,the ,government of ,god4 ,by ,john ,taylor1 ,one of the ,twelve ,apostles of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,o let the nations be glad and sing for joy3 for thou shalt judge the people righteously1 and govern the nations upon earth4--,psalm lxvii4 #d4 ,liverpool3 ,published by ,s4 ,w4 ,richards1 #ae1 ,wilton ,street4 ,london3 ,sold at the ,latter-,day ,saints' ,book ,depot1 #ce1 ,jewin ,street2 and by all booksellers4 ,,mdccclii4 ,london3 ,printed by ,w4 ,bowden #e1 ,bedford ,street1 ,holborn4 ,contents4 ------------------ ,preface ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,wisdom1 ,order1 and ,harmony of the ,government of ,god4 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,government of ,man4 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,on the ,incompetency of the ,means ,made ,use of by ,man to ,regenerate the ,world4 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,what ,is ,man8 ,what ,is ,his ,destiny and ,relationship to ,god8 ,chapter ,v4 ,the ,object of ,man's ,existence on the ,earth2 and ,his ,relationship ,thereto4 ,chapter ,,vi4 ,man's ,accountability to ,god4 ,chapter ,,vii4 ,the ,lord's ,course in the ,moral ,government of the ,world4 ,chapter ,,viii4 ,whose ,right ,is ,it to ,govern the ,world8 ,who ,has ,governed ,it8 ,chapter ,,ix4 ,will ,man ,always ,be ,permitted to ,usurp ,authority ,over ,men1 and ,over the ,works of ,god8 ,will the ,world ,remain for ever ,under a ,curse1 and ,god's ,designs ,be ,frustrated8 ,chapter ,x4 ,will ,god's ,kingdom ,be a ,literal or a ,spiritual ,kingdom8 ,chapter ,,xi4 ,the ,establishment of the ,kingdom of ,god upon the ,earth ,chapter ,,xii4 ,the ,effects of the ,establishment of ,christ's ,kingdom1 or the ,reign of ,god upon the ,earth4 ,preface ------------------ ,it was ,elder ,taylor's intention to superintend the publishing of ,the ,government of ,god in person1 previous to his departure for ,great ,salt ,lake ,city last spring2 but the numerous cares attending the ,french and ,german ,missions1 of which he was ,president2 the translation of the ,book of ,mormon into the ,french and ,german languages2 the establishment of ,l',etoile du ,deseret at ,paris1 and ,zions ,panier at ,hamburg2 together with a multitude of other business connected with the welfare of the ,kingdom of ,god1 rendered it impossible4 ,the manuscript was therefore handed to me by ,elder ,taylor1 with a request to superintend the printing of the work1 which ,i have done to the best of my ability4 ,considering the disadvantages arising from the ,author's absence during the reading of the proofs1 ,i believe it is as correctly rendered1 as was possible from a manuscript copy4 ,the ,work is now before the ,public1 and from one portion at least it will meet with a cordial reception1 treating as it does upon the theme most dear to their hearts--the ,reign of ,righteousness and ,peace4 ,from other portions it will meet with varied reception1 but will nevertheless lead the minds of all to contemplate the glory of that time when the ,messiah1 even ,jesus1 shall come with all his holy angels1 and sit upon the throne of his glory1 and govern all nations upon earth4 ,james ,linforth4 ,liverpool1 ,august1 #aheb4 ,chapter ,i4 ------------------ ,the ,wisdom1 ,order1 and ,harmony of the ,government of ,god4 ,the ,kingdom of ,god is the government of ,god1 on the earth1 or in the heavens4 ,the earth1 and all the planetary systems1 are governed by the ,lord2 they are upheld by his power1 and are sustained1 directed1 and controlled by his will4 ,we are told1 that by him were all things created that are in heaven1 and that are in earth1 visible and invisible1 whether they be thrones1 or dominions1 or principalities1 or powers2 all things were created by him1 and for him3 and he is before all things1 and by him all things consist4,a ,collos4 i4 #af1 #ag4 ,if all things1 visible and invisible1 are made by and for him1 he governs and sustains all worlds to us known1 together with the earth on which we live4 ,if he governs them1 they are under his dominion1 subject to his laws1 and controlled by his will and power4 ,footnote ,a3 ,i wish here to be understood1 that at present ,i am writing to believers in the ,bible4 ,i may hereafter give my reasons for this faith2 at the present ,i refer to the ,scriptures without this4 ,if the planets move beautifully1 and harmoniously in their several spheres1 that beauty and harmony are the result of the intelligence and wisdom that exist in his mind4 ,if on this earth we have day and night1 summer and winter1 seed time and harvest1 with the various changes of the seasons2 this regularity1 beauty1 order1 and harmony1 are the effects of the wisdom of ,god4 ,there are two kinds of rule on the earth2 one with which man has nothing directly to do1 another in which he is intimately concerned4 ,the first of these applies to the works of ,god alone1 and ,his government and control of those works2 the second1 to the moral government1 wherein man is made an agent4 ,there is a very striking difference between the two1 and the comparison is certainly not creditable to man2 and however he may feel disposed to vaunt himself of his intelligence1 when he reflects he will feel like ,job did when he said1 7xlii4 #f47 ,i abhor myself1 and repent in dust and ashes4 ,in ,god's government there is perfect order1 harmony1 beauty1 magnificence1 and grandeur2 in the government of man1 confusion1 disorder1 instability1 misery1 discord1 and death4 ,in the first1 the most consummate wisdom and power are manifested2 in the second1 ignorance1 imbecility1 and weakness4 ,the first displays the comprehension1 light1 glory1 beneficence1 and intelligence of ,god2 the second1 the folly1 littleness1 darkness1 and incompetency of man4 ,the contemplation of the first elevates the mind1 expands the capacity1 produces grateful reflections1 and fills the mind with wonder1 admiration1 and enlivening hopes2 the contemplation of the second produces doubt1 distrust1 and uncertainty1 and fills the mind with gloomy apprehensions4 ,in a word1 the one is the work of ,god1 and the other that of man4 ,in order to present the subject in a clear light1 ,i shall briefly point out some of the leading features of the two governments4 ,the first1 then1 is that over which ,god has the sole control1 such as the heavens and the earth1 for ,he governs in the heavens above1 and in the earth beneath4 ,it may be well here to say a few words on ,his moral government1 in the heavens4 ,all we can learn of that is very imperfectly set forth in the ,scriptures4 ,it would seem1 however1 that all was perfect order1 for ,he spake1 and said1 ,let there be light1 and there was light2 and ,he divided the light from the darkness4 ,he spake1 and the waters were gathered together1 and the dry land appeared4 ,and in the creation of the fish1 the fowls1 the beasts1 the creeping things1 and man1 it was done in the councils of ,god4 ,the word was1 ,let us do this1 and it was done4 ,it would seem1 then1 that that government is perfect in its operations1 for all the mandates of ,god are carried out with the greatest exactitude and perfection4 ,god spake1 chaos heard1 and the world was formed4 ,we find also that transgression is punished2 when ,satan rebelled he was cast out of heaven1 and with him those who sinned4 ,here1 then1 in these things consummate wisdom was manifested1 and power to carry it out4 ,the plan of redemption was also made thousands of years ago4 ,jesus is spoken of by the prophets as being ,the ,lamb slain from before the creation of the world4 ,the future destiny of this earth is also spoken of by prophecy2 the binding of ,satan2 the destruction1 and redemption of the world2 its celestial destiny2 its becoming as a sea of glass2 the descent of the new ,jerusalem from heaven2 the destruction of iniquity by a power exercised in the heavens1 associated with one on the earth2 and a time is spoken of where ,john says--,every creature which is in heaven1 and on the earth1 and under the earth1 and such as are in the sea1 and all that are in them1 heard ,i saying1 ,blessing1 and honor1 and glory1 and power1 be unto ,him that sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb for ever and ever4 ,rev4 v4 #ac4 ,but ,i shall let this pass for the present1 and content myself with saying on this subject1 that in the councils of ,god1 in the eternal world1 all these things were understood3 for if ,he gave prophets wisdom to testify of these things1 they obtained their knowledge from ,him1 and ,he could not impart what ,he did not know2 but known unto ,god are all his works1 from the beginning of the world4 ,acts xv4 #ah4 ,god1 then1 has a moral government in the heavens1 and it is the development of that government that is manifested in the works of creation2 as ,paul says1 ,the invisible things of ,him from the creation of the world are clearly seen1 being understood by the things that are made1 even his eternal power and ,godhead4 ,romans i4 #bj4 ,but when we speak of the heavens1 we mean also the planetary system2 for the world1 and other worlds are governed by principles independent of man4 ,the power that causes this earth to roll on its axis1 and regulates the planets in their diurnal and annual motions1 is beyond man's control4 ,their revolutions and spheres are fixed by nature's ,god1 and they are so beautifully arranged1 and nicely balanced1 that an astronomer can calculate the return of a planet scores of years beforehand1 with the greatest precision and accuracy4 ,and who can contemplate1 without admiration1 those stupendous worlds1 rolling through the immensity of space at such an amazing velocity1 moving regularly in their given spheres without coming into collision1 and reflect that they have done so for thousands of years4 ,our earth has its day and night1 summer and winter1 and seed time and harvest4 ,well may the poet say that they-- ,proclaim for ever1 as they shine1 ,the hand that made us is divine4 ,and here let me remark how different is this to the works of man4 ,we see1 then1 the power of ,god manifested in their preservation and guidance2 but when we reflect a little further1 that while our planetary system rolls in perfect order round the sun1 there are other systems which perform their revolutions round their suns2 and the whole of these1 our system with its centre1 and other systems with their centres1 roll round another grand centre3 and the whole of those1 and innumerable others1 equally as great1 stupendous1 and magnificent1 roll round another more great1 glorious1 and resplendent1 till numbers1 magnificence1 and glory1 drown the thought1 we are led to exclaim with the prophet1 ,o the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of ,god6 how unsearchable are ,his judgements1 and ,his ways past finding out6 ,romans xi4 #cc4 ,without referring again to the motions of our earth1 and the beautiful regularity and precision of the whole of this elegant machinery1 we will turn our attention a little to the works of creation as found on the earth4 ,the make1 construction1 and adaptation of each for its proper sphere1 are the work of ,god2 and they are all controlled by ,his wisdom and power1 independent of man4 ,in the conformation of the birds1 the beasts1 the fishes1 the reptiles1 the grains1 herbs1 plants1 and trees1 we see a striking exemplification of this fact4 ,no matter which way we turn our attention1 the same order and intelligence are displayed4 ,the fish in their organization are peculiarly adapted to their proper element2 the birds and beasts to theirs2 the amphibious animals to theirs4 ,the nicely organized machinery of their bodies2 their bones1 muscles1 skins1 feathers1 scales1 or hair2 the formation of their bodies1 their manner of living1 together with the nature of their food1 and their particular adaptation to the various elements and climates which they occupy1 are all so many marked evidences of skill1 forethought1 intelligence and power4 ,we will here notice a few examples4 ,plunge bird1 beast1 or man1 into the water1 and let them remain there1 and they will soon die2 take a fish out of the water1 and death ensues2 yet all are happy1 and move with perfect enjoyment in their proper spheres4 ,elevate a man1 beast1 or fish1 into the air1 and let them fall1 and they will be bruised to death2 but the bird1 with its wings1 light bones1 and fragile body1 is peculiarly adapted to the aerial element in which it moves1 and is perfectly at home2 while the brute creation and men feel as much so on the earth4 ,again1 their habits1 food1 coatings1 or coverings1 digestive powers1 and the organization of their systems1 are all peculiarly adapted to their several situations4 ,the same principle is developed in their arrangement and position on the earth4 ,those that inhabit a southern climate are peculiarly adapted to that situation2 while those that inhabit a northern are equally fitted for theirs4 ,take the reindeer and polar bear to the torrid zone1 and they would be out of their proper latitude1 and would probably die4 ,remove the elephant1 lion1 or tiger1 to ,iceland or ,greenland1 and leave them to their own resources1 and they would inevitably perish4 ,we will notice for a moment the construction of their systems4 ,each one is possessed with muscular strength1 or agility1 according to its position1 wants1 or dangers1 and there is a beauty1 a symmetry1 and a perfection about all ,god's works1 which baffle and defy human intelligence to copy4 ,an artist is considered talented if he can make1 after years of toil1 a striking likeness of any of those things1 either on canvas1 or in marble4 ,but when he has done1 it is only a dead outline2 remove a little paint1 or tear the canvas1 and its beauty is destroyed2 break the arm of a statue1 and we see nothing but a mutilated stone4 ,but take a man1 for example1 and remove the skin1 there is still order and beauty2 remove the flesh1 there is still workmanship and skill1 and the bones1 the flesh1 the muscles1 the arteries and veins1 and the nerves1 and the lungs1 not to forget the exquisite fineness of the sensitive organs1 manifesting a skill1 a forethought1 a wisdom1 and a power1 as much above that of man as the heavens are above the earth4 ,we see the power1 wisdom1 and government of ,god1 displayed in the amazing strength of some of the largest of the brute creation2 as also in the fineness and delicacy1 of the arrangement of the smaller4 ,and while we admire the stupendous power of the elephant1 we are equally struck with the fineness1 delicacy1 and beauty of some of the smaller insects4 ,the prescience1 and intelligence of ,god1 are as much manifested in arranging the bones1 muscles1 arteries1 and digestive organs of the smallest animaculae1 as in the construction of the horse1 rhinoceros1 elephant1 or whale4 ,i might touch upon the organization of plants1 herbs1 trees1 and fruits2 their various compositions1 modes of nourishment1 manner of propagating their kind1 c42 but enough has already been said upon this subject4 ,it is one that no one will dispute upon2 ,jew and ,gentile1 black and white1 ,christian and ,heathen1 philosopher and fool1 all have one faith on this subject4 ,i have briefly touched upon it for the purpose of presenting in a clear light the imbecility and weakness of man2 for wherever we turn our attention1 we see power1 wisdom1 prescience1 order1 forethought1 beauty1 grandeur and magnificence4 ,these are the works of ,god1 and shew ,his skill1 workmanship1 glory1 and intelligence4 ,they reflect ,his divine power1 and shew in unmistakeable characters the wisdom of his government1 and the order that prevails in that part of creation over which ,he has the sole and unlimited control4 ,we can perceive very clearly that what ,god has done1 is rightly done4 ,it is not governed by instability and disorder1 but continues from eternity to eternity to bear the impress of ,jehovah4 ,chapter ,,ii4 ------------------ ,the ,government of ,man4 ,we will now turn our attention a little to the government of man1 and see how that will compare with the foregoing1 for man stands at the head of this beautiful creation2 he is endued with intelligence and capacity for improvement2 he is placed as a moral agent1 and has the materials put into his hands to work with1 the works of his ,father as a pattern1 the conduct of many of the inferior creation as an example--and might make the earth a garden1 a paradise1 a place of uninterrupted happiness and felicity1 a heaven below4 ,and if ,god had not delegated this moral agency and power to man1 and thus given him the privilege1 in part1 of being the arbiter of his own destiny1 such it would have been to this day1 like the ,eden from which he was ejected because of his transgression4 ,for he had everything placed within his power1 and was made lord of the creation4 ,the beasts1 birds1 fish1 and fowl1 were placed under his control2 the earth yielded plenty for his wants1 and abounded in fruits1 grain1 herbs1 flowers and trees1 both to satisfy his hunger1 and to please the sight1 taste1 and smell4 ,the fields waved with plenty1 and produced a perennial harvest4 ,the fruits teemed forth in all their luscious varieties to satisfy his most capacious desires4 ,the flowers1 in all their gaiety1 beauty1 and richness1 delighted the eye2 while their rich fragrance filled the air with odoriferous perfumes4 ,the feathered tribes1 with all their gorgeous plumage and variety of song1 both pleased the eye1 and enchanted and charmed the ear4 ,the horse1 the cow1 and other animals1 were there to promote his happiness1 supply his wants1 and make him comfortable and happy4 ,all were under his control1 to contribute to his happiness and comfort1 supply his most extended desires1 and to add to his enjoyment2 but with all these privileges what is his situation8 ,with celestial blessings within his reach1 he has plunged down to the very verge of hell1 and is found in a state of poverty1 confusion1 and distress4 ,he found the earth an ,eden--a paradise2 he has filled it with misery and woe1 and has made it comparatively a howling wilderness4 ,and let us not blame ,adam alone for this state of things2 for after his ejection from ,paradise1 the earth was sufficiently fertile to satisfy all the desires of man with moderate industry1 and is at the present day1 if it were not for the confusion that exists1 and if men were properly situated1 and its resources developd4 ,but more of this anon4 ,at present we will examine some of these evils1 and then point out their cause1 and the remedy4 ,we find the world split up and divided into different nations1 having different interests1 and different objects2 with their religious and political views as dissimilar as light and darkness1 all the time jealous of each other1 and watching each other as so many thieves2 and that man at the present day 7and it has been the case for ages71 is considered the greatest statesman1 who1 with legislation or diplomacy1 can make the most advantageous arrangement with1 or coerce by circumstances1 other nations into measures that would be for the benefit of the nation with which he is associated4 ,no matter how injurious it might be to the nation or nations concerned1 the measure that would yield his nation an advantage1 might plunge another in irremediable misery1 while there is no one to act as father and parent of the whole1 and ,god is lost sight of4 ,what is it that the private ambition of man has not done to satisfy his craving desires for the acquisition of territory and wealth1 and what is falsely called honor and fame8 ,those private1 jarring interests have kept the world in one continual ferment and commotion from the commencement until the present time2 and the history of the world is a history of the rise and fall of nations--of wars1 commotions1 and bloodshed--of nations depopulated1 and cities laid waste4 ,carnage1 destruction1 and death1 have stalked through the earth1 exhibiting their horrible forms in all their cadaverous shapes1 as though they were the only rightful possessors4 ,deadly jealousy1 fiendish hate1 mortal combat1 and dying groans1 have filled the earth1 and our bulwarks1 our chronicles1 our histories1 all bear testimony to this2 and even our most splendid paintings1 engravings1 and statuary1 are living memorials of bloodshed1 carnage1 and destruction4 ,instead of men being honoured who have sought to promote the happiness1 peace1 and wellbeing of the human family1 and greatness concentrating in that1 those have been generally esteemed the most who produced the most misery and distress1 and were wholesale robbers1 ravagers1 and murderers4 ,and from whence come these things8 ,let the apostle ,james answer3 ,from whence come wars and fightings among you8 ,come they not hence1 even of your lusts that war in your members8 ,ye lust1 and have not--ye kill1 and desire to have1 and cannot obtain3 ye fight and war1 yet ye have not1 because ye ask not4 ,ye ask1 and receive not1 because ye ask amiss1 that ye may consume it upon your lusts4 ,james iv4 #a-c4 ,here is evidently a lack of that consummate wisdom1 that moral and physical control1 that parental power which balances the universe1 and directs the various planets4 ,for let the same recklessness1 selfishness1 individuality1 and nationality there be manifested1 and we should see the wildest confusion4 ,man has come in contact with man1 morally1 physically1 religiously1 and nationally1 from the foundation of the earth4 ,if ,god's works had done so1 what tumult and ruin there would have been in the immensity of space6 ,instead of the order that now prevails1 man would have been sometimes frozen to death1 and at other times burned up2 one or two seasons of irregularity1 even in climate1 would depopulate the earth4 ,but what if the planets1 irrespective of the power by which they are controlled1 were to rush wildly through space1 and1 with their mighty impetus dash against each other8 ,what fearful consequences would ensue4 ,there would be system on system wrecked1 and world on world4 ,what terrible destruction and ruin6 ,we have read of earthquakes destroying countries1 of wars depopulating nations--of volcanoes overwhelming cities1 and of empires in ruin2 but what would the yawning earthquake1 the bellowing volcano1 the clang of arms1 or a nation's distress1 be in comparison to a scene like this8 ,system would be shattered with system2 planet madly rush on planet2 worlds1 with their inhabitants1 would be destroyed1 and creations crumble into ruins4 ,there would be truly a war of planets1 a wreck of matter and a crash of worlds4 ,these1 indeed1 would be fearful results1 and shew plainly the distinction between the beautiful order of ,god's work1 and the confusion and disorder of man's4 ,god's work is perfect--man's imperfect4 ,the one is the government of ,god1 and the other that of man4 ,we notice the same mismanagement in the arrangement of cities and nations4 ,we have large cities containing immense numbers of human beings1 pent up1 as it were in one great prison-house1 inhaling a foetid1 unwholesome atmosphere1 impregnated with a thousand deadly poisons2 millions of whom1 in damp cellars1 lonely garrets1 and pent up corners1 drag out a miserable existence1 and their wan faces1 haggard countenances1 and looks tell but too plainly the tale of their misery and wretchedness4 ,a degenerate1 sickly1 puny race tread in their steps1 inheriting their fathers' misery and distress4 ,if we notice the situation of the nations of ,europe at the present time1 we see the land burthened with an overplus population1 and groaning beneath its inhabitants1 while the greatest industry1 perseverance1 economy1 and care1 do not suffice to provide for the craving wants of nature4 ,and so fearfully does this prevail in many parts1 that parents are afraid to fulfil the first great law of ,god1 ,be fruitful and multiply1 and replenish the earth2 and by desperate circumstances are almost forced to the unnatural wish of not propagating their species2 while1 corrupted with a correspondent depravity with that which reigns among nations1 they are found using suicidal measures to prevent an otherwise numerous progeny from increasing their father's misery1 and inheriting his misfortunes4 ,and yet1 while this is the case1 there are immense districts of rich soil1 covering millions of square miles1 inhabited only by a few untutored savages1 or the wild beast of the forest2 and such is the infatuation of man that in many districts of country1 which were once the seats of the most powerful empires1 and where flourished the mightiest nations1 there is nothing but desolation and wildness4 ,such are ,nineveh and ,babylon1 on the ,asiatic ,continent2 and ,otolum1 and many others discovered by ,stephens and ,catherwood1 in ,central ,america2 and recently discovered ruins--unequalled in the old world--a little above the head of the ,california ,gulf4 ,not only their cities1 but their lands are desolate1 deserted1 and forsaken1 and the same evils that once existed there are transferred to another soil1 all bespeaking plainly that we want a great1 governing1 ruling principle to regulate the affairs of the world1 and assist poor1 feeble1 erring humanity4 ,again1 if we examine some of the details of these evils1 we shall see more clearly the importance and necessity of a change4 ,nearly one-third1 speaking in general terms1 of the inhabitants of the earth are engaged in a calling that would be entirely useless if the world were set right4 ,if men and nations1 instead of being governed by their unruly passions1 covetous desires1 and ambitious motives1 were governed by the pure principles of philanthropy1 virtue1 purity1 justice1 and honor1 and were under the guidance of a fatherly and intelligent head1 directed by that wisdom which governs the universe1 and regulates the motions of the planetary systems1 there would be no need of so many armies1 navies1 and police regulations1 which are now necessary for the protection of those several nations from the aggressions of each other1 and internal factions4 ,let any one examine the position of ,europe alone1 and he will find this statement abundantly verified4 ,look at the armies and navies of ,france and ,england2 and the confusion of ,germany1 also of ,austria1 ,turkey1 ,russia and ,spain1 not to mention many of the smaller nations1 and let their armies1 their navies1 and police be gathered together1 and what an abundant host of persons there would be4 ,they would be sufficient to make one of the largest nations in the world6 ,and what are they doing8 ,to use the mildest term1 watching each other1 as a person would watch a thief for fear of being imposed upon1 and robbed1 or killed2 but generally strolling around as the world's banditti1 robbing1 plundering1 and committing aggressions upon each other2 and if they have peace1 acquiring it by the sword2 and if prevented from aggression and war1 it is generally1 not that they are governed by just1 or virtuous principles1 but because they are afraid that aggression might lead to combinations against them which would result in their overthrow and ruin4 ,in the city of ,paris alone1 at the present time1 and its immediate environs1 there are one hundred thousand soldiers1 besides police to a very great number1 not to mention the vast number of custom-house officers and others4 ,suppose we add to these their families1 where they have any1 and where they have not1 notice the vast amount of prostitution1 misery1 degradation1 and infamy1 that such an unnatural state of things produces4 ,i give the above as an example of the whole1 but here the navies are not included4 ,i say again1 ,what are these all doing8 ,they do not raise corn to supply the wants of men1 nor are they occupied in any useful avocation2 but they must live1 and their wants must be supplied by the products of the labour of others4 ,there has to be an immense amount of legislation for the accomplishment of this thing1 and instead of having one government of righteousness and the world obeying1 we have scores of governments1 all having to be sustained in regal pomp1 to be equal to their neighbouring nations2 and all this magnificence and national pride having to be supported by the labour of the people4 ,again1 all these legislatures have to provide immense hosts of men1 in the shape of custom-house1 excise1 and police officers1 to carry out their designs1 all of whom1 and their families1 help to increase the burden1 till it becomes insupportable4 ,that1 together with the unnatural state of society1 before referred to1 in regard to the situation of the inhabitants of cities and the nations1 plunges millions of the human family into a state of hopeless destitution1 misery1 and ruin1 for they are groaning under all these hopeless burdens without having sufficient land to till to meet their demands1 and as natural means fail they are obliged to have recourse to those that are unnatural4 ,hence1 in ,england a great majority of the inhabitants are made slaves of1 virtually to supply the wants of the greatest part of the world1 and are forced to be their labourers4 ,thousands of them are immured in immense factories1 little less than prisons1 groaning under a wearisome1 sickening1 unhealthy labour2 deprived of free1 wholesome air2 weak and emaciated1 not having a sufficiency of the necessaries of life4 ,thousands more from morning till night are immured in pits1 shut out from the light of day1 the carol of the birds1 and the beauty of nature1 sickly and weak1 in many instances for want of food2 and yet1 in the midst of their wretchedness1 gloom1 and misery1 you will sometimes hear them trying to sing in their dungeons and prison-houses1 in broken1 dying accents1 ,britons never shall be slaves4 ,i will here give1 as one example1 an iron works that ,i visited lately in ,wales4 ,one of the proprietors informed me that they employed fifteen thousand persons1 and paid them ,l#e1jjj per week4 ,most of these people laboured under ground1 in the pits1 digging for iron ore and coal2 the remainder were employed principally about the furnaces1 in rolling the iron1 c41 at heavy1 laborious1 fatiguing work4 ,and who were they toiling for8 ,principally for the ,americans and ,russians1 at that time1 to furnish them with railroad iron4 ,and what did they get for their labour8 ,the riches of those countries8 ,no4 ,l#e1jjj a week among about fifteen thousand persons4 ,i suppose1 however1 a number of these were boys and girls4 ,the average wages of men was from ten to twelve shillings per week4 ,and this is their pay for that labour2 and yet the masters are not to be blamed1 that ,i can learn1 for they are forced by competition to this state of things1 and by the unnatural1 artificial state of society4 ,if they did not do this their workmen must be out of employ1 and ten times worse off1 if that were possible1 than they are now4 ,in the ,state of ,pennsylvania1 in ,america1 where the railroads run through coal and iron mines both1 they leave them untouched1 and come to ,england for iron to make the rails of1 that they cannot afford to make at home1 because of higher wages1 and an outlet to society1 which prevents them from being coerced into bondage4 ,if the world was right1 the labour would be done there1 and not here1 and the labour of carriage saved4 ,the situation of the peasantry and workmen in ,france1 ,germany1 ,prussia1 ,austria1 and ,russia1 and in fact ,i may say of ,europe generally1 is worse even than that of the same class in ,england2 and wherever we turn our attention1 we see nothing but poverty1 distress1 misery1 and confusion2 for if men do not copy after the good and virtuous1 they generally do after the evil4 ,when nations and rulers set the pattern1 they generally find plenty to follow their example2 hence covetousness1 fraud1 rapine1 bloodshed1 and murder1 prevail to an alarming extent4 ,if a nation is covetous1 an individual thinks he may be also2 if a nation commits a fraud1 it sanctions his acts in a small way2 and if a nation engages in wholesale robbery1 an individual does not see the impropriety of doing it in retail2 if a strong nation oppresses a weak one1 he does not see why he may not have the same privilege2 corruption follows corruption1 and fraud treads on the heels of fraud1 and all those noble1 honourable1 virtuous1 principles that ought to govern men are lost sight of1 and chicanery and deception ride rampant through the world4 ,the welfare1 happiness1 exaltation1 and glory of man1 are sacrificed at the shrine of ambition1 pride1 covetousness and lasciviousness4 ,by these means nations are overthrown1 kingdoms destroyed1 communities broken up1 families rendered miserable1 and individuals ruined4 ,i might enter into a detail of the crimes1 abominations1 lusts1 and corruptions that exist in many of our large cities1 but ,i shall leave this subject1 and conclude with the remarks of the prophet ,isaiah1 who gazed in prophetic vision on this scene3 ,behold1 the ,lord maketh the earth empty1 and maketh it waste1 and turneth it upside down1 and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof444 ,the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof1 because they have transgressed the laws1 changed the ordinances1 and broken the everlasting covenant4 ,therefore hath the curse devoured the earth1 and they that dwell therein are desolate4 ,isaiah xxiv4 #a1 #e and #f4 ,iniquity of every description goes hand in hand2 vice1 in all its sickening and disgusting forms1 revels in the palace1 in the city1 in the cottage2 depravity1 corruption1 debauchery1 and abominations abound1 and man1 that once stood proudly erect in the image of his ,maker1 pure1 virtuous1 holy1 and noble1 is vitiated1 weak1 immoral1 and degraded2 and the earth1 which was once a garden1 not only brings forth briars and thorns1 but is actually defiled under the inhabitants thereof4 ,those great national evils of which ,i have spoken are things which at present seem to be out of the reach of human agency1 legislation1 or control4 ,they are diseases that have been generating for centuries2 that have entered into the vitals of all institutions1 religious and political2 that have prostrated the powers and energies of all bodies politic1 and left the world to groan under them1 for they are evils that exist in church and state1 at home and abroad2 among ,jew and ,gentile1 ,christian1 ,pagan1 and ,mahomedan2 king1 prince1 courtier1 and peasant2 like the deadly simoon1 they have paralyzed the energies1 broken the spirits1 damped the enterprize1 corrupted the morals1 and crushed the hopes of the world4 ,thousands of men would desire to do good1 if they only knew how2 but they see not the foundation and extent of the evil1 and long-established opinions1 customs and doctrines1 blind their eyes1 and damp their energies4 ,and if a few should see the evil1 and try a remedy1 what are a few in opposition to the views1 power1 influence1 and corruption of the world8 ,no power on this side of heaven can correct the evil4 ,it is a world that is degenerated1 and it requires a ,god to put it right4 ,chapter ,,iii4 ------------------ ,on the ,incompetency of the ,means ,made ,use of by ,man to ,regenerate the ,world4 ,i purpose in this ,chapter to shew the incompetency of the means made use of by man for the accomplishment of the purposes of ,god--the establishment of ,his ,kingdom1 or ,millennial reign4 ,now1 if it is the kingdom of ,god1 that is to be established1 it must be introduced by ,god4 ,he must not only be the originator of it1 but the controller also1 and any means short of these must fail of the object designed4 ,the great evils that now exist in the world are the consequences of man's departure from ,god4 ,this has introduced this degeneracy and imbecility1 and nothing but a retracing of his steps1 and a return to ,god can bring about a restitution4 ,god gave to man a moral agency1 as head of the world1 under himself4 ,man has usurped the sole authority1 and taken upon himself to reign and rule without ,god4 ,the natural consequence is1 that we have inherited all the evils of which ,i have spoken1 and nothing but the wisdom1 goodness1 power1 and compassion of ,god1 can deliver us therefrom1 restore the earth to its pristine excellence1 and put man again in possession of those blessings which he has forfeited by his transgression4 ,emperors1 kings1 princes1 potentates1 statesmen1 philosophers1 and churches1 have tried for ages to bring this state of things about2 but they have all signally failed1 not having derived their wisdom from the proper source4 ,and all human means made use of at the present time to ameliorate the condition of the world must fail1 as all human means have always done4 ,there are some who suppose that the influence of ,christianity1 as it is now preached and administered1 will bring about a ,millennial reign of peace4 ,we will briefly examine the subject4 ,first1 we will take the ,greek and ,catholic ,churches as they have existed for ages--without an examination of their doctrines1 whether right or wrong--for they form two of the largest branches of the ,christian ,church4 ,they have1 more or less1 governed a great portion of ,europe at different times2 and what is the situation of the people and nations where they have held sway8 ,we have noticed the effects1 and already briefly touched upon the evils that prevail in those countries2 and if ,greece and ,russia1 or any other country where the ,greek ,church has held sway1 be a fair specimen of the influence of that church1 we have very little prospect1 if that religion were more widely diffused or extended1 that the results would be more beneficial1 for if it has failed in a few nations to ameliorate their condition1 it would necessarily fail to benefit the earth if extended over it4 ,nor do we turn with any better prospect to the ,catholic religion4 ,of what benefit has it been to nations where it has prevailed the most8 ,has there been less war1 less animosity1 less butchery1 less evil of any kind under its empire8 ,it cannot be said that it has been crippled in its progress or its operations4 ,it has held full sway in ,spain1 ,rome1 and a great portion of ,italy1 in ,france and ,mexico for generations1 not to mention many smaller states4 ,has it augmented the happiness of those nations of the world8 ,i need not here refer to the history of the ,waldenses1 and ,albigenses1 and ,huguenots1 to that of the ,crusades1 wherein so many ,christian kings engaged2 nor to the unhappy differences1 the wars and commotions1 the bloodshed and carnage1 that have existed among these people1 for their history is well known4 ,and the present position of both the ,greek and ,roman churches1 presents a spectacle that is anything but encouraging to lead us to hope1 that if the world were under their influence1 a ,millennial reign of peace and righteousness would ensue4 ,and let not any one say that these churches have not had a fair opportunity to develop themselves1 for their religion prevailed and was cherished in those nations4 ,they have held universal sway1 at different times1 for generations4 ,the kings1 councils and legislatures1 have been ,catholic or ,greek4 ,in ,rome1 the ,pope has ruled supreme1 and also for some time in ,lombardy1 ,ravenna1 and other ,states4 ,in ,greece1 the ,patriarch of ,constantinople1 and in ,russia1 the ,emperor1 is head of the church4 ,but1 methinks ,i hear the ,protestants say1 we fully accord with you thus far1 but we have placed ,christianity on another footing4 ,let us examine this subject for a moment4 ,the question would naturally follow1 ,what have the reformations of ,calvin1 ,luther1 and other reformers1 done for the world8 ,we may notice that ,denmark1 ,sweden1 ,prussia1 with a great part of ,germany1 ,holland1 and ,switzerland1 as also ,england and the ,united ,states1 are ,protestant4 ,what can we say of them8 ,that they are a part of the disorganized world1 and have manifested the same unhappy dispositions as other portions4 ,reform has not altered their dispositions or circumstances4 ,we see among them the same ambitious1 grasping1 reckless disposition manifested1 and consequently the same wars1 bloodshed1 poverty1 misery1 and distress2 and millions of human beings have been sacrificed to their pride1 ambition1 and avarice1 and thirst for national fame and glory4 ,the ,reformation of the ,church of ,england is anything but creditable to that church4 ,i refer to ,henry ,,viii41 and the vacillating course taken by some of its early reformers2 and its persecution of those who were opposed to it in religious faith4 ,i might here refer to the religious intolerance of ,calvin of ,geneva1 and ,knox of ,scotland1 and other reformers2 but1 as these are mere individual affairs1 ,i pass over them4 ,if we look at ,christian nations as a whole1 we see a picture that is truly lamentable1 a miserable portrait of poor1 degenerated1 fallen humanity4 ,we see ,christian nations arrayed against ,christian nations in battle1 with the ,christian ministers of each ,christian nation calling upon the ,christian's ,god to give them each the victory over their enemies6 ,christians6 and worshippers of the same ,god66 ,hence1 ,christian ,england has been arrayed against ,christian ,france2 ,christian ,russia against ,christian ,prussia2 ,christian ,spain against ,christian ,holland2 ,christian ,austria against ,christian ,hungary2 ,christian ,england against ,christian ,united ,states2 and ,christian ,united ,states against ,christian ,mexico4 ,not to mention the innumerable aggressions and conquests of some of the larger nations1 not only upon their ,christian brethren1 but against other nations of the earth4 ,before those several nations have engaged in their wars1 their ministers have presented their several prayers before the same ,god2 and if ,he had been as infatuated as they1 and listened to their prayers1 they would long ago have been destroyed1 and the ,christian world depopulated4 ,after their prayers they have met in deadly strife2 foe has rushed against foe with mortal energy1 and the clarion of war1 the clang of arms1 and the cannon's roar have been followed by dying groans1 shattered limbs1 carnage1 blood1 and death2 and unutterable misery and distress1 desolate hearths1 lonely widows1 and fatherless children4 ,and yet these are all ,christian nations1 ,christian brethren1 worshippers of the same ,god4 ,christianity has prevailed more or less for eighteen hundred years4 ,if it should still continue and overspread the world in its present form1 what would it accomplish8 ,the world's redemption and regeneration8 ,no1 verily4 ,its most staunch supporters1 and most strenuous advocates would say1 ,no4 ,for like causes always produce like effects3 and if it has failed to regenerate the nations where it has had full sway for generations1 it must necessarily fail to regenerate the world4 ,if it has failed in a small thing1 how can it accomplish a large one8 ,there are some of the ,evangelical ,churches1 and modern reformers who will tell me that the above is not ,christianity2 only a form1 not the spirit and life4 ,but it is national ,christianity2 and it is the nations--the world and its redemption--that we are speaking of4 ,but1 lest they should think me unfair in making this application1 ,i will briefly examine their position4 ,which of the sects or parties is it that is good1 evangelical1 and pure8 ,the ,church of ,england1 ,methodists1 ,presbyterians1 ,independents1 ,baptists1 ,universalists1 or which of the hundreds of sects that flood ,christendom8 ,for they do not agree2 there exists as much unhappy difference among them as there does among the nations4 ,they have not power1 of course1 to act nationally2 but1 as individual sects1 there is as much virulence1 discord1 division1 and strife among them as among any other people4 ,there is sect against sect2 party against party2 polemical essay against polemical essay2 discussion after discussion2 and hard words1 bitter feelings1 angry disputes1 wrangling1 hatred1 and malice1 prevail to an alarming extent3 and it is enough1 in many instances1 for a member even of a family to be of a different religious persuasion1 no matter how honest1 to cause his expulsion from the family4 ,in fact1 if we look at ,christianity1 as exhibited among the evangelical societies of ,england1 and the ,united ,states1 where ,protestantism bears rule unchecked1 what do we see8 ,nothing but a game at hazard1 where a thousand opinions distract the people1 each clamoring for his own peculiar form of worship1 and1 like the ,athenians1 clinging with tenacity to their own favorite god1 no matter how absurd or ridiculous his pretensions4 ,i would remark1 however1 both to ,catholic and ,protestant1 that there is much good associated with both their systems1 in the teaching of morality1 virtue1 faith in ,god1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 that there are thousands of sincere1 honest1 good1 and virtuous people among them1 as also among the nations2 that these evils have been the growth of ages4 ,the fathers have eaten sour grapes1 and the children's teeth have been set on edge4 ,it is unnecessary here to say anything of missionary societies1 tract societies1 and evangelical societies2 for if the fountain is impure1 the stream must be impure2 if the tree is bad1 the fruit will be bad also4 ,it is certainly a praiseworthy object to spread the ,bible1 and all useful information1 and to do good as far as we can2 but to talk of this evangelizing the world1 is folly4 ,we will now turn our attention for a short time to another society1 which has been formed lately in ,europe1 called a ,peace ,society1 and which has lately held several congresses in ,london1 ,berlin1 and elsewhere1 with representatives from many of the ,european nations1 and the ,united ,states4 ,their object is1 to ameliorate the condition of the world1 and bring about universal peace2 but1 with all deference to their feelings1 and fervent desires that such a happy event might be consummated1 ,i must beg leave to differ from them in their views4 ,peace is a desirable thing2 it is the gift of ,god1 and the greatest gift that ,god can bestow upon mortals4 ,what is more desirable than peace8 ,peace in nations1 peace in cities1 peace in families4 ,like the soft murmuring zephyr1 its soothing influence calms the brow of care1 dries the eye of sorrow1 and chases trouble from the bosom2 and let it be universally experienced1 and it would drive sorrow from the world1 and make this earth a paradise4 ,but peace is the gift of ,god4 ,jesus said to his disciples1 ,peace ,i leave with you2 my peace ,i give unto you1 not as the world giveth give ,i unto you4 ,john xiv4 #bg4 ,moral suasion is always good1 and the most happy that man can employ2 but without the interposition of ,god1 it will be useless4 ,the nations of the world have corrupted themselves before ,god1 and we are not in a position to be governed by those principles without regeneration4 ,if they were pure1 and living in the fear of ,god1 it would be another thing2 but the world at the present time is not made of the proper materials to submit to a congressional interposition1 of a kind similar to the one now established4 ,the materials will not combine1 and no power1 short of the power of ,god1 can accomplish it4 ,we have got into the feet and toes of ,daniel's national image2 they are composed of iron and clay1 which will not mix2 there is no chemical affinity between the bodies4 ,as it has been in generations past1 the strong nations feel independent1 and capable of taking care of their own affairs2 and if the weak unite1 it is to protect themselves against the strong4 ,the principles of aggression and protection still rule as strong in the human bosom as ever they did4 ,the world is as belligerent now as it ever was1 and as full of commotion and uncertainty4 ,the dispositions of the nations1 of kings1 rulers1 and people1 are the same4 ,the late revolutions in ,europe1 and present uncertain state of political affairs1 are an evident proof of this4 ,the political atmosphere of the ,european nations is full of combustion1 and only needs igniting to set the whole in one common blaze4 ,talk of peace6 there is war in the councils and cabinets1 uncertainty and distrust with emperors1 kings1 presidents1 and princes2 war in the churches1 clubs1 cabals1 and parties that now distract the world4 ,it is whispered in the midnight caucus1 and proclaimed in open day4 ,the same spirit enters into the social circle1 and breaks up families3 father is arrayed against son1 and son against father2 mother against daughter1 and daughter against mother2 and brother against brother3 it presides triumphant at the assemblies of the ,peace ,society1 and spreads confusion1 discord1 and division there4 ,a moral1 deadly1 evil has infused itself throughout the world1 and it needs a more powerful restorative than the one proposed to ameliorate its condition4 ,if the root of the evil be not eradicated1 in vain we regulate the branches2 if the fountain be impure1 in vain we strive to purify the streams4 ,the means used are not adequate to the end designed1 and in spite of all those weak1 puny efforts1 the world will continue in its present sickly state1 unless a more powerful antidote be applied4 ,another principle has many advocates on the ,continent of ,europe at the present time2 a principle of ,socialism4 ,like everything else1 it is possessed of different phases1 and has been advocated in its various branches by ,fourier1 ,robert ,owen1 ,cabet1 ,pierre ,leroux1 and ,proudhon1 in ,europe1 and ,fanny ,wright in ,america4 ,the leading object of many of these people is to have a community of goods and property4 ,some of them discard ,christianity altogether1 and others leave every one to do as they please2 others attach a little importance to it4 ,i would briefly remark on the first of those1 that if scepticism is to be the basis of the happiness of man1 we shall be in a poor situation to improve the world4 ,it is practical infidelity that has placed the world in its present position2 how far the unblushing profession of it will lead to restoration and happiness1 ,i must leave my readers to judge4 ,it is our departure from ,god1 that has brought upon us all our misery4 ,it is not a very reasonable way to alleviate it by confirming mankind in scepticism4 ,i am aware that there is much in the world to induce doubt1 and uncertainty on religious affairs1 and religious professors have much to answer for2 but there is a very material difference between the religion of ,god1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and that of those who profess ,his name4 ,as regards ,communism1 in the abstract1 or on the voluntary principle1 we will examine that briefly4 ,pick out a number of men in ,paris1 ,london1 ,berlin1 or any other city1 associated with all the evils and corruptions of those cities1 and organize them into a community4 ,will the mere removal of them from one place to another make them better8 ,certainly not4 ,if they were corrupt before1 they will be after their removal2 and if they were unhappy before1 they will be after4 ,this temporary change will not make a difference2 for men in possession of different religious1 and political1 and moral views1 never can be united in harmony4 ,the difficulties that exist in the world on a large scale1 would exist there in miniature2 and though prudence1 forbearance1 and policy1 in smaller circles1 might operate for a time1 the evils would still exist2 and though they might smoulder and be pent up1 like a volcano1 they would only rage with greater fury when they did burst out4 ,i have conversed with some who seem to think that all that is necessary to promote the happiness of man1 is1 that he have sufficient to eat and drink1 and that through this means it would be obtained4 ,i grant that the comforts and happiness of men are in a great measure augmented by these things2 but to place them as the root and foundation1 is wrong4 ,in the present situation of ,europe1 where so much squalid poverty1 wretchedness1 and distress abound1 it is not to be wondered at that such feelings should obtain4 ,but1 if we cast our eyes abroad in the world1 we shall find that unhappiness is not always associated with the poor3 it revels in the church and state2 among kings1 potentates1 princes1 and rulers3 it follows the haunts of the libertine and profligate1 and gnaws in many instances the conscience of the minister3 it rides with lords and ladies in their carriages and chariots1 and revels in splendid saloons and in banquet halls4 ,many a pleasant countenance covers an aching heart1 and many a gorgeous costume hides the deadly worm2 jealousy1 disappointed ambition1 blasted hopes1 cold neglect1 and conjugal infidelity1 produce many a miserable heart2 and rage1 envy1 malice1 and murder1 lurk in many instances under the cover of pomp1 splendor1 competency1 or magnificence2 not to mention the care1 anxiety1 and trouble of officers of state in these troublous times4 ,if the poor knew the situation of many of those in different circumstances1 they would not envy their situations4 ,again1 if we notice the position of some of the southern and western ,states of ,america4 ,they have abundance to eat and to drink1 their lands bring forth bountifully4 ,but does this make them happy8 ,verily1 no4 ,the same false state of society exists there2 men are awfully under the influence of their depraved passions2 men are frequently put to death by what is called ,lynch law1 without judge or jury4 ,the pistol1 the bowie knife1 the rifle1 and the dirk1 are in frequent requisition1 and misery and unhappiness prevail4 ,in ,mexico1 where they possess one of the richest countries in the world1 a salubrious climate1 a rich soil1 abounding also with the most valuable mineral resources1 yet the people are unhappy4 ,guerillas plunder the traveller1 their streets are crowded with beggars2 its men are without courage or energy1 and the country is left a prey to any nation1 who has covetousness or power to oppress it4 ,the ,scriptures say1 that ,man shall not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of ,god2 and as they do not exist in this way1 another ,scripture tells the story in plain terms1 for it says1 ,where there is no vision the people perish4 ,proverbs xxix4 #ah4 ,there is also another political party1 who desire1 through the influence of legislation and coercion1 to level the world4 ,to say the least1 it is a species of robbery2 to some it may appear an honorable one1 but1 nevertheless1 it is robbery4 ,what right has any private man to take by force the property of another8 ,the laws of all nations would punish such a man as a thief4 ,would thousands of men engaged in the same business make it more honorable8 ,certainly not4 ,and if a nation were to do it1 would a nation's act sanctify a wrong deed8 ,no2 the ,algerine pirates1 or ,arabian hordes1 were never considered honorable1 on account of their numbers2 and a nation1 or nations1 engaging in this would only augment the banditti1 but could never sanctify the deed4 ,i shall not1 here1 enter into the various manners of obtaining wealth2 but would merely state1 that any unjust acquisition of it ought to be punished by law4 ,wealth is generally the representation of labour1 industry1 and talent4 ,if one man is industrious1 enterprising1 diligent1 careful1 and saves property1 and his children follow in his steps1 and accumulate wealth2 and another man is careless1 prodigal1 and lazy1 and his children inherit his poverty1 ,i cannot conceive upon what principles of justice1 the children of the idle and profligate have a right to put their hands into the pockets of those who are diligent and careful1 and rob them of their purse4 ,let this principle exist1 and all energy and enterprise would be crushed4 ,men would be afraid of again accumulating1 lest they should again be robbed4 ,industry and talent would have no stimulant1 and confusion and ruin would inevitably follow4 ,again1 if you took men's property without their consent1 the natural consequence would be that they would seek to retake it the first opportunity2 and this state of things would only deluge the world in blood4 ,so that let any of these measures be carried out1 even according to the most sanguine hopes of the parties1 they would not only bring distress upon others1 but also upon themselves2 certainly they would not bring about the peace of the world4 ,one thing more upon this subject1 and ,i have done4 ,in ,europe1 there has been of late years a great mania for revolutions--a strong desire to establish republican governments2 but let me remark here1 that the form of government will not materially affect the position of the people1 nor add to the resources of a country4 ,if a country is rich and prosperous under a monarchy1 it will be so under a republic1 and vice versa4 ,if poor under one1 it will be under another4 ,if nations think proper to change their form of government1 they of course have a right to do so2 but to think that this will ameliorate their condition1 and produce happiness1 is altogether a mistake4 ,happiness and peace are the gifts of ,god1 and come from ,him4 ,every kind of government has its good and evil properties4 ,rome was unhappy under a kingly government1 and also under a republican form4 ,carthage as a republic was no more happy than many of its monarchial contemporaries2 nor was ,corinth1 ,holland1 or ,venice2 and republican ,genoa has not manifested anything very much in favor of these principles4 ,france was unhappy under her emperor1 she was unhappy under her kings1 and is unhappy as a republic4 ,america is perhaps some little exception to this2 but the difference lies not so much in her government1 as in the extent of her country1 the richness of her soil1 and abundance of her resources2 for1 as ,i have already mentioned1 ,lynch law prevails to an alarming extent in the south and west4 ,in the state of ,new ,york1 in the east1 there are mobs painted as ,indians resisting the officers of the law1 and doing it with impunity2 and it is a matter of doubt whether persons having paid for property1 shall own it1 or be dispossessed by their tenants1 not in law1 for the constitution and laws are good1 but in practice defective1 through popular clamor and violence4 ,i refer to the estates of ,van ,ranseller and others2 and1 in the west1 to ,joseph and ,hyrum ,smith1 who were murdered in ,carthage jail1 without any redress1 although their murderers were known to the officers of state2 and to the inhabitants of a city1 ten thousand in number1 together with twenty thousand others1 principally farmers1 labourers1 and mechanics1 occupying a country about ten miles wide1 and thirty long1 most of which was well cultivated and owned by the occupants1--who were all forced by continual harassing by lawless mobs1 to leave a country in which they could not be protected1 and seek an asylum in a far off desert home1 there being no power in the government to give redress4 ,it is altogether an infatuation to think that a change in government will mend the circumstances1 or increase the resources1 when the whole world is groaning under corruption4 ,if there are twenty men who have twenty pounds of bread to divide amongst them1 it matters but little whether it is divided by three1 ten1 or the whole1 it will not increase the amount4 ,i grant1 however1 that there are flagrant abuses1 of which we have mentioned some1 associated with all kinds of governments1 and many things to be complained of justly2 but they arise from the wickedness of man1 and the corrupt and artificial state of society4 ,do away with one set of rulers1 and you have only the same materials to make another of2 and if ever so honestly disposed1 they are surrounded with such a train of circumstances1 over which they have no control1 that they cannot mend them4 ,there is frequently much excitement on this subject2 and many people ignorant of these things1 are led to suppose that their resources will be increased1 and their circumstances bettered2 but when they find1 after much contention1 struggling1 and bloodshed1 that it does not rain bread1 cheese1 and clothing2 that it is only a change of men1 papers1 and parchment1 chagrin and disappointment naturally follow4 ,there is much that is good1 and much that is bad in all governments2 and ,i am not seeking here to portray a perfect government1 but to show some of the evils associated with them1 and the utter incompetency of all the plans of men to restore a perfect government2 and as all their plans have failed1 so they will fail1 for it is the work of ,god1 and not of man4 ,the moral agency of man without ,god1 has had its full development2 his weakness1 wickedness1 and corruption1 have placed the world where it is3 he can see as in a glass his incompetency1 and folly1 and nothing but the power of ,god can restore it4 ,it is not to be wondered at1 that those various plans should exist1 for the world is in a horrible situation4 ,jesus prophesied of it1 and said1 there should be upon the earth distress of nations1 perplexity1 men's hearts failing them1 for fear1 and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth1 ,luke xxi4 #be1 #bf4 ,men see these things1 and their hearts fear2 confusion1 disorder1 misery1 blood1 and ruin1 seem to stare them in the face2 and in the absence of something great1 noble1 and magnificent1 suited to the exigency of the case1 they try the foregoing remedies1 as a sailor1 in the absence of a boat1 would cling with tenacity to any floating piece of wreck1 to save him from a watery grave4 ,neither can men be blamed for trying to do good2 it is certainly a laudable object2 and with all the selfishness1 ambition1 and pride1 associated with the foregoing1 it must be admitted that there is much uprightness1 sincerity1 and honest zeal4 ,there are very many philanthropists who would gladly ameliorate the condition of men1 and of the world1 if they knew how4 ,but the means employed are not commensurate with the end2 every grade of society is vitiated and corrupt4 ,the whole head is sick1 and the whole heart faint4 ,our systems1 our policy1 our legislation1 our education1 and philosophy1 are all wrong1 neither can we be particularly blamed1 for these evils have been the growth of ages4 ,our fathers have left ,god1 his guidance1 control1 and support1 and we have been left to ourselves2 and our present position is a manifest proof of our incompetency to govern2 and our past failures make it evident1 that any future effort1 with the same means1 would be as useless4 ,the world is diseased1 and it requires a world's remedy4 ,chapter ,,iv4 ------------------ ,what ,is ,man8 ,what ,is ,his ,destiny and ,relationship to ,god8 ,having shewn in the foregoing chapters1 that the rule of ,god is perfect where he governs alone1 that the rule of man is imperfect1 and has introduced confusion and misery1 and that the plans of men are not competent to restore the world to happiness1 and the fulfilment of the object for which it was created2 it now devolves upon us to investigate the way that this thing can1 and will be accomplished2 for there is a time spoken of in the ,scriptures1 when there will be a reign of righteousness4 ,first1 then1 we will enquire who and what is man8 and what is his destiny1 and what his relationship to ,god8 ,for before we can define government correctly1 it will be necessary to find out the nature of the being that has to be governed4 ,what1 then1 is man8 ,is he a being temporal and earthly alone1 and when he dies1 does he sink into forgetfulness8 ,is he annihilated8 or has he a spirit as well as a body8 ,if the first be the case1 he alone has a right to regulate his own affairs1 to frame his own government1 and to pursue that course which to him seems good2 if not1 the case is different4 ,i do not here wish to enter into a philosophical disquisition on the subject1 but1 as ,i am writing at present to believers in the ,bible1 ,i shall confine myself more to that4 ,i will state1 that man is an eternal being1 composed of body and spirit3 his spirit existed before he came here2 his body exists with the spirit in time1 and after death the spirit exists without the body4 ,in the resurrection1 both body and spirit will finally be reunited2 and it requires both body and spirit to make a perfect man1 whether in time1 or eternity4 ,i know there are those who suppose that the spirit of man comes into existence with his body1 and that intelligence and spirit are organized with the body2 but we read1 that when ,god made man1 he made him of the dust of the earth2 he made him in his own likeness4 ,man was then a lifeless body2 ,he afterwards breathed into him the breath of life1 and man became a living soul4 ,before that spirit was given1 he was dead1 lifeless2 and when that spirit is taken away1 he is again lifeless2 and let not any one say that the body is perfect without the spirit2 for the moment the spirit leaves the body1 no matter how perfect its organization may be1 the man is inanimate1 and destitute of intelligence and feeling3 it is the spirit that gives life4 ,hence we find that when ,jarius's daughter was dead1 his servant came and told him1 saying1 ,thy daughter is dead1 trouble not the master2 but when she was restored1 it is said her spirit came again1 and she arose straightway4 ,luke viii4 #ee4 ,when her spirit was absent1 the body was dead2 when it returned1 the body lived4 ,moses spake unto the ,lord1 and said1 let the ,lord1 the ,god of the spirits of all flesh1 set a man over the congregation4 ,num4 xxvii4 #af4 ,again1 the ,lord in speaking to ,jeremiah1 said1 ,before ,i formed thee in the belly1 ,i knew thee1 i4 #e4 ,i would ask1 ,what part of ,jeremiah did he know8 ,it could not be his body1 for it was not in existence2 but he knew his spirit1 for he was the father of his spirit4 ,the ,lord speaks to ,job and says1 ,where wast thou when ,i laid the foundations of the earth8 declare if thou hast understanding1 who hath laid the measures thereof1 if thou knowest8 or who hath stretched the line upon it4 ,whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened8 or who laid the corner stone thereof8 when the morning stars sung together1 and all the sons of ,god shouted for joy8 xxxviii4 #d1 #f4 ,again1 ,john says1 ,they that dwell on the earth1 shall wonder1 whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world4 ,rev4 xvii4 #h4 ,this spirit proceeds forth from ,god1 and is eternal2 hence ,solomon says1 in speaking of death1 ,then shall the dust return to the earth as it was1 and the spirit unto ,god who gave it4 ,eccles4 xii4 #g4 ,that the spirit is eternal1 is very evident1 from the ,scriptures2 ,jesus prayed to his father1 and said1 ,o ,father1 glorify thou me1 with thine own self1 with the glory which ,i had with thee before the world was4 ,john xvii4 #e4 ,here ,jesus speaks of an existence before he came here1 of a glory he had with his ,father before the world was4 ,christ1 then1 existed before he came here and took a body4 ,again ,jesus says1 ,i have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world3 thine they were1 and thou gavest them me4 ,john xvii4 #f4 ,let us see what the ,apostle ,paul says on the subject3 ,blessed be the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings1 in heavenly places1 in ,christ2 according as he hath chosen us in him1 before the foundation of the world4 ,ephes4 i1 #c1 #d4 ,christ1 then1 existed with his ,father before the world was1 and the ,saints existed in1 or with him4 ,what part8 their bodies8 no1 their spirits4 ,again1 man exists after he leaves here4 ,it is unnecessary to say anything about the life of the spirit1 after the death of the body1 or of the resurrection1 as the subjects are so generally known and believed4 ,paul says1 ,if in this life only1 we have hope in ,christ1 we are of all men most miserable4 ,but now is ,christ risen from the dead1 and become the first fruits of them that slept4 ,for since by man came death1 by man came also the resurrection of the dead4 444 ,the trumpet shall sound1 and the dead shall be raised incorruptible1 and we shall be changed2 for this corruptible must put on incorruption1 and this mortal must put on immortality1 then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written1 ,death is swallowed up in victory4 #a ,cor4 xv4 #ai-ba1 #eb-ed4 ,if man1 then1 is an eternal being1 came from ,god1 exists here for a short time1 and will return1 it is necessary that he know something about ,god1 and his government4 ,for he has to do with him not only in time1 but in eternity1 and whatever man may be disposed to do1 or however he may vaunt himself of his own abilities1 there are some things he has no control over4 ,he came into the world without his agency1 he will have to leave it1 whether he desires it or not2 and he will also have to appear in another world4 ,he is destined1 if he improves his opportunities1 to higher and greater blessings and glory than are associated with this earth in its present state3 and hence the necessity of the guidance of a superior power1 and intelligence1 that he may not act the part of a fool here1 and jeopardize his eternal interests2 but that his intelligence may be commensurate with his position2 that his actions here may have a bearing upon his future destiny2 that he may not sink into the slough of iniquity and degradation1 and contaminate himself with corruption2 that he may stand pure1 virtuous1 intelligent1 and honourable1 as a son of ,god1 and seek for1 and be guided and governed by his ,father's counsels4 ,having said so much on this subject1 we will continue our investigation still further1 and enquire next1 ,what is our relationship to ,god8 ,in answering this1 ,i would briefly remark1 that the position that we stand in to him1 is that of a son4 ,adam is the father of our bodies1 and ,god is the father of our spirits4 ,i know that some are in the habit of looking upon ,god1 as a monster only to be dreaded1 known only in the earthquake1 the tempest1 the thunder1 and the storm1 and that there is something gloomy and dismal attached to his service4 ,if there is1 it is the appendage of man1 and not of ,god4 ,is there anything gloomy in the works that ,god has made8 ,turn where we will1 we see harmony1 loveliness1 cheerfulness1 and beauty4 ,the blessings of providence were made for man1 and his enjoyment2 