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INTELLECTUAL REPOSITORY,

AND

NEW JERUSALEM MAGAZINE.

VOL. XIV.-NEW SERIES.

1853.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE NEW CHURCH,

SIGNIFIED BY THE NEW JERUSALEM IN THE REVELATION:

AND SOLD BY

J. S. HODSON, 22, PORTUGAL STREET, LINCOLN'S INN;

AND F. PITMAN, 20, PATERNOSTER ROW:

MANCHESTER: L. KENWORTHY, 7, CATEATON STREET.

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THE GRADUAL PROGRESS OF THE NEW CHURCH. (An Address from the General Conference to the Members of the New Church throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.)

DEAR BRETHREN,-The present is commonly considered the most remarkable age of which history speaks. It is chiefly noted for its rapid succession of new ideas, and new events. Science, politics, and theology are uncertain and unstable. No one can tell what a day may bring forth. There is a general apprehension that some secret influence is undermining the existing views of Christianity. The books and periodicals of the sects deplore their present condition. All seem to feel that the common doctrines will not last another generation. The New Church itself will doubtless be more or less affected by the changes which are in progress. God alone knows what the future of the Church will be; but we need not fear. The Lord is with us— -all will be well!

The last fifty years have seen some strange things—all of which have tended to emancipate the Church. Numbers are not yet on our side; but our principles are progressing, and we occupy a position in the estimation of mankind different from what we formerly held.

Let us not, therefore, be discouraged, because few openly enlist themselves under our banners, As a body we may apparently be doing little, but Providence is doing much. We must not estimate the extension of the Church by the number of its professors, but by the prevalence of its principles. These are essentials of the Church; and we should

N. S. No. 157.-VOL. XIV.

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