BT265 ^ W ^r,^ ^^> 8?°^ '•#•» A* ♦! *> •**, * ^ ■*- •■-*& v*<* .-^k-. %,^ c ••--• * .v **. . I » : / A TREATISE ON ATONEMENT CONTAINING IN ACCOUNT OF THE CREATION AND. FORM* ATION OF MAN; A TREATISE ON ORIGINAL SIN; fr ACCOUNT OP THE NATURE AND OBJECT OP ATONEMENT, AN* SHEWING WHAT WAS REPRESENTED I3T THE CTUJCIFIC- OTION AND RESURRECTION OP THE BODT OP JESUS CHRIST. ALSO, DISCOURSES ON THE DOCTRINE OF THE >EVIL, HELL, FREE AGENCY, ELECTION, THE SOUL, THE TRINITY, AND PUNISHMENT AFTER DEATH, .rgumentorially and ScripturaUy denied; and the final Salvation and Happiness of all Men, through Jesus Christ, the Second Adam, abundantly proven by Scripture. byTsTac l foster, Union district* S. C. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall egin to sound, the mystery of God shall be fthisfce"d,as he hath de 'red to his servants the prophets. St. John x. 7. COLUMBIA: EKINTED AT THE TEI.ESCOPE PRESS-. ims. ^TfiE Library OF G0NGRHS3 WASHlNGTr LETTER TO THE READER. In this publication I inform my readers, that it is not ny intention to retract any former sentiment ; but to •tate them in a more distinct and accurate manner. My Millenium being wrote in the early part of my scriptu- ral studies, is not so fully expressive of my belief, as /vill be found in this edition. — The doctrine of cre- ation, formation and original sin, as held forth by the ;lergy of the present day, is so contradictory, and contrary to the nature of things, that I have always jeen slack to believe it, as well as the major part of mankind. To believe that a transgression of the old nan Adam is yet hanging over my head, for which I must make a satisfactory compensation, or suffer the penalty* is more than L dare believe whilst I believe in an all-wise, merciful and just God. To believe that God is unreconciled towards the human race ; and that it is in the power of the creature to reconcile the Cre- ator : is also more than I dare believe, whilst I view my Maker to be unchangeable: the same yesterday, to- i day and forever. To believe that souls are tormented after the death of the body, is more than I can believe, | whilst I believe the scriptures : for the scriptures inform me that the soul is the bodily sensations. To believe in a created being who is called Devi!, is also more than lean believe, unless I refuse the testimony of the prophets and apostles: for they inform me that the lust of the flesh is the devil. To believe in a fixed place called Hell, which is said to be a vast fire, is more than I can believe; unless 1 deny the scriptures of the 0*d and New Testaments; for these inform me that hell means trou- ble in this life of mortality, either in body or mind. To believe in the doctrine of election, as propagated by the clergy, is more than I dare do, for the dot; trine of elcq< IV. lion as propagated by the clergy, represents God folic partial. To believe that man is a free agent, andean do this or that, in and of himself, is more than I can believe, whilst i view man as the creature and God as his creator. — If God has not determined all events, why believe the prophets ? If God has determined all events, as all scripture will bear witness, man is a de- pendant creatine, and moves by necessity. These my ideas were derived from a duo reading and studying of iku scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and rc- vrsiiinend to the, reader the importance of scripture tes- timony. An apostle says, "all scripture was given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, re- proof, and correction. " The truth of the scriptures is witnessed by the figures 111 the Roman church. For in- stance : if there had never been a personage on earth called Jesus Christ, who was attended by twelve apostles during his manifestation, and finally died on the cross, ■vuth the title of Jesus of Nazareth king of the Jews over his head; the Roman church would not have re- presented those things with -figures, which is the object of their worship, being idolaters; they have ido- lized the body of Jesus as he died on the cross, with the aforesaid inscription over him; and attended by twelve lighted candles, which typify the twelve apostles ; of whom Jesus said, * ye are the light of the world/ Those figures I conclude to be the visible witness of the truth of the New Testament, for it is evident if there had not been such a person as Jesus Christ, the Romans never would have idolized his body, for their temples were already filled with idols— and why should all those give way to the image of Jesus if there never Was such a person. This truth, together with the pro- phecies which have been so remarkably and complete- ly fulfilled, are a sufficient warrantee for the belief of the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments } and I earnestly recommend to all men the necessity of read- ing and believing the scriptures to become wise unto God, and