doom, belong to the powers opposed to the city of the faithful; while of this latter it is already true that there is 'no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it,'-that 'there shall be no night there,' and that 'there shall be no more curse.' Of the vision, thus interpreted, it will be easy to appropriate the special particulars to the corresponding spiritual realities."

The writer, however, though maintaining the presence of the New Jerusalem amongst us now, does not acknowledge that the Last Judgment must have been already accomplished before the " 'holy city" could "come down from God out of heaven." He labours under the inconsistency of expecting a future general judgment, while admitting the sequel of the judgment as present; and he endeavours to make his position tenable by considering the early verses of chap. xxi. to be descriptive of the heavenly state only. But that this is incorrect plainly appears from the second and third verses, where we find that proclamation of the descent of the New Jerusalem "out of heaven" is made in the words "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men," &c. The New Jerusalem cannot come down until the new heavens and the new earth are established, and all things reduced to order in the spiritual world by the Last Judgment.

But, notwithstanding the merely natural ideas that the writer quoted gives expression to in some parts of his article, it is refreshing to find a minister of respectable standing (and he by no means the only one) pleading for a more spiritual interpretation of the Apocalypse than is common in the old church. J. T. P.

Married.

At the New Jerusalem Church, Brightlingsea, October 29th, 1864, Mr. Joseph French, to Miss Susan Norton, both of the above-named place.

On December 31st, 1864, in the New Jerusalem Church, Accrington, by the Rev. R. Storry, Mr. Benjamin Hilton, to Miss Elizabeth Whitehead.

Obituary.

Departed this life, on the 24th November, Charity, wife of the Rev. W. Bruce. She was born in London, of New Church parents, and baptised by Mr. Sibly, in 1794. Her father, Mr. Isbister, a

native of Orkney, had come to the metropolis when a young man, where he soon after became a convert to the new doctrines, and married Miss Larkin, a member of Mr. Sibly's society. Charity was the first fruits of this New Church marriage- an event of rare, almost singular occurrence in those early days. After Mr. Isbister had resided some twenty years in London, and had passed from prosperity to adversity, he removed to Edinburgh, where his excellent wife died in 1814, leaving him with eleven children. The charge of this family, with the exception of two, now devolved upon the eldest daughter, who, with the assistance of a younger sister, performed for them all the duties of mother, teacher, and nurse. In this last capacity she had much and sad experience; for the younger children, like tender plants removed to a less congenial soil and under a severer sky, one by one drooped and died till only four were left. Trials such as this test our principles, and her's did not fail her in her time of need. In 1825, Miss Isbister was married to Mr. Bruce, at that time the leader of a newlyformed society in Dundee, where he had gone as a missionary and remained as a pastor. Here, enjoying the early delights of a wife and a mother, living and labouring with her husband among a simpleminded and warm-hearted people, and passing rich with forty pounds a year, nothing seemed wanting to complete the happiness she felt and the happiness she gave. But life, as she had already well learnt, is not perfected without suffering. Mr. Bruce's health gave way, which compelled him to relinquish his charge, and with deep sorrow she returned with him to Edinburgh. Years passed on, and the faithful and cheerful performance of duty brought its reward in quiet satisfaction. But another trial came, one that no doubt produced inward purification, but which cast a shadow over the whole of her future life. A heavy domestic affliction caused a severe and continued strain upon her energies, which brought on a nervous fever from which she narrowly escaped. Although after a time she regained something of her former health, her nervous system received a shock from which it never entirely recovered. Those who after this time knew her only superficially, knew her imperfectly. Those who knew her intimately, saw still more clearly than

before the intrinsic beauty of her character, and discovered how deeply and firmly her virtues were rooted in religious principle. More retiring, she limited her activities still more to the sphere of domestic life, attending to the comforts and ministering to the happiness of her household. In later years, when her residence with her son released her from the cares and duties of a household, she spent much of her time in reading. She had long before read the Arcana, which implies that she had an extended acquaintance with the works of the church; and the intelligent and practical form in which she reproduced the truths she had learned from them, showed that she had been a reflective reader. Her husband, always profiting by her sweet influence, has often been indebted to her clear feminine perception for views of truth that would not otherwise have presented themselves to his mind. But the Divine Word itself was the book which, especially during the last few years of her life, was the chief subject of her reading and meditations, Her Bible contains numerous marks, on which are written with her own hand passages of Scripture, with religious thoughts from other sources, selected by herself. Among these are "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." "Do all things without murmurings or disputings." "If we hate our evils, they will depart from us." It would be weak to quote these, were it not to show the character and tone of her mind. These are further illustrated in some hints on the education of children which she has left behind her. Her own grand maxim in her domestic education was-"We must be to our children what we wish our children to be." In agreement with this she remarks" Our lives must be formed according to the commandments of God, that we may be a pattern to our children. If we do not obey God's commands, how can we expect our children to obey ours?" She enforced her lessons of religious virtue on her children both by precept and example. Writing to her son when pursuing his studies abroad, she says "I have remarked that we cannot be happy without being good. Happiness must mean that feeling which arises from the conscientious performance of whatever

