| 966 further southeast, obstacles not altogether informidable may be apprehended, we may hope that they will appear less appalling as we approach them. The South Americans have long been in a restless condition: the gospel would insure tranquility [tranquillity] and blessings beyond those of which they have hitherto been capable of conceiving.
Since our Divine Master had done so much for fallen man, and we have been so much favored as a nation, as Christians, as members of a benevolent association; and in view of the condition of the Aborigines, and our obligations to them, and of the inviting opportunities which now present themselves for doing them good, and the confidence of success which humble reliance upon God, must inspire us, surely there will not be one in our favored fraternity who will be unwilling to participate most zealously in this good work of "build the old wastes, of repairing the waste cities, and the desolations of many generations."-And, in behalf of all, we adopt the language of Nehemiah, "The God of heaven he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build."
The total number of the Indian race is therefore estimated by the report at near or about 12,000,000, excluding those of mingled Spanish &c., and Indian blood
THE PROSPECT.
The saints have reason to rejoice at the prospect before them: for while the calamities of the last days, as foretold by the prophets, are continually taking place among the nations and kingdoms, the "division" sent by Jesus Christ, as recorded in St. Luke, is also fulfilling. We copy the following as a sample. The Swedenborgians without revelation will last about as long as a candle in a windy garret.-The candle of this generation is nearly burnt to the socket. But see how old fashioned religion fails in the old world:
From the London Intellectual Repository.
RECEPTION OF A NEW CHURCH MESSENGER BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR AND OTHERS, AT OXFORD,
In consequence of the present divided State of the Church of England, and particularly of the University of Oxford, upon essential points of doctrine, especially the doctrine of Justification by Faith alone, a reader of the writings of Swedenborg though it his duty, as a Clergyman, to go to the University in order simply to announce the dissolution of the Old Church and the establishment of the New, as declared in the writings of our author. He had resolved not to go in the character of a theological disputant, or of a critic upon the writings of ancient or modern divines, but solely in the character of a Messenger, to convey the glad tidings of salvation as announced by the New Jerusalem Church; trusting that in case any argument should arise upon the subject, the writings of Swedenborg would enable him to give suitable replies.
The result of his mission is, that he has been enabled to announce the doctrines of the New Church to several of the leading men at Oxford whose names are familiar with the public. In every interview the arguments against the New Church resolved themselves into two; first, that the Catholic Church is the interpreter of Scriptures; and secondly, that the creed of this church is the key to the interpretation thereof. To the first objection it was replied-If the Church is the interpreter of Scripture, then in the case of the prophetical books which form a large portion of the Bible, where and what are the interpretations authorized by the Church? To this question, no answer could be obtained in any one of the interviews; probably for the reason, that the Church no where possesses authorized interpretations of prophecy, as she possesses authorized interpretations of doctrine; that the interpretation of prophecy, therefore, is an open question; open to any and every individual who, in his character of interpreter, is not bound to refer to the authority of the Church, and who, consequently, is at liberty to adopt the interpretations of Swedenborg, if he thinks proper.
The second objection was, that the creed of the Church is the Key to the interpretation of Scripture, and that the door to the divine mysteries must be opened only with this Key. To this it was replied, Be it so; you give me a Key to open the door; but have you ever opened the door with it? Do you not acknowledge that a great portion of prophecy is a sealed book? What do you know of the Apocalypse? Have your creed ever opened it? if so, where are your authorized interpretations?
To these arguments there was no attempt to reply, although a reply was solicited again and again. In almost all these cases, however, it was satisfactory to hear it admitted, that the subject required investigation, and that the respective parties were not qualified to enter into it in consequence of their ignorance of Swedenborg's writings, and that the question must not be allowed to rest where it did.
The clergyman who went upon the present mission next resolved, by the blessing of Divine Providence, to lay the whole subject before the Vice Chancellor, who received him with the utmost courtesy. A statement was
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