happy with man ; for the scriptures shew the necessity of love to God and man before wc can be hap- >♦ py in this life ; and reason bears witness to this truth. The scriptures shew it to be the duty of men to love one another, as the sure preventive of tyranny, injus- tice and oppression. The scriptures say that all men are entitled to equal rights, privileges and immunities: and reason teaches us that this is necessary to a uni- versal peace and happiness on this globe. The scrip- tures inform us of the apostacy of the present times, and the certainty of the final salvation and happiness of ail men. As such they are profitable for doctrine and instruction. ISAAC J. FOSTER. Union District, Aprils, 18&3. NO. J; ON ATONEMENT. CHAPTER I. The Creation, and Formation of Man. — M$o, an account of Original Sin* I am well aware of the many different opinions which prevail in our world, relative to the creation and formation of man ; and also of the ina->y different opin- ions winch prevail restive to (what is generally term- ed) the fall of man. The garden, the fruit of the know- ledge of good and evil, the tree of life, the serpent, and man's temptation, all appear to be a mystery; and every professed preacher lias his own different opinion of those figures, which are freely propagated amongst m ankind, and only serve to bewilder the understanding. As to the garden, it is generally believed tint it was a littoral garden, such as ;re now called gardens. The fruit of the knowledge of good and evil is believed by some to he an apple, by some a fig, by soqjc an orange, &c. The like different opinions also prevail resp< cli^g the serpent: some think him a snake, some an ourang- ontang, and some think that he was originally an an- gel of heaven who was in attendance on Deity; but for his pride and disnbedience was kicked our of heaven (as was Vulcan) and transformed into a devil. Some think that .man was made subject to vanity, so roe think he was a free agent, and that good and evil was set before him, and that he was in possession of will and power to choose or refuse at pleasure, independent of Deity, Which differences in opinion, clearly prove that the nature and object of man's creation, and for- mation; the garden; the tree of life; the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; the serpent, and what is ge- nerally termed man's trangression, are all a mystery: for when once those figures are clearly represented to the human understanding, those different opinions all give way. It appears from sacred writ, that Jesus Christ, in spi- rit, was the beginning; of God's creation. See St. John iii. 14, " These things saith the amen: the faith- ful and true witness; the beginning of the creation of God." Here St. John says that Christ was the begin- ning of the creation of God. That the reader may have no doubts on the subject, see Gen i. 3, " And God said let there be light and there was light." This light, which God saw was good, I conceive to be the spirit of the Messiah: for this light was the beginning of the creation of God: and is not that light which ru- leth the day and night. See Gen. i. 16, m And God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: and he made the stars also." This was done <>n the sixth day: but the spi- rit of Jesus was created on the first day, and God called it light. To which Jesus in his manifestation also bears witness. See St. John yiii. 12, " Then spake Jesus unto them* saying, I am the light of the world," The Evangel- list also bears witness to this fact, who, speaking of Je- sus he says, John i. 9, "He was the true light which light- eth every man that corneth into the world." From which testimony I am clearly of opinion, that Jesus f'hrist in spirit, was the beginning of the creation of God. And that he, Christ, in spirit, or the spirit of Christ, was that image in which God created man, in spirit, male and female. I will also prove this by the apostle's testimony. Sec Heb. i. 3, speaking of Jesus, he says, that he was 1he brightness of t heFather's glory, and the express image of his person. "And again he says, 2 Cor. iv. 4, «Thnthe (Christ) is the image of God.'* And again he sayp, Coll. i« 5, "That he (Christ) is the linage of the invisible God." If the apostle's testi- itirtuy ran be relied on, it clearly proves that Jesus Christ in spirit was God's image : and in this imago God on the sixth day created man, in spirit, male and female created he them; see Gen. i. 2,7. And in Christ Jesus man was set over the works of God's hands; sea Heb. ii. 7. The creation of man, beasts, herbs, plants, &c. was all done in the first six days, and finished on the seventh; but nothing was formed until after the se- venth, except the globes, called earth, sun, moon and stars, which were brought into existence during the sis days. The animal and vegetable kingdoms had no formation until after the seventh