Messenger and Advocate/2/10

Messenger and Advocate
Volume 2, Number 10

Source document in Mormon Publications: 19th and 20th Centuries online archive: Messenger and Advocate Vol. 2

Note: Some headings and bracketed texts are editorial and not part of the original text.

LATTER DAY SAINTS'
MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE
Volume II. No. 10.]	KIRTLAND, OHIO, JULY, 1836.	[Whole No. 22.

It is a conceded point that the scriptures of truth, the old and new testaments, are replete with instruction to the children of men, for whose benefit alone they were written. It is also admitted that as they are the dictates of inspiration, they are consistent with themselves and worthy of their Author. What Moses recorded in the Pentateuch, the prophets who succeeded him never condemned; that which the prophets taught, was approbated by our great Redeemer; and his apostles, who were under his instruction during the three years of his public ministry, after their Master was removed from the ken of an ungodly world, continued to urge and enforce upon that generation, the same heaven-born principles, taught by the Redeemer of the world. These same principles, have formed the basis of all law, where their brilliancy has been reflected upon the understanding, or their benign influence operated upon the hearts of the children of men. Upon these principles, in all countries denominated christian, are predicated the civil laws and the penal code. The christian world have, therefore, affixed to them their seal of approbation, and as did the God of the Universe when he beheld the world emerge from chaos in obedience to his behest, unhesitatingly, they have pronounced them good. Therefore, while we pursue a course stamped with the approbation of heaven, we are not like the mariner who has lost his rudder and compass and is left exposed to all the dangers incident to winds, rocks, quicksands and waves: But the assurance, that we have the polar star of truth to guide us, heaven's own laws to regulate our conduct, lights up a smile even in the aspect of woe, and makes the man imbued with, and actuated by those principles of which we have been speaking:

"Thank heaven, that ere he drew his breath,

And triumph in the thoughts of death."

We are prepared now to receive this as an axiom that cannot be weakened by argument or evaded by sophistry: That, God is the same immutable being he ever was, and requires the same implicit obedience to his commands he ever did: And we think we shall not do violence to the truth if we say that man, frail man, is much the same now as he has been in every age since the fall of Adam. We find on looking over historic pages both sacred and profane, that man left to himself invariably violated those sacred principles, of which the whole christian world professes to think so highly, and that it has been a part at least, of the business of inspired men in all ages, when there were any, to urge and enforce upon mankind an adherence to those principles. The great apostle of the Gentiles, who is the ostensible author of the epistle of which our text forms a part, charges his son, Timothy, which all the feelings of a man of God and the pathos of a legate of the skies, That, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, and then as if he would not only not be misunderstood, but emphatically impress the idea upon his mind, he adds, "for kings, and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." In this idea is included either directly or indirectly, nearly the whole relative duty of man. It presupposes that he is a social being, not a solitary, misanthropic recluse, but that from inclination or necessity, or both, men will become members of civil society and have certain rights in common, one with another, "among which are, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." It presupposes laws by which the conduct of men is to be regulated. It presupposes rulers and governors to administer laws. The idea of rulers and governors, presupposes that man, from necessity and the better security of some of those rights he holds most dear; gives up, or yields a part of those he holds less sacred, for the better security of the more important ones. Thus our readers will see, without going farther into detail, their duty as saints of God, towards all men,

338

especially toward our rulers. The sacred penman does not say we shall think or act as do our rulers, but plainly says we shall pray for them, that they may rule in righteousness and govern in equity. The apostle whose words we are contemplating, was well acquainted with the history of man, having been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, a Doctor of the Law, and from the warnings, rebukes, admonitions and exhortations he gives the churches, we are fully sensible he had the same restless disposition in his fellow man with which to contend, that now manifests itself in the day and age of the world in which we live. The churches built up by him and his compeers, were composed of frail mortals like ourselves.

