conceal in cells, appear to themselves to dwell in cells, where their treasures are, and there to be infested with rats and mice, that they may hence recede, and abstain from their lust; but still they do not recede until they are wearied out, and then they roll themselves, as it were, out of their sepulchres.-1747, Dec. 24. They who love libraries as treasures, and who are book-worms (libris legendis se ingurgitant), dwell also, according to the degree of that cupidity, and according to the ends they have in view, in cells. 385. There are some who are actuated solely by a cupidity of reading, and of retaining in the memory the things they read for the sake of their own glory and fame. Such, when they become spirits, appear to themselves to dwell in subterraneous places, and there to have books, and also candles, which however are extinguished. At length they are wearied out with such phantasies, and are said sometimes to be infested with mice, and animals of that kind, which at length cause them to desist from such a lust.-1747, Dec. 24. The state of beggars in the other life. 431. They who have been long accustomed to begging, and at length have found pleasure therein, so as to contract an aversion to a life of useful labour that they may procure food and the necessaries of life, appear, as it were, naked, or only covered with rags so botched together as scarcely to conceal their nakedness. They beg alms of every body whom they meet, employing one with a small vessel to receive it. I heard from them, that it is true what is said of beggars, that they desire nothing but money, despising garments and food; that they live impiously amongst themselves—in quarrels, and similar things, abhorring labour, and sometimes living in all kinds of luxury, despising money, and eagerly enquiring what each has received: they have a kind of government amongst themselves which they desire to be kept secret.— 1747, Dec. 30.—Obs. Those beggars are meant who were such in the life of the body, thus it is their life, because they had no other [governing] cupidity. That a great multitude of evil spirits desire to rob. 457. Inasmuch as I was led by certain spirits to perceive the nature of their cupidity, I observed, that they often wished to excite me to steal, even such things as are of small value, and such as are met with in shops; and I perceived, that such was the intention, or the endeavour of these evil spirits, as even to move my hand [to commit the theft]. From them, as it was also plainly told me, I ascertained, that those who have been merchants and shopkeepers, and who in their business have em ployed deceitful arts, or who by any means (fas et nefas), have defrauded others of their goods, retain such a fraudulent nature. Wherefore they wander about, and wherever they go they appear to themselves to steal, so that they think of nothing but robbery. They are, however, severely punished, and driven away by punishments.— 1748, Jan. 11. Concerning the punishment of such women as have led a delicate and idle life. 592. The punishment of those women who have led a delicate and idle life, which life is peculiar to those women who in certain countries have become rich, and desire to be raised above others, from whatever cause, and thus they settle down in [worldly] delights, and suffer themselves to be served by a retinue of servants, as queens; nor have they any care for use, but only indulging their peculiar genius and temper, living in luxuries and idleness, lolling on sofas, adorning themselves, presiding at entertainments, and thus spending their lives;-such women undergo in the other life dreadful punishments. I was instructed twice that such women are not those who like queens have been born to such things, or who from infancy have been trained to such a state; but that those are understood who, from success in the world and from riches, have become proud and devoted themselves to mere worldly pleasures. 593. Such women, when they enter into the other life, appear at first to be with their like, and thus they live in a manner similar to that in which they lived in the world. But this scene is changed into a cruel tragedy; for they soon begin to strike, to bruise, and to tear each other in the most miserable manner, plucking each other by the hair in a manner so dreadful that one cannot endure the sight. They are hung up like the carcases of swine, * * * and lacerated in so * horible a manner as not to be described, in a manner so horrible as caused the spirits around me to flee away. That all things, and every particular in the other life, are directed to conjunction by Love. 693. Whatever happens in the other life, as punishments and vastations, and things of that kind, all are directed to the end that societies may be formed; each of which must be so constituted as to agree like the things in one man, which is solely effected by the love of the Lord, and thus by the love of the neighbour; which love can by no means exist when one desires to be greater than another, because from this desire arise all disunion and rejection. Nor should any one desire preeminence in any thing, but should wish to be the least and serve. others. Thus when all desire mutually to serve each other, they are united, and each one derives happiness from all, thus from the aggregate. These things are spoken in the presence of spirits.