//./3,o(S, r" PRINCETON, N. J. ^% Bivision -■ ^^ 7753 Sec/ion ' LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PRINCETON, NJ. The George J. Finney Collection of Shaker Literature Given in Memory of His Uncle The Rev. John Clark Finney Class of 1907 Digitized by tine Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library http://www.archive.org/details/holysacreddivinestew :^ ^' J ■^ r .^ 's .^ 5v Vj -? ^ HOLY, SACRED AND DIVINE ROLL AND BOOK; FROM THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN, TO THE I]¥HABITA]¥TI§ OF EARTH: REVEALED IN THE DNITED SOCIETY AT NEW LEBANON, COUNTY OF COLUMBIA, STATE OF NEW-YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Bead and understand all ye in mortal clay. IN TWO PARTS. PART I. RECEIVED BY THE CHURCH OF THIS COMMUNION, AND PUBLISHED IN UNION WITH THE SAME. PRINTED IN THE UNITED SOCIETY, CANTERBURY, N.H. ADVERTISEMENT. The publishers of this work, feel that it is their duty to say unto all who may read the contents of the same, that in the compilation and arrangement of it, they have copied the style in which it was originally written by the pen of inspiration ; that the subject matter is preserved entire, and wherever supply words have been added to the original matter, they are inclosed in brackets. The contents of each chapter, and a part of the leading captions have been added also for convenience' sake. Some of the chapters have been divided for the sake of perspicuity, and many of the sections also, where it could be done without injuring the sense. Throughout the work, it has been the object to follow the inspired dic- tion, and, in a great measure the original manuscript, rather than conform to the customs of the present age and day. In fine, it has been the labor of those engaged in the publication of this work, to preserve the sense as purely original as possible; and it has been many times carefully compared with the original for this purpose. As this is the first printed book ever issued by the United Society at Can- terbury, among whom there is no regular printer, the mechanical execution may not be perfect in all respects. We would also add, that the Society who have published the first edition of these sacred books, feel that they have, by so doing, answered the require- ment of God unto them, in that respect, and will in no case become respon- sible for any expense that may be incurred on account of reprinting them hereafter. Ail printers who may wish to reprint them, must do it at their own risk. September^ 1843. The Publishers. CONTENTS Page. Introduction to the Proclamation ] Proclamation ........ ^ .. . 2 Word of the Lord to one of his mighty Angels .... 5 Word of the holy and mighty Angel to the inspired writer . . 8 Introduction to the Sacred Roll by the holy Angel . . . 11 CHAPTER I. ^ The Lord first announces Himself in his true character, to the nations of the earth • .13 CHAPTER II. Briefly showing the order of his work with the children of men in early ages .......... 16 CHAPTER III. Of man's probationary state. His disobedience and loss. The revelation of a Savior «&c 21 CHAPTER IV. Of the law of nature, and order of grace. The Daughter of Zion declared &c 29 CHAPTER V. Passages of Scripture referring to the coming of Christ ... 31 CHAPTER VI. Of man's treatment with God's extended offers of charity and grace ; and of God's dealings with him in dispensations past, and in the present 36 CHAPTER VII. Of the manifestations of his Holy Spirit, and the manner of his work, as operating upon the hearts of the children of men, through visible and invisible agencies ...... 40 CHAPTER VIII. Passages or Scripture, showing the plain and pointed declara- tions of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the manner of life he re- quired of all who professed to follow him ..... 46 CHAPTER IX. Solemn words of warning to the inhabitants of earth, never more to follow the example practiced in the long and gloomy period of time called the days of antichrifSt ..... 56 1 CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. Page. Passages of Scripture, alluding to tlie bciiiglited reign of antichrist 60 CHAPTER XI. Of the dispensations of God's grace to mankind; the manner in which man has treated them ; the effects of his disobedience, and refusal of the offers of grace ....... 68 CHAPTER Xn. Passages of Scripture, referring to the second coming of Christ . 74 CHAPTER XHI. The subject continued — Declaration and testimony of the Apostles . 80 CHAPTER XIV. Of the Mosaic law, and of the kingdom and law of Christ; also, concerning those in heathenish darkness ..... 85 CHAPTER XV. Passages of Scripture, referring to the second coming of Christ in the female .......... 89 CHAPTER XVI. Christ's second appearing in the female ; her office and calling as the Bride, or Spiritual Mother ; and the character of her true followers ........... 100 CHAPTER XVII. The office of the three first chosen witnesses separately declar- ed, and further illustrations of those who are their true follov/- crs 108 CHAPTER XVLU. Subject continued — The second witness . . . ; . .Ill CHAPTER XIX. Subject continued — The third witness . . . . . . 113 CHAPTER XX. Passages of Scripture referring to the resurrection .... 120 CHAPTER XXI. Of God's coming to visit the earth in mercy and in judgment . 124 CHAPTER XXII. Passages of Scripture relative to the peaceable kingdom of Christ 129 CHAPTER XXIII. Of the rulers and great ones of the earth ; How their time is spent, and the leading motives by which they are actuated . . . 138 CHAPTER XXIV. Of ministers and preachers of a fashionable and popular gos]>cl ; and of the many ways man has sought out for salvation, but always in the future • 143 CONTENTS. Vii CHAPTER XXV. Pag«. The word of the Lord, concerning those who labor to turn the scale of justice for gain; and those who would prolong disease in their fellow creatures, for money ...... 14[) CHAPTER XXVI. Of justness, and the goings of the people. Of the confusion, and troubled state of man. The causes and the effects. . . 153 CHAPTER XXVn. The subject continued ......... 157 CHAPTER XXVni. Passages of Scripture referring to the present work of inspira- tion in Zion. Some general illustrations and warnings . . 161 CHAPTER XXIX. The subject continued 168 CHAPTER XXX. The subject continued 174 CHAPTER XXXI. Of harmony, purity and innocence, and the true enjoyment of the two sexes, in this state. Closing of the Roll . . . 180 CHAPTER XXXII, IN SIX PARTS. Introduction to a prophecy of the ancient Prophet Isaiah . . 187 PART I. Words of the Prophet Isaiah in the first watch, through his Archer 188 PART II. Words of the second watch, from the Prophet Isaiah through his Archer . . . . . . . 190 PART III. Words of the Prophet Isaiah at the third watch, or hour of twelve; sent forth in solemn lamen- tation, for all the children of men, both in and out of Zion 192 PART IV. Words of the fourth or morning watch spoken by the Prophet 196 PART V. A prophecy from the Prophet Isaiah, communica- ted through two of his Archers .... 201 PART VI. Of the awful judgments and desolation that God has purposed shall come upon man, if he heed- eth not his warning voice, and turneth not from ths ways of evil 211 CHAPTER XXXIII. The word of the holy and mighty Angel of the Lord, who hath read the sacred Roll, and that contained in this book, for mor- tal hand to write 214 Supplementary article by the writer 219 OP THE SENT FORTH BY HIS BLESSED SON, AND REVEALED IN FLAMES OF FIRE UPON HIS HOLY MOUNTAIN, FOR MORTAL HAND TO WRITE. INTRODUCTION TO THE PROCLAMATION. New Lebanon, May 4, 1842. This morning, between the hours of six and seven, the word of the Lord, through a Holy Angel, came to me, saying, Arise, O thou little one, and appear before the Lord, on the Holy Mount; and as thou goest, kneel seven times, and bow low, seven times to the earth ; for the Lord hath words for thee to write ; and thou shalt kneel, or sit low, by the side of his Holy Fountain, and the words shall be revealed unto thee, in flames of fire. I went, and in obedience to the direction of the Holy Angel, I kneeled, and bowed the number of times required. And as I reached the foot of the hill, whereon the Fountain is placed, language cannot describe the sensations of my soul ; and the noise as of a mighty rushing wind, or as of distant thunder, did roar throughout the hill. But as I approached the Fountain, and seated myself low, lo write, all became calm ; and an inexpressible feeling, as of a consuming fire within, filled my mortal frame, and prepared me to write the following communication. Philemon Stewart. THE l¥ORI> OF GOO, TO ms HOLY SON JESUS CHRIST, THE SAVIOR OF MEN. Take this short Roll of my word, go forth to earth, and read aloud, uponthe top of my holy Mountain, that one of my servants may understand and cor- rectly icrite the same. To this place, I will cause one of my holy .Angels, who shall hear thee com- pany, to lead the one tohom I have chosen, even in the first watch of the rising sun, to the sacred spot of ground, ichereon I will cause my word to be revealed inflames of burning fire. PROCLAMATION. Bow down your hearts, all ye who dwell in Zion, and humble yourselves to the dust before Me, O ye worms of mortal clay ! All flesh shall wither at my presence, and the deceitful worker in Zion shall be consumed by the fire of my burning. For much have I given unto Zion, and much will I require at her hand, saith the Lord God of Heaven. For I will have a pure people on the earth, whose hands are not stained with human blood, nor their souls defiled with sin and disobedience to the commands of my blessed Son, whom I, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, have twice sent forth to the inhabitants of earth, whom I created in my own image, that they might bring forth offerings pure and holy, before my sacred throne. In tender mercy, and loving kindness, did I send forth my Son, both in his first and second appearance, that they might learn the way of peace and salvation, and gain an inheritance in my pure and holy gospel, while on earth, that would insure them a peacefial mansion of rest in my holy kingdom, when they had done with the things of lime. But, Oh ! Hdlen si vas' ta vac la ! Mortal man hath never been ready, from the earliest ages of the world to the present day^ to learn my will and obey my sacred word, through such means as I was pleased to send it forth to them. But my sacred words have been trampled under their feet ; my PROCLAMATION. O law of nature disregarded and set at nought ; and in the sacred path of my gospel, which is the law of grace to the soul, their feet have not walked. But in other paths their feet have trodden, and [they have] shed much innocent blood. And other gods than Me, have their souls bowed down to worship. Thus saith the Lord God of Heaven and earth; My All-seeing Eye hath beheld the doings of the children of men, for ages and ages long past, even to the present day. And a cruel, persecuting spirit, in all ages of the world, to the present time, hath invariably risen up against my most merciful offers, to persecute, even unto death, those who put their trust in Me, and would sooner suffer death, in any form, than disobey my righteous commands. But give ear, O earth, and understand, O ye people that dwell in her ! The day of my visitation hath begun, saith the Lord ; and I will never cease, nor cause my hand of judgment to be stayed, until I have met all nations in their own paths. Mercy and judg- ment are in my grasp ; and my hand of wrath and indignation is hovering over the earth, and my Angels are passing to and fro, through every quarter. And where ever I find a people on the earth, saith the Lord, who are ready and prepared to keep the commands of my blessed Son, either in his first, or second appearance, and heed this, my present warning voice unto them, by humbling themselves, and bringing forth fruits meet for repentance, which are, humility of soul, peace, love and good will to all men, and a conscience void of offence, before Me, their God, and each other ; my hand of judg- ment shall lightly pass them over ; and in merciful rays of loving kindness, will I cause my blessings to distill upon them. But unto such as make light, in this their day, of my warning voice, and will not even return to the law of nature, as I command- ed the children of Israel, by my faithful servant Moses, in ancient days; but pass on, saying within their own hearts; "These are the words of mortals and not of God;" I will surely visit them, in my own time and season, with sore destruction and desolating judg- ments, till mountains sink and valleys rise, and kingdoms into pie- ces rend. For I will cause peace to depart from the earth, and an awful gloom of terror and dismay to spread itself over her face. For I am the God of yesterday, to-day, and forever; and my spirit shall not always strive with mortal man to no purpose. 4 PROCLAMATION. But they shall hear my word in different parts of the earth, sent forth through the mouths of babes and sucklings. And the tongues of the dumb shall be loosed, to warn the people to turn from the error of their doings, and repent before the Lord their God, that his rolling judgments sweep them not from the earth. And awful signs shall appear in the firmament of heaven, that shall cause the heart of man to faint ; and his strength shall fail because of the judgments which my Almighty hand hath sent forth upon the earth. For she groaneth beneath her present weight of sin and wickedness ; and crieth unto Me for vengeance to recom- pense unto the inhabitants thereof, who, by their own disobedience, have brought this curse upon her. Therefore, have I, the God of Heaven, in mercy and loving kindness, seen fit to reveal, in these last days, my word and will unto my chosen witnesses. And this short roll of my word, saith the Lord of hosts, I command my witnesses to put up in the yard of my Holy Sanctuary ; that all such of the children of men, as may pass this street, upon the side of my Holy Mountain, may read and understand the same. But touch it not, saith the Lord of hosts; for I have placed four of my holy Angels, to guard my sacred word. And let him that readeth understand ; and judge not my word, judge not my work ; for my doings are marvelous in the sight of men; and who can comprehend my ways, saith the Great I AM. I have commanded my chosen people, who dwell upon this Mount, to bow down in low humility before Me, and separate them- selves more from the children of this world; and worship Me, the coming season, in a retired situation, humbly supplicating the mer- cy of the Lord their God, both for themselves, and the rest of the inhabitants of the earth. Therefore, trouble ye not my chosen ones ; for I have called them, saith the Lord, and they shall not appear in pomp and splen- dor; but they shall be clothed in meekness, and humility of soul; clad in the spirit of the Lamb, and the garment of the Savior. For my people are inoffensive, and will sooner suffer, even unto death, than resist unto blood. Therefore, in blessing I will bless; and in troubling I shall trouble, saith the Lord of hosts. THE WORD OE THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN, To one of his holy and mighty Angels of Light, Potcer and Truth, as He icas about to send him with a sacred and solemn Roll of his word, in mercy to the inhabitants of a perishing earth, and languishing world. Draw near before my throne, O ye mighty and holy Angels, and all ye Seraphs, spread your wings and lie low in breathless si- lence, while I sound forth my word and will to this Holy Angel, whom I have commissioned to take this Roll, which I have written with my own hand, and place it safely upon the central dwelling, in the heart of my Zion on earth ; and there it shall remain, until the time shall come, that I, in my own wisdom, shall send him forth to read the same for mortal hand to write. Have ye not beheld my doings, O ye holy and mighty Angels that surround my throne, how that my hand of charity and mercy, hath, in all ages of the world, preceded the hand of my judgment? Have I not always verified unto you, the truth of that declar- ation which I sent forth by the mouths of my Prophets in early days, that I delighted not in the death of the wicked, but I would, that all turn and repent, in the day that my hand of charity, and loving kindness, was stretched out towards them ? "Truth, O thou mighty God of Heaven, reply the Angels." And have ye not furthermore seen, how that I, myself, in the everlasting attributes of my goodness, did stoop, and come down from my throne, and visit the earth on Sinai's top? And did I not there, on the Mount, engrave my law on two tables of stone, for the children of Israel, (a people whom I did call with my own voice,) and give them into the hands of my servant Moses, to establish the same among the people ; warning him to use all his influence and power, to have these divine commands kept unbroken? And at the same time, did I not acquaint him of the judgment that would invariably follow their disobedience, should the people persist in so doing? And cannot all ye holy Angels bear'witness that I have, from the day that I created and placed man upon the earth, held forth clearly and plainly to his view, both the good and comforting re- wards of obedience, and the painful and distressing rewards of diso- bedience ? O WORD OF THE LORD And can ye not also bear witness, that I have made use of every means, to bring my creature man into the path of obedience, even to the destroying of his whole race from the face of the earth, save a few chosen ones, who, by their faithful obedience, merited my mercy and protection? "Truth, truth, O righteous God, we bear thee witness from the foundation of the world, to the pres- ent day." And can ye not furthermore bear witness, that I, in mercy and loving kindness, did send my only begotten Son on earth, to open the way of peace and salvation to a lost and degenerate world, and that too, after they had broken my commandments, and trampled my laws under their feet ; and had turned and bowed their hearts to serve and worship other gods, that would please their own lusts? and that, with their eyes open, knowing that they were violating the most sacred laws of Heaven, that had been sent forth for their pro- tection ? And nought would they learn from the judgments, which my Almighty hand, from time to time sent forth, to restrain their wick- ed, idolatrous hearts; but as a body of human beings, (whom I had created after my own image, with immortal souls, and rational fac- ulties, with power to exercise them for their own best good and comfort,) they would, and did, madly pursue their own course to their utter destruction; by denying and crucifying my only begot- ten Son, whom I had sent forth, in the sublime order of my glory, clothed with power divine, sufficient to insure salvation to the whole human family, had they but hearkened to his voice and kept his commandments. And furthermore, O ye my holy Angels, can ye not bear Me witness, that I did promise through the mouths of my faithful ser- vants, the Prophets, that in the latter days, I would set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed? And that a stone from the moun- tain, cut out without hands, should grow, and fill the whole earth; and that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head ? And did I not say, by the mouths of the Prophets, that in the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord should be established in the top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills, and that many nations should flow unto it? That the law should go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem? " Surely we, thy holy Angels, bear thee witness, that all is true, O thou Everlasting Source of all goodness. " TO THE HOLY ANGEL. 7 Then, O thou mighty and proclaiming Angel, take to thyself other Angels, and go to the Zion on earth, where, by my Almighty Power, the windows and doors of Heaven have been opened for several years past, that the indwellers thereof might converse with mortals on earth, or with such a portion of them as had forsaken all for the gospel's sake, in a more remarkable degree of nearness and freedom, than was ever before suffered, since the earth, by my hand was created. There, take to thyself a servant of my name, an instrument whom I have chosen for this purpose, and prepare him, through deep tribulation, and anguish of soul, to write correctly, the words of this Roll, as thou shalt read them unto him. But before this shall take place, thou shalt show forth strange and striking signs unto the people, which shall appear both awful and sublime. For in this Roll to the children of men, have I de- clared the Daughter of Zion, in her proper lot and place, as well as the Son. WORD OF THE HOLY AND MIGHTY ANGEL, To the inspired writer, who had been at the Angel's service, many days previ- ous to the writing of this Roll, in showing forth signs, both strange, and in a great measure unaccounted for by mortals ; yet evidently showing that heavy tribulation for the people of God, was even at their doors. thou child of mortality, in whose body life and breath is, but in whose power it is not, why dost thou seek to evade the suffer- ings and distress, which the Lord thy God hath meted out for thee, that thou may est be prepared to do his will, though thy mortal life should be sacrificed as the consequence, and thy blood should be required by the hands of persecutors, to seal the truth of the words which, by his Almighty Power, thy mortal hand hath been moved to write? 1 say unto thee, fear not mortals, nor the face of mortal man, who is able to destroy the body only; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ' Bow down thine heart, O thou instrument in mortal clay, and suffer thy soul to drink in tribulation, as a thirsty ox drinketh in the crystal water. Have not all thy Heavenly Parents bestowed their strength, love and blessing upon thee, that thou mightest take thy life in thy hand, and put thy trust in God? Hast thou ever been forsaken by the spirit of God, when thou didst go forth, in obedi- ence, to do his will ? "Nay, nay, never, never, O holy Angel." Then, make haste, get thee up from thy slumbers, thou child of sorrow, no more be faint hearted or dismayed, because of the word of thy God unto thee, that thou shouldst end thy days under excruciating sufferings ; for none can find complete happiness, until they have suffered the final destruction of all the life that is natural and carnal. But rejoice in that God who hath called thee to suffer, that his word, pure and uncorrupted, may be brought forth to the chil- dren of men, according to his divine purpose : for to this end hath He called thee, and unless thou resignest to his will, thy soul will WORD OF THE ANGEL TO THE WRITER. 9 sink from his presence, and the blood of the unrighteous who would have hearkened to his word, had it been sent forth, he will require at thy hands. But if thou doest thy duty, and they hearken not, after they have had my word of warning placed before their eyes, or sounded in their ears, their blood must be upon their own heads. The Lord thy God, sendeth forth to earth nothing in vain ; nought of all that he giveth to the children of men, shall again re- turn unto him void. He sendeth it forth iji mercy, to all such as will receive and obey it, according to the best light they have ; and in judgment to all such as willfully refuse to hearken and give ear to the words of solemn warning, which he hath sent forth, stamped with the seal of his everlasting kindness, to all who turn and repent. Let him that will, come and partake of the waters of life freely. For we, his holy and proclaiming Angels, do testify and bear witness, that the Almighty Hand of the Lord God of Heaven is stretched out in wrath, in judgment and in mercy, over the inhab- itants of earth, in a more singular and striking manner, than ever was done before, since it, by his hand was created. And we do further testify, to all human beings, who may hear or see the record of our words, that judgments awful, gather rap- idly over the face of the whole earth. And where ever God does find a people, whether they be few, or many, who fear Him, by keeping his commandments, and denying themselves of all ungodliness and every worldly lust. He will surely cover them with the shadow of his wings, and hold them in the hollow of his hand, that his destroy- ing Angels, pass them lightly over. He is no respecter of persons, farther than their works render them objects of his peculiar delight and protection : this marked distinction for work's sake, his attributes of goodness and justice at all times require him to show. Therefore, put on strength, O thou mortal child of sorrow, and be patient under sufferings, until the will of thy God, in writing this Roll, shall be accomplished. Six hours in each day, I will distinctly read from the Roil, for thy mortal hand to write; the words thou shalt clearly under- stand, as I sound them forth to thee; but the rest part of the day, and time, thou shalt labor under severe distress of soul, and great anguish of spirit. And so thou must be patient in this situation, until 1 shall have finished reading the Roll, and delivered the word whicji B dQ Inri thr^ sa&ih' =11 BT TEZ HIT A_^ -2 ■ lliW,J lOSrf' _^ _• ,_ Be Ik :_ -- "vaedLa* will 3? gujgel at CfafTPC see isi XSBr. 2«C. l2 INTRODUCTION TO THE ROLL. throughout Christendom, and where ever missions have been extend- ed, making charges for the books, sufficient only to remunerate them for their trouble ; and this is to be done, if possible, in two years' time from the commencement of the year eighteen hundred forty four, as will be seen towards the close of the Roll. [See Chap. xxviiSec. 30;] All printers, whd may have a vi'ish tO re-print this book, ar6 iindei^ the most solemn charge, ( as will be seen by reading it through, ) not to alter, add, or diminish, a word herein contained. [See Chap. xxviiSec. 33. ] And to make such chargies for the books, of those who may wish to purchase, as will justly com- pensate them for their expense, and no mote, saith the Holy and Mighty Angel of God. New Lebanon, Feb. 2^ 1843. 12 o' clock. M; 13 THE iACRED, SOLEMN AND SEALED ROLL, OPENED AND READ, BY THE MIGHTY ANGEL. CHAPTER 1. ^HE LORD FIRST ANNOMCES HIMSELF m HIS TRUIl CHARACTER, TO THE NATIOI^S OE THE EARTH. 10. 11. The Lord announces himself in his trae character. AH creation should pass into oblivion, rather than one word of God should fail. Times and seasons of the accomplish- ment of God's work, seldom given to his agents to declare. Of the fulfillment of God's promise in sending a Savior into the world. Of the creation of New Heavens aad a New Earth, and the humbling of man. 12. Of coming in the night as a thief. 14. Of blessing to those who prepared themselves at his coming, &c. 16. Mercy always has preceded judg- ment . 17. Of warnings sent forth in this day. 18. Character of those through whorn God reveals his will. 1. I AM THAT I AM, A God op Justice, op Wisdom^ AND OF Truth. A God of long Forbearance, of tender Kind- ness, AND LOVING MeRCY» A GoD OP WHOM YE READ, WHO CRE- ATED THE Heavens, and the Earth, and all that is therein. A God who sent forth the bverwhelming deluge, to sweep from the earth's face, even that which I had created in my own im- age, bearing immortality, because of their gross wickedness, in per- verting the order of nature which I had given them. 2. A God that appeared on Sinai's top, and gave my law, engrav- en upon two tables of stone, into the hands of my true and faith- ful servant Moses, for the Children of Israel. 3. A God who fought their battles when they were obedient, and suffered their enemies to prevail when they were disobedient ; 4. A God that led them to the promised land, and sent, in my own wisdom unto them, the promised Messiah. 5. A God who hath narrowly watched the doings of the nations and 14 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK kingdoms of the earth, from the day they crucified my Son, up lo the present time. 6. I AM, is God ; whose power is Almighty, and whose glory and beauty filleth all immensity and space ; yet the least creature of my creation, is an object of my particular notice; either in mercy or in judgment. And with Me, time does not exist, for before time was, I AM, existed ; and the after Me can never come. 7. Jehovah J ah, is my name; through endless worlds I'm known ; fulfilling, to the least jot and tittle, that which I have prom- ised through the mouths of my true and faithful servants. 8. All creation, that mortals can comprehend, should pass into oblivion, rather than one word from my mouth should fail of being accomplished, let it be spoken through whatever medium it may ; if I have prepared that medium, I have also recorded it on the rec- ords of eternity ; and all the power that earth and hell possess, can never falsify one word. 9. But times and seasons, I seldom give to any agent, to declare : they are reserved in true wisdom, by the Eternal Twain, united in one. I am that God that did promise, in ancient days, through the mouths of my faithful servants, that in the latter day, I would set up a kingdom that should never have an end. This I have done ; I have begun a kingdom that shall never have an end. 10. I did also promise, that I would fill the whole earth with a stone, from the Mountain, cut out without hands : This I am also doing, in my own time and season. Remember that with Me, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day : yet, the very hairs of your head are all numbered, and the moments of your lives all counted. 11. I did also promise to create a new heavfeii and a new earth, wherein should dwell righteousness. And I did furthermore declare, that my kingdom was a kingdom of peace; and for this purpose did I send my only begotten Son into the world. I did also promise, that I would cause the loftiness of man to be brought low; and bring into contempt the honorable and great ones of the earth, (or those who felt themselves as such,) that the pride of all flesh might be stained, and my name alone, exalted in that day. This work 1 am now doing, even in the present time in which you live. 12. I am that God who did promise, through the Lord Jesus Christ, that I would come as a thief in the night ; and warned all to be prepared, with lamps well trimmed and burning, having oil in TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 15 tjieir vessels, ready to meet the Bridegroom and Bride, and not to be found sleeping, when their Master should return. 13. And lo, I have come, and cried aloud the watch, but few an- swered ; therefore I called the lame, the halt and the blind to my feast, and they that were the children of the kingdom I did cast out, and compelled those from, the highways and hedges, to come in and sit at my table, that it might be filled. 14. I am that God who promised, through my blessed Son, that if any would forsake all, for the gospel's sake, take up their cross, and follow Me, they should be blessed while in time, an hundred fold; and in the world to come, with eternal life. And that all such as would lose their life for my sake, should find it ; and all such as would save their life should lose it. For the Father and the Son are one, and from the Eternal Essence of my goodness, did I send him forth. [See St. John, Chap. xvii. 11, 21, 22.] 15. I AM, is God of yesterday, to day, and forever; my purpos- es alter not, neither do they change, with the passing events of time. 16. My attributes of goodness, justice and equity, with an offer of repentance, have always, in the wise dispensations of my provi- dence, preceded, (in kind and merciful offers to the children of men,) the heavy hand of my judgment, that they who would, might turn and be saved. 17. And now, even in this your day, I am that God who does, through means of my own choosing, and vessels of my own prepar- ing, send forth my word of truth, accompanied by a kind and friendly warning, to all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. 18. Not through vessels polished by the arts and sciences, culti- vated by man, but through such as are humble and dependent chil- dren, who seek to know, and do my will, as the first, and greatest object of their pursuit ; who dwell in a humble and secluded posi- tion in life ; choosing, rather to suffer persecution, tribulation and affliction with my peoploj than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. 19. Such are the instruments and vessels, through whom the word of my law shall go forth, from the Zion of my likeness, to the ends of the earth. Through such as do, in truth, yield themselves as clay in the hands of the potter ; giving all the honor and glory to my name, knowing and feeling themselves nought, but poor frail worms of the dust, whose life and breath is but as a vapor, that van- isheth quickly away. 16 BRIEFLY SHOWING THE ORDER OF MY WORK WITH THE CHILDREN OE MEN IN EARLY AGES; Whom I had created in my oavn image, saith the Lord. TO FILL A MUCH MORE HONORABLE AND EXALTED STATION, IN MY VIEW, THAN THAT TO WHICH THEY HAVE APPLIED THEMSELVES. 1. Of the primitive state of man. 15 6. Generation, innocent and justifiable, had it been kept in its order. 17 7. How corrupted; and the following con- sequences. 20 8. Of the original design of God in the creation of man. 25 10. Man protected, had he kept his recti- tude. 26 11. Mankind never ceased to pervert the 28 true order of nature. 29 12. Judgments suffered to follow, as a re- buke. 30 13. Man still hardens his heart. 14. Of the earth's wdtuess to its Creator. Of the sending forth of God's warning- Violation of the order of nature, the cause of war and bloodshed. Expressions of the hearts of many, concerning the judgments of God. Of the call of God to the inhabitants of the earth. Of man's obstinacy against God, from the beginning. Salvation only to the obedient. Criterion of the true witnesses of God. Of the dispensations of justice to mankind. 1. When I created the earth, and all that is therein, I created man m a state of free agency, possessing an immortal soul, endow- ed with reasonable faculties, and also with irrational, or opposite propensities. 2. These irrational, or opposite propensities, could never have gained such an influence over his rational mind, as to have perverted the order of his creation, had he kept my commandments, when first by my hand he was created, and placed in the garden, with full liberty to partake of every flower, and eat of the fruit of every tree, save the one that stood in the midst. This he was not to med^* die with on pain of death. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 17 3. But the irrational and inferior propensities working upon his animal part, seduced him to yield to the pleadings of the weaker vessel, and disobey the righteous command of his Creator God, 4. By giving way to indulge their natures, the seat of which gratification was placed in the midst of their bodies ; and this is the tree, standing in the midst, bearing the forbidden fruit, from which they plucked, not for the sake of procreation, but wholly for the sake of gratification. 5. Therefore, the death, of which I had before told them, did now ensue ; they could no longer stand before Me in a state of true innoQence; for they had basely corrupted that order of nature which I had strictly commanded them to keep, and violate it not. 6. The times and seasons for them to come together rnerely for the sake of propagating their own species, could have been fulfilled, sufficient to accomplish that end, and [that work] been as justifia- ble in my sight, as that of eating or drinking; and they could have known no more shame in the transaction. 7. But by yielding to inordinate propensities, the seed of man was basely corrupted; and by that means, the order of nature, which I had established for his protection while in a natural state, was wholly thrown aside, saith the Lord, by the great mass of mankind, until debauchery, bloodshed and violence, did fill' the whole earth, save a small remnant, who had descended from him who was begotten strictly after the order of nature, in true obedience to my command. 