Sometimes we find him reasoning with them as if they were the most profound philosophers and logicians, sometimes pleading with them, in language the most pathetic, at other times he comes out in censure the most severe, calculated to impress the reader with the idea that "he taught as one having authority," and the force of his expressions, the very power of the Most High that accompanied them, were directly calculated to fill him with awe and veneration, and make the heart of the wicked or hypocritical, quail before their withering influence.

As we have had occasion to speak of man's surrendering a part of his natural rights for the better security of the remainder, we will here take the liberty to remark, that he never, without compulsion, surrenders the right of self preservation, and the defence of his own household. It is clearly asserted in so many words, that he that provides not for his own household has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. Let us here quere;—Is it reasonable to suppose, that to procure food alone for one's household, covers the whole ground intended to be covered by the sacred writer when he penned this sentence? Certainly not. If he provide food and clothing, has he yet answered the demand of the divine law? We think such an idea would be preposterous? It will be readily admitted that he is under an obligation almost or quiet, equally imperative, to shelter them from the peltings of the pitiless storm. These are relative duties and are not in ostensible opposition to any principle sanctioned by divine authority. These ideas are certainly in accordance with that of praying for all men, for Rulers and ruled. They are not contradictory to those urged by the Savior in his sermon on the mount.

Here then is no controversy. We have yet no opposition, for we have come in contact with no man's principles. We will here take the liberty to digress a little for the sake of illustrating and enforcing our own ideas. And,

1st. By way of query we ask, if when our Eastern, Western, Northern or Southern border, has been invaded by merciless savages, laying waste the fair portions of our country, if even the most fastidious, does not feel justified in the sight of God and man in meeting force with force and repelling the invading foe? We think you will. Certainly, then, when the footsteps of the foe are marked with the innocent blood of our women and children, it would be an imperative duty. Apathy would become a crime, indifference would be infamous, and every bosom that did not swell with indignation when contemplating such scenes, covers a heart too black with treachery and crime, to deserve our sympathy, or is too cowardly and effeminate to dwell in the breast of a man. Remember that prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks are to be made for all men; for rulers and ruled. There may seem, on a superficial view, to be some collision in the sentiments we have advanced relative to national defence, and the ideas embraced in our text.—But we think there is none. There is a perfect harmony existing between the idea of deprecating the wrath of an enemy and in repelling his ruthless assaults. There is no discrepancy in principle and practice, in that case; our faith and our works harmonize. We evince our implicit belief in the Lord of Sabbaoth, therefore, we pray, and our willingness to provide for our own households, therefore, we protect and defend them. Consider for once that God is the same, and we have not disputed the immutability of his laws or his right to govern his subjects. Abraham, the patriarch Abraham—whose very name we venerate as the father of the faithful, and whose praises we sing, armed his domestics and went himself to the slaughter of the kings who had not even set set foot upon his

339

veil, but they had invaded the territory of some of his neighbors, taken his nephew a prisoner and confiscated his goods. And on his return from the bloody contest, and for aught we know, while his garments were yet stained with gore. Melchisedec the priest of the most high God, met him and blessed him in the name of the Lord. Let not your feelings revolt at this idea, kind reader, God is God and he is the same and changes not, therefore what he approbated in Abraham he approbates now.

This same Abraham, appeared to owe allegiance to no human governor or ruler; the government to which he submitted, was Theocracy, and he acknowledged no authority but the King of heaven and earth. He communed with the Most High and had intercourse with the upper world. God revealed himself to him, and made many great and precious promises to him before this event, of which we have been speaking, he revealed himself to him afterwards, renewed the same promises, and eventually confirmed, ratified and fulfilled them, and never, no never, of which we have any account, did he express or manifest any disapprobation of that act. We see nothing in this transaction inconsistent with the idea of praying to God for all men, that he would restrain their anger towards us, and turn their bitter hatred into tender love.