he is placed as head of creation4 ,for him the earth teems with the richest profusion2 the golden grain1 the luscious fruit1 the choicest vines2 for him1 the herbs1 and flowers1 bedeck the earth1 shed their odoriferous perfumes1 and display their gorgeous beauty2 for him1 the proud horse yields his back1 the cow gives her milk1 and the bee its honey2 for him1 the sheep yields its fleece1 the cotton-tree its down1 and the worm its silk4 ,for him1 the shrub and vine bloom and blossom1 and nature clothes herself in her richest attire2 the rippling stream1 the pure fountain1 the crystal river flow for him1 all nature spreads her richest charms1 and invites him to partake of her joyousness1 beauty1 and innocence1 and to worship her ,god4 ,talk about melancholy1 in the fear of ,god1 and in his service6 ,it is the corruption of the world1 that has made men unhappy2 and the corruption of religion that has made it gloomy3 these are the miseries entailed by men1 not the blessings of ,god4 ,talk about gloom6 is there gloom in the warbling of the birds1 in the prancing of the horse1 in the playfulness of the lamb1 or kid2 in the beauty of flowers1 in any of ,nature's gifts1 or rich attire1 or in ,god1 that made them1 or in his service8 ,there are others1 again1 who would place the ,lord at an immense distance1 and render our approach to him almost impossible2 but this is a superstitious idea1 for our ,father listens to the cries of his children1 numbers the hairs of their heads2 and the ,scriptures say1 a sparrow cannot fall to the ground1 without his notice4 ,he speaks to his elect1 and says1 ,he that toucheth you1 toucheth the apple of his eye4 ,zech4 ii4 #h4 ,he is our ,father2 and hence the ,scriptures tell us to pray1 ,our ,father1 who art in heaven4 ,paul says1 ,we have had fathers of our flesh1 which corrected us1 and we gave them reverence2 shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the ,father of spirits1 and live8 ,heb4 xii4 #i4 ,we have1 then1 both a temporal and a spiritual ,father2 and hence his solicitude for our welfare1 and his desire for our happiness4 ,says ,jesus1 ,if a son ask bread1 will he for bread give him a stone8 or if he ask a fish1 will he give him a serpent4 ,if ye1 then1 being evil1 know how to give good gifts unto your children1 how much more shall your ,father which is in heaven1 give good things to them that ask him4 ,what a delightful reflection for his servants1 to draw nigh to their ,father1 as to an endearing parent1 and ask for blessings1 as a son would ask for bread1 and be confident of receiving4 ,hence the faithful in the ,apostles' days received a spirit1 whereby they could say1 ,abba1 ,father1 or ,father1 ,father4 ,what an endearing relationship6 and if the world could comprehend1 how gladly would they throw themselves upon his guardianship1 seek his wisdom and government1 and claim a father's benediction2 but ,satan has blinded the eyes of the world1 and they know not the things which make for their peace4 ,chapter ,v4 ------------------ ,the ,object of ,man's ,existence on the ,earth2 and ,his ,relationship ,thereto4 ,we next enquire1 ,what is the object and design of man's existence on the earth2 and what is his relationship thereto8 for all this magnificent world1 with its creation1 life1 beauty1 symmetry1 order1 and grandeur1 could not be without design2 and as ,god existed before man1 there must have been some object in man's creation1 and in his appearance on the earth4 ,as ,i have before stated1 man existed before he came here1 in a spiritual substance1 but had not a body2 when ,i speak of a body1 ,i mean an earthly one1 for ,i consider the spirit is substance1 but more elastic1 subtle1 and refined than the fleshy body2 that in the union of the spirit and flesh1 there is more perfection than in the spirit alone4 ,the body is not perfect without the spirit1 nor the spirit without the body2 it takes the two to make a perfect man1 for the spirit requires a tabernacle1 to give it power to develop itself and to exalt it in the scale of intelligence1 both in time and eternity4 ,one of the greatest curses inflicted on ,satan and his followers1 when they were cast out of heaven1 was1 that they should have no body4 ,hence1 when he appeared before the ,lord1 and was asked from whence he came1 he answered1 ,from going to and fro in the earth1 and from walking up and down in it4 ,job i4 #g1 and ii4 #b4 ,for this reason he is denominated ,the ,prince of the power of the air1 the ,spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience4 ,ephes4 ii4 #b4 ,hence he exerts an invisible agency over the spirits of men1 darkens their minds1 and uses his infernal power to confound1 corrupt1 destroy and envelope the world in confusion1 misery1 and distress2 and1 although deprived personally of operating with a body1 he uses his influence over the spirits of those who have bodies1 to resist goodness1 virtue1 purity1 intelligence1 and the fear of ,god2 and consequently1 the happiness of man2 and poor erring humanity is made the dupe of his wiles4 ,the ,apostle says1 ,the ,god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not1 lest the light of the glorious gospel of ,christ who is the image of ,god1 should shine unto them4 #b ,cor4 iv4 #d4 ,but not content with the ravages he has made1 the spoliation1 misery1 and distress1 not having a tabernacle of his own1 he has frequently sought to occupy that of man1 in order that he might yet possess greater power1 and more fully accomplish the devastation4 ,we read1 that in our ,saviour's days1 there were persons possessed with devils1 who were tormented by them2 and ,jesus and his disciples cast them out4 ,mary ,magdalene was dispossessed of seven4 ,a legion had entered one man1 and when commanded to leave1 rather than have no bodies1 they desired permission to enter those of swine1 which they did1 and the swine were destroyed4 ,man's body to him1 then1 is of great importance1 and if he only knew and appreciated his privileges1 he might live above the temptation of ,satan1 the influence of corruption1 subdue his lusts1 overcome the world1 and triumph1 and enjoy the blessings of ,god1 in time and in eternity4 ,the object of man's taking a body is1 that through the redemption of ,jesus ,christ1 both soul and body may be exalted in the eternal world1 when the earth shall be celestial1 and to obtain a higher exaltation than he would be capable of doing without a body4 ,for when man was first made1 he was made a little lower than the angels1 ,heb4 ii4 #g2 but through the atonement and resurrection of ,jesus ,christ1 he is placed in a position to obtain an exaltation higher than that of angels4 ,says the ,apostle1 ,know ye not that we shall judge angels8 #a ,cor4 vi4 #c4 ,jesus descended below all things1 that he might be raised above all things4 ,he took upon him a body1 that he might die as a man1 and that through death1 he might destroy him that had the power of death1 that is1 the ,devil4 ,heb4 ii4 #ad4 ,having conquered ,death1 then1 in his own dominions1 burst the barriers of the tomb1 and ascended with his body triumphant to the right hand of ,god1 he has accomplished a purpose which ,god had decreed from before the foundation of the world1 and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers4 ,hence man1 through obedience to the ,gospel1 is placed in a position to be an adopted son of ,god1 and have a legitimate right to his ,father's blessings1 and to possess the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and the ,apostle says1 that ,if the spirit of him that raised up ,jesus from the dead1 dwell in you1 he that raised up ,christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his ,spirit that dwelleth in you4 ,rom4 viii4 #aa4 ,thus1 as ,jesus vanquished death1 so may we2 as he overcame1 so may we2 and1 if faithful1 sit with him upon his throne1 as he has overcome1 and sat down upon his ,father's throne4 ,rev4 iii4 #ba4 ,thus1 man will not only be raised from degradation1 but will also be exalted to a seat among the intelligences which surround the throne of ,god4 ,this is one great object of our coming here and taking bodies4 ,another object that we came here for1 and took bodies1 was to propagate our species4 ,for if it is for our benefit to come here1 it is also for the benefit of others4 ,hence the first commandment given to man was1 ,be fruitful and multiply1 and replenish the earth1 and subdue it4 ,gen4 i4 #bh4 ,and as man is an eternal being1 and all his actions have a relevancy to eternity1 it is necessary that he understand his position well1 and thus fulfil the measure of his creation4 ,for as he1 and his offspring are destined to live eternally1 he is not only responsible for his own acts1 but in a great measure for those of his children1 in framing their minds1 regulating their morals1 setting them a correct example1 and teaching them correct principles2 but more especially in preserving the purity of his own body4 ,and why8 ,because1 if he abuses his body1 and corrupts himself1 he not only injures himself1 but his partner and associates1 and entails misery incalculable upon his posterity1 who are doomed to inherit the father's misery2 and this is not only associated with time1 but with eternity4 ,hence the ,lord has given laws regulating marriage and chastity of the strictest kind1 and entailed the severest punishment upon those1 who1 in different ages have abused this sacred ordinance4 ,for example1 the curse of ,sodom and ,gomorrah3 and the terrible judgements pronounced against those who should corrupt and defile their bodies1 let any one read ,deut4 xxii4 #ac-cj4 ,and ,paul says1 ,know ye not that ye are the temple of ,god1 and that the ,spirit of ,god dwelleth in you8 ,if any man defile the temple of ,god1 him shall ,god destroy4 #a ,cor4 iii4 #af1 #ag4 ,whoremongers and adulterers shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven4 #a ,cor4 vi4 #i1 #aj2 and ,heb4 xiii4 #d4 ,and why8 ,because man being made a free agent over his own body1 that he might exalt himself and posterity1 both in time and in eternity1 if he abuses that power1 he not only affects himself1 but unborn bodies and spirits1 corrupting the world1 and opening the flood gates of vice1 immorality1 and estrangement from ,god4 ,hence the children of ,israel were told not to marry with the surrounding nations1 lest their seed should be corrupted1 and the people turned to idolatry1 which would lead to the forgetfulness of ,god1 to an ignorance of his purposes and designs1 and cause them to lose sight of the object of their creation1 and corrupt themselves2 and to the introduction of every other evil1 as a natural consequence4 ,but where the order of ,god is carried out1 it places things in a lovely position4 ,what is more amiable and pleasant than those pure1 innocent1 endearing affections which ,god has placed in the hearts of the man and woman1 who are united together in lawful matrimony8 ,with a love and confidence pure as the love of ,god1 because it springs from him1 and is his gift2 with bodies chaste1 and virtuous2 and an offspring1 lovely1 healthy1 innocent1 and uncontaminated2 confiding in each other1 they live together in the fear of ,god1 enjoying nature's gifts uncorrupted and undefiled as the driven snow1 or the crystal stream4 ,but how would this enjoyment be enhanced1 if they understood their destiny2 could unravel the designs of ,god1 and contemplate an eternal union1 in another state of existence2 a connexion with their offspring1 commenced here to endure for ever1 and all their ties1 relationships1 and affections strengthened6 ,a mother feels great delight in beholding her child1 and gazing on its lovely infant form4 ,how would her bosom swell with ecstacy at the contemplation of that child being with her for ever6 ,and if we only understood our position1 this was the object for which we came into the world4 ,and the object of the kingdom of ,god is1 to re-establish all those holy principles4 ,chastity and purity are things of the greatest importance to the world4 ,hence the ,prophet says1 ,because the ,lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth1 against whom thou hast dealt treacherously2 yet is she thy companion1 and the wife of thy covenant4 ,and did not he make one8 ,yet had he the residue of the ,spirit4 ,and wherefore one8 that he might seek a godly seed4 ,therefore take heed to your spirit1 and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth4 ,mal4 ii4 #ad1 #ae4 ,here1 then1 the object of purity is pointed out clearly2 and what is it8 that ,god might preserve a godly seed4 ,st4 ,paul says1 ,what8 know ye not that he who is joined to an harlot is one body8 for two1 saith he1 shall be one flesh4444 ,flee fornication4 ,every sin that a man doeth is without the body2 but he that committeth fornication1 sinneth against his own body4 ,what8 know ye not that your body is the temple of the ,holy ,ghost which is in you1 which ye have of ,god1 and ye are not your own4 #a ,cor4 vi4 #af-bj4 ,and in the next chapter he speaks of the same things which ,malachi does concerning a pure seed4 ,for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife1 and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband1 else were your children unclean2 but now are they holy4 ,the legislators of all civilized nations have seen the necessity of sustaining these things1 and consequently have passed1 generally1 very rigid laws for the protection of female virtue1 and the support of the marriage contract4 ,hence ,acts have been passed and enforced1 disinheriting those who were not born in wedlock4 ,this1 in some instances1 has produced a salutary effect4 ,ministers of the various churches have also used their influence1 in a great measure1 in support of virtuous principles4 ,these have had their effect in assisting to stem the torrent of iniquity4 ,but as the nations themselves have forsaken ,god1 how can they expect to stop this crying evil2 for the very legislators who pass these laws are in many instances guilty themselves2 and when kings1 princes1 and rulers1 corrupt themselves1 how can they expect the people to be pure8 for no matter how rigid law may be1 corrupt persons will always find means to evade it4 ,and1 indeed1 so far have these abominations gone1 that it seems to be an admitted fact1 that these things cannot be controlled2 and1 although there are laws relative to matrimonial alliances1 yet there are some nations1 called ,christian1 who actually give licence for prostitution1 and all the degradation and misery associated with it4 ,nor are these things connected with the lower ranks of life only2 wantonness and voluptuousness go hand in hand1 and revel unchecked in courts1 among the nobles and kings of the earth4 ,the statesman1 the politician1 and the merchant1 the mechanic and the labourer1 have all corrupted themselves4 ,the world is full of adultery1 intrigues1 fornication1 and abominations4 ,let any one go to the masked balls in the principal theatres in ,paris1 and he will see thousands of people of both sexes1 impudently1 shamelessly1 and unblushingly1 manifesting their lewd dispositions4 ,indeed1 debauch and wantonness bear full sway1 not to speak of the dens of abomination that exist elsewhere4 ,london abounds with unfortunate beings1 led on by example1 seduction1 and misery1 to their fallen1 degraded condition4 ,the same thing exists throughout ,england1 ,france1 the ,united ,states1 and all nations4 ,hence millions of youth corrupt themselves1 engender the most loathsome diseases1 and curse their posterity with their sin1 who1 in their turn1 rise up and tread in the corrupt steps of their fathers4 ,not to say anything of the thousands of lovely beings whom ,god designed for companions of man in time and in eternity1 and for raising up a pure offspring1 who are corrupted1 degraded1 polluted1 fallen1 poor1 miserable wretches2 outcasts of society1 insulted1 oppressed1 despised1 and abused2 dragging out a miserable existence2 led on from one degree of degradation to another1 till death1 as a friend1 closes their wretched career1 and yet without hope4 ,thus1 man that was made pure1 in the image of his ,maker1 that could stand proudly erect as the representative of ,god1 pure1 and uncontaminated1 is debased1 fallen1 corrupt1 diseased1 and sunk below the brute creation2 a creature of lust and passion1 and a slave to his unbridled appetites4 ,i write plainly on this subject2 and ,i do it because it is a curse to the world1 and ,god will have a reckoning with the nations for these things4 ,in vain1 then1 men legislate on these matters3 the nations have corrupted themselves1 and these things are beyond their control4 ,men must be governed by higher1 and purer motives than merely human enactments4 ,if the world understood its true position1 and the eternal consequences to them and their seed1 they would feel different4 ,they would feel that they were eternal beings2 that they were responsible to ,god1 both for their bodies and spirits4 ,nothing but a knowledge of man's fall and true position1 and the development of the kingdom of ,god1 can restore him to his proper state1 restore the order and economy of ,god1 and place man again in his natural position on the earth4 ,having spoken of man as an eternal being1 we will now examine what relation he has to this earth2 for it is the government of ,god that we wish to keep our minds upon4 ,this earth is man's eternal inheritance1 where he will exist after the resurrection1 for it is destined to be purified and become celestial4 ,i know that this position is considered strange by many1 because it is generally supposed that we are going to heaven2 that heaven is the final destination of the righteous2 and that when we leave this world1 we never return4 ,hence ,wesley says-- ,beyond the bounds of time and space1 ,look forward to that heavenly place1 ,the ,saints' secure abode2 and this is an opinion generally believed by the ,christian world4 ,we shall therefore commence by enquiring1 ,where is heaven8 ,can any one point out its location8 ,i would remark1 that it is a word of almost unlimited signification2 nevertheless we will investigate the matter a little4 ,we read1 that in the beginning ,god created the heavens and the earth2 and furthermore1 that he called the firmament heaven4 ,from the above we learn1 that the heavens were created by the ,lord1 and that the heavens were created at1 or about the same time as the earth1 and that the firmament is called heaven4 ,we are further told concerning the firmament1 that ,god separated the waters that were below the firmament1 from those that were above the firmament4 ,hence1 when ,god destroyed the world with a flood1 ,he opened the windows of heaven2 when the rain ceased1 he shut the windows of heaven4 ,now1 a word on this firmament2 ,where is it8 ,and ,god said1 ,let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life1 and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven4 ,we find out1 then1 from the foregoing1 that the firmament is called heaven1 viz41 the heaven associated with this earth2 and that the firmament is the place where the birds fly1 and the rain falls from heaven2 and the scriptures say1 that ,jesus will come in the clouds of heaven4 ,matt4 xxiv4 #cj4 ,mark xiii4 #bf4 ,but there are other heavens3 for ,god created this heaven1 and this earth2 and his throne existed before this world rolled into existence1 or the morning stars sang together for joy2 for ,heaven is ,god's throne1 and the earth is his footstool4 ,solomon says1 ,the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee4 ,this heaven is veiled from mortal vision2 spirits abound1 but we cannot see them2 and angels hover there1 but to us are invisible1 and can only be known or seen by the revelation of ,god4 ,hence ,paul says1 he was caught up into the third heaven4 ,stephen saw the heavens opened1 and ,jesus sitting on the right hand of ,god4 ,where this revelation exists1 there exists without the removal of the body a perfect knowledge of things as they are known to ,god1 so far as they are revealed4 ,thus1 when ,john was on the ,isle of ,patmos1 he says1 ,i was in the spirit on the ,lord's day1 and heard behind me a great voice1 as of a trumpet1 ,saying1 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the first and the last1 and ,what thou seest write in a book4 ,rev4 i4 #aj1 #aa4 ,then commenced the revelation4 ,it was the same also with ,stephen4 ,from this we gather1 that there is a veil that obscures the heavens from our sight2 but when that veil is removed1 and our vision is enlightened by the spirit of ,god1 then we can gaze upon the glories of the eternal world1 and heaven is opened for our view4 ,when persons are taken from the earth1 and hid from our view1 it is said they are gone to heaven4 ,hence it is said1 that ,elijah went by a whirlwind into heaven1 #b ,kings ii4 #aa4 ,and it is also said of ,jesus that while he blessed them he was parted from them1 and carried up into heaven4 ,luke xxiv4 #ea4 ,but it is the destination of the ,saints that we have to do with2 and on this ,i would remark1 that there are many glories1 and man will be judged according to his deeds4 ,there is one glory of the sun1 and another glory of the moon1 and another glory of the stars2 for as one star differeth from another star in glory1 so also is the resurrection4 #b ,cor4 xv4 #da1 #db4 ,it would not comport with my object at the present time to enter into the whole of the details of this subject4 ,i would briefly remark1 however1 inasmuch as ,i am now talking of man's body1 that there is a place called ,paradise1 to which the spirits of the dead go1 awaiting the resurrection1 and their reunion with the body4 ,this was an old doctrine of the ,jews4 ,paul1 too1 was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words4 #b ,cor4 xii4 #d4 ,john says1 to him that overcometh will ,i grant to eat of the tree of life1 which is in the midst of the paradise of ,god4 ,rev4 ii4 #g4 ,this ,paradise1 however1 is not the place for resurrected bodies1 but for departed spirits3 for ,jesus said to the thief on the cross1 ,to day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise4 ,luke xxiii4 #dc4 ,two days after this1 and after the resurrection of his body1 ,mary was looking for the ,lord1 and he appeared to her3 he said to her ,touch me not1 for ,i am not yet ascended to my ,father2 but go to my brethren1 and say unto them1 ,i ascend unto my ,father and your ,father2 and to my ,god1 and your ,god4 ,john xx4 #ag4 ,we learn here1 then1 that ,jesus went to ,paradise1 with the thief on the cross1 in spirit2 but that he had not been with his body to his ,father4 ,we will now speak of heaven1 as a place of reward for the righteous4 ,daniel1 in speaking of the resurrection1 says1 ,many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake2 some to everlasting life1 and some to shame and everlasting contempt4 ,dan4 xii4 #b4 ,jesus says1 those who have forsaken all and followed him1 shall inherit everlasting life ,matt4 xix4 #bi4 ,there is also a ,book of ,life spoken of4 ,paul speaks of some whose names were written therein4 ,phil4 iv4 #c4 ,john also refers to the same things3 he says ,he that overcometh1 the same shall be clothed in white raiment2 and ,i will not blot out his name out of the ,book of ,life4 ,rev4 iii4 #e4 ,again1 ,john1 in speaking of the ,new ,jerusalem1 says1 ,there shall not enter into it anything that worketh abomination1 or maketh a lie2 but they which are written in the ,lamb's ,book of ,life4 ,rev4 xxi4 #bg4 ,from this it would appear1 that those who obey all the commandments of ,god1 and have their names written in the ,lamb's ,book of ,life1 shall finally enter into the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,jesus again says1 ,to him that overcometh will ,i grant to sit with me in my throne1 even as ,i also overcame1 and am sat down with my ,father in his throne4 ,rev4 iii4 #ba4 ,this1 then1 is the heaven1 as far as ,i can conceive1 that people expect to go to4 ,we will now try to find out its location4 ,above we have noticed that the saints are to have everlasting life1 that they are to be with ,jesus1 and also in the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,we have now to enquire1 ,where ,jesus's kingdom will be1 and ,where will be the place of the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,daniel says1 ,i saw in the night visions1 and behold one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven1 and came to the ,ancient of ,days1 and they brought him near before him4 ,and there was given him dominion1 and glory1 and a kingdom1 that all people1 nations1 and languages1 should serve him3 his dominion is an everlasting dominion1 which shall not pass away1 and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed4 ,dan4 vii4 #ac1 #ad4 ,here1 then1 we find ,jesus coming to establish a kingdom4 ,where is that kingdom8 ,the ,scriptures say1 that all nations1 languages1 and tongues shall serve and obey him4 ,where do those nations1 languages1 and tongues exist8 ,the answer is1 on the earth4 ,we will next enquire1 ,where the saints will be4 ,daniel says1 in the #bgth verse1 ,and the kingdom1 and dominion1 and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the ,most ,high4 ,here1 then1 we find ,jesus reigning under the whole heaven with his saints1 and all nations1 dominions1 and powers1 serving him4 ,i noticed above1 that those who overcame would be with ,jesus1 and with him have everlasting life4 ,zechariah speaks of a time when there will be a great assemblage of people against ,jerusalem2 after ,god's ancient people1 the ,jews1 shall have been gathered there1 and the ,lord himself shall come forth to their defence4 ,he says1 ,then shall the ,lord go forth1 and fight against those nations1 as when he fought in the day of battle4 ,and his feet shall stand in that day upon the ,mount of ,olives1 which is before ,jerusalem on the east2 and the ,mount of ,olives shall cleave in the midst thereof1 toward the east and toward the west1 and there shall be a very great valley2 and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north1 and half of it toward the south4 ,and ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains2 for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto ,azal2 yea1 ye shall flee1 like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of ,uzziah1 king of ,judah3 and the ,lord my ,god shall come and all the saints with thee4 ,and the ,lord shall be king over all the earth3 in that day there shall be one ,lord1 and his name one4 xiv4 #c1 #d1 #e1 #i4 ,here we find that ,jesus is to come1 and all his saints are to come with him4 ,and that the ,lord is to be ,king over all the earth4 ,the question again arises1 ,where will ,jesus reign with his saints8 the answer is1 upon the earth4 ,again1 we will refer to the revelations of ,john4 ,he says1 ,i saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of ,jesus and for the word of ,god 4444 and they lived and reigned with ,christ a thousand years1 ,rev4 xx4 #d4 ,and if we wish to know ,where they will reign1 we will again let ,john speak3 ,for thou wast slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood1 out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation4 ,and hast made us unto our ,god kings and priests1 and we shall reign on the earth4 ,rev4 v4 #i1 #aj4 ,it is not necessary to quote more on this subject2 it is so plain that he that runs may read4 ,i know that there are those who will tell us that this is not the final destination of the saints4 ,i would here remark1 that a great many events will take place in regard to the renovation of the earth1 which it would be foreign to my subject at the present time to detail4 ,i would state1 however1 that when the earth shall have become pure1 if people suppose that they will then inhabit a heaven1 not on the earth1 they are mistaken2 for if we have the good fortune to have our names written in the ,lamb's ,book of ,life1 and to enter into the ,new ,jerusalem1 we shall in that very ,new ,jerusalem have to descend to the earth4 ,methinks ,i hear persons saying1 ,what6 shall we not1 then1 stay in heaven8 ,yes--in heaven2 but that heaven will be on the earth2 for ,john says1 ,and ,i saw a new heaven and a new earth2 for the first heaven and the first earth were past away 7purified by fire and become celestial71 and there was no more sea4 ,and ,i ,john saw the holy city1 ,new ,jerusalem1 coming down from ,god out of heaven1 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband4 ,and ,i heard a great voice out of heaven1 saying1 ,behold the tabernacle of ,god is with men1 and he will dwell with them1 and they shall be his people1 and ,god himself shall be with them1 and be their ,god4 ,and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes2 and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 nor crying1 neither shall there be any more pain2 for the former things are passed away4 ,rev4 xxi4 #a-d4 ,here1 then1 we find man's final dwelling place is the earth2 and for this purpose it was first created1 and it never will fulfil the measure of its creation until this shall take place4 ,nor will man ever attain to the end for which he was created1 till his spirit and his body are purified1 and he takes his proper position on the earth4 ,the prophets of ,god1 in every age1 have looked forward to this time2 and while many considered them to be fools1 they were laying for themselves an eternal foundation3 they looked with scorn upon the gaudy baubles that fascinated foolish and corrupt man3 they could not yield to his chicanery and deception2 but with the fear of ,god before their eyes1 and a knowledge of the future1 they stood proudly erect1 in a consciousness of their innocence and integrity2 despised alike the praise and powers of men1 endured afflictions1 privations1 and death2 wandered in sheep skins and goat skins1 destitute1 tormented1 and afflicted1 for they looked for a city which hath foundations1 whose builder and maker is ,god4 ,heb4 xi4 #aj4 ,hence ,job says1 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth1 and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth2 and though after my skin worms destroy this body1 yet in my flesh shall ,i see ,god4 xix1 #be1 #bf4 ,man naturally clings to this earth2 there seems to be something inherent in his nature that draws and binds his affections to the earth2 hence he strives all that lays in his power to possess as much land as he can reasonably obtain2 and not always honestly1 but wars have been waged for the acquisition of territory1 and the possessions of the earth4 ,but what avails it all without ,god6 ,so far from benefiting man1 it is an injury1 if obtained by fraud2 for he has got to pass that test which none can avoid4 ,and if circumstances here give him the power over his brother1 when he leaves this world and appears before ,god1 he goes to be judged for that very act of oppression2 and the thing that he so anxiously desired to obtain in this world is his curse in the next4 ,an honourable desire for property is not wrong2 but no man can have a lasting claim unless it is given him of ,god4 ,lands1 properties1 possessions1 and the blessings of this life1 are of use only as they are sanctified1 and have a bearing on the world to come4 ,there have been hereditary laws established in ,england1 and ,i believe in other countries1 securing landed possessions to the eldest son1 or heir4 ,this has originated from the above feeling2 and partly from the customs of the ancient ,israelites1 as recorded in the ,scriptures2 and families through this means seek to perpetuate their names4 ,they may do this for a season2 but if man rightly understood his true position1 he would have a brighter object in view4 ,the ,scriptures tell us1 that every good and perfect gift comes from ,god2 that a man can receive nothing but what is given him from above4 ,men have conquered1 and taken1 bought and sold1 the earth without ,god4 ,but their possessions will perish with them2 they may perpetuate them by law for a season to their descendants1 but the ,saints of ,god will finally inherit the earth for ever1 in time1 and in eternity4 ,abraham held his possessions on a very different footing from the above4 ,the ,lord appeared unto him1 and made a covenant with him1 and said1 ,and ,i will give unto thee1 and to thy seed after thee1 the land wherein thou art a stranger4 ,all the land of ,canaan for an everlasting possession4 ,gen4 xvii4 #h4 ,this covenant was an eternal one2 yet ,abraham did not possess the land1 for ,stephen says1 he gave him none inheritance in it1 no1 not so much as to set his foot on4 ,acts vii4 #e4 ,and ,paul says1 ,by faith ,abraham1 when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance1 obeyed2 and he went out1 not knowing whither he went4 ,by faith he sojourned in the land of promise1 as in a strange country1 dwelling in tabernacles with ,isaac and ,jacob1 the heirs with him of the same promise2 for he looked for a city which hath foundations1 whose builder and maker is ,god4 ,heb4 xi4 #h-aj4 ,here1 then1 we find land given to ,abraham by promise1 a land that he did not possess2 but he will do so1 for he looked for a city which hath foundations1 whose builder and maker is ,god4 ,he looked forward to the redemption of his seed1 the establishment of the kingdom of ,god1 and the inheritance of those blessings eternally4 ,if any one doubts this1 let them read the xxxi4 chapter of ,jeremiah1 and the xxxvi4 to xxxix4 chapters of ,ezekiel2 wherein it is stated that ,israel is to be gathered to their own land1 that it is to become as the ,garden of ,eden1 and to be no more desolate4 ,ezekiel speaks of the resurrection of the dead1 and the coming together of the bones1 flesh1 sinews1 and skin1 of a living army2 of the uniting of the nations of ,judah1 and ,israel1 in one2 and in consequence of the great development of the powers of ,god1 the heathen would be filled with astonishment2 and finally1 that ,god's tabernacle should be planted in their midst for evermore4 ,then let them read from the xlvii4 to the last chapter of ,ezekiel2 and they will find an account1 not only of the restoration of the ,jews1 and ten tribes1 but that the land is actually divided to them by inheritance1 in their different tribes1 according to the promise made thousands of years before to ,abraham4 ,in the #acth and #adth verses of the xlvii4 chapter1 he refers to this1 and says1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god1 ,this shall be the border whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of ,israel3 ,joseph shall have two portions4 ,and ye shall inherit it1 one as well as another2 concerning the which ,i lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers2 and this land shall fall unto you for an inheritance4 ,thus we find that the promise unto ,abraham concerning territory will be literally fulfilled4 ,again1 ,i would refer my readers to the fourteenth chapter of ,zechariah4 ,i would then turn their attention to the sealing of the twelve tribes mentioned in the seventh chapter of ,revelations1 where there are twelve thousand out of every tribe sealed2 and then ask1 ,where are these