8. I never intended, saith the Lord, that after having created man in our own image, to be an honor and glory unto us, by show- ing forth the image of his Creator, that he should have filled the earth with every species of abomination and violence,, and caused it to be covered with bloodshed and carnage : by no means. 9. But I intended it should have been a terrestrial paradise, stand- ing in its natural order uncorrupted, until in my wisdom, I should have seen fit to introduce an order of grace, or a spiritual dispensa- tion, for such portions of its inhabitants as were adequately ripened for the calling. 10. I should have noticed, with my blessing and protection, in the order of my providence, those who had strictly kept the order and law of nature, uncorrupted, as really as those who were called into the order of my grace ; or to a work so pure and holy, that it could allow of nothing pertaining to the works of generation ; 11. But mankind, from the earliest acres of the world, have never c 18 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK ceased to pervert the order of nature, and turn it to subserve their own ungov^rned' and licentious passions, until their loss and dark- ness have become so great, that the whole earth is corrupted, and fast sinking under a curse, from my all righteous hand. 12. And all the judgments and calamities which I have suifered to come upon the earth in past dispensations and ages, to the pres- ent day, as a just recompense for their own doings, have been for the purpose that mankind might learn obedience to my law, by the things which they suffered. 13. Yet, notwithstanding all these solemn warnings, accompanied by awful judgments, if their lives were spared, they have never ceased to harden their hearts, and again provoke my Holy Spirit to anger by their gross wickedness, committed [by many,] with their eyes wide open, knowing that they were disobeying the commands of the Lord their God. 14. The whole world, and all the inhabitants that have heretofore lived on the earth's face, bear Me witness, that it hath now become ripe, for sore and heavy judgments. 15. Therefore, do I firstly send forth my warning voice in chari- ty , and^ extend the offer of repentance to all who will accept it ; for L delight not in the death of the wicked, saith the Lord. 16. But I would, that ye turn from the evil of your doings, and Ifearn true righteousness ; or come so far towards it, as to keep that law of nature whichT first established for the protection of man, while yet in a natuf al state-. 17. Hearken, O ye people, and hear my word, saith the Lord yt>ur God. Had man kept his rectitude in the order of nature, as r commanded him, no innocent blood would ever have been shed by his hand ; no wars and fightings would ever have existed among the nations of the earth. 18. But because of their awful wickedness, and of their beastly abominations, T, the Lord God of Heaven and earth, have suffered the sword, with bloodshed and carnage, famine, destruction and pes- tilence, with sweeping blasts of my fury, in earthquakes and torna- does, to devastate many parts of the earth, and swallow up in de- struction, the living thereon ; that others might take warning and behold the doings of an Almighty hand, that no mortal power could sway. 19. [ These events were suffered,] that those who beheld the awful calamities, with which their fellow creatures had been visited in a TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 19 Stroke of my judgment, might take warning, and turn from the evil of their doings, before it be too late. 20. But how, saith the Lord, have they hardened their hearts? Truly, by saying to their fellows when the calamity was passed, "Why this is truly remarkable, the Lord must have done this- but perhaps the like never will take place again, and so we will go on as usual, land do as.we have done. ] " 2L Others would say, "These things are unavoidable in the nat- ural course and order of the elements; I do not consider that God has any thing to do with it." 22. And by this meane, they would strengthen their fellow mortals in the belief, that my Almighty hand and power, hath noth- ing to do in bringing such sweeping calamities upon the earth, and by so doing, [they would ] strengthen and encourage their compan- ions to go on, still adding to, and increasing the black catalogue of crimes that was attached to those whom I had swept from the face of the earth. 23. Yea, saith the Lord, instead of my judgments serving to work repentance and humiliation, in those who were unvisited by my judgments, it only served, (with many,) to harden them in their awful crimes of wickedness. 24. I deal, saith the Lord Almighty, with the creatures of my creation, according to my own wisdom. I deal with the different nations, kindreds, tongues and people, dwelling upon the face of the whole earth, both in mercy and in judgment ; and in my own wisdom I deal with them as nations, and I deal with them as indi- viduals. 25. Give ear, O Earth, and understand my words, all ye people who dwell in her, saith the Lord of hosts. Will you receive the word of the Lord your God in mercy, now while it is extended to you, in this, the latter day of his glory? Or will you forbear to hear, and refrain from repentance, as your fathers before you have done? 26. Eternity, and the souls dwelling therein, cry unto Me, as a wit- ness, that from the earliest ages of the world to the present day, mankind, as a body, have stood against the most merciful offers of my hand, by refusing to hearken to my word, which I sent forth for their best good, their peace and their comfort. 27. But, as a few glimmering stars in the midst of midnight dark- ness , so have I preserved a few chosen witnesses, who were pre- pared, through deep tribulation, and much suffering, to testify of 20 oACRED ROLL AND BOOK my word, and of my work in truth, through all the dispensations of my goodness to man, from the earliest ages of the world to the ■present day. 28. I have never promised salvation nor protection, to any souls, only in the path of true obedience to that revealed will and order, made known to them, through such instruments, as I had prepared and raised up to testify of Me, both by precept and example, in the age and day wherein they lived. 29. And, as a criterion by which to tell those who were the true witnesses of my word, I did proclaim, through my blessed Son, that fruits alone, should declare, for or against ,each soul ; that I would know no man by his words; but by the fruits which he brought forth,, should he be judged. And this declaration from my eternal throne, must, and forever will remain unalterable, through time and in eternity. 30. For I AM, is a just God, dispensing unto every one accord- ing as their works shall merit; and weigh every nation, accord- ing to my wisdom, in the just balance of my power ; and accord- ing to that measure which they have meted unto others, so shall it be meted to them again. 31. And according to that cup which they have filled with the waters of affliction for others to drink ; so shall it again be filled to overflowing, and returned to their own mouths ; and according to the effusion of blood which they have caused in other nations to flow ; so shall it flow from their own veins, with an increased meas- ure, saith the Lord their God. 21 CflAFTffiS III. OF MAN'S PROBATIONARY STATE. HIS DISOBEDI- ENCE AND LOSS. THE REVELATION OE A SAVIOR &c. The high and exalted ideas of man, inflated by his own ambition and pride, can never be brought conformable TO MY WILL SAITH THE LORD, NOR COMPREHEND MY WORK OR THE NATURE OF MY DOINGS. 1. 10. 19. 20. 22. 25. Man strayed from God, by disobedi- ence. His state of trial; commailid of God to him. His bondage by"the animal propensi- ties ; means of deliverance. Indulgences the cause of haughtiness and hardness of heart ; delusion suf- fered, as the consequence. The witness and declaration of jus- tice against the ■works of man. Mankind questioned by the Almighty. Man slights the offers of mercy and grace. The state in which the wicked enter eternity. Commands of God to man. Mankind again questioned by the Al- mighty. 27. Qf the crucifixion of Christ ; by what caused, &c. 30. Man's way not God's way. 31. The manner in which Christ was sent into the world : for what purpose ; his teaching and example. . 36. Of the visitation of God and his holy Angels to earth. 37. A word of examination to the children of men. 42. The Heavens and earth, witness against mankind. 43. All ranks and orders, required to heark- en and humble themselves. 45. Naught but humility will stay the hand of judgment. 48. The manner in which all are to look for the coming of Christ unto them. Christ revealed, &c. 1. Mankind, by disobedience to Me, their God and Creator, have strayed far, very far from that way in which I intended their feet should walk ; and from that work in which I wished to have them engaged, while on their short pilgrimage through time. 2. But, that man might not be as a mere machine, deprived of the power of volition, or free agency, I placed him, when created, in a peculiar situation or state of trial, and knowing the great weak- ness to which he would be exposed, I gave him a solemn charge, concerning the dangers that lay in his way; and that the most fatal 22 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK consequences would ensue, should he persist in acts cf disobedience to that course which I h^d then instructed him to pursue. Having done this, I left him to prove his fidelity and true obedience to my word. 3. But the irrational or animal propensities, [called the serpent,] soon over-ruled his right reason, and placed upon him strong bands, which held him in bondage to the law of sin and death, which is the animal or inferior part ; and having polluted his seed, by acts of disobedience, the curse which followed, and rested upon him, by increasing the inordinate and beastly passions of lust, which nev- er could be satisfied, had now become so strongly attached to the sensitive powers of the mind, which now were bent on gratifica- tion, [that they] could never be removed, short of a full cross being borne, against every propensity pertaining to that nature. 4. And by the influence of this degraded and beastly propensity, (which never was, and never will be necessary for the sake of pro- creation,) mankind, as a body, from the earliest ages, to the present day, have been exalted in their own imaginations, inflated with pride and vanity to that degree and extent, that I suffered their hearts to become hardened, their ears to become deaf, and their eyes to become blind; for they had chosen their own way, therefore I did suflfer their delusion, saith the God of Heaven. 5. Not that it was my choice, but a choice that they themselves had made, in open and willful rebellion against all the fatherly and kind entreaties which I had sent forth to them, through messengers of my own preparing. 6. Do not the. records of eternal justice and truth, declare this against you, O inhabitants of earth ? Do not the countless millions now groaning in chains and fetters of darkness, bound in eternity, witness this truth ? 7. The eternal record before my throne, which shall bring a just reward to every human creature, declareth and sealeth this solemn truth ; your own way you have pursued, and not the way of your God. 8. Your own plans of salvation you have embraced, and not the plans of your God. Your own paths you have pursued, and in them your feet have been swift to shed blood; these are not the paths of your Creator God. 9. All forms, all creeds and systems of religion that have been established by the sword, or supported by the force of arms, are of TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 23 man's own invention, that the life of that beastly nature, (after which the whole world, from its creation to the present day, have wandered,) might be spared and kept alive. It never emanated from my holy spirit, saith the God of Heaven ; but frail and mortal man,, in his bigoted and darkened condition, hath invented it, and practiced the same. 10. Hearken, all ye nations, and give ear, O ye people of the earth, saith the Lord your God. Can you answer these questions? Have your souls found that which saves you from committing sin in the present tense? Have you found thiat which saves you from shed- ding the blood of your fellow creatures ? Have you found that which causes you to love your neighbors as yourselves? 11. Have you found that which saves you from all the gratifications of lust, and beastly works of nature, only that which is indispensa- ble for the sake of procreation, or for the fulfilling of that great command which I gave to the children of men, in early days ; un- der which the most licentious and beastly works of abomination have been cloaked, from that day to this ? 12. The command was good, and stands good, in its order and place, but not one act of gratification carried further than is neces- sary for the propagation of your own species, can ever be covered by this command. 13. Have you found that which enables you to dwell together in unity, harmony and peace, having allthings in common, and none saying that aught of the things that he possessed were his own? If not, what is the matter ? Ponder these things in your own hearts ! Communities, you say, are good, if they can agree. 14. But thus saith the Lord, have you laid the axe to the root of the tree, or have you only lopped a few of the branches ? Have you found the golden cord of purity,' that binds souls in one ? Or do the bands of sin and death surround you,. and [cause you to be] broken in pieces? 15. What was the reason that the inhabitants of Sodom and Go- morrah refused to hearken to the solemn warnings which I sent forth unto them, through messengers of my own preparing? Did they not mock and scorn my witnesses, and deride the word of my awful truth at their mouths, that unless they did humble themselves and repent, they with their city, should be destroyed ? 16. What was this, but the arrogance of their spirit that refused to 24 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK hearken to my word through those messengers, whom I did send unto them ? 17. What caused the inhabitants of the antediluvian world, to mock and scorn, the solemn and righteous warning of my servant Noah, although they were clearly shovm, by the operations of my Spirit, through%ny faithful servant, that unless they would cease from their awful wickedness, humble themselves and repent, they should, by the judgment of my Almighty hand, be swept from the face of the earth? 18. And notwithstanding, they were all doomed to suffer death, as a certain and sure consequence, if they refused to hearken ; yet, this only served to increase their epithets of scorn and derision upon righteous Noah, for being such an old superstitious fool, ( as they called him, ) as to believe that the Lord was going to over- whelm the world with a deluge of water. 19. Was not this refusal to hearken to the tender warnings of my mouth, sent forth by means of my own choosing, to be attribu- ted to their gross wickedness, which had caused their senses to soar, in lofty and exalted imaginations of their own great w^isdom, and by this means, cause them utterly to reject the most solemn and sacred warnings, that I, their God and Creator could send to them,, through one whose humble walk in life they disdained, from the very bottom of their hearts? 20. Therefore, they received not of my tender mercies, but were, in lieu thereof, compelled to meet Me in judgment, and enter the eternal world with cries and screeches, under the most horrid and awful condemnation of a guilty conscience, loaded with crimes and beastly abominations to sink their souls in 'flames of hell, until, through sufferings, they had paid the utmost farthing, for all their sinful deeds. 21. And, the last error of their lives, in refusing to hearken to my righteous word of warning, was worse than all the rest ; for here they sinned, saith the Lord God,'^ against light and_^understanding ; for the humble walk of my servant Noah, brought forth fruits in their sight, declaratory that my spirit dwelt in him. 22. Hearken, O ye children of men, and incline your ears to hear, and your hearts to understand, the word of the Lord your God, though you have not walked in my paths, and inclined your hearts to understand and do my will, as I have required from the earliest ages. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 25 23. Yet, I am a God of mercy and of long forbearance, to such as have the least desire to return unto Me, through that medium which I have appointed for them; that is, to keep my law and or- der of nature unviolated. 24. Love mercy, deal justly one with another ; fear Me, and keep my commandments throughout, which were given to regulate those in a natural state. This requirement, is distinct and apart from that of the order of my grace. 25. But consider, O inhabitants of earth, and in a special man- ner, those of you who make a great profession of Christianity ! How have mankind treated, from the days of my servant Moses, to the present time, the merciful displays of my goodness, whenever, in my wisdom I have seen fit to send it forth unto them, 26. How oft did T have to scourge my chosen people Israel, for their wicked and rebellious doings, in rising against that order which I had appointed to lead and direct them, and thereby neg- lecting to keep my law, which I had established through my servant Moses, for their protection, stay and support; which, when strictly kept, vv'ould always ensure prosperity, and a blessing from my all righteous hand to rest upon them by day and by night. But when they departed therefrom, a curse was sure to follow. 27. Yet by all these things, how little did they learn, in willing obe- dience, the paths of true wisdom ? Surely, not so much but that they set their hearts against Me their God. They surely were in my sight, a stiff necked and rebellious people, who were determined on pursuing their own plans ; and by this means, thej stood ready to destroy the animal body of the Christ whom I did send unto them, because he did not come in that way which they had laid out for themselves. 28. They wished him to come in great pomp and splendor, with mighty armies bowing at his feet. They wished to behold him as a mighty monarch, swaying the regal sceptre upon an earthly throne, destroying by the edge of the sword, all such as did not bow unto him in submission, and believe as he taught them, supporting the religion of his own nation, and condemning that of others. 29. Had he descended upon them in this manner and form, and held forth this testimony, it would at once have blended with their own self-exalted views of the coming of a Messiah; and they would readily have supported him, by force of arms, upon his throne. 30. But learn, Oye children of men, that man's way, is not the D 26 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK way of his God and Creator. My way is equal for all ; but man'^s way is unequal, unjust, and cruel. Therefore, did I send my only begotten Son to earth, clothed with the power of salvation, encom- passed with a garment of humility and meekness, offering eternal life and salvation, upon equal terms, to all who would make the re- quired sacrifice to obtain it. 3-1. I did not send him to court the love, favor or affection of Monarchs, Kings or Princes ; or to say unto the great ones of the earth, Rabbi! Rabbi! But I sent him to proclaim, through the deepest scenes of suffering and tribulation, peace on earth and good will to men, if they would receive him in the name of his Father in Heaven, possessing the innocency of a lamb and the meekness of a dove. 32. Showing unto all, by precept and example, that he came in the perfect image of his Father, possessing a spirit of forgiveness, patience and meekness, under the most painful and excruciating sufferings of both soul and body, that was ever before shown forth upon the earth, by any spirit dwelling within an earthly tabernacle; being, at the same time, possessed of my mighty power to that extent, that he could raise the dead from their graves to life, or call from the Heavens above, at any time, myriads of holy Angels and justified spirits to his assistance. 33. And because I sent him, clothed in the attitude of meekness and humility, as I had predicted for hundreds of years before, by the mouths of my prophets, that he would come, they, as a body of people, rejectad him and gnashed upon him with their teeth. 34. But a little chosen band, who were accounted poor and illit- erate men, he did gather around him, unto whom he imparted the words of eternal life, and baptized them with the holy spirit; and the few that received his testimony into honest and sincere hearts, became his true followers through life, and ended their days under the heavy hand of persecution for so doing. But I, the God of Heaven, have kept a record of these doings, from the earliest ages of the world unto the present day. 35. I again repeat the question, saith the Lord; Where is the nation, where are the people, either few or many, that have, in truth, denied themselves of all the enjoyments of sinful pleasure, by re- nouncing the world with all its alluring enchantments, for the sake of embracing the blessed gospel of that holy Savior, whom I sent forth to begin a work on earth which should never have an end? TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 27 though the wickedness of man should quickly destroy the body, which, by my Almighty hand had been prepared, as a receptacle for that saving spirit, while it acted in the capacity of a local agent, in time below. 36. Give ear, O inhabitants of earth, and hearken all ye people who dwell in her ! The Lord your God hath stooped from his throne, to visit the earth in mercy and in judgment. His holy Angels have come forth to execute judgment at his word, and show mercy at his pleasure. Vials filled with mercy, and vials filled with wrath he hath placed in their hands. 37. Hear my voice, O ye Angels, and sound aloud your trum- pets to the children of men, saying. Shall the spirit of the Lord your God, always strive with man to no purpose? Will He always endure to be scorned, mocked and frowned upon by the mites of his creation, who are but worms of the dust, and small ones too ? 38. Will He always receive a negative answer to his kind entreat- ies? Do not your own hearts bear witness in the sight of your God, O ye inhabitants of earth, that ye have perverted the way of the Lord, and the cross of his Christ ye have not borne in truth; nor bowed your necks under the yoke of the blessed Savior? 39. Doth not the haughtiness of man declare that his spirit is high and lifted up, exalted above all that is of God ? 40. Doth not the spirit of oppression, and the hand that grindeth the faces of the poor, declare that justice hath departed from the earth, and the blessing of the Almighty withdrawn from her inhabi- tants? 41. Doth not the spirit of bigotry and despotism rule in the hearts of the children of men? Are they not ready and willing, if not bound by civil laws, to support a religion that suits their own natu- ral and carnal views, even at the point of the sword, and still main- tain, that this is the religion of the Son of God, the Prince of Peace? 42. The Heavens bear witness against you, and the earth crieth unto Me with a loud voice, to be avenged on her inhabitants, for the rivers of innocent blood, which they have caused to flow upon her surface. 43. O ye Monarchs, Kings and Princes, and all ye Nobles, Lords and Commons, hearken to my voice of solemn warning, saith the Lord your God ; all ye Rulers of the people, and such as move at their command, 28 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK 44. Bow down your spirits, from the Monarch on his throne, to the humblest peasant dwelling in a lonely cottage. Humble both soul and body ; roll in sackcloth and ashes, and proclaim ye solemn fasts throughout your lands. Prepare, prepare, O thou mortal man! prepare, prepare, all ye inhabitants of earth, for the day of my visit- ation beginneth to dawn upon you ; for my anger is kindled against you, and who may quench it? The arm of my wrath is stretched out towards you, and who may turn it back? 45. Naught but your cries and lamentations in the lowest of humiliation, will cause my hand of judgment to be stayed from the earth, saith the Lord of hosts ; For I purpose to visit her in judg- ment, for her wickedness and abomination, and I will fill unto her a cup such as she never drank, since by my hand she was created. And her inhabitants have no time to lose, in preparing to meet Me their God. 46. My times and seasons, I have revealed not unto man ; but I will shortly convince all flesh that my hand is upon the earth, in very deed. 47. Look not for my word to be showered down from the natural heavens above, — Look not for my word through those that are high and lifted up, and feel themselves far above their fellow creatures. 48. Look not for the second coming of my blessed Son in the natural clouds of heaven ; for I have already sent him, and the foundations of ray new Heavens and new earth, are already laid, never more to be overthrown, and ye believe it not. But ye may look for my word of solemn warning, from those in humble walks of life; and from the mouths of harmless children, saith the Holy One of Israel, shall ye hear my word. 29 OF THE LAW OP MTURE, AND ORDER OF GRACE. THE DAUGHTER OF ZION DECLARED &c. The children of men, in their own natural wisdom, can never discern the true signs of the working of my holy spirit, saith the lord. 1. The children of men required to search the Scriptures. 2. The Lord reasons with man. 7. Mankind required to come to the order of nature. 8. Those called by the gospel, required 10. to keep the law of grace. The Daughter of Zion, or the Heav- enly Bride declared. Concerning the fulfillment of the prophecies. Of the second coming of Christ, &c. 1. Thus saith the Lord to the inhabitants of the earth. Go search ye the records of my holy word, which many of you so highly venerate; for ye say that they testify of Me, and of my blessed Son. 2. But after all the warnings which I had sent for hundreds and hundreds of years, through the mouths of my faithful servants, to my chosen people, respecting the coming of the Messiah, what did it avail them, when the time for his appearance had arriven? The sacred volume by which ye pretend to be led and guided, does tes- tify the truth so far as it goes, upon that ground. 3. Though much of the record of my sacred word, delivered in past ages, hath been destroyed, and much that is now handed down to the present generation, hath been greatly perverted by such as were enemies to the yoke and cross, which the Lord Jesus required them daily to bear and wear ; yet by the interposition of my Al- mighty hand, a sufficient portion of that record, containing the words sent forth from my eternal throne, hath been preserved unto the present day, and doth now stand before Me as a witness, testify- ing against the body of darkness which covereth the earth, and the gross darkness that covereth the people thereon. 4. For their sins and abominations are many, and their trans- 30 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK gressions not a few, saith the Great I AM; whose eye beholdeth the thoughts and intents of every heart, and the leading motive of every action among the children of men. 5. But as I have said in ancient days, I would condescend to rea- son with my creature man ; so do I now, in this the last age of the world, again say, I will this once, condescend to reason with the objects of my creation ; for truly the earth is covered with many souls, and there be millions and millions who know not their right hand from their left ; upon whom the rays of my true light hath never beamed. 6. Therefore, I will this once and again extend the arm of my mercy, holding forth the sceptre of true righteousness, to all such of the inhabitants of earth as hunger and thirst for salvation, and are ready to sacrifice all to obtain it. And to such as desire still longer to remain in the wilderness state of nature, the sceptre con- taineth my law and commandments for the same. 7. I do require, saith the Lord, (who is descending to earth in mercy, and in heavy judgment,) that all such as desire to live in nature, propagating their own species, keep the law of nature unvi- olated, as I have commanded from the beginning. 8. And all such as desire to come into the gospel of grace, must keep the law of grace, as I did command in the first appearing of my blessed Son, your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who stands as the first true Anointed One. 9. And, as I have commanded in the second manifestation of the same spirit, now in this your day, though you believe it not, which is through the Daughter of Zion, constituting a spiritual Mother, the second Anointed One, who now stands in her proper lot and place, with her blessed Lord and Savior; at the head of my new and spiritual Creation, now established on the earth ; and her name is, and forever shall be [called] Mother Ann Lee. 10. And now, the fulfillment of those predictions, from the mouths of my servants, concerning the establishing and setting up of my kingdom in the latter day of glory, as recorded in the sacred volume of my word, which all those of you who profess to be Christians so highly esteem and venerate as sacred truths, are now by my own mouth, saith the Lord, declared unto you to be fulfilled. 11. But I will show unto you, O ye children of men, the most plain and prominent passages recorded in holy writ, which have come down to the age in which you live, referring to the com- TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 31 ing of the Messiah upon earth, to teach the people of his way, that they might walk in his path, when the time should come, for him to descend to earth. 12. And observe ye, how little these things were understood or regarded by those who then dwelt upon the earth; and in a special manner the Jews, who, for hundreds of years, had been called the chosen people of my name, and to whom I had shown great notice, in leading them out from the bondage of Egypt, into a land flowing with milk and honey, which I had promised their forefathers, I would give unto their seed after them. CHAPTER V. PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE REFERRING TO THE COMING OF CHRIST. Sec. 1. Those passages recorded in scripture, which refer to the first appearing of the Son of God on earth, I the Holy Angel, who read this Roll for mortal hand to write, am commanded, by the Most High to have here inserted. Genesis, iii. 15. And I will put enmity between thee and the- woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Chap. xlix. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come ; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. [Shiloh, meaning the Messiah, the Anointed, that is, the same as Christ. The sceptre departed from Judah soon after the Messiah came, and has never returned, to this day ; and the law was in substance disregarded] Deuteronomy xviii. 15. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren^ like unto me ; unto him ye shall hearken : 32 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK 16. According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb, in the day of the assembly, saying, let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17. And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18. I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth ; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. Sec. 3. This refers to Christ, and is corroborated by my faithful martyr Stephen. Psalms, xvi, 8. I have set the Lord always before me; because Jie is at my right hand, I shall not be moved: 9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth ; my flesh also shall rest in hope ; 10. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell ; neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence ^s fullness of joy : at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Psalms, ex. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion : rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning : thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 5. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the days of his wrath. 7. He shall drink of the brook in the way ; therefore shall he lift up the head. Isaiah, vii. 14. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Sec. 4. This does apply directly to the manner in which the Mes- siah was to be ushered into the world, saith the Lord, for no vir- gin can possibly conceive and bear a son, through the co-operation of man ; for the instant she yields to nature's passions in man, her virginity is gone. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 33 Jeremiah, xxiii. 5. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this z's his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Micah. V. 2. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet, out of thee shall he come forth unto Me, that is to be Ruler in Israel ; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Zechariah. ix. 9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion ; shttut, O Daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King coraeth unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. II Esdras. ii. 36. Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory; I testify my Savior openly, 46. Then said I unto the angel. What young person is it that crowneth them, and giveth them palms in their hands? 47. So he answered and said unto me. It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord. Chap. vii. 28. For my son Jesus, shall be revealed with those that be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years. 29. After these years shall my Son Christ die, and all men that have life.* Chap. xiii. 32. And the time shall be when these things shall come to pass, and the signs shall happen which I shewed thee before, and then shall my Son be declared, whom thou sawest as a man ascending ; 33. And when all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their own land leave the battle they have one against another. 35. But he shall stand upon the top of the mount Sion. 36. And Sion shall come, and shall be shewed to all men, being prepared and builded, like as thou sawest the hill graven without hands. 37. And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of * Alluding to the falling away of the primitive Church. 34 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK those nations, which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest; 38. And shall lay before them their evil thoughts, and the tor- ments wherewith they shall begin to be tormented, which are like' unto a flame ; and he shall destroy them without labor by the- law which is like unto fire. Daniel, ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and" to seal up the vision and: prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. 25. Know therefore and understand,, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the. Messiah the Prince shall he seven weeks, and three score and two weeks ; the street shall be built again, and tJh.e wall, even in troublous times, t Matthew, i. 23. Behold, a virgin shall be with chiM, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with as:. Chap. ii. 6. And thou Bethlehem in the land of Juda, art not the least among the Princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Chap. xxi. 5. Tell ye the Daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King eometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. Chap, xxvii. 9. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the chil- dren of Israel did value ; 10. And^^ gave them for the Potter's field, as the Lord appoint- ed me. John. xii. 15. Fear not, daughter of Sion; behold, thy King eometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 16.. These things understooxl not his disciples at the first ;; but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things t Tliat is, sixty nine weeks, reckoning each day for a year, from the date of the above mentioned commandment, brings the time to the public ministry of Jesus Christ^ — In the midst of the seventieth week he was crucified. And at the close of this week, which completes the seventy, his an»inted body, the primitive Church was established. Thus by this prophecy, it was clearly shown that the Messiah would be manifested at that very time, which plainly proves Jesus to be the true Messiah. