which seeks relief in the adoption of forms of prayer. Were the desires of the conscious mind for spiritual graces as ardent as they are for temporal advantages, they would flow spontaneously into perfectly corresponding expressions, but until they thus coincide there can be no ready response in the external mind to the devout movements of the 'internal. Thus, in the performance of this, as of other duties, self-compulsion is required, and written prayers become serviceable. These, however, are gradually laid aside as religious life and growth increase.

In early states, when there is little knowledge of heavenly things, men pray for natural blessings-for what they consciously love and desire. Can any good reason be assigned why they should not? Can they indeed adopt a better course? The Lord is the giver of all good, natural and spiritual; and He invites the "weary and heavy-laden" to Himself, that He may give them "rest." Shall we, then, tell a suffering brother, who lays his earthly sorrows and necessities before the throne of grace, that his heavenly Father does not hear such prayers, and that he may only ask for spiritual gifts; when, perhaps, he can scarcely discriminate between nature and spirit; but yet has learned that God is good, and ever ready to help His creatures? We may smile at a child's prayer for toys and sweetmeats, but no wise parent checks or reproves it; knowing that when the child becomes a man he will cease to ask for childish things. So long as any one is disposed to offer such petitions they are permitted to him. Relief, too, will be granted, according to his needs, and in proportion to the simplicity and innocence of the prayer; though, possibly, not in the exact form in which it is sought. As his state advances, he will learn to limit his supplications to higher objects, and will pray for more love and charity, more faith and obedience, more reliance on the Lord's divine providence, more submission to His will, till, as he ripens for heaven, and spiritual principles attain a due ascendency, he will refrain from asking the removal of any state of trial

or suffering, and will only pray that he may be enabled to bear it till the end it is intended to promote be accomplished.

BOOK NOTICES.

Christmas is Coming, and other Poems, for the "Home Mother" and her Darlings. By MRS. L. M. MOREHEAD. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1871.

MRS. MOREHEAD may be remembered by some of the readers of the magazine, as the daughter of the late Mr. Josiah M. Espy, one of the early receivers of the doctrines of the New Church, in Ohio, who is held in most affectionate remembrance by those who knew him. Educated in these doctrines, and imbibing their spirit, this little volume is welcomed as a very pleasant and acceptable contribution to our New Church literature, for mothers and their little ones. She says in her Preface:

"This little book is meant for the happy home-circle and the "house mother," who should ever be its centre, down to the little "four-year-old " at her feet; for the play-loving boys and girls, growing up, I trust, to be the centres of happy homes in the future, not forgetting a tender tribute to those who have gone before to that larger and happier home-circle, where there can be no vacant chair."

Mrs. Morehead has been, for many years, one of the most acceptable contributors to the pages of the Children's New Church Magazine, and this volume consists mainly, if not entirely, of articles first published in that work.

The following may serve as a specimen :

"THY WILL BE DONE."

For "Three Little Friends."

In flowing garments, long and white,
Three children, one by one,

Knelt by a mother's side at night,

And prayed,-"Thy will be done."

And then like fluttering doves they sped,
With rosy, glancing feet,

To nestle in each snowy bed,

In slumber, calm and sweet.

Soon came that mother, pale and calm,
And, kneeling by each bed,

With upturned brow and folded palm,
"Thy will be done," she said.

Then kissing each fair, sleeping face,
She murmured, "Must it be?
O Father! give me of Thy grace,
To trust them all to Thee.

"O keep them safe from sin and harm
When I am safe with Thee;
Shield them with Thy protecting arm,
Let them unspotted be.

"From worldly stain, from passion's soil,
Keep their pure souls, I pray,

And guard those little, tender feet
Along life's rugged way.

"And lead them to the pastures green,
And by the waters still;

So shall they find the narrow way,
And love Thy Holy Will."

An angel mother watches now,

Where once that mother knelt,

And, in those children's gentle lives,
Her influence still is felt.

"Love one another, children dear,"
Her sweet voice seems to say;

By night it lingers on the ear,
And follows them by day,

The Intellectual Repository.

THE November number of this magazine has just come to hand, and the table of contents promises a large amount of pleasant and useful reading. It will be found on the next page. The New Church people in England are making an effort to establish a newspaper; but until that is done the Repository will be obliged to do the double duty of magazine and newspaper.

We wish to add a few words on some of the articles in the above table.

The series of articles, entitled "Fragments of the Early History of the New Church in the North," was begun in the April number, and, with two exceptions, has been continued to the present time. We are glad to find the writer promises a continuance of the same subject.

We know not how much interest others may feel in such subjects, but we confess these "fragments" have been to us full of interest, giving, as they do, an account of the beginning and growth of the New Church in that region, in those early days, and particularly of the individuals who labored so faithfully in the work, under so many discouraging circumstances.

It is as true of the New Church in America, as it is of the Church in Great Britain, that much valuable information, like that brought to light in these papers, is locked up in the memories of a few individuals, the number of whom is rapidly diminishing; and we hold it to be the duty of those who have the opportunity, to collect these interesting facts and details, and put them in some safe and accessible place, for the benefit of all who may hereafter wish to see or to use them.

The sixth article is a short poem, the subject of which is an event in the life of Miss Hettie Barclay. The following note is prefixed to the poem: "Miss Barclay was one of the first three American receivers of the New Church doctrines. According to an old tradition Mr. James Glenn, our earliest missionary, went over to Philadel

phia in 1784. During this year, and while he was further South, Miss Barclay's curiosity led her to the Swedenborgian literature sent after him from England, and remaining with her friends. She accepted, and straightway began to disseminate the new truths, and lived to see many societies spring up, by whom she was regarded as a New Church Santa Filomena."

In regard to this, it may be proper to say, Miss Barclay is the same lady alluded to in "Annals of the New Church in America," which appeared in the October number of the New Jerusalem Magazine. The writer of the "Annals," however, does not consider Miss Barclay as 66 one of the first three " receivers in America; and W. R. is supposed to draw his materials from reliable history, and not from an 66 old tradition."

The article on "Prayer," and the one on "Iceland," are copied into our present number. The article on "The Lord the Refiner by Fire," could not fail to interest every New Churchman. The analogy existing between the Lord's work in the purification of the human soul, and the work of the refiner of silver, is ably and interestingly presented to view. There are some other things in the magazine which we intended to speak of, but our space is limited, and a few remarks on another topic will finish all we have time to say at the present time.

We are surprised to find how small the number is, in this country, who subscribe for the Intellectual Repository, and the same remark may be applied to our English brethren in regard to the New Jerusalem Magazine; and yet, to our respective periodicals, they and we must look, mainly, if we would know what work each party is engaged in, and to what extent that work is prospering in our hands.

We have very few opportunities of seeing each other face to face. Occasionally one of us visits England, and still more rarely are we permitted to welcome one of them here.

We cannot help thinking that it would be a mutual benefit to the New Church people in England and America, if they could become better acquainted with each other; and since this cannot be effected through personal contact, might not something, perhaps much, be gained by a free interchange of thought and feeling through our respective periodicals? We would gladly join in any effort that would bring about so desirable a result, and the above is a small contribution in that direction.