to reign8 ,the answer is1 on the earth2 together with those who have washed their robes1 and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb1 out of every nation1 and kindred1 and people1 and tongue4 ,jesus says1 ,abraham saw my day and was glad4 ,what6 was he glad to see his people scattered1 dispersed1 and peeled2 ,jerusalem trodden under foot1 the ,jewish nation1 temple1 and polity destroyed1 and his seed cursed upon the face of the earth2 or was it the second coming of ,jesus1 when they would be restored1 ,satan bound1 the promises made to him1 and to his seed fulfilled1 and misery and sorrow done away2 for according to the testimony of ,paul1 all ,israel shall be saved4 ,abraham's views concerning land and possessions were not the same as those entertained by men in our day2 they were not only temporal1 but eternal2 and if the world was under the guidance of the same ,god as ,abraham1 they would be governed by the same principle2 and anything short of this is transient1 temporary1 short lived1 and does not accomplish the purpose of man's creation4 ,i cannot conclude this subject better than by giving a quotation from ,p4 ,p4 ,pratt's ,voice of ,warning4 ,by this time we begin to understand the words of the ,saviour1 ',blessed are the meek1 for they shall inherit the earth4' ,and also the song which ,john heard in heaven1 which ended thus3 ',we shall reign on the ,earth4' ,reader1 do not be startled3 suppose you were to be caught up into heaven1 there to stand with the redeemed of every nation1 kindred1 tongue1 and people1 and join them in singing1 and to your astonishment1 all heaven is filled with joy1 while they tune the immortal lyre1 in joyful anticipation of one day reigning on the earth2 a planet now under the dominion of ,satan1 the abode of wretchedness and misery1 from which your glad spirit had taken its flight1 and as you supposed1 an everlasting farewell4 ,you might perhaps be startled for a moment1 and enquire within yourself1 ,why have ,i never heard this theme sung among the churches on earth8 ,well1 my friend1 the answer would be1 because you lived in a day when people did not understand the ,scriptures4 ,abraham would tell you--you should have read the promise of ,god to him1 ,gen4 xvii4 #h1 where ,god not only promised the land of ,canaan to his seed for an everlasting possession1 but also to him4 ,then you should have read the testimony of ,stephen1 ,acts vii4 #e1 by which you would have ascertained that ,abraham never had inherited the things promised1 but was still expecting to rise from the dead1 and be brought into the land of ,canaan to inherit them4 ,yes1 says ,ezekiel1 if you had read the xxxvii4 chapter of my ,prophecies1 you would have found a positive promise that ,god would open the graves of the whole house of ,israel1 who were dead1 and gather up their dry bones1 and put them together1 each to its own proper place1 and even clothe them again with flesh1 sinews1 and skin1 and put his spirit in them1 and they should live2 and then1 instead of being caught up to heaven1 they should be brought into the land of ,canaan1 which the ,lord gave them1 and they should inherit it4 ,but1 still astonished1 you might turn to ,job2 and he1 surprised to find one unacquainted with so plain a subject1 would exclaim1 did you never read my xix4 chapter1 from the #bcrd to the #bgth verses1 where ,i declare1 ,i wish my words were printed in a book1 saying1 that my ,redeemer would stand on the earth in the latter day1 and that ,i should see him in the flesh1 for myself1 and not another2 though worms should destroy this body6 ,even ,david1 the sweet singer of ,israel1 would call to your mind his xxxvii4 ,psalm1 where he repeatedly declares that the meek shall inherit the earth for ever1 after the wicked are cut off from the face thereof4 ,and last of all1 to set the matter for ever at rest1 the voice of the ,saviour would mildly fall upon your ear in his ,sermon on the ,mount1 declaring emphatically1 ',blessed are the meek1 for they shall inherit the earth4' ,to these things you would answer1 ,i have read these passages1 to be sure2 but was always taught to believe that they did not mean so1 therefore ,i never understood them until now4 ,let me go and tell the people what wonders have opened to my view1 since my arrival in heaven1 merely from having heard one short song4 ,it is true1 ,i have heard much of the glories of heaven described1 while on earth1 but never once thought of their rejoicing in anticipation of returning to the earth4 ,says the ,saviour1 ',they have ,moses and the ,prophets2 if they will not believe them1 neither would they believe1 although one should rise from the dead4',a ,footnote ,a3 ,pp4 #dh-ej4 ,seventh ,edition2 ,liverpool3 ,f4 ,d4 ,richards4 ,this is an excellent work1 and well worthy of any one's perusal4--,j4 ,t4 ,chapter ,,vi4 ------------------ ,man's ,accountability to ,god4 ,this is a subject which it may be necessary for us to inquire into1 in order that we may find out how far man is responsible4 ,for if man be not a moral agent1 he cannot be responsible for the present position of the world2 and it would be unjust in ,god to punish him for acts that were not his1 and for circumstances over which he had no control4 ,by a careful examination of the ,scriptures1 we shall find that man has had certain powers vested in his hands1 which he holds subject to the control and guidance of the ,lord2 and that if he has acted without the counsel1 guidance1 or instruction of ,god1 he has gone beyond the limits assigned him by the ,lord1 and is as much culpable as a minister plenipotentiary of any nation would be who should exceed the limits of his instructions2 or a man holding a farm1 or vineyard1 by a certain lease1 if he should disregard the conditions of that lease1 and destroy the farm1 or vineyard2 for the earth is the ,lord's1 and man was put on it by the ,lord4 ,it is not man's possession1 only as he holds it from ,god4 ,man's body was given him by ,god1 and also his spirit1 for the purpose heretofore mentioned4 ,god had his object in view in the creation of the world and of man 7which it is not necessary here to investigate72 and if man is placed as an agent to act for the ,lord1 and also for himself1 and then should neglect the ,lord1 he would certainly be held responsible to his ,creator4 ,that ,god had an object in view in regard to the creation of the world1 is evident4 ,or1 why was there a consultation in heaven about it8 ,why the beautiful regulation of sun1 moon1 and stars8 ,why the provision made for the redemption of man before he came here8 ,for ,christ was the ,lamb slain from before the foundation of the world4 ,why the arrangement of the resurrection8 the ,new ,jerusalem1 and the reign of ,jesus on the earth8 ,will any one say that all these things were done1 and all nature organized in its present beauty1 and order1 without a design8 ,it would be preposterous4 ,if ,god has a design in those things1 and man by his wilfulness1 wickedness1 corruption1 and rebellion1 should thwart the design of ,god1 and yield himself to another influence1 even that of ,satan1 will he not be held responsible8 ,and whether ,god has a particular design or not1 does not affect the question particularly2 for the earth is the ,lord's1 and man also1 and ,god has a perfect right to dictate what laws he pleases4 ,that the ,lord looks upon the world in this manner is evident from the words of our ,saviour4 ,there was a certain householder which planted a vineyard1 and hedged it round about1 and digged a wine-press in it1 and built a tower1 and let it out to husbandmen1 and went into a far country4 ,and when the time of the fruit drew near1 he sent his servants to the husbandmen1 that they might receive the fruits of it4 ,and the husbandmen took his servants1 and beat one1 and killed another1 and stoned another4 ,again1 he sent other servants more than the first2 and they did unto them likewise4 ,but last of all he sent unto them his son1 saying1 ,they will reverence my son4 ,but when the husbandmen saw the son1 they said among themselves1 ,this is the heir2 come1 let us kill him1 and let us seize on his inheritance4 ,and they caught him1 and cast him out of the vineyard1 and slew him4 ,when the ,lord1 therefore1 of the vineyard cometh1 what will he do unto those husbandmen8 ,they say unto him1 ,he will miserably destroy those wicked men1 and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen1 which shall render him the fruits in their seasons4 ,jesus saith unto them1 ,did ye never read in the ,scriptures1 ,the stone which the builders rejected1 the same is become the head of the corner3 this is the ,lord's doing1 and it is marvellous in our eyes8 ,therefore say ,i unto you1 ,the kingdom of ,god shall be taken from you1 and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof4 ,and whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken2 but on whomsoever it shall fall1 it will grind him to powder4 ,matt4 xxi4 #cc-dd4 ,here1 then1 the thing is clearly developd3 man's agency2 the abuse of that agency2 the punishment inflicted for that abuse1 together with the awful consequences of resistance to the proper authority4 ,on whomsoever it shall fall1 it shall grind him to powder4 ,god never gave man unlimited control of the affairs of this world2 but always speaks of man as being under his guidance1 inhabiting his territory1 and responsible to him for his acts4 ,the world is ,his vineyard1 and man is the agent4 ,hence1 when ,god made man1 ,god blessed him1 and ,god said unto him1 ,be fruitful and multiply1 and replenish the earth1 and subdue it3 and have dominion over the fish of the sea1 and over the fowl of the air1 and every living thing that moveth upon the earth4 ,this1 then1 was man's dominion1 given him by the ,lord4 ,and the word continues3 ,and ,god gave them every herb bearing seed1 and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree4 ,these things were given by ,god2 but to show his power1 and his right to be obeyed1 and in order to test man1 he forbid his eating of a certain tree2 and when he did eat of it1 and thus broke the commandment of ,god1 he thrust him out of the garden1 and decreed that he should eat his bread by the sweat of his brow4 ,again1 ,god demanded worship and sacrifices1 and when ,cain and ,abel offered them1 he received one and rejected the other2 and further1 when ,cain was wroth on account of his sacrifice not being accepted1 the ,lord said to him1 ,why art thou wroth8 and why is thy countenance fallen8 ,if thou doest well1 shalt thou not be accepted8 and if thou doest not well1 sin lieth at the door4 ,gen4 iv4 #e-g4 ,after the destruction of the world1 which was in consequence of the people sinning against ,god1 he blessed ,noah1 and spake to him1 and gave him the same dominion which had been given before to ,adam2 and ,noah offered sacrifices to him4 ,the same recognition of the ,almighty's power and authority was manifested by ,abraham1 ,moses1 the ,children of ,israel1 and the ,prophets2 by ,jesus also1 and the primitive ,christians4 ,man was left as a free agent with power to act1 and vested with certain powers by his ,father1 and responsible to him for his acts1 as a son1 servant1 or agent would be to his father1 master1 or employer4 ,perhaps it would be more correctly conveyed thus3--a man lets or rents a vineyard or farm1 the man occupying it has a certain agency and discretionary power vested in his hands1 but always subject to certain conditions imposed by the owner of the property4 ,hence ,god made a covenant with ,noah1 ,abraham1 the ,children of ,israel1 and the primitive saints4 ,the making of a covenant naturally implies two parties3 in such cases1 ,god is one1 the people the other4 ,if the people fulfil their covenant1 the ,lord is bound to fulfil his2 but if man transgresses then the ,lord is not bound to fulfil his engagement4 ,for instance1 in speaking to ancient ,israel1 he said1 ,and it shall come to pass if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the ,lord thy ,god1 to observe and to do all the commandments which ,i command thee this day1 that the ,lord thy ,god will set thee on high above all nations of the earth4 ,deut4 xxviii4 #a4 ,he then describes what those blessings are2 and further states1 that if they do not observe his statutes they shall be cursed4 ,the ,lord set before them blessings and cursings2 blessings if they obeyed1 but cursings if they disobeyed4 ,man1 then1 acts as a moral agent1 to improve upon the blessings which ,god puts within his power1 or not1 as he pleases2 and it is the abuse of this moral agency1 which has filled the world with misery and distress4,a ,footnote ,a3 ,this part of the subject is fully explained in the remarks on the ,government of ,man1 chap4 ii4 ,man has lost sight of the object of his creation1 and his future destiny2 and losing sight of his origin1 his relationship to ,god1 and his future destiny1 he has fallen into the mazes of ignorance1 superstition1 and iniquity1 and is groping in the dark1 and knows not how to conduct himself in this world1 or how to prepare for the world to come4 ,for1 instead of being governed by the ,spirit1 ,wisdom1 and ,revelations of ,god1 he is governed by the spirit of the ,evil ,one1 the god of this world1 who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience4 ,they have left ,god1 and submitted themselves to his evil sway1 and used that agency which ,god has given to them1 not only in rejecting ,god1 but in obeying ,satan2 and furthering his designs1 which are in opposition to those of ,god1 the happiness of mankind1 and the salvation of the world4 ,i know there are many who will ridicule this idea but it is a thing which is plain in the ,scriptures4 ,the ,apostle ,paul says1 ,the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not1 lest the light of the glorious ,gospel of ,christ1 who is the image of ,god1 should shine unto them4 #b ,cor4 iv4 #d4 ,and if any man thinks he is wise1 he has his moral agency and the world before him2 and if he can improve the situation of the world without ,god1 he has ample opportunity to display his intelligence4 ,i would remark1 further1 that so far from ,satan not exercising this power over man1 he exercises it to such an extent1 and he possesses such an unbounded influence over the human family1 that ,god's purposes relative to man1 and the earth1 never can be carried out until ,satan is bound1 and cast into the bottomless pit4 ,john says1 ,and ,i saw an angel come down from heaven1 having the key of the bottomless pit1 and a great chain in his hand4 ,and he laid hold on the ,dragon1 that old serpent1 which is the ,devil1 and ,satan1 and bound him a thousand years1 and cast him into the bottomless pit1 and shut him up1 and set a seal upon him1 that he should deceive the nations no more1 till the thousand years should be fulfilled4 ,rev4 xx4 #a-c4 ,here1 then1 he is described as deceiving the nations1 and his power is curtailed for a season1 that he shall not possess it4 ,it is a difficult thing to persuade men that they are deceived2 because that very power that deceives them1 inflates the mind with self-sufficiency and assurance3 but who1 that looks abroad in the world1 and sees the confusion1 distress1 and misery that abound1 will say that man has acted wisely8 ,man1 then1 is a moral agent1 possessing the power to do good or to do evil2 if he does well1 he fulfils the measure of his creation1 and secures his happiness in time and in eternity4 ,if he does not well1 and is involved in difficulties and misery1 it is his own fault1 and he may blame himself4 ,there are many circumstances over which man individually has no control2 but ,i am speaking more particularly of nations and the world1 and man's moral agency associated with them3 concerning individuals1 the ,lord will make his own arrangements4 ,the ,jews are cursed nationally1 on account of their fathers' transgression1 and cannot remove that curse1 as a nation1 until the time come4 ,as individuals they can receive the ,gospel as well as others4 ,their fathers committed grievous national offences against ,god for some length of time1 and finally filled up the measure of their iniquity1 in rejecting1 and crucifying the ,son of ,god4 ,if they killed the prophets1 and stoned those whom ,god sent1 how could he treat with them8 ,he could act no other way consistently than to destroy those husbandmen1 and give the vineyard to others4 ,for if ,god be the proprietor of the vineyard1 and has a right to confer national blessings for obedience1 he has also a right to visit them with national curses for disobedience4 ,a nation rejecting ,god and his ordinances1 and killing his prophets1 and still professing to be his people1 act hypocritically1 and impose a great curse upon posterity4 ,and if men will not acknowledge ,god1 how can they expect him to acknowledge and bless them8 ,again4 ,there are heathen nations enveloped in idolatry2 and if millions of people came into the world in those places surrounded with idolatry and superstition1 it would be unjust for them to be punished for what they did not know4 ,hence1 if they have no law1 they will be judged without law2 and ,god in his own wisdom will regulate their affairs1 for it is their misfortune1 not their individual offence1 that has placed them in their present position4 ,if1 however1 we could trace their history1 we should find1 as with the ,israelites1 so with them4 ,their present darkness and misery originated in a departure from ,god2 and as their fathers did not desire to retain ,god in their knowledge1 he gave them up to their present darkness1 confusion1 and wretchedness4 ,see ,paul's remarks on this subject1 ,rom4 i4 #ba-be1 #bh4 ,for nationally1 the conduct of fathers has a great influence over their children1 as well as in a family capacity4 ,hence the ,jews will be blessed as a nation1 in consequence of the promises made to ,abraham1 for as ,i have said before1 these are eternal principles2 man is an eternal being1 and all his actions have a relevancy to eternity4 ,the actions of fathers have a bearing and influence on their children1 both as families and nations1 in time and in eternity4 ,and those great principles that ,god has his eye upon in relation to the nations1 and to the world1 will certainly be accomplished4 ,hence the stimulus to excite men to tread in the steps of ,abraham1 that like him they may obtain blessings for themselves and their posterity4 ,and hence the choice of ,abraham by the ,lord4 ,the ,lord said1 ,i know him that he will command his children and his household after him1 and they shall keep the way of the ,lord4 ,gen4 xviii4 #ai4 ,and why did the ,lord feel anxious about this8 ,because of his own purposes in relation to the earth1 and because of his parental care of the bodies and spirits of man4 ,for there are matters of great importance associated with these things1 as before referred to2 and the ,lord has felt very anxious1 for the perpetuation of correct principles4 ,so strong were his feelings in relation to this matter1 that he gave the following law to the children of ,israel3 ,if thy brother1 the son of thy mother1 or thy son1 or thy daughter1 or the wife of thy bosom1 or thy friend which is as thine own soul1 entice thee secretly1 saying1 ,let us go and serve other gods1 which thou hast not known1 thou1 nor thy fathers2 namely1 of the gods of the people which are round about you1 nigh unto thee1 or far off from thee2 from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth2 thou shalt not consent unto him1 nor hearken unto him2 neither shalt thine eye pity him1 neither shalt thou spare1 neither shalt thou conceal him2 but thou shalt surely kill him2 thine hand shall be first upon him1 to put him to death1 and afterwards the hand of all the people4 ,and thou shalt stone him with stones1 that he die1 because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the ,lord thy ,god1 which brought thee out of the land of ,egypt1 from the house of bondage4 ,deut4 xiii4 #f-aj4 ,here1 then1 it is stated1 that if brother1 son1 wife1 or any one1 wish to lead thee from ,god1 thou shalt destroy them2 and why8 ,because in forsaking ,god1 they lose sight of their eternal existence1 corrupt themselves1 and entail misery on their posterity4 ,hence it was better to destroy a few individuals1 than to entail misery on many4 ,and hence the inhabitants of the old world and of the cities of ,sodom and ,gomorrah were destroyed1 because it was better for them to die1 and thus be deprived of their agency1 which they abused1 than entail so much misery on their posterity1 and bring ruin upon millions of unborn persons4 ,and having thus deprived them of their agency to act upon the earth1 and punished them for their transgressions1 ,jesus went and preached unto the spirits in prison2 which sometime were disobedient1 when once the long suffering of ,god waited in the days of ,noah1 while the ark was a preparing4 #a ,peter iii4 #ai1 #bj4 ,it is upon this principle that the world will be punished in the last days for their transgressions1 because they have abused their agency1 and broken the covenant that ,god made with them4 ,they have yielded to the influence of ,satan1 perverted the designs of ,jehovah1 and brought upon themselves and posterity a curse1 misery1 and ruin4 ,if any thing further is desired upon this subject1 ,isaiah has described it plainly1 and has shewn the awful effects of an abuse of this moral agency and departure from ,god1 and the breaking of this covenant4 ,to him ,i refer the reader as a conclusion on this subject4 ,behold1 the ,lord maketh the earth empty1 and maketh it waste1 and turneth it upside down1 and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof4 ,and it shall be1 as with the people1 so with the priest2 as with the servant1 so with his master2 as with the maid1 so with her mistress2 as with the buyer1 so with the seller2 as with the lender1 so with the borrower2 as with the taker of usury1 so with the giver of usury to him4 ,the land shall be utterly emptied1 and utterly spoiled3 for the ,lord hath spoken this word4 ,the earth mourneth and fadeth away1 the world languisheth and fadeth away1 the haughty people of the earth do languish4 ,the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof2 because they have transgressed the laws1 changed the ordinance1 broken the everlasting covenant4 ,therefore hath the curse devoured the earth1 and they that dwell therein are desolate3 therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned1 and few men left4 xxiv4 #a-f4 ,chapter ,,vii4 ------------------ ,the ,lord's ,course in the ,moral ,government of the ,world4 ,we will now enquire1 ,what part the ,lord has ever taken in the moral government of the world4 ,in the last chapter ,i shewed that man has a moral agency2 acting under the ,lord1 and is1 consequently1 responsible to him for his acts1 as a moral agent4 ,but does he leave him alone and unassisted to carry out his designs8 ,no4 ,looking upon man as his son1 he has from time to time offered his services and instructions1 as a father4 ,he has given revelations1 instructing and warning his people4 ,he has given promises to the obedient1 and threatened the disobedient4 ,he has instructed kings1 rulers1 and prophets4 ,he has also protected the righteous1 and punished1 by judgments1 the wicked4 ,he has promised to ,abraham and others lands and possessions4 ,he has held out promises of eternal life to the faithful2 but has never coerced or forced the human mind4 ,he destroyed the inhabitants of the old world because they had corrupted themselves4 ,he did not govern their minds2 they might forget ,god1 and every thought of their hearts be only evil1 and that continually2 but the earth was the ,lord's1 and he was the ,father of our spirits2 and although man had an agency to propagate his species1 it was given him by ,god2 and if he was so blind as to corrupt himself1 and entail misery upon millions of unborn beings1 the ,god of the universe1 the ,father of ,spirits1 had a right to prevent him4 ,and if he was prostituting the use of those faculties given him by ,god1 to the service of ,satan1 and abusing the liberty which his ,creator had so liberally given1 although the ,lord could not control the free action of his will1 he could destroy his body1 and thus prevent him from cursing posterity4 ,hence1 if a man transgresses the laws of the land1 he is considered a bad member of society1 and is punished accordingly2 sometimes imprisoned2 sometimes banished2 and sometimes put to death4 ,legislators assign as a reason for these things1 that such persons are injurious to society2 that if crime was not punished1 the virtuous and good would be abused2 the wicked would triumph2 character1 life1 and property would be insecure2 and anarchy1 confusion1 and desolation would inevitably ensue4 ,i would here ask1 ,if man acts upon this principle1 has not ,god a right to do so with the affairs of his government8 ,or should we arrogate to ourselves privileges that we will not allow the ,lord to possess8 ,upon this principle the ,devil and his angels were cast out of heaven4 ,the devil having his agency1 as well as man1 came here1 and sought to destroy the works of ,god2 and succeeded so far as to obtain an influence over man's spirit1 and bring his body into subjection to his agency2 and if man was so ungrateful and corrupt as to yield to his influence1 and obey his agency1 ,god had as much right to punish him as he had the ,devil2 and as he cast the ,devil and his angels out of heaven1 he also cut man off from the earth1 and thus punished the spirits that were disobedient in the days of ,noah4 ,satan1 in heaven1 had no power over those spirits2 but when they came to earth1 he gained an ascendency over them1 and not having a body himself1 made use of their bodies to corrupt the world1 and thus thwart the designs of ,jehovah2 they must therefore bear the consequences of their disobedience4 ,and if ,i am asked by a sceptic why ,god destroyed so many human beings1 ,i answer1 this was ,god's government1 they had transgressed his laws1 were traitors to him1 and he had a right to punish them1 as ,i before stated1 to prevent them from bringing ruin upon others1 and perpetuating this misery of the human family1 in time1 and in eternity4 ,the ,lord has given laws1 and although he has not forced man to keep them1 nor coerced his will1 yet he has punished him for disobedience1 as a father would a son4 ,a father of a child can teach that child correct principles2 but unless he controls or confines the body1 he cannot force that child to observe them2 he can punish him for disobedience1 however1 and thus exert a moral or physical influence over him4 ,our ,father does the same4 ,he punished the inhabitants of ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 ,babylon1 ,ninevah1 ,jerusalem1 and many other cities1 and will punish the world on the same principle4 ,again3 he has offered rewards1 and given them to the faithful1 such as ,noah1 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob2 he protected the ,children of ,israel1 and blessed them with temporal and national prosperity1 when they served him1 and punished their enemies2 and he would have extended his blessings to the world1 if they would have been obedient to him4 ,the ,lord has used these influences2 but never coerced the will4 ,hence ,jesus said to the ,jews1 ,how often would ,i have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings1 and ye would not4 ,god would have benefitted them1 but they would not be benefited4 ,again1 the ,prophet says1 ,because ,i have called1 and ye refused1 ,i have stretched out my hand1 and no man regarded2 but ye have set at nought all my counsel1 and would none of my reproof3 ,i also will laugh at your calamity2 ,i will mock when your fear cometh4 ,prov4 i4 #bd-bf4 ,these things clearly prove that man is a free1 moral agent1 and that ,god never has controlled the human mind1 and that1 consequently1 if man is found in a state of wretchedness1 degradation1 and ruin1 he has himself to blame for it1 and not the ,lord4 ,the ,lord would have given him his counsel if he had sought it2 for he did instruct men of ,god formerly1 and gave them laws1 and ordinances2 and he told his people that if they called upon him in the day of trouble1 he would hear them2 and ,james says1 ,if any of you lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1 who giveth to all men liberally1 and upbraideth not1 and it shall be given him4 i4 #e4 ,when the ,children of ,israel served ,god and obeyed him1 they acknowledged his authority1 and said1 ,the ,lord is our judge2 the ,lord is our lawgiver2 the ,lord is our king2 he will save us4 ,isaiah xxxiii4 #bb4 ,if the ,children of ,israel had been obedient1 and this principle had extended over the earth1 we should have had the ,kingdom of ,god established on the earth1 and universal peace and happiness would have prevailed4 ,but man's corruption and degeneracy have destroyed the world1 and nothing but the wisdom1 power1 and blessings of ,god can restore it4 ,chapter ,,viii4 ------------------ ,whose ,right ,is ,it to ,govern the ,world8 ,who ,has ,governed ,it8 ,having traced out in the preceding chapters the nature of man1 his destiny and parentage1 spiritual and temporal2 what his object is in being here2 what his relation to this earth is2 his moral agency2 and shown that ,god has never controlled his actions2 we will next enquire a little about the earth2 whose right it is to govern it2 and who has governed it4 ,it will not be necessary to say a great deal here about the earth1 and its organization1 for we have touched on this subject before1 and it is one about which there should be no dispute among believers in the ,bible4 ,i will briefly state1 that ,paul says1 ,for by him were all things created1 that are in heaven1 and that are in earth1 visible and invisible1 whether they be thrones1 or dominions1 or principalities1 or powers3 all things were created by him and for him4 ,colos4 i4 #af4 ,this being the case1 without further investigation1 we will examine whose right it is to govern it4 ,if the world be the ,lord's1 he certainly has a right to govern it2 for we have already stated that man has no authority1 except that which is delegated to him4 ,he possesses a moral power to govern his actions1 subject at all times to the law of ,god2 but never is authorized to act independent of ,god2 much less is he authorised to rule on the earth without the call and direction of the ,lord2 therefore1 any rule or dominion over the earth1 which is not given by the ,lord1 is surreptitiously obtained1 and never will be sanctioned by him4 ,i am aware that kings and queens are anointed and set apart by their different ministers1 according to the different forms and creeds of the several countries over which they reign4 ,there are two things necessary1 however1 to make their authority legal1 and to authorize them to act as ,god's representatives on the earth4 ,the first is1 that they should be called of ,god2 and the second1 that the persons by whom they are anointed are duly authorised to anoint them4 ,first1 then1 it may be necessary to observe1 that1 if kings and queens are of ,god's selection1 and are his representatives1 they must themselves be appointed by him2 for if not so1 how can they be considered his representatives8 ,the prophet ,hosea complains1 that they have set up kings1 but not by me2 they have made princes1 and ,i knew it not4 viii4 #d4 ,if they are sent by him1 they must understand their office and calling1 and the designs of the ,lord concerning the people whom they govern1 the same as a governor of a province1 or a minister plenipotentiary1 receives his credentials from the prince or court whom he serves4 ,if1 then1 we examine the position of kings1 and their relationship to their divine ,sovereign1 we shall find that there are only two ways for this calling to be legal4 ,it must have been given1 either by ,god1 through revelation to the ancestors of the reigning kings1 and handed down in an unbroken descent to the present time2 or1 otherwise1 given by direct revelation1 and they set apart by a prophet of the ,lord ,god4 ,but no nation1 kingdom1 or king in existence will acknowledge either of these ways4 ,all the kingdoms that are now in existence were founded by the sword1 without any respect to ,god4 ,in relation to their anointing1 the question would naturally arise1 ,who authorised the ministers to anoint those kings and queens8 ,for if the persons officiating have not the authority thus to anoint1 and set them apart1 to execute ,god's law and reign over the nations1 their anointing will avail them little3 it will be merely the anointing of man without the direction and sanction of ,god4 ,authority to anoint kings and queens1 in order that they may be the anointed of the ,lord1 must be given in one of three ways4 ,it must first1 have been given by revelation to the primitive ,christian ,church1 authorising them to administer in this ordinance1 and empowering their successors to do it2 secondly1 by direct revelation2 or1 otherwise1 it must have been transmitted from the ancient ,jews1 through a lineal descent4 ,in regard to the first1 we find no such record in the ,new ,testament2 neither ,jesus1 nor his ,apostles1 nor any of the seventies1 nor elders1 ever administered in this ordinance1 or spoke of it as being associated with the powers of their ministry4 ,consequently1 no power can come from there4,a ,footnote ,a3 ,i am aware that the ,roman ,catholic ministry will tell us1 that they have traditionary authority to anoint kings1 and to perform many ordinances that are not contained in the ,scriptures4 ,without1 however1 arguing the point of their authority here1 ,i would briefly remark1 that in order for the administration to be legal1 it is necessary that the kings themselves be called of ,god2 that this call is requisite1 as well as the anointing2 and that1 if they possessed all the power they claim1 they have no more right to anoint a man to be king1 who is not called by ,god1 in one of the two mentioned ways1 than any officer of state would be authorised to confer an office of trust or honor on any individual1 the gift of which was vested in the king alone1 if the king had never appointed the individual4 ,all intelligent persons must see that either appointment is illegal1 and consequently null and void4 ,the following from a ,french ,history1 is interesting1 and needs no comment3 it shows clearly the design of its usage first in ,france3-- ,la ceremonie du sacre etait-elle connue en ,france avant l'inauguration de ,pepin8 ,r4 ,non2 elle n'avait jamais ete employee3 mais ,pepin se servit de cette ceremonie empruntee des ,juifs1 inconnue jusqu' alors1 pour imprimer a la royaute un caractere plus auguste2 cette coutume s'est perpetuee depuis pour tous les ,rois de ,france4 ,,ii commenca a regner1 #geb1 ,a4,d4 ,nouvelle ,histoire de ,france1 par ,louis ,ardent1 p4 #dg4 ,paris3 chez ,corbet1 ,libraire ,quai des ,augustins4 ,in regard to the second position1 all ,christendom deny present revelation2 and thus from their own confession they have not obtained their authority from