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. ^ were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. Acts. ii. 25. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved : 26. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad ; moreover also, my flesh shall rest in hope: 27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. 29. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepul- chre is with us unto this day. 30. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruits of his loins, accor- ding to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. Chap. vii. 37. This is that Moses, which said unto the chil- dren of Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hean 33. This is he, that'^vss in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and loith our fathers ; who received the lively oracles to give unto us : 39. To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust A«»*- from them and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt. "Sec. 3. Thus saith the Lord, What different from this, h«.ve the chil- dren of men, as a body, done from the earliest ages of the world to the present-day, whenever and wherever, I have manifested myself i5nto them4 The record of their own histories, do declare that they have pursued the same path. Hebrews, v. 6. As he saith also in- another ^?ace, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. 7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had oflfered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him ; 10. Called of God a high priest, after the order of Melchisedec. 11. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be ut- tered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 36 CHAPTER Yl. OF MAN^S TREATMENT AVITH GOD'S EXTENDED OFFERS OF CHARITY AND GRACE; AND OF GOD'S DEALINGS WITH HIM IN DISPENSATIONS PAST, AND IN THE PRESENT. 17. Of timely warnings by the Prophets. Of the darkness and opposition of man. A few laid down their lives, for the gospel's sake. The light of the gospel never suffered to become wholly extinguished. Mankind still persist in their own ways. The Lord deciarelh the execution of justice. The Lord reasons upon the situation and conduct of man. Denunciation of judgments, if man 18. 25. does not repent. Knowledge suffered to increase, Judgments to those who do not the will of God, for fear of reproach. Christ's mission and labor. Christ not sent to save souls in their sins. Of the confession of sins, in order to become true witnesses for God. All rewarded according to their works. Few willing to sacrifice their own wills^ and do the. will of God. 1. Give ear, O ye people, and understand my words, saith the Lord ; I testify unto you, that all the foregoing passages, and many more, which have never been handed down on record, were dictated by my. spirit, and sent forth, through the mouths of the prophets, that the people might have timely warning of the coming of the Messiah, and be prepared to work with him, by hearkening to his voice, that my peace and my blessing might rest upon them. 2. But how dark was their darkness, and how great was their blindness, that after all the particular instruction from the mouths of my faithful servants, they knew not the Savior, when I sent him forth, neither would they, as a body, believe, when he declared him- self unto them, and showed forth, by the miracles which he wrought, that he proceeded, and came forth from God, the Father of all, and from none else. 3. But the gospel which he preached, their carnal, self-willed and bigoted natures did abhor ; and the testimony which he bore, cut them to their hearts, therefore, in cruel rage, and malice, they TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 37 exerted all their power, to destroy his animal body, as quick as pos- sible, that his galling testimony might be suppressed, and thus did they accomplish their ov/n destruction. 4. But a few chosen ones gathered unto him, and remained true to the cause, to the laying down of their lives; and were thereby crowned with glory, honor and immortality; 5. And the light of that gospel, revealed through the Son, I did never suffer wholly to be extinguished, through the gloomy, dark, and bloody reign of antichrist; but would, at times, cause rays of this light to break forth, in vessels of my own preparing, as twinkling stars in a dark night, from a cloudy horizon ; and bear testimony against the awful abominations of the age in v/hich they lived ; not- withstanding, their natural lives were sure to be sacrificed, under the most excruciating tortures as the consequence. And thus have been the doings of mankind, from the creation of the world, to the present day. 6. They have always chosen their own way, in opposition to that which I, in mercy, sent forth unto them. Therefore, have they, as a world of human souls, all gone astray, and worshiped the idol god of their own lusts. Yet, as a kind and tender Father, oft have I reasoned with them, and entreated of them to turn from the error of their doings; to cease from doing evil, and learn to do well: to cease from their bloodshed and carnage, and dwell together in peace and love. 7. And many have been the holy Angels which I have sent, with messages of love and mercy, that they might be persuaded, through my unbounded goodness and loving kindness, to turn unto Me their God and Creator ; but all to no purpose, save that they would draw out their mouths in ridicule and derision unto Me, and unto my messengers ; and sound forth blasphemous words against my holy work, and the subjects thereof Yea, saith the Lord, they would gladly turn the whole habitable earth into a theatre of sin and corruption ! 8. But I have declared in my wrath, and I will execute in my fury, justice upon the nations of the earth, such as will not hearken and return to the law of the Lord their God : for I will surely aveno-e the innocent blood that crieth unto Me. 9. My spirit shall not always be mocked by frail mortals, who ' are but as worms and insects, crawling upon the earth's surface. 38 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK What is man, that I should be mindful of him, or the son of man that I should visit him? 10. Have we not created him to pursue a different path from that which he hath pursued, from the foundation of the world to the present day? Have I not declared that we created him in our own image, to be an honor and a glory unto us ? 11. And shall we suffer him, saith the Lord, instead of doing us honor, to disgrace the name by which he was created, 12. By filling the earth with blood and violence, and covering her face with filthy stews of abomination? 13. By trafficking in human blood, and making merchandise of souls? 14. By grinding the face of the poor, and turning the right of the needy away ? 15. By supporting the rich, the great and the high, who have got gain without right, in every kind of the most extravagant luxury ; while those of their fellow creatures who labor daily with their hands for bread, are starving for want of the same? 16. Shall the earth groan unto Me, by reason of such injustice, and I not be avenged on her inhabitants, saith the Lord ? Nay, nay, crieth my eternal justice. 17. T will visit her in mercy, if she will hearken; but if not, I will visit her in judgment, still more severe than I poured forth upon those stiff-necked, hard hearted and rebellious Jews, who cru- cified the holy Son of God, when he was sent forth unto them. 18. For I have suffered light, knowledge and understanding to be increased in the earth, and where ever much is given, there much, in return, will be required. And unto whomsoever light and knowledge is given, to do their master's will, and they do it not, the same shall be beaten with many stripes. 19. And where the true gospel light does shine into a soul, and they obey it not, for fear they shall be mocked and scorned, by their fellow creatures ; double condemnation will fall upon that soul ; and my judgments will surely visit them, unless they speedily repent, and obey the light which I have given them, saith the Lord. 20. Understand the word of the Lord your God all ye people; I did not send my beloved Son into the world for naught: I did not send him to make a show of the gospel without possessing the sub- stance. 21. He took on him the nature of man, with all its frail and fallen TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 39 propensities, that he might set him a true example, how to deny himself, by taking up a daily cross, against every evil propensity of his nature. 22. This, your Lord and Savior effectually did, by putting every enemy of the soul's best good and comfort, under his feet. He conquered the power of sin and death, by passing through the deep- est of sufferings. 23. And by this means, he was always able to resist the tempta- tions of every fallen propensity of nature, at the first presentment, and was never, in any instance, overcome; therefore, he was per- fected through sufferings, and enabled to open the dcor of eternal salvation to every one, that would strip themselves for the race, and run for the prize, in the path which he directed. 24. But I never sent him on earth, either in his first, or second appearance, to save any souls in their sins. There can be no pow- er given to do this, saith the Lord ; my attribute of eternal justice forbiddeth it. 25. But every one, who would come into the order of my grace, must confess their sins, one by one, before my Witnesses ; and labor to repent of the same, by leaving them off. And none can ever come into the true gospel of Christ, either in his first or in his second appearance, short of doing this. 26. And none can ever stand as true w-itnesses for Me, until they have done this, in sincerity of heart and honesty of soul, and have labored to repeat, and cry to God that they might be forgiven for the same. 27. For the heart, defiled and corrupted withsinftd abominations, is like unto a cage filled with every unclean and hateful bird ; or like unto a whited sepulchre, that is full of rottenness and dead men's bones within, and it never can be cleansed, short of a fiill and free confession. 28. I AM, is a God of eternal justice, and will render to every one their just reward. I have in past dispensations of my grace to man, given him laws and statutes, agreeable to the age and day in which he lived, and in keeping them, he woidd always have been insured with my love and blessing, to protect him in his dutv. 29. But few, very few, saith the Creator of all, have I ever found in any age of the world, who were willing to sacrifice their own ways and wills, with all their carnal enjoyments, to do my will and pleasure; therefore have they run in their own way, and not in the way of their God. 40 CHAPTER VII. OP THE MANIFESTATIOjN^S OE MY HOLY SPIRIT, AND THE MANNER OF ]\IY WORK, AS OPERATING UPON THE HEARTS OE THE CHILDREN OF MEN, THROUGH VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE AGENCIES. 1. God calleih unto man, and reasoneth with him. 6. Man justified in proportion to obedi- ence to the law of God. 8. Tlie gospel never leads to contention. 10. Of the profession of Christians. 11. Expressions of the wicked. 14. Of those who declared falsely. 15. Falsehood not changed into truth by that means. 17. Of the operation of the spirit of Christ. 20. Of faith and words without works. 24. 35. Man warned to turn from his wick- edness. His works merit a scourg-e at the hand of God. An offer of mercy yet extended. Of the operations of the hand of Providence. Of the two leaved gates. Of the sending forth of Angels. The Lord come to declare his laws. Of conviction and obedience to the calls of conscience. 1. Draw near unto me, the Lord your God, O ye inhabitants of earth ! Incline your hearts to understand my word, and turn your feet to walk in my paths. . . 2. Open your eyes to behold, and unstop your ears that you may hear, while I hold forth the sceptre of my mercy, and extend the arm of my charity, once more unto you ; and teach you again of my laws, that you may walk in my paths. 3. While I command the holy Angels, whom I have sent forth with the vials of my wrath and judgment, to stay their hands for a short season, that the people may hear my word, and have a space to repent if they will, and prove unto Me, by the humility of their souls, that they really believe my word, and will hearken unto my voice. 4. The great I AM, who sitteth upon his throne on high, is a spirit of everlasting goodness and eternal brightness, operating through all immensity and space, and endless worlds unknown ; TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 41 yet, I formed this earth for my pleasure, and placed the image of my likeness thereon for my glory. 5. And as one grain of sand to the sea shore, or as one drop of water to the rolling deep, so it may be reckoned, in comparison to the power, majesty and glory of Him who created it. Yet, in every individual whom I have created after my own image, is placed an immortal soul, or never dying part, which is of that eternal substance that gave it being; and this must, and will, eternally exist, clothed in happiness, or in misery, just in proportion as its own individual works shall merit, when weighed in the balance of my eternal justice. 6. And just so far as the inhabitants of the earth have kept the law of nature, with all its restrictions, which I did sound, through the mouths of my faithful servants, [and cause] to be recorded in the sacred volume, that man might know the will of God, his Cre- ator, just so far shall they be justified in that order and state before Me, and no further. 7. And again, just so far as all those professing the Christian religion, have sincerely embraced it, in singleness of heart and sin- cerity of soul, according to the very best light and understanding given them, so far they shall be justified in my sight, and no further; saith He who sitteth upon the throne of eternal justice. 8. And again, hear ye my word; my spirit doth work in the hearts of the children of men, in various ways and manners. But understand, all ye inhabitants of earth, and rulers of the same; never, since the days of the Messiah, hath the spirit of that gospel which your blessed Lord and Savior brought forth unto you, oper- ated to cause you to shed each other's blood. 9. For did he not declare, both by precept and example, as plain as the open light of day, that his kingdom was not of this world, therefore his servants would not fight ? And did he not furthermore testify, that his kingdom was a kingdom of peace^ and that the sub- jects of it must dwell together in bonds of love and peace ; at all times, do unto others as they wished others to do unto them, and so fulfill the law of true righteousness? 10. Consider, pause, and reflect, all ye nations, ye rulers, kings and people, who make a profession of the true religion of my blessed Son. Great, very great, saith the Lord, are the professions of the children of men upon earth. 11. But I am about to visit them for that which they possess, not that which they profess ; for they who profess, and possess not, are F 42 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK likened" unto the man who built his house upon 'the sand, and the floods came, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof. 12. And so shall it be, saith the God of Heaven, with the nations and kingdoms of the earth. And notwithstanding my word of warn- ing unto them, many will say, Our God delayeth his coming; come, let us take our ease, and rest in our sinful abominations ; perhaps it will be just as well with us, in the end, as with others. 13. We have often heard of great warnings and prophecies, purporting to be from God, but I do not know as there ever was any thing took place on the account, any more than common; so I'think they are all a blasphemous fiction, of some vain mortal that wants to frighten the human race. 14. But I again declare unto the inhabitants of earth, saith the Lord, that although there have been those who spoke in my name, falsely, saying that I had sent them, when I sent them not; and those who have been suffered to taste a little of the true Oil of life and light, and, having no vessel suitably cleansed and prepared to receive it^ have, by that means, run extremely wild, and done much harm, in causing the heart that was already hard with unbelief, as respects the invisible operations of my divine spirit, to become still more hard and unbelieving ; 15. Yet, saith the Lord, none of these things change falsehood into truth, or truth into falsehood: a just weight, and a just balance alone can stand; and by their works shall they be known, who be false, and who be true. 16. I work by means of my own choosing, through both visible and invisible agencies. The fruit of the tree shall always stand as the criterion, by which the good qualities of that tree shall be known. 17. And where ever the spirit of my blessed Son does find an en- trance into the hearts of the children of men, it operates in the following manner : They will feel a spirit of prayer, to cry unto Me, in deep tribulation of soul, that their eyes may be opened, to see and know whether they are, in truth, continually living up to the best light of their own consciences, or whether they are daily vio- lating the same. 18. They will feel their souls hungering and thirsting after spirit- ual food, anxiously desiring to be clothed upon with that true state of justification, that they can feel they are at peace with all their fellow crecitures, and can meet their God in a state of true confi- TO THE NATIONS OF THE EAKTH. 43 dence, having followed the best light given them while upoij earth. 19. And furthermore, all such souls as are operated upon by the spirit of good, will feel a kind, tender, and sympathetic feeling towards the whole human family: and when any of their fellow crea- tures are in distress, if it is in their power to alleviate their suffer- ings, they will do it ; for, remember that faith, unsupported by works, is dead : but such as have true and living faith, will always have works, corresponding therewith. 20. But unto such as can say to a suffering fellow mortal. Go, be thou fed, warmed and clothed; or to the heart worn down under afflic- tion, grief and sorrow. Go, be thou comforted, doing nothing fur- ther; I will liken them, saith the Almighty, unto such as profess to be great Christians, calling loudly upon the name of my blessed Son, to save them, by his righteous merits, while they themselves, can readily shed the heart's blood of their fellow creatures, and daily wallow in the filthy and sinful abominations of their own car- nal propensities. 21. And again, O ye blind and stupid, saith the Lord, — How can you, in reason, expect to find mercy at my hand, while you are spend- ing your days on earth in rioting and drunkenness, wickedness, and every kind of debauchery, fulfilling the desires of every carnal propensity of both body and mind; yet, cloaking it under the reli- gion of my holy child Jesus, which is pure and undefiledl 22. O turn, turn, crieth the voice of Him who sitteth upon the throne, turn ye, turn ye, O frail mortals of my creation, turn, in the lowest of humility and repentance, to that God who created you; or I will sink kingdoms and cities, in the bowels of that earth which ye have caused to drink in the blood of the innocent. 23. For unto whomsoever ye have yielded yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are; whether of sin unto death, or of grace unto eternal life; and but kw do I find upon the earth's surface, who, as yet, are willing to enter in at the straight gate, and walk in the narrow way, that they may find eternal life. 24. The whole human family have gone astray; there are none but what have sinned in my sight, and there are none, but what their works merit a scourge at my hand. 25. Yet, in mercy do I once more extend an offer of repentance, now, in this, the latter day of my visitation on earth, to fallen man. And they that think they can pass lightly over the solemn warnings which I send unto them, and trample them under their feet, I will 44 SACKEi) ROLL AND BOOK surely meet them, in an hour that they are not looking for Mo, and in a day that they are unprepared for niy coming, saith the Lord of hosts. 2(3. Then will they in vain call upon my name for mercy ; then would they gladly confess their sins and abominations, that they might find mercy at my hand; but he that gathereth not in harvest, must perish in winter. He that receiveth not in mercy, must take in judgment. 27. All that operates in the hearts of the children of men, to dif- fuse the principles of peace, discarding the cruel and barbarous principles of bloodshed and carnage, and all the efforts and labors, of both governments and individuals, to bring about and produce a moral reform upon the minds of the people ; 28. And all the associations and societies, which have been form- ed for the purpose of encouraging the cause of temperance, whether in eating or drinking, are the operations of the hand of my Provi- dence, upon the hearts of the children of men, to prepare the way for my coming to visit the earth, in mercy and in judgment; in a far more remarkable and striking manner, than it ever before was visited. 29. For the great I AM, now openeth the two leaved gates, and declareth, with his own voice of eternal truth, the only way of entrance into the holy city. And all who seek to enter by other paths, are but as thieves and robbers ; and it shall be said unto them, depart, for I know you not. 30. I have sent forth my angels of lamentation and of sorrow, of judgment and desolation, of mercy and of charity, to pass and re-pass through the earth. 31. Though as yet, I have scarcely suffered them, saith the Lord, to begin to make themselves known to the children of men : for I will first prove the inhabitants of the earth in this age, as I have proved them in times and ages long past. 32. I will send forth, in my own way, my solemn word of warn- ing ; and if that they will receive, I will give unto them, in my own time and season, my law and commandment, which I have already placed in the heart of my Zion, respecting those who still desire to live after the order of nature, propagating their own species. 33. Thus saith the Lord ; I have come to declare my laws and my statutes to the children of men. And such as are for the law of nature, keep the law of nature, which I have sent forth, and the TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 45 blessing and protection of an over-ruling Providence, shall rest upon them for the same. 34. And such as are for the law of grace, hcep the law of grace^ which can have no part or place in the works of natural generation ; and the immediate protection and blessing of my Almighty hand, shall be extended to them for the same; and they shall be crowned with glory, immortality and eternal life, in the world to come. 35. When souls are awakened in their spirits, to search after that which will save them from sin daily, then, the invisible agen- cies which I have sent forth, are operating upon their minds, to wake them up to a sense of their great loss and distance from a pure and holy God. 36. Souls in this situation, feel, many times, extremely bad, and know not the cause; but if they would follow, regardless of per- sonal consequences, the beams of true light, that are suffered, by my Almighty power, at such times, often to break forth and shine into their souls, and strictly live to the same, regardless of sneers and scoffs, or the ridicule of their fellow companions, this light would invariably lead them, as the final result, to the fountain of eternal truth ; where I, the God and Creator of all, have placed my name, forevermore to stand. 37. Where I have promised to set up a kingdom, that all the powers of both earth and hell, can never overthrow or destroy; where violence shall not be used, and where blood shall not be shed; where the spirit of the Lamb, and the meekness of the Savior, shall characterize the goings of the people; where no confidence or trust is placed in the arm of flesh ; but where the Almighty power of the Lord their God is sought unto for protection. 38. For a pure and holy people, whose hands are not stained in human blood, and whose feet pursue not in the paths of sin and death, I will surely have upon the earth, to bear testimony of my word and my work, and testify against the wickedness and abomi- liatiojis thereon committed, saith the God of Heaven. 46 CHAFTi:ir Till. PASSAGES OV SCRIPTURE, SHOWING THE PLAIN AND POINTED DECLARATIONS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE MANNER OF LIFE HE REQUIRED OF ALL ¥H0 PROFESSED TO FOLLOW HIM. 1]. 12. 13. 16. 20. Christ, the end of the law for right- eousness to all. who believed. Laws given in every age, suitable for the age. Of fleshly gratifications. Of evils forbidden. Of those who are counted worthy to obtain the resitrrection. Of forsaking all, &:c. The situation in which mankind is found. Of rejecting the offers of salvation, and of Christ's second coming. Of God's visitation to the inhabitants of the earth, in judgment. 25. What is required of those who would ever come to the Son of God. 27. The requirements of God unaltered , by man's abuse of them. 28. Scripture passages quoted, sufficient to condemn the whole world. 30. Christ's words not contradictory in spirit. 31. Of a cloak for evil. 35. A declaration of God's judgments. 37. The spirit of carnal warfare and con- tention, opposed to godliness. Sec. 1. I require, saith the Lord, the most plain and prominent passages, spoken by the Savior when he was on earth, as referring to the manner of life that all were required to live, who would be- come his true followers, to be here inserted; that the children of men may behold, with shame and surprise, the great difference be- tween the manner of life here required, and that which they have practiced from that day to this; which stand as opposite as day and night, or as light and darkness. 3. And the record of this word is contained in the Sacred Book, which they acknowledge to be the true record of the word of God to the children of men. 31atthew, V. 1. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain : and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. 2. And he opened his mouth, and taught them saying, TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 4,7 i3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4. Blessed ore they that mourn : for they shall be comforted, 5. Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after right- eousness : for they shall be filled. 7. Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9. Blessed are the peace makers : for they shall be called the children of God. 10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil agahist you falsely, for my sake. 12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad , for great is your reward in heaven ; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13. Ye are the salt of the earth : but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the proph- ets : I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18. For verily, I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Sec. 3. O ye professors of Christianity, saith the Lord, compare your past and present lives with the foregoing lessons of instruc- tion, which were given by the mouth of your Lord and Savior, when he was on earth, in person. 4. Remember, O ye children of men, that Christ, the Savior, was the end of the law, [for righteousness,] to all them that believ- ed; and none who name his name, as being a true follower of him, have, since the day he was on earth, had any right to plead, even the indulgences given under the law, that Moses gave to the chil- dren of Israel. 5. For in Christ, was brought forth the law of grace ; which not only fulfilled all that- had been given in the previous laws to the 48 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK children of Israel, but superseded the necessity of all other laws^ going before; being, in itself, a superior law to any that had ever preceded it ; as ail had been weak, through indulgences ; therefore could bring nothing to perfection. 6. In every age of the world, I have, in the dispensation of my own wisdom, given such laws for the children of men, as were adapted to the age in which they were given, and best calculated to effect the work for which they were designed, saith the Lord. Matthew, v. 19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven : but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20. For I say unto you. That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 23. But I say unto you. That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her in his heart. Sec. 7. This plainly declares my requirement, saith the Lord, for all such as come into the order of the gospel ; that they can have nothing to do with fleshly gratifications ; not so much as even to look on a Woman to lust after her. And again ; Blatthew, V. 34. But I say unto you, Swear not at all : neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35. Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jeru- salem ; for it is the city of the great King : 36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black; 37. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay : for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 33. Ye have heard that it hath been said. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 39. But I say unto you. That ye resist not evil : but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Sec. 8. Now listen, O ye people, and understand my words ; Do not the few foregoing sentences, spoken by your Lord and Savior, effectually forbid all quarreling, contention, revenge, and defraud- ing, which is so universally practiced among mankind? The voice of truth, in every heart, must answer. Yea. Matthew, v. 43. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 49 shah love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy : But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you ; Chap. vi. 5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are : for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily, T say unto you. They have their reward. 19. liay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal : 20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where nei- ther moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. 21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Chap. vii. 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them : for this is the law and the prophets. 13. Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide ^s the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat : 14. Because, strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name ? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you : de- part from nie, ye that work iniquity. Chap. xii. 36. But I say unto you. That every idle word that men sha,ll speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Chap. XV. 3. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition ? 7. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips ; but their heart is far from me. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 50 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK Mattlieur, xxiii. 4. For they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them, on men's shoulders ; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5. But all their works they do for to be seen of men : they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6. And love the uppermost -rooms at feasts-, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7. And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men. Rabbi, Rabbi. 8. But be not ye called Rabbi : for one is your Master, even- Christ; and all ye are brethren. 11. But he that is greatest among you, shall be your servant. 12; And whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased ; and; he that shall humble himself, shall be exalted. 13. But wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye' shut up the kingdom of heaven against men : for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suifer ye them that are entering, to go in.. \4k Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye de- vour widows' houses, and for a pretence piake long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15. Wo unto youj scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass- sea and land to- make one proselyte; and when be is made, ye make him two-fold more the chjld of hell than your- selves. Chap. xxvi. 52. Then said Jesus unto him. Put up again thy &word into his place r for- all they that take the sword, shall per- ish with the sword. Sec. 9. Consider, all ye who profess to be the followers of the Lord's Christ, the sayings in the foregoing verses, which wholly for- bid all wars and fightings with your fellow creatures, of whatever name or nature : compare your present lives with the same. Mark, vii. 20. And he said. That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man; 21. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22. Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil' eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; 23. All these evil things come fronv within^ and defile the man. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 51 8. For, laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men,, as the washing of pots and cups : and many other such like things ye do. 9. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the command- ment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Luke, xxi. 34. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be ac- counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to .pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Chap. XX. 34. And Jesus answering, said unto them. The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage : 35. But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage : 36. Neither can they die any more : for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Chap, xiv. 33. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that for- saketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Sec. 10. Hearken, and incline your hearts to understand, saith the Lord, all ye people, the words of the Lord and Savior, just men- tioned : Not that I say he has been your Savior; but he would have been your Savior, had you kept his commandments. 11. Hearken, saith the Lord, all ye who plead for carnal indul- gences of your natures, and the necessity of living in a married state. "They that are counted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection, neither marry, nor are given in marriage." 12. And furthermore, "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." These two senten- ces alone, crieth the voice of Him on high, are sufficient to con- ▼ince every honest seeker after the truth, that the whole world have become blind to the truth, through their own lusts, and love to car- dial pleasures. 13. Therefore, in very deed, they know not the Lord's Christ, ©r the purity of his work. I find, saith the Lord, the inhabitants 52 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK of earth, wandering after the beast, and a beastly nature ; not after my holy child Jesus, the Son of the true and living God. 14. And I furthermore find them as ready to oppose the manner, and the name, by which I have sent forth his divine spirit the sec- ond time, to a lost and languishing world, as the Jews were, to op- pose his first appearance. 15. I find the sense of man, exalted to the skies, looking into the natural heavens, for the millennial day, or the coming of the Sav- ior, to appear the second time. But, as the Jews of old, drew their own plans for the manner of his first appearance, so have the chil- dren of men, in this age, fixed and drawn their own plans for his second coming. 