The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-04
NATIONAL LEGISLATURE.
Recent Publications.

LIGHT ON THE LAST THINGS. By the Rev.
William B. Hayden, Minister of the New
Jerusalem Church Of Portland. 12mo pp.
1874. New York: Published by the General
Convention of the New Jerusalem in the
United State..-Portland: Sold by Bailey
Tucker
The subjects of the several chapters of this
book denote its general character viz. New
Truths for New Age Reality and Extent of
the other world; Seership or the sight opened:
The rising into the other world; An intermedi-
ate world of spirits; History OF Hades; History
of the world of spirits from Adam to Christ;
The prophecy of the Lords work as one of iudr.
ment and deliverance Our Lords work of
judgment and redemption; The end of tue
world; symbolism of destruction; Scientific
confirmation; The past of the earth; The
world to abide; The stability of the visible
heavens; The Lords second coming; The New
Jerusalem new church.
The author of this work is we'll and fayora.
bly, known to the citizens of Portland. He has
been the popular minister of the New Jerusa-
lem Society of this city for nearly nineteen
years, and by his christian character and his
thorough and scholastic learning has COM
mended himself to the regards of good people
of all religious denominations. 1t was once
said ofMr Hayden by one of our most pro
found Thinkers that he was'a an encyclopedia of
universal knowledge; that there was no sub
ject, theological, scientific. political, or other
wise. with which he was not entirely familiar"
and we think this opinion entirely just.
Mr.. Hayden may be considered as the au-
thorized exponent of the doctrines of the
church Of the New Jerusalem, Commonly
known as Swedenborgian,) being one of its
leading ministers and writer's This little vol
ume contains summary, we'll put, of the doc
trines Of that church upon the subjects above
named.
The author takes rank among the foremost
theological writers of the times. His style is
clear, perspicuous and eloquent He writes
like one who has absolute and undoubting
faith in the doctrines he holds, and he fortfies
them by scripture and logic. 1t is not for us
to say whether he is right or wrong; but upon
the Investigation of the great problems relat-
ing TO future life, about which we are all
compelled to soberly think whether we will or
no, we feel assured that the serious searcher
after truth canLot do wiser thing than 10
read this thoughtful book. The Swedenbor-
sian movement has, within the past few years,
attracted a large share of public attention. 1t
has largely multiplied its churches, while its
press is constantly presenting its appeals. 1t
processes to present religious theory in exact
harmony with natural science and the laws of
the hun, an mind. 1t is well known that some
of the m ost cultured minds in this country
and in EGrope accept the doctrines of this
church. We therefore do not hesitate to COM
mend this able volume to the thoughtful con-
sideration of our enlightened readers, "Prove
all things" was the excellent advice of the
apostle Paul. and we have no hesitation in
saying that the advice is as good now as it was
eighteen hundred wears ago.