"PREPARING FOR THE SECOND ADVENT."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 40, 16 February 1905, Page 2

"PREPARING FOR THE SECOND ADVENT."

(To the Editor.) Sir,—When I see Mr F. G. Ewington's name at the bottom of a letter or article I always read it, because I know he is sure to make some sensible remarks on whatever subject he writes about, though I do not always agree with him. His letter on the above subject in Wednesday's paper is no exception. His caution to weak and narrow-minded believers is a timely one. I am glad to see him quote from one of the most remarkable men that has appeared since apostolic .times, Emanuel Swedenbofg, who, •however, has been so little known or appreciated. Like the great Master whose servant he always called himself, he has never been properly understood. Mr Ewington's letter is an excellent exhortation to Church adherents: but I am sorry.he did not further show what Swedenborg distinctly teaches, that the so-called second advent is not a coming in person, not a personal coming of Him whom we look upon as the world's Re deemer, but a grand outpouring of His Spirit., and a spiritual understanding of the grandest book in the world—the

Bible^—among His followers when they are preparejd to reSe'ive and appreciate its mighty power. ' , Notwithstanding the elmrehianity and. religiosity which goes under, the nairie of Christianity, aiid. is often a ifte're caricature of the teachings of the New Testament; , one cannot but rejoice to see that this Spirit of Christ was never niore prevalent in humanity than it is to-day, ifl spite of the inaii-liiMe creeds so much dwelt upon by the churches. It would be well if those who profess to be followers and believers iri the Lord Jesnis wbiild lay to heart FaiiFs grand poem on charfty or love (1 Cor. xiii.), which he tells us is the greatest gift of the faith or mere belief Jn the merits of the Saviour;, but exemplification of Such love' as He hatL who "weiit about doing'good.*' tJhfbrtiinfttelyv too many of those who make tile loudest profession ofldve to Jesus, and trust in His merits to save them, ignore His li£e and example. Paul says: "If we are saved by His death, much inoye by His life," that is, following in His stepsj living the same loving, selfsacrificing life-that He lived. Alas! it is a sad picture that organised Christian- i ity presents to the worid. Mir E.s state- i nients strongly illustrate this. He says ' they mistake "the shell for the kernel* i religiosity for religion, Brummagem for i the genuine Article." In almost every! case we fihd organised ehiirches have i always upheld privilege and vested in-! teiests, ,arid in social reform seldom move tiljU-eompelled by public opinion, j It is true the question of temperance! has nioved some of theih; but supposing i that refdrni wefe accomplished, there is a still deeper evil in the perpetuation \ of preventible poverty, in the private appropriation of that "which the Great Father has given for the use of all His children. Those who appropriate the great forces of Nature do not pay an equivalent to the community for their tise. With such an object" lesson as the churches present, need we wonder at the picture referred to by Mr Ewington, that "at a mass meeting of workingmen in Chicago, when the Church was mentioned, they hissed"? s

The "Church of the Living God' , is a mighty power in the world even now, but those who compose it are not confined to church-goers, whether Protestant or Roman Catholic. This church is not an organisation, but is composed of all who love truth, justice, and righteousness, and who try to live lip to their highest conception of- equity for all, making as far as possible the golden rule their guide in life. These are the very salt of the earth, and are influenced and guided by the Spirit of the Christ whether they belong to any church or not.—l am, etc., J.P.P.