The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-14
CHURCH OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.
SERMON BY THE REV. cHAUNcEY GuEs-THE


CREATION OF WOMAN.
At the Church of the New Jerusalem in East Thirty
fifth street. near Lexington avenue yesterday morning.
the Rev. Chauncey Giles preached to very large
gregation. The text was taken from Genesis ill., 4,
1S-24:-"And the Lord God said 1t is not good
that man should be alone. l will make an help
meet for him "And the Lord God
caused deep sleep to fall upon ADAM and he slept
And he took of his ribs and closed up the flesh
thereof And the rib which the Lord God had taken
from man made he a woman, and brought her unto the
man" He said:-In considering the subject Of man g
condition in his state Of celestial perfection, and his
fail from it, must not forget that regarding
the natural events symbols Of the changes and
tivities which took place in his will and understand
ing, his affections and thoughts The whole
is a parable in every particular as well a whole.
We must adhere our principles It will not do to
regard this account part parable and part literal
fact Those who regard the first chapter of Genesis
literal history of the creation OF the material
and of should adhere to the letter as they
would to any history only more rgdly for we cannot
admit Infinite Wisdom could tail to give perfect
account Of any event He undertook to describe But
II we believe
1T is A PARABLE
the perfect method of communicating truth upon
profound spiritual subjects then must try dis
the spiritual secrets which lie hid beneath the
garment of these natural symbols; and this is the
work to which we must address ourselves ''And the
rib which the Lord God had taken from man made
he a woman, and brought her In unto the man" This
is not account Of the first creation of woman She
had been created ages before The term used in the
original does not TO create but 10 build up that
which had fallen down. II is still parable. We must
adhere the principle with which we set out Whether
the doctrines Of the New Jerusalem true not
they consistent with themselves. What a beauti-
full and striking representation this is of what mans
spiritual nature may become in regenerate stated 1t
here represented by the most beautiful form the Lord
has created The difference between the regenerate
and unregenerate state OF mans sethood is great
that between rib a mere bone and a woman And |
YOU nav give her all the charms of innocence love-
then your conception will not equal the reality Take
all the elements which pure and noble women con-
tribute to life; the tenderness which softens the hard
ness of mems intellectual strength; the gentleness
which moulds rude power attractive forms, the
life of affection which guides soul to cold and brilliant
thought the grace and harmony which she nfuses into
the rude contacts and harsh movements of masculine
life; the quick sympathy in suffering and SORROW
WINNING sUAsIoS or HER AFFECTIONS;
the teaching OF her patience and the enduring
labor for those she loves the uplifting power OF her
ample, which draws man up from the low level of his
desires the attraction of the earth draws all objects
down to its surface; and the sum Of ALL and more than
ALL the namcless and measureess influence OF her pres
which imbues society with higher and fresher
life; which gives 10 II its fragrance, and warmth and
quickness, all the germs OF its power into more &C
tive and orderly growth-take all these elements Of
influence from society and nothing but bones would
main The collective life of humanity would be a
rough, huge and repusive skeleton
The other truth wish you TO specially consider is
that the deadly supor that comes us through Adam
from claiming life TO be own. That is the
subtle poison, the fatal soporhc thatseas our highest
faculties IN sleep which too often knows waking
II harmless enough And yet TO think OF it, 10
approach it until come within the sphere of its
subtle poison, dwes the Keen edge OF heavenly con-
seriousness, and in the degree come under the bane
full power 1t incapacitates US for heavenly enoyments
and blos from nature the knowledge that We
spiritual and immortal beings. that created
be the children OF Heavenly Father and dwell in
a heavenly, bssful, beautiful, eternal home.