day. See Gen. ii. 4 to f , •' These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created : in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew ; for the Lord God had not. caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground But there went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. And the Lord God formed man (not created) but form- ed him of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul." From which testimony the reader will readily perceive, that man was created a spirit, and that he was created male and female in Christ Jesus, who was God's image; which was done on the sixth day. And after God ended his works on the seventh day, and rested and hallowed it, there was no at man to till the ground; that is, man had no formation; and consequent- ly was not of the earth earthy, and a tiller of the ground. So God, after the seventh day, and after he had created all things, formed (not created) but form* ed man of the dust of the ground (not earth) but form- ed him of the dust of the ground. And into this form- ed body God breathed the (before created) spirit which is called the breath of life;and man became a living soul. That is, the body which was formed of the dust of tbfb ±3 10 ground by the introduction of the spirit, became sensi- ble; could see, hear, taste, feel and smell, which aid the means of communication to the body; and produces! thinking, or a mind* which Moses called a soul. Those are my ideas of man's creation and forma- tion. The spirit was created of God's own eternal spirit; and the body formed of dust. And at the sep- aration of the body and spirit, called death, each go to their proper elements: the spirit to God who gave it, and the body to dust from whence it came. The spirit be- ing of God's own eternal spirit, is immortal; and exists through all time, and cannot suffer or feel pain. This done I will proceed to give my opinion on what is com- monly called man's trangression, or Original Sin. In man's original state, he is represented as placed in a garden to dress and keep it. This garden coin twined the tree of liie, and the tree of the knowledge ©f good and evil; the man was made welcome to par- take of all the fruit of the garden, except the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A subtle I serpent interferes with Uie woman, and prevails on her- to eat of the forbidden fruit. She gave of it to her hus- band who ate also. Their eyes were opened to ths \ knowledge of good and evil; they perceived that they were nakt d, and hid themselves from God; made aprons | ef fig-leaves to hide their nakedness, &c. They heard ! tlie voice (not the footsteps) but the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden, in the cool of the day, who Galled to the man and asked him if he had eaten of the trie (not fruit) but the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouidst not eat. The man answered thus: H}e woman which thougavest to be with me, gave unto me, ami 1 did eat. The woman is then interrogated, and she lays the blame thereof to the serpent's guile. The ground (not eaHh) but the ground is cursed for Adam's sake. "When he tills it, it is to bring thorns and this- tles. Be was to eat his bread by the sweat of his face, I ■51 nd finally return to the dust from whence he came. -The woman's sorrows and conception is multiplied; in •row she is to bring forth children, and her -desir? 11 should be to her husband,, who should rule over her, The serpent is cursed above all cattle; was to goon his belly and cat dust as iong as he lived, Tina is, in short, the account which Moses gave of original trangression, or original bin! which whole passage, [ conceive to be figurative* For I do not be- lieve that Deity ever planted a litem! garden without. using man as t\id instrument by which he, did it: and if this be a literal account, it seems that Adam died cm t\w day of . transgression. It is a!§o said, that they hid from the presence of the Lord, which I comxive to be impossible; for there is not a place in the universe out of God's presence. And again; after man is drove out of the garden, a sword is placed at the east end of the garden, to keep the way of the tree o| life (not the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) but the tre life* This eherubjifl and sword being pieced at the cast end of the garden, could not prevent (he nrri's entrance atihe west, or north or south side. And fi- nally* if this was a literal garden, where \h it row? Geographers have in vain sought for ifj and yet we have no account of jjtg being removed. From what has been said, the I'^z^vv wjil sec the propriety in believing the account which SI . ■ e of the first sin to be figurative. The garden here spoken of, I conceive to be man's body. The tree of life was that created spirit which God breathed into man when he became a living souL The tree of i\w knowledge of