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we have to do. Then the spirit rests secure in a good conscience. So that the conscience seems to me to be the foundation of the kingdom of heaven." And congratulating him on the return of his birthday, she expresses this pious wish-"May the Lord in his mercy bless you, my dear child, and infuse into your mind dispositions of goodness, kindness, and mercy, which will bring peace to yourself, and peace to those around you. To acquire these requires as much study as to learn a language, but the acquisition is worth the labour, for indeed these are the language of heaven." Her notes and lessons were exemplified in her own life, as far as can be expected of our fallen humanity, of the frailty of which she had a deep sense. What need is there to enumerate Christian excellences in one who was earnestly and continually striving after them all? The end of one who had endeavoured so to live could not but be happy. When, after years of declining health, and months of acute suffering, during which she spoke of her approaching departure with the sweet tranquillity of settled peace, she passed away in the true odour of sanctity. No words perhaps could convey a truer idea of the character of this translated spirit than those uttered, after the first gush of feeling at her departure, by one who knew her well, and who breathed"The beautiful end of a beautiful life."

On the 20th November, 1864, at her residence, Handsworth, near Birmingham, in the 66th year of her age, Mrs. Mary Ann Faraday, departed from the natural into the spiritual world. She was the estimable widow of the late highlyrespected Mr. S. B. Faraday, of Fenton, in the Staffordshire Potteries, whose obituary appeared in the Intellectual Repository for the year 1844. Notwithstanding the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Faraday was distinguished by sincere reciprocity of affection, yet Mrs. Faraday never turned her attention willingly to the doctrines of the New Church during her husband's life. But the first time she received the Lord's Supper with him was just previously to his decease; and he then earnestly and most affectionately told her that it was the happiest moment of his life. Almost immediately on his removal, however, she increased her exertions on behalf of her children, of whom she was left with seven; the prejudices

of early education began to give way, and her own interest in the heaven-descended doctrines of the New Jerusalem, in a wonderful manner, daily gathered strength. During her long widowhood, she had to endure great worldly trials, which only caused her to cling the closer to that "spirit of truth," which is the true "Comforter." Very shortly before her removal, she received the sacrament of the Holy Supper, along with her dear family, and the service yielded to her interior consolation. She was most highly and deservedly respected by all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. Her remains were interred by the Rev. Edwd. Madeley, in the catacombs of the Birmingham General Cemetery.

E. M.

Departed this life, in Broughton, Dec. 3rd, 1864, Mr. John Pullan, aged 43 years. He had been a reader of the writings for more than twenty years, having become acquainted with them while residing near Skipton. He was during the last fourteen years in the Manchester Police Force, during eight of which he held the rank of sergeant. Mild in temper, reserved in manner, honest and industrious, he gained the esteem and respect of all with whom he was associated. He introduced the doctrines to his brother officers, and was never ashamed of the truth. During the late severe distress in Lancashire, he was chosen to assist in the distribution of the relief to the operatives, in the discharge

of which arduous duty he acquitted himself so as to give general satisfaction. His earthly labours now, however, have closed, and he has doubtless entered upon some active use in the inner life of human existence. STELLA.

On the 19th December, 1864, Mrs. Harriet Simkiss, the beloved wife of Mr. James Simkiss, Victoria-road, Ashtonjuxta-Birmingham, departed from the natural into the spiritual world, in the 57th year of her age. Her remains were interred in the Witton Cemetery, by the Rev. E. Madeley, December 23rd. She became a member of the society of the New Church in Summer-lane in 1836, a short time before she entered into the marriage state. On the 16th May, 1862, she suffered from a severe attack of paralysis, which deprived her of the use of her right side, and confined her to her bed for upwards of two years and a half. A beloved daughter, who could communicate with her better than others, anxiously and tenderly watched over her, and greatly contributed to her comfort and peace. Few married pairs ever enjoyed more connubial felicity than she and her beloved husband; and it was to her a cause of grateful rejoicing that her three children-two sons and a daughterwho have outlived her, are, in accordance with her inmost wishes and most anxious prayers, ardently attached to that church to which she had so long regarded it as one of her greatest privileges to belong. E. M.