16. But as the former rejected the Holy Son of God, and the of- fers of salvation at his hand, because of their own self bigoted wis- dom ; so, in like manner, do the latter reject the form in which I have sent forth Christ, the second time; for I have sent forth, [this divine spirit,] without sin unto salvation, to all that believe and obey him, in the order and manner that it hath pleased Me, the Almighty Creator of all, to reveal him; that the wisdom of this world might be confounded, and the loftiness of man bowed low; and such as feel themselves great and honorable, in the earth, brought into con- tempt before Me, saith the Lord. 17. And though they should follow the example of their prede- cessors, the Jews, and anxiously look, and wait, as long for Christ to come the second time, in their own way, and according to their own layings out, as the Jews have, for him to make his first appear- ance, they will be equally mistaken, saith the God of Heaven and earth; and I will, with my own mouth, declare it unto the nations of the earth, that all may be left without an excuse. 18. For the blindness and wickedness of men have become so great, that they will deny Me, and disbelieve my word, as their fa- thers before them have done. 19. They, as a body, will deny the Lord's Christ, who has the second time come forth, [through a chosen female ] upon the earth, to make an end of sin. 20. Bow low, all ye inhabitants of earth, for no flesh shall glory in my presence. The days hasten, and rapidly roll on, that my Almighty hand of judgment shall sweep over the face of the earth; and those who have feared Me, by walking humbly in my presence, and keeping my commandments, shall be marked by the Holy TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 53 Angels, as the objects of my mercy, my favor and my protection. 21. For I have come, saith the Lord, to cleanse the earth from her awful abominations, by the fire of my truth, and the sword of my testimony ; and when my heavy and desolating judgments roll on, then would her inhabitants gladly learn righteousness, by doing my will. 22. But my eternal justice, from the earliest ages of the world, hath always given the objects of my creation a due and timely warning ; for I delight not in the destruction of any soul ; but I would, that all turn to Me and repent, and be saved from their sins. Luke, xvii. 26. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark ; and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot : they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded ; 29. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. Chap. xiv. 26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Sec. 23. Again, reflect and consider, all ye children of men, who think you are in any degree, following the divine precepts and exam- ples of your Lord and Savior. 24. There can be nothing more plain, or any requirement more positive, than that which was sounded from his own mouth, when he Was upon earth; and is contained in the two last verses. 25. No man can ever come to the Son of God, or be a fol- lower of the same, except he first hate, and forsake, that which he most dearly loves; and then labors in tribulation of soul, until he hath gained a love to my holy requirements, which will far surpass all other loves. 26. And acrain, I say unto you, what do mankind love, while in a state of nature, as their own unsubdued passion of lust, and its coherents ? Nothing, the voice of truth from every heart must B4 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK declare ; for so have the works of man proved, saith the Lord, from the foundation of the world to the present time. 27. But the use that man hath made of the righteous requirements of my Holy Spirit, hath not altered the requirements, and never can ; they remain holy and sacred, to the endless ages of eternity. Luke, xiv. 20. And another said, I have married a wife: and therefore I cannot come. There were none that positively refused to come to the feast, but he that had married a wife. Chap. xvi. 15. And he said unto them. Ye are they which justify yourselves before men ; but God knoweth your hearts : for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Sec. 28. Thus saith the Lord your God, unto all who name the Christian religion, I have commanded my mighty and holy Angel, whom I have sent forth to earth, to read this roll, for mortal hand to write, to have here inserted the foregoing declarations, which were delivered by my blessed Son, when upon earth, the first time, as divine requirements to the children of men ; as these alone, are sufficient to condemn the whole world, in its present state of sin and wickedness. 29. Though many of his sayings, still more plain than these, have never come down to the age in which you live; but by them ye shall not be judged ; ye shall only be judged by that which hath been always before you, that ye might look upon at any time ye chose, and shape your lives accordingly. 30. There is nothing that ever proceeded from his mouth, that will, in the least, contradict the spirit of any of the foregoing dec- larations of his. 31. Now, O thou vain and mortal man, in what part of the gos- pel recorded in the sacred volume, dost thou find a cloak that is able to cover thy wars and bloodshed, with all thy filthy works of darkness? 32. And again, even in that part of the sacred bible that ye call the law, and the Prophets, can ye find a passage, or a clause, that will justify the awful abominations and horrid crimes, that have stained the earth for hundreds and hundreds of years past ? . 33. Where is there one single sentence, between the lids of the sacred record, that can, in the least, justify the deeds of bigoted TO THE NATIONS^ OF THE EARTH. 55 priests, and wicked clergy, in shedding the blood of millions of their fellow creatures, in the most cruel and barbarous manner, that their fiendish passions were able to invent ; and that too, un- der a pretence of trying to bring them over to embrace the chris- tian religion; which plainly declares, upon its whole face, that no violence can be used, or blood can be shed, by any who are its true subjects. 34. And the souls of millions now in eternity, cry unto Me for vengeance to visit the earth, for their innocent blood that was spill- ed thereon, by wicked priests and clergy. 35. And I will, saith the God of Heaven, visit, upon all genera- tions, who shall follow their footsteps in shedding blood, to suppress what they call heresy; [yeajl will visit them in great wrath, and in sore displeasur,e shall my hand of judgment rest upon them, both in time, and in eternity, 36. And I will hunt them in my vengeance, and destroy them in my fury, saith the Lord, as they have destroyed the innocent before them, to gratify their own bigoted natures of lust and ambition. 37. This, I declare, with my own mouth, to the nations of the earth, saith the God of Heaven, is as far from the spirit and the letter of that gospel preached by my holy child Jesus, the Prince of Peace, either in his first, or his second appearance, as the low- est depths of hell, are from the highest mansions of true felicity and enjoyment, in the heavens above. 38. And so shall it forever remain on my eternal record, by which every soul shall be judged, at my bar of eternal justice, saith God, the Creator of all, and the dispenser of true justice,, in his owji due time and season, to every, human, being. 56 CHAPTER IX. MY SOLEMN WORDS OF WARNING TO THE INHAB- ITANTS OF EARTH, NEVER MORE TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE PRACTICED IN THE LONG AND GLOOMY PERIOD OF TIME CALLED THE DAYS OF ANTICHRIST ; OR THE TIME IN WHICH MY TWO WITNESSES WERE CLOTHED IN SACKCLOTH AND MOURNING; WHEN THERE WAS NO TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST ON EARTH. 1. God holds a controversy with man- 16. Christ's manner of instruction. kind. 18. "The subjects of Antichrist rejected 3. Concerning the second coming of for their wickedness. Christ. 19. All warned by their fate. 4. Of the reign of Antichrist. 20. The children of Isrciel a figure. 6. Of the Ninevites. 21. Of their judgments. 11. Days of ignorance lightly passed over. 22. Of mockers. 12. The treacherous required to repent. 24.. Warning by antichristian wickedness. 13. Of wickedness in the reign of Anti- christ. 25. The followers of Christ j no part in wars- 1 . Thus saith the Lord, I will condescend, in my infinite wisdom and goodness, to reason with the objects of my creation, as a man would reason with his friend. This I condescended to do, in early ages; and shall the great I AM, in this, the latter day of his glory, be less mindful of the dangerous situation under the veil of darkness, which the many millions of souls now upon the earth, are resting? 2. Have not light and knowledge been suffered to increase, upon the earth, since the days of my first anointed One, whom I sent forth to earth to proclaim a free salvation, (not a compulsory one,) that all, whosoever would, might take of the waters of life freely? Surely, knowledge and understanding have increased. But did I not fore-show, even in the days of the Messiah, that I had not yet completed the order of my new, and spiritual kingdom ? 3. And did not my holy influence, (or spirit,) move upon the TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 57 prophets, and upon the apostles, (or followers in truth of the Mes- siah,) to speak of that day in which Christ should appear the second time; and clearly intimate, the humiliating^ position in which he would appear in the latter day? Truly, the records contained in your bibles, bear Me witness. 4. And was not a long and gloomy period foretold, by the same spirit, which would take place, between the two bright and last dispensations of my eternal goodness, sent forth to earth by the Two Anointed Ones, the King and the dueen of Zion? 5. Surely, this record is also before you. And was it not foretold, that a great declension, and a falling away from the true gospel, would take place, after the mission of my beloved Son, was the first time finished on earth? Truly, these things were clearly intimated by the spirit of prophecy, through my faithful servants. But what have all my solemn warnings, in past dispensations, availed man? Hath he not always been blind to his own best good and interest? Hath he ever hearkened to my solemn warnings, when they were sent forth, and changed his manner of life; so that my hand of mercy could be extended towards him? 6. Have mankind, in general, ever hea.rkened, so much as did the Ninevites, at the solemn warnings of Jonah, whom I sent to denounce destruction upon their city within forty days? 7. And did they not humble themselves in sackcloth and ashes, fi"om the king on the throne, to the meanest servant ; and lament, and bewail their forlorn condition, and cry mightily to Me, that I would spare their city? 8. And was not my anger appeased by their humility, insomuch that I hearkened to their cry, and prolonged the days that preceded their destruction, so long as they remained penitent and humble, and walked in the way of a true reformation? 9. And when they had ceased longer to keep tbeir vows which, they had made unto Me, in their supplications, and again turned to their former wickedness, did I not accomplish, in full, the words which I sent, by my prophet Jonah, that complete destruction should visit their city? 10. Truly I did, saith the Lord ; and the great over-ruling First Cause, Jehovah, upon his throne, is the same Almighty power, yes- terday, to-day, and forever ; whose goodness faileth not, and whose judgments do not slumber. 11. But according to my infinite wisdom, all things are dispensed H 58 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK in my own time and season ; and to the honest hearted and sin- cere seekers, though the true light of the gospel might never have shone into their souls ; yet, if they have truly followed the best light made known to them, the days of their ignorance shall be lightly passed over, and my hand of mercy shall rest upon them. 12. But those who are treacherous to that light which I have suffered to shine into their souls, and by reason of the cross and self-denial, which they perceived it was going to require of them, and who, by that means, labored to stifle the same, and put it out, so that they could again turn to their, former lives of sin and wickedness, and not feel that remorse of conscience which this light would bring, must surely feel deep tribulation of soul, and wash in the streams of godly sorrow and repentance for the same, or they cannot escape the heavy hand of my judgment, saith the Lord ; for such, sin in very deed, against the true light of God. 13. But again listen, all ye people of the earth, pause, consider, and reflect ! How awful and great, was the wickedness practiced by man, upon the earth, after the days of the Messiah were passed ; and his faithful followers, who had laid down their lives in support of his testimony, were called home to eternity, to rest with their Lord and Savior, from their wearisome toils and labors on earth, which they had passed through in laboring to plant and establish the gos- pel of their blessed Lord and Master, in the hearts of the children of men, who, as a body, proved themselves unworthy of salvation, or the notice of their Grod in mercy ! 14. For, by their cruel and persecuting spirit, against the holy Son of God, and against those who were his true followers, they proved themselves fit subjects for my wrath and sore destruction, to rest upon them, and sweep them from the face of the earth, and scatter the remnant to the four winds of heaven, seeking rest, and finding none. 15. And for what were all these, their heavy sufferings? Because of their self-exalted ideas of the coming of the Messiah, and of their hard and obstinate hearts, in rebelling against his word and work, when I sent him forth, saith the Lord. 16. Though he communicated his lessons of instruction to them, in the most mild and persuasive language, and in a most Father- ly and affectionate manner extended his hand of charity and lov- ing kindness, and would have gathered them under his wings of protection, as a hen 'ivould gather her chickens ; TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 59 17. Yet, notwithstanding all this, their hearts became hard as ad- amant, their eyes became blinded with thick scales, and their ears became deaf with their own clamors against the Son of God, against the gospel which he preached, and against all such as hearkened to him. 18. Therefore did I reject them, as a people, [who were] cursed in my sight, and from their own mouths did I judge them ; whose lips were filled with blasphemy, and iniquity daily dwelling between their teeth, and practiced with their hands. 19. And by their fate, saith the Lord, do I warn all nations, kin- dreds, tongues and people, of the present day. 20. For I had chosen this people, and had led them for some thou- sands of years, that through them, I might prefigure my work with the children of men, in all after ages; and had they been obedient, no power, or people, should have ever overcome them. 21. But the heavy and desolating judgments, which I .caused to fall upon them, to consume and scatter them among every nation upon the face of ;the whole earth, remain as a standing monument of solemn warning, to the nations of the earth at this *day. 22. For in like manner as I have done unto them, saith the God of Heaven, so will I do, and moreover, also to that nation and peo- ple, in this latter day, who shall mock the sacred words of my sol- emn warnings, and make light of the day of my visitation unto them; or such as shall seek to destroy the work, or the word of my testi- mony, which T have .established on earth, through my Two Anoint- ed Ones. 23. Also give ear, aed understand my words, saith He who ruleth on high, and will yet rule in the kingdoms of men upon earth. 24. Let the bloody and merciless reign of antichrist, which for hundreds of years, did bind the consciences, enslave the souls of men, and drench the earth with human blood, be a solemn and aw- ful warning to all the human race. For greater crimes of heaven- daring wickedness, according to the age, by man cannot be com- mitted, than was perpetrated by the secular arm, under this long, dark and gloomy reign, in which there was no true Church of Christ upon the earth; and all this, pretendedly, under the banner of Christ. 25. Let all nations and people, remember, saith the Lord, that they who are, in any measure, the foUoAiers of the Son of God, can neither have, or take, any part in shedding human blood; neither 60 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK can they have, or take, any part in making use of compulsory meas- ures, to increase tlie number that may be said to believe as they do, or belong to what they may term, their own persuasion. No exam- ple of this kind, was ever set by your Lord and Savior, either in his first or second appearance, nor ever will be. 26. And by this criterion, may all professed Christendom discern, that where Christ their Lord and Savior reigns, there, bloodshed and carnage must cease ; there the spirit of retaliation cannot dwell J for the spirit of the Lamb is inoffensive, while that of the ravenous beast, is destructive. 27. Therefore, know ye, all nations and people saith the Lord, that where my kingdom is set up, its subjects rely upon my arm for strength and protection. They trust not in the arm of flesh. And they that put their trust in Me, shall renew their strength; they shall walk and not faint, saith Jehovah. But they that trust in flesh and blood, shall fall by the broken stafl" on which they lean. CHAPTER X. PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE, ALLUDING TO THE BE- TslGHTED REIGN OF ANTICHRIST. 10. n. 15. 16. 17. Mankind questioned by the Almigiily. God trifleth not with his creatures. Few learned righteousness, by teach- ings sent of God, &lc. Earth a paradise, had man kept his rectitude. No previous laws of God to man, dis- annulled in this day. Of the law of Moses. End of the Mosaic dispensation. 18. 21. 22. 23. Transgression of the law of God, the cause of destruction. Mercy never withdrawn from the obe- dient soul. Of those who search the scriptures, to find a cloak for evil. The sincere and obedient blessed, aithough imperfect, The law, a step stone, &c. Of justification by the law. Sec. 1. Again I do require, saith the Holy Angel, a few of the most plain and evident allusions, mentioned in Holy Writ, which refer to the benighted reign of antichrist, to be here inserted, just as they were then spoken by the spirit of prophecy. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 61 Daniel, vii. 8. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool : his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him ; thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake : I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 21. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them ; 22. 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. 25. And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws : and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27. 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 sh;dl serve and obey him. Chap. viii. 13. Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trod- den under foot? 1 1. And he said unto me. Unto two thousand and three hun- dred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Chap. xii. 7. And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and 62 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 8. And I heard, but I understood not : then said I, O my Lord, what shall he the end of these things 1 9. And he said. Go thy way, Daniel : for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried ; but the wicked shall do wickedly : and none of the wicked shall un- derstand ; but the wise shall understand. 11. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Revelations, 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. Micah, iv. 11. Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say. Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. 12. But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither un- derstand they his counsel : for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Mattheio, xxiv. 4. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; .and shall deceive many. 15. When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desola- tion, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand,) 23. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there.; believe it not. 24. For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders ; insomuch that, if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect. 25. Behold, I have told you before. 26. Wherefore, if they shall say unto you. Behold, he is in the desert ; go not forth : behold, he is in the secret chambers ; be- lieve it not. Mark, xiii. 6. For many shall come in my name, saying, 1 am Christ: and shall deceive many. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 63 14. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spok- en of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains : Sec. 2. Consider, O ye people, what plainer declaration of the spirit, coUId be given, than the foregoing, to inform the people that the time was then near, that the true Church should be made deso- late of Christ, by the abominations practiced by those who profess- ed to be of the same. Marie, xiii. 21. And then, if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ ; or lo, lie is there ; believe Imn not. 22. For false Christs, and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23. But take ye heed : behold, I have foretold you all things. Lulce, xxi. 8. And he said. Take heed that ye be not deceived : for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near : go ye not therefore after them. I. John, ii. 18. Little children, it is the last time : and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists ; whereby we know that it is the last time. Chap. iv. 3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, [or, manifested through a mortal body,] is not of God. And this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come ; and even now al- ready is it in the world. II. Thess. ii. 3. Let no man deceive you by any means ; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition ; 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped ; so that he, as God, sitteth in the tem- ple of God, showing himself that he is God. 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work : only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord- shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with; the brightness of his coming : 9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them 64 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK that perish ; because they receive not the love of the truth, that ihey might be saved. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12. That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness. II. Timothy^ iii, 1. This know also, that in the last days peril- ous times shall come. 2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boast- ers, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, un- holy, 3. Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4. Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God ; 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, aiid lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts ; 7. Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Sec. 3. Where is the nation or people, saith the Lord, that is ready and prepared to come to the knowledge of the truth, when I shall reveal it unto them ? 4. Where is the kingdom, nation or people, that will not do, in this last dispensation of my goodness to man, as their fathers before them have done? 5. Who is ready to receive Me in ray own way, saith the Lord ? 6. And who are ye that are ever ready to carve out ways of your own, and cry out against my word, and my work. Blasphemy and delusion ? 7. Who among you will be ever learning, and never ready to come to the knowledge of the truth, when I, your God and Creator, make it known unto you 1 8. Pause, and consider your doings. The Great I AM is a merciful God ; but trifleth not with the objects of his creation, who spurn at his work, and turn a blind eye and a deaf ear unto his sacred word. 9. Look at the blindness of your fellow creatures, who have gone before you, for many hundreds of years past. Notwithstanding the TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 65 plaiilness of my word, in giving them warning ;^ that they might always be enlightened, and enabled thereby, (if they would,) to keep from the devouring grasp of the adversary of all good , through the long and gloomy period which did elapse, between the first and second appearance of Christy or the Two Anointed Ones, in their proper order and place. 10. But few, indeed, have learned righteousness by the holy les- sons of instruction that I have sent forth unto them, in past dispen- sations, saith the Lord; but they have labored to carve out a way of their own, by vyhich they might save their own corrupt, fallen propensities of a depraved nature, and indulge the same, in open violation of every command laid down, or given in the sacred volume. 11. Had mankind gone no further, in the indulgence and gratifi^ cation of their natures, than there is per^nission given for it in the sacred book, which they with their mouths so highly venerate, and pretend is their guide, by which to square their lives, this earth would have been a terrestrial paradise to what it now is; and my Almighty power would have bestowed blessings of peace without measure, in lieu of war and bloodshed, desolation and destruction ;: 12. And at the present day, she would have been prepared to do my will and pleasure, of her own choice, without being visited with my heavy and desolating judgments, which are now poured' out without mixture for her, saith the Lord ; that when she refusetb to learn righteousness in mercy, she may learn it in judgment at my hand. Revelations, vi. 12. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake ; and the sun be- came black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood' : 13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind, 14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled togeth- er; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty m^en, and every bond- man, and every free-man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains ; 16. And said to the mountain^ and rocks, Fall on us, and hide I 66 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK US from the face of him that sitteth, on the tlirone, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17. For the great day of his wrath is come;, and who shall be able to stand ? Sec. 13. Thus saith the Lord, I have caused to be laid* before you, some of the most plain, and instructive passages which were spoken by my blessed Son, and those who walked uprightly before Me, giv- ing the people warning of the day that was then at hand ; that all such as would,, might avoid practicing the awful abominations that would be committed therein, under the pretended yoke of the pure religion of Christ. 14. And these passages,, which are but lew out of many, I have caused to be inserted in this Holy and Sacred Roll and Boole of my word to the inhabitants of earth, which,, m my mercy, I now again send forth unto them, in, this,, the last age of the world. 15. I shall not countermand, or disannul any law or command- ment, which I have ever sent forth unto man ; but I pronounce them all good ; and I shall affix, and apply them, to the age and day for which they were given; and so shall I deal with man, according to his treatment of the same,. 16. Those statutes and laws which I sent forth for the children of Israel, by my servant Moses, were good, and intended for a pro- tection, not only to that chosen people, but that all the inhabitants of the earth might behold the statutes and laws, handed forth to a people, whom my Almighty hand had condescended to lead and notice above all others ; and by this means, learn a solemn lesson of warning, to imitate the same. 17. And had all strictly kept these laws, they would have been blessed and protected by my Almighty hand, until they should have reached the end of that dispensation, which did end, when I sent my only begotten Son upon earth. 18. And never, through all the different ages, and periods of time, which have existed from the creation of the world to the present day, have I caused any nation or people to be destroyed, unless they had previously transgressed, and gone forth in open disobedi- erice to that which I had commanded them. 19. Throughout the dispensation of the law of Moses, mercy and compassion did I show,, and cause my people to show, to such of the surrounding nations, as truly blessed my people from their hearts^ TO THE NATIONS OF THE EAUTH. 6^ and treated them witti kindness and respect. Such, I suffered not to be destroyed. 20. But those who sought to do them mischief, and vex them, while on their journey through the wilderness to the promised land, I did cause to be utterly overthrown ; save at such times as when my people had been disobedient, and refused to hearken to my word ; then, I suffered those nations to scourge them with the sword, and slay them without mercy before my face. 21. In no age of the world, have I ever withheld from the chil- dren of men, my hand of mercy, blessing and protection, when they went forth with sincere hearts, in true obedience to my com- mands, given in the age and day in which they lived. By faithfully keeping them, they would always be ready to embrace, and readily unite with every increasing dispensation of my grace and goodness to the children of men. 22. But such as have searched the record of my holy word, saith the Lord, to find such texts and passages as would best apply and excuse them, in the wicked and sinful gratifications of their own natures, have only plucked brands from the fire, with which to burn their own souls, by kindling the flames of torment within : Whether ye be rich or poor, whether ye be priests or people, I have record- ed it against you, on my eternal record ; and ye shall meet it in an hour that ye are not prepared. 23. But those who have obeyed, in singleness of heart, without regarding their natural inclinations to the contrary, such parts of the sacred volume as require them to deny themselves of all un- godliness, and every worldly lust, and have conscientiously labored to do the same, [according] to their best understanding, though it may have been quite imperfect; yet shall they receive at my Tiand of mercy, for the sincerity of their hearts, in so doing. 24. The law and the Prophets were given, as a step stone, to lead souls on, to the true foundation; or, in other words, it answer- ed as a school master, to bring them to Christ. 25. But such as believed not the Christ, my only begotten Son,- can no longer be justified by the deeds of the law ; for I sent him forth to fulfill the law, and make an end of the same, by establishing the law of grace, which would not only embrace the whole sub- stance of the law, but would far exceed it in every point of goodness. 68 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK 26. And all who were faithful and true, to keep the law, and the restrictions therein contained, were justified by the deeds done un- der the law; and were, by this means, prepared, when called upon by an increasing and superior light, sent forth by my Almighty hand, to enter, with thankful hearts, and rejoice in that God who called them, that they were counted worthy. CHAPTER XI. OP THE DISPENSATIONS OP GOD'S GRACE TO MAN- KIND ; THE MANNER IN WHICH MAN HAS TREATED THEM, THE EPPECTS OP HIS DISOBEDIENCE, AND REFUSAL OP THE OPPERS OF GRACE. THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS REACHED THE DAYS OF THE MESSIAH ; THE DISPENSATION OF CHRISt's FIRST APPEARING, REACHED UNTO THAT OF HIS SECOND, IN WHICH THE ORDER OF HIS KINGDOM AND WORK ARE COMPLETED. 1. Of the daily gathering of manna. 2. Of a lesson, and the requirement of God to man. 3. By obedience, mankind could have been in advance to what they now are. 4. Of man's declaration to God, by works. 5. God reasons with mankind. 9. Man's excuses alter nothing. 10. Christ's doctrines sufficient for the people, and day, &c. 12. No other way to be saved, 14. Of words and works, or hearers and doers. 15. The followers of antichrist soon be- came numerous. 17. Of the second coming of Christ. 19. What Christ foresaw and foretold. 24. Many upon whom true light hath nev- er shone. 25. The sincere merit a blessing. 26. A question to all professed christiems. 28. Disobedience, the cause of judgment. 29. Of the destruction of the human race. 30. Mankind never have kept the law of nature. 31 . The earth ripe for destruction. 32. Of the wickedness upon earth. 33. The faithful, scarce and few. 34. Of prophecies concerning the latter day. 35. Of tlie second appearing of Christ in a female. 38. Man ever inclined to defer the work of God to a future period. 1. When I caused manna to come down from Heaven, for food to the children of Israel, did I not require each to gather, day by TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 69 day, the. store which they needed for that day only ? save that which was for food on the Sabbath, was gathered the day previous. And could any keep it longer in ah eatable state? Surely not, saith He who sent it. 2. And from this one circumstance, mankind should have learned a lesson, not easily to be forgotten ; which is, that God, their Heav- enly Father, requires the objects whom he hath created, to be con- stantly employed ; first, seeking to do his will and pleasure, by la- boring for spiritual food, or that which would feed, nourish and strengthen the soul, against every evil temptation, without and with- in; and their hands to work daily, for their own support. 3. Had mankind learned these two important lessons, and prac- ticed the same, from that day to this, their principles of morality, and spiritual goodness, gained by actual works, more than by words, would have been far in advance of what they now are; they would never, after having been called by the law of grace, again have turned their sense and feelings to seek after indulgences, permitted under a law given after [the order of] a carnd commandment. 4. But the works of mankind declare unto Me, saith the Lord, that they have neither kept the Mosaic law, nor in any way, walked agreeable to the order and law of grace; or the precepts of the gospel revealed through my blessed Son. But the law which hath ruled among the children of men, upon the face of the whole earth, from Adam to Moses, from Moses to Christ, and from Christ to the present day, is the law of their own corrupt natures. 5. And shall I, after suffering the wicked inhabitants of the earth to go on for thousands of years, in their own way, suffer them still longer to continue their course, uninterrupted, defying my holy power, and setting at naught my righteous commands? 6. Hath he not already begun to say, in his heart, "There is no God, there is no Christ that will ever do us any harm, [for these, our doings,] let us go on, and take our comfort, while we do live; for when we die, that will be the end of us ; for we are no more than the beasts that perish ! 7. Nay, saith the Lord God of Heaven, whose goings forth are from everlasting, and whose ways are past finding out by mortals, any further than his infinite wisdom and goodness may condescend to reveal them. 8. I will not always suffer man to scorn the works of his Crea- tor. All flesh shall become as dross and dung before Me; and as 70 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK a vapor before the morning sun, shall it vanish quickly away ; no flesh shall glory in my presence. 9. Man, with all the excuses he can collect, and with all the permission to indulge his carnal propensities, which he thinks he can derive from the record of my sacred word, can alter nothing in the least. The motives of his heart are recorded; they make nothing that is white, black, nor black, that is white. Eternal truth and justice shall bear the sway. 10. Sufficient unto the day, and to the people who lived in that day, were the precepts and doctrines of Christ, brought forth and preached loudly to the world, by examples of great sufferings, and true self-denial. 