-1748, Feb. 9. To desire and to seek honor on earth, or amongst men on earth, is not heavenly. 780. I have conversed with some who died not so many years ago, and who are amongst good spirits, but who are not yet admitted into heaven. They still interiorly desired honour, as they had done in the world, or to have their names celebrated, as they had done amongst men on earth. I was permitted to perceive this desire which actuated them, concerning which I conversed with them, saying, that this was something worldly which still remained with them, and that what is heavenly desires nothing of the kind, but rather holds it in aversion. 781. Moreover, I have conversed with them, saying, that in heaven they are all assembled together from the first creation, and that there is the greatest and most honourable society, to whom they might be known, and indeed with whom they might converse with joy and delight; so that there is not a single individual [in heaven], who from any cause wishes to be greater than another, but, in his own estimation, less; thus, there is no comparison between a name in heaven and a name on earth, especially amongst such as know nothing about what is good and heavenly, as there is no comparison between glory in the world and glory in heaven. Thus being persuaded, they affirmed that this is the case, because they perceived it to be so from the Lord.—1748, Feb. 15. LETTERS OF THE REV. JOHN CLOWES, TO THE REV. JOHN HARGROVE, OF BALTIMORE. (Concluded from page 274.) "Manchester, May 16, 1807. "My very dear Sir,-Though labouring under much bodily indisposition, which renders the use of the pen burdensome, I cannot forego the opportunity of inclosing a few lines to you in the packet of books which our Society herewith sends you, because I wish to acknowledge thankfully the receipt of your two last favors, the first bearing date June 1, 1806, the second, Nov. 18, 1806. You must, however, excuse my replying to the questions contained in them, until I acquire more strength, when (if ever the time arrives) I shall be happy to resume my pen, and give you the real sentiments of my mind. You will perceive from the contents of the packet, that I have been again using the weapons of controversy, in replying to the remarks of the Christian Observer on the Plain Answers,' &c. Of this last work you expressed a wish to have fifty copies sent you; but, on mentioning the business to our Society, they thought it would be best to send you twenty-five copies of the Plain Answers,' and twenty-five of the Answer to the Christian Observer.' From the copy of our Report, which is also enclosed in the packet, you will perceive what liberty we have taken with your letters, and how we have endeavoured to give circulation to the important information which they contain. This, I trust, will be a motive with you for continuing your interesting communications. "It will give you pleasure to hear that the new doctrines are making their way gradually in this country through all orders and ranks of people, and this, I trust, not only by an illumination of the understanding through the knowledge of the truth, but by the more efficacious purification of the will and life from all defiled affections, through the influence of a heavenly love and charity. We already reckon up between thirty and forty of the regular clergy who are become devout readers. "You have perhaps been informed of the General Conference of the Ministers of the New Church, which was held at London last week. Nothing has yet come down to the Society here respecting what was done on the occasion, but we expect their report will be shortly published. "I have now exhausted all my strength, and must therefore conclude with my best prayers for yourself and the Society over which you preside, that you may be enriched with every blessing from the Father of Mercies, and attain unto all the peace of the New Jerusalem. In the spirit of this prayer, I remain, dear Sir, more than words can express, your affectionate friend and brother, "J. CLOWES." "Manchester, January 18, 1811. "My very dear and much respected Friend and Brother,—I am not conscious of having neglected to answer any of the three letters you speak of, except one; and as that did not appear to require an immediate reply, it is very possible that it has been overlooked. Be assured, however, that nothing can be more contrary to my inclination, than to slight a correspondence by which I am always a gainer; and therefore you may depend upon it, that, whensoever you will do me the great favor to write to me, I shall always be eager to express my obligation. Nevertheless, I must be free to confess, that, during the period of