A Voice of Warning
by Parley P. Pratt · English · Gutenberg #35554 · 329,831 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: A Voice of Warning
Author: Parley P. Pratt
Release date: March 11, 2011 [eBook #35554]
Most recently updated: January 7, 2021
Language: English
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Credits: Produced by the Mormon Texts Project. Volunteers: Benjamin Bytheway, Meridith Crowder, Ben Crowder, Cameron Dixon, Eric Heaps, Tod Robbins, David Van Leeuwen
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A VOICE OF WARNING ***
Produced by the Mormon Texts Project,
http://bencrowder.net/books/mtp. Volunteers: Benjamin
Bytheway, Meridith Crowder, Ben Crowder, Cameron Dixon,
Eric Heaps, Tod Robbins, David Van Leeuwen.
A VOICE OF WARNING
AND
INSTRUCTION TO ALL PEOPLE,
OR,
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FAITH AND DOCTRINE OF THE
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
By PARLEY P. PRATT.
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I
declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.--_Isaiah xlii,
9_.
Produce your cause, saith the Lord, bring forth your strong reasons,
saith the King of Jacob.--_Isaiah xli, 24_.
ELEVENTH EDITION.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH:
DESERET NEWS COMPANY, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS,
1881.
CONTENTS.
Preface to the Second European Edition
Preface to the First American Edition
CHAPTER I.
On Prophecy already Fulfilled.
CHAPTER II.
On the Fulfilment of Prophecy yet future.
CHAPTER III.
The Kingdom of God.
CHAPTER IV.
The Book of Mormon--Origin of the American Indians, etc.
CHAPTER V.
The Resurrection of the Saints, and the Restoration of all things
spoken by the Prophets.
CHAPTER VI.
The dealings of God with all Nations in regard to Revelation.
CHAPTER VII.
A Contrast between the Doctrine of Christ, and the False Doctrines
of the nineteenth century.
PREFACE
TO THE SECOND EUROPEAN EDITION.
When the following Work was first published in America, in 1837, it
was but little known, and seemed to meet with little or no
encouragement. Months passed away, and very few copies were sold or
read. But, to the astonishment of the author, it worked itself into
notice more and more, by the blessing of God, and by virtue of its own
real merits; till, in two years, the first edition, consisting of
three thousand copies, was all sold, and many more were called for. A
new edition was published in 1839, consisting of two thousand five
hundred copies; these were also disposed of. Other three editions have
since been published, making in all thirteen thousand copies now
disposed of, and the demand is still increasing both in America and
Europe.
It has already found its way into most of the American States, and
into the provinces of the Canadas, as well as many parts of England,
Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. It has visited the cottages of the
humble, and the parlors of the great; and from the best information we
have on the subject, very few have risen from its perusal without a
deep and settled conviction of the truth of its principles.
The author has now in his possession the testimony of hundreds of
people, from different states and nations, all bearing witness that
this Work has been a means, in the hands of God, of saving them from
infidelity, from sectarian error and delusion, and of guiding them
into the light of TRUTH.
All these considerations, and an intense desire to impart the truth to
mankind as widely as possible, have induced the author to send forth
this new edition; which he greatly desires may prove a blessing to
thousands who are yet grovelling in darkness and superstition, and
lead them to the true fold of God.
If there be anything to admire, or anything praiseworthy in this Work,
the author has no claim to the honor or the praise; it is justly due
to Him who is the Source and Fountain of all TRUTH. The author was a
husbandman, inured to the plow--unpolished by education, untaught in
the schools of modern Sectarianism, (falsely called "Divinity")--
reared in the wilds of America, with a mind independent, untrammelled
and free. He drank of the pure fountain of Truth, unsullied and
unmixed, as it unfolded in majesty of light and splendor from the
opening heavens in all the simplicity of its nature. As such it has
flowed from his pen in the following volume; not veiled in mystery;
not dressed in the pomp of high-sounding names, and titles, and
learned terms; not adorned in the gay attire of eloquence flowing from
the imagination and the passions; but standing forth in the undress of
its own native modesty, as if conscious of the purity and innocence of
its nature.
He is indebted not only to the _Spirit_ of Truth for the principles
contained in this Work, but also to several men, who have been made
the instruments in the hands of God, to reveal the knowledge of God to
this generation, and to be the founders and leaders of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Among the foremost of these, he would make honorable mention of
President Joseph Smith, by whose instrumentality most of these
glorious truths (so well known to the ancients) have been restored to
the knowledge of the world--and whose zeal, labors, sufferings, and
subsequent murder, will stand forth as a bright memorial to all
succeeding ages, and be celebrated by happy millions yet unborn.
With an assurance that the principles of this Work will yet prevail
over the whole earth, this new edition of the VOICE OF WARNING is now
sent forth; and should the author be called to sacrifice his life for
the cause of Truth, he will have the consolation that it will be said
of him, as it was said of Abel, viz: "HE, BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKETH."
PARLEY P. PRATT.
Manchester, England,
Dec. 4, 1846.
PREFACE
TO THE FIRST AMERICAN EDITION.
During the last nine years, the public mind has been constantly
agitated, more or less, through all parts of our country, with the cry
of "Mormonism, Mormonism, Delusion, Imposture, Fanaticism," etc.,
chiefly through the instrumentality of the press. Many of the
newspapers of the day have been constantly teeming with
misrepresentations and slanders of the foulest kind, in order to
destroy the influence and character of an innocent society in its very
infancy; a society of whose real principles many of them know nothing
at all. Every species of wickedness has been resorted to, and all
manner of evil has been spoken against them falsely; insomuch, that in
many places, houses and ears are closed against them, without the
possibility of being heard for a moment.
Were this the only evil, we might have less cause of complaint; but in
consequence of this we have been assaulted by mobs, some of our houses
have been torn down or burned, our goods destroyed, and fields of
grain laid waste. Yea, more--some of us have been stoned, whipped, and
shot; our blood has been caused to flow, and still smokes to heaven,
because of our religious principles, in this our native land, the
boasted land of liberty and equal law! while we have sought in vain
for redress. Officers of state have been deaf to the voice of
Innocence, imploring at their feet for justice and protection in the
enjoyment of rights as American citizens.
Under these circumstances, what could be done? How were we to correct
the public mind? We were few in number, and our means of giving
information very limited; the columns of most of the papers were
closed against us, their popularity being at stake the moment our
principles were admitted. It is true we published a monthly paper, in
which our principles were clearly set forth; but its circulation was
limited to a few thousands. Under these circumstances, had we the
tongue of angels, and the zeal of Apostles, with our hearts expanded
wide as eternity, with the intelligence of heaven, and the love of God
burning in our bosoms; and commissioned to bear as joyful tidings as
ever were borne by Michael, the Archangel, from the regions of glory;
yet, it would have been as impossible for us to have communicated the
same to the public, as it was for Paul, when he stood in the midst of
Ephesus, to declare the glad tidings of a crucified and risen
Redeemer, when his voice was lost amid the universal cry of "Great is
Diana of the Ephesians!"
Go, lift your voice to the tumultuous waves of the ocean, or try to
reason amid the roar of cannon while the tumult of war is gathering
thick around, or speak to the howling tempest while it pours a deluge
over the plains; let your voice be heard amid the roar of chariots
rushing suddenly over the pavements; or, what is still less useful,
converse with a man who is lost in slumbers, or reason with a drunkard
while he reels to and fro under the influence of the intoxicating
poison, and those will convince you of the impossibility of
communicating truth to that soul who is willing to make up his
judgment upon popular rumor, or to be wafted gently down the current
of public opinion, without stopping for a moment to listen, to weigh,
to hear both sides of the question, and judge for himself.
One of the greatest obstacles in the way of the spread of truth, in
every age, is the tide of public opinion. Let one ray of light burst
upon the world in any age, and it is sure to come in contact with the
traditions and long-established usages of men, and their opinions; or
with some religious craft, so that, like the Ephesians, they counsel
together what shall be done; their great goddess will be spoken
against, her magnificence despised, her temple deserted; or, what is
still worse, their craft is in danger, for by this they have their
wealth. Call to mind the Apostles in contact with the Jewish Rabbis,
or with Gentile superstitions; in short, at war with every religious
establishment on the earth. Witness the popular clamor: "If we let
them thus alone, all men will believe on them, and the Romans will
come and take away our place and nation." "These men that turn the
world upside down have come hither also." "What new doctrine is this,
for thou bringest certain strange things to our ears?" "These men do
exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs which are not lawful
for us to receive, being Romans." "What will this babbler say, he
seems to be a setter forth of strange gods?" And many other such like
sayings.
Or, let us for a moment contemplate the events of later date; for
instance, the Mother Church against the reformers of various ages; see
them belied, slandered, degraded, whipped, stoned, imprisoned, burned,
and destroyed in various ways, while the ignorant multitude were made
to believe they were the very worst of men.
Again, think for a moment of the struggles of Columbus, an obscure
individual of limited education, but blessed with a largeness of
heart, a noble genius, a mind which disdained to confine itself to the
old beaten track; accustomed to think for itself, it burst the chains
which, in ages past, had held in bondage the nations of the earth; it
soared aloft, as it were on eagle's wings; it outstripped and left far
behind the boasted genius of Greece and Rome; it penetrated the dark
mysteries which lay concealed amid the western waters. Behold him
struggling for eight years against the learned ignorance of the courts
and councils of Europe, while the sneer of contempt, the finger of
scorn, and the hiss of derision, were the solid arguments opposed to
his theory.
But what was the result when, after many a fruitless struggle, an
expedition was fitted out, consisting of three small vessels? A new
world presented itself to the wondering nations of the East, destined,
at no distant period, to become the theatre of the most glorious and
astonishing events of the last days. This fact was no sooner
demonstrated than their philosophical, geographical, and religious
objections vanished in a moment; haughty ignorance and bigotry were
for once constrained to cast their honors in the dust, and bow their
reverend heads at the feet of real worth, and learn, in humble
silence, that one fact, clearly demonstrated, was worth ten thousand
theories and opinions of men.
Having said so much to impress upon the human mind the necessity of
hearing, and then judging, I would only add, that the object of this
publication is to give the public correct information concerning a
religious system, which has penetrated every State from Maine to
Missouri, as well as the Canadas, in the short space of nine years;
organizing Churches and Conferences in every region, and gathering in
its progress from fifty to a hundred thousand disciples; having, at
the same time, to sustain the shock of an overwhelming, religious
influence, opposed to it by the combined powers of every sect in
America. What but the arm of Omnipotence could have moved it forward
amid the rage of mobs? having to contend with the prejudice of the
ignorant and the pen of the learned; at war with every creed and craft
in Christendom; while the combined powers of earth and hell were
hurling a storm of persecution, unparalleled in the history of our
country.
This Work is also intended as a warning voice, or proclamation of
truth, to all people into whose hands it may fall, that they may
understand, and be prepared for the great day of the Lord. Opinion and
guesswork in the things of God are worse than useless; facts, well
demonstrated, can alone be of service to mankind. And as the Holy
Ghost can alone guide us into all truth, we pray God the Eternal
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ His Son, that the Spirit of Truth
may inspire our hearts in inditing this matter; that we may be able to
write the truth in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that it
may be the word of God, the everlasting Gospel, the power of God unto
salvation, to the Gentile first, and also to the Jew.
A VOICE OF WARNING
AND
INSTRUCTION TO ALL PEOPLE.
CHAPTER I.
ON PROPHECY ALREADY FULFILLED.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well
that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: knowing
this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private
interpretation; for the prophecy came not in old time by the will
of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved upon by the
Holy Ghost.--PETER.
In order to prove anything from Scripture, it is highly necessary in
the first place to lay down some certain, definite, infallible rule of
interpretation, without which the mind is lost in uncertainty and
doubt, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth.
The neglect of such a rule has thrown mankind into the utmost
confusion and uncertainty in all their biblical researches. Indeed,
while mankind are left at liberty to transform, spiritualize, or give
any uncertain or private interpretation to the word of God, all is
uncertainty.
"Whatsoever was written aforetime, was written for our profit and
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures,
might have hope." Now, suppose a friend from a distance should write
us a letter, making certain promises to us on certain conditions,
which, if we obtained, would be greatly to our profit and advantage:
of course it might be said the letter was written for our profit and
learning, that through patience and comfort of the letter we might
have hope to obtain the things promised. Now if we clearly understood
the letter, and knew what to expect, then it would afford us comfort
and hope; whereas, if there was any doubt or uncertainty on our minds
in the understanding of the same, then could we derive no certain
comfort or hope from the things written, not knowing what to hope for;
consequently the letter would not profit us at all. And so it is with
the Scriptures. No prophecy or promise will profit the reader, or
produce patience, comfort, or hope in his mind until clearly
understood, that he may know precisely what to hope for. Now, the
predictions of the Prophets can be clearly understood, as much so as
the almanac when it foretells an eclipse; or else the Bible of all
books is of most doubtful usefulness. Far better would it have been
for mankind, if the great Author of our existence had revealed nothing
to His fallen creatures, than to have revealed a book which would
leave them in doubt and uncertainty, to contend with one another, from
age to age, respecting the meaning of its contents. That such
uncertainty and contention have existed for ages, none will deny. The
wise and learned have differed, and do still widely differ, from each
other, in the understanding of prophecy. Whence then this difference?
Either Revelation itself is deficient, or else the fault is in
mankind. But to say Revelation is deficient, would be to charge God
foolishly; God forbid: the fault must be in man. There are two great
causes for this blindness, which I will now show:
First, mankind have supposed that direct inspiration by the Holy Ghost
was not intended for all ages of the Church, but was confined to
primitive times; the "Canon of Scripture being full," and all things
necessary being revealed; the Spirit which guides into all truth was
no longer for the people: therefore they sought to understand, by
their own wisdom, and by their own learning, what could never be
clearly understood, except by the Spirit of Truth: for the things of
God knoweth no man, except by the Spirit of God.
Secondly, having lost the Spirit of Inspiration, they began to
institute their own opinions, traditions, and commandments; giving
constructions and private interpretations to the written word, instead
of believing the things written. And the moment they departed from its
literal meaning, one man's opinion, or interpretation, was just as
good as another's; all were clothed with equal authority, and from
thence arose all the darkness and misunderstanding on these points,
which have agitated the world for the last seventeen hundred years.
Among the variety of commodities which attract the attention of
mankind, there is one thing of more value than all others. A principle
which, if once possessed, will greatly assist in obtaining all other
things worth possessing, whether it were power, wealth, riches,
honors, thrones, or dominions. Comparatively few have ever possessed
it, although it was within the reach of many others, but they were
either not aware of it, or did not know its value. It has worked
wonders for the few who have possessed it. Some it enabled to escape
from drowning, while every soul who did not possess it was lost in the
mighty deep. Others it saved from famine, while thousands perished all
around them; by it men have often been raised to dignity in the state;
yea, more, some have been raised to the throne of empires. The
possession of it has sometimes raised men from a dungeon to a palace;
and there are instances in which those that possessed it were
delivered from the flames, while cities were consumed, and every soul,
themselves excepted, perished. Frequently, when a famine or the sword
has destroyed a city or nation, they alone who possessed it escaped
unhurt. By this time the reader inquires, What can this be? Inform me,
and I will purchase it, even at the sacrifice of all I possess on
earth. Well, kind reader, this treasure is FOREKNOWLEDGE! a knowledge
of things future! Let a book be published, entitled, "A Knowledge of
the Future," and let mankind be really convinced that it did give a
certain, definite knowledge of future events, so that its pages unfold
the future history of the nations, and of many great events, as the
history of Greece or Rome does unfold the past, and a large edition
would immediately sell at a great sum per copy; indeed, they would be
above all price. Now, kind reader, the books of the Prophets, and the
Spirit of Prophecy were intended for this very purpose. Well did the
Apostle say, "Covet earnestly the best gifts; but rather that ye
prophesy."
Having said so much, we will now enter into the wide expanded field
which lies before us, and search out the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge which have been shining for ages like a light in a dark
place. We will explore regions unknown to many; we will gaze upon the
opening glories which present themselves on every side, and feast our
souls with knowledge which is calculated in its nature to enlarge the
heart, to exalt the mind, and to raise the affections above the
little, mean, grovelling things of the world, and to make one wise
unto salvation.
But, first, for the definite rule of interpretation. For this we will
not depend on any man or commentary, for the Holy Ghost has given it
by the mouth of Peter: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
Scripture is of any private interpretation." 2 Peter i, 20.
There is one grand division to be kept constantly, in view in the
study of prophecy; namely, the distinction between the past and the
future. The reader should be careful to ascertain what portion has
been fulfilled, and what remains to be fulfilled: always remembering
Peter's rule of interpretation will apply to both. Now, if we should
find in our researches that every prophecy which has been fulfilled to
the present year, has been _literally_ fulfilled, then it follows of
necessity that every prophecy which is yet future will not fail of a
_literal_ fulfilment. Let us commence with the days of Noah. Gen. vi,
17: "And behold I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth,
to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under
heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die."
In the verses which follow the above the Lord commands Noah to enter
the Ark, and take with him animals of every kind, etc. And in the 22d
verse it is written, "Thus did Noah, according to all that God
commanded him, so did he." It was well for Noah that he was not well
versed in the spiritualizing systems of modern divinity; for, under
their benighted influence, he would never have believed that so
marvelous a prophecy would have had a literal meaning and
accomplishment. No, he would have been told that the flood meant a
spiritual flood, and the Ark a spiritual Ark, and, the moment he
thought otherwise, he would have been set down for a fanatic, knave,
or fool; but it was so, that he was just simple enough to believe the
prophecy literally. Here then is a fair sample of _foreknowledge_; for
all the world, who did not possess it, perished by the flood.
The next prediction we will notice is Gen. xv, 13-16. "And he said
unto Abraham. Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a
land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict
them four hundred years. And also that nation, whom they shall serve,
will I judge; and afterwards shall they come out with great substance.
And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a
good old age; but in the fourth generation they shall come hither
again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full."
The evil entreating of the children of Israel four hundred years,
together with their coming out with great substance, and the judgment
of God upon Egypt, as well as the death of Abraham in a good old age,
are all facts too well known to need comment here; suffice it to say,
that it is a striking example of the exact fulfilment of prophecy,
uttered more than four hundred years before it had its accomplishment.
From this we gather that none of those ancient men knew anything of
the modern system of spiritualizing.