We have abundant testimony to prove that God commanded his servants, anciently to fight their enemies and destroy them. He even commanded Saul, the king of Israel, to go and utterly destroy Amalek, spare him not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.—And this for no alleged crime of which that generation had been guilty, but four hundred and twelve years before, when Israel was journeying from Egypt to Canaan, Amalek came out against Israel in Rephadim to battle, and because Saul disobeyed the commandments of the Lord, in sparing Agag and the best of the spoil, he rejected him from being king, and Samuel, that prophet of the Most High, took Agag the king of the Amalekites, a helpless, defenceless, unarmed prisoner & hewud [hewed] him in pieces in cool blood. And yet he was a prophet, and the Lord spake through him to the children of Israel, and we have no account that the Lord ever manifested any displeasure toward him, for that transaction. The grand query now arises how are we to reconcile the precedents given and the principles inculcated by the Savior in his sermon on the mount, and those couched in our text. There can be no discrepancy in the teachings of the ancient prophets of the Lord and the Redeemer of mankind; both, under similar circumstances would doubtless have given the same instructions. The difficulty then is not yet solved—We must view the Almighty as the moral Governor of the Universe, and consider that his ways are higher than our ways & his thoughts than our thoughts, that we have not yet been able to comprehend all his ways or find him out to perfection. Hence, to our limited view the apparent contradiction between the old and new testament writers. Another idea, the Savior was teaching his disciples alone, and preparing them to propagate a religion diverse in many respects from any then extant among Jews or Gentiles. He was preparing them to go among their brethren like sheep among wolves, and if the Jews as a nation rejected them, as he knew they would, he had prepared a scourge for them and apprised his disciples of it. Their devoted city was to be taken and sacked, their beautiful temple be thrown down, and such calamities come on them as never come upon any people. Thus we see altho' the disciples were not suffered to be the avengers of their own wrongs, even-handed justice ere long overtook that wicked generation. They would not receive those that were sent unto them, and to cap the climax of crime, and fill up the measure of their iniquity, they crucified the Lord of life and glory. They, the disciples, had their peculiar instructions as individuals.—They were to preach the gospel and testify of the things they had seen, and speak of those they knew. They were to suffer without resistance, and at last lay down their lives without reserve for the cause of their Master. But God had informed them of his just retribution of their crimes which he had in reserve.

The Lord probably allowed Lot to fight in his own defence, but the disciples of the blessed Savior were not thus privileged. The circumstances were

340

different. Abraham was permitted to slay the enemies of Lot and release him from bondage, while death only released the disciples of the Redeemer, but mark the tragical end, the miserable overthrow of their enemies which came upon them in about forty years after the crucifixion of the Savior. They experience the judgments of God according to the prediction of the Savior while he—tabernacled with man in the flesh, and according to the declaration of the holy prophets who preceded him. No discrepancy then, nothing very mysterious in either of these occurrences; he had prepared punishment for the guilty in both cases which suited his own purpose.

Nothing transpired in either case, militating against the idea of praying to God for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority, nothing contrary to the idea of praying for our rulers and obeying them, nothing contrary to the idea of defending our country from the wicked attacks of a ruthless foe, nothing contrary to the idea of individually defending our innocent wives and helpless offspring from the rude assaults of any who invade our rights. This is a natural and inalienable right, and let me add, it is never voluntarily surrendered, therefore it is reserved. The principle that will allow of naiional [national] defence will justify a smaller community coeteras paribus in acting on the same principle. And he who objects to the idea that a man has a right to defend his wife, his property and his offspring, will find himself at war with the best feelings of his own heart, with the established rules of all civilized nations, of all communities, and with very few exceptions, the whole professing christian world.

A few reflections by way of improvement and we close. And,

1st. We have said, and we believe truly, that God is the same moral Governor of the Universe he was anciently.

2d. We have said, and we think truly, that man is the same ruthless, rebellious being against the government of God that he ever was.

3d. We have seen, that in consequence of his restlessness and rebellion, whenever he was associated in community with his fellow man, a part of what would be his right without reservation, were he alone, he must necessarily resign into the hands of his rulers for the better security of those he holds more sacred.