that source2 and in regard to the third1 if there was authority associated with the ,jews to ordain kings1 the ,christians certainly could not claim a ,jewish rite2 for the ,jewish nation and authority were all destroyed3 they were broken off because of unbelief4 ,rom4 xi4 #ag1 #ai1 #bj4 ,the ,christians obtained all their authority to officiate from ,jesus ,christ1 and not from the ,jews4 ,whichever way you look at it1 there is no foundation for any such authority1 and consequently the anointing is all a farce1 for it does not originate with ,god4 ,but here let us enquire a little further1 ,does ,god set up ,christian kings to fight against ,christian kings8 and ,christian subjects to destroy ,christian subjects8 ,i know they call upon ,god2 but what to do8 ,in their wars they ask him to destroy one another4 ,this patchwork dominion1 and mongrel ,christianity1 although they may be quite feasible in the dark1 yet they present a curious spectacle when brought into the light of ,truth4 ,it may be asked1 ,has not the ,lord given authority to kings to reign8 ,yes2 he has1 to two kinds3 to one1 to accomplish certain purposes that he had in view relative to the nations2 to the other1 to rule over his people--these were legally called and anointed by him4 ,of the first kind1 was ,nebuchadnezzar2 he had a kingdom and dominion given to him1 so say the ,scriptures1 but certainly not to govern ,god's people1 for he made1 and caused to be worshipped1 a large golden ,image2 and put ,shadrach1 ,meschach1 and ,abednego into a furnace for not doing so4 ,what1 then1 was his calling8 ,first1 it was to govern a wicked and idolatrous people2 and secondly1 to fulfil the will of ,god1 in the punishment of his people4 ,as the people over whom he ruled had given themselves up to idolatry1 they had an idolatrous king given to them for their ruler1 for the ,lord1 never having given up his right to govern the world1 gives the people kings according to their deserts2 and although he may not give them legal authority as ,his representatives1 yet by his overruling ,providence1 he places wicked men in a position that they may have power over a wicked nation1 both to trouble that nation and themselves4 ,such was the case with ,pharaoh1 king of ,egypt2 and also with ,salmanaser1 king of ,assyria1 when he defied the ,god of ,israel4 ,such was the case with some of the kings of ,israel1 in the rebellions of that people2 and with ,belshazzar1 king of ,babylon1 who was eating and drinking with his wives and concubines in the palace at ,babylon1 when the handwriting was seen on the walls1 ,god hath numbered thy kingdom1 and finished it4 ,thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting4 ,dan4 v4 #bf1 #bg4 ,babylon was destroyed2 and so fully have the purposes of ,god been accomplished in relation to that magnificent city1 that the place where it then stood is now a desert4 ,and such also will be the case with the nations and kings of the earth1 in the last day1 as spoken of by ,zechariah4 ,behold1 the day of the ,lord cometh 4 4 4 4 4 ,for ,i will gather all nations against ,jerusalem to battle 4 4 4 4 4 then shall the ,lord go forth and fight against those nations1 as when he fought in the day of battle4 xiv4 #a-c3 also read the #cith chapter of ,ezekiel4 ,here1 then1 is a slaughter the most terrible that could be conceived3 the armies actually cover the land1 and so dreadful is the slaughter1 that they cannot bury the dead1 so that their stench shall stop the noses of the passers by4 ,the fowls of the air are commanded also to assemble1 that they may eat the flesh of kings1 captains1 and mighty men2 and yet those kings1 princes1 and rulers will1 by the providence of ,god1 be given to the people as a chastisement1 that the ,lord may punish both kings and people on account of their iniquities4 ,daniel clearly exemplifies this subject in the following words1 in speaking of the judgements that should come upon ,nebuchadnezzar4 ,he states1 that these judgements were to the intent that the living may know that the ,most ,high ruleth in the kingdom of men1 and giveth it to whomsoever he will1 and setteth up over it the basest of men4 iv4 #ag4 ,another duty that wicked kings have to perform on the earth is1 that of being used by the ,almighty as a scourge or rod to punish nations that are corrupt4 ,hence when ,israel had sinned against ,god1 and the ,lord determined to chastise them1 he told them1 through his prophets1 that he would punish them by ,nebuchadnezzar1 ,king of ,babylon4 ,accordingly1 ,nebuchadnezzar came against ,jerusalem1 and took the ,children of ,israel captive to ,babylon1 with the vessels of silver and gold belonging to the ,temple4 ,and ,god afterwards punished ,babylon for its transgressions2 ,cyrus1 king of ,persia was raised up by the ,lord to chastise it4 ,but did either of these kings govern ,god's people8 or were they ordained by the ,lord8 ,no1 only as his sword to execute his judgements on the nations4 ,such1 also1 were ,alexander1 ,caesar1 and others2 and hence ,paul tells the ,christians in his day to submit themselves to kings and rulers4 ,and why8 ,these men were ordained for a certain purpose1 and it was not for the ,christians to set in order the affairs of ,god's kingdom1 nor to regulate the world4 ,the ,lord would do that in his own time and way2 it was for them to wait for the time of the restitution of all things4 ,another order of kings were those that were anointed to reign over ,god's people1 the children of ,israel4 ,such was ,saul1 who was anointed by ,samuel2 such also were ,david and ,solomon1 and many of the kings of ,israel4 ,those kings that were anointed and acknowledged of the ,lord were not only kings but priests4 ,hence1 ,saul1 when he had sinned against ,god1 and the ,spirit of the ,lord was withdrawn1 enquired of the ,lord1 and the ,lord answered him not1 neither by dreams1 nor by ,urim1 nor by prophets4 #a ,sam4 xxviii4 #f4 ,david also acted as a priest1 and could obtain knowledge or revelation from ,god also1 for when ,saul was rejected1 and sought ,david's life1 ,david called for the ephod1 used by the priests3 see ,exodus xxviii4 ,and ,david said to ,abiathar the priest1 bring hither the ephod4 ,then said ,david1 ,o ,lord ,god of ,israel1 thy servant hath certainly heard that ,saul seeketh to come to ,keilah to destroy the city for my sake4 ,will the men of ,keilah deliver me up into his hand8 ,will ,saul come down1 as thy servant hath heard1 ,o ,lord ,god of ,israel8 ,i beseech thee tell thy servant4 ,and the ,lord said1 ,he will come down4 ,then said ,david1 ,will the men of ,keilah deliver me and my men up into the hand of ,saul8 ,and the ,lord said1 ,they will deliver thee up4 #a ,sam4 xxiii4 #i-ab4 ,here we find ,david actually enquiring of ,god for direction1 and obtaining information4 ,the ,lord had forsaken ,saul1 and would not answer him2 but he would and did answer ,david3 see also the xxiii4 #b2 and xxx4 #h2 and #b ,sam4 ii4 #a2 v4 #ai-be2 xxi4 #a2 #a ,chron4 xiv4 #aj-ad4 ,from the whole of the above we learn1 that ,david took no step without enquiring of the ,lord4 ,solomon also1 acted as a priest as well as a king2 and it is said of him1 that ,solomon loved the ,lord1 walking in the statutes of ,david his father4 ,and the ,lord gave him wisdom1 and instructed him in the affairs of his kingdom4 ,when he prayed unto the ,lord1 and asked of him wisdom1 ,god granted him the desire of his heart1 and gave him with wisdom1 riches and honor4 ,and ,judah and ,israel dwelt in safety1 every man under his vine and fig tree1 from ,dan to ,beersheba1 all the days of ,solomon2 and when he had finished the temple1 he offered his sacrifices1 and acknowledged the ,god of ,israel2 and he prayed for the nation over which he ruled1 not by proxy1 but himself4 ,and ,solomon stood before the altar of the ,lord in the presence of all the congregation of ,israel1 and spread forth his hands towards heaven2 and then he uttered a prayer for himself1 his people1 and nation3 see #a ,kings viii4 #bb4 ,and we read that afterwards the ,lord appeared to him1 and said unto him1 ,i have heard thy prayer and thy supplication1 that thou hast made before me3 ,i have hallowed this house1 which thou hast built1 to put my name there for ever2 and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually4 ,and if thou wilt walk before me1 as ,david thy father walked1 in integrity of heart1 and in uprightness1 to do according to all that ,i have commanded thee1 and wilt keep my statutes and my judgements3 then ,i will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon ,israel for ever1 as ,i promised to ,david thy father1 saying1 ,there shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of ,israel4 ,but if ye shall at all turn from following me1 ye or your children1 and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which ,i have set before you1 but go and serve other gods1 and worship them3 then will ,i cut off ,israel out of the land which ,i have given them2 and this house1 which ,i have hallowed for my name1 will ,i cast out of my sight2 and ,israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people3 and at this house1 which is high1 every one that passeth by it shall be astonished1 and shall hiss2 and they shall say1 ,why hath the ,lord done thus unto this land1 and to this house8 ,and they shall answer1 ,because they forsook the ,lord their ,god1 who brought forth their fathers out of the land of ,egypt1 and have taken hold upon other gods1 and have worshipped them1 and served them3 therefore hath the ,lord brought upon them all this evil4 #a ,kings ix4 #c-i4 ,thus1 then1 these men1 delegated and appointed of ,god1 acted as his representatives on the earth4 ,they received their kingdoms from him4 ,they were anointed by prophets of ,god1 who received the word of the ,lord concerning them1 as in the case of ,saul and ,david2 and if they departed from ,god1 he chastised1 or removed them1 as in the case of ,saul and ,david1 and of which the history of the ,kings of ,israel is a striking example1 and faithful commentary4 ,those that were faithful among them sought to know the mind of ,god1 and to carry out his designs4 ,the greatest1 most powerful1 and prosperous rule that ever existed among them1 as a nation1 was that of ,solomon1 who asked1 and obtained wisdom from ,god2 and that wisdom as a necessary consequence brought honour1 happiness1 security1 riches1 magnificence1 and power4 ,thus those kings that were righteous1 who received their kingdoms from the ,lord1 went to war1 or proclaimed peace by his directions2 they were his representatives on the earth1 and governed his people as the ,lord's anointed4 ,yet even the monarchy of the ,house of ,israel was not in strict accordance with the will of ,god2 but originated in the rebellion and pride of the children of ,israel1 who1 wishing to be like the nations around them1 being dissatisfied with their judges1 desired of the ,lord a king4 ,the following are their words1 and the ,lord's answer3 ,then all the elders of ,israel gathered themselves together1 and came to ,samuel unto ,ramah1 and said unto him1 ,behold thou art old1 and thy sons walk not in thy ways3 now make us a king to judge us like all the nations4 ,but the thing displeased ,samuel1 when they said1 ,give us a king to judge us4 ,and ,samuel prayed unto the ,lord4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,samuel1 ,hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee2 for they have not rejected thee1 but they have rejected me1 that ,i should not reign over them4 ,according to all the works which they have done since the day that ,i brought them up out of ,egypt even unto this day1 wherewith they have forsaken me1 and served other gods1 so do they also unto thee4 ,now therefore hearken unto their voice3 howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them1 and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them4 ,and ,samuel told all the words of the ,lord unto the people that asked of him a king4 ,and he said1 this will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you3 he will take your sons1 and appoint them for himself1 for his chariots1 and to be his horsemen2 and some shall run before his chariots4 ,and he will appoint him captains over thousands1 and captains over fifties2 and will set them to ear his ground1 and to reap his harvest1 and to make his instruments of war1 and instruments of his chariots4 ,and he will take your daughters to be confectionaries1 and to be cooks1 and to be bakers4 ,and he will take your fields1 and your vineyards1 and your oliveyards1 even the best of them1 and give them to his servants4 ,and he will take the tenth of your seed1 and of your vineyards1 and give to his officers1 and to his servants4 ,and he will take your menservants1 and your maidservants1 and your goodliest young men1 and your asses1 and put them to his work4 ,he will take the tenth of your sheep2 and ye shall be his servants4 ,and ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you2 and the ,lord will not hear you in that day4 ,nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of ,samuel2 and they said1 ,nay2 but we will have a king over us2 that we also may be like all the nations2 and that our king may judge us1 and go out before us1 and fight our battles4 ,and ,samuel heard all the words of the people1 and he rehearsed them in the ears of the ,lord4 ,and the ,lord said to ,samuel1 ,hearken unto their voice1 and make them a king4 ,and ,samuel said unto the men of ,israel1 ,go ye every man unto his city4 #a ,sam4 viii4 #d-bb4 ,we find that this thing was displeasing to the ,lord2 they resisted the counsel of ,god2 but as they were the ,lord's people1 he listened to their requests1 and gave according to their desires2 he felt bound to fulfil his engagements1 and1 if they would not walk fully by the rule that he required1 to give a government of their own asking1 which1 if not so good as the one he proposed1 was nevertheless sanctioned by him2 and that order once established1 those kings set apart1 and anointed by him1 had a perfect right to look to him for his guidance1 which they did1 and inasmuch as they performed his will1 as his representatives1 were blessed of him4 ,for kings could not be blamed for the order that existed1 they did not originate the government2 it was the people1 all they could do was to rule according to the direction of the ,lord4 ,but this was not a perfect government4 ,the ,lord had his eye on something yet more glorious1 something in which the salvation1 and happiness of the world were concerned2 a rule of righteousness1 when1 not only one nation1 but the kingdoms and dominions of the whole earth1 should be given to the ,son of ,god2 and when all nations1 kindreds1 people1 and tongues should serve and obey him2 and as the earth belonged to him1 and the people also1 that he should govern them4 ,such will be the case as we shall hereafter show1 and a system be introduced that will not only benefit one nation1 but that will govern all nations1 bless the whole of the human family1 and exalt and happify the world4 ,all these things that have existed1 are merely temporary arrangements1 adapted to the weakness1 ignorance1 and wickedness of the human family1 in the times of darkness1 and power of ,satan4 ,if the above is the case1 in regard to the best of these governments1 even that of the ,house of ,israel1 what is the situation of those who are governing1 without even any pretensions to have received their government and authority from ,god6 ,it may be asked1 ,what is to be done in this state of things8 how are they to be regulated8 ,this is worthy of our attention1 but as we shall devote some time to this hereafter1 we will content ourselves with saying1 this is ,god's work1 and not man's4 ,he has these things in his hands1 and he must arrange them2 confusion1 revolt1 rebellion1 is not the way to bring these things about2 for if the world is already evil1 this will only make it worse4 ,besides1 the kings and rulers of the present day are no more responsible than others2 they did not make the nations as they are1 they found them so2 neither are they appointed to govern the world1 nor do any of them profess it4 ,according to their most extended calculation1 their power would be confined to their own nations4 ,some of the kings and queens of the earth seem to be actuated by a desire to promote the happiness of the nations with which they are associated1 and over which they rule4 ,the ,queen of ,england is almost universally beloved by her subjects1 and that deservedly2 she has been mild and pacific in her course1 and her rule and dominion have been as near right as it is possible for a government to be under existing circumstances4 ,if there are evils1 she did not originate them1 she found them so4 ,she has kept her covenant that she made with the nation1 and sought the welfare of her subjects1 and they owe her fealty1 and ought to render to her obedience4 ,and as she1 nor no monarch1 is set to build up the kingdom of ,god1 or establish universal rule1 as a monarchy without authority from ,god1 it is perhaps as good a form as could exist4 ,the ,emperor of ,russia1 with all his faults of government1 nevertheless possesses many good traits2 at any rate he seems to reverence the ,lord4 ,some time ago1 when the cholera broke out in ,st4 ,petersburgh1 the inhabitants supposed that their wells had been poisoned2 a large number of people assembled for the purpose1 as they thought1 of finding out1 and punishing the aggressors4 ,the excitement was very great4 ,the ,emperor1 hearing of the tumult1 rushed into their midst and said1 ,my children1 you are mistaken in supposing that the wells have been poisoned1 and this is the cause of our affliction1 this is a judgement that has come from ,god1 let us fall down before him1 and ask him to remove his scourge from our midst2 whereupon he fell upon his knees in the midst of the people1 and prayed to the ,lord to remove the plague from among them4 ,he has a strong impression that ,god has a work for him to do on the earth2 and in this he may be right4 ,although he is not delegated to establish the kingdom of ,god1 he may nevertheless be appointed as ,caesar1 ,nebuchadnezzar1 and others1 as a scourge to the nations1 and so fulfil his destiny1 for as we are on the eve of great events1 and a fearful doom awaits the nations1 some powerful means must be made use of1 in this as well as in other ages1 to bring these things about4 ,some may remark on the foregoing1 ,does not ,paul say1 that the powers that be1 are ordained of ,god8 ,yes1 and so say ,i2 but all powers that are ordained of ,god1 do not rule for his glory1 nor are they all associated with his government and kingdom4 ,nebuchadnezzar and ,belshazzar were ordained of ,god1 but they were both idolaters4 ,cyrus was ordained of ,god2 but he was an heathen4 ,god regulates his own affairs2 and while the world is in a state of idolatry1 apostacy1 and rebellion1 he1 by his providence1 overrules the affairs of the nation1 as ,daniel says1 to the intent that the living may know that the ,most ,high ruleth in the kingdom of men1 and giveth it to whomsoever he will1 and setteth up over it the basest of men4 ,dan4 iv4 #ag4 ,but others will say that ,paul tells us to be subject to the powers that be4 ,so say ,i4 ,god will establish his own government3 the cavillings1 rebellions1 and contentions of men will not do it2 and it is proper for well disposed persons to wait the ,lord's time1 to be peaceable and quiet1 and to pray for kings1 governors1 and authorities4 ,this was what ,jeremiah taught the children of ,israel to do1 ,and seek the peace of the city wherein ,i have caused you to be carried away captives1 and pray unto the ,lord for it1 for in the peace thereof shall you have peace4 xxix4 #g4 ,it is very evident1 from what has been shown1 that there is no proper government nor rule upon the face of the earth2 that there are no kings who are anointed1 or legally appointed of ,god2 and that1 however much disposed any of them may feel to benefit the world1 it is out of their power1 it exceeds the limits of their jurisdiction1 it requires a power1 spirit1 and intelligence1 which they do not possess4 ,we see1 moreover1 that tumults1 commotions1 rebellions1 and resistance are not the way to do it4 ,it requires more wisdom than that which emperors1 kings1 princes1 or the wisest of men possess1 to bring out of the wild chaos1 the misery1 and desolation that have overspread the world1 that beautiful order1 peace1 and happiness portrayed by the prophets as the reign of the kingdom of ,god4 ,chapter ,,ix4 ------------------ ,will ,man ,always ,be ,permitted to ,usurp ,authority ,over ,men1 and ,over the ,works of ,god8 ,will the ,world ,remain for ever ,under a ,curse1 and ,god's ,designs ,be ,frustrated8 ,the above are grave questions1 and will necessarily require examination1 for they concern the earth and its inhabitants4 ,their true solution will affect man in time and in eternity4 ,the world cannot remain as it is1 for the following reasons3-- ,first4 ,it would be unreasonable4 ,secondly4 ,it would be unjust4 ,thirdly4 ,it would be unscriptural4 ,fourthly4 ,it would frustrate the designs of ,god1 in regard to the spirits of the righteous2 the dead2 the progression of the world1 and its final exaltation2 and also the exaltation of man4 ,first4--,it would be unreasonable for man to continue his usurped authority4 ,if ,god is interested in the welfare of his creatures1 he certainly never would permit1 without some just cause1 the destruction of his works1 and the misery of his creatures2 and we have fully demonstrated1 that the world is full of abominations1 and evils1 and that those evils can only be removed by the interposition of the ,lord2 that the assumed authority of men1 and the ,devil1 can only be checked by a superior power4 ,god holds that power in his hands2 he holds the life of the human family in his hands2 and the world1 notwithstanding its rebellion and iniquity1 has to be sustained by him from day to day4 ,let him but withdraw his governing and controlling power from the earth1 and it would wander wildly through space1 unblest by the genial influences of the sun1 or clash against some other system1 involving all creation in ruin3 let some slight variation take place in its diurnal motion1 and the sea would leave its proper bounds1 overflow the earth1 and millions of the human family would perish4 ,let even some slight variation take place in the atmosphere1 and the ,lord withdraw the sanitory influences that preserve the earth in its present healthy state1 and the murky atmosphere would contain contagion1 and disease2 the pestiferous air would spread desolation1 and death2 plague and pestilence would fill the earth2 and millions of foetid loathsome beings would be living1 and dying examples1 of man's impotency and weakness4 ,even a small insect sent to destroy the grain1 accompanied with the blight of the potatoes1 such as has already been witnessed1 would produce incalculable evil2 let these things become more universal1 and the death of the human family must ensue4 ,even so slight a thing as too much1 or too little rain would produce uncalculated misery4 ,when we contemplate man as he is1 a poor worm dependent upon ,god for his daily bread1 and upon how many slight contingencies the brittle thread of life is continued1 and that the least variation in the economy of ,god might1 in numberless ways1 involve the human family in ruin1 and then notice his arrogance1 pride1 conceit1 and rebellion2 it seems to us mysterious that the mercy of ,god should be so long extended to him2 and we can only account for it upon this principle1 that ,god is too great1 wise1 powerful1 and magnanimous to be moved to anger by the impotent ravings1 the empty pride1 the little meanness1 the swelling pusillanimity1 and the utter helplessness1 of the erratic1 puerile1 insignificant creature1 man4 ,he lets him wallow in his corruptions1 gloat in his misery1 and permits him to become a prey to ,satan1 for a season1 that he may feel the greatness of his fall1 the extent of his degeneracy1 and the utter ruin that his own course1 instigated by the powers of the adversary1 has brought upon him2 that he may afterwards learn to appreciate the mercies of ,god1 see and understand the delusion1 and be enabled eternally to appreciate the mercies and government of ,god1 after having first atoned for his own acts and transgressions4 ,for like a wayward and disobedient child1 he will be glad to return to his father's house and friendship2 and when the vision of his mind shall be opened1 which1 if not done in this world1 will be in the world to come1 he will be thoroughly disgusted with himself and his acts1 and will be glad on any conditions to find an asylum with his ,father4 ,this state of things1 then1 is merely permitted for a season1 to develop the designs and influences of ,satan1 and their effects2 to develop the weakness of man1 and his incompetency to rule and govern himself without ,god2 to manifest the mercy of ,god1 in bearing with man1 in the midst of his rebellion2 to show man his ingratitude1 and the depth of his depravity1 in order that he may appreciate more fully the mercy and long-suffering of ,god1 and the purity and holiness that reign in the eternal world4 ,man has tasted the misery of sin and rebellion1 and drunk of the cup of sorrow1 in order that he may appreciate more fully the joy and happiness that spring from obedience to ,god1 and his laws4 ,but to think for a moment that man here will always be permitted to subvert the designs of ,god1 and the world be for ever under the dominion of ,satan1 is the height of folly1 and only develops more fully the pride1 littleness1 and emptiness of man4 ,for notwithstanding man is a weak creature1 in comparison to ,god1 yet he has within him the germs of greatness and immortality4 ,god is his ,father1 and though now wandering in darkness1 sunk1 degraded1 and fallen1 he is destined1 in the purposes of ,god1 to be great1 dignified1 and exalted2 to occupy a glorious position in the eternal world1 and to fulfil the object of his creation4 ,will this design be frustrated by the powers of darkness1 or the influence of wicked and ungodly men8 ,verily1 no4 ,to suppose such a thing1 manifests the greatest absurdity1 which can only be equalled by the weakness and ignorance from whence it springs4 ,what6 ,god1 the author of the universe1 and of all created good1 suffer his plans to be frustrated by the powers of the ,devil8 ,shall this beautiful world1 and all its inhabitants1 become a prey to ,satan and his influences1 and those celestial1 pure1 principles that exist in the eternal world1 be for ever banished8 ,shall the earth still be defiled under the inhabitants thereof1 when ,god is our ,father8 ,shall iniquity1 corruption1 and depravity always spread their contaminating influences1 and this earth1 that ought to have been a paradise1 be a desolate miserable wreck8 ,shall tyranny1 oppression1 and iniquity for ever rule8 ,shall the neck of the righteous always be under the feet of the ungodly8 ,no1 says every principle of reason1 for the ,almighty ,god is its maker4 ,no1 echoes the voice of all the prophets1 there shall be a restitution of all things4 ,no1 say the ,scriptures of all truth1 ,the earth shall become as the ,garden of ,eden1 the wicked shall be rooted out of it2 the time shall come when the ,saints shall possess the kingdom1 and the earth shall become as the garden of the ,lord4 ,no1 responds the voice of all the dead ,saints1 we died in the hope of better things1 etc4 ,no6 say our later revelations-- ,the ,lord hath brought again ,zion2 ,the ,lord hath redeemed his people1 ,israel1 ,according to the election of grace1 ,which was brought to pass by the faith ,and covenants of their ,fathers4 ,the ,lord hath redeemed his people1 ,and ,satan is bound1 and time is no longer3 ,the ,lord hath gathered all things in one2 ,the ,lord hath brought down ,zion from above2 ,the ,lord hath brought up ,zion from beneath2 ,the ,earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength2 ,and truth is established in her bowels3 ,and the heavens have smiled upon her2 ,and she is clothed with the glory of her ,god2 ,for he stands in the midst of his people1 ,glory1 and honor1 and power1 and might1 ,be ascribed to our ,god1 for he is full of mercy1 ,justice1 grace1 and truth1 and peace1 ,for ever1 and ever4 ,amen4,a ,footnote ,a3 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 ,section #hd3 #ii-ajb4 ,it is therefore contrary to every principle of reason and intelligence to suppose such a thing4 ,secondly4--,it would be unjust3 and shall not the ,judge of all the earth do right8 ,but what right would there be in thus permitting ,satan to usurp the dominion for ever8 ,it would be giving in the first place to ,satan that which belongs to ,god4 ,this earth is not ,satan's inheritance2 it is the ,lord ,jesus ,christ's1 he is the rightful owner and proprietor4 ,if ,satan be indeed the ,god of this world1 and rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience1 he is only an usurper4 ,it is not his rightful dominion1 for all things were created by ,christ1 and for ,christ1 whether they be principalities1 or powers1 or thrones1 or dominions1 all these were created by him1 and for him1 and he only has a right to rule2 but ,satan has subverted the ways of ,god1 deceived the human family1 introduced misery1 and confusion1 and blighted this beautiful creation with his contaminating curse4 ,as an usurper1 it would be unjust to permit him to rule2 it would be unjust to the government of ,god1 for1 if ,god has a right to rule1 no other power can have that right1 unless it is delegated1 and if delegated1 still the right is vested in the power that delegates4 ,it is therefore derogatory to ,god1 for the world to be yielding obedience to another power4 ,for while ,god1 not the ,devil1 provides for1 feeds1 sustains1 and beautifies the ,universe1 and nourishes the millions of people who inhabit the earth1 with his beneficent hand and fatherly care2--for him to be neglected and despised1 or forgotten1 is the height of injustice1 and the very climax of perverse ingratitude4 ,but again1 it would be unjust to the good and virtuous2 this earth is properly the dwelling place1 and rightful inheritance of the ,saints4 ,inasmuch as it belongs to ,jesus ,christ1 it also belongs to his servants and followers1 for we are told1 ,the earth is the ,lord's and the fulness thereof1 and that1 when things are in their proper place1 the ,saints of the ,most ,high shall take the kingdom1 and possess the kingdom1 and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven1 shall be given to the saints of the ,most ,high4 ,dan4 vii4 #ah and #bg4 ,it is therefore their righful inheritance1 and the usurpation before referred to1 while it is unjust to ,god1 is also as unjust to his ,saints4 ,who can contemplate the position of the world1 as it has existed1 without being struck with this fact1 ,where has ,god ever had a people but they have been persecuted8 ,the testimony of ,god has always been rejected1 and his people trodden under foot4 ,paul tells us that they were tempted1 tried1 sawn asunder1 that they wandered about in sheep skins1 and goat skins1 being destitute1 afflicted1 and tormented4 ,heb4 xi4 #cg4 ,and to such an extent had this prevailed among the ancient ,jews1 that ,stephen gravely asks the question1 ,which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted8 and they have slain them1 which shewed before1 of the coming of the ,just ,one1 of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers4 ,acts vii4 #eb4 ,what did they do with ,jesus6 and what with his followers6 ,we may here ask1 ,is it right1 is it proper1 is it just1 for this state of things to continue8 ,it is true that the saints have had a hope of joys to come1 and this state of trial has been permitted for their ultimate good2 but although this is the case1 it does not make the thing the more just4 ,it must needs be1 says ,jesus1 that offences come1 but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh4 ,it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck1 and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea1 than that he should offend one of those little ones4 ,matt1 xviii4 ,they that touch you1 touch the apple of mine eye4 ,he has cried all along1 ,touch not mine anointed1 and do my prophets no harm4 ,the saints have suffered and endured1 but they have done it in the hopes of a better resurrection2 and as they have always looked upon this earth as their inheritance1 to deprive them of this1 would be to falsify the promises of ,god unto them1 disappoint all their hopes1 render inutile their sufferings and fidelity on the earth2 and be to them an act1 not only of temporary1 but also of eternal injustice4 ,for men of ,god in former days were just as much actuated by the prospect of a reward as a merchant1 a warrior1 a statesman1 or any other person in search of wealth1 honor1 or fame4 ,the only difference is1 the one sought it in this life1 the other in the life to come2 the one looked for his reward here1 the other expected it hereafter2 the one had no hope concerning the future1 the other had2 the one was blinded by the ,god of this world1 and knew not his position1 or possessed not a nobility of soul sufficient to make him brook the world1 and the scorn of men1 in search of a better inheritance2 the other understood by revelation his relationship to ,god1 the position of the world1 and his high calling1 and glorious hope2 he sought the nearest way to eternal life1 scorned to be captivated by the world's tinsel show1 despised the short-lived pleasures offered by the god of this world1 and possessed magnanimity of soul sufficient to lead him to acknowledge the ,god of the ,universe1 and to brook the scorn of empty fools1 and ephemeral philosophers4 ,if persecution's deadly shafts1 and superstition's craven hate1 were levelled against him1 he dared to brook death in all its horrid forms1 and live and die an honourable man1 a true philosopher1 a servant of ,god1 and endure as seeing him who is invisible1 in the hopes of a better resurrection4 ,deprive him of this hope1 and you rob the just of his reward1 dishonour ,god1 and perpetuate misery and corruption in the world4 ,thirdly4--,as it would be unjust1 so also it would be unscriptural4 ,the ,scriptures are full and clear on this subject2 they represent ,christ as being the rightful heir1 and inheritor of this world2 they represent him as having come once to atone for the sins of the world2 but that he will afterwards come as its ruler1 judge1 and king2 they represent him as the ,lord of the vineyard1 the rightful heir to the earth1 and as having hitherto been dispossessed2 but they again represent him as coming to claim his rights1 to dispossess the usurpers2 to take the authority1 to rule1 and reign1 and to possess his own dominions4 ,they represent the earth as labouring under a curse2 but speak also of its deliverance therefrom2 of its being blighted because of the transgression of man2 but that it shall again yield its increase