Our next is Gen. xix, 12, 13: "And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou
here any besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and
whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: for we
will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxed great before
the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it." Now,
Lot being simple enough to believe the thing in its literal sense,
took as many of his family as would follow, and escaped for his life;
to the great amusement, no doubt, of the Sodomites, who probably stood
gazing after, crying "Delusion, delusion!" they thinking all the while
that the prophecy was only a figure. Here is an example of a man
escaping from the flames by _foreknowledge_ imparted to him, while the
whole city perished. O! what a blessing that Lot had no knowledge of
the modern manner of interpreting prophecy. If it had once entered his
heart that he must come out of Sodom spiritually, instead of
literally, it would have cost him his life.
Let us examine a prophecy of Joseph in the land of Egypt. Gen. xli,
29-31: "Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all
the land of Egypt: and there shall arise after them seven years of
famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt;
and the famine shall consume the land: and the plenty shall not be
known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be
very grievous." Joseph then proceeds to give directions for corn to be
laid up in great abundance during the seven plenteous years, in order
to provide against the famine. And Pharaoh, being no better versed in
the school of modern divinity than his predecessors, never once
thought of any other interpretation but the most literal, And thus he
was the means, together with Joseph, in the hand of God, of saving,
not only their nation, but the house of Israel, from famine. This is
another striking example of the power of _foreknowledge_. _It_ not
only saved from famine, but it exalted Joseph from a dungeon to a
palace; from the lowest degradation to the highest honor; so that they
cried before him, "Bow the knee!" But, O! what death and mourning
would have followed had they dreamed only of spiritual famine and
spiritual corn.
Having given a few plain examples of early ages, we will lightly touch
upon some of the most remarkable events of prophecy, and its
fulfilment, until we come down to the Jewish Prophets, where the field
opens wide, touching in its progress the most remarkable events of all
ages, and terminating in a full development of the opening glories of
the last days.
One remarkable instance, concerning Elijah the Prophet, was, that he
prophesied to Ahab that it should not rain for three years and
upwards, which came to pass according to his word. There is also a
remarkable instance of Hazael, the Syrian, who came to Elisha to
inquire of the Lord concerning the king of Syria, his master, who was
sick. The Prophet, earnestly beholding him, burst into tears: and
Hazael asked him, saying, "Why weepest thou?" and he, answering, said,
"The Lord hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria." And he
then proceeded to unfold unto him the cruelties which he would
afterwards exercise towards Israel, which are too horrible to mention
here, lest in so doing I might offend the delicate ear. But Hazael,
astonished to hear these things predicted concerning himself, which at
that time filled him with horror, exclaimed with surprise, "But what?
is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?" Yet
astonishing to tell, all was afterwards fulfilled to the very letter.
In the 21st chapter, 2 Chron., it is written that there came a writing
to Jehoram from Elijah, which, after stating the great wickedness of
which he had been guilty, in turning to idolatry, and also murdering
his brethren of his father's house, who were better than himself,
proceeds thus: "Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy
people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods; and thou
shalt have great sickness by disease of the bowels, until thy bowels
fall out, by reason of thy sickness, day by day." In the same chapter
it is written, that the Philistines and Arabians came against him, and
took his wives, and children, and goods captive; and after all this,
the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease, and his
bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, so he died of sore disease.
In the 6th chapter of Joshua, 26th verse, there is a wonderful
prediction concerning Jericho: "Cursed be the man before the Lord,
that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho. He shall lay the
foundation thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest son shall he
set up the gates of it."
After this curse the city of Jericho lay waste for ages, none daring
to rebuild it at the expense of their first-born and of their youngest
son; until after a long succession of judges and kings, when hundreds
of years had passed, Hiel the Bethelite, who lived in the days of
Ahab, probably supposing that the Lord had forgotten the curse
pronounced upon it by Joshua, ventured to rebuild the city: but no
sooner had he laid the foundation thereof than Abiram his first-born
died, and, still persevering in the hardness of his heart, he set up
the gates thereof, with the loss of his youngest son, Segub, according
to the word of the Lord by Joshua; see 1 Kings, xvi, 34. We might
fill a volume with instances of a similar kind, dispersed through the
historical part of the Scriptures; but we forbear, in order to hasten
to a more full examination of the books of the Jewish Prophets. We
shall trace them in their fulfilment upon Jerusalem, Babylon, Tyre,
Egypt, and various other nations.
Babylon, the most ancient and renowned city of the world, was
pleasantly situated on the banks of a majestic river, that flowed
through the plains of Shinar, near to which the tower of Babel once
stood. It was laid out four square, and surrounded with a wall upwards
of three hundred feet high, and sixty miles in circumference; having a
hundred gates of brass with bars of iron; twenty-five gates on each
side, which opened to streets running through the city, a distance of
fifteen miles; thus forming the whole city into exact squares of equal
size. In the midst of these squares were beautiful gardens, adorned
with trees and walks, diversified with flowers of varied hue; while
the houses were built upon the borders of the squares, directly
fronting on the streets. In the midst of this city sat Nebuchadnezzar,
enthroned in royal splendor and magnificence, and swaying his sceptre
over all the kingdoms of the world, when it pleased God, in a vision
of the night, to unveil the dark curtain of the future, and to present
before him, at one view, the history of the world, even down to the
consummation of all things. Behold, a great image stood before him,
whose head was of fine gold, his breast and arms of silver, his belly
and thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet and toes part of iron
and part of miry clay. He beheld, till a stone was cut out of the
mountain without hands, which smote the image upon the feet, which
were part of iron and part of clay, and brake them in pieces; then was
the iron, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces
together, and became as the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and
the wind carried them away, and there was no place found for them; but
the stone which smote the image became a great mountain, and filled
the whole earth. When Daniel was brought in before the king, to tell
the dream and the interpretation, he exclaimed, "There is a God in
heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king,
Nebuchadnezzar, what shall be in the latter days." Then, after telling
the dream, he continues thus: "Thou, O king, art a king of kings; for
the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and
glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the
field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and
hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou _art_ this head of gold. And
after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another
third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And
the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh
in pieces and subdueth all _things_; and as iron that breaketh all
these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest
the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the
kingdom shall be divided: but there shall be in it of the strength of
the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And
_as_ the toes of the feet _were_ part of iron, and part of clay, _so_
the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas
thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves
with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even
as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall
the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed:
and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, _but_ it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand
forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the
mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the
brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made
known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter; and the dream
_is_ certain, and the interpretation thereof sure."
In this great view of the subject we have presented before us, in
succession, first, the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar; second, the Medes
and Persians, who took Babylon from Belshazzar, and reigned over all
the earth; third, the Greeks under Alexander, who conquered the world,
and reigned in the midst of Babylon; and fourth, the Roman empire,
which subdued all things; fifth, its division into eastern and western
empires, and its final breaking up or subdivision into the various
kingdoms of modern Europe, represented by the feet and toes, part of
iron and part of clay. And, lastly, we have presented before us an
entirely new kingdom, organized by the God of heaven in the last days,
or during the reign of these kings, represented by the feet and toes.
This last kingdom was never to change masters, like all the kingdoms
which had gone before it. It was never to be left to another people.
It was to break in pieces all these kingdoms, and stand forever. Many
suppose that this last kingdom alluded to was the kingdom of God which
was organized in the days of Christ, or his Apostles. But a greater
_blunder_ could not exist; the kingdom of God set up in the days of
Christ, or his Apostles, did not break in pieces any of the kingdoms
of the world: it was itself warred against and overcome, in fulfilment
of the words of Daniel, chapter vii, 21; "I beheld, and the same horn
made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;" also 22d verse,
"Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints
of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the
kingdom;" also verse 27th, "And the kingdom and dominion, and the
greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, shall be given to
the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom; and all dominions shall serve and obey him."
John records, Rev. xiii. 7, "And it was given unto him to make war
with the saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over
all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." In fulfilment of these
sayings, power has been given, to the authorities of the earth to kill
the Apostles and inspired men, until, if any remained, they were
banished from among men, or forced to retire to the desolate islands,
or the dens and caves of the mountains of the earth, being men of whom
the world was not worthy; while at the same time, many false prophets
and teachers were introduced in their place, whom men heaped to
themselves, because they would not endure sound doctrine. In this way
the kingdom of God became _disorganized_, and _lost_ from among men,
and the doctrines and churches of men instituted in its place. But we
design to speak more fully on this subject when we come to treat on
the subject of the kingdom of God. Suffice it to say, that the kingdom
spoken of by Daniel is something to be organized in the last days, by
the God of heaven Himself, without the aid of human institutions or
the precepts of men. And, when once organized, it will never cease to
roll; all the powers of earth and hell will not impede its progress,
until at length the Ancient of Days shall sit, and the Lord Jesus will
come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory, as the King
of kings, and Lord of lords, and destroy all these kingdoms, and give
the kingdom and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven,
to the Saints. Then there will be but one Lord, and His name one, and
He shall be King over all the earth.
We will now return to Nebuchadnezzar, whom the Lord, by the mouth of
Jeremiah, calls His servant, to execute His judgment upon the nations.
It seems that the Lord exalted this great man, and made him a king of
kings, and lord of lords, arming him with His own sword, and clothing
him with power and authority, for the express purpose of executing His
judgments, and scourging and humbling all the nations of the earth.
Jeremiah, chapter xxv, says that the Lord purposed to bring
Nebuchadnezzar and his army against Jerusalem, and against all the
nations round about, that he might bring them to desolation and
captivity for seventy years; and after seventy years, He would turn
and punish the king of Babylon and that nation for their iniquity.
Now, who can trace the history of the fulfilment of these great
events, so exactly pointed out by Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, and
not be struck with astonishment and wonder at the marvellous _gift of
prophecy_ enabling men in those days to read the history of the future
as they read the history of the past? Indeed, the reader of history in
the nineteenth century, holding in his hand the history of the
Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Greeks, Romans and Egyptians,
together with that of the Jews, will hardly render himself more
familiar with the events which transpired among those nations, than
the Prophets were seventy years previous to their accomplishment.
The Jews were reduced to subjection by Nebuchadnezzar; their city,
Jerusalem, was burned, together with their temple; their princes,
nobles, and people were carried to Babylon, together with all their
holy things. All the particulars of this destruction and captivity
were distinctly foretold by Jeremiah, and the time of its continuance,
viz., seventy years. After subduing the Jews, the king of Babylon
marched his army against Tyre, the city of merchants, situated at the
haven of the sea, surrounded not only by the sea, but by a strong
wall. A hold so strong required the utmost skill and perseverance of
Nebuchadnezzar and his whole army, who labored incessantly for a long
time, and at length succeeded in taking Tyre, and bringing it into
captivity for seventy years. After which they returned and established
their city, for Jeremiah had previously foretold the reduction of
Tyre, its captivity for seventy years, and its restoration at the
expiration of that time. After the restoration of Tyre, the city
flourished for a time, but was afterwards reduced to an entire
desolation. Its ruined fragments are seen to this day in the bottom of
the sea; its site has become a barren rock, only occupied by poor
fishermen. All this desolation, and even its present appearance of
desolation and perpetual waste, were clearly pointed out by the
Prophets.
But when the king of Babylon had succeeded in taking Tyre, after many
a bald head and peeled shoulder, caused by the hard service of his
army in the siege, the Lord, by the mouth of Ezekiel, promised to give
the spoils of Egypt unto him, for wages for his army, in order to pay
him for the great service, wherewith he had served God, against Tyre.
Next, witness his war in the taking of Egypt, and bringing it into
captivity, until the seventy years were accomplished.
And, finally, trace him executing the Lord's vengeance and anger
against Uz, upon the kings of the Philistines, and Askelon, Azaah;
Ekrom, Edom, Moab, Ammon; Dedan, Tema, and Buz; and upon the kings of
Arabia, Zimri and Elam; and upon all the kings of the Medes; and upon
all the kings of the north, far and near; and finally upon all the
kingdoms of the world, who were to be drunken, and spew, and fall to
rise no more, because of the sword which He would send among them.
But, when the Lord had accomplished all his mind on these nations, He
purposed, in turn, to punish this great monarch, and those who
succeeded him; and also the city and nation over which he reigned; and
finally to make it perpetual desolations. And all this for their pride
and haughtiness. The Lord exclaims: "Shall the ax boast itself against
him that heweth therewith, or shall the saw boast itself against him
that shaketh it?" etc. But, in order to trace the events of the return
of the Jews, and the other nations, from their seventy years'
captivity and bondage, and the punishment of Babylon, another and very
different character from that of Nebuchadnezzar is introduced by the
Prophets--one who is in Scripture termed the Lord's anointed. He may
be considered one of the most extraordinary characters that ever the
heathen world produced: his mildness, courage, perseverance, success,
and, above all, his strict obedience to the command of _that_ God
which neither he nor his fathers had known, all go to prove that
Isaiah was not mistaken when he called him by name, as the Lord's
anointed, to deliver the nations from bondage, to scourge and subdue
the greatest city and monarchy that have at any time existed on the
earth, and to restore the Jews, and rebuild their city and temple.
Indeed, he was one of those few whom the world never produces except
for extraordinary purposes. But let us hear the Prophet's own
description of him, Isaiah, chapter xlv: "Thus saith the Lord to his
anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden to subdue nations
before him: and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him
the two-leaved gates, and the gates shall not be shut. I will go
before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in
pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron. And I
will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret
places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy
name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel
mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee,
though thou hast not known me. I am the Lord, and there is none else,
there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known
me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west,
that there is none besides me." In the 13th verse, he says: "I have
raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he
shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price
nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts." The reader will bear in mind
that Isaiah lived about one hundred years before the Jewish captivity,
and one hundred and seventy years before Cyrus caused their return.
Here I would pause and inquire, What power but the power of the great
God could enable one man to call another by name, a century before his
birth, and also to foretell correctly the history of his life? What
must have been his wonder and astonishment, when, after many years of
wars and commotions, during which he marched forth, conquering and to
conquer, gathering as a nest the riches of the nations, he at last
pitched his camp near the walls of the strongest hold in all the
earth? He gazed upon its walls of upwards of three hundred feet in
height, with its gates of brass and its bars of iron: the people
within feeling perfectly safe, with provisions enough to last the
inhabitants of the city for several years. How could he think of
taking that city? Who would not have shrunk from such an undertaking,
unless inspired by the great Jehovah? But, turning the river Euphrates
from its course, and marching under the walls of the city, in the
dried bed of the river, he found himself in possession of the city,
without any difficulty; for Belshazzar, the king, was drinking himself
drunk, with his nobles and concubines, and that, too, from the vessels
of the House of the Lord which his father had taken from Jerusalem,
and his knees had already smote together with horror, from the
handwriting on the wall, which Daniel had just been called in to
interpret, giving his kingdom to the Medes and Persians. Having
subdued this great monarchy, he seated himself upon the throne of
kingdoms; and, becoming familiar with Daniel, he was, no doubt,
introduced to an acquaintance with the Jewish records, and then the
mystery was unfolded: he could then see that God had called him by
name, that the Almighty hand girded him for the battle, and directed
all his work; he could then understand why the treasures of the earth
poured themselves into his bosom, and why the loins of kings had been
unloosed before him, and why the gates of brass had been opened, and
the bars of iron burst asunder. It was that he might know that there
was a God in Israel, and none else, and that all idols were as
nothing; that he might also restore the Jews, and rebuild their city
and temple, and fulfil God's purposes upon Babylon. He accordingly
issued his proclamation to the Jews to return, and for the nations to
assist them in rebuilding, "for," said he, "God hath commanded me to
build him an house at Jerusalem." Ezra, chapter i, 2, 3, says: "Thus
saith Cyrus, king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all
the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an
house at Jerusalem, which is in Judea. Who is there among you of all
his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which
is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, he is the
God which is in Jerusalem."
What powerful argument, what mighty influence was it which caused
Cyrus to be convinced that it was the God of heaven who dwelt at
Jerusalem, who alone was God, and who had done all these things? He
had not been traditioned in the belief of the true God, nor of the
holy Scriptures. Nay, he had ever been very zealous in the worship of
idols; it was to idols he looked for assistance in the former part of
his life. I reply, it was the power of God, made manifest by prophecy
and its fulfilment; not in a spiritualized sense, not in some obscure,
uncertain, or dark, mysterious way, which was difficult to be
understood; but in positive, literal, plain demonstration, which none
could gainsay or resist. Isaiah says that this was the object the Lord
had in view when he revealed such plainness. And Cyrus manifested that
it had the desired effect.
I would here remark that when we come to treat of that part of
prophecy which yet remains to be fulfilled, we shall bring proof
positive that the heathen nations of the latter days are to be
convinced in the same way that Cyrus was; that is, there are certain
events plainly predicted in the Prophets, yet future, which, when
fulfilled, will convince all the heathen nations of the true God, and
they shall know that he hath spoken and performed it. And all the
great and learned men of Christendom, and all societies, who put any
other than a _literal_ construction on the word of prophecy, shall
stand confounded, and be constrained to acknowledge that all has come
to pass even as it is written.
But to return to our research of prophecy and its fulfilment. The
Prophets had not only predicted the reduction of Babylon by Cyrus, but
they had denounced its fate through all ages, until reduced to entire
desolation, never to be inhabited, not even as a temporary residence
for the wandering Arab: "And the Arabian shall not pitch tent there."
See Isaiah, xiii, 19-22.
Mr. Joseph Wolfe, the celebrated Jewish missionary, while traveling in
Chaldea, inquired of the Arabs whether they pitched their tents among
the ruins of Babylon, to which they replied in the negative, declaring
their fears that, should they do so, Nimrod's ghost would haunt them.
Thus all the predictions of the Prophets concerning that mighty city
have been fulfilled.
Edom also presents a striking fulfilment of plain and pointed
predictions in the Prophets. These predictions were pronounced upon
Edom at a time when its soil was very productive and well cultivated,
and everywhere abounding in flourishing towns and cities. But now its
cities have become heaps of desolate ruins, only inhabited by the
cormorant, bittern, and by wild beasts, serpents, etc., and its soil
has become barren; the Lord has cast upon it the line of confusion,
and the stones of emptiness, and it has been waste from generation to
generation, in express fulfilment of the word of prophecy.
We will now give a passing notice of the vision of Daniel, recorded in
the eighth chapter of his prophecies, concerning the ram and the goat.
The reader would do well to turn and read the whole chapter; but we
will more particularly notice the interpretation, as it was given him
by Gabriel, recorded from the nineteenth to the twenty-fifth verses.