11. But few heeded his warning voice, or bettered their lives by reason of his coming. The cross which he bore, and testified to all, that none could come to him, who would not bear the same, was so galling to the carnal sense of man, in that day, that but very few made the sacrifice required, to obtain salvation, or gain the seal of eternal life. 12. But this haf.h not altered my declaration through the mouths of my servants, that there is no other name given under Heaven whereby men shall be saved ; and he that preacheth any other gos- pel than this, let him be accursed. 13. And although there be millions of the present day, who pre- tend they are the true followers of the Lord and Savior ; yet do I testify unto them, they are not the sheep of his fold. 14. Fair words, and fine speeches, saith the Lord, make not a true follower of Christ. It is not the hearers of the word only, hut the doers of the work. 15. As soon as antichrist began to set up the abomination of desolation, by remodeling the letter of that gospel preached by Christ, that it might serve for a cloak, under which to conceal every species of wickedness ; its followers at once became very nu- merous, and have increased rapidly unto the present day. 16. But remember, the Lord your God hath declared, that the gospel brought forth by the Lord Jesus Christ, was never known or practiced, in antichrist's reign ; neither was the strait gate en- tered, or the narrow way traveled, from the time that the primitive church declined, and fell away, until Christ, or the fullness of the same spirit was sent forth the second time, without sin unto salva- tion, by my Holy Power, and Eternal Wisdom. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 71 17. And [this second manifestation,] was, and is, quite as offen- sive to the children of men, in this day, as it was when he made his first appearance. And they appear to be no more ready now, to receive him in truth, in this day, notwithstanding their great profession, than the Jews were in their day. 18. And upon which class will the greatest weight of guilt and condemnation fall 1 Surely, upon the latter, saith the Lord. For greater light hath shone upon them, if they would but have obey- ed it, than ever shone upon the Jews. 19. Christ plainly saw, when he was upon earth, all that was in man. He needed not that any one should tell him what man pos- sessed ; therefore, he did plainly foretell to his disciples, what kind of use the wicked nature in man, would yet make of his name, and of the gospel he preached, as is plainly recorded in sacred writ be- fore you. 20. He plainly saw that they would borrow his words, in blasphe- my, and use his name in deceit, and loudly proclaim the letter of the gospel he preached ; all for a cloak, and a show of religion to be seen of men. 21. And under this banner, they could shed the blood of millions of their fellow creatures, and readily destroy all such as presumed to bear testimony against their heaven-daring wickedness, the blood of whose slain, crieth unto Me to this very day. 22. And furthermore, every species of abomination could be tol- erated, and committed, by those professing to be the subjects of this remodeled religion, said to embrace the true gospel principles of Christ. The least ray of true gospel light, would at once con- demn all their sacrilegious proceedings. 23. Had mankind, from the day that the Messiah was on earth, to the present time, but kept the one following passage, in truth, " Love thy neighbor as thyself," they would have been much nigh- er to Me, their God and Creator, at this day, than they now are; take the body of the inhabitants of the world together. 24. Though many there be, upon whom the true light of the gospel hath never shone, yet, they are sincere according to the best of their understanding. 25. All such will merit my blessing and protection, until further light is suffered to shine into their souls ; then they must likewise obey that, or they will fall into a far worse state, than they were ** SACRED ROLL AND BOOK before it reached them; for transgressions, committed in ignorances- will be lightly passed over, saith the Lord. 26. But, saith the God of Heaven, T again call upon all profess- ing christians, to ponder well this question ; Do you sincerely be- lieve, from your hearts, that you are fulfilling the divine commands of your blessed Lord and Savior, and are daily walking in that gos- pel he preached, by bearing the cross which he bore, and wearing the yoke which he wore? 27. Ponder well this question in your own hearts, and let truth decide, as ye would if ye knew ye must appear before my eternal bar of justice at the next hour : for the time hasteneth on, in my own wisdom, that I will know no man by his words, but by the fruit which he produceth. 28. As I before told you, disobedience is the cause; and judg- ment, desolation and destruction, are the effects proceeding from this cause. 29. But my creature man, for nearly six thousand years, hath adhered to the cause of destruction ; and for which cause, I once swept him from the face of the earth, save a small remnant, to pre- serve his seed. 30. Yet, notwithstanding all this, he hath never learned obedi- ence to my divine commands, either as regards the law of nature, given in the beginning; or that which was given by Moses, under the dispensation of types and shadows, or the order and law of grace, given under the gospel dispensation by the Holy Son of God. 3L Therefore, do I send forth my word of solemn warning; and declare, in the voice of my eternal truth, to all nations, that the inhabitants of the earth are ripe for the heavy hand of my judg- ments to visit them. 32. For violence doth cover the earth; deceit and hypocrisy stand up, and walk in the congregrations and assemblies of such as meet together, to adore my holy name. Abomination is found in their skirts ; it weareth the clothing of a sheep, but possesseth the body of a wolf. 33. Their fathers have gone astray, and their children have fol- lowed their footsteps ; until the truly upright have become scarce and few, as particles of gold in the midst of crude ore. 34. Many have been the prophecies and predictions, in former dispensations, respecting the latter day of glory, in which Christ should come, the second time, with thousands of his saints; in TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 73 which day my kingdom should be set up, never more to be over- thrown. That the stone, spoken of by the Prophet Daniel, should grow, and fill the whole earth. That my law should go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 35. These are all correct and true; and many more passages were spoken by the spirit of prophecy, referring to Christ's mak- ing his second appearance in a female ; which are also correct. 36. But this declaration is so humiliating, to the proud and haughty sense in man, that he most universally spurns at (he idea, and rejects it, as folly and fanaticism ; witchcraft and delusion. 37. He looketh not at the fruit, to judge whether the root be holy; he seems wholly to overlook the criterion which his Lord and Savior gave, when upon earth, [by which to judge,] which was the works, or fruit. 38. But the disposition, and proneness in man, to disbelieve the work of God in the present tense, when it is sent unto him, and to fix the period still in the future, unless I send forth my word in im- mediate judgment upon him, hath been abundantly proved, from the earliest ages of the world to the present time. 39. But this altereth not the truth, nor in any way changeth the order and dispensations of my work. He only shutteth the door of mercy against his own soul by so doing. CHAPTER XII. PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE, REFERRING TO THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. SOME OP THE MOST PLAIN PASSAGES RECORDED IN THE SCRIPTURE, REFERRING TO THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, ARE REQUIRED, SAITH THE HOLY ANGEL, TO BE HERE CORRECTLY WRITTEN, AS HANDED DOWN FROM THAT DAY TO THIS. Of a misapplication of the scriptures. Of tlie manner of Christ's second ap- pearing'. Of clouds spoken of by the apostle. Of the appearouice of th& holy spirit of God. The mortal body of Jesus, never again to appear. The visitation of God at hand. 9. Christ to appear in his chosen wit- nesses. 11. The female prepared for her office. 13. Bigotry, in this gospel will not abide. 14. Of the likeness of the Son of man. 15. Of Christ's appearance in the female. 16. Of her titles, and of the second witness. 17., Of the Uiird witness. / Daniel, vii. 13. I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him : his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed. Matthew, xxiv. 30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven : and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heav- en with power and great glory. Sec. 1. How can the children of men, in this day, saith the spirit, apply this one passage, in such a literal and natural sense, in con- tra-distinction to the plain declaration of the Holy Savior himself, who plainly declared to his followers, saying, Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more, but ye see me, because / live, i/e shall live also. [See St. John, xiv. 19.] 2. Surely then, his personal presence could never again be seen by the world ; and he could never be seen again only by those virho TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 75 should come into his life ; for he hath declared the truth, and Heav- en and earth should pass away, rather than his words should, in the least, fail from the true spirit of their meaning. Luke, xxi. 25. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars ; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26. Men's hearts failing them for fear,, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth : for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory. 28. And when these things begin to come to pass, th^.n look up, and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth nigh. Acts, iii. 14. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you ; 15. And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead ; whereof we are witnesses. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 20. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you : 21. Whom the heaven must receive, until the times of restitu- tion of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began. IL Corinihians, iii. 3. For as much as ye are manifestly de- clared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with tl>e spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit : and where the Spirit of the Lord is^ there is liberty. I. Thessalo7iians, iv. 15. Forf this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God : and the dead in Christ shall rise first : 17. Then we which are alive cmd remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air : and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 76 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK Sec. 3. Thus saith the Holy Angel; Understand, O ye children of men, and be ye no longer deceived, respecting the clouds, and the air, just mentioned. These clouds are spiritual clouds of his eternal light and brightness, shining forth in his true and faithful witnesses. And this air, is the uncontaminated and undefiled air of purity, in which spiritual element, Christ, and all his true followers live, and can live in no other. 4. And in this air, his true church doth dwell on earth, undefiled by sin. And in this spiritual air, do their prayers and thanksgiving ascend, even to the throne of their God, as sweet smelling incense of praise, saith the Angel. And this is the only air, or element of life, in which Christ can be met, or found. 5. Remember that sensual man, by all his learning, wisdom and understanding, comprehendeth not the true meaning of the sayings of the spirit of God ; for this spirit appeareth, both literally, ahd spiritually, to subdue, and bring into subjection to the law of Christ, every member of the body, and every sinful and unruly pro- pensity of the mind. II. Thessalonians, i. 7. And to you, who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ : Chap. ii. 8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coniing : Sec. 6. Remember, O ye children of men, saith the Angel, that this wicked, is consumed by the spirit of Jiis moutJi, which is spiritual. 7. There never can be the same local, and material body, again upon earth, as it was in his first appearing ; though the earth should remain for thousands of years to come, and mankind should be suffered to remain thereon as long, waiting, and looking for the sec- ond coming of the Messiah in this way, they would wait and look in vain, saith the Holy Angel ; for this never will be. Revelations, xiv. 1. And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 77 waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps : 3. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders : and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4. These are they which are not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb, whitherso- ever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, hcing the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5. And in their mouth was found no guile : for they are with- out fault before the throne of God. 6. And I saw. another angel fly in the midst of heaven, hav- ing the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. 7. Saying, with a loud voice. Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come : and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and thie sea, and the fountains of waters. 8. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.. 9. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of .God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indigna- tion; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: IL And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever : and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, s'aith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors ; and their works do follow them. Sec. 8. Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord; These days, just spoken of, are near at your doors, and you know it 78 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK not; and many other passages there are, of my sacred word, which apply equally to your day ; and much of the foregoing is already fulfilled, in the hearts of them that fear Me, and keep my command- ments. The second coming of the Son of man, they have seen; and received, at his hand, the holy oracles of God. 9. When my Holy Son ascended, the apostles were told, that this same Jesus should aime in like manner as they had seen him fro into Heaven. [ See acts. ii. 11, ] As none but the apostles, his chosen witnesses, saw him go into heaven ; and as Jesus signifies Savior ; it follows, that none but his witnesses will ever see the Savior come again; but [all others] must rely upon the testimony of his chosen witnesses, or never know it. 10. And through them, does the voice of eternal truth now pro- claim to all nations, that the spirit of the Christ, the Savior, hath again appeared the sepond time upon earth, without sin unto salva- tion; and hath established his church, whose everlasting and eternal foundation, is living truth ; therefore it nmst, and shall forever stand, saith the Lord. 11. And for the reception of this spirit, I did prepare, with my holy power, a female, of my own choosing, upon whom I did, for many years, cause deep and heavy sufferings of soul to fall, that she might be cleansed and purified from the nature of sin, and fitly pre- pared for the holy office; which was done, according to my will and pleasure, saith the God of heaven. 12. Here Christ was revealed, and here was he made known, to all such as were sincerely seeking after good. And in this line, and in no other, will he reveal himself, without sin unto salvation, while time shall roll, and while man shall exist. 13. And in this pure and holy gospel, no bigoted priest can abide, who preaches for hire, and selleth the sacred word, sent forth by my spirit, for money ; who maketh trade and traffic with that which should be kept sacred and holy. Revelation, i. 7. Behold, he Cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they aho which pierced him : and all kin- dreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Chap. xxii. 20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly ; Amen. Even so, come. Lord Jesus. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 79 6. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 7. Behold, I come quickly : blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 10. And he saith unto me. Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book : for the time is at hand. 11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still : and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still : and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still : and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12. And behold, T come quickly ; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and ma- keth a lie. 16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning-star. 17. And the Spirit and the bride say. Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Chap. xiv. 14. And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud orae* sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap : for the time is come for thee to reap ; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth ; and the earth was reaped. Sec. 14. This vi^hich my Servant John saw, sitting upon the white cloud, was the likeness of the Son of man ; therefore it could not be his person ; but that same spirit, which once dwelt in the person * The word one, is not original. 80 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK of Jesus. And that same spirit, is now upon earth the second time, making an end of sin, and bringing in everlasting righteousness. 15. And this spirit did first appear, and take up its abode, in the female witness of my last dispensation of grace and goodness, to the lost race of man. 16. The fullness of this work, in its completed order, was perfected, in the witness whose name is recorded on my eternal record, saith the Lord, the Daughter of Zion, the Bride, the Lamb's wife, who once dwelt in theearthly tabernacle of Ann Lee. The second witness, who stood through great sufferings and tribula- tion, an able helper and supporter, once dwelt in the mortal body of William Lee. 17. The third, who was a faithful, true and proclaiming witness of that everliisting gospel, now sent forth to the inhabitants of earth, once dwelt in the mortal body of James Wbittaker. 18. These were my three first witnesses, in this last dispensation of my goodness to man; and I proclaim them as such, saith the God of Heaven, to the four quarters of the earth : and let him that readeth, understand. CfflAPTEH Xfll. THE SUBJECT CONTINUED DECLARATION AND TESTIMONY OE THE APOSTLES. Romans, i. 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven ao-ainst all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. 23. And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-foot- ed beasts, and creeping things. 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves : 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 81 and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections. For even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature : 27. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowl- edge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient: 29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wicked- ness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity ; whisperers, 30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31. Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful : 32. Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which com- mit such things are worthy of death; not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Chap. ii. 2. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, against them which commit such things. 6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 1. Corinthians, vi. 9. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abu- sers of themselves with mankind, 10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Chap. vii. 1. Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It zs good for a man not to touch a woman. 2. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 6. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. 7. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. 82 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK 8. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 29. But this I say, brethren, The time is short. It remaineth, that both they that have wives, be as though they had none; 30. And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31. And they that use this world, as not abusing it. For the fashion of this world passeth away. 34. There is diiference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy, both in body and in spirit: but she that is married, careth for the things of the world, how she may please Jier husband. 38. So- then he- that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. H. Corinthians, xi.. 2. For T am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I- have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Galations, v. 19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these. Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: ofi tfee which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past', t-hat they which do such things shall not inherit the king- dom of God. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24. And they that are Christ's have^ crucified the flesh, with the affections and' lusts. 25. If we- live in the Spirit j let us also walk in the Spirit. 26. Let lis not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Ephesians, iv. 25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth? with his neighbor : for we are members one of afiother. Colossians, iii. 9^. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds ; James, iii. 5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 83 boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity : so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of thirigs in the sea, is tamed, and tiath been tamed, of man- kind: 8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Chap. iv. 1. Ffom whence cc?Me wars aiid fightings ameng you? comcthry not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2. Ye lust and have not : ye kill, and desire to have, and can- not obtain : ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friend- ship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy ? 6. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God fesist- eth the proud, but giveth grace tinto the humble. 7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to yen. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. 9. Be afflicted, and mourK, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Chap. V. 1. Goto now, yc rich men, weep and howl for your niiseries that shall come upon you. 2. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth- eaten. 84 SACRED KOLL AND BOOK 3. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 4. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fi-aud, crieth ; and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a right- eous man availeth much. I. Peter, ii. 11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as stran- gers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul ; 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Chap. iii. 3. Whose adorning let it not be that outward a^orn- ing of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel ; 4. But let it he the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 85 CHAPTER XIV. OE THE MOSAIC LAW, AND OF THE KINGDOM AND LA¥ OF CHRIST; ALSO, CONCERNING THOSE IN HEATHENISH DARKNESS. The word of God gives no license for the carnal indulgences of nature. Of the completed order of Christ's kingdom. Of the declaration of the work of God. Of outstanding the day of visitation. 11, Concerning passages of scripture. 12. The intent of the scriptures. 17. More tolerable for those in heathenish darkness, than for those who know^ and do not the Lord's will. 1. Again consider, O frail man; consider saith the Lord, the imperfectness of your sight, and the shortness of your understand- ing in respect to my holy and sacred word, which was sounded forth on earth, by my blessed Son, and his faithful followers, hund- reds of years ago. 2. There is not one passage in the sacred volume, that ever escaped from his holy lips ; that in any way gives permission, or tolerates a life of fleshly indulgence, or the carnal gratifications of nature. And nothing of that nature, was ever tolerated, by any of his apostles, only in the line of a permission, or an indulgence, for the time being, because of their great weakness in those respects ; and this was done by the Apostle, in order, if possible, to content them that still greater sins might be avoided. 3. But nothing of that nature was ever given by commandment, after the gospel dispensation was sent forth by my Almighty hand; though the full order of my new, and spiritual creation, was not completed, to that degree of holiness throughout, in Christ's first appearing, but that some little indulgences of that kind, could be allowed. Yet, in the Savior himself, was a perfect work, and none can ever supersede it. 4. But the perfect order of his kingdom could not be complete, until the Daughter of Zion was sent forth to stand with him, in her proper lot and place, as the spirituai Mother, in the completed order of my new Heaven, and new earth, which I did promise, by 86 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK the mouths of tlie Prophets, I would create and establish in the lat- ter day, saith the Lord. 5. And my own time has now come, to declare the work of my hands, to the ends of the earth ; notwithstanding frail mortals will rise up against Me, amidst my solemn warnings, and try to destroy the word of my mouth and the work of my hands; because they do not immediately see the heavy hand of my desolating judgments, sweeping their fellow creatures from the face of the earth, or caus- ing her to open her mouth and swallow up the same. 6. But some will give ear and hearken, before it be too late, and by this means, save their souls from destruction. Some will receive my word, through whatever medium I am pleased to send it forth, even should it be from infants. 7. But remember, all ye people, who make a pretence of hold- ing to the sacred word contained in your sealed bibles, and of fol- lowing the divine commands of your Lord and Savior, while yet daily living in sin and wickedness ; you are only treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, where I shall meet you in a straight place, saith your God, and that, at a time when ye are not prepared, and when longer delay, for your preparation of heart, cannot be made. 8. For the greatest portion of the inhabitants of earth, have al- ready, by reason of theif awful wickedness, nearly out-stood the day of my visitation in mercy unto them. 9. Now all ye learned priests and people, bow low your hearts, and hearken to the voice of your God. All such of you, as name the sacred volume for your guide, look at the foregoing passages which I have commanded to be written in this Roll ; are they not, the most of them, so simple, that even a child might understand them? 10. They are not great hidden mysteries; but plain and simple requirements, which, by my Almighty power, I caused to be sent forth to the inhabitants of the earth, as a protection and a guide, that they might walk in that way, that they would always be worthy of my blessing, whether they lived under the dispensation of the law, or of the gospel. IL Though the passages which I required to be here inserted, are but a few out of the many thousands that have been, by my over- ruling hand, preserved for the children of men, that there might always be a record upon earth, among the inhabitants thereof, that TO THE NATIONS OF THE EAKTH. 87 should bear upon its face, my Almighty and sacred impression, to testify against the growing depravities of the human family; 12. Those passages are clear and explicit, and nothing between the lids of the bible, can contradict them. And the whole sub- stance of all, sent forth in the sacred record, was sent for the express purpose of causing mankind to cease from doing evil, and learn how to do well ; that they might learn to love Me, their God and Creator, with all their souls, might, mind and strength, and their neigh])or as themselves. 13. Had they done this, the requirements of their God would have been fulfilled, and the earth would have been blessed with a race of peace-makers upou it, long before this day; instead of a race of murdering Cains, who are ever ready, at the least offense, to imbrue their hands in the blood of their fellow creatures. 14. And their depravity, at this day, is so great, saith the Lord, that this popular way of murdering each other, hath received the general sanction of professed Christendom ; and this, they must all acknowledge, is in direct disobedience to every precept taught by their blessed Lord and Savior, for whom they pretend to feel the most sacred regard, and for the spreading of whose gospel, to all quarters of the earth, they make great provisions. 15. But remember, all ye people, that I am a God that must be served in works as well as in word, or the hand of my mercy can- not rest upon you. It is not those who say unto Me, Lord,. Lord ; but it is those who do the work which I require, that shall be known by my destroying Angels, when passing over the earth, to whom I will give charge, to spare them for their works' sake, not for theit words' sake, saith the Almighty : words and works, with faith and works, must go together. 16. I have now briefly shown unto you, O ye children of men, both by the words of my own mouth, in the present tense,^ and by those passages which I caused to- be sent forth hundreds of year& ago, that which I required of the inhabitants of the earth, both while under the dispensation of the law, and while under the dis- pensation of the gospel of Chrfet up to the present day and time. 17. And that which I now require of the whole habitable earthy and especially of those calling themselves Christians, I will here- after, clearly show unto you, saith the Lord. Far more tolerable will it be with those nations and people, who have never known f he record of my word, which has been with the children of men, 88 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK for tliousands of years, than for those who have been conversant with its requirements ; yet have walked in open disobedience to, and. in violation of, every such passage, as brought a cross upon their own carnal, corrupt natures. 18. These passages, in spirit, comprehend the whole substance of the scriptures ; for unless these be kept, what profit doth a man derive therefrom, as it respects the work of purifying his own soul? 19. Surely none ; but he continually heapeth upon his own head, still greater condemnation. For where light and understanding are given, and suffered to shine upon souls, and they disobey the same, far better would it have been for them, that this light had never so shone upon them. Their accountability unto Me, their God, will be much heavier, than upon those who have never been favored with such a blessing. 20. I here again require such passages of the sacred and inspir- ed writings of past dispensations, to be inserted, as more immedi- ately refer to the second coming of Christ, and that his appearance would be in a female. 89 CHAPTER XV. PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE, REFERRING TO THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST IN THE FEMALE. 13. 14. 15. The second Adam, male and female. Of King David's prophecy, conceni- ing the King and Queen of Zion. The brealh of God, beareth against the wicked. Of judgments. Of a perfect work. Of the stone cut out without hands. The day now come, which John saw in vision. Of man's carving out new ways for salvation. Disobedient steps to be retraced. No impurity can enter Christ's king- dom, or evil dwell therein. 16. Of stripping for the gospel race. 17. Of coming to the law of nature. 20. God's times of judgment, reserved in his own power. 21. Of timely warning. 23. Solemn warnings. 25. Of the abasement of mankind. 29. God destroyeth not his own work. 30. The natural man understandeth not the givings of the spirit of God. 31. Of the law, and its requirements. 33. The ultimate end of God's purposes with man, unchanged. Genesis, v. 1. This is the book of the generations of Adam: In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him : 2. Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. Sec. I. Understand the two foregoing passages : If the first Adam, being male and female, was a correct and true figure of him that was to come as the Second Adam, [See Romans, v. 14,] which I bear witness is true, saith the Angel, the second Adam must also be male and female ; which is the case, and will so remain to the endless ages of eternity. 2. Degrading as it may feel to the haughty sense in man, he nev- er can alter it ; for it is the work of the Almighty Creator, that the pride of all flesh might be stained ; and that the male and female, might both have their proper and equal lot and place, in the work of redemption. I. Corinthians, xi. 3. But I would have you know, that the head 9(J S.VCflED BOLL AXD BOOK of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 7. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, for as much as he is the image and glory of God : but the woman is the glory of the man. 8. For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. 9. Neither was the man created for the woman, but the wo- man for the man. 10. For this cause ought the woman to have power on /i^r head, because of the angels. ■- 11. Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, nei- ther the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman ; but all things of God. Psalms, xlv. 1. My heart is inditing a good matter : I speak of the things which I have made touching the King : my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of men : grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. 3. Gird thy sword upon thi/ thigh, O 7uost Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. 4. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 5. Thine arrows arc sharp in the heart of the King's enemies ; whereby the people fall under thee. 6. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever : the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 7. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness : there- fore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 8. All thy garments s)neU of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. 9. King's daughters were among thy honorable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. 10. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear ; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house ; 11. So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 91 13. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift ; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour. 13. The King's daughter is all glorious within : her clothing is of wrought gold. 14. She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needle work; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. 15. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought : they shall enter into the King's palace. 16. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. 17. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therelbre shall the people praise thee forever and ever. Sec. 3. The fore part of this Psahn, speaketh so clearly of Christ, under the character of the King, that it would seem impossible for any to misunderstand it ; and from the ninth verse to the end, speaketh so clearly of the Q.ueen, the Daughter of Zion, and of the Virgins that follow her, that none, but such as are willfully blind, can per- vert its true meaning, saith the Lord. 4. Virgin, meaneth that which is pure and undefiled, whether it be male or female; and such are the virgins, her companions, that follow her into the presence of the King. 5. And by the inspiration of my spirit, saith the Lord, upon my servant David, did he clearly foretell that which was to come to pass, and be accomplished, both in Christ's first and second appearing; though he understood it not himself Yet he foretold the completed order of my Zion, and the otfice of the King and Clueen, therein established, in this last dispensation of my goodness to mortals on earth. 6. And many more are the places that clearly foretell the same work, saith the Almighty Power, whose breath beginneth to bear against the wickedness and abominations of the earth; and whose breath will continue to bear, harder and harder, against all the un- seemly and unnatural works of darkness; against all war, bloodshed and carnage ; against the abuse of the order of nature, and of oppression against the rights of conscience's freedom. 7. And if they will not hearken, humble themselves and repent, in this the last display of my goodness and mercy unto them, I will, by the consuming breath of my mouth, sweep from the earth's surface, by thousands and millions, and millions on millions, until 92 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK by my judgments, the remnant remaining, know that the God of Heaven hath descended, with an arm of his Almighty power, to visit the inhabitants of earth, saith the Great I AM, Jeremiah, Xxxi. 22. How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. Chap, xxxiii. 14. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 15. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David • and he shall execute judg- ment and righteousness in the land. 16. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely : and this is the name wherewith she shall be called. The Lord our Righteousness. Micah, iv. 1. But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills ; and people shall flow unto it. 2. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths', for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plough- shares, and their spears into pruning hooks : nation shall not lii't up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig-tree ; and none shall make them afraid : for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. 5. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever, 6. In that day, saith the Lord, I v/ill assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted ; 7. And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation : and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even forever. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 93 8. And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first domin- ion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. 9. Now, why dost thou cry out aloud ? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail. 10. Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail : for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall re- deem thee from the hand of thine enemies. 11. Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say. Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. 12. But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither un- derstand they his counsel : for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. 13. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion : for I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass : and thou shalt beat in pieces many people : and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. Chap. V. 3. Therefore, will he give them up, until the time tJiat she which travaileth hath brought forth : then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. Zephaniah, iii. 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent. 10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering, 11. In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me : for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. 12. I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. 13. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies ; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth : for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make tlicm afraid. 14. Sing, O daughter of Zion ; shout, O Israel ; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. II. Esdras, ii. 15. Mother, embrace thy children, and bring 94 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK them up with gladness, make their feet as fast as a pillar: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord. 29. My hand shall cover thee, so that thy children shall not see hell. 30. Be joyful, O thou mother, with thy children; for I will de- liver thee, saith the Lord. 32. Embrace thy children until I come, and shew mercy unto them : for my wells run over, and my grace shall not fail. 34. And therefore I say unto you, O ye heathen, that hear and understand. Look for your Shepherd, he shall give you everlast- ing rest; for he is nigh at hand, that shall come in the end of the world. " . - 35. Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore. 3G. Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory : I testify my Savior openly. 37. O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him that hath called you to the heavenly kingdom. 38. Arise up and stand, behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord ; 39. Which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the Lord. 40. Take thy number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of tlie Lord. 4L The number of thy children whom thou longedst for, is ful- filled : beseech the power of the Lord, that thy people, which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed. 42. I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs. 43. Arid in the midst of them there was, a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads lie set crowns, and was more exalted ; which I marvelled at greatly. Chap. vii. 26. Behold, the time shall come, that these tokens which I have told thee shall come to pass, and the bride shall ap- pear, and she coming forth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth. Matthnc, xxii. 1. And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, TO THE NATIONS OF THK EARTH. 95 3. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding : and they would not come. 4. Again, he sent forth other servants, suyhig, Tell them which are bidden, '2. Of the union of Saints in Heaven and 83. Requirements of God to Zion. on earth. 84. The days of her seclusion . 53. Of washed garments. 86. Of liking a home in Zion, and hating 54. The slanderous tongue. the cross. 37. Salvation from all sin. 87. The three first witnesses, &c. 58. Resignation to the appointments of God 1. Thus saith the Lord, the Holy and Eternal One, Give ear santo my voice, all ye people, and hearken and understand my word, all ye nations of the earth. 2. For whom are you looking, to usher in the rays of eternal life, and open the eyes of your souls, that ye may be saved from your sins? 3. Do you look for the Christ of God, the spirit of the Holy Savior, the Lamb who stood upon Mount Zion, with the hundred and forty and four thousaridj having their Father's name written in their foreheads, who were virgins, not being defiled with sin? TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 101 4. Do you look and seek after a kingdom, of which the sacred volume does predict ; which by the spirit of inspiration was told, That a pure and holy kingdom, by my Almighty hand, should, in the latter days, be set up, which should be called the house of the Lord, established in the top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills; of which nations should say. Come, and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob • for he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths ? 5. Where the Law should go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem ? 6. Where that spirit should be manifested, to rebuke strong na- tions afar off, and cause them to beat their swords into plough- shares, and their spears into pruning hooks? 7. Where the Lion should lie down with the Lamb, and a little child should lead them ? 8. Do you look for the stone, cut out from the mountain without hands, that should grow and fill the whole earth ; that smote the great image, aiid brake if in pieces, and caused it to be carried away of the wind, as the chaff of the summer threshing floor? 9. Do you look for that kingdom that standeth and trusteth in the strength of my power, and not in the arm of flesh; whose life is purity, and whose dwelling resteth in my eternal brightness ? 10. Whose subjects are subjects of peace, arid whose hands are not stained with human blood, and who walk not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the law of grace, given in the gospel of Christ? 11. Who worship not the mortal bodies of any, but who worship my Holy Spirit, whether manifested in man, woman or child? 12. Who use the measures of justice, and the weights of exact- ness, and decide not by the balances of deceit? 13. Who do unto others, as they would that others should do unto them? 14. Who turn not the right of the needy away, nor say to the hungry, cold and naked. Go, be thou fed, warmed and clothed? 15. Who turn not the needy from their doors, nor send the poor and distressed empty away ? 16. Who procure not gain without right, nor pervert the laws of truth and justice, for silver or gold? 17. Who open their mouths in true wisdom with their neighbors, and speak words of truth to one another ? 102 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK 18. Whose God requireth that all should labor with their hands; and whose laws of equal justice, mete employment to every age and class, according as they have ability to perform? 19> Wlio highly prize, and daily do obey the watch-word of the morning from the Queen of Zion ; Hands to work and hearts to God, with cheerfulness in your duties? 20. Whose laws and statutes from my eternal throne do emanate; and operate to rule and govern every soul in truth, in justice, and in acts of love and kindness? 21. Where no one is set on high, to sway an earthly sceptre? 22. Where tyrants cannot reign, and despots do not rule? 23. Do you look for that kingdom, where the holy anointing from my Eternal Throne, is placed in earthy vessels, to lead in meekness, and govern by the power of my spirit, against which, in the final result, no stiff nor stubborn will can stand unshaken, nor abide in the kingdom? 24. Where no coercive means are used; but power and force of spirit, given from my Almighty hand, through prayer and supplica- tion are employed? 25. Where seekers after that which is great and high, must rest in hope, and die without obtaining? 26. Where high and exalted feelings, low and humble stations find? 27. Where meekness, virtue, power and wisdom, as the advancing guard do always move along? 28. Where carnal warfares are not known ; but spiritual ones, against the wicked foe within, are eternally waged? No quarters given, nor quarters taken, but death complete unto the man of sin, doth crown the victorious conqueror? 29. Do you seek to find that city, where the Lord your God hath placed his name, in peace to dwell, in truth to reign? !J0. Where all its inmates dwell as innocent lambs in the fold of their ever watchful Shepherd ? 31. Where the bleatings of harmless sheep are heard, but where the bowlings of the. wild beasts of the forest, who hunt for flesh, and prey upon the same, are not known ? 32. Where the gentle breezes blow from my Almighty throne, and waft upon their wings the bread of heaven, and the food of Ancrels; and where streams of living waters flow in rivulets mild and centle ? TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 103 33. Where all the inmates dwell, possessing the whole, yet claiming nothing; and aught of all they do possess, no one calleth it his own; but as children of one family, all live and fare alike? 34. Where the sick are ministered to, those in the decline of life supported, and the feeble and tottering knee, gently led by the hand? 35. Do you, in truth, seek after a place of rest unto your souls, where everlasting joy, peace and true comfort are received, as the reward of a daily cross of true self-denial, not in word alone, but in work perfected ? 36. Where the innocency of little children is preserved with the utmost care and carefulness, until they reach maturity ? 37. Where all dwell as brethren and sisters, bound in one golden chain of love and union; in clothing, food and convenience, each preferring one another ? 38. Where none, by reason of care and trust in them reposed, seek for any thing more pleasant and agreeable, either to eat, to drink or to wear, than those to whom they stand as leaders? 39. Where those who are called to stand in front, rejoice to show they bear the greatest cross of true self-denial ? 40. Where the jealous eye of wantonness cannot look upon those of the other sex, nor nature's passions vile be gratified ? 41. Where none suffer the sun to go down upon their souls when defiled with sin ? 42. Where Achor's valley, daily remaineth the only door of hope for any soul ? 43. Where nought is again remembered, when once passed through this door ? ■ 44. Where ignorant deeds are lightly passed over; but willful acts of transgression, the laws of conscience 'do condemn ? 45. Where my Holy Laws and Orders, reign as sacred guides, impelling every heart ? 46. Where the unerring lines of truth, are drawn between the flesh and spirit ? 47. Where natural affections do abound for all their fellow beings; but where vile affections, for fleshly kin, are banished from the soul ? 48. Where fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, children, houses, lands, and their own lives also, are all forsaken to obtain a life in Christ, and the resurrection of the sotU from the dead 1 49. Do you seek for that kingdom established on earth, but yet is not of the earth 1 104 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK 50. Wlioso subjects are in the world, yet are not of the worhl ; for I their Lord and God, have chosen them out of the world? 51. Where holy Angels from the eternal world minister unto them, and ten thousand times ten thousand gather to behold their worship ? 52. Where saints on earth, with saints in heaven do unite in one eternal song of praise, to Me their God and Maker ? 53. Where, through great tribulation and sufferings of soul, by living the life of the Lamb, their garments are washed white? 54. Do you seek for that, kingdom, against which, the hand of persecution hath ever been raised; and against which the enven- omed tongue of slander and falsehood hath never ceased to pour forth its volumes of blackest epithets? 55. Where souls fulfill the law of Christ, as made known in his first appearing, and by that means, are able to fulfill the whole law in his second coming ? 56. Where souls know, by actual experience of more than sixty years, that they have found the spirit of the Lord's Christ, revealed in a Mother, whose name was ANN LEE? 57. For it hath saved them from all sin, and clothed their souls in a garment of true righteousness, and created in their hearts, that love to Me, their God and Maker, which surpasseth, in a thousand fold ratio, all other loves ; 58. Which has given them strength and power to resign their lives in martyrdom, if called so to do, rather than deny their faith, or the power by which they received this, [which was] from, and through the Q,ueen of Zion, who stands as my first and chosen witness in this last dispensation of my goodness to man. 59. Do you seek for that kingdom, where the gospel of a Christ and of a Mother reigneth, united in one ? 60. Were any of you born, and brought forth into a completed state of existence in the world, by a father, — or by a mother ? Or were you only begotten by a father, and then, at the proper time and season, brought forth by the mother? 61. And by whom were you fed with milk, and dandled at the breast, while in your infancy; by the father, — or by the mother? 62. By whose caresses, and soothing hand of comfort, were your troubled spirits pacified to rest? W^as it not the Mother's? 63. If We, the over-ruling and Great first Cavse of all created things, on earth and in the heavens, have, in our own wisdom, TO THE NATIONS OF THE EAKTH. 105 created the natural order of things, figurative of that which was spiritual, how can there be any spiritual order, or kingdom of glory completed, unless the woman is brought to stand in her place, accord- ing to the figure ? 64. Have We not created an order and place for the woman, in the natural order of the creation? Was she not to travail in sorrow, and bring forth children? And in the absence of her husband, does she not stand at the head of her own family ? 65. If these things in nature do exist, why stumble ye at the fulfillment of the true representation? 66. And if this is not the true representation, and this order does not exist in the spiritual heavens, why did not We create and send forth, all living upon earth, in the male order? 67. O ye blind and bigoted seers, who strain at your own pride, and must swallow your own folly ! The woman you all want, and the man you all want; but the enjoyment of each other in fleshly gratifications, is your greatest desire. No longer wipe your lips, and say you are guiltless; for the God of Heaven doth judge you, the Searcher of every heart, before whose eyes, your abominations are as plain as the whited walls of your houses are in your view. 68. But hearken ; Do any of you seek for a kingdom, where the pride of vain mortals ruleth not, and the arrogance of frail, fallen nature, beareth not the sway ? Where the high and the low, the rich and the poor, the lame, the halt and the blind, can all fare alike, upon terms of strict .equality and justice? 69. Where all yield strict obedience to the revealed will of Heaven, through such agencies as are appointed, through the order of my holy anointing power, wherever I may have caused it to rest? 70. Where all the political strifes and contentions, and party feelings amongst the children of men, are disowned and rejected ? 71. Where an avaricious spirit, to heap up treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, cannot dwell ? 72. And again; Do ye sincerely seek for that city of refuge on earth, v/here you can know and do the will of your God, day by day ? Where you can receive strength to crucify your own evil natures, and be born anew, as little innocent children, into the king- dom of your God? 73. Do you seek for that home and place, while in a terrestrial state, where you can live day by day, as ye would, if ye knew ye 106 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK were to die on the morrow, and as ye would if ye were to live a thousand years 1 74. Where the kingdom of Heaven, and the righteousness thereto belonging, is the soul's first pursuit; and where all that is needful for the body, through obedience and faithfulness, shall be given unto it? And where, to deal justly and walk humbly, to fear God and keep his commandments, comprise your whole duty V 75. If so, seek in earnest, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you ; ask, and ye shall receive ; follow that light which I shall cause to shine into your souls, and it shall lead you to the city of peace, saith the Lord your God ; but not to ease and indulgence, thinking to procure your souls' salvation in that way ; not where the manna of Heaven rains down, to feed and support you in idleness, without the soul's exertion ; 76. Not where each one, or any part can do that which seemeth right in their own eyes, according to their own natural wisdom and understanding ; 77. But where that wisdom, that knowledge and understanding, which is revealed in the order of my own appointment, beareth rule, and is the main spring of action throughout, in all things, spiritual and temporal ; 78. According to the completed order of my new heavens and new earth, which I have, in this latter day, established on the earth for all nations, all kindreds, all tongues and all people, who will make the sacrifice which I require, saith the Lord, to obtain a home therein, beneath the wings of my protection. 79. I have now declared unto you, all ye nations and people, that the spirit of my blessed Son hath appeared the second time, with- out sin unto salvation, in the female, or Spiritual Blother in Israel. 80. And this, my kingdom, as represented by the stone from the mountain, has been established for more than sixty years upon the earth; and yet, ye believe it not; though various publications of its principles, have been circulated when called for, yet, ye know not the Christ or his true kingdom. 81 . I have never required, saith the God of Heaven, that the subjects of Christ's second' coming, or the children of the Bride, should compass sea and land to make proselytes ; 82. This, my Church, the assembly of Saints, was never estab- lished upon the eternal foundation of righteousness and truth, for a popular show to the inhabitants of earth. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 107 83. But I required her people to embody their strength in one united capacity, and conquer and subdue their own evil natures within, and travel in humility of soul, and tribulation of spirit, and gain a substance of the true oil of light, and life eternal ; That when my time should come, in the order of my own wisdom, she might have wherewithal, to do her duty to other souls, as I have placed her, a city upon a hill, whose light and brightness can never more be hid. 84. And thus, the days of her seclusion are accomplished; and I, the God that formed her, do now declare her to the inhabitants of the earth; audi have also declared the true characters of all who do, in truth, compose the subjects who dwell, and safely remain within her holy walls. 85. Though wolves in sheep's clothing, may creep within her gates, yet, their craving wants for flesh, or fleshly lust, will soon betray the borrowed coat they wear. 86. No ravenous beast can long remain within her holy borders; though many like the place, yet none but the true and honest hearted like the cross, nor will long endure the gospel fire of truth, which doth eternally burn to guard the tree of life. 87. And furthermore, saith the Almighty Power, I declare the three first witnesses unto you, who bore record on the earth, that I, the Almighty God of Heaven, had sent forth the likeness of my blessed Son, the second time, without sin unto salvation, to poor frail mortals on the earth. 88. And through a female was Christ made known, [as u spirit- tial Mother,^ to complete the order of that kingdom which was begun in his first appearing. And I declarfe, to all nations, the spirit of this chosen female to be the Bride, the Lamb's wife, the Queen of Zion, and Mother of the new and spiritual creation which shall never be destroyed. 89. Though I, her Lord and God, should purge and refine her [inhabitants] to that degree of purity and holiness, that not more than ten souls were able to abide the fire within her holy courts; yet shall these stand, and be supported by the Almighty power of my hand, though armies against them shoiild be arrayed for their destruction. 90. Remember, all ye people who dwell within the walls of my Zion, which is pure and holy, if ye walk not worthy of your holy calling, the great privilege, which in my ^tnercy I have granted you. 108 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK shall only prove as burning coals of fire upon your heads, to sink your souls from my presence : and a far heavier stroke of my judg- ments, shall come upon you, than upon those who have never been blessed with such a privilege of my notice, within the v/alls of my Zion. 91. It is not numbers that compose my Zion; but the purity of that life Avhich souls live; and by the interestedness of their spirits, to build up the cause to which they are called, by spending and being spent, agreeable to that example which was invariably set by the tlirce first witnesses, who bore this gospel across the rolling deep, to fair Columbia's shore, and who, by my Almighty hand, were protected so to do. 92. And by my power, shall other faithful souls safely re-cross the foaming deep, to plant this gospel in distant lands, to feed the hungry souls who cry to Me for [the] bread [of life.] THE OFFICE OF THE THREE FIRST CHOSEN WIT- NESSES SEPARATELY DECLARED, AND FURTHER ILLUSTRATIONS OF THOSE WHO ARE THEIR TRUE FOLLOWERS, SAITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD. It is God who forgiveth sins. Who are preparefl as witnesses for souls, &c. Duly of witnesses. Not required to hear the confession of capital crimes, until the sentence of the civil law is passed. Confessions to be considered sacred. Of the representation of the spirit, by Mother Ann Lee. Of what was manifested in Mother. Sec. 1. But a few passages, saith the Lord, were ever -mentioned in the Sacred Volume, respecting the three witnesses. But I am a 1. God, able to manifest himself as he 10. wills, at any period. 3. Passages of scripture required to be n. quoted. 12. 6. Of the testimony of the three witnesses. G. Of the confession of sins. 7. Of rising into life. 13. 8. Of purchasing liberty to sin. Of hired forgiveness. 15. 9. Of making trade of sacred service. 16. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 109 God of ~ yesterday, to-day, and forever; and to all such as truly walk uprightly before Me, doing my will and pleasure, regardless of all personal, partial or selfish views, I am as able to manifest myself in one dispensation, as in another. 2. And I now bear witness, (declaring my words to the ends of the earth,) to the office and calling of the three first witnesses, in Christ's second coming. 3. And where the witnesses are mentioned in Sacred Writ, I require [some ofjthe passages to be here inserted. Mattliew, xviii. 16. But if he will not hear tliee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Isaiah, xliii. 10. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord. Chap. xliv. 8. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God besides me ? yea, there is no God ; I know not any. Sec. 4. These three witnesses, in this latter day of my goodness, testified before all, both publicly and privately, that there was no true God but Me, and that there was no way of God opened or revealed to man, by which he could find salvation, or an entrance into his holy kingdom, while living in sinful works of whatever name or nature. 5. And they did furthermore bear witness, that the spirit of Ch?ist, the Son of God, had, in truth, made his appearance the second time, without sin unto salvation; and that none could be cleansed and purified, and enter into the work of regeneration, while living after, or taking any part in, the works of natural generation. 6. And they did furthermore testify and bear witness, by that power which I gave them, that all souls must confess their sins, in the presence of God's witnesses, one by one, just as they had com- mitted them, or never find true happiness; a^d then labor for godly sorrow and true repentance, by leaving then> off, and by taking up a cross against their evil natures vv'hich led them into sin. 7. By so doing, they would find the favor and mercy of God, and their souls would begin to rise in the resurrection of Christ; and my holy blessings would begin to distill upon them, as dews from Heaven. 8. They never taught souls, that they could, for money, purchase ilO SACRED ROLL AND BOOK liberty from priests and clergy, to indulge in sinful abominations, gratifying their own propensities ; and then again, for money, they could hire their sins forgiven, such as they had not bought a privi- lege to commit. 9. Awful consternation must seize on every heart, when they see these things in their true light! Ts not this making trade and traffic, to all the extent of man's ability, of that power and service which he pretends to hold sacred? Surely, the truth recorded on my eternal record, declareth the affirmative. 10. But as different from this, as light is from darkness, did these three chosen, true and faithful witnesses, declare the order of con- fessing sins. They testified that none had power to forgive sins but God, [and Jesus Christ, manifested through that medium which he established;] and that every soul must stand in a true state of justi- fication, by honestly confessing their own sins, in the presence of God's witnesses, before they were, in any way, commissioned to stand as witnesses for other souls ; 11. And that it was the duty of all those who stood as witnesses for the confessions of other souls, to pray earnestly to Me their God, that I would hear the honest souls, and bless them with strength and power, to withstand the temptations of evil in future. 12. And furthermore, did my three witnesses testify, saith the Lord, that no one was called as a witness, to hear the confession of sins, now, in Christ's second coming, from such souls as had com- mitted capital crimes, for which the civil laws of man must deal with them. 13. None were to hear any such confessions, until after the civil authority had passed judgment upon them; and at all times, wit- nesses were to consider confessions made in the fear of God, of the most sacred, solemn and delicate nature; and rather than be compelled to divulge that which a soul had honestly confessed to them, in my holy fear, they had better sacrifice their lives. 14. For none had any right to hear such confessions, as laid them open to the civil powers of man to make enquiries, and demand answers, by reason of the liability of the person who had con- fessed to them. I. John, V. 6. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, be- cause the Spirit is truth. 9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. Ill greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. Jolin, iii. 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Sec. 15. It may truly be said of the Daughter of Zion, (That is, Mother Ann Lee,) that she represented the spirit; for in her, the spirit of Christ appeared, with a full and complete salvation, for such as were willing to sacrifice all to obtain it. 16. In her was displayed my sacred and saving power, to search the hearts, and penetrate into the souls of such as came before her, to much the greatest extent of any human being ever before sent forth, save the Lord Jesus Christ, whom I sent on earth, saith the Lord, to begin the foundation of this kingdom, which is now completed, through and by the Daughter; and upon which the building is now arising, forever more to stand ; against which, the powers of earth and hell shall never more prevail. CHAPTER XVllI. SUBJECT CONTINUED OF THE SECOND WITNESS. 1. Of what he represented, &c. 2. Of suffering for souls in eternity. 3. Of suffering for souls on earth. 4. Of gifts bestowed, &c. 5. None redeemed, only through suffer- ings. Of passing through the fiery furnace. 8; None can come to God, or find peace, 10. 11. until they have confessed their sins. The subsequent duty of souls who confess sins. The second witness, Em example of true sufferings. The effect of sufferings for righteous- ness' sake. 1. The second witness, whose name is recorded on my eternal record. Father William Lee, was truly "A man of sorrow, and acquainted with grief;" who bore and suffered in tribulation, for the increase of the gospel on earth, to the laying down of his nat- ural life ; which truly represents the blood, for he ended his days under sufferings, for the good of souls, as a bleeding martyr. 112 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK 2. Often did I puffer, saith the Lord, to fall upon him, while upon ea,rth, a state of sufferings for souls in eternity, who were in their sins, and could not be released in any other way, only through the medium of that gospel which was now revealed, through the Mother, to mortals on earth. 3. And the state of those that were bound in their sins on earth, was often suffered to fall upon him, that through his cries and in- tercessions, under the severest of sufferings, the way might be opened for them to be loosed from the bands of death, by which they were holden, and enter into the gospel field. 4. And upon this same witness, did I, the God of Heaven, bestow that power of spirit against which no wicked opposers could stand, when in my wisdom, he was suffered to exercise it. 5. Be it known to all people, saith the Lord, that no souls can ever be again redeemed unto Me, only through sufferings and deep tribulation of spirit. They have fallen so far below the moral order of nature, and from that state of innocency in which I first created them, that they must, before they can again be redeemed unto Me, pass through the fiery furnace of the gospel, by confess- ing every known sin. 6. And [having done this, they must] travel in godly sorrow and true repentance for the same, until they have conquered that nature, and their souls are washed from the stains thereof, and have again become pure and innocent as when I first created them, saith the Lord. 7. And this second witness, not only suffered to the cleansing of his own soul ; but he suffered for thousands of other souls, both in time and in eternity, that the door of this one sin-destroying, soul-saving gospel, might be opened unto them. 8. Be ye not deceived, O ye inhabitants of earth ! No soul can ever come to Me, or enter my peaceable kingdom of rest, or find the acceptance of my Holy Spirit, in peace and in purity, either in time or in the eternal world, till they have honestly confessed their sins, one by one, to such of my witnesses as are appointed for that sacred duty. 9. After which they must labor, and travel in tribulation of soul, until they are redeemed from that nature which caused them to sin; and this is a journey that the soul has to perform, before it can enter into that joy and felicity which is promised the truly right- TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 113 ecus, or stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, clothed in white, as was seen in vision by my servant John. 10. An example of true sufferings in spirit, this my faithful witness and servant William, did truly set, by night and by day. 11. But remember, O ye people, my spirit of strength and con- solation never forsakes a soul, while truly suffering for the gospel's; sake, either for their own purification, or that of others; but I will, in the midst of these sufferings, cause their souls to break forth at times, with joy and thanksgiving, that they are accounted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake and the gospel. 12. But remember, all have this travel to perform, as really as a man, when in a natural body, starting on a journey, has it to per- form, step by step. Just so [must be] the travel of the soul. €HAPTER XIX. SUBJECT CONTINUED THE THIRD WITNESS. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 17. 18. 19. The third Witness declared. Of his tuition in childhood and youth. His peculiar gift. His character. The Witnesses faithfully accomplish- ed their work, &c. Of the anointing of successors. Of the government of the church. The consequence, should any prove untrue to tlieir trust. Of King David's anointing. The gospe! superior to the law. God's chosen people never left with- oat a lead, only as a scourge for diso- bedience. Of man's strife against good. The lives of first witnesses sought. Of Christ's sufferings and death. Of the sufferings of the tfiree first wit- nesses. Witnesses in mansions of rest. Perse- cutors in the depths of hell. 20. The expressions of their souls. 25. The Lord's reply. 27. Mankind will not hearken. 28. The manner in which the latter day of giory is ushered in. 29. Must God always work miracles, in order to convince mankind ? 30. The power of working miracles, stilf in the church of Christ. 31. Of the eternal power and operation of the work of God, 32. Of the working of miracles. 