4th. We have said the right to defend his wife, his children & his own person from the murderous assaults of ruthless foe, were among his reserved rights, and are never given up to man but by compulsion, nor to God but by express command.

5th. We have expressed our disapprobation, in strong terms of the apathy or cowardice or that wretch who should look complacently on the lawless marauder, or the merciless violator of his domestic rights.

6th, We have said, and we defy contradiction, that what God has commanded one man to do, he will approbate in another under similar circumstances, and the only apparent discrepancy in the teachings of the old and new testament writers, arises from our limited understandings and contracted views of the government of God.

7th. We have said that the idea of self defence, was not incompatible with that of praying for all men, praying that God would turn away the anger of our enemies and fill them with love.

Our readers, from a view of all we have said, will not suffer a word of exhortation and we have done.

Nothing we have said should be construed into a justification of crime or the violation of the rules of civilized society. In all cases are you to be good and peaceable subjects of that government that protects those rights you have surrendered for its protection. Fear God, love the brethren, and respect those in authority over you. In short pray for them and for all that are in authority, that you may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all Godliness, even so amen. W.

2d. SERIES—LETTER No. I.

Liberty, (Mo.) June 2, 1836.

DEAR BROTHER:—Since I returned home to Missouri, I have been so constantly engaged in viewing the country, or employed at business of importance, that I could not spare time to write. I have been out on two expeditions examining the regions of the "far west"—and notwithstanding my letters, heretofore published, contain almost all that need be said for or against a prairie country, yet, permit me to add

341

a little more as a kind of appendix, for such as wish information from this quarter.

Soon after our return, bishop Partridge and myself started on a tour of land looking. We passed from Liberty to the northwest corner of Clay county, and examined the mills and streams, and country around Mr. Smith's—generally denominated "yankee Smith." It is customary, you know, for the sake of provincialism among nations, kindreds, and people, to nick-name by their religion, or provision, or ancestry—so that one can be distinguished, by being an Israelite, a Canaanite, a Christian, a Mormon, a Methodist, &c. or a corn-cracker, or a mighty hunter, &c. according to fancy or favor. From Mr. Smith's we proceeded northeasterly through some timber and some prairie to "Plattsburg" the county seat for Clinton county; and although this place may not come nearer in resemblance to Plattsburg the capital of Clinton county (N. Y.) on Lake Champlain, than a cabin does to Congress hall, yet it seems to be quite "a smart little town,"—containing from 15 to 20 hewed log cabins, and brick body of a two story court house, 32 feet square. This town is located on the west side of Horse and Smith's fork on the Little Platt, contiguous to the timber on these streams, 25 miles north of Liberty. The timber and mill and water privileges may answer a very small population, but for a large it would be nothing. There are now three stores and will soon be four.—Clinton county is mostly prairie with here and there a few fringes or spots of timber on the creeks that run into the Little Platt and Grand River.

From this town we made the best course we could to the waters of Grand river. We had a "sort of a road for a little bit" towards Brushy fork, then we had to be content with naked prairie, patches of scrubby timber, deep banked creeks and branches, together with a rainy morning and no compass; but, with the blessing of the Lord, we came to "some house" in the afternoon, passed into Ray county. On Shoal creek, when there is water, there are some tolerable mill seats, but the prairies,—those "old clearings"—peering one over another, as far as the eye can glance, flatten all common calculation as to timber for boards, rails, or future wants, for a thick population, according to the natural reasoning of men.

What the design of our heavenly Father was or is, as to these vast prairies of the far west, I know no farther than we have revelation. The book of Mormon terms them the land of desolation, and when I get into a prairie so large that I am out of sight of timber, just as a seaman is "out of sight of land in the ocean," I have to exclaim, what is man and his works, compared to the Almighty and his creations? Who hath viewed his everlasting fields? Who hath counted his buffaloes;—who hath seen all his deer, on a thousand prairies? Well may his sacred word declare:—The cattle upon a thousand hills are mine. All are God's.