And he said: "I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of
the indignation, for at the time appointed the end shall be. The ram
which thou sawest having two horns, are the kings of Media and Persia:
and the rough goat is the king of Grecia; and the great horn that is
between the eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas
four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation,
but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when
the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance,
and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up; and his power shall
be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully,
and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the
holy people; and through his policy also he shall cause craft to
prosper in his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and
by peace shall destroy many; he shall also stand up against the Prince
of princes; but he shall be broken without hand." In this vision we
have first presented the Medes and Persians, as they were to exist
until they were conquered by Alexander the Great. Now, it is a fact
well known that this empire waxed exceedingly great for some time
after the death of Daniel, pushing its conquests westward, northward,
and southward, so that none could stand before it; until Alexander,
the king of Grecia, came from the west, with a small army of chosen
men, and attacked the Persians upon the banks of the river, and
plunging his horse in, and his army following, they crossed, and
attacked the Persians, who stood to oppose them on the bank with many
times their number; but, notwithstanding their number, and their
advantage of the ground, they were totally routed, and the Grecians
proceeded to overrun and subdue the country, beating the Persians in a
number of pitched battles, until they were entirely subdued. It is
also well known that Alexander, the king of Greece, went forth from
nation to nation, subduing the world before him, until, having
conquered the world, he died at Babylon, at the age of thirty-two
years. And thus, when he had waxed strong, the great horn was broken,
and for it came up four notable ones towards the four winds of heaven.
His kingdom was divided among four of his generals, who never attained
unto his power. Now, in the latter time of their kingdom, when the
transgression of the Jewish nation was come to the full, the Roman
power destroyed the Jewish nation, took Jerusalem, caused the daily
sacrifice to cease, and not only that, bat afterwards destroyed the
mighty and holy people, that is, the Apostles and primitive
Christians, who were slain by the authorities at Rome.
Now, let me inquire, Does the history of these United States give a
plainer account of past events than Daniel's wisdom did of events
which were then future, and some of them reaching down the stream of
time for several hundred years, unfolding events which no human
sagacity could possibly have foreseen? Man, by his own sagacity, may
accomplish many things; he may plough the trackless ocean without wind
or tide in his favor; he may soar aloft amid the clouds without the
aid of wings; he may traverse the land with astonishing velocity
without the aid of beasts; or he may convey his thoughts to his
fellows by the aid of letters. But there is a principle which he can
never attain to; no, not even by the wisdom of ages combined; money
will not purchase it; it comes from God only, and is bestowed upon man
as a free gift. Says the Prophet to the idols, "_Tell us what shall
be, thai we may know that ye are gods_."
We will now proceed to show how exactly the prophecies were fulfilled
_literally_ in the person of Jesus Christ. "Behold," said the Prophet,
"a virgin shall conceive and bear a son." Again, Bethlehem should be
the place of his birth, and Egypt, where he sojourned with his
parents, the place out of which he was to be called. He turned aside
to Nazareth, for it was written, "He shall be called a Nazarene." He
rode into Jerusalem upon a colt, the foal of an ass, because the
Prophet had said, "Behold thy King cometh, meek and lowly, riding upon
a colt," etc. And again, saith the Prophet: "He shall be afflicted and
despised; he shall be a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; he
shall be led as a lamb to the slaughter, and, like a sheep dumb before
his shearers, so he opened not his mouth; in his humiliation his
judgment was taken away; and who shall declare his generation, for his
life is taken from the earth. He was wounded for our transgressions,
and by his stripes we are healed; he was numbered with the
transgressors; he made his grave with the rich." Not a bone of him is
broken; they divide his raiment; cast lots for his vesture; give him
gall and vinegar to drink; betray him for thirty pieces of silver; and
finally, when it was finished, he rested in the tomb until the third
day, and then rose triumphant, without seeing corruption. Now, kind
reader, had you walked up and down with our dear Redeemer during his
whole sojourn in the flesh, and had you taken pains to record the
particular circumstances of his life and death, as they occurred from
time to time, your history would not be a plainer one than the
Prophets gave of him hundreds of years before he was born. There is
one thing we would do well to notice concerning the manner in which
the Apostles interpreted prophecy, and that is this--they simply
quoted it, and recorded its literal fulfilment. By pursuing this
course, they were enabled to bring it home to the hearts of the people
in the Jewish synagogues, with such convincing proof that they were
constrained to believe the supposed impostor whom they had crucified
was the Messiah. But had they once dreamed of rendering a
spiritualizing or uncertain application, like the teachers of the
present day, all would have been uncertainty and doubt, and
demonstration would have vanished from the earth.
Having taken a view of the Old Testament Prophets, concerning prophecy
and its fulfilment, and having shown clearly that nothing but a
literal fulfilment was intended, the objector may inquire whether the
same mode will apply to the predictions contained in the New
Testament. We will therefore bring a few important instances of
prophecy, and its fulfilment, from the New Testament; after which we
shall be prepared to enter the vast field which is still future. One
of the most remarkable prophecies in sacred writ is recorded by Luke,
chap, xxi, 20-24: "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with
armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them
which are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let them which are in
the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries
enter thereinto; for these be the days of vengeance, that all things
which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with
child, and to them that give suck in those days; for there shall be
great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people; and they shall
fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all
nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until
the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." This prophecy involves the
fate of Jerusalem and the temple, and the whole Jewish nation, for at
least eighteen hundred years. About the year seventy, the Roman army
compassed Jerusalem. The disciples remembered the warning which had
been given them by their Lord and Master forty years before, and fled
to the mountains. The city of Jerusalem was taken, after a long and
tedious siege, in which the Jews suffered the extreme of famine,
pestilence and the sword; filling houses with the dead, for want of a
place to bury them, while women ate their own children, for want of
all things. In this struggle there perished, in Judea, near one
million and a half of Jews, besides those taken captive. Their country
was laid waste, their city burned, their temple destroyed, and the
miserable remnant dispersed abroad into all the nations of the earth;
in which situation they have continued ever since, being driven from
one nation to another, often falsely accused of the worst of crimes,
for which they have been banished and their goods confiscated. Indeed,
they have been mostly accounted as outlaws among the various nations;
the soles of their feet have found no rest, and they have been a hiss
and a byword; and people have said, "These are the people of the Lord,
and are gone forth out of his land."
During all this time the Gentiles have possessed the land of Canaan,
and trodden under foot the holy city where their forefathers
worshipped the Lord. Now, in this long captivity, the Jews have never
lost sight of the promises respecting their return. Their eyes have
watched and failed with longing for the day, when they might possess
again that blessed inheritance bequeathed to their forefathers; when
they might again rear their city and temple, and re-establish their
priesthood, and worship as in days of old. Indeed they have made
several attempts to return, but were always frustrated in all their
attempts; for it was an unalterable decree, that Jerusalem should be
trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles should
be fulfilled. On the subject of this long dispersion, Moses and the
Prophets have written very plainly; indeed, Moses even mentioned the
particulars of their eating their children secretly in the siege and
in the straitness, wherewith their enemies should besiege them in all
their gates. Whoever will read the twenty-eighth of Deuteronomy, will
read the history of what has befallen the Jews, foretold by Moses with
all the clearness that characterizes the history of past events, and
all this thousands of years before its accomplishment.
Our next is found in Acts xxi, 10, 11, where a Prophet named Agabus
took Paul's girdle and bound his own hands and feet, and said: "Thus
saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that
owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the
Gentiles." The fulfilment of this prediction is too well known to need
any description. We therefore proceed to notice a prophecy of Paul,
recorded in 2 Tim. iv, 3, 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 shall be turned unto fables." This
prophecy has been fulfilled to the very letter; for it applies to
every religious teacher who has arisen from that day unto the present,
except those commissioned by direct _revelation_ and _inspired_ by the
_Holy Ghost_. But, to convince the reader of its full accomplishment,
we need only point to the numberless priests of the day who preach for
hire, and divine for money, and who receive their authority from their
fellow man; and as to the fables to which they are turned, we need
only to mention the spiritualizings and private interpretations which
salute our ears from almost every religious press and pulpit.
But there is another prophecy of Paul well worth our attention, as
illustrative of the times in which we live; it is found in the first
five verses of the third chapter of 2 Timothy: "This know also that in
the last days perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of
their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce
breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that
are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof: from such turn away." From the last verse of this quotation
we learn to our _astonishment_ that this _sum_ of awful _wickedness_
applies to _professors_ of _religion_ ONLY; that is, this would be the
character of the (so called) Christian part of the community in the
last days. Do not startle, kind reader; we do not make the application
without proof _positive_ to the point, for, remember, non-professors
have no _form of godliness_, but those ungodly characters spoken of
were to have a _form of godliness_, _denying the power thereof_. But,
if you doubt Paul's testimony on the subject, look around you, examine
for yourselves. "By their fruits ye shall know them." My heart is
pained while I write. Alas, has it come to this; has the Spirit of
Truth removed the veil of obscurity from the last days, only to
present us with the vision of a fallen people; an apostate church,
full of all manner of abominations, and even despising those who are
good; while they themselves have nothing left but the form of
godliness, denying the power of God; that is, setting aside the direct
inspiration and supernatural gifts of the Spirit, which ever
characterize the Church of Christ? Was it for this only that the Holy
Spirit opened to the view of holy men the events of unborn time,
enabling them to gaze upon the opening glories of the latter days? O
ye Prophets and Apostles, ye holy men of old, what have you done if
you stop here; if your prophetic vision only extended down the stream
of time to the present year? Alas! you have filled our minds with
sorrow and despair: the Jews you have left wandering in sorrow and
darkness, far from all their hearts hold most dear on earth; their
land a desolation, their city and temple in ruins, and they, without
the knowledge of the true Messiah. The Gentiles, after partaking of
the root and fatness of the tame olive tree, having fallen, after the
same example of unbelief, are left without fruit, dead, plucked up by
the roots, with naught but a form of godliness; while the powers that
characterized the ancient church have fled from among men. Is this the
consummation of all your labors? Was it for this you searched, toiled,
bled, and died? I pause for a reply; if you have a word of comfort yet
in store, concerning the future, let it quickly speak, lest our souls
should linger in the dark valley of sorrow and despair!
CHAPTER II.
ON THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY YET FUTURE.
What is Prophecy but History reversed?
Having made the discovery and produced sufficient proof that the
prophecies, thus far, have been LITERALLY fulfilled--to the very
letter--we hope the reader will never lose sight of the same rule with
regard to those yet future. And, while we stand upon the threshold of
futurity, with the wonders of unborn time about to open upon our view,
presenting before our astonished vision the most mighty and majestic
scenes, the most astonishing revolutions, the most extraordinary
destructions, as well as the most miraculous displays of the power and
majesty of Jehovah, in His great restoration of His long dispersed
covenant people from the four quarters of the earth: I say, as these
scenes are about to open to our view, let us bow before the great I
AM, in the name of Jesus, and pray in faith for His Spirit to enlarge
our hearts and enlighten our minds, that we may understand and believe
all that is written, however miraculous it may be. But, O! kind
reader, whoever you are, if you are not prepared for persecution, if
you are unprepared to have your name cast out as evil, if you cannot
bear to be called a knave, an impostor, or madman, or one that hath a
devil; or if you are bound by the creeds of men to believe just so
much and no more, you had better stop here; for if you were to believe
the things written in the Bible that are yet to come, you will be
under the necessity of believing miracles, signs and wonders,
revelations, and manifestations of the power of God, even beyond
anything that any former generation has witnessed; yes, you will
believe that the waters will be divided and Israel go through dryshod,
as they journey to their own land, as they did in the days of Moses;
for no man ever yet believed the Bible without believing and expecting
such glorious events in the latter days. And I will now venture to say
that a believer in the Bible would be something that very few men have
ever seen in this generation, with all its boasted religion: for there
is a great difference between believing the book to be true when shut,
and believing the things therein written. It is now considered in
Christendom a great disgrace not to believe the Bible when _shut_: but
whosoever tries the experiment will find it a greater disgrace to
believe that the things therein written will surely come to pass.
Indeed, it is our firm belief in the things written in the Bible, and
careful teaching of them, that is one great cause of the persecution
we suffer. For let the prophecies be understood by the people, and let
them roll on in their fulfilment, and this will blow to the four winds
every religious craft in Christendom, and cause the kingdom of Christ
to rise upon their ruins, while the actual _knowledge_ of the _truth_
will cover the earth as the waters do the sea.
Having said so much by way of caution, if there are any of my readers
so bold, and regardless of consequences, as to dare with me to gaze
upon the future, we will commence with Isaiah xi, 11, 12, 15, 16: "And
it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand
again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which
shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and
from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from
the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations,
and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the
dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. And the LORD
shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian Sea; and with his
mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it
in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. And there shall be
an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left from
Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of
the land of Egypt."
Here you behold an ensign to be reared for the nations; not only for
the dispersed of Judah, but the outcasts of Israel. The Jews are
called dispersed, because they are scattered among the nations; but
the ten tribes are called outcasts, because they are cast out from the
knowledge of the nations, into a land by themselves. Now, the reader
will bear in mind that the ten tribes have not dwelt in the land
of Canaan since they were led captive by Shalmaneser, king of Assyria.
We have also presented before us, in the fifteenth verse, the
marvelous power of God, which will be displayed in the destruction of
a small branch of the Red Sea, called the tongue of the Egyptian Sea;
and also the dividing of the seven streams of some river, and causing
men to go over dryshod; and, lest any should not understand it
_literally_, the fifteenth verse says: "There shall be a highway for
the remnant of his people, which shall be left from Assyria, _like as
it was to Israel when he came up out of the land of Egypt_." Now, we
have only to ask whether, in the days of Moses, the Red Sea was
_literally_ divided, or whether it was only a figure? For as it was
then so shall it be again. And yet we are told by modern divines that
the days of miracles have gone forever; and those who believe in
miracles, in our day, are counted as impostors, or, at least, poor
ignorant fanatics, and the public are warned against them, as false
teachers who would, if possible, deceive the very elect. On the
subject of this restoration the Prophets have spoken so fully and
repeatedly, that we can only notice a few of the most striking
instances, which will go to show the particular circumstances and
incidents attending it, and the manner and means of its
accomplishment. The sixteenth chapter of Jeremiah, fourteenth,
fifteenth and sixteenth verses, says: "Therefore, behold, the days
come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, the Lord liveth
that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but,
the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel from the land
of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I
will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall
fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt
them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of
the rocks." Now it has ever been the case with Israel, when they
wished to express the greatness of their God, to say, The Lord liveth,
which brought up our fathers out of the land of Egypt. This saying at
once called to mind the power and miracles of that memorable event,
and associated with it all that was great and grand, and was
calculated to strike the mind with awe, under a lively sense of the
power of Israel's God. But, to our astonishment, something is yet to
transpire which will cast into momentary forgetfulness all the great
events of that day, and the children of Israel shall know that their
God liveth, by casting their minds upon events of recent date, which
shall have transpired, still more glorious and wonderful than their
coming out of Egypt. They will exclaim, The Lord liveth, which
recently brought the children of Israel from the north, and from all
lands whither He had driven them, and hath planted them in the land of
Canaan, which He gave our fathers. With this idea will be associated
every display of grandeur and sublimity, of wonder and amazement;
while they call to mind the revelations, manifestations, miracles and
mercies displayed in bringing about this great event, in the eyes of
all the nations. In view of this, Jeremiah exclaims, in the last verse
of this chapter: "Therefore, behold, I will _this once_ cause them to
know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall
know that my name is the Lord."
But the means made use of to bring about this glorious event are, not
only the raising of a standard, the lifting up of an ensign, so that
we may know when the time is fulfilled, but fishers and hunters are to
be employed to fish and hunt them from every mountain, from every
hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. Let the reader mark here: men
were not to send missionaries, who were not inspired, to go and teach
Israel several hundred different doctrines, and opinions of men, and
to tell them they supposed the time had about arrived for them to
gather; but the God of heaven is to call men by actual revelation,
direct from heaven, and to tell them who Israel is; who the Indians of
America are, if they should be of Israel; and also where the ten
tribes are, and all the scattered remnants of that long lost people.
He it is who is to give them their errand and mission, and to clothe
them with power from on high to execute the great work, in defiance of
opposing elements, and all the opposition of earth and hell combined.
But do you ask: "Why is the Lord to commission men by actual
revelation?" I reply, because He has no other way of sending men in
any age. "No man," says the Apostle, "taketh this honor upon himself,
but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." Now, we all acknowledge
that Aaron was called by revelation.
Now the great Jehovah never did, nor never will, acknowledge the
priesthood or ministry of any man who is not called by revelation, and
inspired, as in days of old. But, "O!" says the reader, "you startle
me, for the whole train of modern divines profess no revelation later
than the Bible, and no direct inspiration or supernatural gift of the
Spirit. Do you cast them all off, and say that they have no
authority?" I reply, No, for the Bible does it, and I only humbly
acquiesce in the decision, as they are nowhere known in the Scripture,
except as teachers whom the people have heaped to themselves (the word
heap does not mean a few, but many). But to prove more fully that God
will give revelations in order to bring about this glorious work, we
will refer you to Ezekiel xx, 33-38. It reads: "As I live, saith the
Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and
with fury poured out, will I rule over you; and I will bring you out
from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye
are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and
with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the
people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I
pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so
will I plead with you, saith the Lord God, And I will cause you to
pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the
covenant, and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them
that transgress against me; I will bring them forth out of the country
where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel;
and ye shall know that I am the Lord."
You discover that this promise begins with a double assurance: first,
with an oath, _as I live_; second, with an assurance, _surely, with a
mighty hand_, etc. And, in the close of the same chapter, lest the
people should possibly misunderstand him, he exclaims: "O Lord, they
say of me, doth he not speak in parables?" Here we have the children
of Israel brought from among all nations, with a mighty hand and a
stretched out arm, and with fury poured out (O ye nations who oppose
these things, beware, remember Pharaoh, and learn wisdom), we see them
brought into the wilderness of the people; and there the Lord is to
plead with them, face to face, just as he did with their fathers in
the wilderness of Egypt. This pleading face to face can never be done
without revelation, and a personal manifestation, as much so as in old
times. Now I ask, were all His manifestations to Israel in the
wilderness mere fables not to be understood literally? If so, this
will be so too; for one will be precisely like the other, no parable,
but a glorious reality. He will cause them to pass under the rod, and
bring them into the bond of the covenant.