and become as the ,garden of ,eden4 ,they represent the whole creation as groaning and travailing in pain1 but that the creature also shall be delivered4 ,that the ,spirit of the ,lord shall rest upon all flesh2 that the wolf shall lie down with the lamb1 the lion eat straw with the ox1 and finally1 every creature that is in the heavens1 on the earth1 or under the earth1 shall be heard to say1 glory and honor1 and power1 etc4 ,that the law shall go forth from ,zion1 and the word of the ,lord from ,jerusalem4 ,that ,jerusalem shall become the throne of the ,lord1 and that the dead saints shall live1 and reign with ,christ1 no longer deprived of their rightful inheritance2 but as ,jesus said when here1 ,blessed are the meek1 for they shall inherit the earth4 ,if1 then1 the ,scriptures are not idle phantoms1 if their visions1 and prophecies were not mere phantasies1 and written to deceive1 we have as much right to look for these things as we have to believe in any event that has taken place2 but lest any of my readers should be ignorant of the ,scriptures relative to these subjects1 ,i will give a few passages which are in themselves as clear and pointed1 as any other portion of the word of ,god4 ,concerning ,christ being the rightful heir1 it is written1 ,all things were created by him1 and for him1 and without him was not anything made that is made4 ,he is the ,mighty ,god1 the everlasting ,father1 c4 ,for of him1 and from him1 and to him are all things4 ,thou sayest that ,i am a king1 for this end was ,i born1 etc4 ,then the ,lord shall be king over all the earth4 ,the ,jews made a great mistake concerning the coming of ,christ before2 the ,gentiles have made as great a mistake in regard to his second coming4 ,the ,jews expected him to come as a temporal deliverer alone1 and overlooked his sufferings1 trials1 persecution1 and death2 the ,gentiles having believed in his sufferings1 have lost sight of his second coming2 the promises of ,god made to the fathers2 the redemption of the earth1 and the kingdom of ,god4 ,both are wrong2 both believed in part2 neither in the whole4 ,the ,jews1 in consequence of their unbelief1 were cut off2 but when ,christ comes again1 he will come in the way that their fathers looked for him1 as a ,king1 with power1 and authority4 ,the ,gentiles having fallen into darkness1 have lost sight of the great purposes of ,god1 in regard to the redemption of man1 and of the world2 the restitution of all things1 and the coming of ,christ to reign4 ,they have so far forgotten themselves1 that they are actually fulfilling the prophecy of ,peter3 ,there shall come in the last days scoffers1 walking after their own lusts1 and saying1 ,where is the promise of his coming8 #b iii4 #d4 ,but to return3 the ,scriptures represent ,christ as the lord of the vineyard1 as the heir that was killed2 as the sower of the seed in the world2 as the destroyer of the wicked husbandmen2 as coming to rule the nations with a rod of iron1 etc42 and to take possession of the kingdom4 ,daniel says1 ,i saw in the night visions1 and behold1 one like the ,son of man came with the clouds of heaven1 and came to the ,ancient of ,days1 and they brought him near before him4 ,and there was given him dominion1 and glory1 and a kingdom1 that all people1 nations1 and languages1 should serve him2 his dominion is an everlasting dominion1 which shall not pass away1 and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed4 ,dan4 vii4 #ac1 #ad4 ,zechariah says1 ,and his feet shall stand in that day upon the ,mount of ,olives1 which is before ,jerusalem on the ,east2 and the ,mount of ,olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west1 and there shall be a very great valley2 and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north1 and half of it toward the south4 ,and ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains2 for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto ,azal2 yea1 ye shall flee1 like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of ,uzziah1 king of ,judah3 and the ,lord my ,god shall come1 and all the saints with thee4 4 4 4 4 ,and the ,lord shall be king over all the earth3 in that day shall there be one ,lord1 and his name one4 xiv4 #d1 #e1 #i4 ,these and many other things must be fulfilled if the ,scriptures be true4 ,these designs of ,god1 which were the hope of the ancient ,saints1 and of which poets sung1 and prophets wrote1 were the consolation of all the faithful ,saints1 ,prophets1 and ,patriarchs1--,jews and ,christians4 ,take these away1 and the world1 to the ,saints1 is a miserable blank2 the hope of the righteous futile1 and the ,word of ,god a farce4 ,fourthly4--,it would frustrate the designs of ,god1 in regard to the spirits of the righteous1 the dead1 the progression of the world1 and its final exaltation2 and also the exaltation of man4 ,when the ,lord created this world1 as we have already stated1 he had an object in view1 not only in regard to the world1 and its future destiny1 but also as it regards the spirits which were then in existence4 ,those great and eternal purposes which our heavenly ,father1 in his consummate wisdom1 had in view1 when he issued his ,divine ,mandate1 and this world was created1 cannot be frustrated unless he cease to be ,god4 ,and those enlivening hopes which cheered his sons2 those spirits that lived with him1 when they saw this beautiful orb fashioned1 this earth made as the place for their habitation1 as their possession1 as the place where they should take bodies1 where they should live1 rule1 and reign1 not only in time1 but in eternity1 must not1 cannot be destroyed4 ,and yet what avails it all to them1 if ,satan triumph1 the wicked rule1 and ,god's kingdom be not established6 ,they could not have shouted for joy at the prospect of this world continuing under the dominion of ,satan2 at the blight1 degradation1 misery1 and ruin that have overspread it4 ,but if we trace the matter still further1 and look at the righteous dead1 their position would be any thing but enviable under those circumstances4 ,it was the hopes of the resurrection that made them endure1 and it was ,god that implanted them in their bosoms2 but if they are not raised1 and if ,christ's kingdom is not established1 and they do not reign with him1 their hopes are vain1 their sufferings useless1 and the purposes of ,god are frustrated4 ,in vain did they bear a faithful testimony in opposition to a depraved world2 in vain they endured1 as seeing him that is invisible2 in vain they wandered about in sheep skins1 and in goat skins2 in vain they looked for a city which hath foundations1 as a recompense of reward2 and false and deceptive are the testimonies of all the prophets who have testified of the restitution of all things1 from the foundation of the world4 ,take away this1 and our highest1 and most exalted hopes are blighted2 we live like fools1 and die like dogs4 ,if the world is always suffered to continue as it is1 then is the hope of the righteous vain1 the promises of ,god fail1 ,satan triumphs1 and ,god's purposes are frustrated4 ,all the designs of ,god concerning this world and the work of creation1 were perfected in his mind before this world rolled into existence1 or e'er the morning stars sang together for joy4 ,when this world was formed1 ,god intended it as the final dwelling place of those bodies which should inhabit it4 ,and when the sons of ,god shouted for joy1 it was at the prospect of that exaltation1 that they would be capable of obtaining1 in consequence of this creation1 which they then saw come into existence4 ,and if1 as ,jesus1 they had to descend below all things1 in order that they might be raised above all things2 still this was the medium1 or channel1 through which they were to obtain their ultimate exaltation1 and glorification4 ,it was by the union of their spirits1 which came forth from the ,father as the ,father of ,spirits1 with earthly bodies1 that perfect beings were formed1 capable of continued increase and eternal exaltation2 that the spirit1 quick1 subtle1 refined1 lively1 animate1 energetic1 and eternal1 might have a body through which to operate1 that might be compared to the steam1 to an engine2 the electric fluid to the telegraphic wire2 for1 notwithstanding that spirit1 steam1 or electricity are the powerful1 quickening1 energetic principles1 employed2 yet without the engine1 the telegraphic wire1 or the matter1 they would be comparatively useless2 these elements might wander in empty space2 spend their force at random1 or remain dormant1 or useless1 without those more tangible1 material objects1 through which to exercise their force4 ,when steam was first applied to practical purposes2 when the operation of the magnetic needle1 and the mode of communication through the electric telegraph1 were discovered2 when railroads and steam boats were first invented1 something of importance was discovered1 and of great value to the human family4 ,the men who made these discoveries and applications are deservedly looked upon at the present time as men of great genius1 and as the benefactors of the world2 but what was it they did8 ,they did not create the elements1 those already existed3 steam1 magnetism1 electricity1 iron1 coals1 water1 existed before1 and had existed from the beginning of creation4 ,what was it these geniuses discovered8 ,it was simply a method of organizing this matter1 the making use of gross inanimate materials to confine the more subtle1 refined1 elastic1 energetic1 and powerful1 that their combined power and energy might be brought into effect2 and that through the union of two powerful agencies1 which had lain dormant1 their forces might be united1 and be brought into active and powerful operation4 ,thus1 then1 was the body formed as an agent for the spirit4 ,it was made of grosser materials than the spirit1 which proceeded from ,god1 but was necessary as an habitation for it that1 it might be clothed with a body1 perfect in its organization1 beautiful in its structure1 symmetrical in its proportions1 and in every way fit for an eternal intelligent being2 that through it1 it might speak1 act1 enjoy1 and develop its power1 its intelligence1 and perpetuate its species4 ,hence as the discoveries of those geniuses already referred to1 were hailed with pleasure by the inhabitants of the world1 on account of the benefits conferred upon men1 so when ,god created this earth1 and organized men upon it1 the morning stars sung together for joy2 they looked upon it as ,god looked upon it1 as a work perfect1 magnificent1 and glorious1 through which they saw their way to exaltation1 glory1 thrones1 principalities1 powers1 dominions1 and eternal felicity4 ,they had the intelligence before1 but now they saw a way through which to develop it4 ,through the world's great ,architect1 their ,father1 they discovered a plan fraught with intelligence and wisdom1 reaching from eternity to eternity1 pointing out a means whereby1 through obedience to celestial laws1 they might obtain the same power that he had4 ,and if1 in fallen humanity1 they might have to suffer for a while1 they saw a way back to ,god1 to eternal exaltations1 and to the multiplied1 and eternally increasing happiness of innumerable millions of beings4 ,and if1 as ,jesus1 they had to descend below all things1 it was that they might be raised above all things1 and take their position as sons of ,god1 in the eternal world2 that overcoming the world they might sit down with ,christ upon his throne1 as he overcame and sat down upon the ,father's throne4 ,rev4 iii4 #ba4 ,but again2 this creation is unlike the works of man1 which1 however excellent1 and useful1 all bear the marks of humanity1 all are more or less imperfect in their structure1 and liable to a thousand contingences1 are more or less clumsy1 cumbrous1 and unwieldy1 and must be governed by numerous very limited laws2 as for instance1 you can convey intelligence1 but it must be exactly on the line of the electric wire1 you cannot go beyond its limits2 you can make an engine work1 but it must be stationary2 or if moving1 must be confined to rails1 depth of water1 and a thousand other contingences4 ,none of these things possess intelligence1 nor the principles of life within themselves1 neither can they impart1 nor perpetuate it to others1 they are merely machines1 to be acted upon by man1 and without man they cease to exist2 when one is worn out1 or broken1 another must be made at the same toil and labour2 possessing not the principles of life1 they cannot impart their likeness2 whereas man1 beasts1 fish1 fowl1 and all the animate works of ,god can4 ,man's works in comparison with ,god's1 are like comparing a child's wooden horse to the beautiful creature ,god has made1 or rather his penny whistle to the music of heaven1 or the larger boy's billiards to the motions of the planetary system4 ,they possess no intelligence1 no powers1 no reflection1 no agency4 ,the works of man are merely made to be acted upon2 are short lived1 temporary1 perishable things4 ,man1 however1 bears the impress of ,jehovah1 is made after his image1 in his likeness1 and possesses the principles of intelligence within himself1 and the medium of conveying it to others4 ,he possesses also1 power to perpetuate his species1 as also to communicate his thoughts1 his intelligence1 genius1 and power to others1 that are formed like him4 ,he received his intelligence1 his spirit1 from ,god1 he is a part of himself1 ,a spark of ,deity ,struck from the fire of his eternal blaze2 he came from ,god as his son1 he bears the impress of ,jehovah1 even in his fallen degenerate corrupted state4 ,his powerful intellect1 his stately genius1 his grasping ambition1 his soaring1 and in many instances1 exalted hopes1 display1 though he be fallen1 the mark of greatness2 he bears the impress of ,deity and shows that he is of divine origin4 ,unlike the works of man1 the work of ,god in relation to this earth was destined to be eternal1 not subject to be controlled by any little contingences2 nor was it dependent upon fluctuation1 or change4 ,man's works might fluctuate1 change1 or be destroyed1 but not so with ,god's1 they were1 and are eternal2 eternal mind1 and eternal matter2 organized and created according to the unsearchable intelligence of that eternal unfathomable mind2 that fountain of intelligence1 forethought1 wisdom1 and energy1 that dwells with ,god4 ,and this earth1 and man in their destination1 and all the works of this creation1 are as unchangeable as the sun1 moon1 or stars1 and as unalterable as the throne of ,god4 ,satan may deceive men1 for a season2 their minds may be blinded by the god of this world1 but ,god's purposes will be unchanged4 ,who is ,satan8 ,a being powerful1 energetic1 deceptive1 insinuating2 and yet necessary to develop the evil1 as there are bitters1 to make us appreciate the sweet2 darkness1 to make us appreciate light2 evil and its sorrows1 that we may appreciate the good2 error that we may be enabled to appreciate truth2 misery1 in order that we may appreciate happiness4 ,and as there are in the works of creation opposing1 mineralogical substances which in chemical processes are necessary to develop certain properties of matter1 and produce certain effects2 as fire is necessary to purify silver1 gold1 and the precious metals1 so it is necessary to instruct1 and prepare man for his ultimate destiny--to test his virtue1 develop his folly1 exhibit his weakness and prove his incompetency without ,god to rule himself or the earth2 or to make himself happy or exalt himself in time1 or in eternity4 ,but again1 who is ,satan8 ,he is a being of ,god's own make1 under his control1 subject to his will1 cast out of ,heaven for rebellion2 and when his services can be dispensed with1 an angel will cast him into the bottomless pit4 ,can he fight against and overcome ,god8 ,verily1 ,no6 ,can he alter the designs of ,god8 ,verily1 ,no6 ,satan may rage2 but the ,lord can confine him within proper limits4 ,he may instigate rebellion against ,god1 but the ,lord can bind him in chains4 ,shall the purposes of the ,lord be frustrated8 ,verily1 ,no6 ,the nations of the earth may be drunken1 and rush against each other like inebriates2 but the ,lord's purposes are unchanged4 ,thrones may be cast down1 kingdoms depopulated2 and blood1 sword1 and famine may prevail1 yet the ,lord lives1 and will accomplish his own designs4 ,man may forget ,god1 but ,god does not forget man3 man may be ignorant of his calling1 but not so with ,god4 ,man may not reflect upon the designs of ,god1 in relation to this earth1 but ,god must and does2 and if in man's madness1 his infidelity1 his hypocrisy1 or his ignorance1 he cannot find time here to reflect upon these things1 he will find ample leisure hereafter1 and the purposes of ,god will roll on2 and perhaps when he shall be preached to1 as the rebellious ,antediluvians1 after receiving the punishment of his deeds1 he may know something more of the power1 justice1 and purposes of ,god1 and be glad to hear the ,gospel in prison which he rejected on this earth4 ,but to suppose that the purposes of ,god will be frustrated in relation to his designs in the formation of this earth1 is altogether folly4 ,they will roll on as steadily as the sun or moon in their courses4 ,and as surely as we look in the east for the rising of the sun in the morning to display his gorgeous glory1 light up the beauties of creation1 and waken sleepy man2 so surely will the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings1 so surely will the sleeping dead burst from their tombs1 and the glorified bodies with their spirits re-unite1 so surely will a reign of justice1 truth1 equity1 and happiness--the reign of ,god1 supersede the barbarous oppression1 and corrupt governments of this world1 so surely will that long night of darkness1 ignorance1 crime1 and error be superseded by the glorious day of righteousness2 and so surely will this earth become as the ,garden of the ,lord1 the kingdom and reign of ,god be established1 and the ,saints of the ,most ,high take the kingdom and possess it for ever and ever4 ,the time of the restitution of all things will be ushered in2 the earth resume its paradisiacal glory1 and the dead and the living ,saints possess the full fruition of those things for which they lived1 and suffered1 and died4 ,these are the hopes that the ancient ,saints enjoyed2 they possessed hopes that bloomed with immortality and eternal life2 hopes planted there by the ,spirit of ,god1 and conferred by the ministering of ,angels1 the visions of the ,almighty1 the opening of the ,heavens1 and the promises of ,god4 ,they lived and died in hopes of a better resurrection4 ,how different to the narrow1 conceited1 grovelling views of would-be philosophers1 of sickly religionists1 and dreaming philanthropists6 ,therefore1 as we have said1 anything short of this would render inutile the hopes of the ,saints2 would fail to accomplish the expectation of millions of spirits2 and cause ,satan to triumph1 and frustrate the designs of ,god4 ,this earth1 after wading through all the corruptions of men1 being cursed for his sake1 and not permitted to shed forth its full lustre and glory1 must yet take its proper place in ,god's creations2 be purified from that corruption under which it has groaned for ages1 and become a fit place for redeemed men1 angels1 and ,god to dwell upon4 ,the ,lord ,jesus will come and dispossess the usurper2 take possession of his own kingdom2 introduce a rule of righteousness2 and reign there with his ,saints1 who1 together with him1 are the rightful proprietors4 ,chapter ,x4 ------------------ ,will ,god's ,kingdom ,be a ,literal or a ,spiritual ,kingdom8 ,it would be almost unnecessary to answer such a question as the above1 were it not for the opinions that are entertained in the world concerning a purely spiritual kingdom1 particularly as in a preceding chapter ,i have clearly pointed out a literal kingdom1 rule1 and reign4 ,but ,i have introduced this merely to meet some questions that exist in the minds of many1 relative to a spiritual kingdom1 arising from certain remarks of our ,saviour's1 where he says1 ,my kingdom is not of this world2 and again1 the kingdom of heaven is not meat and drink1 but righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost2 and again1 the kingdom of ,god is within 7or among7 you4 ,the kingdom of ,god1 as ,i have already stated1 is the government of ,god1 whether in the heavens1 or on the earth4 ,hence ,jesus taught his disciples to pray1 ,thy kingdom come1 thy will be done on earth1 as it is done in heaven4 ,and when the kingdom of ,god is established on the earth1 and prevails universally1 then will the will of ,god be done on earth1 and not till then2 then will the reign of ,god exist on the earth1 as it now does in heaven4 ,it is this reign we are speaking of1 a reign of righteousness4 ,but whenever ,god's laws are established1 or his kingdom is organized1 and officers selected1 and men yield obedience to the laws of the kingdom of ,god2 to such an extent does ,god's kingdom prevail4 ,john preached the kingdom of ,god1 or1 heaven nigh at hand4 ,jesus said1 the kingdom of heaven is within you4 ,jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a husbandman who sowed wheat1 and when he went to his field1 he found tares also4 ,matt4 xiii4 ,now what was this field8 ,the field was the world1 or in other words1 ,god's rightful possession1 where he ought to govern2 the good seed are the children of the kingdom1 or those who receive and obey the laws of the kingdom of heaven4 ,the tares are the children of the wicked one2 or those who rebel against ,god and his laws4 ,the tares are to be gathered out of his kingdom1 and burned2 and then are the righteous to shine as the sun in the kingdom of their ,father4 ,again1 the kingdom of ,heaven is likened unto a treasure that a man found in a field1 and sold all his possessions1 in order that he might possess himself of that field and treasure2 and a pearl of great price1 for which a man did likewise2 thus ,abraham1 ,noah1 ,lot1 ,moses1 and many of the ,prophets purchased this treasure at the sacrifice of all things4 ,and why8 ,they discovered the pearl1 the treasure1 and had respect unto the recompense of reward2 enduring as seeing him who is invisible4 ,and what was it all for8 ,for the purpose of obtaining present blessings1 earthly enjoyments1 the pleasures of sense8 ,no6 they all died in faith not having received the promises2 but having seen them afar off2 they knew of the treasure1 and sold all for it2 they looked for a city which hath foundations1 whose builder and maker is ,god4 ,wherefore it is said1 ,god is not ashamed to be called their ,god1 for he hath prepared for them a city4 ,they looked for a reign of righteousness--the government of ,god--they were inspired with the same hope as that of all the ,prophets who had prophesied since the world begun1 viz41 the hope of the restitution of all things4 ,john the ,baptist1 and ,jesus would have introduced the kingdom2 but the people would not have it2 still1 as the apostle ,john says1 to as many as did believe1 to them gave he power to become the ,sons of ,god1 even to them that believe on his name4 ,john i4 #ab4 ,they became sons of ,god4 ,yes1 say some spiritually1 and ,i say literally too4 ,they made a literal covenant with ,god to keep his laws2 they were administered to literally by officers of the kingdom of ,god2 they believed literally2 were baptised literally1 and received the gift of the ,holy ,ghost literally2 and became literally the servants or sons of ,god4 ,but what was their hope8 ,was it in this world8 ,yes1 but not at the present4 ,they expected the promise of ,jesus to be fulfilled to them3 ,blessed are the meek1 for they shall inherit the earth4 ,and they looked1 with ,peter1 and all the ancient ,saints1 for a new ,heaven and a new ,earth1 wherein dwelleth righteousness4 ,they looked with ,paul1 and the ,saints to whom he wrote1 for a kingdom1 not ariel or visionary1 but one which hath foundations1 whose builder and maker is ,god4 ,the world1 as we have before stated1 although it belongs to ,god1 has never been under his control4 ,his vineyard has brought forth briars and thorns2 tares have been sown in his field2 but there has been some wheat1 and that wheat represents the children of the kingdom1 who have kept his laws and observed his ordinances2 and wheresoever the laws of his kingdom have been observed1 in the same proportion has his kingdom prevailed4 ,christ1 therefore1 organized his kingdom with ,apostles1 ,prophets1 ,pastors1 ,teachers1 ,evangelists1 etc42 officers and administrators of his laws1 which laws were given by the ,lord2 they baptized for the remission of sins1 laid on hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 and introduced members into the kingdom of ,god on earth1 and as they were empowered to bind on earth1 and in heaven1 to seal on earth1 and in heaven1 these persons1 not only became members of the ,church here1 but also of the kingdom of heaven1 and participators in all its blessings here and hereafter4 ,they were now ,sons of ,god2 but it did not fully appear yet what they should be1 only they should be like him4 ,if he conquered death1 so should they2 if he overcame1 so should they2 if he sat down upon his ,father's throne1 he would give to them that overcame1 power to sit down upon his throne1 as he overcame and sat down upon his ,father's throne4 ,and if ,jesus comes to reign on the earth1 he will also bring his ,saints with him1 and they shall live and reign with him4 ,these things are spiritual1 but they are literal2 they are temporal1 but they are also spiritual and eternal4 ,hence with ,god all things are temporal2 all things are spiritual2 and all things are eternal4 ,these are only our phrases to specify certain ideas1 which ideas in themselves are very often incorrect3 we have bodies and spirits1 but it takes both to be a perfect man4 ,we talk about time and eternity1--what is time8 ,a portion of eternity2 eternity was1 before time was1 and will continue to exist when time shall be no more4 ,spiritual and temporal things are only so1 as we form ideas of them4 ,what is our body8--temporal1 material8 ,yes1 matter2 but the matter of which it is made is eternal1 and it will yet be spiritual like unto ,christ's glorious body4 ,what is our spirit8--material1 spiritual and eternal also8 ,but more subtle and elastic than our corporeal bodies4 ,having said so much on this subject1 we now come to some of our questions4 ,the kingdom of ,heaven is not meat and drink1 but righteousness1 and peace1 and joy1 in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,what are we to understand by this8 that righteousness composes a kingdom8 ,righteousness is an attribute1 a principle1 a state of being1 not a government2 peace and joy are the result of this attribute4 ,god is righteous1 and consequently righteousness flows from him4 ,there may be also a righteous man2 but we do not say that ,god is a kingdom1 or that a righteous man is a kingdom1 but that the kingdom of ,god is a righteous kingdom4 ,you can say a righteous kingdom1 a kingdom of righteousness2 but you cannot say righteousness is a kingdom4 ,a kingdom may be governed by righteous laws2 its laws may be righteous1 its administrators righteous1 its people righteous2 but to say righteousness is a kingdom1 is nonsense4 ,the kingdom of ,god is a righteous kingdom2 it is made up of higher enjoyments than eating and drinking2 it is more refined and elevated2 it is a kingdom of holiness1 virtue1 purity2 of righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost1--principles that exist in part now1 as far as the kingdom extends4 ,when the kingdom of ,god is universal1 it will1 like the kingdom in the heavens1 be all righteousness1 peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost2 yet1 it will have its laws1 officers1 and administrators1 and will be a literal1 tangible thing4 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord shall be poured upon all flesh2 the will of ,god will be done on earth as it is in heaven1 and the joy and peace which result from righteousness1 will be experienced by all the world4 ,what did ,jesus mean1 then1 when he said1 ,the kingdom of ,heaven is within you1 or among you 7marginal reading47 ,luke xvii4 #bj1 #ba4 ,there certainly must be some mistake here1 for ,jesus was speaking to ,pharisees1 whom he had denounced as corrupt men1 hypocrites1 whited walls1 painted sepulchres1 etc4 ,now1 who will say they had the kingdom of ,god within them8 ,the kingdom of ,god was among them4 ,and it did not come with observation1 nor with ostentation or pomp2 they might have seen it1 but their eyes were blinded1 that they could not see2 their ears were stopped that they could not hear4 ,many of us suppose that if we had lived in their day1 we should have recognized it among the miracles1 signs1 and powers that were manifested by him4 ,but ,jesus said1 ,my sheep hear my voice1 and know me1 and follow me1 but others do not4 ,if any man do his will1 says ,jesus1 he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of ,god1 or whether ,i speak of myself4 ,john vii4 #ag4 ,but if they do not1 what then8 ,they have eyes1 but see not2 ears1 but hear not4 ,the ,god of this world blinds their eyes1 lest the light of the gospel should shine in upon them4 ,jesus says1 ,except a man be born again2 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 ,and except he is born of water and the spirit1 he cannot enter into it4 ,john iii4 #c and #e4 ,it therefore cometh not with observation2 the ,scriptures are clear on the point1 and show to the last that when ,god's kingdom shall be more fully established on the earth1 the inhabitants of the earth will be as ignorant of it as the ,jews were1 that ,jesus was the ,messiah2 for the nations of the earth1 with their kings1 will yet be gathered together against the people of the ,lord1 to battle1 when the ,lord himself will go and fight against them1 and there will be one of the most terrible slaughters that ever took place on the earth4 ,it cometh not with observation4 ,it is a righteous kingdom1 and righteous men can see it1 and appreciate it1 and those only4 ,i have demonstrated1 in a preceding chapter1 to which ,i refer my readers1 more fully on this subject1 that the kingdom of ,god would be literally established on the earth2 it will not be an ariel phantom1 according to some visionaries1 but a substantial reality4 ,it will be established1 as before said1 on a literal earth1 and will be composed of literal men1 women1 and children2 of living saints who keep the commandments of ,god1 and of resurrected bodies who shall actually come out of their graves1 and live on the earth4 ,the ,lord will be king over all the earth1 and all mankind literally under his sovereignty1 and every nation under the heavens will have to acknowledge his authority1 and bow to his sceptre4 ,those who serve him in righteousness will have communications with ,god1 and with ,jesus2 will have the ministering of ,angels1 and will know the past1 the present1 and the future2 and other people1 who may not yield full obedience to his laws1 nor be fully instructed in his covenants1 will1 nevertheless1 have to yield full obedience to his government4 ,for it will be the reign of ,god upon the earth1 and he will enforce his laws1 and command that obedience from the nations of the world which is legitimately his right4 ,satan will not then be permitted to control its inhabitants1 for the ,lord ,god will be king over all the earth1 and the kingdom and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven will be given to the saints4 ,this may properly be called the day of reckoning1 the time when the world's accounts will be settled2 when things that have been going wrong for ages1 will be put right2 when injustice and misrule will no more be permitted2 when the usurper shall be cast out2 when the rightful heir shall possess the kingdom2 when unrighteousness will be banished1 and justice and judgement bear sway2 when the wicked shall be rooted out of the earth1 and the saints possess it2 when ,god's designs shall be accomplished on the earth1 and men resume their proper position4 ,it is the fulfilment of the promises of the ,lord to his people1 or in scriptural words1 ,the dispensation of the fulness of times1 when ,god will gather together all things in one4 ,satan has had his dominion1 and has deceived1 corrupted1 and cursed the human family2 but then his dominion will be destroyed1 and he will be cast into the bottomless pit2 men will no longer be under the influence of his spirit1 be decoyed by his wiles1 or imposed upon by his deceptions4 ,religion1 and the fear of ,god1 will no longer be painted in dismal colours1 or be dressed in the sable drapery of sanctimonious priests1 or sacerdotal gloom2 nor yet in the forbidding costumes of hermits1 monks1 and nuns4 ,but1 stript of all this religious masquerade1 and superstitious mummery1 the fear of ,god1 and the observance of his laws1 will be looked upon in their proper light4 ,god will be seen1 feared1 and worshipped as our ,father1 ,friend1 and ,benefactor2 his laws will be kept as being those framed by infinite wisdom1 and the most conducive to the happiness of the human family4 ,virtue1 truth1 and righteousness1 will appear in their native loveliness1 beauty1 simplicity1 glory1 and magnificence1 for ,god alone will be exalted in that day4 ,chapter ,,xi4 ------------------ ,the ,establishment of the ,kingdom of ,god upon the ,earth4 ,how will the kingdom of ,god be established8 ,we have already shown very clearly1 that none of the means which are now used among men are commensurate with the object designed1 and that all the combined wisdom of man must1 and will fail1 in the accomplishment of this object2 that the present forms of political and religious rule cannot effect it2 that philosophy is quite as impotent2 and that as these have all failed for ages1 as a natural consequence they must continue to fail4 ,we have portrayed the world broken1 corrupted1 fallen1 degraded and ruined2 and shown that nothing but a world's ,god can put it right4 ,the question is1 what course will ,god take for the accomplishment of this thing8 and as this is a matter that requires more than human reason1 and as we are left entirely to ,revelation1 either past1 present1 or to come1 it is to this only that we can apply4 ,we will enquire1 therefore1 what the ,scriptures say on this subject4 ,it is called the kingdom of ,god1 or the kingdom of heaven4 ,if1 therefore1 it is the kingdom of heaven1 it must receive its laws1 organization1 and government1 from heaven2 for if they were earthly1 then would they be like those on the earth4 ,the kingdom of heaven must therefore be the government1 and laws of heaven1 on the earth4 ,if the government and laws of heaven are known and observed on the earth1 they must be communicated1 or revealed from the heavens to the earth4 ,these things are plain and evident1 if we are to have any kingdom of heaven1 for it is very clear1 that if it is not ,god's rule1 it cannot be his government1 and it is as evident