Page 3 Advertisements Column 1

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 300, 18 May 1889, Page 3

pRACTIOAL CHRISTIANITY PmiLISHBD FOB in® SPECIAL BENEFIT OF Nos-Chvbchgoebs. True Christian Religion, intelligently understood, comes not to add to men’s burdens, but to remove them. “ For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn tne world, butthat the world through Him might be saved.” John iii, 17. Its eading doctrines, adapted to the use of this New Age, are summarised as follows : — There is one God, in whom is a Divine Trinity of Love, Wisdom and Operation, and he is the Lord Jesus Christ. Saving Faith is to believe in Him. Evils are to be shunned, because they are of the devil and from the devil. Good Works ought to be done, because they are of God and from God, and they ought to be done by man as of himself, but with the belief that they are from the Lord, operating in him by him. There are two things which constitute the essence of God—love and wisdom. And there are three which constitute the essence of His love—to love others out of Himself: to desire to be one with them: and to make them happy from Himself. The same three con. stitute the essence of Hig wisdom •, because Iqve and wisdom in God make one, and love wilia these things, and wisdom accomplishes them, (True Christian Religion, No. 43.) The Word of God is Divine truth clothed in human language, and adapted to the varied, states of the human heart, that thus a, man may know God, and learn to kr.qw and do His will. “If ye contjnqe in My word, then are ye my disciples indeed,” John viil, 31 “ Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them : for this is the law and the prophets.” Matt, vii.,B. The Ten Commandments point out what evils are to be shunned in order that men may attain eternal life. That if ia not so difficult to live the life of heaven as is commonly believed, is evident from this—that when anything presents itself that one knows to be insincere and unjust, ta which his mind is disposed, he peed only think that it ought not to he done because it is contrary to the pivine commands. If a nian gocustoms himself so to think, and from custom derives the habit, he is then by degrees conjoined to heaven; and in so far as he |s conjoined to heaven, the higher degrees of his mind are opened : and in so far as these are opened he sees what is insincere and unjust; and in so far as he sees these evils they can be shaken off, for it is impossible that any evil can be shaken off until it be seen. This is a state into which a man may enter from freedom ; for who is not capable of thinking in this manner ? But when he has made a beginning all goods are wyqugfit in him by the Lord, and H 9 causes him not only to see evils, but also hot to will them, and finally to become averse to them. This is meant by the Lord's words, “ My yoke is easy and My bur{slight,” Matt. xi. 30. But it should be known that the difficulty of so thinking, aqd likewise of resisting evils, increase iq proportion as a man from the yrjU commits evils; tor in so far he becomes accustomed to them, until at length he does not see them, and after, wards loves them, and from the delight of love excuses them, and hy all kinds of ta.lla.cies confirms them, and declares that they are allowable and good. But this occurs with those who in age of adolesence plunge into evils as if without restraint, and at the same time eject Divine things from the heart. * — (“ Heaven and Hell,” No- 533) Thia aqvertieement, though containing truth for all, is especially published for the benefit of those who from any cause do not profit by rdinary religious ministrations. Those who approve of the doctrines here enunciated, and who desire to assist in the work of dissemi, nating them, are invited to send contributions o Mr W. F. Keen, Treasurer of the Sydney Society of the New Ohwoh, Qaritbella Street, North Shota, Sydney, sphe Works of Swedenborg and Minor Literat uro of the New Church can 'be obtained from Mr W. Bullard, Bookseller, George Street, Sydney,