This brings to mind the new covenant so often promised in the
Scriptures, to be made with the house of Israel and with the house of
Judah, just in time to gather them from their long dispersion. Some
may suppose that the new covenant which was to gather Israel made its
appearance in the days of Christ and his Apostles. But Paul tells us
it was yet future in his day. So, in his eleventh chapter to the
Romans, he says, "that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until
the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, and so all Israel shall be
saved; as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer,
and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for this is my covenant
unto them, when I shall take away their sins." From this we learn that
Paul placed that covenant in the future, even down to the restoration
of Israel, in the last days, when the times of the Gentiles should be
fulfilled. Then there should come a Deliverer for Israel, and not
before, seeing that they had rejected the first coming of that
Deliverer. And he himself said to the Jews: "Behold, your house is
left unto you desolate; for I say unto you, ye shall not see me
henceforth till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of
the Lord." Then, and not until then, should the covenant be renewed
with Israel. And even when the Apostles inquired, saying, "Wilt thou
at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" the Savior made
answer, that it was not for them to know the times and seasons which
the Father had put in His own power; but they were to receive power,
and bear witness of Him, etc.; as much as to say, that work is not for
you Apostles to accomplish, but shall be done in the Lord's own time,
by whom He will; but go ye and do the work I have commanded you.
Again, Isaiah, lxi, 8, 9, in speaking of this covenant, tells us that
it should make their seed known among the Gentiles, and their
offspring among the people; and should cause all that see them to
acknowledge them that they are the seed that the Lord hath blessed.
Now, we know that it is a question which can only be decided by
revelation, whether the aborigines of America are the seed of Jacob or
not. Again, it is a matter of uncertainty where the ten tribes are, or
who they are; but the new covenant, whenever it makes its appearance,
will reveal these things, and will leave the matter no longer in
suspense; we shall then know their seed among the Gentiles, and their
offspring among the people. But, O! how different was the effect of
the covenant made eighteen hundred years ago in its effects upon
Israel; it cast them off in unbelief, and caused all that have seen
them or heard of them ever since to acknowledge that they are the seed
that the Lord hath _cursed_. When the covenant is renewed in the last
days, the Lord will bring them into the bond of the covenant, by
manifesting Himself to them face to face. Let me inquire, How does God
make a covenant with the people in any age? The answer is, By
communicating His will to them by actual revelation; for, without
this, it would be impossible to make a covenant between two parties.
In order to illustrate this subject, let us bring an example. We see
how we make covenants with each other. For instance, a young man
wishes to enter into a covenant of matrimony with a young lady; but
deprive him of the privilege of revealing his mind to her, cut off all
direct communication between them, and a covenant could never be made;
and so it is with the Almighty. He never did enter into a covenant
with His creatures, without revelations; and He never can do it. In
short, whenever He made a covenant with the people, where a whole
people were concerned, He included in the covenant the priesthood,
offices, and authorities, together with the ordinances and blessings
which pertain to His covenant; and so will He do at this time.
Whenever the new covenant is established, it will organize the kingdom
of God with all its offices, ordinances, gifts, and blessings as in
the days of old; but more of this when we come to treat of the kingdom
of God.
"But," says the inquirer, "what need have we of the renewal of a
covenant which has never been broken? If the Lord made a covenant in
the days of the Apostles, called a new covenant, why should that
covenant still be renewed again, seeing it is in full force, until it
is broken by one party or the other?" This is an important inquiry,
involving the fate of all Christendom in its decision; we must
therefore be very careful to make the decision perfectly plain, and
the proof easy to be understood. That there was a covenant made
between God and the people in the days of Christ and His Apostles,
none will attempt to deny, and if that covenant never has been broken,
it must be of force to the present day, and consequently there is no
need of a new one. It therefore remains for us to prove that that
covenant has been broken, completely broken, so that it is not in
force, either among Jews or Gentiles, having lost its offices,
authorities, powers, and blessings, insomuch that they are nowhere to
be found among men. In order to do this, we must examine what were its
offices, authorities, powers, and blessings, and then see whether they
are still known among men.
We read that its offices consisted of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists,
Pastors, and Teachers, all inspired and set in the Church, by the Lord
Himself, for the edifying of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
etc. And they were to continue in the Church, wherever it was found,
until they all came to the unity of the faith, and unto the measure of
the stature of a man in Christ.
Secondly, the gifts of the Spirit, which some call supernatural, were
the powers and blessings which pertained to that covenant, wherever it
existed, among the Jews or the Gentiles, so long as the covenant was
of force. Now, I would ask the world of Christendom, or either of its
sects or parties, if they have Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists,
Pastors and Teachers inspired from on high, together with all the
gifts and blessings of the Holy Spirit, which pertained to the Gospel
covenant? If not, then the offices and powers of that covenant have
been lost. And it must be through the breaking of that covenant that
they were lost, for in this way the Jews lost these privileges, when
they were handed to the Gentiles. And Paul told the Gentiles, in his
eleventh chapter to the Romans, that if they did not abide in the
goodness of God, they would fall, as the Jews had done before them.
But in order to prove, by further demonstration, that the Gospel
covenant has been broken, by Jew and Gentile, and all people, so as to
be no longer in force, I shall quote Isaiah, xxiv, 1-6: "Behold, the
Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it
upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. And it
shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant,
so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with
the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the
borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to
him. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the
Lord hath spoken this word. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the
world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do
languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof;
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TRANSGRESSED THE LAWS, CHANGED THE ORDINANCE, BROKEN
THE EVERLASTING COVENANT. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth,
and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of
the earth are burned, and few men left." In these few verses, we
discover a like calamity awaiting priests and people, rich and poor,
bond and free, insomuch that they are all to be burned up but a few;
and the complaint is that the earth is defiled under the inhabitants
thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the
ordinance, and broken the everlasting covenant. Now this could not be
speaking of any other than the covenant, ordinance, and laws of the
Gospel, made with the people in the days of the Apostles; because,
however any former covenant may have been broken, yet the inhabitants
of the earth have never been destroyed by fire, all but a few, for
having broken any previous covenant. But this destruction is to come
by fire, as literally as the flood in the days of Noah; and it will
consume both priests and people from the earth, and that, too, for
having broken the covenant of the Gospel, with its laws and its
ordinances; or else we must get a new edition of the Bible, leaving
out the twenty-fourth of Isaiah.
Now, having settled this question, I trust the reader will see the
need of a new covenant, in order to save the few that are not to be
burned. We will therefore drop this subject for the present, and turn
again to the subject of the gathering of Israel. You will please turn
and read the thirty-sixth, thirty-seventh, thirty-eighth, and
thirty-ninth chapters of Ezekiel. In the thirty-sixth chapter you will
discover a promise that Israel are to return from all the nations
whither they have been scattered, and to be brought again to the land
which God gave to their fathers; Jerusalem is to be filled with flocks
of men, and all the desolate cities of Judea are to be rebuilt, fenced
and inhabited; the land is to be fenced, tilled and sown, insomuch
that they shall say: "This land that was desolate is become like the
garden of Eden." "I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it; and the
heathen shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant
that that was desolate." "So shall the waste cities be filled with
flocks of men, and they shall know that I am the Lord." In the
thirty-seventh chapter you will find, after the vision of the
resurrection of the dead, the Prophet goes on to speak of the two
nations becoming one nation upon the mountains of Israel, and one king
being king to them all; and when this takes place, they are no more to
be divided into two kingdoms. Moreover, the Lord's tabernacle is to be
with them, and His sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore. He will
forever be their God, and they shall be His people. "And the heathen
shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall
be in the midst of them forevermore." Now, it is a fact well known,
that Judah and the ten tribes have never been one nation, upon the
mountains of Israel, since the day they were first divided into two
nations.
But, when this does take place, even the very heathen are to know it,
and are to be convinced of the true God, as was Cyrus. Now if the
missionaries should convert the world, before the Lord does this great
work, then it will save the Lord the trouble of doing it in His own
way, and it will save the trouble of fulfilling the Prophets, and the
word of the Lord will fail, and all the world lay hold of infidelity.
Well did the Lord say: "My ways are not as your ways, nor my thoughts
as your thoughts." Chapters xxxviii and xxxix present us with a view
of many nations united under one great head, whom the Lord is pleased
to call Gog; and being mounted on horseback, and armed with all sorts
of armor, they come up against the mountains of Israel, as a cloud to
cover the land; their object is to take a prey, to take away silver
and gold, and cattle, and goods in great abundance.
This is an event which is to transpire after the return of the Jews,
and the rebuilding of Jerusalem; while the towns and the land of Judea
are without walls, having neither bars nor gates. But while they are
at the point to swallow up the Jews, and lay waste their country,
behold the Lord's fury comes up in His face, a mighty earthquake is
the result, insomuch that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the
air, and all the creeping things, and all men upon the face of the
earth, shall shake at His presence, and every wall shall fall to the
ground, and every man's sword shall be turned against his neighbor in
this army, and the Lord shall rain upon Gog, and upon his bands, and
upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, great
hailstones, fire and brimstone. And thus He will magnify Himself, and
sanctify Himself, in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know
that He is the Lord; thus they shall fall upon the open field, upon
the mountains of Israel, even Gog and all his army, horses and
horsemen; and the Jews shall go forth and gather the weapons of war,
such as handstaves, spears, shields, bows and arrows; and these
weapons shall last the cities of Israel seven years for fuel, so that
they shall cut no wood out of the forest, for they shall burn the
weapons with the fire; and they shall spoil those that spoiled them,
and rob those that robbed them, and they shall gather gold and silver,
and apparel, in great abundance.
At this time the fowls of the air, and the beasts of the field shall
have a great feast; yea, they are to eat fat until they be full, and
drink blood until they be drunken. They are to eat the flesh of
captains, and kings, and mighty men, and all men of war. But the Jews
will have a very serious duty to perform, which will take no less than
seven months; namely, the burying of their enemies. They will select a
place on the east side of the sea, called the Valley of the
Passengers, and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude, and
they shall call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. And the scent shall go
forth, insomuch that it shall stop the noses of the passengers; thus
shall they cleanse the land. "And I will set my glory among the
heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have
executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them: so the house of
Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and
forward. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into
captivity for their iniquity; because they trespassed against me,
therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of
their enemies; so fell they all by the sword. According to their
uncleanness, and according to their transgressions, have I done unto
them, and hid myself from them. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Now
will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the
whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name: after
that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby
they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their own
land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from
the people, and gathered them out of their enemy's lands, and am
sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; then shall they know
that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into
captivity among the heathen; but I have gathered them into their own
land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide
my face any more from them; for I have poured out my Spirit upon the
house of Israel, saith the Lord God."
In the foregoing, we discover that the heathen are to know that the
house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, and are
gathered again by the hand of God, after having borne their shame for
all their trespasses: and the house of Israel will know that it was
the Lord their God who caused them to be led into captivity among the
heathen, and that He it was that gathered and defended them, and He
will hide His face no more from them, but will pour out His Spirit
upon them.
O ye blind, ye stiffnecked, ye hardhearted generation, with the Bible
circulated among all nations, will whole nations be so blind as to
fulfil this prophecy, and not know it until it brings destruction upon
their own heads? Why all this blindness? Alas! it is because of false
teachers, who will tell them the Bible must be spiritualized. Others
declare that these prophecies can never be understood until they are
fulfilled. If this be the case, then we can never escape the judgments
predicted in them, but must continue the children of darkness, until
they come upon us unawares and sweep us from the earth. Then, where
will be the consolation of looking back and seeing them fulfilled? But
blessed be God, He has told us by the mouth of Daniel that many shall
run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased, and that the wise
shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand. And now, I
would ask, who are more wicked than the wilfully blind leaders of the
blind, who tell us we cannot understand the Scriptures?
Zachariah, in his fourteenth chapter, has told us much concerning the
great battle and overthrow of the nations who fight against Jerusalem;
and he has said, in plain words, that the Lord shall come at the very
time of the overthrow of that army; yes, in fact, even while they are
in the act of taking Jerusalem, and have already succeeded in taking
one half the city, and spoiling their houses, and ravishing their
women. Then, behold their long expected Messiah, suddenly appearing,
shall stand upon the Mount of Olives, a little east of Jerusalem, to
fight against those nations and deliver the Jews. Zachariah says, The
Mount of Olives shall cleave in twain, from east to west, and one half
of the mountain shall remove to the north, while the other half falls
off to the south, suddenly forming a very great valley, into which the
Jews shall flee for protection from their enemies, as they fled from
the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah; while the Lord
cometh and all the saints with him. Then will the Jews behold that
long, long expected Messiah, coming in power to their deliverance, as
they always looked for Him. He will destroy their enemies, and deliver
them from trouble at the very time they are in the utmost
consternation, and about to be swallowed up by their enemies.
But what will be their astonishment, when they are about to fall at
the feet of their Deliverer, and acknowledge him their Messiah! They
discover the wounds which were once made in his hands, feet, and side;
and, on inquiry, at once recognize Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the
Jews, the man so long rejected. Well did the Prophet say, they should
mourn and weep, every family apart, and their wives apart. But, thank
heaven, there will be an end to their mourning; for He will forgive
their iniquities, and cleanse them from all uncleanness. Jerusalem
shall be a holy city from that time forth, and all the land shall be
turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon, and she shall be lifted up and
inhabited in her place, and men shall dwell there, and there shall be
no more utter destruction of Jerusalem; "and in that day there shall
be one Lord, and His name one, and He shall be King over all the
earth."
John, in his eleventh chapter of Revelations, gives us many more
particulars concerning this same event. He informs us that, after the
city and temple are rebuilt by the Jews, the Gentiles will tread it
underfoot forty and two months, during which time there will be two
Prophets continually prophesying and working mighty miracles. And it
seems that the Gentile army shall be hindered from utterly destroying
and overthrowing the city, while these two Prophets continue. But,
after a struggle of three years and a half, they at length succeed in
destroying these two Prophets, and then overrunning much of the city;
they send gifts to each other because of the death of the two
Prophets, and in the mean time will not allow their dead bodies to be
put in graves, but suffer them to lie in the streets of Jerusalem
three days and a half; during which the armies of the Gentiles,
consisting of many kindreds, tongues, and nations, passing through the
city, plundering the Jews, see their dead bodies lying in the street.
But, after three days and a half, on a sudden, the spirit of life from
God enters them, and they will arise and stand upon their feet, and
great fear will fall upon them that see them. And then they shall hear
a voice from heaven, saying, "Come up hither," and they will ascend up
to heaven in a cloud, their enemies beholding them. And, having
described all these things, then come the shaking, spoken of by
Ezekiel, and the rending of the Mount of Olives, spoken of by
Zachariah. John says: "The same hour there was a great earthquake, and
the tenth part of the city fell; and in the earthquake were slain of
men seven thousand." And then one of the next scenes that follow is
the sound of voices, saying: "The kingdoms of this world are become
the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever
and ever."
Now, having summed up the description of these great events spoken of
by these Prophets, I would just remark, there is no difficulty in
understanding them all to be perfectly plain and literal in their
fulfilment.
Suffice it to say, the Jews gather home, and rebuild Jerusalem. The
nations gather against them to battle. Their armies encompass the
city, and have more or less power over it for three years and a half.
A couple of Jewish Prophets, by their mighty miracles, keep them from
utterly overcoming the Jews; until at length they are slain, and the
city is left in a great measure to the mercy of their enemies for
three days and a half; the two Prophets rise from the dead and ascend
up into heaven. The Messiah comes, convulses the earth, overthrows the
army of the Gentiles, delivers the Jews, cleanses Jerusalem, cuts off
all wickedness from the earth, raises the saints from the dead, brings
them with Him, and commences His reign for a thousand years; during
which time His Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh; men and
beasts, birds and serpents, will be perfectly harmless, and peace and
the knowledge and glory of God shall cover the earth as the waters
cover the sea; and the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom under
the whole heaven, shall be given to the saints of the Most High.
During this thousand years, Satan will be bound, and have no power to
tempt the children of men. And the earth itself will be delivered from
the curse, which came by reason of the Fall. The rough places will
become smooth, the barren deserts fruitful; the mountains leveled; the
valleys exalted; the thorn and thistle shall no more be found, but all
the earth shall yield her increase in abundance to the saints of God.
But, after the thousand years are ended, then shall Satan be loosed,
and shall go out to deceive the nations which dwell in the four
quarters of the earth, to gather them to battle, and to bring them up
to battle against the camp of the saints. Then the great and last
struggle shall take place between God and Satan, for the empire of the
earth. Satan and his army shall be overthrown. And after these great
things, come the end of the earth, the resurrection of the wicked, and
the last judgment. And there shall be a new earth and a new heaven,
for the former earth and the former heaven shall have passed away,
that is, they will be changed from temporal to eternal, and made fit
for the abode of immortals. Then cometh Jerusalem down from God, out
of heaven, having been renewed as well as the heavens and the earth.
"For," says He, "behold, I make all things new."
This new city, placed upon the new earth, with the Lord God and the
Lamb in the midst, seems to be man's eternal abode, insomuch that,
after all our longings for a place beyond the bounds of time and
space, as saith the poet, we are at last brought to our proper senses,
and given to understand that man is destined forever to inherit this
selfsame planet, upon which he was first created, which shall be
redeemed, sanctified, renewed, purified, and prepared as an eternal
inheritance for immortality and eternal life; with the holy city for
its capital, the throne of God in the midst, for its seat of
government; and watered with a stream, clear as crystal, called the
Waters of Life, issuing from the throne of Jehovah; while either side
is adorned with trees of never fading beauty. "Blessed are they that
do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates into the city." By this time we
begin to understand the words of the Savior: "Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth." And also the song which John heard
in heaven, which ended thus: "We shall reign on the EARTH."
Reader, do not be startled; suppose you were to be caught up into
heaven, there to stand with the redeemed of every nation, kindred,
tongue, and people, and join them in singing, and to your
astonishment, all heaven is filled with joy, while they tune the
immortal lyre, in joyful anticipation of one day reigning on the
earth--a planet now under the dominion of Satan, the abode of
wretchedness and misery, from which your glad spirit had taken its
flight, and, as you supposed, an everlasting farewell. You might
perhaps be startled for a moment, and inquire within yourself: "Why
have I never heard this theme sung among the churches on earth?" Well,
my friend, the answer would be--"Because you lived in a day when
people did not understand the Scriptures."
Abraham would tell you, you should have read the promise of God to
him, Gen. xvii, 8, where God not only promised the land of Canaan to
his seed for an everlasting possession, but also to him. Then you
should have read the testimony of Stephen, Acts, vii, 5, by which you
would have ascertained that Abraham never had inherited the things
promised, but was still expecting to rise from the dead and be brought
into the land of Canaan, to inherit them. "Yes," says Ezekiel, "if you
had read the thirty-seventh chapter of my prophecies, you would have
found a positive promise, that God would open the graves of the whole
house of Israel, who were dead, and gather up their dry bones, and put
them together, each to its own proper place, and even clothe them
again with flesh, sinews, and skin, and put His Spirit in them, and
they should live; and then, instead of being caught up to heaven, they
should be brought into the land of Canaan, which the Lord gave them,
and they should inherit it."