good and evil was that which the .fig-leaf apron was intended to hide. The .serpent was the carnal mind, or lust of the flesh, &c. These are my ideas on the passage; and I will now show the reader the testimony on which my belief is founded* See Rom. viii. 20, *f For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope." That the creature here spoken of is man, see verse 23,. " And not only they, but ourselves also which have the first-fruit of the spirit." As man was made subject to vanity at first, he in his earthy formation represented a literal is gardens ii.fi'(J the crested* spirit which gave life to tlio body, icpiTScntsi a gardener who dresses and tills a literal garden. A nil as a literal garden requires the eonsinut rase and attention of the gardener, so \n like manner the- cai thiy man requires the continual rare and protreeiinn of the heavenly man within, (t he spirit,) or the earthly man (or nature) is soon choaked up with \mmmniH doctrine, which is quickly rivetted to bis umhMsiitmHng by a false- education, which renders tlu; eivfiltly mail coo pletciy miserable by a guilty con- science. That Use ivec of life is that created spirit which God breathed info man's nostrils, see James ii. £6, *• Yviihout'lhe spirit : the body is dead." See again,. 1 Cor, iii. ifl, »*Kuow ye not that ye arc the temple t f God. and that ihv spirit of God dwellcth in you?" Thus it sipp&ftrs that the spirit dwellcth in matt, and gmth life to the body; as such I conceive it to he tho tree of life. That the tr*ee of the knowledge of good aurf 45v.iI is that which the fig-leaved apron was in- tended to bide, is also evident from the following rea- sons: First.— Tf "focal h *d the tree of knowledge, because this free taught man that be was formed of the dust, that he might propagate his species; or as Moses uses the ex- pression, that he might multiply and replenish the earth; and the tree of knowledge teaches us this fact. It is also caiied the- fruit of the tree, because ii; contains the seeds of generation. If spirits could have multiplied without the assistance of bodies of flesh, there would have been no need of a formation of the dust of the ground; but it appears from sacred writ, that spirits could not multiply, without the assistance of a bodily formation. See Gen. i. £8, " And God blessed them, and God said, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it." This command was given to our parents when they were in their created spirit- ual state, which proves to us the necessity of a bodily formation to enable them to multiply. The earth, which our parents were commanded to multiply, replenish and subdue, was the bodily forma- IS 4tan which filod to this end gave them, after they wetfe created in spirit. For what other has man multiplied but his bodily formation? For from the bodies of two have sprung innumerable multitudes, and all men, are careful to keep the body well replenished with food and raiment, which is the sure means of multiplying the feody. And to every body there is an immortal spirit? and that the spirit, winch is called the man in its crea- ted state, will finally subdue the body, which is called the earth, see 1 Cor. xv. 53, For this corruptable must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put or* immortality. This done, the earth is multiplied, re- plenished and subdued. . The word earth in this place signifies man's bodily formation: for we read that man was formed of the dust of the ground, (not earth.) sec? Gen. ii. 7; and again, Gen. iii. 17, Cursed is the ground for thy sake. Again verse 19, till thou re- turn to the ground; again verse 23, to till the ground from whence he was taken. In all of which passages fchf* word ground signifies the globe on which we exist'. But where he says multiply and replenish the earth* he undoubtedly means, multiply and replenish the hu- man body: for there is no other body that man has multiplied hut the human. See Gen. vi. 11, The eartU was corrupt. Verse 12, And God looked on the earth, and behold it was corrupt. The ground was not cor- rupt, or it would have been destroyed; but the earth that God looked on and beheld that It was corrupt, was human nature. And God said unto Noah, the end of all fl h is come before me: And God caused a flood of water to cover the face of the ground, whick drowned all human nature, except Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and his family, from which the globe has siuc^ been peopled. These arguments Clearly prove, that the earth with U man in his created state was commanded to multiply,, is the human body. And it is the human bod} t at the apostle P»-ter sajs will be burnt up, together Witl : works that are therein. See 2 Pet, iii. 10« Which burning is the victory of the spirit over the £ i4 flesh; for the spirit is a consuming fire, Heb. xii. 28, which will finally destroy the lust of the flesh, which is the