fruitful labour, has been taken to a higher field of usefulness. Dr. Immanuel Tafel has been called to his eternal home; of the amount of his labour it would be difficult to form a correct idea, of its value it would be almost impossible to speak too highly. To produce correct copies of the works of the Lord's servant, E. Swedenborg, and to provide for the preservation of his manuscripts by having them printed, was a work of immense labour and of great use, and one

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that required rare talents to perform. But this great work required more than labour and talent,-it required disinterestedness, and even liberality. A considerable part of his means as well as a large amount of his time must have been devoted to the carrying out of his cherished object. And the time has now come when we are called upon to return to his family a portion of that which he had expended in our behalf, and supply, to some extent, the slender means of support of which his sudden removal has deprived them. Of the success of this effort there can be no doubt.

And having looked at our loss, the question comes back upon us, What have we done or gained to supply or counterbalance it? We pray the Lord to send labourers into His vineyard. What exertions do we make to second our prayers, and shew that we really desire what we fervently pray for? And what exertions and sacrifices are others willing to make to qualify themselves for carrying on the great and good work? These are questions that we leave the church and its members to answer. Only let us be earnest to compare honestly, and judge justly, and do what we can to make the New Year still more fruitful of good uses than the old! M.

INCIDENTS IN THE JOURNEY TO TÜBINGEN OF
MESSRS. BAYLEY AND WATSON.

THOUGH the direct result of our especial journey to Tübingen has been communicated to the Church through the Intellectual, and is being happily attended to by our friends in that generous and kindly spirit upon which we reckoned in venturing the suggestion of the plan in which the Church has evidently fully concurred, yet there were subordinate matters of great importance which came under our notice, and which we feel conscious will be interesting to your readers, as they concern the manifestations of the New Church in ways and in parts but little generally known.

We made our way first to Switzerland, because we wished to have full and accurate information respecting Dr. Tafel's last days, which we knew was to be procured there, and we were not disappointed, as your readers are aware, for at the house of the esteemed family Manuel, at Zurich, we not only heard the interesting recollections and warm expressions of the members of that excellent family themselves, but also met there the lady who had been with Dr. Tafel during his illness, and who supplied the exact information furnished to your readers.

We can only faintly convey in this paper the earnest and devoted zeal for the truth which breathes in these dear ladies. 66 Oh," they said, "can nothing be done now to spread the truth in this country and in

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INCIDENTS IN THE JOURNEY TO TUBINGEN

Germany, and continue the work of Dr. Tafel? Can we do nothing? Can our brethren in England not help us somewhat? It seems as if the way were especially opened in Switzerland, where all is perfectly free both in politics and in religion, and especially where the German language is spoken, for the New Church to give what the people need. If there were a preacher," said these zealous ladies, "who could preach in English and in German, we are certain he would have large audiences, and there would be an extensive spread of the truth."

We suggested that the best course to pursue would be to write down the names and addresses of all whom they knew to receive the principles of the New Church, and to see definitely upon whom they could rely, and then perhaps it could better be seen what might be done. They could also then communicate with each other, and mutual suggestions might lead to something useful being done. This our beloved friends did, and a list of known receivers was made out to the number of 166. In many cases, but not in every instance, the addresses are given. Among these are professors, ministers, schoolmasters, and at least one missionary; but the great majority are of the labouring classes and small farmers and shopkeepers. There are, however, the elements of great good, if they were once combined together and earnestly active. We cannot but think that the state of Switzerland is peculiarly favourable to the spread of New Church truth. The complaint among the orthodox preachers of those low and narrow sentiments which are known as low church in England, is that the ministers won't preach them in the great majority of churches, and what they regard as the very gospel of salvation by faith alone, is becoming rapidly extinct and lost. What is everywhere heard, they say, is the cultivation of love and peace. Don't quarrel, say they, don't strive for doctrines or for anything; be quiet, do good, grow in charity. This was the complaint of a gentleman, a clergyman, who was endeavouring to get up a Church of England congregation at St. Gallen. Everything, he said, portends a crisis, or we shall all become infidel. This is good ground, but it is nothing but ground, and needs the cultivation, which can only come from the New Church labourer and the true seed which he will zealously put in and tend.

The Swiss are a friendly, hospitable, courteous and kindly people. There is a good nature, an open-heartedness among them, and a simplicity of character which is most gratifying to experience. They love religion, and religious conversation. It may be truly said of them, we are persuaded, that "the fields are white to the harvest," and we pray the Great Lord of the harvest, that He may send well-prepared and zealous labourers there. At Berne, Zurich, St. Gallen, Appenzel, and

OF MESSRS. BAYLEY AND WATSON.

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Herisau, there are receivers who would be greatly strengthened, if once. open preaching could take place, and they would soon form a centre of further operation and progress. The whole of that district of Switzerland is worthy of the especial attention of our Missionary Society, with an eye to the commencement of a vigorous spread of Divine truth among the free and noble Swiss.

We went from Zurich to Lake Constance, and thence to Tübingen, which is situated, as some of your readers know, on the river Neckar, about twenty miles from Stuttgart, the capital of the kingdom of Wirtemberg. We can reach Tübingen now by rail, and as we approached the fine old castle, on the heights overlooking the beautiful valley and the town where Professor Tafel had so many years lived and worked for the New Church, and where we knew his widow and family were now, in mourning and perplexity, then our hearts were deeply moved; our sympathies were tenderly excited; yet, while we mourned, we felt also a pleasure in the hope that we should be able to lighten the sorrow we could not altogether remove. We went to the castle, and found speedy admission. We learned that Madame Tafel and the family were at home. We were ushered in, and as Dr. Bayley was known to them, the introduction was soon over, and a conversation proceeded, on the one side, the kindest consolations from the New Church in England being offered, on the other, the sympathies of the church gratefully accepted and acknowledged. The difficulties of Madame Tafel's position were freely laid before us, and our best advice and assistance requested.

There were five daughters at home, and one son still at school. Dr. Tafel's entire efforts had been given to the New Church for forty years, and the results were, besides the numbers of persons to whom his labours and writings had imparted the truth, thousands of books, which remained on hand from the editions he had printed, and which could not be sold in any way to relieve sensibly their necessities, but also, when the family were compelled to remove to modest apartments, instead of their now spacious dwelling, it would be totally impossible to store them. We desired to see them, and were shewn five rooms filled, and subsequently an eight-stalled stable filled with bales, volumes, and sheets. The great bulk was of Latin works, the new editions of all Swedenborg's publications, of which Dr. Tafel had generally published of each volume nearly 1,000 and sold probably about 100. He felt sure they would have value some day, and though the burden was great in the meantime, he yet worked bravely on. There were also the German works, but of these a much larger number had been sold as they were published, and there was a greater likelihood also of a sale in a reasonable time for what remained. Besides, Dr. Tafel had only trans