But, still astonished, you might turn to Job; and he, surprised to
find one unacquainted with so plain a subject, would exclaim: "Did you
never read my nineteenth chapter, from the twenty-third to the
twenty-seventh verses, where I declare, I wish my words were written
in a book, saying, that my Redeemer would stand on the earth in the
latter-day; and that I should see Him in the flesh, for myself, and
not another; though worms should destroy this body?" Even David, the
sweet singer of Israel, would call to your mind the thirty-seventh
Psalm, where he repeatedly declares that the meek shall inherit the
earth forever, after the wicked are cut off from the face thereof.
And last of all, to set the matter forever at rest, the voice of the
Savior would mildly fall upon your ear, in his sermon on the mount,
declaring emphatically: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit
the earth." To these things you would answer: "I have read these
passages, to be sure, but was always taught to believe that they did
not mean so, therefore, I never understood them until now. Let me go
and tell the people what wonders have opened to my view, since my
arrival in heaven, merely from having heard one short song. It is
true, I have heard much of the glories of heaven described, while on
earth, but never once thought of their rejoicing in anticipation of
returning to the earth." Says the Savior: "They have Moses and the
Prophets; if they will not believe them, neither would they believe
although one should rise from the dead."
We will now return to the subject of the coming of Messiah, and the
ushering in of that glorious day, called the Millennium, or rest of a
thousand years. We gather from the field of prophecy, through which we
have passed: first, that that glorious day will be ushered in by the
personal coming of Christ, and the resurrection of all the saints;
second, that all the wicked will be destroyed from the earth, by
overwhelming judgments of God, and by fire, at the time of His coming,
insomuch that the earth will be cleansed by fire from its wicked
inhabitants, as it once was by water; and this burning will include
priests as well as people: all but a few shall be burned. This burning
more especially applies to the fallen church, rather than to the
heathen or Jews, whom they are now trying to convert. Woe unto you,
Gentiles, who call yourselves the people of the Lord, but have made
void the law of God by your traditions; for in vain do you call Lord,
Lord, and do not the things which Jesus commands; in vain do ye
worship Him, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Behold,
the sword of vengeance hangs over you, and except you repent, it will
soon fall upon you; and it will be more tolerable in that day for the
Jews and heathen than for you. Behold, ye flatter yourselves that the
glorious day spoken of by the Prophets will be ushered in by your
modern inventions and moneyed plans, which are got up in order to
convert the Jews and heathen to the various sectarian principles now
existing among yourselves; and you expect, when this is done, to
behold a millennium after your own heart. But the Jews and heathen
never will be converted, as a people, to any other plan than that laid
down in the Bible for the great restoration of Israel. And _you
yourselves_ are laboring under a broken covenant, and ripening for the
fire as fast as possible. But do not count me your enemy because I
tell you the truth, for God is my witness that I love your souls too
well to keep back any truth from you, however severe it may seem. The
wounds of a friend are better than the kisses of an enemy. Now,
concerning the signs of the times, the inquiry often arises: "When
shall these things be, and what signs shall there be when these things
shall come to pass?" I am often asked the question, whether it is near
at hand; I will therefore tell you all, whereby you may know for
yourselves when it is nigh, even at the doors, and not be dependent on
the knowledge of others.
Now, you behold the apple tree, and all the trees, when they begin to
shoot forth their leaves, ye know of your own selves that summer is
nigh at hand; and so likewise when ye shall see great earthquakes,
famines, pestilence, and plagues of every kind; the sea breaking
beyond its bounds, and all things in commotion; the nations distressed
with perplexity; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking
for the things which are coming on the earth; when you see signs in
the heaven above, and in the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor
of smoke, the sun turned to darkness, the moon to blood, and stars
hurled from their courses; when you see the Jews gathering to
Jerusalem, and the armies of the nations gathering against them to
battle, you may know, with a perfect knowledge, that Christ's coming
is near, even at the doors. "_Verily, I say_ unto you, _this_
generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but not one word of all that the Lord has
spoken by the mouth of His holy Prophets and Apostles shall fail.
Whoever will look to the word of the Prophets, and to the sayings of
Jesus Christ, on this subject, the same will be convinced that all the
signs of which I have spoken are clearly pointed out as the signs of
His coming. But, notwithstanding all these things are written, His
coming will overtake the world unawares, as the flood did the people
in the days of Noah. The reason is, they will not understand the
Prophets. They will not endure sound doctrine; their ears are turned
away from the truth, and turned to fables, because of false teachers,
and the precepts of men; and what is still worse, when God sends men
with the New and Everlasting Covenant, and clothes them with boldness
to testify to the truth, they will be treated as the servants of God
have been before them by the fallen churches; every church will cleave
to its own way, and will unite in saying: "There is no need of these
new things, the good old way is right;" while at the same time they
are walking in as many different ways as there are sects, and only
agree in persecuting and speaking all manner of evil against the
fishers and hunters whom God shall send. But, thank heaven, there are
individuals in every sect who are humbly seeking the truth, and who
will know the voice of truth, and be gathered out, and planted in the
New and Everlasting Covenant; and they will be adopted into the family
of Israel, and will be gathered with them, and be partakers of the
same covenant of promise. Yea, as Jeremiah says, in the sixteenth
chapter of his Prophecies: "The Gentiles shall come unto thee from the
ends of the earth, and shall say, surely our fathers have inherited
lies, vanities, and things wherein there is no profit." But as the
Jews overlooked Christ's first coming, by not understanding the
Prophets, and fastening their whole expectations on His glorious
coming in the last days, to restore the kingdom to Israel, and avenge
them of their enemies, and, by this mistake, were broken and
scattered; so the Gentiles will overlook the prophecies concerning His
second coming, by confounding them with the last judgment, which is to
take place more than a thousand years afterward. But this fatal
mistake, instead of causing the Gentiles to be broken and scattered,
will cause them to be ground to powder.
O my brethren, according to the flesh, my soul mourns over you, and
had I a voice like a trumpet, I would cry, Awake, awake and arouse
from your slumber, for the time is fulfilled, your destruction is at
the door, "for I have heard from the Lord God of Hosts, a consumption,
even determined upon the whole earth!" Prepare to meet your God I And
again, Awake, O house of Israel, and lift up your heads, for your
redemption draweth nigh: yea, depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from
hence, gather home from your long dispersion, rebuild your cities;
yea, go ye out from the nations, from one end of heaven to the other;
but let not your flight be in haste, for the Lord shall go before you,
and the God of Israel shall be your rearward! And finally, I would say
to all, both Jew and Gentile, Repent ye, repent ye, for the great day
of the Lord is at hand; for if I, who am a man, do lift up my voice,
and call upon you to repent, and ye hate me, what will ye say when the
day cometh, when the thunders shall utter their voices to the ends of
the earth, speaking to the ears of all that live, saying: "Repent, and
prepare for the great day of the Lord?" Yea, again, when the
lightnings shall streak from the east unto the west, and shall utter
forth their voices unto all that live, and make the ears of all that
hear to tingle, saying these words: "Repent ye, for the great day of
the Lord is come?" And again, the Lord shall utter His voice out of
heaven, saying: "Hearken, O ye nations of the earth, and hear the
words of that God who made you: O ye nations of the earth, how oft
would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens
under her wings, but ye would not! How often have I called upon you by
the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by
mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of
lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of
earthquakes and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famine and
pestilences of every kind, and by the great sound of a trumpet, and by
the voice of judgments, and by the voice of mercy, all the day long,
and by the voice of glory and honor, and the riches of eternal life,
and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but you would
not! Behold, the day has come, when the cup of the wrath of mine
indignation is full."
CHAPTER III.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
"Seek first the Kingdom of God."
This was the command of the Savior, while on the earth, teaching the
children of men.
Having taken a general view of the prophecies, past and future, we
shall now proceed to fulfil this command, and search out the kingdom
of God. But, before we advance, I would again caution the reader not
to accompany me in this research, unless he is prepared to sacrifice
everything, even to his good name, and life itself, if necessary, for
the truth; for if he should once get a view of the kingdom of God, he
will be so delighted that he never will rest satisfied short of
becoming a subject of the same. And yet it will be so unlike every
other system of religion now on earth, that he will be astonished that
any person, with the Bible in his hand, should ever have mistaken any
of the systems of men for the kingdom of God. There are certain
powers, privileges, and blessings, pertaining to the kingdom of God,
which are found in no other kingdom, nor enjoyed by any other people.
By these it was over distinguished from all other kingdoms and
systems, insomuch that the inquiring mind, seeking the kingdom of God,
and being once acquainted with these peculiarities concerning it, need
never mistake it, or be at a loss to know when he has found it. But,
before we proceed any further in our research, let us agree upon the
meaning of the term, the Kingdom of God, or the sense in which we will
use it; for some apply this term to the kingdom of glory above, and
some to the individual enjoyment of their own souls, while others
apply it to His organized government on the earth. Now, when We speak
of the kingdom of God, we wish it to be understood that we mean His
organized government on the earth.
Now, reader, we launch forth into the wide field before us in search
of a kingdom. But stop, let us consider--what is a kingdom? I reply,
that four things are required in order to constitute any kingdom in
heaven or on earth; namely, first, a king; secondly, commissioned
officers duly qualified to execute his ordinances and laws; thirdly, a
code of laws by which the subjects are governed; and fourthly,
subjects who are governed. Where these exist in their proper order and
regular authority, there is a kingdom, but where either of these
ceases to exist, there is a disorganization of the kingdom;
consequently an end of it, until reorganized after the same manner as
before. It this respect the kingdom of God is like all other kingdoms;
wherever we find officers duly commissioned and qualified by the Lord
Jesus, together with His ordinances and laws existing in purity,
unmixed with any precepts or commandments of men, there the kingdom of
God exists, and there His power is manifest, and His blessings are
enjoyed as in days of old.
We shall now take a view of the setting up of the kingdom of God in
the days of the Apostles. The first intimation of its near approach
was by an angel to Zachariah, promising him a son, who should go
before the King to prepare his way. The next manifestation was to
Mary, and finally to Joseph, by a holy angel, promising the birth of
the Messiah: while at the same time, the Holy Ghost manifested unto
Simeon, in the temple, that he should not die until he had seen the
Savior. Thus, all these, together with the shepherds and the wise men
from the east, began to rejoice with a joy unspeakable and full of
glory, while the world around them knew not the occasion of their joy.
After these things, all seemed to rest in silent expectation, until
John had grown to manhood, when he came bounding from the wilderness
of Judea, with a proclamation strange and new, crying: "Repent ye, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand," baptizing unto repentance, telling
them plainly that their King was already standing among them, on the
point of setting up His kingdom. And while he yet ministered, the
Messiah came, and was baptized, and sealed with the Spirit of God,
which rested on Him in the form of a dove; and soon after began the
same proclamation as John, saying--"Repent ye, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand." Then, after choosing twelve disciples, He sent
them forth into all the cities of Judea, with the same proclamation--
"The kingdom of heaven is at hand;" and after them He sent seventy,
and then another seventy, with the same news, so that all might be
well warned and prepared for a kingdom which was soon to be organized
amongst them.
But when these things had produced the desired effect, in causing a
general expectation, more especially in the hearts of His disciples,
who daily expected to triumph over their persecutors, by the
coronation of this glorious personage, while they themselves were
hoping for a reward for all their toil and sacrifices for His sake, by
being exalted to dignity near His person, what must have been their
disappointment, when they saw their King taken and crucified, having
been mocked, derided, ridiculed, and finally overcome, and triumphed
over, both by Jew and Gentile? They would gladly have died in battle
to have placed Him upon the throne; but tamely to submit without a
struggle, to give up all their expectations, and sink in despair from
the highest pitch of enthusiasm to the lowest degradation, was more
than they could well endure. They shrank back in sorrow, and returned
every man to his own net, or to their several occupations, supposing
all was over; probably with reflections like these: "Is this the
result of all our labors? was it for this we forsook all worldly
objects, our friends, our houses and lands, suffering persecution,
hunger, fatigue and disgrace? And we trust it should have been He who
would have delivered Israel; but alas, they have killed Him, and all
is over. For three years we have awakened a general expectation
through all Judea, by telling them that the kingdom of heaven was at
hand, but now our King is dead, how shall we dare to look the people
in the face?"
With these reflections, each pursuing his own course, all was again
turned to silence, and the voice had ceased to be heard in Judea,
crying: "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus slept
in the arms of death; a great stone with the seal of of state, secured
the tomb where he lay, while the Roman guard stood in watchful
silence, to see that all was kept secure; when suddenly, from the
regions of glory, a mighty angel descended, at whoso presence the
soldiers fell back as dead men, while he rolled the stone from the
door of the sepulchre, and the Son of God awoke from His slumbers,
burst the bonds of death, and soon after appearing to Mary, He sent
her to the disciples with the joyful news of His resurrection, and
appointed a place to meet them. When, after seeing Him, all their
sorrow was turned into joy, and all their former hopes were suddenly
revived, they had no longer to cry--"The kingdom of heaven is at
hand," but were to tarry at Jerusalem until the kingdom was
established; and they prepared to unlock the door of the kingdom, and
to adopt strangers and foreigners into it as legal citizens, by
administering certain laws and ordinances, which were invariably the
laws of adoption, and without which no man could ever become a
citizen.
Having ascended up on high, and having been crowned with all power in
heaven and on earth, He again comes to His disciples, and gives them
their authority, saying unto them: "Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is
baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And 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 hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark, xvi,
15-18. Now I wish the reader not to pass over this commission until he
understands it, because when once understood, he never need mistake
the kingdom of God, but will at once discover those peculiarities
which were forever to distinguish it from all other kingdoms or
religious systems on earth. Lest he should misunderstand, we will
analyze it, and look at each part carefully in its own proper light;
first, they were to preach the Gospel, or in other words, the glad
tidings of a crucified and risen Redeemer, to all the world; secondly,
he that believed, and was baptized, should be saved; thirdly, he that
did not believe what they preached should be damned; and fourthly,
these signs should follow them that believed: first, they were to cast
out devils; second, to speak with new tongues; third, to take up
serpents; fourth, if they drank any deadly thing, it should not hurt
them; fifth, they were to lay hands on the sick, and they should
recover.
Now, it is wilful blindness, or ignorance of the English language,
that has ever caused any misunderstanding here. For some tell us that
those signs were only to follow the Apostles; and others, that they
were only to follow believers in that age. But Christ places the
preaching, believing, salvation, and the signs that were to follow,
all on an equal footing; where one was limited, the other must be;
where one ceased, the other did. If the language limits these signs to
the Apostles, it limits faith and salvation also to them. If no others
were to have these signs follow them, then no others were to believe,
and no others were to be saved. Again, if the language limits these
signs to the first age or ages of Christianity, then it limits
salvation to the first ages of Christianity, for one is precisely as
much limited as the other; and where one is in force, the other is;
and where one ends, the other must stop. And as well might we say,
preaching of the Gospel is no longer needed; neither faith nor
salvation; these were only given at first to establish the Gospel; as
to say, the signs are no longer necessary, they were only given at
first to establish the Gospel. But, says the astonished reader: "Have
not these signs ceased from among men?" I reply, prove that they have
ceased, and it will prove that the Gospel has ceased to be preached,
that men have ceased to believe and be saved, and that the world is
without the kingdom of God; or else it will prove that Jesus Christ
was an impostor, and His promises of no effect.
Now, having analyzed and understood this commission, let us still
pursue the subject of the organization of the kingdom of God in the
days of the Apostles. The Savior, having given them their authority,
commands them to tarry, and not undertake their mission, until they
were endowed with power from on high. But why this delay? Because no
man was ever qualified, or ever will be, to preach the Gospel, and
teach all things whatsoever Jesus commanded him, without the Holy
Ghost; and a very different Holy Ghost, too, from the one enjoyed by
men who are not inspired, for the Holy Ghost of which Jesus spake
would guide into all truth, bring all things to remembrance,
whatsoever He had said unto them, and show them things to come--not to
mention that it would enable them to speak in all the languages of the
earth. Now, a man who preaches needs that Holy Ghost very much; first,
to guide into all truth, that he may know what to teach; second, to
strengthen his memory, lest he might neglect to teach some of the
things which were commanded him; and, third, he needs to know things
to come, that he may forewarn his hearers of approaching danger, and
that would constitute him a prophet. From this, the reader may see how
careful Jesus was that none should preach His Gospel without the Holy
Ghost. He may also learn how different the Spirit of Truth is from the
spirit now abroad in the earth, deceiving the world, under the name of
the Holy Ghost. If the churches of the present day have the Holy
Ghost, why are they so much at a loss to understand truth? Why do they
walk in so many different ways and doctrines? Why do they need whole
libraries of sermons, tracts, divinities, debates, arguments, and
opinions, all written by the wisdom of men, without even professing to
be inspired? Well doth the Lord complain, saying: "Their fear toward
me is taught by the precepts of men." But to return; the Apostles
tarried at Jerusalem until endowed with power, and then they commenced
to proclaim the Gospel.
Here we have discovered several things towards a kingdom: first, we
have found a King, crowned at the right hand of God, to whom is
committed all power in heaven and on earth; second, commissioned
officers, duly appointed to administer the affairs of government;
third, the laws by which they were to be governed were ALL THINGS
WHATSOEVER JESUS HAD COMMANDED HIS DISCIPLES TO TEACH THEM.
And now, if we can find how men became citizens of that kingdom, I
mean as to the rules of adoption, then we have found the kingdom of
God in that age, and shall be very much dissatisfied with every thing
in our own age, professing to be the kingdom of God, which is not
according to the pattern.
It happened that there were no natural born subjects of that kingdom,
for both Jew and Gentile were included in sin and unbelief; and none
could be citizens without the law of adoption. All that believed on
the name of the King had power to be adopted, but there was but one
invariable rule or plan by which they were adopted; and all that
undertook to claim citizenship, in any other way whatever, were
counted thieves and robbers, and could never obtain the seal of
adoption. This rule was laid down in the Savior's teaching to
Nicodemus, namely: "Except a man be born of water (that is, baptized
in water), and of the Spirit (that is, baptized with the Spirit), he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Now, to Peter were given the keys of the kingdom; therefore it was his
duty to open the kingdom to Jew and also to Gentile. We will therefore
carefully examine the manner in which he did adopt the Jews into the
kingdom on the day of Pentecost.
