The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-17
SWEpENBORGIAs CHURCH.

The Seven Years OF Famine-sermOn by
a Rev. Mr.. Agcr. tse.s asl s6f s.
The church at the corner OF Clarke street and Mon
roe place, formerly occupied by Universallst So
ciety Is now used for the proclamation OF the Gospel
according to Swedenborg. 1t was partially filed
yesterday morning with an intelligent looking
audience, who listened to instructive sermon by
the Rev. Mr.. Ager. The preacher chose for hts sub
Ject the account OF the seven years Of famine and
the seven years OF plenty during the rule OF Joseph
under Pharoah In the land OF Egypt.
He said this Is part OF Jhe dream OF Pharaoh in
terpreted by Joseph. During the seven years Of
plenty Joseph gathered corn like the sands Of the
sea, and the years OF famine consumed it SO that
the plenty was forgotten This history Ike the rest
OF the Word has It's spiritual signlhcaton. In q
general sense the years OF plenty represent child.
hood, the time when spiritual food Is stored up; the
years OF famine represent tine alter llfe when trial
brings these stores into use. ! win quote brieny
81 THE WRITINGS OF THE NEW CHURCH.
Infants are first OF all in state OF good OF Inno-
cence and charity. This good flows in from the
Lord in infancy. Aswc advance in years this good
without the. good OF infancy man would be worse
than the wild beasts. hereditary laws are innexi-
life as it nows bears the accumulated evils OF centu
RES, but this evil 10 IN quiescent state In
childhood and the good has sway. The Lord fills
the child with innocence TO be garnercd up for
the years OF famine. This Is
TINE OF GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
to parents and teachers The season VI innocence
~ terminated by the gradual awakening or the
hereditary tendencies to evil. This season Is longer
shorter as these tendencies kept back or en-
cOurnged. This period Is the one when influence
ana example are so strong. Teaching must be prac.
tical, personal. What we are affects children
more than the truths that we nstil. Children Can
not learn abstract truths about God and duty,
but they can be taught much by compromising,
OF love, duty, heaven and angel life. They can be
taught what they ought TO do, how to treat their
companions AS memory Is COED at this time, 1t
IL the best period for teaching them the literal word.
We are not to fall into the error that they may
ceive instruction not as they fancy, although
must make instruction as pleasant TO them as pos.
sble. But It Is IN religious teaching as In secular;
children must be impressed with It's future useful
ness They are not expected TO see all the uses OF
truth. And there arose q ter
NAa lAs THE YEARS OF PLENTY
seven years OF famine. This period begins when the
The state OF childhood Is not regenerated st0te II
is qlliescent state. Regeneration comes from
meeting evil recognizing IL and overcoming II. II
Is necessary that the stores OF childhood be tested
life. During the years OF plenty the abundance Is
stored up IN the interiors OF tine mind, and though
the good disappears from memory 1t Is not lost; Ii
the means by which angels keep sight OF usby which
Our experience confirms this truth. One OF the best
known men in New York, who Is not considered re-
gious at all, told friend that he avoided transact
Ing any business the sabbath, even receiving his
mail. He had been S9fss r 4al %
-" TRAINED IN NEW ENGLAND l1
ana 1t seemed almost necessity 10 cling to this
training Of his boyho0d. Children seem suddenly
to change from good to bad; but thef were not SO
good as they seemed before the change and are not
so bad after. AS the years OF famine obliged the
people TO yield everything TO Joseph so the years Of
darkness that follow childhood 0Dilge give up
everything TO God. 1.est