your son's residence in Manchester, I felt a secret reluctance to address you, not being able to decide, in my own mind, how far it was right, or otherwise, to make known to you my apprehensions respecting your son's situation with Mr. For I found it impossible to unbosom myself on the subject, without throwing out some insinuations unfavourable to the character of that gentleman; and as I make it a rule never to give an opinion, in which any person's reputation is involved, until that opinion is asked, it seemed best to me to be silent. Alas! when will the members of the Lord's glorious new church have that confidence in each other, and that true love towards each other, which the doctrines they profess to believe so powerfully inculcate. "I am happy in learning that your little Society is on the increase, and that' you have no opposition from, or contention with, any other church or individual Christian.' The 'petty jars,' which you mention as prevailing amongst you, are certainly to be lamented, yet possibly, under the divine administration, they are rendered instrumental in promoting purification and advancement in regeneration, by bringing the spirit of charity and forbearance into fuller exercise, and also by making more manifest that latent spirit of a corrupt self-love, which might otherwise escape notice. It is thus that the finest harmony frequently arises out of well mixed and well regulated discords; but then it is well to be understood, that such harmony cannot result in a social view, unless every member of the Society is better pleased with the concord giving way to the discord from compulsion, not from love. It is thus too that the Almighty drives out our spiritual enemies by little and little, always leaving some in the land to humble and prove us. Let us then, my good friend, be content to go on gradually towards our own perfection, and not expect perfection to be attained suddenly by others, and then we shall be sure always to find something to humble and to prove us. "The account you give of the Rev. Dr. Grant is highly satisfactory, and I sincerely congratulate both yourself and the Church in general, on such an acquisition of strength. Any further particulars respecting that gentleman, will be received with the greatest interest. "It is gratifying to all the friends here, as well as to myself, to think that you still retain the office of register in your city, and we devoutly wish and pray that it may long be continued to you, and enjoyed by you as a proof of the Lord's divine favor and loving kindness. "You wish to be acquainted with the state and growth of the New Church in this country; but on a subject so complex and extended, it is not easy to express one's self. One thing, however, is certain, that many of the younger and more respectable amongst the clergy, begin to open their eyes to the light of the truth, of which I could produce several instances within my own knowledge and observation. In this part of the kingdom too, it is quite astonishing to see how the new doctrines spread amongst the lower classes of the people, insomuch that, in some parishes, there are few families but what are in possession of the writings, and frequent the places of meeting appointed for reading, conversing, &c. &c. It is notorious also, that the sale of our enlightened author's works increases every year, and new editions of them are perpetually called for and printed. On this subject I ought to inform you that the Treatise on the Divine Providence was lately reprinted by two gentlemen of our Society, and that the Treatise on Conjugial Love is at present in the press here, and intended to be republished at the expense of some gentlemen in Liverpool. Our Society too have repeatedly reprinted large editions of the smaller works, such as the Doctrines of the Lord, of the Sacred Scriptures, of Life, together with the Heavenly Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, and an incredible number of copies of Extracts from the Treatise on Heaven and Hell, and of other small tracts; all of which are dispersed by hawkers in all parts of the country, and bought up with the greatest avidity. Yet we have still to lament, that the higher orders of the clergy seem to pay no manner of attention to the truth, except to ridicule it. "I wish to inform you that the twelve copies of the Treatise on Conjugial Love are safely arrived, and that our Society intend to send you, according to your request, a ‘full set of all the sermon books' published by the ministers of the New Church in this country, together with a copy of Dialogues on Paradise, its Laws, &c., and also a copy of a Treatise on Science, printed lately by the Society, which you are at liberty to pay for, or not, as you think proper. I wish likewise to inform you, that the Society have lately sent to the press a work of mine, written in the course of last summer, entitled, Pure Evangelical Religion Restored, or Charity, Faith, and Good Works United, and Triumphing over all Selfishness, Worldly |