Now, when the multitude came running together on the day of Pentecost,
the Apostle Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and reasoned with them from the Scriptures, testifying of Jesus
Christ, and His resurrection and ascension on high--insomuch that many
became convinced of the truth, and inquired what they should do. These
were not Christians, but they were people who were that moment
convinced that Jesus was the Christ; and because they were convinced
of this fact, they inquired--"What shall we do?" Then Peter said unto
them: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost: for the promise is unto you, and your children, and to
all that are afar of, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." My
reader, do you understand this proclamation? If you do, you will see
that this Gospel is not generally preached in modern times. Let us
therefore analyze and examine it, sentence by sentence. You recollect
they already believed, and the next thing was for them to repent;
first, faith; second, repentance; third, baptism; fourth, remission of
sins; and fifth, the Holy Ghost. This was the order of the Gospel.
Faith gave the power to become sons, or citizens; repentance, and
baptism in His name, was the obedience through which they were
adopted; and the Holy Spirit of promise was the seal of their
adoption, and this they were sure to receive if they would obey.
Now, reader, where do you hear such preaching in our day? Who teaches
that those who believe and repent, should be baptized, and none
others? Perhaps the reader may say the Baptists do; but do they call
upon men to be baptized as soon as they believe and repent? And
moreover, do they promise the remission of sins, with the gift of the
Holy Ghost? Recollect, now, what effect the Holy Ghost has upon people
who receive it. It will guide them into all truth, strengthen the
memory, and show them things to come. And Joel has said, it would
cause them to dream dreams, to see visions, and to prophesy. O! my
reader, where do you find a Gospel like this preached among men? Would
men go mourning for weeks upon weeks, without the forgiveness of sins,
or the comfort of the Holy Spirit, if Peter stood among us to tell
precisely how to get such blessings? Now, what would you think of a
camp meeting, where three thousand men should come forward to be
prayed for, and one of the ministers should (Peter like) command them
every one to repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins,
promising that all who obeyed should receive the remission of sins and
the gift of the Holy Ghost, which should cause them to dream dreams
and prophesy; and then should arise with his brethren of the same
calling, and the same hour commence baptizing, and continue until they
had baptized them all; and the Holy Ghost should fall upon them, and
they begin to see visions, speak in other tongues, and prophecy? Would
not the news go abroad, far and wide, that a new doctrine had made its
appearance, quite different from any thing now practised among men? O
yes, says the reader, this, to be sure, would be something new, and
very strange to all of us. Well, strange as it may seem, it is the
Gospel, as preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost; and Paul
declares that he preached the same Gospel that Peter did; and he has
also said: "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel, let him be accursed." Now, the reader need no longer be
astonished to see that these signs do not follow them that believe
some other gospel, or doctrine, different from that preached by the
Apostles.
But now let us return to the kingdom of God organized in the days of
the Apostles; you discover that three thousand persons were adopted
into the kingdom the first day the door was opened. These, together
with the numerous additions which were afterwards made, were the
subjects of this kingdom; which, being fitly framed together, grew
into a holy temple in the Lord. Thus, we have cleared away the rubbish
of sectarian tradition and superstition, which arose in heaps around
us; and having searched carefully, we have at length discovered the
kingdom of God, as it existed at its first organization in the days of
the Apostles; and we have seen that it differs widely from all modern
systems of religion, both in its offices, ordinances, powers, and
privileges, insomuch that no man need ever mistake the one for the
other.
Having made this discovery, we shall proceed to examine the progress
of the kingdom among Jew and Gentile; and what were its fruits, gifts,
and blessings as enjoyed by its citizens.
Soon after the organization of the kingdom of God at Jerusalem, Philip
came to Samaria, and there preached the Gospel: and when they believed
Philip, they were baptized, both men and women, and had great joy. And
afterwards, Peter and John came from Jerusalem, and prayed, and laid
their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Mark here, they
first believed, and then were baptized, having great joy, and yet had
not received the Holy Ghost. But that was afterwards given, by the
laying on of hands and prayer, in the name of Jesus. O how different
from the systems of men!
Witness Paul's conversion while on his journey to Damascus: the Lord
Jesus appeared to him in the way; but instead of telling him his sins
were forgiven, and pouring the Holy Ghost upon him, He sent him to
Damascus, telling him that it should there be told him what he should
do. And coming to Damascus, Ananias being sent, commanded him not to
tarry, but to "arise and be baptized, and wash away his sins, calling
on the name of the Lord;" then he arose and was baptized, and was even
filled with the Holy Ghost, and straightway preached that Jesus was
the Christ.
Again, witness Peter going to Cornelius, a Gentile of great piety,
whose prayers were heard, and whose alms were remembered, and who had
even attained to the ministering of an angel; yet with all his piety,
and the Holy Ghost poured out upon him and his friends, before they
were baptized, they must be baptized, or they could not be saved. Why?
Because the Lord had commanded the Apostles to preach to every
creature, and every creature who would not believe and be baptized,
should be damned, without one exception. Witness the words of the
angel to Cornelius: "He (Peter) shall tell thee words whereby thou and
all thy house shall be saved." Now, query, could Cornelius have been
saved without obeying the words of Peter? If so, the angel's errand
was in vain.
Now, perhaps a minister, who should find a man as good as Cornelius
was, would say to him: "Go on, brother, you can be saved, you have
experienced religion, you may indeed be baptized to answer a good
conscience, if you feel it your duty; or, if not, it is no matter, a
new heart is all that is really necessary to salvation," etc.; as much
as to say, that the commandments of Jesus are not absolutely necessary
to salvation; a man may call him Lord, Lord, and be saved, just as
well as by keeping His commandments. Oh vain and foolish doctrine! Oh
ye children of men, how have you perverted the Gospel! In vain do ye
call Him Lord, Lord, and do not obey His commandments.
Next, we call to mind the jailor and his household, who were baptized
the same hour they believed, without waiting for the day; and Lydia
and her household, who attended to the ordinance the first sermon they
heard on the subject. Also Philip and the eunuch, who stopped the
chariot at the first water they came to, in order to attend to the
ordinance, although the eunuch had heard of Jesus, for the first time,
only a few minutes before. Now, I gather from all those examples of
ancient days, and from the precepts laid down in them, that baptism
was the initiating ordinance, by which all those who believed and
repented were received and adopted into the church or kingdom of God,
so as to be entitled to the remission of sins, and the blessing of the
Holy Ghost; indeed, it was the ordinance through which they became
sons and daughters; and because they were sons, the Lord shed forth
the Spirit of His Son into their hearts, crying, Abba, Father. It is
true, the Lord poured out the Holy Ghost upon Cornelius and his
friends, before they were baptized; but it seemed necessary, in order
to convince the believing Jews that the Gentiles also had part in this
salvation. And I believe this is the only instance, in the whole
record, of the people receiving the Holy Ghost without first obeying
the laws of adoption. But mark! Obeying the laws of adoption would
not constitute a man an heir of the kingdom, a citizen entitled to the
blessings and gifts of the Spirit, unless those laws and ordinances
were administered by one who had proper authority, and was duly
commissioned from the King; and a commission given to one individual
could never authorize another to act in his stead. This is one of the
most important points to be understood, as it brings to the test every
minister in Christendom; and questions the organization of every
church on earth, and all that have existed since direct inspiration
ceased.
Now, in order to come at this subject in plainness, let us examine the
constitution of earthly governments in regard to the authority and
laws of adoption. We will say, for instance, the President of the
United States writes a commission to A. B., duly authorizing him to
act in some office in the government, and, during his administration,
two gentlemen from Europe come to reside in this country, and, being
strangers and foreigners wishing to become citizens, they go before A.
B., and he administers the oath of allegiance in due form, and
certifies the same, and this constitutes them legal citizens, entitled
to all the privileges of those who are citizens or subjects by birth.
After these things, A. B. is taken away by death, and C. D., in
looking over his papers, happens to find the commission given to A.
B., and, applying it to his own use, assumes the vacant office;
meantime, two foreigners arrive, and apply for citizenship, and being
informed by persons ignorant of the affairs of government, that C. D.
could administer the laws of adoption, they submit to be administered
unto by C. D., without once examining his authority; C. D. certifies
of their citizenship, and they suppose they have been legally adopted,
the same as the others, and are entitled to all the privileges of
citizenship. But by and by, their citizenship is called in question,
and they produce the certificate of C. D.; the President inquires--
"Who is C. D.? I never gave him a commission to act in any office, I
know him not, and you are strangers and foreigners to the
commonwealth, until you go before the legally appointed successor of
A. B., or some other of like authority, who has a commission from the
President direct in his own name." In the meantime, C. D. is taken and
punished according to law, for practising imposition, and usurping
authority which was never conferred upon him.
And so it is with the kingdom of God. The Lord authorized the Apostles
and others by direct revelation, and by the spirit of prophecy, to
preach and baptize, and build up His church and kingdom; but after a
while they died, and a long time passed away, and men, reading over
their commission, where it says to the eleven Apostles--"Go ye into
all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature," etc., have had
the presumption to apply these sayings as their authority, and without
any other commission, have gone forth professing to preach the Gospel,
and baptize, and build up the church and kingdom of God; but those
whom they baptize never receive the same blessings and gifts which
characterized a saint or citizen of the kingdom in the days of the
Apostles. Why? Because they are yet foreigners and strangers, for the
commission given to the Apostles never commissioned any other man to
act in their stead. This was a prerogative the Lord reserved unto
himself. No man has a right to take this ministry upon himself, but he
that is called by revelation, and duly qualified to act in his calling
by the Holy Ghost.
But the reader inquires with astonishment, "What! are none of all the
ministers of the present day called to the ministry, and legally
commissioned?" Well, my reader, I will tell you how you may ascertain
from their own mouths, and that will be far better than an answer from
me; go to the clergy, and ask them if God has given them any direct
revelation since the New Testament was finished; inquire of them
whether the gift of prophecy ceased with the early age of the church;
and, in short, ask them if revelations, prophets, the ministering of
angels, etc., are needed or expected in these days, or whether they
believe that these things are done away, no more to return to the
earth; and their answer will be that the Bible contains sufficient,
and that since the canon of Scripture was filled, revelation, the
spirit of prophecy and the ministering of angels have ceased, because
no longer needed. In short, they will denounce every man as an
impostor who pretends to any such thing. And when you have obtained
this answer, ask them how they themselves were called and commissioned
to preach the Gospel, and they will be at a loss to answer you, and
will finally tell you that the Bible commissioned them, saying--"Go ye
into all the world," etc. Thus, you see, all who have no direct
personal revelation from the King of heaven, either by angels, the
voice of God, or the spirit of prophecy, are acting under authority
which was given to others, who are dead, and their commission stolen,
and their authority usurped; and the King will say--"Peter I know, and
Paul I know, I commissioned them, but who are you? I know you not, I
never spoke to you in my life; indeed you believed it was not
necessary for me to speak in your day. Therefore you never sought in
faith for any revelation, and I never gave you any; and even when I
spake to others, you mocked them, and called them impostors, and
persecuted them, because they testified of the things I had said unto
them, therefore depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungered, and ye
fed me not; I was naked, and ye clothed me not; I was a stranger, and
ye took me not in; sick and in prison and ye visited me not." "Ah!
Lord, when did we fail in any of these things?" "Inasmuch as you have
not done it unto the least of these my brethren (taking them for
impostors, because they testified of the things which I had revealed
unto them), ye have not done it unto me." But to return: having
examined the kingdom of God as to its offices and ordinances, and
having discovered the only means of adoption into it, let us examine
more fully what are the blessings, privileges, and enjoyments of its
citizens. You have already seen that they were to cast out devils,
speak with new tongues, heal the sick by the laying on of hands in the
name of Jesus, as well as to see visions, dream dreams, prophesy, etc.
But let us look at the kingdom in its organized state, and see whether
these promises were verified to Jew and Gentile, wherever the kingdom
of God was found in all ages of the world.
Paul writing, first, "To the church of God at Corinth;" second, "To
them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus;" third, "To them who are
called to be saints;" and fourth, "To all that in every place call on
the name of Jesus Christ our Lord," says to them all, in 1 Corinthians,
xii, 1: "Now, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have
you ignorant." And then, continuing his instructions, a few verses
further on, he says: "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to
every man to profit withal; for to one is given, by the Spirit, the
word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
to another faith by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing
by the same Spirit; to another, the working of miracles; to another,
prophecy; to another, discerning of spirits; to another, divers kinds
of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues; but all these
worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as He (Christ) will. For as the body is one, and hath many
members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one
body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not
one member, but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the
hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if
the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is
it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where
were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath Got set the members, everyone of them in the body, as it
hath pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where were the
body?" I reply, it would not exist. "But now are they many members,
yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need
of thee; nor again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay,
much more those members of the body which seem to be more feeble, are
necessary; and those members of the body which we think to be less
honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor: and our uncomely
parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no
need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more
abundant honor to that part which lacked: that there should be no
schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care for
one another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer
with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now, ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God
hath set some in the church, first, apostles; secondarily, prophets;
thirdly, teachers; after that, miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all
prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the
gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But
covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more
excellent way." From the thirteenth verse of the above chapter, we
learn that the Apostle is still speaking to the whole church in all
ages, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free, even all who should ever
compose the body of Christ, and showing that Christ's body consisted
of many members, baptized by one spirit into one body, possessing all
these different gifts, some one gift, and some another: and then
expressly says, that one member possessing one gift, should not say to
another member possessing another gift, we have no need of thee.
And having shown that it required apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors, and teachers; together with the gifts of prophecy, miracles,
healing, and all other gifts, to compose the church, or body of
Christ, in any age, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free; and having
utterly forbidden any of the members ever to say, of any of these
gifts: "We have no need of thee," He declares the body never could be
perfected without all of them, and that if they were done away, there
would be no body, that is, no church of Christ in existence. Having
shown all these things clearly, he exhorts them to covet earnestly the
best gifts. And in the thirteenth chapter, exhorts them to faith,
hope, and charity, without which all these gifts would avail them
nothing: and in the fourteenth chapter repeats the exhortation:
"Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye
may prophesy." Again, in Ephesians, i, 17, Paul prays that the Lord
would give unto the church the Spirit of WISDOM and of REVELATION, in
the KNOWLEDGE of God. Again, in Ephesians, iv, he tells them there is
one body and one Lord, one Spirit, one faith, and one baptism; and
that Christ ascended up on high, led captivity captive, and gave gifts
to men. And He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. And if the reader inquire
what these gifts or offices were for, let him read the twelfth verse:
"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ." And if he inquire how long these
were to continue, the thirteenth verse says: "Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ." And if he still inquire what further object Christ had in
giving these gifts, let him read the fourteenth verse: "That we
henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."
Now, without these gifts and offices, first, the saints cannot be
perfected; second, the work of the ministry cannot proceed; third, the
body of Christ cannot be edified; and fourth, there is nothing to
prevent them from being carried about with every wind of doctrine.
Now, I boldly declare that the cause of all the division, confusion,
jars, discord, and animosities; and the fruitful source of so many
faiths, lords, baptisms, and spirits; and of the understanding being
darkened; and of men being alienated from the life of God, through the
ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts,
is, because they have neither apostles, prophets, nor gifts, inspired
from on high, to whom they give heed; for, if they had such gifts, and
would give heed unto them, they would be built up in one body, in the
pure doctrine of Christ, having one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and
one hope of their calling; yea, they would be edified, built up unto
Christ in all things, in whom the whole body, fitly joined together,
would grow into an holy temple in the Lord.
But so long as the cunning craftiness of men can persuade them that
they have no need of these things, so long they can toss them about
with every wind of doctrine, just as they please.
Now, reader, I have done our examination of the kingdom of God, as it
existed in the Apostles' days; and we cannot look at it in any other
age, until renewed again in the last days, for it never did, nor never
will exist, without apostles and prophets, and all the other gifts of
the Spirit.
Were we to take a view of the churches, from the days that inspiration
ceased until now, we should see nothing like the kingdom which we have
been viewing with such admiration and delight. But instead of apostles
and prophets, we should see false teachers, whom men had heaped to
themselves; and instead of the gifts of the Spirit, we should see the
wisdom of men; and instead of the Holy Ghost, many false spirits;
instead of the ordinances of God, commandments of men; instead of
knowledge, opinion; guess work, instead of revelation; division,
instead of union; doubt, instead of faith; despair, instead of hope;
hatred, instead of charity; a physician, instead of the laying on of
hands for the healing of the sick; fables, instead of truth, evil for
good, good for evil; darkness for light, light for darkness, and in a
word, anti-Christ instead of Christ; the powers of earth having made
war with the saints, and overcome them, until the words of God should
be fulfilled.
O my God, shut up the vision! for my heart sickens while I gaze; and
let the day hasten on when the earth shall be cleansed by fire from
such awful pollutions; but first, let Thy promise be fulfilled, which
Thou didst make by the mouth of Thy servant John, that Thou wouldst
call Thy people out of her, saying: "Come out of her, my people, that
ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues;" and then, O Lord, when Thou hast called Thy people out from
the midst of her, by the fishers and hunters whom Thou hast promised
to send in the last days to gather Israel; yea, when Thine everlasting
covenant has been renewed, and Thy people established thereby; then
let her plagues come in one day, death, mourning, and famine; let her
be burned with fire; that the holy Apostles and Prophets, and all that
fear Thy name, small and great, may rejoice, because Thou hast avenged
the blood of Thy saints upon her. I ask these things in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
CHAPTER IV.
THE BOOK OF MORMON--ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS, ETC.
Ye gloomy scenes, far hence, intrude no more!
Sublimer themes invite the muse to soar
In loftier strains, while scenes both strange and new
Burst on the sight, and open to the view.
Lo! from the opening heavens, in bright array
An angel comes--to earth he bends his way:
Reveals to man, in power, as at the first,
The fulness of the Gospel long since lost.
See earth, obedient, from its bosom yield
The sacred truth it faithfully concealed.
The wise, confounded, startle at the sight,
The proud and haughty tremble with affright.
The hireling priests against the truth engage,
While hell beneath stands trembling, filled with rage;
False are their hopes, and all their struggles vain;
Their craft must fall, and with it all their gain;
The deaf must hear, the meek their joy increase;
The poor be glad, and their oppression cease.
While darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people, every
man walking in his own way, and looking for gain from his quarter, the
Lord having for a long time held His peace, and the people having
fondly flattered themselves that the voice of inspiration would never
again sound in the ears of mortals, to disturb or molest them in their
sinful career; while a few were looking for the consolation of Israel,
and crying to God for the ushering in of that long-expected day, when
an angel should fly through the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth--
suddenly, a voice is heard from the wilderness, a cry salutes the ears
of mortals, a testimony is heard among them, piercing to the inmost
recesses of their hearts, when all at once the heathen begin to rage,
and the people to imagine a vain thing; the clergy lift a warning
voice, crying impostor, false prophets, beware of delusion, etc.;
while the professor of religion, the drunkard, the swearer, the
learned, and the ignorant soon catch the sound and reiterate it again
and again. Thus it re-echoes from one end of our country to the other,
for a long time, and if any one should be so fortunate as to retain
his sober senses, and should candidly inquire, "What is the matter?"
the reply is: "We hardly know anything about it, but suffice it to
say, some fellows have made their appearance, Paul like, who testify
something about the ministering of angels, or some revelation or
inspiration, just as though the religion of ancient days, and the
faith once delivered to the saints, were returning to the earth in
this enlightened age; so that not only this our craft is in danger,
but our modern systems of religion, built upon the wisdom and learning
of men, without direct inspiration, are like to be spoken against, and
their great magnificence despised, though worshiped by all the world."
And then all again cry with a loud voice, saying: "Great is the wisdom
of man; great are the systems of modern divinity; great is the wisdom
of uninspired priests, who come unto us with excellency of speech, and
with man's wisdom, determined to know nothing among us save opinions
and creeds of their own; and their speech, and their preaching, are
with enticing words of man's wisdom, not in demonstration of the
Spirit, and of power, for that is done away, that our faith should not
stand in the power of God, but in the wisdom of man."
In the midst of the noise and clamor, and prejudice of an opposing
world, it is difficult to get the people to understand the facts of
the case, in relation to one of the most important subjects ever
presented to the consideration of mankind.
The Book of Mormon has perhaps been less understood, and more
misrepresented, by the world at large, than any other publication
which has ever appeared.
America and England have, as it were, been flooded with publications
against the said book; and many of them written by those who had never
seen the book, or by those who had only read a page or two in it, or
slightly looked it through with a biased mind, and a determination
to find fault. By some of these it has been represented as a romance;
by others, as a new Bible, calculated to displace the Bible, or do
away with it. Some have pronounced it a "silly mess of stuff," not
worth the perusal; and others, the most ingenious literary work ever
put together. Some have found fault with it for being so much like the
Bible, and agreeing with it; and others have condemned it for not
being sufficiently like the Bible, and for disagreeing with it. Some
have denounced it as notoriously corrupt, immoral, and blasphemous in
its principles; and others have condemned it for being so exceedingly
pure and moral in its principles, as to be just calculated to deceive.
One clergyman, in particular, in a tract of sixty pages on this book,
condemns it for being "a strange mixture of _faith_ and _works_, of
the _mercy_ of God and the obedience of the _creature_." Some literary
persons have pronounced it as altogether _ancient_ in its _style_,
_language_, and _subjects_, and as bearing great internal evidence of
its own antiquity; while others have condemned it, as bearing every
mark of being a modern production. Some have said that there were no
definite predictions of the future contained in it, by the fulfilment
or failure of which its prophetic merits might be tested; and others
have quoted largely from its most plain and pointed predictions, which
relate to circumstances about to be fulfilled, and have condemned it
on account of its plainness.
In the midst of all these jarring statements, it now becomes our duty
to show, as far as possible, what the Book of Mormon really is.
When the Lord confounded the languages at Babel, he led forth a colony
from thence to the Western Continent, which is now called America.
This colony, after crossing the ocean in eight vessels, and landing in
that country, became, in process of time, a great nation--they
inhabited America for some fifteen hundred years. They were at length
destroyed for their wickedness, about six hundred years before Christ.
A prophet by the name of Ether wrote their history, and an account of
their destruction.
Ether lived to witness their entire destruction, and deposited his
record where it was afterwards found by a colony of Israelites, who
came from Jerusalem six hundred years before Christ, and re-peopled
America. This last colony were the descendants of the tribe of Joseph;
they grew and multiplied, and finally gave rise to two mighty nations.
One of these nations was called Nephites--one Nephi being their
founder; the other was called Lamanites, after a leader of the name
Laman.
The Lamanites became a dark and benighted people, of whom the American
Indians are still a remnant. The Nephites were an enlightened and
civilized people, they were a people highly favored of the Lord, they
had visions, angels, and the gift of prophecy among them from age to
age; and finally, they were blessed with a personal appearance of
Jesus Christ after his resurrection, from whose mouth they received
the doctrine of the Gospel, and a knowledge of the future down through
all succeeding ages. But after all the blessings and privileges
conferred upon them, they fell into great wickedness in the third and
fourth centuries of the Christian era, and finally were destroyed by
the hands of the Lamanites. This destruction took place about four
hundred years after Christ.
Mormon lived in that age of the world, and was a Nephite, and a
Prophet of the Lord. He, by the commandment of the Lord, made an
abridgment of the sacred records, which contained the history of his
forefathers, and the Prophecies and Gospel which had been revealed
among them; to which he added a sketch of the history of his own time,
and the destruction of his nation. Previous to his death, the abridged
records fell into the hands of his son Moroni, who continued them down
to A. D. 420; at which time he deposited them carefully in the earth,
on a hill which was then called Cumorah, but is situated in Ontario
County, township of Manchester, and State of New York, North America.
This he did in order to preserve them from the Lamanites, who overran
the country, and sought to destroy them and all the records pertaining
to the Nephites. This record lay concealed, or sealed up, from A. D.
420 to September 22, 1827, at which time it was found by Mr. Joseph
Smith, jun., he being directed thither by an angel of the Lord.
The following account of the discovery and translation of this record
is extracted from a tract by Elder Orson Pratt, published at
Edinburgh, in 1840, entitled, "Remarkable Visions," etc., to which our
readers are referred for further particulars:--
"'How far below the surface these records were placed by Moroni, I am
unable to say; but from the fact that they had been some fourteen
hundred years buried, and that, too, on the side of a hill so steep,
one is ready to conclude that they were some feet below, as the earth
would naturally wear, more or less, in that length of time; but they
being placed toward the top of the hill, the ground would not remove
as much as at two-thirds, perhaps. Another circumstance would prevent
a wearing of the earth; in all probability, as soon as timber had time
to grow, the hill was covered, after the Nephites were destroyed, and
the roots of the same would hold the surface: however, on this point,
I shall leave every man to draw his own conclusion, and form his own
speculation.' But suffice it to say, 'a hole of sufficient depth was
dug; at the bottom of this was laid a stone of suitable size, the
upper surface being smooth; at each edge was placed a large quantity
of cement, and into this cement, at the four edges of this stone, were
placed erect four others; their bottom edges resting in the cement, at
the outer edges of the first stone. The four last named, when placed
erect, formed a box; the corners, or where the edges of the four came
in contact, were also cemented so firmly, that the moisture from
without was prevented from entering. It is to be observed, also, that
the inner surface of the four erect or side stones was smooth. This
box was sufficiently large to admit a breastplate, such as was used by
the ancients to defend the chest, etc., from the arrows and weapons of
their enemy. From the bottom of the box, or from the breastplate,
arose three small pillars, composed of the same description of cement
used on the edges; and upon these three pillars was placed the record.
* * * This box containing the record was covered with another stone,
the bottom surface being flat, and the upper crowning.' When it was
first visited by Mr. Smith, on the morning of the twenty-second of
September, 1823, 'a part of the crowning stone was visible above the
surface, while the edges were concealed by the soil and grass. From
which circumstance, it may be seen, that however deep this box might
have been placed by Moroni at first, the time had been sufficient to
wear the earth, so that it was easily discovered, when once directed,
and yet not enough to make a perceivable difference to the passer by.
* * * After arriving at the repository, a little exertion in removing
the soil from the edges of the top of the box, and a light pry,
brought to his natural vision its contents.'
"While viewing and contemplating this sacred treasure with wonder and
astonishment, behold! the angel of the Lord, who had previously
visited him, again stood in his presence, and his soul was again
enlightened as it was the evening before, and he was filled with the
Holy Spirit, and the heavens were opened, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about and rested upon him. 'While he thus stood, gazing
and admiring, the angel said, Look!' And as he thus spake, he beheld
the Prince of Darkness, surrounded by his innumerable train of
associates. All this passed before him, and the heavenly messenger
said: 'All this is shown, the good and the evil, the holy and impure,
the glory of God, and the power of darkness, that you may know
hereafter, the two powers, and never be influenced or overcome by that
wicked one. Behold, whatever entices and leads to good, and to do
good, is of God, and whatever does not, is of that wicked one. It is
he that fills the hearts of men with evil to walk in darkness, and
blaspheme God; and you may learn from henceforth, that his ways are to
destruction; but the way of holiness is peace and rest. You now see
why you could not obtain this record, that the commandment was strict,
and that if ever these sacred things are obtained, they must be by
prayer and faithfulness in obeying the Lord. They are not deposited
here for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth, for the glory of
this world; they were sealed by the prayer of faith, and because of
the knowledge which they contain, they are of no worth among the
children of men, only for their knowledge. On them is contained the
fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it was given to His people
on this land; and when it shall be brought forth by the power of God,
it shall be carried to the Gentiles, of whom many will receive it, and
after, will the seed of Israel be brought into the fold of their
Redeemer by obeying it also. Those who kept the commandments of the
Lord on this land, desired this at His hand, and through the prayer of
faith obtained the promise, that if their descendants should
transgress and fall away, a record might be kept, and in the last
days, come to their children. These things are sacred, and must be
kept so, for the promise of the Lord concerning them must be
fulfilled. No man can obtain them if his heart is impure, because they
contain that which is sacred. * * * By them will the Lord work a great
and marvelous work; the wisdom of the wise shall become as naught, and
the understanding of the prudent shall be hid, and because the power
of God shall be displayed, those who profess to know the truth, but
walk in deceit, shall tremble with anger; but with signs and with
wonders, with gifts and with healings, with the manifestations of the
power of God, and with the Holy Ghost, shall the hearts of the
faithful be comforted. You have now beheld the power of God
manifested, and the power of Satan; you see that there is nothing that
is desirable in the works of darkness; that they cannot bring
happiness; that those who are overcome therewith are miserable; while,
on the other hand, the righteous are blessed with a place in the
kingdom of God, where joy unspeakable surrounds them; there they rest
beyond the power of the enemy of truth, where no evil can disturb
them: the glory of God crowns them, and they continually feast upon
His goodness, and enjoy His smiles. Behold, notwithstanding you have
seen this great display of power, by which you may ever be able to
detect the evil one, yet I give unto you another sign, and when it
comes to pass, then know that the Lord is God, and that He will fulfil
His purposes, and that the knowledge which this record contains, will
go to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people under the
whole heaven. This is the sign: when these things begin to be known,
that is, when it is known that the Lord has shown you these things,
the workers of iniquity will seek your overthrow; they will circulate
falsehoods to destroy your reputation; and also will seek to take your
life! but remember this, if you are faithful, and shall hereafter
continue to keep the commandments of the Lord, you shall be preserved
to bring these things forth; for in due time He will again give you a
commandment to come and take them. When they are interpreted, the Lord
will give the Holy Priesthood to some, and they shall begin to
proclaim this Gospel and baptize by water, and after that, they shall
have power to give the Holy Ghost by the laying on of their hands.
Then will persecution rage more and more; for the iniquities of men
shall be revealed, and those who are not built upon the Rock will seek
to overthrow this Church; but it will increase the more opposed, and
spread farther and farther, increasing in knowledge, till they shall
be sanctified, and receive an inheritance where the glory of God will
rest upon them; and when this takes place, and all things are
prepared, the ten tribes of Israel will be revealed in the north
country, whither they have been for a long season; and when this is
fulfilled, will be brought to pass that saying of the Prophet, 'And
the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from
transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.' But, notwithstanding the
workers of iniquity shall seek your destruction, the arm of the Lord
will be extended, and you will be borne off conqueror, if you keep all
His commandments. Your name shall be known among the nations, for the
work which the Lord will perform by your hands shall cause the
righteous to rejoice and the wicked to rage; with the one it shall be
had in honor, and with the other in reproach; yet, with these it shall
be a terror, because of the great and marvelous work which shall
follow the coming forth of this fulness of the Gospel. Now, go thy
way, remembering what the Lord has done for thee, and be diligent in
keeping His commandments, and He will deliver thee from temptations,
and all the arts and devices of the wicked one. Forget not to pray,
that thy mind may become strong, that when he shall manifest unto
thee, thou mayest have power to escape the evil, and obtain these
precious things."
We here remark, that the above quotation is an extract from a letter
written by Elder Oliver Cowdery, which was published in one of the
numbers of the "Latter-day Saints' Messenger and Advocate."
Although many more instructions were given by the mouth of the angel
to Mr. Smith, which we do not write in this book, yet the most
important items are contained in the foregoing relation. During the
period of the four following years, he frequently received instruction
from the mouth of the heavenly messenger, and on the morning of the
twenty-second of September, A. D. 1827, the angel of the Lord
delivered the records into his hands.
These records were engraved on plates which had the appearance of
gold. Each plate was not far from seven inches in width by eight
inches in length, being not quite as thick as common tin. They were
filled on both sides with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and
bound together in a volume, as the leaves of a book, and fastened at
one edge with three rings running through the whole. This volume was
something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed.
The characters of letters upon the unsealed part were small, and
beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity
in its construction, as well as much skill in the art of engraving.
With the records was found a curious instrument, called by the
ancients the Urim and Thummim, which consisted of two transparent
stones, clear as crystal, set in the two rims of a bow. This was in
use in ancient times by persons called Seers. It was an instrument by
the use of which they received revelation of things distant, or of
things past or future.
In the mean time the inhabitants of that vicinity, having been
informed that Mr. Smith had seen heavenly visions, and that he had
discovered sacred records, began to ridicule and mock at those things.
And after having obtained those sacred things, while proceeding home
through the wilderness and fields, he was waylaid by two ruffians, who
had secreted themselves for the purpose of robbing him of the records.
One of them struck him with a club before he perceived them; but being
a strong man, and large in stature, with great exertion he cleared
himself from them, and ran towards home, being closely pursued until
he came near his father's house, when his pursuers, for fear of being
detected, turned and fled the other way.
Soon the news of his discoveries spread abroad throughout all those
parts. False reports, misrepresentations, and base slanders flew as if
upon the wings of the wind in every direction. The house was
frequently beset by mobs and evil designing persons. Several times he
was shot at, and very narrowly escaped. Every device was used to get
the plates away from him. And being continually in danger of his life,
from a gang of abandoned wretches, he at length concluded to leave the
place, and go to Pennsylvania; and accordingly packed up his goods,
putting the plates into a barrel of beans, and proceeded upon his
journey. He had not gone far, before he was overtaken by an officer
with a search warrant, who flattered himself with the idea that he
should surely obtain the plates; after searching very diligently, ho
was sadly disappointed at not finding them. Mr. Smith then drove on;
but before he got to his journey's end, he was again overtaken by an
officer on the same business, and after ransacking the wagon very
carefully, he went his way, as much chagrined as the first at not
being able to discover the object of his research. Without any further
molestation, he pursued his journey until he came into the northern
part of Pennsylvania, near the Susquehanna River, in which part his
father-in-law resided.
Having provided himself with a home, ho commenced translating the
record, by the gift and power of God, through the means of the Urim
and Thummim; and being a poor writer, he was under the necessity of
employing a scribe, to write the translation as it tame from his
mouth.
In the meantime, a few of the original characters were accurately
transcribed and translated by Mr. Smith, which, with the translation,
were taken by a gentleman named Martin Harris to the city of New York,
where they were presented to a learned gentleman named Anthon, who
professed to be extensively acquainted with many languages, both
ancient and modern. He examined them, but was unable to decipher them
correctly; but he presumed, that if the original records could be
brought, he could assist in translating them.
But to return. Mr. Smith continued the work of translation, as his
pecuniary circumstances would permit, until he had finished the
unsealed part of the records. The part translated is entitled the
"Book of Mormon," which contains nearly as much reading as the Old
Testament.
"Well," says the objector, "if it were not for the marvellous, the
book would be considered one of the greatest discoveries the world
ever witnessed. If you had been ploughing, or digging a well or cellar
and accidentally dug up a record containing some account of the
ancient history of the American continent, and of its original
inhabitants, together with the origin of the Indian tribes who now
inhabit it; had this record had nothing to do with God, or angels, or
inspiration, it would have been hailed by all the learned of America
and Europe, as one of the greatest and most important discoveries of
modern times, unfolding a mystery which had, until then, bid defiance
to all the researches of the learned world. Every newspaper would have
been filled with the glad tidings, while its contents would have
poured upon the world a flood of light, on subjects before concealed
in the labyrinth of uncertainty and doubt. But who can stoop, and so
humble himself as to receive anything, in this enlightened age,
renowned for its religion and learning, from the ministering of
angels, and from inspiration? This is too much: away with such things,
it comes in contact with the wisdom and popularity of the day." To
this I reply, The Lord knew that before He revealed it; this was one
principal object He had in view; it is just the manner of His dealing
with the children of men; He always takes a different course from the
one marked out for Him by the wisdom of the world, in order to
"confound the wise, and bring to naught the understanding of the
prudent;" He chooses men of low degree, even the simple and the
unlearned, and those who are despised, to do His work and to bring
about His purposes, that no flesh shall glory in His presence. O ye
wise, and ye learned, who despise the wisdom that comes from above!
Know ye not, that it was impossible for the world by wisdom to find
out God? Know ye not that all your wisdom is foolishness with God?
Know ye not that ye must become as a little child, and be willing to
learn wisdom, from the least of His servants, or you will perish in
your ignorance?
But what are the evidences which we gather from Scripture, concerning
the coming forth of this glorious work? We shall attempt to prove:
first, that America is a land promised to the seed of Joseph; second,
that the Lord would reveal to them His truth as well as to the Jews;
and third, that their record should come forth, and unite its
testimony, with the record of the Jews, in time for the restoration of
Israel, in the last days.
First, Genesis, xlviii, Jacob, while blessing the two sons of Joseph,
says: "Let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." In
the same blessing, it is said of Ephraim, "His seed shall become a
multitude of nations." Now put the sense of these sayings together,
and it makes Ephraim a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth.
In Genesis, xlix, it is prophesied concerning Joseph, while Jacob was
blessing him, that he should be "a fruitful bough by a well, whose
branches run over the wall: the archers have sorely grieved him, and
shot at him, and hated him, but his bow abode in strength." Again, he
further says: "The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the
blessings of my progenitors, unto the utmost bound of the everlasting
hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the
head of him that was separate from his brethren." Now I ask, Who were
Jacob's progenitors, and what was the blessing conferred upon him?