The pinks variegate these widespread lawns without the hand of man to aid them, and the bees of a thousand groves, banquet on the flowers unobserved, and sip the honey dews of heaven, far beyond the busy bustling scenes of aspiring man. O what a scene for contemplation! What a good God all living have, to provide for them in all capacities in all conditions—and in all ages against a day of trouble, and for a day of righteousness!

Nearly every skirt of timber to the State line, on the north, I am informed, has some one in it, if it has range and wood enough for their common custom. Some people require more than others. It is astonishing to witness how eager thousands are to be pioneers into a new country; to be frontiers; to be on the outside; yea, to be, as one man said, in speaking of head men, "what he was a mind to;" or, every man carry his own head. The back settlers are generally very honorable; and more hospitable than any people I ever saw. You are, in most instances, welcome to the best they have.

As ever.

W. W. PHELPS.

To O. COWDERY, Esq.

342

A Prophetic Warning:

To all the Churches, of every sect and denomination, and to every individual into whose hands it may fall.

By O. HYDE,

PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most assuredly believed among us, and which must shortly come to pass: It seemeth good unto me, and also unto the Holy Spirit, to write unto you, that you may know of a certainty, your standing and relation to God; and also of the times and seasons of the fulfilment of the words of his servants, the Prophets.

After our Lord had completed the work which his Father had given him to do, he led forth his disciples as far as Bethany, and lifted up his hands towards heaven and blessed them. While in the act of performing this kind office upon his disciples; he was received up to heaven in a cloud. As the disciples stood gazing upon his exit, two men (angels) stood by them, clad in white apparel, and said: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner, as you have seen him go into heaven."

Some have labored to show that this promise of Christ's second coming was fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem; but such was not the fact. Jerusalem was destroyed during the reign of Vespasian, the Roman Emperor, by Titus, his son. Vespasian began to reign in the 70th year of the Christian era, and reigned nine years. He was then succeeded by his son, Titus, who reigned two years; and Titus was succeeded by his younger brother, Domitian, in whose reign, and by whose order, the Apostle John, was banished upon the Isle of Patmos, in the 95th year of the Christian era; being somewhere between sixteen and twenty five years after the destruction of that city. The Savior, who appeared to John while in banishment, said unto him: "Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give unto every man according as his works shall be." It is plain, therefore, that Christ represented to John, that his coming was yet in the future, even sixteen or twenty-five years after Jerusalem was destroyed. Therefore, so far from that promise being fulfilled at that time, it yet remains to be fulfilled. And we may look with certainty for the Son of God yet to appear in the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. The question now arises; Is the Christian world now prepared to behold the day of the coming of the Lord from heaven? The day that shall burn as an oven, when all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble. This is a question of no ordinary moment. I shall examine it through the glass of the holy scriptures.

The Jews rejected the Messiah when he came to them, and the Gentiles received him; but when he comes the second time, the Gentiles will be entirely unprepared to enjoy his glory; but the Jews will be brought in by virtue of the promise and covenant which God made with their fathers, which I shall attempt to prove from the scriptures.

There was a cause of the Jews rejecting the Redeemer: And what was that cause? It was their previous departure from the law which God gave to them by Moses. The law was given them as a school master to bring them to Christ; and had they not made it void through the tradition of their Elders they would not have disowned their King. The Lord said to them, himself; "If you had believed Moses you would have believed me, for Moses wrote of me. But if ye believed not his writings, how can you believe my words?" the fate which this people met some thirty years after they rejected the counsel of God, is entirely without a parallel in the history of the world. The wretched few that escaped destruction at that time, only seem to have been spared to perpetuate their shame and misery until the day of their redemption, which now, is near at hand.

The Gospel was committed to the Gentiles for the express purpose of preparing them for the second coming of Christ, as the law was given to the Jews to prepare them for his first coming. But the Gentiles have made void the gospel through the tradition of their Elders, which now becomes my painful duty to show: and may the great Shepherd of Israel inspire my heart with a clear view of the fallen state of the christian world at this period, and enable me to declare it with all that

343

sympathy, plainness and christian love, which ever were the characteristics of a servant of the Most High.

