The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-08
the DOCTRINE or REMAINS.
A swedenboraian'sT Theory Of Mans Possible
Spiritual Adya ncement.


The topic of the Rev. Chauncey Giles's
discourse In the SwedenborRian Church on Sun
day was, Remains or the Lords Provision for
Creating the Distinctly Human In Man" The
Lord, he said, always provides for every forward
step In the preceding one for every higher step
in the lower. Ho stores up the materials In one
stage OF the creation which are necessary to
take the next step. The mineral kingdom con-
Tins the substances which form the vegetable
kingdom. Tue mineral is the basis Of the vege-
table; the vegetable of the animal. So, In the
creation OF man as distinctly human being,
bearing the divine Image, he lays up store
house OF materials IN the natural mind for the
formation 81 the spiritual mind. which Ia an Inn
age OF God, and the 0rst trace Of the divine
likeness In man. So the Lord provides In every
state OF human lifo for its conttnuance 40 he
provides In every lower stage the necessary
means Tor entering upon higher.
Nan, unlike the lower animals, is born with
his nature which he possesses In common with
animals. Man has everyt hing to learn ; the ant
NAL comes fully equipped for all the exiRencies
OF its life. Roth the animal aud the man arc
the embodiment OF their nroRenltors. The ami
NAL has the form and tendencies Of It's kind I;
the lamb has all the qualities Of the sheep; the
calf of the OK the olive being OF the olive.
Man inherits the physical form and natural
their moral as well as with their physical evils,
and II he was left simply TO develop the nature
he receives, without any restraint or guidance,
never become man he would never gain one
distinctly human quality. On the contrary, he
would he hercer than the tiger. and more brutal
than the lowest brute. But even II this were
not SO, It would be Just as necessary that he
should be reeenerated born again, or from
above. I'm order to become truly human beng,
as II Is now. Man only receives from his earthly
parents the phi, steal and the natural, or the low
est degree of his spiritual organization. lie
cannot become child Of God aud bear His
image until he IS horn OF God. The fact that
N a ~ AM ran
more diff1cult.
This is one Of the new doctrines taught In the
writings OF the New Church. II Is supposed
thai man would be all right and child of G Cd
III hts sins were forgiven. by which Is generally
so far is this from being the case we should
never become human and bear the image aud
likeness OF God until we had become regene-
rated. or born from above, even III we had never
committed a sin. but had lived perfectly pure,
natursl, and only naturallife, That which Is
born Of the flesh is flesh, ana that which is born
OF tue spirit Is spirit" Here we can see that
the doctrines OF the New Chuic h give us an en-
really is, and of the Divine purposes OF love and
mercy WITH regard % him, than b,s ever been
ob..ined before. All that science or philosophy
or the church has ever taught or conceived con-
corning the grandeur Of mans capacities for
knowledge and happiness Is only mere shadow
Of the New Church.
The Lord works His purpose to create man in
HIS own image and to make him sharer OF His
own nature, as far as the finite can partake Of
the Infinite, by operations upon the tender
germs Of the mind IN infancy and childhood.
before the natural and perverted plane OF mans
nature has become nx I'd into evil habits. before
there is any power Of resistance b. the love Of
self and the world. lie gives 20 the newborn
soul a plastic force, a geoerative or formative
power. This Is the germ Of the spiritual degree
OF the mind that degree which constitutes the
genuine and distinctly human. These states,
influences. these germs Of a hesvanly manhood
and womanhood, are called 10 the doctrines OF
the New Church remains" They consist of all
the states ~ affection for good and truth with
witch man IL gifted b tho Lord, from earliest
infancy to the end of life. watch states arc
stored for his use IN the life after death. Re
mains are not only the goods and truths which
man even from infancy acquires from the
Lords Word. and which are thus impressed
upon bis momory. but they are also all the states
derived there from, as states OF Innocence from
infancy. OF love toward parents, brothers.
teachers. and friends; of charity toward the
neighbor, and Of compassion toward the poor
and needy in % word, alt states of good apd
truth. II follows from this doctrine that man 4
subsequent Development through eternity must
DEPEND UPON the quantity aud quality OF these
remains.