Year: 1869

How the Infants In Heaven Grow and Live


Swedenb0rgian Lecture by Rev. G. Giles.


New Jerusalem (Swedenboraian) church. on Thir-
ty-ffth street. near Lexington avenue, was well filed
by an intelligent congregation last evening to listen
to q sermon or lecture from Rev. G. Giles ON
"Infants in Heaven" The services were
as prescribed by the liturgy Of the Church
and for the lesson were read the first four
teen verses OF chapter is Of the Gospel
according to St Matthew. The reverend gentleman
then said that one-third OF the human race die in
childhood, and OF these large majority in the ten
der days Of infancy, while yet their understanding
was limited or entirely undeveloped 1t would be a
sad fate II they were to be doomed forever to the
darkness Of infancy In the spiritual world. 1t is
too terrible to think OF and irreconcilable with
the great goodness and wisdom Of the Lord.
The doctrine Of the Church of the New
Jerusalem was declared by the reverend
lecturer to be- that when infants die they enter the
spiritual world In a rudimentary state with their
nfantne mind; they are not yet angels. but rudi-
upon death, enter the spiritual world with
their spiritual bodies In the state as they leave
here-yOuth as youth, manhood as manhood, old age
as old age. The common idea prevailing outside Of
the New Jerusalem Church Is q wrong one, for II
it be reduced to its last analysis the spirit nothing
and nowhere is the proper place for 1t to
go. But as upon death our spiritual body, freed
from the material body, does not lose its identity, 1t





as in the material world, retaining the to
ceive and to comprehend, Infants on being trans


rred e % sne spiritual nas wofd have a. here every
struct them there must be teachers which are the
angels. Teaching is accomplished by sym
and here there must be an outward world in the
other sphere. II the spiritual world were an empty
@ To n
an absolute necessity for q real world. Those not
acquainted with the doctrines Of the New Church
opu hot fo nhprNd Thnu 1.nv&v
and The joys Of the other world; but when they are
told that there are men, women and children there
other By ecn oe aee @
sense Of sight, hearing and touch, that some
are wiser than Others. then they say all
squarely and plainly to reason about a fu.
ture existence, they must believe 1t or else be-
ing-are a sound signifying nothing. The departed
spirits live there, not as shadows or vap0rs, but
spiritual beings, and II this Is admitted then the
youths, men and women. Tne speaker then entered
mnutely into the life OF infants in heaven: that
The material body is obruse and receives its
lmpresslonss slowly froml the natural world,
and must be taught to walk, to speak. TO
to see what surrounds them without fully
comprehending It's nature. In the other world they
are freed from all the impedimens Of the material
body, and have not Its deadwegnt to hinder them;
their progress is quicker. their senses are more
s%G es and perceive more dsas
has provided 1t IN the most perfect form. They
received with angelic care and love, and grow up
under the gentle ministry OF angels free from sick
ness, from disappointment, subject to no tears,
with every want provided for, with every
thing around them that can minister to
their instruction, delight and improvement. as for
each specially in the character OF the spiritual in
fants in heaven angels selected for their peculiar
fitness to instruct The lecturer then detailed the
manner OF instruction the scenery OF heaven-more
beautiful than the highest Imagination OF painter
could suggest-and spoke OF Swedenborg's see
ing the children In the spirit world elegantly clothed
draped with garlands OF radiant flowers everything
glowing with heavenly delight ana innocence. Thus
they grow up TO be angels, grow in stature
and age, advancing to still greater perfec-
ton. The lecturer then explained the relations
OF the spiritual to the material body that though
the latter may de- because the spirit passes from IT,
and hence ceases TO grow, the spirit, assuming the
spiritual body continues its growth in the spiritual
world. Some believe the child lost to them when
dead but 1t IS not lost II lives In the spiritual world
aud Is bond between the present and heaven. This
Is why children are given by the Lord and why they
are taken away by Him-a blessing to constitute the
bond by which we OF this earth are led to heaven.
The scriptures say-'A little child shall lead them''
and thus we are led to heaven by our children and
hence IL becomes verified what Is said.-'sThe Lord
doeth all things wellr