In the first place, let me ask: Have the founders of the christian system foretold an apostasy of the church from the true order of worship? They certainly have. Paul says, 2 Thess. 2,3. "Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, &c." Again 1 Tim. 4,1. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." Also 2 Tim. 4, 3 and 4. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables."—These passages clearly show what the churches would do when left to act upon their agency, viz: that they would forsake the truths of God and be turned unto fables and traditions of men.

I will now present the Gentile churches before the glass of the holy scriptures, and see if they possess the same form and beauty now, that they did Eighteen Hundred years ago. When Jesus gave his disciples their last commission to go forth into all the world to preach the gospel, he said unto them: "These signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents: and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover." It appears that this miraculous power did, and ever will continue with true believers: for the same Being who said, "These signs shall follow them that believe," also said, "Though the heavens and the earth pass away, yet my words shall not fail." It is very readily discovered why the above signs do not follow pretended believers; because Jesus never said they should. There is a difference between the spurious and true coin; although the spurious contains some genuine silver, yet it will not lawfully pass, and is, comparatively speaking, of no real value. By a chemical process, we can very readily discover the difference between the pure and the base: so, by an application of the word of God to any religious body, we may soon determine whether they are believers in the scriptural sense of the word; or according to the notions and opinions of uninspired men. Some pretend to say that the promise of Christ to his disciples, that miraculous signs should follow them that believe, was limited to the apostles. But I think that no honest man, who understands enough of English Grammar to tell the difference between the second and third persons, will contend for any such thing. For Jesus did not say: these signs shall follow you, Apostles; but he said: "These signs shall follow them that believe."

Again: Paul said, God set some in the church, first apostles; secondly, prophets, thirdly, teachers; after that miracles; then gifts of healing, helps governments, diversities of tongues.—To one is given by the spirit, the word of wisdom; to another, faith by the same spirit; to another, the word of knowledge by the same spirit; to another the gifts of healing; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues." This seems to have been the gospel and order of worship which Paul advocated and established: and said "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Do the gentile churches, of this day, preach and practice the above order? or have they lost it? They certainly have lost it. And have they not great reason to fear that a curse instead of a blessing will rest upon them. If the Jews were broken off because of unbelief, what must the Gentiles expect, who have not continued in the goodness of the Lord? It really appeared to me that every person who is not biassed [biased] by most unhallowed prejudice, can see that the churches of this day bear but a faint resemblance to those which existed in the days of the Apostles. Whence arises this difference? Do we live under a different dispensation from what they did? If we do, when was the dispensation changed, and by whose authority? If we do not, why not preach and practice the same things which they did?

344

Because those who are determined to support their peculiar creeds at the expense of truth, and the most plain declarations of holy write, which are found written, as with a sunbeam upon almost every page, will deny the possibility of these precious and heavenly blessings being enjoyed by mortals now. But let me ask: Has God changed so much during the last Eighteen Hundred years? The language of the Bible is, "I am the Lord, I change not: Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."

If [I] am aware that there are many who preach for hire, and love to be called of men, Rabbi, &c. who will seek refuge from the arrows of truth behind the bulwarks of affected sanctity, and put the unhallowed influence in operation which they exercise over the hearts and consciences of their deluded followers, to prevent them from hearing, investigating or receiving the truth. Such hiding places may screen iniquity for a time. But when the trump of God shall sound, such bulwarks shall fall to the earth like the walls of Jericho, leaving those who have taken shelter behind them, exposed to the sword of God's indignation which will proceed out of his mouth saying: Depart ye cursed, &c.

How plain it is, therefore, that a great apostasy, from the true apostolic order of worship, has taken place: and it now becomes my duty to show the awful consequences of this apostasy, however painful may be the task. But

Shall I behold the nations doomed

To sword and famine blood and fire?

