Eastern times., 1855-11-22

According to Swedenborg there is most
of the spiritual and those of the natural world.
tie tells that the spiritual world is not far re-
moved from the natural, as to space, but is
within it as the soul is within the body Con-
sequently there is reciprocal influence and mu-
tai dependence of the two worlds upon each
other, like that existing between the soul and
the body. The spiritual world exerts an in
aeeace upon the natural, as the soul exerts an
influence upon the body and again the nat
ural res acts upon the spiritual as the body re-
acts upon the SOUL While men are living in
this world, they are all, as their spirits, inti-
mately associated with spirits in the other
world. 1t this we're not the case, we should
have no power to will or think Swedenborg
says that man cannot think the least thing
without spirits adjoined to him, and that his
spirits life depends on it,.
We are aware that the mass of protesting
Christians at the present day would look upon
such a sentiment as this as something fanciful,
visionary. or even superstitious; for the prev
alent notions respecting the spiritual world
are extremely vague and ill-defned. Most
persons seem 10 regard it as a shadowy and
unreal world, and to think of the soul itself as
a kind of fermless, ETHEREAL, un substantial va
por. Indeed, we find almost everywhere
throughout Christendom, deep-rooted skep-
ticism in regard to the reality of spiritual
world or the existence of angels or spirits.-
1t has come TO be regarded by the multitude
as mark of wisdom to deny the reality OF ev-
erything not cognizabe by the natural senses,
and to treat the belief in the existence of spir-
its, and of their influence upon men, as a silly
superstition. Such is the gross sensualism
in which the minds of men in Christendom are
immersed, that they have but little faith in the
reality or existence of anything above the COM
mon sphere of nature. AS it is written,-
faith on the earth q
But there have ever been persons in all ages
of the world who have believed that there are
spirits invisible TO the natural world, yet init
mately present with men, and exerting an in
fuence upon them for good or for evil. Thus
the belief in the presence oe the spiritual
world, and in its intimate connection and SYM
pathy with the natural world. has never at any
time completely died out. And it is worthy
of remark that those in whom this belief has
been the strongest, have usually been among
the purest and best of men. Such was evil
IDENTIFY the belief of the great Milton, for he
says
millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen, both when we wake and when we
Sleep"
And the poet Spenser says -
And is there care in heaven And is there
In heavenly spirits to these creatures base
That may compassion of their evils moves
There is else much more wretched we're the
case
OF men than beasts. But oh tho exceeding
grace
OF highest God that loves His creatures SO,
And all His work with mercy doth embrace,
That blessed angels He sends to and fro,
To serve to wicked men-to serve his wicked
foe."
Sir Walter Scott also says, In his work on
Demonology and Witchcraft, that there are
many millions of spirits who have become in
visible to mortals, but who are not, it may be
supposed, Indifferent to the affairs of mortali-
ty, perhaps not incapable of influencing them
Our own Washington Irving, too, though
he regards the belief as a>superstition, says
1T is sublime and beautiful doctrine, incul
Gated by the early fathers, that there are guar
dian spirits appointed to watch over cities and
nations, to guide and guard the steps of help
less infancy And he further adds wv
could be more consoling than the idea that the
souls of those we once loved are permitted to
return and watch over our welfare That
affectionate and guardian spirits sat bv our
pillow when we slept, keeping vigil over
our most helpless hours ! That beauty and
innocence, which had languished into the
tomb, yet smiled unseen around us, revealing
themselves in those blest dreams wherein we
live over again the hours of past endearments
A belief of this kind would, think, be new
incentive to virtue, rendering us circumspect
even in our most secret moments. from the
idea that those we once loved and honored
were invisible witnesses of all cur actions
Place the superstition in this light, and con-
fess should like to be a believer in it,
l opened little volume of poems the other
day, published about two years ago in Boston,
and from the pen of lady of more than ordi-
nary elevation and purity of thought, and in
some consoling stanzas addressed to sWid-
owed Friend, found the following lines =
"Oh! not alone oh not alone!
Her spirit hovers near.
With all its deep rndying love,
Thy darkest hour to cheer.
An angel clothed in garments white,
She moveth at thy side;
Youthful and beautiful as when
She first became thy BRIDE.
Angels round our daily paths
Their blessed influence shed;
nm - = L.