Swedenborg will read with interest a little book of a
mildly controversial character by B. F. Barrett, which endeavors to
show what the New Church really is.[20] The controversy is not with the
unbelievers in Swedenborg, but with some prominent persons among his
disciples. Its object is to show that the New Jerusalem, or New Church,
is not an organized and visible body of people united by a creed and a
form of worship more or less uniform. This view, although, as the
writer says, it has prevailed among the students of Swedenborg for
nearly a hundred years and is probably held by a large majority of them
at the present day, he regards as an utterly mistaken conception. He,
on the contrary, regards the theory of separation as false and vicious.
The function of Swedenborgianism, if so it must be called, he believes
to be to uproot and destroy the mischievous spirit of sect, to exalt
charity above faith, life above doctrine, both inside and outside of
all the churches. This he regards as that second coming of the Lord
which Swedenborg taught; and this he sees in the signs of the times.
Few of us know really what Swedenborgianism is; and some of us have
tried in vain to discover what there is in it which captivates some
clear-headed as well as true-hearted men. But if this be
Swedenborgianism, who of us is there that will not bid it God speed?

[20] "_The New Church:_ Its Nature and Whereabout. Being a
Critical Examination of the Popular Theory, with some
Illustrations of its Tendency and Legitimate Fruits." By B. F.
BARRETT. 16mo, pp. 213. Philadelphia: Claxton, Remsen &
Haffelfinger.

--"The Library of Swedenborg,"[21] edited by Mr. Barrett, is to consist
of twelve handy volumes, giving a complete summary of Swedenborg's
system in a series of extracts from his writings, grouped together
under appropriate headings, indicating the special doctrine they
illustrate. These volumes are of the most convenient size and neatly
printed and bound. They are, in short, in every respect in contrast
with the bulky tomes in which Swedenborg's system is usually and so
repulsively presented. Three volumes of the series have thus far been
published.

[21] "_Volume Third The Swedenborg Library._" Edited by B. F.
BARRETT. Freedom, Rationality, and Catholicity. From the Writings
of Emanuel Swendenborg. Philadelphia: Claxton, Remsen &
Haffelfinger.

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