34. The power, strength and substance of the spirit of Christ, retained in Zion, 35. Of the opening of the Heavens. 36. Of the state of Zion. 37. Three leading principles. 39. A woe upon the unrighteous in Zion. 40. Of God's equity and justice. 41. Who can win the prize. 1. The third witness, who was a proclaiming and watering witness, o 114 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK and whose name, saith the Lord, is recorded on my eternal record, Father James Whittaker. 2. This witness, by the over-ruling hand of my providence, was, at an early age of his childhood, placed under the special charge of Mother Ann, who brought him up in the path of true godliness and purity; by which means he was protected from all those soul dark- ening and sinful indulgences of self gratification, which naost chil- dren are suffered, at a very early age, to run into. 3. Therefore he grew up without defilement, and became an able help and supporter, in the ministration of his blessed Mother. I bestowed on him a peculiar gift, to water and nourish that which his blessed Mother had planted. 4. H5s whole demeanor was mild, placid and gentle, yet solemn and soul gathering ; and by this means, he would water, nourish and strengthen all ; and many times cause the weak and drooping plants, that were about to wither before the rays of the scorching' sun, to be invigorated with new life and courage to press on their journey with zeal and fortitude. 5. And because of the purity of that life which he lived, from his childhood up, saith the Lord, I did cause the most beautiful gospel graces to shine forth in his spirit. And in proclaiming the testimony of Christ's second appearing, and the way that leadeth to life eternal, to the surrounding multitude, even his wicked per- secutors, would acknowledge the goodness of his spirit. 6. Yety under sufferings was he patient, and in the hours of his r-ejoicing, I clothed his spirit with feelings divinely sublime and lovely, [and with] a portion of that mantle with which I had clothed the Daughter of Zion from head to foot ; and [in which] her spirit was inwrapped, as was measurably Father William's also. 7. And all these, my three first witnesses, who were called first, to open the door through sufferings, that Christ might appear the second time without sin unto salvation, faithfully did the work which was required of them to do, by the over-ruling power of the Most High; and spread their mantles of love, strength and wisdom, as they were about to leave the world, upon all such of their children, as were determined to pursue the gospel path, even to the laying down of their natural lives, should they be called so to do. 8. And upon such as had been prepared, through deep sufferings and tribulation of spirit, to succeed them in leading and directing the sheep of my fold, or the house of Israel, [the foundation of] TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. H5 which was now established on the earth, in its completed order, did they bestow that anointing power, which I had given them for that purpose, saith the Lord. And in this way doth the order of this anointing devolve and rest [upon such as are prepared to receive it.] 9. My church, which is now established, in this day and age in which you live, is governed by an uuthority etnanating from my divine influence, and proceeding directly from my Holy Spirit, through those upon whom I have caused my holy anointing oil to rest. 10. But if any should prove themselves unworthy of this sacred calling and trust, after they had been once anointed by the unction of my Holy Spirit, I should, in my own wisdom, saith the Lord, send forth my anointing and saving power, to rest in other vessels, more worthy; as I did in the case of Saul, whom I anointed king over the children of Israel, but who departed from my statutes, by walking in disobedience to my commands. IL I did then cause my anointing power again to go forth, through the same prophet Samuel, by whom Saul was apointed, and to rest upon David, the son of Jesse, that he might be king and ruler in Israel. 12. Though the gospel dispensation, both in Christ's first and second appearance, is much superior in its order, beauty and holi- ness, to that under the law ; yet, saith the Lord, in every age of the world, I have always provided means by which the sincere and honest hearted, who desired to do my will, might be instructed m the path of their duty. 13. And whenever my chosen people, in former dispensations, were left without a true and faithful lead, according toHhe day in which they lived, it was because of their disobedience and rebellion to that which I had taught them ; and I suffered them to run into confusion, each doing that which seemed right in his own eyes, and, by this means, break to pieces. Where this has been suffeted, it has been as a scourge, to punish them for their own wickedness, saith the Lord. 14. But as frail and mortal man hath never ceased to pervert the way of the Lord, when it was in his power so to do, both by the means of a lying and slanderous tongue, and by inflicting with his hands, cruel and violent acts of persecution upon the bidies of those who sought to obey Me, rather than man, both in Christ's first and second appearing; so that wicked nature will 116 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK continue to operate, in the hearts that are hardened in sin and beastly abominations, until my heavy and desolating hand of judg- jnents shall fall on them for the same. 15. But I suffered not the lives of any of my first witnesses to Retaken by the hands of persecutors, though that of Mother Ann's, ■was in a most determined manner sought, time after time; yet I, the \God of Heaven, did defeat their plans. I sent my holy Angels to guard and protect her, and those who followed her in truth. 16. As these were my three first witnesses, through which I caused the spirit and likeness of my bless6d Son, the second time >to appear, without sin unto salvation; the heaviest tribulation and sufferings of soul that ever fell upon any, possessing earthly taber- nacles, save that of the Lord Jesus Christ himself, fell upon them. 17. But in Christ's first appearing, I suffered, when his work was done, Ahe life of his animal body, and that of many of his ifoliowers, to be taken by wicked persecutors; as this was the begin- ning of the true gospel dispensation, and a perfect example of sufferings, in both body and mind, was required, even to the laying down of their natural lives, should the wickedness of man rage to that extent. 18. But in the finishing and completing of that order, or gospel dispensation, I suffered none of my first witnesses' lives to be taken in that way. But for years were they inhumanly persecuted at times, both by night and by day ; and in the midst of their most severe sufferings, from the hands of the wicked, my holy Angels have often beheld them kneeling, and praying unto Me, that I would forgive them, for they knew not the wickedness they were doing. 19. -But these, my witnesses, are now in ihe eternal mansions of my rest, my glory and my delight, which I had prepared for them, and for those who had suffered before like unto them ; while those who hunted them from place to place, for the purpose of gratifying their own wicked and malicious spirits, are banished from my presence, sunk in the depths of hell, in anguish and horror, drink- ing the bitter cup, filled to overflowing, which they labored, [while on earth,] to make my faithful witnesses drink. 20. Their cries and groans, their shrieks and lamentations, pierco the glooniy prisons of hell, beseeching Me, the God of mercies, to con- descend, once more to warn their fellow creatures on the earth, not to pursue the steps they have trod ; not to lift their hands, nor their hearts, to fight against that of which they know not ; but wait, and TO THE NATIONS OP THE EARTH. 117 the work of the Lord will prove itself; and the work of man will also prove itself. 21. O merciful God, in thy everlasting kindness, warn them ! O Holy Creator of all things, O warn them ! warn them ! lest they also pursue that course of persecuting thy righteous saints on earth, and thereby fall into this awful place of torment where we are bound in the flames of hell, suffering the just reward of our works. 22. O Eternal Father of all mercies! if we may be suffered, in the flames of hell, to breathe forth supplications unto thee, in the midst of our unspeakable torment, suffer, O suffer thy word of warning to reach the ears of our brethren on earth, who will be liable to pursue the same course that we did. 23. But could we, O could we have heard but one word of warn- ing, direct from thy eternal and hallowed lips, we surely should have hearkened, O righteous God ! We know that our sufferings are just, for fighting against thee, through those whom -thou didst send upon the earth to open a door of salvation, in thy everlasting kindness, to poor lost souls. 24. We indeed, justly suffer the punishment thou hast inflicted upon our souls. While those whom we distressed on earth, are comforted in thy presence, we are banished far from thee, to suffer the just reward of our doings. 25. But understand my words, saith the God of Heaven ; Those who wilt not hearken unto those whom I have sent on earth, to warn the inhabitants thereof of the certain destruction they will bring upon themselves, by pursuing the paths of their forefathers, would not hearken and believe, though I should cause one to rise out of the grave, and go and declare my word unto them. 26. And should I cause it to roll upon the earth, like peals of thunder, yet would it quickly be forgotten : for a moment, it would strike consternation and terror, upon mortal man ; but how soon would my solemn lessons of warning be disregarded, and the ways of wickedness again be resorted to ! 27. And, as your Lord and Savior said, in his parable to the Jews, respecting the rich man and Lazarus, so do I, your God and Creator, say unto you ; If you will not hearken to my word in past dispensations, nor in the present, sent unto you through means of my own choosing, neither would you hearken, if I should send it through means that you yourselves might choose. 118 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK 28. Understand, O ye people ; I have not ushered in this latter day of my glory, with great signs and wonders, working of miracles, by raising the dead from their graves, as was suffered in Christ's first appearing. You have the records of what I then suffered to be done ; and if ye believe in the sacred volume, then ye must believe the things therein recorded, respecting the Christ, and those who followed him. 29. But must I always be compelled, saith the Lord, to call the natural body, resting in the grave, again into life; or command fire to come down from Heaven in the sight of men, and destroy my enemies, before man will be convinced that there is a God, who ruleth at his will ; after all that I have caused for thousands of years, by my Almighty Hand, to take place upon the earth 1 30. Not so, saith the Creator of all things. Though I vested supernatural power in Mother Ann, to work miracles, and that power is still retained in my holy Church; yet, I suffer it not to be applied, in a natural point of view, to the external sight of men, only at my command ; whether it be much or little. 31. My work in this dispensation, saith the Lord, as effecting the work of salvation in the hearts of the children of men, is far greater and more powerful, than any that has ever preceded it; yet, to ex- ternal appearances, it is not so great ; therefore, I warn souls to be the more careful how they treat it. 32. I often suffered the power of working miracles to he made use of by my first witnesses, as they were but few in number, and the work was new and strange to all people ; for Christ, in truth, had become a great stranger on the earth ; and moreover, there was no body or church then established, only what consisted in these few first witnesses. 33. And the opposition of an unbelieving world was so great, that I suffered, in many instances, miraculous power to be displayed in a natural point of view, from the Q,ueen of Zion and those with her, insomuch that the unbelieving world acknowledged, they knew there must be a supernatural agency attending them. 34. But now, saith the Lord, my povver, strength and substance for the protection of souls, are concentrated in my Church, or Zion, which has been tried or proved on earth for more than sixty years. But this spiritual and divine power, has never, from the beginning, ceased entirely to show itself to the external view ; yet I have suf- fered her to feel great leanness, and much tribulation, so that at TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 119 times, she almost felt as though she was forsaken of her God: and this I have done, to try and to prove her, and those vi^ho dwelt within her walls. 35. But for some years past, I have again widely opened the Heavens to her assistance, and showered down upon her, in bound- , less measures, that which it pleased Me to bestow; that she might be cleansed, as with refiner's fire, and whitened, as with fuller^'s soap. And of the cup of my blessing hath she received, as well as the rod of my chastening. 36. I found the ancients of the people, true to the cause"; but of other classes, there were many, who had become lukewarm, and indifferent in their zeal and feelings, respecting the true first prin- ciples upon which Zion is built, never more to be overthrown. 37. And these are her first principles : True self denial and obedience, with a total seclusion from the popular sense, forms and fashio'ns of the children of this world. And upon these principles she will always stand, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against her. 38. And such as will not keep these principles, I will surely cut off from my people, and cast into outer darkness without the city. For nothing that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, shall remain at ease in her, saith the Lord her God. 39. But wo unto them who stand in her gates^ whose names are not written in the book of life. No name can be entered upon my holy book of life, saith the Lord, but the honest hearted and sincere seeker after righteousness. And ,all such are written therein, never more to be erased while pursuing this path : such, do make their own calling and election sure. 40. I am not a God of partiality, towards the creatures of my creation, consigning some to eternal misery, and others to eternal happiness ; this would be the height of injustice, and inequality. But let him that will, come and partake freely. All have immortal souls,, and all have a right to salvation, upon equal terms. 41. They that will pay the price, shall win the prize; and no others can. They that will give up all, and lay down their own lives, shall take them up unto life eternal, saith He who gave immortality. 120 CHAPTER XX. PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE REFERRING TO THE RESURRECTION. ■2. 7. Sudden change of the soul from time into eternity. The soul not again reinstated in the mortal body. Such as look for a natural resurrection, cited to past events. Of the reinstatement of the soul into the natural body. 9. Natural bodies caused quickly to dis- appear. 12. The only resurrection, that of the souT. 13. True resurrection, from darkness to" light. Sec. 1. I here require, saith the Holy Angel, such passages of the sacred writings, or some few of the most prominent ones, as refer to the resurrection, to be here transcribed entire. I. Corinthians, xv. 20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. 21. For since by man came death, by man came also the res- urrection of the dead. 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23. But every man in his own order : Christ the first-fruits ; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even'the Father ; when he shall have put down, all rule, and all authority, and power. 25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 39. All flesh is not the same flesh ; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes,, and another of birds. 40. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial : but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glor'y of the terrestrial! is another. 41. There is one glory of the sun,, and another glory of the' TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 121 moon, and another glory of the stars ; for one star difFereth from another star in glory. 42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption : 43. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory : it is sown in Weakness, it is raised in power : 44. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a Jiving soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46. Howbeit, that was not first which is spiritual, bat that which is natural; and afterward that which is spirituah 47. The first man is of the earth, earthy : the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy : and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Sec. 2. Understand, all ye people, saith the Lord, all beings created with immortal souls, must meet with a sudden change, and this sud- den change spoken of in Holy Writ, is passing from time into eternity. 3. And when this change, or separation between the soul and body is effected, the animal or earthly part, returns to earth and dust again ; and the soul, or immortal part, returns to Me, the God who gave it, there to receive its just and due reward. 4. And thus, saith the Lord, is effected an eternal separation between the two, the mortal and immortal parts, as it respects the soul ever again being reinstated in its former house, or tenement of clay. 5. Hear ye my words, and understand, all ye people ; The many passages, contained in the sacred record of my word, from whence you derive the apprehension, or idea of a resurrection of the nat- ural body, were not intended to be understood in a literal, or natural sense, as you construe them. 6. And as evidence of the truth, that all such as look for a natural resurrection, will forever look in vain for the fulfillment thereof, I advise them to look back, and consider. What do all 122 SACKED ROLL AND BOOK the events that have taken place, from the creation of the world to the present day, prove, respecting the final dissolution of the animal or natural body, and the final separation of the soul therefrom 1 7. Have those who died in early ages, been again reinstated in a natural body? By no means, saith the Lord; though in some few instances, through the cries and intercessions of my faithful servants, I have caused the soul, for a short season, again to return into its former house, or tenement of clay, after I had called it therefrom. 8. And this I did sufFer,that the hardened hearts of the unbeliev- ing children of men, might be convinced of my Almighty power, as operating through those that I had sent forth on earth, to bear testi- mony against the sins of the world, and open a way that man might be saved therefrom. 9. And again, I have in some instances, saith the Lord, with my Alrnighty power, caused the animal, or natural bodies of some few individuals, quickly to disappear and vanish from the knowledge of all mortal beings ; and this I have done, that the lifeless lump of elay, resting in its grave, should not become an object of idolatry unto the living. 10. For in those ages of the world in which I have done these things, the blindness and darkness of man were so great, that he would much sooner have worshiped the animal or natural part, that was consigned to its mother earth, than he would have worshiped or obeyed the spirit that I had sent forth to dwell in this body, while possessing the breath of life, and moving in its duty, according to my divine commands. 11. Therefore did I cause that part which would have become a snare unto him, to be removed ; for I have commanded all people, from the foundation of the world to the present day, to worship no God but Me, the one true and living God. 12. And I do now testify unto all the inhabitants of earth, that the only resurrection that will ever take place, either on earth or in eternity, is that of the sout, not of the natural body. The soul, or spiritual body, is complete within itself, and needeth not the aid of that which is natural, to complete its order. 13. And they that rise in. the resurrection of the life and power of Christ, must rise from darkness into light, or from a state of sin and death, into a state of purity and holiness, without which, no one shall see the Lord, or meet their God in peace. 14. This is the true resarrection of the soul, or spiritual body. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 123 into that element of eternal life which is promised the faithful, who forsake all for Christ's sake and the gospel. 15. And such as take the steps that I do require, saith the Lord, to rise and come out from under the bondage of darkness, of sin and death, and enter into a state of life and light eternal, do rise in the only true resurrection of peace and happiness to the soul, that ever was, is, or ever will be, saith the Lord. 16. And whether they be in time, or in ete;rnity, it altereth not the path they must pursue, in order to rise in this resurrection, as is clearly shown in this roll ; and there can be no other resurrection, save the resurrection of damnation to the soul, spoken of in Holy Writ; and so do I, your Lord and God, testify it, in this your day. 17. And all who fear Me, and keep my commandments, though they remain in nature's darkness, yet, by so doing, they begin to rise from a state of disobedience, and come into the path of true obedience, which will, in the final event, if followed, whether in time or in eternity, surely lead them into that resurrection of eternal life, here spoken of, and to which my servant Paul alluded while upon earth. 18. Though the fullness and completed order of my kingdom, (the foundation of which was then begun on earth,) was not then made known to the children of men, saith the Lord ; it is now revealed, in this your day, without sin unto everlasting salvation. 124 CHAPTER XXI. OF GOD'S COMING TO VISIT THE EARTH IN MERCY AND IN JUDGMENT. 17. 19. 20. 22. God come to visit the earth. The manner of his coming. Mankind questioned, relative to re- ceiving the word of God. The great reward of those who spend their days on earth devoted to God's will. State of sinners in time. Their state at the close of life. Of their punishment in eternity. Ministering spirits sent forth to offer such souls the gospel. 23. 24. 28. 30. Of beginning the soul's travel in eter- nity under adverse circumstances. Easier for souls to destroy their evil natures while in time, than in eter- nity 5 and more glorious will they be. Of those who turn back. The object for which this roll was sent forth. Not the invention of mortals. How it was sent forth. The state of those who refuse to do the will of God. 1. Hearken, O ye people, and understand, all ye nations of the earth. I AM, before Me none were, and after Me, none can exist. 2. The God, before whose bar of judgment ye must all shortly appear, hath now, in this last age of the world, condescended, in his eternal goodness, to stoop from the throne of his Almighty power on high, and come down to warn the inhabitants of earth* With thousands of holy Angels upon his right and upon his left, doth he approach the habitations of man. And how doth he come? crieth a mighty Angel that goeth before him, that the people may hear. 3. With a balance of true justice in his right hand, and a sword of his judgment in his left; and on his right, doth a holy Angel bear the sceptre of his mercy, and on his left, a mighty Angel of power doth bear the besom of destruction. 4 Yet, saith the Lord, I send forth unto you my solemn warnings in a still small voice, in language plain, simple and familiar, that a child may understand. Will you hearken any the less on that account ? 5. Would you be more ready to receive it, were the earth rocking under your feet, and opening her mouth ready to swallow you down? 6. Would you be more ready to receive it, should I, without giving you the offer of repentance, send rrpestilence through your land, that should sweep three fourths of its inhabitants therefrom? TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 125 Would you be more ready to receive it, should I cause a dearth throughout the earth, and destroy both man and beast thereon? 7. Or would you be more ready to receive it, should I, in ray wrath, take from the earth what little peace there is thereon, and suffer the sword to be unsheathed, through every nation and kingdom? 8. Or will you, in mercy, receive it at my hand, before my awful judgments roll on you? My times are not man's time, remember; but the time of times shall not pass in vain over this earth, or those who dwell upon it. 9. But I will now show unto you, the rewards of those who sincerely spend their lives to Me, while in time, such as enter under the law of grace, and walk uprightly therein to the end of their days. 10. When once a soul has heard the sound of the everlasting and true gospel, ( remember there is but one true gospel,) they no longer can be considered in a state of ignorance ; but they must either harden their hearts to disbelieve and reject it, or else they must follow the best light in their own souls in obeying it. 11. But let it forever be remembered, by all the human race, that they who go through time and commit the least sin, are always the most bright and glorious in the eternal world, and come the nearest to God, their Creator; for every sinful act makes a stain, and deep impression of guilt upon the soul, which can never be eradicated, but through confession and true repentance. 12. And none have found any way or power, by which they can keep from sinning, only such as have, in full purpose of heart, embraced the one only true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, in his first, and in his second appearing, which, if lived up to, completes the work of redemption in the soul. 13. Such as embrace this gospel in their childhood, and by that means, learn to love the way of purity in the days of their inno- cence, and continue faithfully to bear the blessed cross of Christ, to the end of their days, offer unto Me, their God and Creator, the first fruits of their lives. 14. And such souls are prepared, at any time, to enter eternity, and stand before my holy bar of judgment, justified by their God ; and there is no power that can condemn them ; and in this state, they are prepared immediately to enter a travel in eternity, progressing from one degree of glory to another, continually rejoicing in that God of their salvation who called them while upon earth, before they had 126 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK sunk their souls in sin and wickedness, and become hardened against God, their Creator. 15. Such are crowned with eternal crowns of glory, having palms placed in their hands ; and such are made kings and priests unto Me, for they are worthy. They lived in a sinful world, but they defiled not themselves with her sins, that they might not partake of her plagues. 16. And now, they are prepared to stand in truth with the Lamb on Mount Zion; therefore I will clothe them in white, and gird on them the breastrplate of righteousness, for they have no need to taste the second death. 17. But such as pass a long life in every kind of wicked and sin- ful indulgence, to which their natures are prone, often feel a stroke of reproof from the monitions of conscience, while passing through time, which awakens in their souls, at times, solemn feelings of reflection and sorrow, for the time that is past and gone, which they have spent in wickedness, against the laws of their Maker. And in this state, many form strong resolutions of mind, that they will mend their lives ; but when temptations again appear, their resolutions are gone, and so they again become an easy prey to nature's vilest passions. 18. And, as they approach the close of life, they feel an awful horror and condemnation, thrilling through their souls ; a dread of death, judgment and eternity now stares them in the face. 19. They know they are unprepared to meet their God, for they have gone far aside, from doing the best they knew ; they now try to pacify their own feelings, by that doctrine which they have so often heard advanced, while passing through life; That if they will, before they breathe their last, only confess themselves to be sinners, by calling on my name ; by the merits of Christ, the Savior, all their sins shall be pardoned. 20. But how awfully mistaken on this point, do they find them- selves, when they enter eternity ! Though many times, my Holy Spir- it, saith the Lord, suffereth such souls to wander, and grope in dark- ness, for hundreds of years, before they are called to judgment; yet no enjoyment do they find; but are similar, in situation, to a man lost in a dense wilderness, among wild beasts. And when their time comes to be called to judgment, they find, that upon my eternal record every deed of their lives is recorded ; the good upon the right, and the bad upon the left. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 127 21. And these are weighed in the balance of my eternal justice, which finds them greatly wanting ; and their doom is sealed in the flames of hell, with the devil and his angels, till they have paid the utmost farthing, by suffering the demands of justice. 22. I now send forth ministering spirits, to offer them this self same gospel which is offered unto you, O ye children of men. They thankfully embrace the least offer of mercy which I now show unto them ; and they now have to begin, exactly in the same way that they would, had they begun in their childhood, or in any period of their lives while on earth, to embrace this gospel of Christ's second coming, without sin unto salvation. 23. After losing their time on earth, as to gaining any treasure for their souls, and all this time in eternity, enduring all the heart- rending sufferings they have had to pass through, as their due and just reward, they now have to begin, and travel out of the nature of that loss, with all its increased strength, which is added many fold by indulgence, just the same as they would have had to do, had they begun in the early part of their lives. If they had done this, they would have saved all the time lost in eternity, and their souls from the deep impressions of guilt, darkness and disgrace, and of a sin- stained life, saith the Lord ; and been preserved from all the suffer- ings therewith connected. 24. And be it known unto all people, that it is much easier for them to find a fruitful travel in this world, by yielding obedience to the cross of Christ, while they have strength and activity, of both soul and body, than it is for them to find it in eternity ; for there they must pass from prison to prison, from one degree of suf- ferings to another, seeking the mercy of God. 25. And for those who have once tasted the true gospel of Christ, and the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to come, and then turn back to serve their own corrupt natures, it would have been better for them never to have been born ; for such cru- cify unto themselves the son of God afresh. 26. But such as do not feel themselves called upon by the awak- ening flames of conviction, in their own consciences, to obey the law of gospel purity, must return to the moral law of nature, saith the Lord, or they cannot escape the heavy hand of my awful judgments. 27. I have not sent forth this roll of solemn truth and warning, to threaten, or terrify the inhabitants of earth ; neither have I sent 128 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK it forth for naught, or to be disregarded, trampled upon, and treated with scorn and contempt by any, either Monarchs, Kings or Princes; but those of you who believe it not, let it alone, and both time and eternity will convince you, from what source it was sent forth. 28. You shall be fully convinced, in the event, that it is not the invention of the people called Shakers, whose religion is so uni- versally despised throughout the earth, nor the invention of man or of woman ; but in obedience to my imperative command, and that alone, was it sent forth unto you. 29. For the [inspired] mortal instrument, whose hand I required to pen the words of this ro-U and book, to the inhabitants of the earth, would sooner have laid down his life, than been compelled to draft what the Angel read, for mortal eyes to view, could he have been accepted of Me, his God and Creator, in so doing. 30. But mortals are but worms of the dust; and whosoever shall refuse to do my will, (when I make it known plainly before them,, with indisputable evidence,) are banished from my presence, to suf- fer in torment and anguish of soul. 31. But if they trust in Me, and obey my voice,, let the inhabi- tants of the earth to whom these warnings are sent, do as they may^ they clear their own souls^ saith the Lord. 129 CHAPTER XXII. PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE RELATIVE TO THE PEACE- ABLE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 10. 11. 12. Mankind cited to the scriptures. The Lord questioneth the inhabitants of earth. Of the law of the house of God, and of man's qualifications of the same. Of a cloak for sinners, by wrong ap- plication of scriptures. Of living without sin, and becoming perfect. Christians questioned in regard to the cross of Christ. Of a day of justice. No indulgences of a half way cross in Christ's second coming. No indulgences ever granted, only for 27. weakness' sake. Of looking back to Egypt. Of overlooking the kingdom of Christ. Of the establishing of Christ's king- dom. Who can abide in it. Of eloping from an evil nature at once. Victory gained step by step. Comfort administered to those who travel in godly sorrow. Well of the water of life. Christ's 3'oke easy to the honest heart- ed. Judgment to fall on those who hinder souls from entering the straight gate. Sec. 1. And now look, O ye children of men, and consider those passages, recorded in the sacred volume, which I caused from the mouths of the Prophets to be delivered, in this same line of inspira- tion that I now send forth this word unto you, which are hereafter inserted; clearly illustrating the glory of Christ's kingdom that should be established in the latter day. To this very day in which you now live, a portion of them refer, and ye know it not. Psalms, xlvi. 9. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth ; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder ; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Chap. Ixxii. 16. There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains ; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon : and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17. His name shall endure forever: his name shall be con- tinued as long as the sun : and men shall be blessed in him : all nations shall call him blessed. 19. And blessed he his glorious name forever : and let the whole earth be filled with his glory ; Amen, and amen. ■m- 130 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK Isaiah, iv. 2. In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beau- tiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. Chap. ix. 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given : and the government shall be upon his shoulder : and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Chap. xi. 1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots : 2. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of vv^isdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord ; 3. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord : and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears : 4. But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth : and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faith- fulness the girdle of his reins. 6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain : for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. 10. And ia that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand- for an ensign of the people ; to it shall the Gentiles seek : and his rest shall be glorious. 