from America and one from Pruffia, giving notice, that a refpectable Society is already formed in order to emigrate on the principles of this plan, as foon as families to the number of one hundred are collected, and do engage previous to embarkation to arrange and fettle every matter relative thereto, and fign their names to a contract to be entered into for the prevention of disputes and disorder when they arrive on the coaft. It is further to be obferved, that the fociety formed and ready to embark when the number is completed are to enter into fuch arrangements with the British government, as may be requifite for its present and future welfare. The XIth, XIIth, XIVth, and XVth Articles are of fuch a nature, that we think it expedient to infert them at length, for the benefit of fuch as may be difpofed to promote, or give this plan a serious attention. They are as follow: ARTICLE XI, «All those truly zealous friends of humanity, who are defirous of promoting this important undertaking, even to "the adventuring fome part of their own property, in order to form a capital for the fupport of this infant community, "may depofit fuch fums as they please with the committee, for which they will receive a proper obligation, figned by the fupreme council, who oblige themselves in behalf of "the whole community, to pay an annual interest of three 66 per cent, for the firft ten years, and four per cent. for the "next ten years, after which term an annual interest of fix per cent. till the whole debt is discharged." ARTICLE XII. "Whereas fome perfons may wish to partake mutually "with this community, who cannot at prefent join it, they "fhall be entitled to an equal quantity of land with the first ❝ emigrants, provided they advance a fum of money not less than 1ool. fterling, on the conditions propofed in the eleventh article."? ARTICLE XIV. «All the members of this community who poffefs pro66 perty, more or lefs, and are unacquained with the com"modities neceffary to be procured therewith, may depofit "the fame in the hands of the committee, who will give full fecurity for the faithful application thereof, according to the defire of the proprietors. And any members not "refiding in or near London, fo as not to be prefent till " near t "near the time of embarkation, may impower the committee to tranfact their concerns, and to vote in their behalf." ARTICLE XV, "As it is the design of this plan, that our free commu"nity fhall be erected in Africa, confequently among the es negro nations, not for any of the bafer purposes of usurp❝ing dominion over them, difturbing their peace, enflaving "their persons, or debauching their manners; but for the "nobler purposes of civilizing, and gradually incorporating "them into our community, by every gentle means, as by "regular marriages, the education of their children, &c. "fo it will become the indifpenfible duty of every member to fpare no pains for promoting this beneficial purpose. "Therefore, inftead of flavery, a gentle fervitude is to be instantly adopted, and every native redeemed from flavery "fhall be free after a fervice or apprenticeship of a few years. The laft Article contains a promise that a code of laws adapted to the state of this community, fhall be drawn up by perfons chofen out of the whole community, as foon as it is in fuch forwardnefs as to admit thereof. This is indeed an imperfect Review or fketch of this original and valuable publication, but we fhall endeavour in fome future number of this work to give our readers a more circumftantial and perfect idea thereof, and for the prefent conclude with a fincere with that the undertaking may meet with that deferved fuccefs in its execution which the juftness of its principles appear to merit. On the Doctrine of INFLUX. AMONG the numerous and important fubjects now unfolded by the Meffenger of the New-Jerufalem Verities, the following will, we truft, claim the attention of every rious inquirer after truth. fe INFLUX fignifies the Operation of natural and fupernatural things and beings on our interior and exterior organs: we are only the recipients of it. In proportion to our reception, we are active; and, according to the prevalence the influencing fubjects have over us, we fhall receive our reward or punishment. Every rational person will readily al low, low, that mankind have the liberty of chufing either good or evil; though, at the fame time, if the facred fcriptures are admitted as the standard of truth, it will be as readily taken for granted that all good influences proceed by continual emanation from God, and good angels; and that evil thoughts and fuggeftions as certainly arife from hell and infernal fpirits. Therefore, fince every thing that we are thinking, willing, and doing, proceeds from other beings, it is incumbent on us to be inceffantly on our guard, and carefully to obferve, how far thefe influxes are agreeable to the ten commandments of the Lord, and the rest of the Word; and this muft determine us either to admit or reject them. Certain influxes attack us against our will; at fuch times we must have recourse to fervent prayer; and, as it were, concentrate our foul in God, or feek refuge in the Divine Mercy, until the ftorm abates. It is a fad reflection, how few people there are at the pre fent day who will believe that influx from fpirits is poffible though nature and experience may convince us of this important truth. But, as this doctrine muft needs lead mankind to believe eternity, to be humble, and attentive to their interiors, on which their falvation depends, it is not furprizing that the enemy of mankind moft vehemently ftrives to ftifle these sentiments; for, man is by nature elate, and inclined to pride; confequently he hates humility and a fub miffive confidence in God. By retaining the opinion that he thinks and as always from himself, a man fatisfies his felf-love, and can thus boaft of his actions, and receive praise and glory from men; in this manner he feparates himself fucceffively from God, and falls into the deepest darkness. But as it is of the utmost confequence to us to be confirmed in the opinion that both good and evil fpirits are able to influence our thoughts and affections (the former endea vouring to increase the kingdom of God the latter that of the devil) we will take the liberty to adduce a few short proofs as an illuftration on this momentous fubject. (To be continued. ) SUBJECT OF THE PLATE. Contained in a memorable Relation in the Delights of Wisdom refpecting Conjugal Love, N° 294. THE HE Seven Wives were again feen by Swedenborg on a bank of rofes different from the former. It was of a circular form, and the roses represented as it were the arch of a rainbow; in the outermoft circle the roses or flowers were of a purple colour, the next interior circle was yellow, and within this was a circle of flowers of a blue colour, and the innermoft circle was formed of flowers of a refplendent fea green, and within this iris-like bank of roses was a small lake of clear water. They told him it was a representation of the Delights of Conjugal Love. After difclofing in their con verfation many arcana relative to this fubject, the little boy approached again with a fcroll in his hand, which he held forth to him faying, read, and he read these words: "Be it known, that the Delights of Conjugal Love afcend up towards the highest heaven, and in the way and alfo in that heaven conjoin themselves with the delights of all celeftial loves, and thus enter into their felicity which endureth to eternity; the reafon is because the delights of that love are also the delights of wisdom. And be it moreover known, that the pleasures of Scortatory Love defcend down even to the lowest hell, and in the way and alfo in that hell conjoin themselves with the pleasures of all infernal loves, and thus enter into their infelicity, which confifts in the trouble of all the joys of the heart; the reafon is, because the pleasures of that love are alfo the pleasures of infatuation (infania.) After this the husbands with their wives departed, and they accompanied the little boy even to the way by which he afcended into heaven, and they knew that the Society, from which he was fent, was a Society of the New Heaven, with which the New Church on earth will be conjoined. |