that if it is not revealed from heaven it cannot be the kingdom of heaven4 ,that such a kingdom will be set up is evident from the following1 ,and in the days of these kings shall the ,god of ,heaven set up a kingdom1 which shall never be destroyed1 and the kingdom shall not be left to other people4 ,dan4 ii4 #dd2 and again1 ,i saw in the night visions1 and behold one like the ,son of man came with the clouds of ,heaven1 and came to the ,ancient of ,days2 and they brought him near before him4 ,and there was given him dominion1 and glory1 and a kingdom that all people1 nations1 and languages1 should serve him2 his dominion is an everlasting dominion1 which shall not pass away2 and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed4 ,dan4 vii #ac1 #ad4 ,from the above we learn two things3 ,first--that ,god will set up a kingdom which shall be universal2 and1 that that kingdom shall not be given into the hands of other people2 and secondly--that the ,saints of ,god shall take possession of that kingdom4 ,the ,angel which announced to ,mary the birth of ,jesus said1 ,he shall be great1 and shall be called the ,son of the ,highest2 and the ,lord ,god shall give unto him the throne of his ,father ,david2 and he shall reign over the house of ,jacob for ever1 and of his kingdom there shall be no end4 ,luke i4 #cb1 #cc4 ,it may not be improper here to notice an opinion that has very generally prevailed throughout the ,christian world1 that ,christ's kingdom was a spiritual kingdom2 that it was set up at the time our ,saviour was upon the earth2 and that ,christianity as it now exists1 is that kingdom4 ,after what ,i have already written on the subject of a literal reign and kingdom1 this would seem superfluous2 but as this opinion is almost universal in the ,christian world1 my readers must excuse me1 if1 in this instance1 ,i digress a little4 ,several writers in the ,catholic church1 as well as the ,rev4 ,david ,simpson1 ,m4 ,a41 ,bishop ,burnett1 the ,rev4 ,john ,wesley1 and many others among the ,protestants1 have advocated the above opinion4 ,the substance of their ideas is as follows3 that ,daniel1 by the figure of an image of gold1 silver1 brass1 iron1 clay1 in chap4 ii4--and by the figures of the four beasts1 in chap1 vii41 represented a spiritual kingdom2 that this kingdom was set up in the days of the ,saviour1 and his disciples2 that ,christianity1 as it now exists1 is that kingdom1 and that it will become universal over all the earth4 ,they state that the four great empires1 the ,babylonian1 ,persian1 ,grecian1 and ,roman1 are represented by the head1 breast1 belly1 and legs of the ,image1 and by the four ,beasts1 in chapter vii2 and that the kingdom of ,god was to be set up under the dominion of the fourth1 which1 as they correctly state1 was the ,roman4 ,they state1 moreover1 that the declaration and prophecy of the ,angel to ,mary1 above quoted1 were also fulfilled in the first coming of the ,messiah2 in his preaching1 in his gospel1 and in the organizing of the church1 etc4 ,many other passages are made to bear the same signification1 which it would be foreign from my present purpose to notice4 ,i have referred to the above1 as some of the most prominent4 ,now1 with all deference to the gentlemen who have written on this subject 7and education1 respectability1 and talent1 entitle their opinions to some respect7 ,i must beg leave to differ from them1 and consider1 that in trying to support a favorite dogma1 they have been led into error2 for it seems to me that nothing can be more foreign to the meaning of these scriptures than the above interpretation4 ,now concerning the four great monarchies being represented as above1 ,i consider it is perfectly correct2 but to state that the kingdom was to be set up under the fourth monarchy1 or under the dominion of the fourth beast1 is stretching the thing too far2 and putting a construction upon it which it evidently will not bear4 ,the text reads1 in the days of those kings shall the ,god of ,heaven set up a kingdom4 ,the question is1 ,what kings8 ,i am answered1 during the reign of one of the four2 and that as ,christ came during the reign1 and dominion of the ,roman empire1 it evidently refers to that4 ,but let me again ask a question1 ,under the reign of what kings was this kingdom to be set up8 ,under the reign of the fourth8 ,verily1 ,no4 ,let ,daniel speak for himself4 ,after describing the fourth kingdom1 which was the ,roman1 which is compared to iron1 and which in the ,image was represented by the legs1 he then refers to other kingdoms and powers1 as being compared to iron and clay4 ,there were also feet and toes1 as well as a body1 which were compared to powers or kings4 ,this is clearly exemplified in the seventh chapter of ,daniel1 for after speaking of the four kings1 he describes ten horns1 of which the ten toes in the ,image above referred to1 are typical4 ,those ten horns1 he says1 are ten kings4 ,it was1 then1 in the days of those kings1 or while those kingdoms should be in existence1 that the ,god of ,heaven should set up a kingdom2 and not during the power of the fourth kingdom2 to which1 with any degree of truthfulness1 the figure could not apply in either case4 ,but again1 it could not apply to the first coming of our ,saviour for the following reasons3-- ,first4--,the stone hewn out of the mountain without hands was to smite the ,image on the toes2 whereas1 according to the interpretation of the divines before referred to1 the toes were not yet in existence1 for they state that this kingdom was set up during the fourth monarchy1 which was the ,roman1 and which is represented in the legs of the ,image4 ,now1 as the powers composing the feet and toes were not yet formed1 how could the little stone smite that which was not in existence8 ,for it will be observed that after the whole ,image was made1 the stone was hewn out of the mountains without hands which smote it4 ,secondly4--,when this kingdom is set up1 it is stated it shall not be left to other people2 but we are told in ,dan4 vii4 chap41 that after the fourth monarchy which was the time1 according to the aforesaid interpretation1 for the setting up of the kingdom of ,god1 a certain horn1 or king1 should make war with the ,saints1 and prevail against them2 and that he should think to change times and laws--and that they should be given into his hand4 ,nothing can be more obvious than this2 for this power1 after the first coming of the ,messiah1 not only thinks to change times and laws1 but they are actually given into his hand1 which will not be the case1 when the kingdom above referred to is set up4 ,thirdly4--,when the kingdom of ,god was to be set up1 it was to be given to the ,saints of the ,most ,high2 and all nations1 kindreds1 people1 and tongues1 were to obey the ,lord1 which has not taken place1 and never can under the present state of things4 ,fourthly4--,there is no more similarity between ,christianity1 as it now exists1 with all its superstitions1 corruptions1 jargons1 contentions1 divisions1 weakness1 and imbecility1 and this ,,kingdom ,,of ,,god1 as spoken of in the ,scriptures1 than there is between light and darkness2 and it would no more compare with things to come1 than an orange would compare with the earth1 or a taper with the glorious luminary of day4 ,fifthly4--,the kingdom of ,god1 as spoken of by ,daniel1 was to become universal1 which ,christianity has not1 and cannot1 as it now exists4 ,sixthly4--,the ,angel's testimony to ,mary has not yet been fulfilled4 ,it is stated1 that ,the ,lord shall give unto him the throne of his father ,david1 and he shall reign over the ,house of ,jacob for ever1 and of his kingdom there shall be no end2 whereas he did not sit upon ,david's throne1 nor does he now2 he did not reign over the house of ,jacob1 nor does he now1 for the ten tribes are yet outcasts2 the house of ,judah is scattered and without a king1 and ,jesus himself1 when asked to divide an inheritance1 demanded1 ,who made me a ruler or king4 ,he1 indeed was a king2 but in his humiliation his judgement was taken away4 ,from the whole of the above it is very evident that the kingdom1 of which these divines speak1 was not1 and could not be the one referred to by ,daniel1 or by the angel to ,mary2 as we have before stated1 it was a literal kingdom1 and not a spiritual one only4 ,i would further remark here1 that a certain power was to make war with the ,saints1 and to prevail against them until the ,ancient of ,days came2 and then1 and not till then1 was judgement given to the ,saints of the ,most ,high4 ,we will now return from our digression1 and after stating that the kingdom of ,god is a literal kingdom2 that it will be great1 powerful1 glorious1 and universal1 and that it will extend from sea to sea1 and from the rivers unto the ends of the earth2 that all kingdoms will be in subjection to it1 and all powers obey it1 we will proceed to examine how it will be established4 ,it is compared to a small stone hewn out of the mountain without hands1 and yet the ,god of ,heaven is to set up this kingdom4 ,isaiah1 in his eleventh chapter1 to which ,i refer my readers1 in speaking of the establishment of this kingdom1 says1 ,in that day there shall be a root of ,jesse1 which shall stand for an ensign of the people2 to it shall the ,gentiles seek1 and his rest shall be glorious4 ,and it shall come to pass in that day1 that the ,lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people1 which shall be left1 from ,assyria1 and from ,egypt1 and from ,pathros1 and from ,cush1 and from ,elam1 and from ,shinar1 and from ,hamath1 and from the islands of the sea4 ,and he shall set up an ensign for the nations1 and shall assemble the outcasts of ,israel1 and gather together the dispersed of ,judah from the four corners of the earth4 #aj-ab4 ,from the above it would seem1 that an ensign or standard is to be raised to the nations2 that the ,gentiles shall seek to it2 and that the ten tribes return1 as well as the ,jews to their land2 that the dispersed of ,judah1 and the outcasts of ,israel are to return4 ,now1 a standard1 or ensign1 is a nation's colours1 flag1 or rallying point2 it is one of those appendages to a kingdom that is always respected by its inhabitants4 ,it is used in a variety of ways1 and for different purposes2 sometimes by the emperor1 king1 governor1 or general1 to signify his presence2 sometimes by vessels to specify their nation2 and sometimes by estates1 cities1 corporations1 or clubs3 and always by armies and navies1 to represent whom they belong to4 ,if a king had a proclamation to make1 and wished to rally his subjects1 or try their fidelity1 he might send a flag1 or standard1 and all that rallied to it would be considered his liege subjects4 ,but here the ,god of ,heaven sets up a standard4 ,the world1 as we have before stated1 is his2 it is his right to possess it4 ,satan has held the dominion for some time1 and the ,lord now comes to dispossess him1 to take possession of his rightful inheritance1 and to rule his own kingdom4 ,in order to do this1 he issues his mandate1 makes a proclamation1 lifts up a standard1 and invites all to join it4 ,those who do may be considered as his servants1 as the citizens of his kingdom2 those who do not1 as being in opposition to him1 his government1 and laws4 ,as the ,father of the human family1 as the prince and king1 he lifts up an ensign1 and calls the world's attention4 ,now the only rational way for the ,lord to accomplish this1 is to form a communication with man1 and to make him acquainted with his laws4 ,we cannot conceive of him thundering from the heavens and terrifying the inhabitants of the earth1 nor yet sending angels with flaming swords to coerce obedience4 ,this would be using physical power to control the mind2 but as man is a free agent1 he uses other means to act upon his mind1 his judgement1 and his will2 and by the beauty and loveliness of virtue1 purity1 holiness1 and the fear of ,god1 to captivate his feelings1 control his judgement1 and influence him to render that obedience to ,god which is justly his due2 not until these means fail1 will others be exercised4 ,as the world are ignorant of ,god and his laws1 not having had any communication with him for eighteen hundred years2 and as all those great and important events must transpire1 and as the ,lord says he will do nothing but what he reveals to his servants the ,prophets1 it follows1 that there must be revelations made from ,god2 and if so1 as a necessary consequence1 there must be prophets to reveal them to4 ,how did ,god ever reveal his will1 and purposes to ,enoch1 ,noah1 ,abraham1 ,moses1 the ,prophets1 ,jesus1 and his ,disciples1 and they to the people8 ,god's messengers made known his will1 and the people obeyed1 or rejected it4 ,if they were punished by floods1 fire1 plagues1 pestilence1 dispersions1 death1 etc41 it was in consequence of their disobedience4 ,as ,god has dealt in former times1 so will he in the latter1 with this difference1 that he will accomplish his purposes in the last days2 he will set up his kingdom2 he will protect the righteous1 destroy ,satan1 and his works1 purge the earth from wickedness1 and bring in the restitution of all things4 ,the above1 while it is the only rational way1 is evidently the only just1 and scriptural way4 ,some people talk about the world being burned up1 about plagues1 pestilence1 famine1 sword1 and ruin1 and all these things being instantaneous4 ,now it would not be just for the ,lord to punish the inhabitants of the earth without warning4 ,for if the world are ignorant of ,god1 they cannot altogether be blamed for it2 if they are made the dupes of false systems1 and false principles1 they cannot help it2 many of them are doing as well as they can while1 as we have before stated1 it would be unjust for the world to continue as it is4 ,it would at the same time be as unjust to punish the inhabitants of the world for things that they are ignorant of1 or for things over which they have no control4 ,before the ,lord destroyed the inhabitants of the old world1 he sent ,enoch and ,noah to warn them4 ,before the ,lord destroyed ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 he sent ,lot into their midst4 ,before the ,children of ,israel were carried captive to ,babylon1 they were warned of it by the ,prophets2 and before ,jerusalem was destroyed1 the inhabitants had the testimony of our ,lord1 and his ,disciples4 ,and so will it be in the last days2 and as it is the world that is concerned1 the world will have to be warned4 ,we will therefore proceed to examine the scriptural testimony on this subject4 ,john says in the ,revelations1 ,and ,i saw another angel fly in the midst of ,heaven1 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them1 that dwell on the earth2 and to every nation1 and kindred1 tongue1 and people1 saying with a loud voice1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him1 for the hour of his judgement is come1 and worship him that made heaven and earth1 the sea1 and the fountains of waters4 ,and there followed another angel1 saying1 ,bahylon the great is fallen4 xiv4 #f-h4 ,here1 then1 a light bursts forth from the heavens2 a celestial messenger is deputed to convey to men tidings of salvation2 the everlasting gospel is again to be proclaimed to the children of men2 ,the proclamation is to be made to every nation1 kindred1 people1 and tongue4 ,associated with this1 was to be another declaration1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him1 for the hour of his judgement is come4 ,thus1 all were to have a fair warning1 and afterwards ,babylon falls--not before4 ,from the above it is evident1 that the everlasting gospel will be restored1 accompanied with a warning to the world4 ,now1 if the everlasting gospel is restored1 there must be the same principles1 laws1 officers1 or administrators1 and ordinances4 ,if1 before1 they had ,apostles1 they will again have them2 the same laws and ordinances will be introduced1 and the same method for receiving members into the kingdom4 ,they will also have ,prophets1 ,pastors1 ,teachers1 and ,evangelists4 ,if they baptised by immersion for the remission of sins1 and laid on hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 they will again do the same things4 ,if the gift of the ,holy ,ghost formerly brought things past to the saints' remembrance1 led them into all truth1 and showed them things to come1 it will do the same again1 for it is the everlasting gospel4 ,if formerly it caused men to dream dreams1 and to see visions1 it will do the same again2 if to one was given the gift of tongues1 to another the gift of healing1 to another power to work miracles1 to another the gift of wisdom1 the same will exist in latter days1 for it is the everlasting gospel which is to be restored4 ,if it put men in possession of a knowledge of ,god1 and of his purposes1 and brought life and immortality to light in former days1 it will do the same again4 ,if it dispelled the clouds of darkness1 unveiled the heavens1 put men in possession of certainty1 and gave them a hope that bloomed with immortality and eternal life1 it will do the same again4 ,if it caused men to know the object of their creation1 their relationship to ,god1 their position on the earth1 and their final exaltation and glory1 it will do the same again1 for it is the everlasting ,gospel4 ,in short1 it is the will of ,god to man1 the government of ,god among men1 and a portion of that light1 glory and intelligence1 which exist with ,god and angels1 communicated to mortals1 and obtained through obedience to his laws and ordinances4 ,if the ,gospel formerly was to be proclaimed to all nations1 so it is now1 with this difference associated with it1 there is to be a cry1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him1 for the hour of ,his judgement is come4 ,from this1 then1 we may expect a proclamation to be made to all people2 messengers to go forth to every nation1 and the same principles which once existed to be again restored in all their fulness1 power1 glory1 and blessings4 ,the above is the way pointed out in the ,scriptures1 and is the only just and rational way to deal with rational1 intelligent beings2 for intelligence must be appealed to by intelligence1 and it would be unjust to punish the world indiscriminately1 without first appealing to their reason1 judgement1 and intelligence4 ,but not only will the everlasting ,gospel be again restored1 and be preached in its fulness as formerly1 and go as a messenger to all the world2 not only will there be a spiritual kingdom and organization2 but there will also be a literal kingdom1 a nation1 or nations1 a ,zion1 and the people will gather to that4 ,we will here insert a prophecy of ,david on this subject3 ,but thou1 ,o ,lord1 shalt endure for ever2 and thy remembrance unto all generations4 ,thou shalt arise1 and have mercy upon ,zion3 for the time to favor her1 yea1 the set time1 is come4 ,for thy servants take pleasure in her stones1 and favor the dust thereof4 ,so the heathen shall fear the name of the ,lord1 and all the kings of the earth thy glory4 ,when the ,lord shall build up ,zion1 he shall appear in his glory4 ,he will regard the prayer of the destitute1 and not despise their prayer4 ,this shall be written for the generation to come3 and the people which shall be created shall praise the ,lord4 ,for he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary2 from heaven did the ,lord behold the earth2 to hear the groaning of the prisoner2 to loose those that are appointed to death2 to declare the name of the ,lord in ,zion1 and his praise in ,jerusalem2 when the people are gathered together1 and the kingdoms to serve the ,lord4 ,psalm cii4 #ab-bb4 ,here we find1 ,first1 that a literal ,zion is to be built up2 ,secondly1 that when that ,zion is built up1 the ,lord will come--will appear in his glory2 ,thirdly1 that it is something which concerns the nations of the earth1 and the whole world1 for there shall the people be gathered together1 and the kingdoms to serve the ,lord4 ,it may be proper here to remark1 that there will be two places of gathering1 or ,zions2 the one in ,jerusalem1 the other in another place2 the one is a place where the ,jews will gather to1 and the other a mixed multitude of all nations4 ,concerning the house of ,israel1 ,jeremiah says1 ,therefore1 behold1 the days come1 saith the ,lord1 that it shall no more be said1 ,the ,lord liveth1 that brought up the children of ,israel out of the land of ,egypt2 but1 the ,lord liveth1 that brought up the children of ,israel from the land of the north1 and from all the lands whither he had driven them3 and ,i will bring them again into their land that ,i gave unto their fathers1 xvi4 #ad1 #ae4 ,according to this passage1 and many others1 there will evidently be a great display of the power of ,god manifested towards the house of ,israel in their restitution to their former habitations4 ,another ,scripture says1 that ,jerusalem shall be inhabited in her own place1 even in ,jerusalem4 ,here ,i would remark1 that there was a ,zion formerly in ,jerusalem2 but there is also another spoken of in the ,scriptures4 ,hence1 in the passage which we quoted from the ,psalms1 the ,kingdoms are to be gathered together in ,zion1 and the people to serve the ,lord2 and not only the ,jews1 but the ,heathens are to fear the name of the ,lord1 and all the kings of the earth his glory4 ,the law is to issue from ,zion1 and the word of the ,lord from ,jerusalem4 ,again--,the ,lord ,god that gathereth the outcasts of ,israel1 says1 yet will ,i gather others unto me besides these4 ,it is very evident from these passages that there are two places of gathering1 as well as from many others that might be quoted4 ,for example1 ,joel1 in speaking of the troubles of the last days1 says1 ,there shall in the last days be deliverance in ,mount ,zion1 and in ,jerusalem4 ,now1 he never could say with propriety in ,mount ,zion1 and in ,jerusalem1 if these were not two places4 ,the ancient ,zion was in ,jerusalem4 ,it would not be proper to say in ,london1 and in ,london2 but you could say in ,london and in ,edinburgh1 in ,new ,york and in ,philadelphia1 in ,frankfort and in ,brussels2 and so you can say in ,zion and in ,jerusalem4 ,but again1 the ,jews are to be gathered to ,jerusalem in unbelief1 as spoken of in ,zechariah2 and when the ,messiah appears among them1 being ignorant of ,jesus1 they shall ask1 ,what are these wounds in thy hands8 ,then he shall answer1 ,those with which ,i was wounded in the house of my friends4 xiii4 #f4 ,and then a fountain shall be opened for the house of ,david1 and the inhabitants of ,jerusalem1 and they will enter into the covenant by baptism1 xiii4 #a4 ,but the people of ,zion the ,lord will take them one of a city1 and two of a family1 and bring them there1 and give them pastors after his own heart1 that shall feed them with knowledge and understanding4 ,jer4 iii4 #ad1 #ae4 ,the people there are to be all righteous4 ,it is the last ,zion that we wish more particularly to speak of at present1 as associated with the kingdom of ,god2 and1 as we are now searching out the manner in which the kingdom of ,god will be established1 it is to us a matter of great importance4 ,there are very great judgements spoken of in the last days1 as the consequence of man's departure from ,god2 these we have already referred to in part2 but as we have mentioned1 the ,gospel must again be preached as a warning unto all nations1 and accompanied with it is to be a proclamation1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him1 for the hour of his judgement is come4 ,rev4 xiv4 #g4 ,but the people would very reasonably be heard to enquire1 what can we do8 ,what hope have we8 ,if war comes1 we cannot either prevent or avoid it4 ,if plague stalks through the earth1 what guarantee have we of deliverance4 ,you say you have come as messengers of mercy to us1 and as the messengers of the nations4 ,what shall we do8 ,let ,isaiah answer3 he has told the tale of war1 and defined the remedy4 ,this shall be the answer of the messenger of the nations1 that the ,lord hath founded ,zion1 and the poor of his people shall trust in it4 xiv4 #cb4 ,yes1 says ,joel1 when this great and terrible day of the ,lord comes1 there shall be deliverance in ,mount ,zion1 and in ,jerusalem1 as the ,lord hath said1 and in the remnant whom the ,lord shall call4 ii4 #cb4 ,yes1 says ,jeremiah1 ,he will take them one of a city1 and two of a family1 and bring them to ,zion1 and give them pastors after his own heart1 that shall feed them with knowledge and understanding1 iii4 #ad1 #ae4 ,the proclamation to the world will be the means of establishing this ,zion1 by gathering together multitudes of people from among all nations4 ,for there are multitudes among all nations who are sincerely desirous to do the will of ,god1 when they are made acquainted with it2 but having been cajoled with priestcraft and abominations so long1 they know not which course to steer1 and are jealous of almost everything4 ,as it was formerly1 so will it be in the latter times4 ,jesus said1 ,my sheep hear my voice1 and know me1 and follow me1 and a stranger they will not follow1 for they know not the voice of strangers4 ,those who love truth1 and desire to be governed by it1 will embrace it1 and enter into the covenant which the ,lord will make with his people in the last days1 and be gathered with them2 they will be taught of the ,lord in ,zion1 will form his kingdom on the earth1 and will be prepared for the ,lord when he comes to take possession of his kingdom4 ,for when the ,lord shall build up ,zion1 he shall appear in his glory1 and not before4 ,but if ,zion is never built up1 the ,lord never will come1 for he must have a people1 and a place to come to4 ,the prophets hailed this day with pleasure1 as the ushering in of those glorious times1 which were to follow4 ,micah says1 ,but in the last days it shall come to pass1 that the mountain of the house of the ,lord shall be established in the top of the mountains1 and it shall be exalted above the hills2 and people shall flow unto it4 ,and many nations shall come1 and say1 ,come1 and let us go up to the mountain of the ,lord1 and to the house of the ,god of ,jacob2 and he will teach us of his ways1 and we will walk in his paths2 for the law shall go forth of ,zion1 and the word of the ,lord from ,jerusalem4 iv4 #a1 #b4 ,isaiah with rapture gazed upon the scene1 and in ecstacy cried out1 ,who are these that fly as a cloud1 and as the doves to their windows8 ,surely the isles shall wait for me1 and the ships of ,tarshish first1 to bring thy sons from afar1 their silver and their gold with them1 unto the name of the ,lord thy ,god1 and to the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 because he hath glorified thee4 ,and the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls1 and their kings shall minister unto thee4 lx4 #h-aj4 ,you will find by reading the #adth verse1 that this place is to be called ,the ,city of the ,lord2 the ,zion of the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ,here then we find1 that the ,lord will have a house built2 that it shall be upon the tops of the mountains1 and be exalted above the hills2 that many nations shall go there1 to learn the will of the ,lord1 and that the law shall go forth from ,zion4 ,that the people shall come as clouds to it2 that they shall take their silver and gold with them4 ,that ,god's worship will be known1 and the religion of the ,lord will lose its forbidding aspect4 ,and ,god1 and his religion1 be popular among the nations of the earth4 ,this brings us to another means that will be made use of1 for the establishment of the kingdom of ,god2 for1 before this1 he will rebuke strong nations that are afar off4 ,and before they beat their swords into ploughshares1 and their spears into pruning hooks1 and nations shall have war no more4,a there will be a time of terrible trouble1 and distress1 of war and calamity1 such as never has been before on the earth4 ,having noticed in the above that a standard will be raised to the nations1 that the ,gospel will be preached again to all people and a proclamation be made to all nations2 that a literal ,zion will be built2 that the righteous will flock to that ,zion1 and be taught of the ,lord1 and be prepared for his coming2 that great multitudes will flow to ,zion1 and the blessing of ,god dwell there2 we now come to point out another way that the kingdom of ,god will be established1 viz41 by judgements1 that the nations may be purified and prepared for an universal reign4 ,footnote ,a3 ,if any one wish further information on this subject1 ,i refer them to ,o4 ,pratt's ,new ,jerusalem4--,liverpool3 ,s4 ,w4 ,richards4 ,before the ,lord destroyed the old world1 he directed ,noah to prepare an ark2 before the cities of ,sodom and ,gomorrah were destroyed1 he told ,lot to flee to the mountains2 before ,jerusalem was destroyed1 ,jesus gave his disciples warning1 and told them to flee out of it2 and before the destruction of the world1 a message is sent2 after this1 the nations will be judged1 for ,god is now preparing his own kingdom for his own reign1 and will not be thwarted by any conflicting influence1 or opposing power4 ,the testimony of ,god is first to be made known1 the standard is to be raised2 the ,gospel of the kingdom is to be preached to all nations1 the world is to be warned1 and then come the troubles4 ,the whole world is in confusion1 morally1 politically1 and religiously2 but a voice was to be heard1 ,come out of her1 my people1 that you partake not of her sins1 and that ye receive not of her plagues4 ,john saw an angel having the everlasting ,gospel to preach to every nation1 kindred1 people1 and tongue4 ,and afterwards there was another cried1 ,babylon is fallen4 ,isaiah1 after describing some of the most terrible calamities that should overtake that people1 says1 ,the noise of a multitude in the mountains1 like as of a great people2 a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together3 the ,lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle 4444 ,pangs shall take hold of them1 and they shall be in pain1 as a woman that travaileth4 ,that the day of the ,lord cometh1 cruel both with wrath and fierce anger1 to lay the land desolate1 and shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it2 for the stars of heaven1 and the constellations thereof1 shall not give their light3 the sun shall be darkened in his going forth2 and the moon shall not cause her light to shine4 ,and ,i will punish the world for their evil1 and the wicked for their iniquity1 and ,i will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease1 and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible4 ,i will make a man more precious than fine gold4 xiii4 #d-ab4 ,after enumerating many other things concerning ,babylon and ,assyria1 as types of things to come1 he says1 ,this is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth3 and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations4 xiv4 #bf4 ,he says again1 ,behold the ,lord maketh the earth empty1 and maketh it waste1 and turneth it upside down1 and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof4 ,and it shall be1 as with the people so with the priest2 as with the servant1 so with his master4444 ,the land shall be utterly emptied1 and utterly spoiled3 for the ,lord hath spoken this word444 ,the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof1 because they have transgressed the laws1 changed the ordinance1 broken the everlasting covenant4 xxiv4 #a-e4 ,from the above1 it would seem that terrible judgements await the inhabitants of the world2 that there will be a general destruction2 the world will be full of war1 and confusion1 the nations of the earth will be convulsed1 and the wicked hurled out of it4 ,jesus said1 when on the earth1 ,for nation shall rise against nation1 and kingdom against kingdom2 and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in divers places2 men's hearts shall fail them for fear of those things that are coming on the earth4 ,jesus came first as the babe of ,bethlehem2 he will come again1 and rule nations with a rod of iron1 and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel4 ,isaiah says1 ,there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of ,jesse1 and a ,branch shall grow out of his roots4 ,and the ,spirit of the ,lord shall rest upon him1 the spirit of wisdom and understanding1 the spirit of counsel and might1 the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the ,lord2 and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the ,lord2 and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes1 neither reprove after the hearing of his ears2 but with righteousness shall he judge the poor1 and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth2 and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth1 and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked1 and righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins1 and faithfulness the girdle of his reins4 xi4 #a-e4 ,the first of this was fulfilled when our ,saviour came on this earth before2 the second will be when he comes again1 he will smite the earth with the rod of his mouth1 and with the breath of his lips will he slay the wicked4 ,the spirit of the ,lord will be withdrawn from the nations1 and after rejecting the truth1 they will be left in darkness1 to grope their way1 and being full of the spirit of wickedness1 they will rage and war against each other1 and finally1 after dreadful struggles1 plagues1 pestilence1 famine1 etc41 instigated by the powers of darkness1 there will be a great gathering of the nations against ,jerusalem1 for they will be infuriated against its inhabitants1 and mighty hosts will assemble1 so that they will be like a cloud to cover the land1 and the ,lord will appear himself to the deliverance of his people and the destruction of the wicked4 ,zech xiv4 ,let any one compare this chapter with ,ezekiel xxxviii4 and xxxix41 and he will find one of the most terrible destructions described1 that is possible to conceive of2 and then turn to the second ,psalm1 where ,david describes the kings of the earth taking counsel against the ,lord1 and against his anointed4 ,he says1 ,he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh2 the ,lord shall have them in derision4444 ,that he will set his king upon his holy hill in ,zion1 that he will give him the heathen for his inheritance1 and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession4444 ,that he will break them with a rod of iron1 and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel2 and then he concludes by saying1 ,be wise1 therefore1 ,o ye kings2 be instructed1 ye judges of the earth1 serve the ,lord with fear1 and rejoice with trembling2 kiss the son1 lest he be angry1 and ye perish from the way1 when his wrath is kindled but a little4 ,in making a brief summary of what we have said before in relation to the means to be employed for the establishment of the ,kingdom of ,god1 we find the following3-- #ast4--,that it will be not only a spiritual kingdom1 but a temporal