12. 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. Chap, xxvii. 5. Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me.- 6. He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root : Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. Chap, xxxii. 1. Behold, a King sltall feign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. TO THE Nations of the earth. 131 17. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. 18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places. Chap. xxvi. 20. Coifle, my people, enter thou into thy cham- bers, and shut thy doors about thee : hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21. For behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity : the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Chap, xxvii. 2. In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. 3. I the Lord do keep it ; I will water it every moment : lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Chap. XXXV. 1, The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them ; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice, even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excel- lency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. 5. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 8. And a higliway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness ; the unclean shall not pass over it ; but it shall be for those: the way-faring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there ; but the redeemed shall walk there : 10. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Chap. xlii. 9. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare : before they spring forth I tell you of them. Chap. lii. 1. Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city : for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. 132 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK 7. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good-tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth ! 8. Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing : for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. 9. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jeru- salem : for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. Isaiah, Iv. 1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3. Incline your ear, and come unto me : hear, and your soul shall live ; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David, 4. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near : 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him ; and to our God, for he vi'ill abundantly pardon, 8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Chap. Ivii. 14. Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people. 15. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eter- nity, whose name is Holy ; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 133 the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the con- trite ones. 19. I create the fruit of the lips ; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to hiin that is near, saith the Lord ; and I will heal him. 20. But the vi'icked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Sec. 2. Thus saith the Lord, O ye people, answer me this question ; What is it that constitutes a wicked man? Is it not in transgressing the laws and commandments of his Creator God? And again; Is there any such kind of wickedness as popular and fashionable wicked- edness, that which the common usages and customs of man have sanctioned ? Is it in the power of man, by his habits and customs, to alter the nature of that which I have pronounced wicked, and have forbidden ? 3. Is it in the power of mortals to change truth into falsehood, or falsehood into truth, in the final result? 4. Can the laws and commandments of an Almighty God be made null and void, by the traditions of men ? 5. Or must every thing remain, as his Almighty power hath or- dained it, having this seal, " Let God be true, and every man a liar," who perverteth his holy laws, when once mad© known to him? Isaiah, Ix. 1. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people : but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see : all they gather themselves together, they come to thee : thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at th^/ side. 15. Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 18. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Sal- vation, and thy gates Praise, 21. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit 134 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK the land forever, the branch of my planting, the Work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation : I the Lord will hasten it in his time. Chap. Ixv. 17. For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth : and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. Chap. Ixvi. 5. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word ; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said. Let the Lord be glorified : but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. 13. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 15. For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh : and the slain of the Lord shall be many. 22. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. Zecliariali, x. 10. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon ; and p/acc shall not be found for them. Chap. xiv. 20. In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD ; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts : and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein : and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts. EzeJciel, xliii. 12. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. Sec. 6. Consider, all ye people, the law of my house saith God. Is it not, that all shall be holy ? Have I ever, at any age of the world, applied qualifications to my law, so that mankind could apply it, in any state or situation of life that they chose, even fi"om TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 135 him who possessed the most upright and blameless character, to him who had abandoned all rule or law, but that of his own cor- rupt nature, so that the transgressor could justify himself, as well as the upright, and pretendingly derive his authority from what he called the word of God? 7. How oft are the two following short passages made use of to justify known transgressions. There is no man that sinneth not. [See I. Kings, viii. 46.] There is none that doeth good, no, not one. [See Psalms, xiv. 3.] 8. But thus saith the Lord unto you, He that committeth sin after having knowledge of what is sin, is of the devil, not of God, nor of his Christ. My beloved Son taught his followers to be perfect, even as their Father in Heaven is perfect. And the Apostle Paul said, "Except Christ be in you, ye are reprobates." Can the spirit of Christ be in those who know they almost daily transgress that which he and his beloved followers taught, and laid down as rules indispensable for every one who wished, or expected to be saved, or made heir to eternal life, by that gospel which they preached 1 9. Although the order of his kingdom was not then completed, as he plainly showed, and his followers after him showed the same; yet do I ask, saith the Lord, all professed Christendom, whether they truly think and believe, within their own hearts, that they bear that cross which Christ and his disciples required every professing christian to bear, saying nought of the increase of his requirements in [this] his second coming 1 10. But, as I have before told you, the day draweth nigh, when every thing shall bear its just weight. Truth and justice to the line, and righteousness to the plummet. 11. The completed order of my kingdom, now, in the second appearance of Christ, is comprehended in few words ; it is. Without sin unto salvation, in every sense of the word. That is, there are no indulgences granted, nor permission given, for any to take up a half way cross, by keeping from indulging their natures of passion and lust, as much as they conveniently can, yet not think they must bear a full cross. 12. In the first appearing of Christ, such a toleration was per- mitted, by some of his followers, for weakness' sake; but in his second coming, nothing of that kind can exist. 13. And in this day, no one, having put his hand to the gospel plough and looking back into Egypt, hankering after the leeks and 136 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK ^49l^li^J:; onions thereof, (or his carnal gratifications,) is fit for the kingdom. But they that lay hold with full purpose of heart, by honestly con- fessing their sins, one by one, and press on with zeal and energy of sou], do, by so doing, make their calling and election sure. 14. I have caused the last foregoing passages of scripture to be inscribed in this Roll ; for they are a few, out of many that are illustrative of the glory and beauty, and that perfect holiness which I required to rule and reign in the kingdom of Christ, which should be established in the latter day; 15. That all nations and people, may see that they are overlook- ing the kingdom of Christ; or, in other words, are as blind to its appearance, in this day of his second coming, as the Jews were in his first. 16. For I do novv, in my own time and season, saith the God of Heaven, proclaim to all people, that the Kingdom so abundantly spoken of by the Prophets, which should be set up in the lat- ter days, is, by my Almighty hand, now established upon the earth; and that no other kingdom, to the end of time, will ever be estab- lished by Me. 17. And this I have established, by the second appearance of the spirit of my blessed Son, through a chosen female, or the Daughter of Zion ; and the names of my three first witnesses I have told you, and the character of the inhabitants who are called and cho- sen to dwell in this kingdom. And none others, but those whose daily labor it is to maintain this character throughout, can long abide within its holy walls. 18. And furthermore, remember, that He who speaketh unto you^ is a just God, and requireth nothing more of his people than they are able to come to, if they will be truly obedient ; and without be- ing obedient, they never can, either in time or in eternity, answer my requirements unto them. 19. Since the whole human family have been so deeply baptized into the nature of the fall, in which nature they are born into the world, and which increases with their strength, and grows with their growth, it is not expected that any human creature can elope from, or overcome it at once. 20. Not so, but by a daily cross, faithfully borne, they will, step- by step, day by day, crucify that nature until it is dead; which [nature] is the beast, so much spoken of, after which the whcJe world have wandered. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 137 21. But such as are honest and open hearted, in exposing all their filthy works of darkness, and continue so to do, in sincerity of heart, whenever, in any way, by its influence they are overcome, they will surely destroy its life, and rise triumphant over its nature. But it is by a progressive travel, day after day and year after year, that the soul gnins a complete victory. 23. And, although they perfect their travel in tribulation and godly sorrow ; yet, if they are faithful after they have honestly con- fessed their sins, the horror and condemnation of a guilty con- science they never need to feel. 23. But in true tribulation and godly sorrow, I never fail, saith the Lord, to administer, from my eternal source of goodness, com- fort and consolation, which none can have any correct id^a of, bvit those who have taken the right steps to (i)l?tain it. 24. This is the well of water, springing up unto everlasti>ig life, which enableth manjtind to love the Lord their God, with all their souls, might, mind and strength ; and their neighbor as themselves. This fills the soul with a kind and sympathetic feeling, for the whole human family; 25. This is that which creates such true love in the soul, that one is ready to lay down his life fbr his brother; and no man hatb. greater love than this, as said my beloxed Son, when he waa on earth. 26. And upon all such as are sincere and honest hearted, Christ's yoke is easy, and his burden is light. But to those who seek to do their work by halves, it is galling and burdensome indeed; but I am delighted saith the Lord, in the free-will ctTerings of a soul, as none can be compelled to enter the gates of the Holy City : this must be an act of every one's free will and choice. 27. But when 1 cause, by whatever means I may be pleased so to do, a spirit to avv'aken the flames of conviction in souls, which leadeth them to look heavenward, and others stau^ in their way and hinder them from entering, Woe shall be unto such ; not only the judgment of their own sins shall be upon them, saith the Lord, but the sins of such as they have hindered from entering the Kinerdom. 138 CHAPTER XXllI. OF THE RULERS AND GREAT ONES OF THE EARTH; H0¥ THEIR TIME IS SPENT, AND THE LEADING MOTIVES BY WHICH THEY ARE ACTUATED. 1. Of the torments of mighty men. 32. 3. The Rulers questioned. 33. 25. Just Rulers, a blessing-. 27. Of Rulers clothing themselves in humility. 37. 28. Of dispensing justice. 40. 30. Rulers warned of an approaching day of judgment and equity. 42. 31. The world in a state of peace, had 43. it been judiciously ruled. [44. Of God's visitation to earth in mercy. Earth's cup of judgment, yet stayed in mercy. Judgments promised, if the inhabi- tants of earth refuse to hearken. . Of causes and effects. Special warning to rulers, concerning the notice of this warning. A blessing to those who hearken. The consequence of rejecting it. 1. Great and mighty men shall be mightily, tormented. Why should mighty men be mightily tormented? Have I not promised equal justice in the balance of eternal truth? Then why should mighty men be tormented more than others ? 2. Hearken ye Monarchs, and give ear O Kings, and incline your hearts to understand, O ye rulers of the people. 3. Do ye stand in the house of decision for the benefit of the people, or for the benefit of yourselves? 4. Do you spend the vv^ages of your hire in benefiting the people, or do you spend it for your own gratification, in pleasing yourselves, in wanton luxuries and carnal pleasures, vrastefulness and ex- travagance? 5. Do you ever consider that you are mortals, and must shortly lie as low before Me, your God and Creator, as the humblest peas- ant in your kingdoms ? 6. Do you consider, that naked, mortals come into the world,, and naked go they out? 7. Do ye stand in the seats of judgment, or the civil tribunals of earth, to mete out justice by weight, and equity in the balance? 8. Do ye hearken to the cries of the needy, and take the wants of the afflicted home to your hearts? TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. l39 9. Do you prolong debates, to feed your country's poor? 10. Or do ye sound forth words, in trumpets to be blown? 11. Do ye spend the rolling moments as ye would, did ye know each day was to be your last? 12. How often do you consider, and in solemn muse reflect, that soon you must appear, naked and unclothed from mortal clay, before my eternal bar of judgment, and here, on my everlasting record of true justice, are all your works portrayed ? 13. Do you decree, and statutes bind to support the schools of vice, where plans are drawn, and means sought out to spill the blood of man? 14. Do fleets by sea and troops by land, bespeak the christian life? Do armies drawn in battle array, bathing their swords in the blood of their fellow creatures, bespeak the true religion of the Son of God, whose doctrines ye so highly applaud? 15. Look ye in the sacred record of his word ; read, and under- stand what you read, saith the God of Heaven. For of one blood, did my Almighty hand create all nations, kingdoms, and all people. And all these will I convince, by my Almighty power, that the Son of God was not sent on earth for nought, either in his first, or in his second appearing. 16. Do ye administer the right of the poor, and deal justly with the afflicted ? Or do you even deign to feed them with the crumbs that you trample under your feet, which fall from your full tables, extravagantly loaded? 17. Do you tax the laborers in justice, and heap up stores of their silver and gold for yourselves? 18. Do not the rich grow richer, and the poor, poorer? 19. Is not justice bribed, the weights deceitful, and the measures scanted when going out? And are they not heavily laden, when coming in to one's private store? 20. Can you all make out such records as will compare with mine, at the shortest warning ? 21. Can you stand in judgment, and die in mercy? 22. Do you enslave the freedom of conscience, and bind the hearts of men ? 23. Do you sway the despot's sceptre, and wield the tyrant's sword? 24 Do you make use of literary knowledge, and 'science learned 140 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK of men, to defraud the ignorant and blind the eyes of the weak, who on you for justice do rely ? 25. Just and upright rulers in the kingdoms of men, are a blessing, which my Almighty hand doth bestow, that the people may be prospered thereby : but unjust, hard hearted, hasty and wicked rulers, T suffer for a scourge and a curse, to kingdoms and to nations. 26. Do you, at all times, consider the golden rule, laid down by my blessed Son when he was on earth, " Do unto others, as ye would that others should do unto you?" • 27. Do you ever lay aside, for a season, the pride and arrogancy of your spirits, and clothe your thoughts in the ignorant and hum- ble attitude of the suffering poor, and lower classes of your fellow beings, who are suffering with hunger and cold, with nought but their hands to procure the stay of life, and employment for them they cannot find'? And yet, exactions are required at their hands, by such as have thousands to spend in revelings, extravagance, and wickedness. 28. Do you, in dispensing judgment and justice to them, put yourselves, for the moment in their situation, and them in yours? Think ye that the eternal record before my throne would read as it now does, had this been practiced by the rulers, and great ones of the earth? 29. Does not this clearly account for the saying of the scriptures. That mighty men must be mightily tormented? Surely this is the reason, and so does it stand on my eternal record. In their power they are exalted above their fellow creatures, and trample the rights of the poor and needy under their feet. 30. But remember, all ye Monarchs, Kings, Rulers, and rich ones of the earth, ye must shortly appear before my eternal tribunal, as poor and destitute as the poorest. 31. Had you but exercised your power, throughout your different kingdoms [and dominions,] to put an end to wars, bloodshed and carnage, as was plainly taught by the Messiah, when I first sent him upon the earth, your kingdoms and nations would long ere this day, have been the habitations of peace, of equality and justice ; and not a suffering mortal, for the want of the needful things of life, need to have walked your streets. 32. But the God of Heaven hath stooped from his throne on TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 141 high, to bestow a crumb of his notice, in mercy, to mortals; and now doth call aloud, yet in mercy, to the nations of the earth. 33. Though my awful judgments slumber not, yet doth my Al- mighty hand, in mercy, longer stay from earth her merited reward, till she shall again hear my word in truth, as she did hear it in ages long past ; 34. And doth prove herself an object of my mercy through hum- bleness of heart, by proclaiming solemn fasts throughout her lands, and solemnly hearing and reading this, my sacred word; or of my judgment by refusing the same, though sent by my Almighty hand to her in a way not looked for by mortals. 35. And this is the way that I have worked, from the earliest ages of the world. 36. But now, in these last days, I have condescended to visit the earth with jny holy Angels, in a more accessible manner than I ever before have done; by reason that the foundation and order of my kingdom is now completed thereon. 37. But if souls refuse to hearken to my word, earth's cup of judgment is filled to running over, and this she shall surely drink, saith the God of Heaven. 38. And I do require, saith the Lord, that all nations, and in a special manner, those calling themselves civilized and christianized, cultivate the principles of peace, at home and abroad, by sea and by land. 39. Would ye be more willing to believe this, my requirement, should I bury your fleets in the bosom of the deep, and sweep your landed forces from the face of the earth by pestilential diseases ? 40. Like causes produce like effects, throughout all created things: principles of peace produce their like, and principles of war their like. War and bloodshed among the objects of my creation, are entirely contrary to every precept or example, ever taught by my blessed Son while on earth ; they have proceeded from no other source than from man's fallen nature. 41. If mankind will learn in mercy, they will not be compelled to hearken in judgment : but they must speedily learn to hearken to my voice, where they never have, or they cannot escape the awful stroke they have merited. 42. And those who stand as heads and rulers of the nations, consider well ; feel not yourselves too great and high to read this plain, but solemn warning, and consider well evefy sentence therein 142 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK contained ; for by it ye shall shortly be judged in the eternal world. And, as ye treat this warning, so shall ye, in like manner, be treated. 43. If ye humble yourselves, and counsel your people to do the same, by ceasing from violence and injustice, dealing uprightly one with another, laboring so far as is in your power, to suppress all haunts of infamy and lewdness, I will notice' you in mercy for the same : and when my judgments are rolling through your lands, you may, with confidence, pour forth your souls in prayer to Me for mercy. 44. But if you slight, disregard, or contemptuously treat this my word, and regard it not yourselves, nor counsel others so to do, in the days of your calamity you will pour out your cries to Me in vain, saith the Lord. 45. And let these, the forewarning words of kindness, sink deep in every heart ; read them in your palaces, and practice them in your courts; and keep this volume sacred, throughout your realms. 46. And again, hear my words saith your God; Whosoever shall destroy this book, out of contempt, derision or ridicule, I will blot out their names from the book of my mercy, and mete to them their portion in [the place of] eternal misery, where torments shall be their food, and the gall of bitterness their drink; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. 14^ CMAFTEm XXIV. OF MINISTERS AND PREACHERS OF A FASHIONABLE AND POPULAR GOSPEL, AND OF THE MANY WAYS MAN HAS SOUGHT OUT FOR SALVATION, BUT ALWAYS IN THE FUTURE. 1. The Lord calleih unto Ihem, and 31. questioneth them. 32. 6. Of ministers preparing their own souls. 34. 9. Where baptized. 10. Of what was learned at the literary 36. spring. 38. 15. Of preaching by rule^-fcc. 39. 16. Of industry. 43. 17. Of the register of the heart. 18. The Lord promises to notice sincerity, and integrity of heart. 47 21. Of proclaiming a gospel license for war. 48. 24. Of preaching deceptive doctrine. 50. 26. Good deeds rewarded. 28. God commandeth them to return to 51. the law of nature. 52. 29. Ministers required to proclaim the law of nature. Of coming into the law of grace. Warning to vain pretenders. Of those who turn from the law of grace. Of different denominations. But one way of life. Of man's ways. Of abhorrence to religion in conse- quence of false doctrines. A blessing to tlwse who hearken and obey moral law. Ministers and people required often to pray to God. Ministers required to keep a copy of this roll in the pulpit. The power of God to be felt. Warnings against slighting the call of God. 1. O ye Pastors of the flock, who watch in the broad way and cry at the wide gate^ hearken ; hear my words and understand my voice, saith the Lord your God, whose eye is upon every sincere heart, and from whose sight no deceitful worker can be hid. 2. The God of Israel and of Jacob, in condescending kindness,, now calleth unto you, in a way of my oion appointing, not yours. Will ye hear my word, and in breathless silence let the same sink deep into your hearts 1 Or will ye, by reason of the humble means that I have made choice of to convey it unto you, spurn at the same, before my face? I will, with mine own hand, prove you, saith the Lord. 3. For what purpose do ye stand as preachers to the people, calling aloud unto them, to enter Heaven's gate 1 144 SACRED ROLL AND BOOK 4. Is this to benefit the souls of your flock ; or to increase your numbers to be seen of men ? 5. Have you firstly prepared your own souls, for true and faithful Pastors of the flock, as the Son of God required ? 6. Have you traveled in the narrow way of a daily cross, and entered at the gate of true selfdenial? 7. Doth your daily walk declare these fruits in open view of your flock, proving you to be the true embassadors Orfl Christ ? 8. Are all your secluded and secret hours, to Me your God sincerely spent in prayer and humble supplicatioij?' 9. At what fountain was you baptized with divine and holy power-, to lead the people unto Me ? 10. Was it at the literary spring, where eloquence of words are considered the greatest [qualification ?]■ 11. Did you there receive the sacerdotal garment, to enable you to stand truly in the priesthood of a pure and holy God? 12. Or was the power of framing words, to make them answer the purpose of real truth at heart, there diff"used, and the art of dis- sembling there to perfection brought? 13. D.id you there receive my holy power, which instructed you to cleanse your souls au4 purify your hearts, by subduing the vile pas- sions of nature, which power would enable you to bring every mem- ber of your bodies into subjection to the law of Christ, or the Son of God, whose name ye have applauded so highly, and whose gos- pel is a pure, sin destroying gospel? 14. Was the pure and undefiled religion of the Lord Jesus Christ, the first object of your pursuit ? Or were the chief seats in the synagogues, and to be called of men Rabbi, Rabbi, and the greet- ings in public squares, your object ? 15. Do you sincerely believe that the Holy Son of God, or the gospel he preached requires you to make long and labored prayers to be heard of men? Or to preach studied sermons by rule, embra- cing the words of my holy Son, but not the power and substance, to save the soul from sin ? 16. Do you put your hands to work, and give your souls in prayer to God, when not immediately in discharge of duties, incumbent on what is termed your priestly office? Or do you live in pomp and splendor, regaling and indulging yourselves in luxury and extrava- gance, supported by the suffering poor ? 17. Does the register of your hearts, which contains all your TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 145 proceedings by night and by day, bear upon its face that which you are wiiiing and ready, at the shortest notice, to appear with, before my eternal tribunal of justice? and there meet the everlasting record of my truth, which altereth not, and upon whose pages my Almighty hand of eternal justice hath stamped the deeds of every soul and the thoughts of every heart; and to which place the sound of ffi,y eternal summons will shortly call you t 18. Have the leading motives of your transactions through life, been su«h as will support you at the hour of death, and justify your immortal souls, before the ba¥ of God and his holy Angels ? If not, consider well the cause, make no delay. Integrity of heart and sincerity of soul, though in a state of blinded ignorance, will I, in my mercy, notice, saith the Lord. 19.. The sincere and honest souls, though ignorant of true.gx>spel light, and of the way of salvation, will I eover with the wings of my mercy, if they will hearken when once they are warned by this, the solemn warning of their God. 20. And again ; Do ye who stand as shepherds to the flock, de- clare unto them, by precept and example, that you do yourselves possess the true gospel of Christ, which is. a gospel of peac^, suffer':- ings, and of long forbearance? 21. Or- do you proclaim unto them, that the pure and holy gos- pel admits of quarrels, contention, wars and bloodshed?? Or ever give the holy church a right to compel souls to join and acknowlr edge her supreme authority ; ox be persecuted, even unto death, as the consequences of a refusal ? 22. Who among you all, saith the God of Heaven, are willing to appear before my eternal bar of justice, with this doctrine be- tween your teeth, and haying also palmed it upon the holy Son of God? 23. Who among you all, think that by the traditions of men, you can make the commandments of God of no effect I 24. Who among you all, when you are made sensible that the doctrine you hold forth to the people, as being the doctrine of Christ and his apostles, is falsely so asserted, still continue, for popularity's sake, to cast the veil of deception and falsehood still longer over the multitude? 25. Will you not be met in judgment for so doing, by your Creator God, and there bewail the loss of such souls as have been blinded by your deception, or the deception of that doctrine which s 146 SACEED ROLL AND BOOK ye preached as the doctrine of Christ and his true followers, and by that means, spent their lives in almost every kind of sinful in- dulgence? Surely, you shall there be met by your Creator God, and in a path vi'here there is no turning. 26. But for every effort you have made, and for every act of goodness you have performed, in singleness of heart and sincerity of soul, to restrain, and bring souls to vifalk in the path of true moral virtue, that has in any way saved them from committing sin, either upon their own persons, or upon others, shall be account- ed unto you for deeds of goodness ; and a reward for the same you shall receive. 27. Many among you, stand upon my record as having acted sincerely in this office and calling, according to the best light and understanding which had been given you, for the time being, not being enlightened into the true knowledge of that life which the gospel of Christ, in reality, doth require souls to live, either in his first, or in his second appearance. - 28. But the word of the Lord your God is. Return unto the moral law of nature ; propagate your own species according to the law of nature, or cease to call on the name of your God for mercy, or upon the name of Christ, for a saving gospel. 29. And all ye who stand as priests, or teachers of the people, teach ye this commandment of your God, respecting the law of nature, which commandment has been from of old : Indulge not in sexual intercourse, further than is necessary for the purpose of begetting your own offspring : indulge not the sunken and sordid propensities of nature, for self gratification. 30. Teach your congregations to prepare, in obedience, to meet Me in judgment, that in obedience they may receive at my hand of mercy, in the day that all flesh shall become as grass that withereth, and the kingdoms of men as a shadow before Me. 31. But [let] such as feel that they are called upon, by the light of that gospel dispensation established on earth in this their day, obey that light, and keep the law of grace. 32. But let not any souls seek for a refuge in the Zion of my likeness, or, in other words, let none who do not feel [that] they are called upon by my Holy Spirit, to forsake all for the gospel's sake, seek to enter into that completed order of my new Heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, now set up, no more to be overthrown. TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. 147 33. Souls had better remain under the law of a carnal command- ment, or in the works of natural generation, if they will but keep that law, than after having set out in a dispensation of greater light, and a more perfect law, to turn back again to their former lives, in the law of nature: for by so doing, "They crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame," through their own weakness, by reason of the flesh. 34. For they that have been called, and have had a privilege to taste the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, and have tasted of the same, if they then fall back, they have nought to feel, but a fearful looking for of the fiery indignation and judgments of God, to be revealed from Heaven, against sin and all unrighteousness. 35. But where the law of Christ is in truth not known, and there are many transgressions committed through ignorance, they will be lightly passed over, saith the Lord. 36. And how is it, O ye Shepherds, that the earth is covered with so many different denominations and persuasions, clashing and quarreling, both priests and people, one with another ? yet all pro- fessedly maintaining the true religion of Christ! 37. Do you expect, or have you any reason to expect, that all these roads lead along the narrow way, and enter the straight gate that leadeth unto life 1 38. Was it not plainly testified by the holy Son of God, that there was but one way that souls could enter his kingdom ? And do you expect his words, which he received from my eternal throne, are going to prove false 1 39. Have you not carved out ways of your own, to find salvation ? . 40. And have you not, by that means, been under the necessity of always placing salvation in the future t^nse, by reason that you never found it in the present ? 41. [Therefore you] found nothing that could protect the soul from the temptations, snares, and enchanting allurements of this world. 42. And what do I, the God of Heaven, behold spread over the do- mains of earth, but a religion said to have emanated from my blessed Son, whom I sent into the world to open the way of life, yet, pos- sessing no power, [in the present tense,] to save the soul from sin and death. And more than this, it admits of their staining their hands in the blood of their fellow creatures. 43. Have not many souls, in consequence of the wickedness and 148 SACRED ROLL AND BOQK abominations, bloodshed and carnage that they have seen practiced, and cloaked under the name of being sanctioned by a religion that emanated from the Son of God, been induced in their spirits, to abhor the very name of a religion that would admit of such awful wickedness? 44. And have they not even been induced to believe that the whole is a deception, from beginning to end; and by that means, almost or quite deny the b'eing of a God, or of any supernatural agency operating on the earth ; or that there is any existence in eternity, of future rewards and punishments after death 1 45. Call not such a pretended religion, the religion of the Son of God. Blasphemy., in very deed, is recorded on my eternal rec- ords, against those who have light and understanding, and do this. Bat let it stand for the inventions of man ; disgrace not the name of Christ with it, 46. Nothing belongeth to Christ, my blessed Soil, either in his first or in his second appearance, that is imput-(*^ unholy, cruel, wick- ed or unjust in any shape. 47. But all such as will live a moral lifgj after the order of na- ture, and humble themselves at my warning, put their hands to honest employment, and give their souls in prayer to Me, according to the best of their understanding, they shall not fail to receive in mercy, at my hand, of that which I hAve provided for them. 48. And unto all of you who stand as leaders of the people, in sacred and divine service, do I require, saith the God of Heaven, that ye should often bow yourselves low, and call upon the assem- bly to do in like manner, and supplicate, while clothed in sackcloth and mournino', the mercy of that God, whose hand is stretched out towards the inhabitants of earth, both in judgment and in mercy. 49. Let mortals cease their pleasure vain, And learn my name to fear; Though I'm a God of all domain, Yet, penitence I heat, 50, And, it is my comman