Book excerpt: First published in 1870, this book offers a detailed introduction to the teachings of the New Church, also known as the Swedenborgian Church. Barrett's lectures cover a wide range of topics, from the nature of God to the role of angels in the afterlife. His clear and engaging style makes this an ideal resource for anyone seeking to learn more about this fascinating religious movement. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.