and literal one also4 #bnd4--,that if it is the ,kingdom of ,heaven1 it must be revealed from the heavens4 #crd4--,that a standard is to be lifted up1 by the ,lord1 to the nations4 #dth4--,that an ,angel is to come with the everlasting ,gospel1 which is to be proclaimed to every nation1 kindred1 people1 and tongue2 that it is to be the same as the ancient one1 and that the same powers and blessings will attend it4 #eth4--,that not only will the ,ancient ,gospel be preached1 but there will accompany it a declaration of judgement to the nations4 #fth4--,that there will be a literal ,zion1 or gathering of the ,saints to ,zion1 as well as a gathering of the ,jews to ,jerusalem4 #gth4--,that when this has taken place1 the ,spirit of ,god will be withdrawn from the nations1 and they will war with and destroy each other4 #hth4--,that judgements will also overtake them1 from the ,lord1 plague1 pestilence1 famine1 etc4 #ith4--,that the nations1 having lost the ,spirit of ,god1 will assemble to fight against the ,lord's people1 being full of the spirit of unrighteousness1 and opposed to the rule and government of ,god4 #ajth4--,that when they do1 the ,lord will come and fight against them himself2 overthrow their armies1 assert his own right1 rule the nations with a rod of iron1 root the wicked out of the earth1 and take possession of his own kingdom4 ,i might here further state1 that when the ,lord does come to exercise judgement upon the ungodly1 to make an end of sin1 and bring in everlasting righteousness1 he will establish his own laws1 demand universal obedience1 and cause wickedness and misrule to cease4 ,he will issue his commands1 and they must be obeyed2 and if the nations of the earth observe not his laws1 they will have no rain4 ,and they will be taught by more forcible means than moral suasion1 that they are dependant upon ,god2 for the ,lord will demand obedience1 and the ,scriptures say1 time and again1 that the wicked shall be rooted out of the land1 and the righteous and the meek shall inherit the earth4 ,the ,lord1 after trying man's rule for thousands of years1 now takes the reins of government into his own hands1 and makes use of the only possible means of asserting his rights4 ,for if the wicked never were cut off1 the righteous never could rule2 and if the ,devil was still suffered to bear rule1 ,god could not1 at the same time2 consequently after long delay1 he whose right it is1 takes possession of the kingdom2 and the kingdom1 and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heavens1 shall be given to the ,saints of the ,most ,high ,god2 and the world will assume that position for which it was made4 ,a ,king shall rule in righteousness1 and ,princes shall decree judgement4 ,the knowledge of the ,lord will spread1 and extend under the auspices of this government4 ,guided by his counsels1 and under his direction1 all those1 purposes designed of ,him1 from the commencement1 in relation to both living and dead1 will be in a fair way for their accomplishment4 ,chapter ,,xii4 ------------------ ,the ,effects of the ,establishment of ,christ's ,kingdom1 or the ,reign of ,god upon the ,earth4 ,having said so much pertaining to the ,kingdom1 we come to our last proposition1 and enquire1 ,what will be the effects of the establishment of ,christ's kingdom1 or the reign of ,god on the earth8 ,this is1 indeed1 a grand and important question1 and requires our most serious and calm deliberation4 ,if1 after all this distress1 tribulation1 war1 bloodshed1 and sacrifice of human life1 the condition of the world is no better1 man is certainly in a most unhappy1 hopeless situation4 ,if it is nothing more than some of the changes contemplated by man1 from one species of government to another1 and we must still have war1 bloodshed1 and disorder1 and be subject to the caprices of tyrants1 or the anarchy of mobs1 our prospects are indeed gloomy1 and our hopes vain2 we may as well eat and drink1 for tomorrow we die2 for1 as we have already proven1 under the most improved state of human governments we should still be subject to all the ills which flesh is heir to1 without any redeeming hope4 ,but this is not a transient1 short-lived change2 it is something decreed by ,god in relation to the earth and man1 from before the commencement of the world2 even the dispossessing of ,satan1 the destruction of the ungodly1 and the reign of ,god2 or in other words1 putting the moral world in the same position in which the physical world is--under the direction of the ,almighty4 ,it is the doing away with war1 bloodshed1 misery1 disease1 and sin1 and the ushering in of a kingdom of peace1 righteousness1 justice1 happiness1 and prosperity4 ,it is the restoration of the earth and man to their primeval glory1 and pristine excellence2 in fact1 the restitution of all things spoken of by all the prophets since the world began4 ,now1 restoration signifies a bringing back1 and must refer to something which existed before2 for if it did not exist before1 it could not be restored4 ,i cannot describe this better than ,parley ,p4 ,pratt has done in his ,voice of ,warning1 and shall therefore make the following extract3-- ,this is one of the most important subjects upon which the human mind can contemplate2 and one perhaps as little understood1 in the present age1 as any other now lying over the face of prophecy4 ,but however neglected at the present time1 it was once the ground-work of the faith1 hope1 and joy of the ,saints4 ,it was a correct understanding of this subject1 and firm belief in it1 that influenced all their movements4 ,their minds once fastening upon it1 they could not be shaken from their purposes2 their faith was firm1 their joy constant1 and their hope like an anchor to the soul1 both sure and stedfast1 reaching to that within the veil4 ,it was this that enabled them to rejoice in the midst of tribulation1 persecution1 sword1 and flame2 and in view of this1 they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods1 and gladly wandered as strangers and pilgrims on the earth4 ,for they sought a country1 a city1 and an inheritance1 that none but a ,saint ever thought of1 understood1 or even hoped for4 ,now1 we can never understand precisely what is meant by restoration1 unless we understand what is lost or taken away2 for instance1 when we offer to restore any thing to a man1 it is as much as to say he once possessed it1 but had lost it1 and we propose to replace or put him in possession of that which he once had2 therefore1 when a prophet speaks of the restoration of all things1 he means that all things have undergone a change1 and are to be again restored to their primitive order1 even as they first existed4 ,first1 then1 it becomes necessary for us to take a view of creation1 as it rolled in purity from the hand of its ,creator2 and if we can discover the true state in which it then existed1 and understand the changes that have taken place since1 then we shall be able to understand what is to be restored2 and thus our minds being prepared1 we shall be looking for the very things which will come1 and shall be in no danger of lifting our puny arm1 in ignorance1 to oppose the things of ,god4 ,first1 then1 we will take a view of the earth1 as to its surface1 local situation1 and productions4 ,when ,god had created the heavens and the earth1 and separated the light from the darkness1 his next great command was to the waters1 ,gen4 i4 #i1--';,and ,god said1 let the waters under the heaven be gathered together into one place1 and let the dry land appear3 and it was so4' ,from this we learn a marvellous fact1 which very few have ever realized or believed in this benighted age2 we learn that the waters1 which are now divided into oceans1 seas1 and lakes1 were then all gathered together1 into one vast ocean2 and1 consequently1 that the land1 which is now torn asunder1 and divided into continents and islands1 almost innumerable1 was then one vast continent or body1 not separated as it is now4 ,second1 we hear the ,lord ,god pronounce the earth1 as well as every thing else1 very good4 ,from this we learn that there were neither deserts1 barren places1 stagnant swamps1 rough1 broken1 rugged hills1 nor vast mountains covered with eternal snow2 and no part of it was located in the frigid zone1 so as to render its climate dreary and unproductive1 subject to eternal frost1 or everlasting chains of ice1-- ,where no sweet flowers the dreary landscape cheer1 ,nor plenteous harvests crown the passing year2 but the whole earth was probably one vast plain1 or interspersed with gently rising hills1 and sloping vales1 well calculated for cultivation2 while its climate was delightfully varied1 with the moderate changes of heat and cold1 of wet and dry1 which only tended to crown the varied year1 with the greater variety of productions1 all for the good of man1 animal1 fowl1 or creeping thing2 while from the flowery plain1 or spicy grove1 sweet odours were wafted on every breeze2 and all the vast creation of animated being breathed nought but health1 and peace1 and joy4 ,next1 we learn from ,gen4 i4 #bi1 #cj1--';,and ,god said1 ,behold1 ,i have given you every herb bearing seed1 which is upon the face of all the earth1 and every tree1 in which is the fruit of a tree1 yielding seed2 to you it shall be for meat4 ,and to every beast of the earth1 and to every fowl of the air1 and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth1 wherein there is life1 ,i have given every green herb for meat3 and it was so4' ,from these verses we learn1 that the earth yielded neither nauseous weeds nor poisonous plants1 nor useless thorns and thistles2 indeed1 every thing that grew was just calculated for the food of man1 beast1 fowl1 and creeping thing2 and their food was all vegetable2 flesh and blood were never sacrificed to glut their souls1 or gratify their appetites2 the beasts of the earth were all in perfect harmony with each other2 the lion ate straw like the ox--the wolf dwelt with the lamb--the leopard lay down with the kid--the cow and bear fed together1 in the same pasture1 while their young ones reposed1 in perfect security1 under the shade of the same trees2 all was peace and harmony1 and nothing to hurt nor disturb1 in all the holy mountain4 ,and to crown the whole1 we behold man created in the image of ,god1 and exalted in dignity and power1 having dominion over all the vast creation of animated beings1 which swarmed through the earth1 while1 at the same time1 he inhabits a beautiful and well-watered garden1 in the midst of which stood the tree of life1 to which he had free access2 while he stood in the presence of his ,maker1 conversed with him face to face1 and gazed upon his glory1 without a dimming veil between4 ,o reader1 contemplate1 for a moment1 this beautiful creation1 clothed with peace and plenty2 the earth teeming1 with harmless animals1 rejoicing over all the plain2 the air swarming with delightful birds1 whose never ceasing notes filled the air with varied melody2 and all in subjection to their rightful sovereign who rejoiced over them2 while1 in a delightful garden--the capitol of creation1--man was seated on the throne of his vast empire1 swaying his sceptre over all the earth1 with undisputed right2 while legions of angels encamped round about him1 and joined their glad voices1 in grateful songs of praise1 and shouts of joy2 neither a sigh nor groan was heard1 throughout the vast expanse2 neither was there sorrow1 tears1 pain1 weeping1 sickness1 nor death2 neither contentions1 wars1 nor bloodshed2 but peace crowned the seasons as they rolled1 and life1 joy1 and love1 reigned over all his works4 ,but1 ,o6 how changed the scene4 ,it now becomes my painful duty1 to trace some of the important changes1 which have taken place1 and the causes which have conspired to reduce the earth and its inhabitants to their present state4 ,first1 man fell from his standing before ,god1 by giving heed to temptation2 and this fall affected the whole creation1 as well as man1 and caused various changes to take place2 he was banished from the presence of his ,creator1 and a veil was drawn between them1 and he was driven from the garden of ,eden1 to till the earth1 which was then cursed for man's sake1 and should begin to bring forth thorns and thistles3 and with the sweat of his face he should earn his bread1 and in sorrow eat of it1 all the days of his life1 and finally return to dust4 ,but as to ,eve1 her curse was a great multiplicity of sorrow and conception2 and between her seed1 and the seed of the serpent1 there was to be a constant enmity2 it should bruise the serpent's head1 and the serpent should bruise his heel4 ,now1 reader1 contemplate the change4 ,this scene1 which was so beautiful a little before1 had now become the abode of sorrow and toil1 of death and mourning3 the earth groaning with its production of accursed thorns and thistles2 man and beast at enmity2 the serpent slily creeping away1 fearing lest his head should got the deadly bruise2 and man startling amid the thorny path1 in fear1 lest the serpent's fangs should pierce his heel2 while the lamb yields his blood upon the smoking altar4 ,soon man begins to persecute1 hate1 and murder his fellow2 until at length the earth is filled with violence2 all flesh becomes corrupt1 the powers of darkness prevail2 and it repented ,noah that ,god had made man1 and it grieved him at his heart1 because the ,lord should come out in vengeance1 and cleanse the earth by water4 ,how far the flood may have contributed1 to produce the various changes1 as to the division of the earth into broken fragments1 islands and continents1 mountains and valleys1 we have not been informed2 the change must have been considerable4 ,but after the flood1 in the days of ,peleg1 the earth was divided4--,see ,gen4 x4 #be1--;a short history1 to be sure1 of so great an event2 but still it will account for the mighty revolution1 which rolled the sea from its own place in the north1 and brought it to interpose between different portions of the earth1 which were thus parted asunder1 and moved into something near their present form2 this1 together with the earthquakes1 revolutions1 and commotions which have since taken place1 have all contributed to reduce the face of the earth to its present state2 while the great curses which have fallen upon different portions1 because of the wickedness of men1 will account for the stagnant swamps1 the sunken lakes1 the dead seas1 and great deserts4 ,witness1 for instance1 the denunciations of the prophets upon ,babylon1 how it was to become perpetual desolations1 a den of wild beasts1 a dwelling of unclean and hateful birds1 a place for owls2 and should never be inhabited1 but should lie desolate from generation to generation4 ,witness also the plains of ,sodom1 filled with towns1 cities1 and flourishing gardens1 well watered3 but ,o1 how changed6 a vast sea of stagnant water alone marks the place4 ,witness the land of ,palestine2 in the days of ,solomon it was capable of sustaining millions of people1 besides a surplus of wheat1 and other productions1 which were exchanged with the neighbouring nations2 whereas1 now it is desolate1 and hardly capable of sustaining a few miserable inhabitants4 ,and when ,i cast mine eyes over our own land1 and see the numerous swamps1 lakes1 and ponds of stagnant waters1 together with the vast mountains and innumerable rough places2 rocks having been rent1 and torn asunder1 from centre to circumference2 ,i exclaim1 ,whence all this8 ,when ,i read the ,book of ,mormon1 it informs me1 that while ,christ was crucified among the ,jews1 this whole ,american continent was shaken to its foundation1 that many cities were sunk1 and waters came up in their places2 that the rocks were all rent in twain2 that mountains were thrown up to an exceeding height2 and other mountains became vallies3 the level roads spoiled2 and the whole face of the land changed4--,i then exclaim1 ,these things are no longer a mystery2 ,i have now learned to account for the many wonders1 which ,i everywhere behold1 throughout our whole country2 when ,i am passing a ledge of rocks1 and see they have all been rent and torn asunder1 while some huge fragments are found deeply imbedded in the earth1 some rods from whence they were torn1 ,i exclaim1 with astonishment1 ,these were the groans6 the convulsive throes of agonizing nature6 while the ,son of ,god suffered upon the cross6 ,but men have degenerated1 and greatly changed1 as well as the earth4 ,the sins1 the abominations1 and the many evil habits of the latter ages1 have added to the miseries1 toils1 and sufferings of human life4 ,the idleness1 extravagance1 pride1 covetousness1 drunkenness1 and other abominations1 which are characteristics of the latter times1 have all combined to sink mankind to the lowest state of wretchedness and degradation2 while priestcraft and false doctrines1 have greatly tended to lull mankind to sleep1 and caused them to rest1 infinitely short of the powers and attainments which the ancients did enjoy1 and which are alone calculated to exalt the intellectual powers of the human mind1 to establish noble and generous sentiments1 to enlarge the heart1 and to expand the soul to the utmost extent of its capacity4 ,witness the ancients1 conversing with the ,great ,jehovah1 learning lessons from the angels1 and receiving instruction by the ,holy ,ghost1 in dreams by night1 and visions by day1 until at length the veil is taken off1 and they permitted to gaze1 with wonder and admiration1 upon all things past and future2 yea1 even to soar aloft amid unnumbered worlds2 while the vast expanse of eternity stands open before them1 and they contemplate the mighty works of the ,great ,i ,,am1 until they know as they are known1 and see as they are seen4 ,compare this intelligence1 with the low smatterings of education and worldly wisdom1 which seem to satisfy the narrow mind of man in our generation2 yea1 behold the narrow-minded1 calculating1 trading1 overreaching1 penurious sycophant1 of the nineteenth century1 who dreams of nothing here1 but how to increase his goods1 or take advantage of his neighbour2 and whose only religious exercises or duties consist of going to meeting1 paying the priest his hire1 or praying to his ,god1 without expecting to be heard or answered1 supposing that ,god has been deaf and dumb for many centuries1 or altogether stupid and indifferent like himself4 ,and having seen the two contrasted1 you will be able to form some idea of the vast elevation from which man has fallen2 you will also learn1 how infinitely beneath his former glory and dignity1 he is now living1 and your heart will mourn1 and be exceedingly sorrowful1 when you contemplate him in his low estate--and then think he is your brother2 and you will be ready to exclaim1 with wonder and astonishment1 ,o man6 how art thou fallen6 once thou wast the favourite of ,heaven2 thy ,maker delighted to converse with thee1 and angels and the spirits of just men made perfect were thy companions2 but now thou art degraded1 and brought down on a level with the beasts2 yea1 far beneath them1 for they look with horror and affright at your vain amusements1 your sports and your drunkenness1 and thus often set an example worthy of your imitation4 ,well did the apostle ,peter say of you1 that you know nothing1 only what you know naturally as brute beasts1 made to be taken and destroyed4 ,and thus you perish1 from generation to generation4 ,while all creation groans under its pollution2 and sorrow and death1 mourning and weeping1 fill up the measure of the days of man4 ,but ,o my soul1 dwell no longer on this awful scene3 let it suffice1 to have discovered in some degree1 what is lost4 ,let us turn our attention to what the ,prophets have said should be restored4 ,the ,apostle ,peter1 while preaching to the ,jews1 says1 ',and he shall send ,jesus ,christ1 which before was preached unto you1 whom the heavens must receive1 until the times of restitution 7restoration7 of all things which ,god hath spoken1 by the mouth of all the holy prophets1 since the world began4' ,it appears from the above1 that all the holy prophets from ,adam1 and those that follow after1 have had their eyes upon a certain time1 when all things should be restored to their primitive beauty and excellence4 ,we also learn1 that the time of restitution was to be at or near the time of ,christ's second coming2 for the heavens are to receive him1 until the times of restitution1 and then the ,father shall send him again to the earth4 ,we will now proceed to notice ,isaiah xl4 #a-e4 ',comfort ye1 comfort ye my people1 saith your ,god4 ,speak ye comfortably to ,jerusalem1 and cry unto her1 that her warfare is accomplished1 that her iniquity is pardoned3 for she hath received of the ,lord's hand1 double for all her sins4 ,the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness1 ,prepare ye the way of the ,lord1 make straight in the desert a highway for our ,god4 ,every valley shall be exalted1 and every mountain and hill shall be made low3 and the crooked shall be made straight1 and the rough places plain3 and the glory of the ,lord shall be revealed1 and all flesh shall see it together3 for the mouth of the ,lord hath spoken it4' ,from these verses we learn1 first1 that the voice of one shall be heard in the wilderness1 to prepare the way of the ,lord1 just at the time when ,jerusalem has been trodden down of the ,gentiles long enough to have received1 at the ,lord's hand1 double for all her sins1 yea1 when the warfare of ,jerusalem is accomplished1 and her iniquities pardoned2 then shall this proclamation be made as it was before by ,john1 yea1 a second proclamation1 to prepare the way of the ,lord1 for his second coming2 and about that time every valley shall be exalted1 and every mountain and hill shall be made low1 and the crooked shall be made straight1 and rough places plain1 and then the glory of the ,lord shall be revealed1 and all flesh shall see it together1 for the mouth of the ,lord hath spoken it4 ,thus you see1 every mountain being laid low1 and every valley exalted1 and the rough places being made plain1 and the crooked places straight1 that these mighty revolutions will begin to restore the face of the earth to its former beauty4 ,but all this done1 we have not yet gone through our restoration2 there are many more great things to be done1 in order to restore all things4 ,our next is ,isaiah #ceth chapter1 where we again read of the ,lord's second coming1 and of the mighty works which attend it4 ,the barren desert should abound with pools and springs of living water1 and should produce grass1 with flowers blooming and blossoming as the rose1 and that1 too1 about the time of the coming of their ,god1 with vengeance and recompense1 which must allude to his second coming2 and ,israel is to come at the same time to ,zion1 with songs of everlasting joy1 and sorrow and sighing shall flee away4 ,here1 then1 we have the curse taken off from the deserts1 and they become a fruitful1 well-watered country4 ,we will now inquire whether the islands return again to the continents1 from which they were once separated4 ,for this subject we refer you to ,revelation vi4 #ad1--';,and every mountain and island were moved out of their places4' ,from this we learn that they moved somewhere2 and as it is the time of restoring what had been lost1 they accordingly return and join themselves to the land whence they came4 ,our next is ,isaiah xiii4 #ac1 #ad1 where ',the earth shall move out of her place1 and be like a chased roe which no man taketh up4' ,also1 ,isaiah lxii4 #d1 ',thou shalt no more be termed forsaken2 neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate2 but thou shalt be called ,hephzibah1 and thy land ,beulah3 for the ,lord delighteth in thee1 and thy land shall be married4' ,in the first instance1 we have the earth on a move like a chased roe2 and in the second place1 we have it married4 ,and from the whole1 and various ,scriptures1 we learn1 that the continents and islands shall be united in one1 as they were on the morn of creation1 and the sea shall retire and assemble in its own place1 where it was before2 and all these scenes shall take place during the mighty convulsion of nature1 about the time of the coming of the ,lord4 ,behold6 the ,mount of ,olives rend in twain2 ,while on its top he sets his feet again1 ,the islands at his word1 obedient1 flee2 ,while to the north1 he rolls the mighty sea2 ,restores the earth in one1 as at the first1 ,with all its blessings1 and removes the curse4 ,having restored the earth to the same glorious state in which it first existed2 levelling the mountains1 exalting the valleys1 smoothing the rough places1 making the deserts fruitful1 and bringing all the continents and islands together1 causing the curse to be taken off1 that it shall no longer produce noxious weeds1 and thorns1 and thistles2 the next thing is to regulate and restore the brute creation to their former state of peace and glory1 causing all enmity to cease from off the earth4 ,but this will never be done until there is a general destruction poured out upon man1 which will entirely cleanse the earth1 and sweep all wickedness from its face4 ,this will be done by the rod of his mouth1 and by the breath of his lips2 or1 in other words1 by fire as universal as the flood4 ,isaiah xi4 #d1 #f-i1 ',but with righteousness shall he judge the poor1 and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth3 and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth1 and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked4 ,the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb1 and the leopard shall lie down with the kid2 and the calf1 and the young lion1 and the fatling together2 and a little child shall lead them4 ,and the cow and the bear shall feed2 their young ones shall lie down together2 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox4 ,and the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp1 and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den4 ,they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain3 for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the ,lord1 as the waters cover the sea4' ,thus1 having cleansed the earth1 and glorified it with the knowledge of ,god1 as the waters cover the sea1 and having poured out his ,spirit upon all flesh1 both man and beast becoming perfectly harmless1 as they were in the beginning1 and feeding on vegetable food only1 while nothing is left to hurt or destroy in all the vast creation1 the prophets then proceed to give us many glorious descriptions of the enjoyments of its inhabitants4 ',they shall build houses and inhabit them2 they shall plant vineyards1 and drink the wine of them2 they shall plant gardens and eat the fruit of them2 they shall not build and another inhabit2 they shall not plant and another eat2 for as the days of a tree are the days of my people1 and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands4 ,they shall not labour in vain1 nor bring forth in trouble2 for they are the seed of the blessed of the ,lord1 and their offspring with them2 and it shall come to pass1 that before they call ,i will answer1 and while they are yet speaking ,i will hear4' ,in this happy state of existence it seems that all people will live to the full age of a tree1 and this too without pain or sorrow1 and whatsoever they ask will be immediately answered1 and even all their wants will be anticipated4 ,of course1 then1 none of them will sleep in the dust1 for they will prefer to be translated2 that is1 changed in the twinkling of an eye1 from mortal to immortal2 after which they will continue to reign with ,jesus on the earth4 ,pp4 #aaj-abb4 ,a great council will then be held to adjust the affairs of the world1 from the commencement1 over which ,father ,adam will preside as head and representative of the human family4 ,there have been1 in different ages of the world1 communications opened between the heavens and the earth4 ,those powers have been separated1 and have acted in different spheres1 until the present4 ,the kingdom of ,god on the earth has been small1 weak1 unpopular1 trampled under foot of men1 and none but men of noble minds1 firm hopes1 and daring resolution1 have advocated its principles4 ,these men1 being possessed of intelligence from the heavens by the ministering of angels1 the communications of the spirits of the just1 and the manifestation of eternal things1 knew of the approaching day of glory1 the reign of ,god on the earth2 they understood their destiny1 and lived1 and died1 in the hopes of inheriting these things4 ,those communications from the heavens developd the purposes of ,god to them2 and in all their moves1 they were regulated by the prospect of the future4 ,in the ,mosaic ,dispensation they had to make earthly things according to the pattern of heavenly4 ,hence it was said to ,moses1 ,see that thou make all things according to the pattern shewn thee in the ,mount4 ,the ark was made1 therefore1 after a heavenly pattern1 and so was the ,temple of ,jerusalem4 ,jerusalem was a figure of the heavenly4 ,the sacrifices of the ,aaronic ,priesthood referred to the expiation of ,christ1 who appears as the earthly ,high ,priest of the ,jews1 and as our eternal ,high ,priest and ,intercessor in the heavens4 ,his ,priesthood was an eternal one1 and is after the order of ,melchisedek1 and ,melchisedek's was after his order1 and they both were after the order that exists in the heavens4 ,this priesthood with the ,gospel1 brought life and immortality to light1 put men in possession of certainty1 and unveiled the future2 they knew the divine laws and ordinances1 and acted with a reference to them2 and being commissioned of ,god1 they had power to bind and loose1 etc4 ,then they will assemble to regulate all these affairs1 and all that held keys of authority to administer1 will then represent their earthly course4 ,and1 as this authority has been handed down from one to another in different ages1 and in different dispensations1 a full reckoning will have to be made by all4 ,all who have held keys of ,priesthood1 will then have to give an account to those from whom they received them4 ,those that were in the heavens1 have been assisting those that were upon the earth2 but then1 they will unite together in a general council to give an account of their stewardships1 and as in the various ages men have received their power to administer1 from those who had previously held the keys thereof1 there will be a general account4 ,those1 under the authorities of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 have to give an account of their transactions to those who direct them in the ,priesthood2 hence the ,elders give an account to ,presidents of ,conferences2 and ,presidents of ,conferences to ,presidents of ,nations4 ,those ,presidents and the ,seventies give an account to the ,twelve ,apostles2 the ,twelve to the ,first ,presidency2 and they to ,joseph1 from whom they1 and the ,twelve1 received their ,priesthood4 ,this will include the arrangements of the last dispensation4 ,joseph delivers his authority to ,peter1 who held the keys before him1 and delivered them to him2 and ,peter to ,moses and ,elias1 who endued him with this authority on the ,mount2 and they to those from whom they received them4 ,and thus the world's affairs will be regulated and put right1 the restitution of all things be accomplished1 and the ,kingdom of ,god be ushered in4 ,the earth will be delivered from under the curse1 resume its paradisiacal glory1 and all things pertaining to its restoration be fulfilled4 ,not only will the earth be restored1 but also man2 and those promises which1 long ago1 were the hope of the saints1 will be realised4 ,the faithful servants of ,god who have lived in every age1 will then come forth and experience the full fruition of that joy1 for which they lived1 and hoped1 and suffered1 and died4 ,the tombs will deliver up their captives1 and re-united with the spirits which once animated1 vivified1 cheered1 and sustained them while in this vale of tears1 these bodies will be like unto ,christ's glorious body4 ,they will then rejoice in that resurrection for which they lived1 while they sojourned below4 ,adam1 ,seth1 ,enoch1 and the faithful who lived before the flood1 will possess their proper inheritance4 ,noah and ,melchisedek will stand in their proper places4 ,abraham1 with ,isaac and ,jacob1 heirs with him of the same promise1 will come forward at the head of innumerable multitudes1 and possess that land which ,god gave unto them for an everlasting inheritance4 ,the faithful1 on the continent of ,america1 will also stand in their proper place2 but1 as this will be the time of the restitution of all things1 and all things will not be fully restored at once2 there will be a distinction between the resurrected bodies1 and those that have not been resurrected2 and as the ,scriptures say that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of ,god1 neither doth corruption inherit incorruption2 and although the world will enjoy just laws--an equitable administration1 and universal peace and happiness prevail as the result of this righteousness2 yet1 there will be a peculiar habitation for the resurrected bodies4 ,this habitation may be compared to ,paradise1 from whence man1 in the beginning1 was driven4 ,when ,adam was driven from the ,garden1 an angel was placed with a naming sword to guard the way of the tree of life1 lest man should eat of it1 and become immortal in his degenerate state1 and thus be incapable of obtaining that exaltation1 which he would be capable of enjoying through the redemption of ,jesus ,christ1 and the power of the resurrection1 with his renewed and glorified body4 ,having tasted of the nature of the fall1 and having grappled with sin and misery1 knowing like the gods both good and evil1 having like ,jesus overcome the evil1 and through the power of the atonement1 having conquered death1 hell1 and the grave1 he regains that ,paradise1 from which he was banished1 not in the capacity of ignorant man1 unacquinted with evil1 but like unto a god4 ,he can now stretch forth1 and partake of the tree of life1 and eat of its fruits1 and live and flourish eternally in possession of that immortality which ,jesus long ago promised to the faithful3 ,to him that overcomes1 will ,i grant to sit with me in my throne2 and eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the ,paradise of ,god4 ,production ,credits ------------------ ,this electronic edition was produced by the ,mormon ,texts ,project4 ,volunteers who helped with this book include3 ,tanya ,ross1 ,meridith ,crowder1 ,tod ,robbins1 ,ben ,crowder1 ,bryce ,beattie1 ,stephen ,cranney1 ,tyler ,thorsted1 ,eric ,heaps1 ,jason ,barron1 ,jean-,michel ,carter1 ,david ,willde1 and ,tom ,nysetvold4 ,special thanks to ,trevor ,nysetvold for his complete proof of the final version4 ,it was produced using scans generously made available by ,archive4org4 ,email ,tom ,nysetvold 7tomnysetvoldgmail4com7 to report errors or to participate in proofreading similar early books of ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-,day ,saints4