And not the least exertion make

But from the scene in peace retire?

No. While kind heaven shall lend me

[breath]

Ill sound repentance far abroad;

And tell the nations to prepare

For Jesus Christ, their coming Lord.

The Jews were the natural branches of the good olive tree; but were broken off in consequence of unbelief.—The Gentiles were the branches of a wild olive; but were grafted in, where the natural branches had been broken off; and received of the root and fatness of the pure stock. The apostle, Paul, gave the Gentiles a very solemn warning after they had been grafted into the good olive. See Romans 11, and 22. "Behold the goodness and severity of God; on them which fell, severity: But towards thee, goodness; if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou shalt be cut off." Nothing is more plain than, that the Gentiles have not continued in the goodness of God; but have departed from the faith and purity of the gospel. Query: Must they now be cut off? Jer. 4, 7, will answer this question. "The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste without an inhabitant." Also, Isa. 24th, chap. is a striking exhibition of the fate of the Gentiles in the last days. But the Jews will be grafted back into their own olive tree.—Read Rom. 11, 23-28th.

Many are flattering themselves with the expectation that all the world is going to be converted and brought into the ark of safety. Thus the great millennium, in their opinion, is to be established. Vain, delusive expectation! The Savior said to his disciples; that, "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also, in the days of the coming of the Son of Man."—Again he said: "As it was in the days of Lot; so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man." Query. Were all people converted in the days of Noah, or mostly destroyed? Were the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah saved or destroyed in the days of Lot?—The answers to to these questions are familiar to almost every person, and further comment is necessary.

God will soon begin to manifest his sore displeasure to this generation, and to our own country, by vexation and desolating wars; bloody! bloody in the extreme! The war cloud will arise from an unexpected quarter. The hearts of many, in authority, shall faint, because they shall not know what measure to adopt to avert the calamities of war; so complicated and perplexing shall be the state of affairs at that crisis. Thus will the wicked shortly slay the wicked, except they like the people of Nineveh, speedily repent of their sins which have ascended up, with offence, before the Most High. Wo! wo! to them, saith the Lord, who preach for hire, and pervert the ways of truth. Wo! to them who suffer themselves to be led by the precepts of men, contrary to that which they know to be written in the oracles

345

of truth: they for shall perish! So be unto him who drinketh strong drink, and taketh the name of God in vain! Wo be unto all the wicked ones of the Earth, for the fire of God's jealousy shall consume them, root and branch, except they speedily turn to the Lord. Pestilence and famine will soon show to this generation that the hour of God's judgment hath come. Earthquakes will be more frequent, and destruction in their effects than formerly. Many strange things shall occur which cannot be accounted for. The waves of the sea will soon heave themselves beyond their bounds, laying waste towns and cities; "and truly men's hearts shall fail them for fear." This is the Lord's recompense for the controversy of Zion, whose innocent blood, unavenged, cries to him from the ground. A sort of flies shall go forth among the people, and bite them, and cause worms to come in their flesh, and their flesh shall fall from their bones; and their eyes shall fall out of their sockets; and they shall desire to die; but their desire shall not be granted. Serious losses will soon be sustained both by sea and land; because of whirlwinds and tempests, and devouring fire. The seasons, will henceforth, be more irregular and uncertain in causing the earth to yield her bounty, for the sustenance of her inhabitants. The multiplicity of thefts, robberies and murders, are legitimate fruits of the increasing depravity of man; and shew to us that the world is fast ripening for the judgements of God.