Abraham and Isaac were his progenitors, and the land of Canaan was the
blessing they conferred upon him, or that God promised them he should
possess. Recollect that Jacob confers on Joseph a much greater land
than that of Canaan; even greater than his fathers had conferred upon
him, for Joseph's blessing was to extend to the uttermost bound of the
everlasting hills. Now, reader, stand in Egypt, where Jacob then
stood, and measure to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills, and
you will land somewhere in the central part of America. Again, one of
the Prophets says, in speaking of Ephraim: "When the Lord shall roar,
the children of Ephraim shall tremble from the west." Now let us sum
up these sayings, and what have we gained? First, that Ephraim was to
grow into a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth; second,
Joseph was to be greatly blessed in a large inheritance, as far off as
America; third, this was to be on the west of Egypt or Jerusalem.
Now let the world search from pole to pole, and they will not find a
multitude of nations in the midst of the earth, who can possibly have
sprung from Ephraim, unless they find them in America; for the midst
of all other parts of the earth is inhabited by mixed races, who have
sprung from various sources; while here an almost boundless country
was secluded from the rest of the world, and inhabited by a race of
men, evidently of the same origin, although as evidently divided into
many nations. Now, the Scriptures cannot be broken; therefore, these
Scriptures must apply to America, for the plainest of reasons: they
can apply to no other place.
Now, secondly, we are to prove that God revealed himself to the seed
of Joseph or Ephraim--their location we have already proved--dwelling
in America. For this, we quote Hosea, viii, 12; speaking of Ephraim,
he says by the spirit of prophecy: "I have written to him the great
things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing." This is
proof positive and needs no comment, that the great truths of Heaven
were revealed unto Ephraim, and were counted as a strange thing.
Third: Were these writings to come forth just previously to the
gathering of Israel? Answer: They were, according to Ezekiel,
thirty-seventh chapter, where God commanded him to "Take one stick,
and write upon it For Judah, and the children of Israel his
companions; then take another stick, and write upon it For Joseph, the
stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions; and
join them one to another, into one stick, and they shall become one in
thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee,
saying, Wilt not thou show us what thou meanest by these? say unto
them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the stick of
Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his
fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and
make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand; and the
sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the
children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and
will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land;
and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of
Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no
more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any
more at all."
Now, nothing can be more plain than the above prophecy; there are
presented two writings, the one to Ephraim, the other to Judah; that
of Ephraim is to be brought forth by the Lord, and put with that of
Judah, and they are to become one in their testimony, and grow
together in this manner, in order to bring about the gathering of
Israel. The eighty-fifth Psalm is very plain on the subject: speaking
of the restoration of Israel to their own land, it says, "Mercy and
Truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each
other. _Truth shall spring out of the earth:_ and Righteousness shall
look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good;
and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before
Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps." Now the Savior, while
praying for His disciples, said: "Sanctify them through Thy
_truth_--Thy _word_ is _truth_." From these passages we learn, that
His word is to spring out of the earth, while Righteousness looks down
from heaven. And the next thing that follows is, that Israel are set
in the way of His steps, and partaking of the fruit of their own land.
Jeremiah, xxxiii, 6, speaking of the final return from captivity of
both Judah and Israel, says: "I will reveal unto them the abundance of
peace and truth." And Isaiah, speaking of the everlasting covenant,
which should gather them, makes this extraordinary and very remarkable
expression: "Their seed shall be known amongst the Gentiles, and their
offspring among the people." Now, reader, let me ask, can any one tell
whether the Indians of America are of Israel, unless by revelation
from God? Therefore this was a hidden mystery, which it was necessary
to reveal in time for their gathering.
So much, then, we have produced from the Scriptures, in proof of a
work, like the book of Mormon, making its appearance in these days; to
say nothing of Isaiah, xxix. But says one, "What is the use of the
Book of Mormon, even if it be true?" I answer: First, it brings to
light an important history, before unknown to man. Second, it reveals
the origin of the American Indians, which was before a mystery. Third,
it contains important prophecies, yet to be fulfilled, which
immediately concern the present generation. Fourth, it contains much
plainness in regard to points of doctrine, insomuch that all may
understand, and see eye to eye, if they take pains to read it.
"But what are its proofs, as to chosen witnesses who testify to its
translation by inspiration?" For this testimony, I refer the reader to
the testimony of the witnesses in the first page of the Book of
Mormon; he will there find as positive testimony as has ever been
found in the other Scriptures concerning any truth which God ever
revealed. Men there testify, not only that they have seen and handled
the plates, but that an angel of God came down from heaven, and
presented the plates before them, while the glory of God shone round
about them, and the voice of God spoke from heaven, and told them that
these things were true, and had been translated by the gift and power
of God, and commanded them to bear record of the same to all people.
Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers! He has visited His people, and
the dayspring from on high has dawned upon our benighted world once
more; for no sooner had the Book been translated, and men begun to
bear record of the same, than the Angel of the Lord came down from
heaven again, and commissioned men to preach the Gospel to every
creature, and to baptize with water for the remission of sins. No
sooner did the people begin to believe their testimony, and be
baptized, than the Holy Ghost fell upon them, through the laying on of
hands in the name of Jesus; and the heavens were opened: and while
some had the ministering of angels, others began to speak in other
tongues, and prophesy. From that time forth, many of them were healed
by the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus; and thus mightily grew
the word of God, and prevailed. And thus, thousands have been raised
up to testify that they do know for themselves, and are not dependent
on the testimony of any man, for the truth of these things, for these
signs follow them that believe. And when a man believes the truth,
through the testimony of God's witnesses, and then these signs follow,
not only them, but him also; if he has the ministering of angels, if
he has been healed, or heals others, by the laying on of hands in the
name of Jesus, or if he speaks in other tongues, or prophesies, he
knows it for himself; and thus is fulfilled the saying of Scripture,
"If any man do my will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be
of God." Thus faith comes by hearing, and knowledge by obeying; but
hearing comes by preaching, and preaching comes by sending; as it is
written--"How shall they preach, except they be sent?"
But there are many who say--"Show us a sign, and we will believe."
Remember, faith comes not by signs, but signs come by faith. Gifts
were not given to make men believe; but what saith the Scripture?
"Gifts are for the edifying of the Church." If otherwise, why was it
not written--"Faith comes by miracles," instead of "Faith comes by
hearing?" I always take it for granted, that a man or woman who comes
demanding a sign in order to make them believe, belongs to a wicked
and adulterous generation, at least, to say no worse; for any person
who will go to Jesus, with a pure heart, desiring and praying in
faith, that he may know the truth concerning these things, the Lord
will reveal it to him, and he shall know, and shall bear testimony,
for by the Spirit of God they shall know truth from error: as it is
written--"My sheep hear my voice." And he that will not come unto
Jesus by faith, shall never know the truth, until, too late, he finds
the harvest is over, and the summer is ended, and his soul not saved.
Thus the religion of Jesus, unlike all other religious systems, bears
its own weight, and brings certainty and knowledge, leaving no room
for imposition. And now I say unto all people, Come unto the Father in
the name of Jesus; doubt not, but be believing, as in days of old, and
ask in faith for whatsoever you stand in need of; ask not that you may
consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness not to be shaken,
that you will yield to no temptation, but that you will keep His
commandments, as fast as He makes them manifest unto you; and if ye do
this, and He reveals to you that He has sent us with a new and
everlasting covenant, and commanded us to preach, and baptize, and
build up His Church as in days of old, then come forward and obey the
truth; but if you do not know, or are not satisfied that He has sent
us, then do not embrace the doctrine we preach. Thus to your own
master you shall stand or fall; and one day you shall know, yea, in
that great day, when every knee shall bow, then shall you know that
God has sent us with the truth, to prune His vineyard for the last
time, with a mighty pruning.
We shall now introduce much circumstantial evidence, from American
antiquities, and from the traditions of the natives, etc.
First, says Mr. Boudinot: "It is said among their principal or beloved
men, that they have it handed down from their ancestors, that the book
which the white people have, was once theirs: that while they had it
they prospered exceedingly, etc. They also say, that their fathers
were possessed of an extraordinary Divine Spirit, by which they
foretold future events, and controlled the common course of nature;
and this they transmitted to their offspring, on condition of their
obeying the sacred laws; that they did, by these means, bring down
showers of blessings upon their beloved people; but that this power,
for a long time past, had entirely ceased." Colonel James Smith, in
his journal, while a prisoner among the natives, says: "They have a
tradition, that in the beginning of this continent, the angels or
heavenly inhabitants, as they call them, frequently visited the
people, and talked with their forefathers, and gave directions how to
pray."
Mr. Boudinot, in his able work, remarks concerning their language:
"Their language, in its roots, idiom, and particular construction,
appears to have the _whole genius_ of the Hebrew; and what is very
remarkable, and well worthy of serious attention, has most of the
peculiarities of that language." There is a tradition related by an
aged Indian, of the Stockbridge tribe, that their fathers were once in
possession of a "Sacred Book," which was handed down from generation
to generation; and at last hid in the earth, since which time they had
been under the feet of their enemies. But these oracles were to be
restored to them again; and _then_ they would triumph over their
enemies, and regain their rights and privileges. Mr. Boudinot, after
recording many traditions similar to the above, at length remarks:
"Can any man read this short account of Indian traditions, drawn from
tribes of various nations; from the west to the east, and from the
south to the north, wholly separated from each other, written by
different authors of the best character, both for knowledge and
integrity, possessing the best means of information, at various and
distant times, without any possible communication with each other; and
yet suppose that all this is the effect of chance, accident, or
design, from a love of the marvelous, or a premeditated intention of
deceiving, and thereby ruining their well established reputation? Can
any one carefully, and with deep reflection, consider and compare
these traditions and nations with the position and circumstances of
the long lost ten tribes of Israel, without at least drawing some
presumptive inferences in favor of these wandering natives being
descended from the ten tribes of Israel?"
"Joseph Merrick, Esq., a highly respectable character in Pitsfield,
Mass., gave the following account: That in 1815, he was leveling some
ground under and near an old wood-shed standing on a place of his,
situated on _Indian Hill_. He ploughed and conveyed away old chips and
earth to some depth. After the work was done, walking over the place,
he discovered, near where the earth had been dug the deepest, a black
strap, as it appeared, about six inches in length, and one and a half
in breadth, and about the thickness of a leather trace to a harness.
He perceived it had, at each end, a loop of some hard substance,
probably for the purpose of carrying it. He conveyed it to his house,
and threw it into an old tool box. He afterwards found it thrown out
at the door, and again conveyed it to the box.
"After some time, he thought he would examine it; but in attempting to
cut it, found it as hard as bone; he succeeded, however, in getting it
open, and found it was formed of two pieces of thick rawhide, sewed
and made water-tight with the sinews of some animal, and gummed over;
and in the fold was contained _four_ folded pieces of parchment. They
were of a dark yellow hue, and contained some kind of writing. The
neighbors coming in to see the strange discovery, tore one of the
pieces to atoms, in the true Hun and Vandal style. The other three
pieces Mr. Merrick saved, and sent them to Cambridge, where they were
examined, and discovered to have been written with a pen, in _Hebrew_,
plain and legible. The writing on the three remaining pieces of
parchment, was quotations from the Old Testament. See Deut., vi, from
4--9; also xi, 13--21; and Exodus, xiii, 11--16, to which the reader
can refer, if he has the curiosity to read this most interesting
discovery.
"On the banks of White River, in Arkansas Territory, have been found
ruins erected no doubt by an enlightened population, of the most
extraordinary character, on account of their dimensions, and the
materials of which they were erected. One of these works is a wall of
earth, which encloses an area of six hundred and forty acres, equal to
a mile square, and having, in its centre, the foundation of a large
circular building, or temple. Another, yet more strange, and more
extensive, consists of the foundations of a great city, whose streets,
crossing each other at right angles, are easily traced through the
mighty forest. And besides these are found the foundations of
_houses_, made of _burnt_ bricks, like the bricks of the present time.
These have been traced to the extent of a mile."
The foregoing is taken from Priest's American Antiquities, and from
the same work we extract the following, page 246:
"_Ruins of the City of Otolum, discovered in North America_.--In a
letter of C. S. Rafinesque, whom we have before quoted, to a
correspondent in Europe, we find the following: 'Some years ago, the
Society of Geography, in Paris, offered a large premium for a voyage
to Guatemala, and for a new survey of the antiquities of Yucatan and
Chiapa, chiefly those fifteen miles from Palenque.'"
"I have," says this author, "restored to them the true name of
_Otolum_, which is yet the name of the stream running through the
ruins. They were surveyed by Captain Del Rio, in 1787, an account of
which was published in English, in 1822. This account describes partly
the ruins of a _stone_ city, of no less dimensions than seventy-five
miles in circuit; length, thirty-two, and breadth twelve miles, full
of palaces, monuments, statues, and inscriptions: one of the earliest
seats of American civilization; about equal to Thebes of ancient
Egypt."
It is stated in the _Family Magazine_, No. 34, p. 266, for 1833, as
follows: "Public attention has been recently excited, respecting the
ruins of an ancient city, found in Guatemala. It would seem that these
ruins are now being explored, and much curious and valuable matter, in
a literary and historical point of view, is anticipated. We deem the
present a most auspicious moment, now that the public attention is
turned to the subject, to spread its contents before our readers, as
an introduction to future discoveries, during the researches now in
progress."
The following are some of the particulars, as related by Captain Del
Rio, who partially examined them, as above related, in 1787: "From
Palenque, the last town northward in the province of _Ciudad Real de
Chiapa_, taking a southwesterly direction, and ascending a ridge of
high land, that divides the kingdom of Guatemala from Yucatan, at the
distance of six miles, is the little river _Micol_, whose waters flow
in a westerly direction, and unite with the great river _Tulijah_,
which bends its course towards the province of _Tobasco_. Having
passed Micol, the ascent begins, and at half a league, or a mile and a
half, the traveler crosses a little stream called Otolum; from this
point heaps of stone ruins are discovered, which render the roads very
difficult for another half league, when you gain the height whereon
the stone houses are situated, being still fourteen in number in one
place, some more dilapidated than others, yet still having many of
their apartments perfectly discernible. These stand on a rectangular
area, three hundred yards in breadth by four hundred and fifty in
length, which is a fraction over fifty-six rods wide, and eighty-four
rods long, being in the whole circuit, two hundred and eighty rods,
which is three fourths of a mile, and a trifle over. This area
presents a plain at the base of the highest mountain forming the
ridge. In the centre of this plain is situated the largest of the
structures which has been, as yet, discovered among these ruins. It
stands on a mound, or pyramid, twenty yards high, which is sixty feet,
or nearly four rods, in perpendicular altitude, which gives it a lofty
and beautiful majesty, as if it were a temple suspended in the sky.
This is surrounded by other edifices, namely, five to the northward,
four to the southward, one to the southwest, and three to the
eastward, fourteen in all.
"In all directions, the fragments of other fallen buildings are seen
extending along the mountain, that stretches east and west either way
from these buildings, as if it were the great temple of worship, or
their government-house, around which they built their city, and where
dwelt their kings and officers of state. At this place was found a
subterranean stone aqueduct, of great solidity and durability, which
in its course passes beneath the largest building."
Let it be understood, this city of Otolum, the ruins of which are so
immense, is in North, not South America, in the same latitude with the
island of Jamaica, which is about eighteen degrees north of the
equator, being on the highest ground between the northern end of the
Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, where the continent narrows
towards the Isthmus of Darien, and is about eight hundred miles south
of New Orleans.
The discovery of these ruins, and also of many others, equally
wonderful, in the same country, is just commencing to arouse the
attention of the schools of Europe, which hitherto have denied that
America could boast of her antiquities. But these immense ruins are
now being explored under the direction of scientific persons, a
history of which, in detail, will, doubtless, be forthcoming in due
time; two volumes of which, in manuscript, we are informed, have
already been written, and cannot but be received with enthusiasm by
Americans.
A gentleman who was living near the town of Cincinnati, in 1826, on
the upper level, had occasion to sink a well for his accommodation; he
persevered in digging to the depth of eighty feet, without finding
water; but still persisting in the attempt, his workmen found
themselves obstructed by a substance, which resisted their labor,
though evidently not stone. They cleared the surface and sides from
the earth bedded around it, when there appeared the stump of a tree,
three feet in diameter, and two feet high, which had been cut down
with an ax. The blows of the ax were yet visible. It was nearly of the
color and apparent character of coal, but had not the friable and
fusible quality of that substance. Ten feet below, the water sprang
up, and the well is now in constant supply and high repute.
In Morse's Universal Geography, first volume, p. 142, the discovery of
the stump is corroborated: "In digging a well in Cincinnati, the stump
of a tree was found in a sound state, ninety feet below the surface;
and in digging another well, at the same place, another stump was
found, at ninety four feet below the surface, which had evident marks
of the ax; and on its top there appeared as if some iron tool had been
consumed by rust."
We might fill a volume with accounts of American antiquities, all
going to show that this country has been inhabited by a people who
possessed a knowledge of the arts and sciences, who built cities,
cultivated the earth, and who were in possession of a written
language. But the things which we have here introduced are abundantly
sufficient for our purpose. If a few characters in Hebrew have been
found in the earth in America, written on parchment, then it is just
as easy to admit that a whole volume has been found in the earth in
America, written on plates, in Egyptian characters. The astonishing
facts of the stumps found eighty or ninety feet under ground at
Cincinnati, and similar discoveries in many other parts of North and
South America, such as buried cities, and other antiquities, all go to
prove that there has been a mighty convulsion and revolution, not only
of nations, but of nature; and such a convulsion as is nowhere else so
reasonably accounted for, as in the following extraordinary and
wonderful account of events, which transpired in this country, during
the crucifixion of Messiah, which we extract from the Book of Mormon,
Nephi, v, 2-11:
"And it came to pass, in the thirty and fourth year, in the first
month, in the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such
an one as never had been known in all the land; and there was also a
great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch
that it did shake the whole earth, as if it was about to divide
asunder; and there were exceeding sharp lightnings, such as never had
been known in all the land. And the city of Zarahemla did take fire;
and the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the
inhabitants thereof were drowned; and the earth was carried up upon
the city of Moronihah, that, in the place of the city thereof, there
became a great mountain; and there was a great and terrible
destruction in the land southward. But, behold, there was a more great
and terrible destruction in the land
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