more celestial, spiritual, holy, pure, and clean, than any other love in angels or men.

(10.) That man is not life in himself, but only a recipient of life from the Lord, who alone is life in himself; which life is communicated by influx to all in the spiritual world, whether in heaven, or in hell, or in the intermediate state called the world of spirits, and to all in the natural world; but is received differently by each, according to the quality of the recipient subject.

(11.) That the last judgment, so frequently spoken of in the Gospels, and in the Apocalypse, being a separation of the evil from the good in the spiritual world, where theretofore they had been collected and mixed in society together, from the time of the Lord's first advent into the world till the time of his second advent, was actually accomplished in the year 1757; when the former heaven, and the former earth, or the Old Church, passed away according to the Scriptures, and the foundation of a New Church was laid, wherein all things are become new.

(12.) That therefore, as an act of divine mercy towards the human race, who would otherwise have perished in eternal death, the second advent of the Lord has already taken place, and still continues in the present day; being a coming, not in person, but in the power and glory of the spiritual sense of his holy Word, which is himself: And thus that the holy city, New Jerusalem, is now descending from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband.

BAPTISM OF INFANTS.

A basin of pure water being provided, and the Child or Children to be baptized being present, the Minister reads as follows.

FORASMUCH as the order, wherein man was originally created, has been perverted and destroyed by the abuse of his free-will, in consequence of which we are all born in the love of self and of the world; and since no one can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerated, and born again of water and of the spirit, that is, by the truths of faith, and a life in conformity to them; therefore baptism was instituted by the Lord as a sign and memorial that man may be purified from his evils and falses, and thereby become regenerate. Thus the Lord was pleased to suffer himself to be baptized by John, in token that his Humanity was to be glorified; for hereby was all righteousness fulfilled in his own divine person.

By the waters of baptism are also signified temptations, or spiritual conflicts against evils and falses; for purification and regeneration can only be effected by means of temptations. And inasmuch as baptism is for a sign and memorial of such things, therefore it may lawfully be administered to infants, or, if neglected at that age, to adults.

The four following paragraphs may be either read, or omitted, as found convenient.

THE first use of baptism is introduction into the new and true christian church, and insertion at the same time amongst genuine christians in the spiritual world. Baptism itself, however, is only an external sign of introduction into the church, as is evident from the baptizing of infants, before they come to the use of reason, and consequently before they are capable of receiving any thing relating to faith. Yet this sign is perceived in heaven, and thereupon guardianangels are appointed over them by the Lord to take care of them, and to preserve them in a state favourable to the reception of faith in him: and as they grow up, and become capable of thinking and acting for themselves, they draw into association with them such spirits, as make one with their life and faith.

The second use of baptism is, that the person baptized may know and acknowledge the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and follow him. This acknowledgment consists in a firm belief, that he is the only God of heaven and earth, the Creator, Redeemer, and Regenerator; that in him there is a Divine Trinity, consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, like soul, body, and operation in man; and also in a life of obedience to his commandments.

The third and final use of baptism is, that man may be regenerated; in which case he is baptized with the holy spirit, or with fire; that is,

he is regenerated either by the divine truth of faith, or by the divine good of love, and thus admitted into association either with the angels of the Lord's spiritual kingdom, or with those of his celestial kingdom; and after death he himself becomes either a spiritual or a celestial angel.

Now as these three uses follow each other in order, and are united together as one in the last use, it is hence evident, that by baptism is spiritually understood regeneration. Such also is the doctrine of the Lord, when he saith in the Gospel, "He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not, shall be damned." Be it known therefore to every christian, that whosoever doth not believe on the Lord, and keep his commandments, cannot be regenerated, notwithstanding his having been baptized; and that baptism, without a living faith in the Lord, is of no avail: for baptism it self neither giveth faith, nor salvation, but is a testimony to such as are baptized, that they may receive faith, and that they may be saved, if they are regenerated.

Here may be read the institution of Baptism by the Lord, taken from Matthew, xxviii. 18 to 20.

JESUS spake unto his disciples, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

Then follows the Lord's gracious reception of young children, from Mark x. 13 to 16. AND they brought young children to Jesus, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Then the Minister is to say to the parents, or friends of the child or children,

YOU have brought this child here to be baptized into the faith of the New Church, which teacheth that God is One in essence and in person, in whom is a Divine Trinity, consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and that the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is He, and, That, in order to salvation, man must live a life according to the ten commandments, by shunning evils as sins against God. Let me therefore ask,

Are you desirous of having this child baptized into this faith?

Answer, severally. I am.