The prime cause of all these calamities coming on the earth, is: the apostasy of the church. If the church was all righteous, they could save the nations from destruction. But the salt has lost its savor; and all men seem determined to pursue their own course. The eyes of Jehovah have not been closed upon the scenes of most abandoned wickedness which have been committed by the world: (The church not being free from the charges.) He has looked down and beheld all your scenes of revelling and drunkenness. He has seen all your frauds—all your evil designs, and all the snares you have laid to take the advantage of your neighbors. He has, also, seen the sterling virtues of many of the fairest portion of his creation, sacrificed upon the altar of infamy and prostitution. All of which have a tendency to increase the displeasure of the Almighty, and draw down upon the world, the storm of his indignation. The wicked will behold these judgments; and know not what they mean: yet the servants of God will view them as tokens of the coming of the Son of Man, as messengers sent before his face to execute vengeance. They will continue the work of destruction until the Savior comes; for,

Lo! he comes with truth and vengeance,

With his garments died in blood;

To redeem his chosen people,

Favor'd children, sons of God.

When Jesus appears in the clouds of heaven, the saints who have slept, will arise from their graves; and those who are living will be changed speedily, and all be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Then shall all the wicked, who have escaped the former judgments, be consumed, root and branch. Then shall the earth be cleansed from pollution; and the Lord descend upon it, and all the saints with him, to reign a thousand years while satan is bound. Then will the saints inherit this promise: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Then one need not say to the other, Know ye the Lord. For they shall all know him, from the least to the greatest. Then the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the great deep. Then shall the saints unite in singing this new song: saying,

"The Lord hath brought again Zion:

The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel,

According to the election of grace,

Which was brought to pass by the faith.

And covenant of their fathers.

The Lord hath redeemed his people;

And Satan is bound, and time is no longer.

The Lord hath gathered all things in one:

The Lord hath brought down Zion from above:

The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath;

The earth hath travailed and bro't forth her strength,

And truth is established in her bowels;

And the Heavens have smiled upon her;

And she is clothed with the glory of her God;

For he stands in the midst of his people.

Glory, and honor, and power, and might,

Be ascribed to our God, for he is full of mercy.

Justice, grace, and truth and peace,

Forever and ever———Amen."

I am unwilling to dismiss this subject, without telling you your duty, in plain terms, that my garments may be clean from your blood in a coming day.

346

The great body of the clergy are acting without authority from God at this time. My reasons for saying so, are these. 1st. The sick are not healed under their hands. 2. They do not confirm those whom they baptize by the laying on of their hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit: and why? because they are not authorized so to do: Yet it appears, that they rather impeach the system of heaven, than their own course in relation to it. But I say, let God be true, and every man a liar. Christ's doctrine was a doctrine of miracles, and healing the sick; and John the Apostle, says: "Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ; he hath both the Father and the Son." Again: Christ said unto the Jews, "He that is of God, heareth God's words. Ye, therefore, hear them not because ye are not of God." How, I ask, can the clergy of this day, be of God; and yet deny all miraculous powers? How can God be with them when they have not abode in the doctrine of Christ?

Now, therefore, the word of the Lord is unto all people: REPENT! REPENT! and be baptized in water for the remission of sins; in the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto that power. There is no class of people exempt from the requirement; but it is in force upon all alike; who have not already obeyed it. Then miraculous signs shall follow you. Pray, therefore, that God may send unto you some servant of his, who is authorized from on high, to administer to you the ordinances of the gospel. Except you do this, you cannot enjoy the celestial glory: But must fall victims to the messengers of destruction, which God will soon send upon the earth.

Now to conclude: I am sensible that I have written in great plainness; and some may consider me quite presumptuous. But I have nothing to retract. "What I have written, I have written;" and that too, under a sense of duty which has been impressed upon me, from the highest authority of which I have any knowledge. The fulfilment of the foregoing predictions, will convince this generation that I have not been presumptuous.

May the great Creator of the Universe, have mercy upon a fallen and perishing world!

N. B. The object of the writer of the above, in pursuing this course, is, that many may be put in possession of this information whose circumstances are such that they do not obtain it by public preaching. Also, it is the present intention of the Author to publish, as soon as circumstances will permit, his Exposition of the Ancient Prophecies, in book form, showing their application to the times in which we live, together with such other matter as he shall think most beneficial to mankind at this period, under the same title which this bears.

June 16, 1836.