burning alluded to. And man will put off this mortal and put on immortality, as before stated. And the serpent's head will be completely bruised, as the Father promised our parents. This done, the earth, (or human nature,) is subdued, and is obedient to the Jaw of the spirit of life, which makes free from the law of sin and death. See Rom. viii. 2. From what has been said on the subject of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the read- er will seethe propriety in believing it to be the exter- nal parts of gt»##*^^###. .In further testimony of which, observe, Adam said* the woman gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Eve said, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Hear what God said to the woman: I will greatly multiply thy sorrows and thy conception; in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children. The death that Adam died on the day of this transaction, was a carnal mind. See Rom. viii. 6. For to be carnally minded is death. This fruit is the production of a car- nal mind, which is death. Sec the testimony of ay apostle on this subject: James i. 14, 15. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Just and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin when it is finished, bring- cth forth death. This passage proves xevy literally what I contend for. Thus the serpent that beguiled our mother was the lust of the flesh; this getting the victory over the. understanding, is what is meant by the woman's being deceived. The beauty she beheld ill Adam, of whose flesh and bone she was formed, caused her to yield to his desires- So says the woman, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat; and so says the man, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And so says the apostle, lust when it conceived, brought forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death, Tvhich death is the carnal mind. And so said the Most High, on the day you e^t thereof, thou shalt surely die; or in other words, on thi* ' you eat thereof* thou 15 slialt surely be carnally minded. The reason that this act is called sin, is because it is a departure from the law of the spirit; for as I before stated, if spirits could have multiplied, there would have been no need of a formation of the dust. But as spirits could not multiply without the assistance of a body, and as the body to this end is subject to lust, which spirits iit their nature are not, this act is called sin, although the act is productive of spirits -as well as bodies; for every body has a spirit, which gives it life and sensa- tions. We read, that man is conceived in sin, and brought forth in iniquity. Thus it appears that sin is the cause of man's being brought into a state of exis- tance. Thus we see the necessity of man's beings made mortal and subject to vanity: for if man was not mortal and subject to vanity, he could not propogate his species. Thus we also learn that sin is not the cause of natural death, but of natural life; as such we do well to say, that God is the author of sin. Although it may sound badly to the cars of some. 1 canntTt Lc}n }i; for the truth must begin to prevail. That the serpent is the lifet of ttve flesh, will be pro- ven in a future .number, under the head of Devil. His being cursed above all cattle, shews that man is the most miserable of all earthly beings. His going on his belly,- and eating dust ail the days of his life, shews- that man is earthly minded, and all his desire is earth- ly treasures ami earthly comforts; which can never sa- tisfy the carnal mind, or fleshly appetite; for manfs true happiness consists in love to God and»to each other,, Adam was a figure of Jesus manifested in the flesh, see Roto. v. 14. His partaking with the woman, his bride* shews that Christ would bear the infirmities of human nature, his bride, which in respect to individuality would be multiplied in sorrow and conceptions; but that bride, or human nature, would finally turn her desires to her husband, who would protect her; which husband is Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world. As relates to the argument between the serpent and the woman, I Conceive it to mean the contention between flesh ami IB Spirit. This act being contrary to the nature of fcttfc spirit, is opposed: but the flesh being formed for tins purpose, it overcomes the spirit, and the whole man is subjected to the carnal mind, which was death. Our parents' -biding themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden, I conceive to mean an acquitted conscience. After Adam partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good evil, and the eyes of his understanding were opened, he became sen- sible that his formation of flesh and blood was intend- ed to be thus employed in order to multiply. And tQ this end, the lust of the flesh was, and yet is, superior to that portion of the eternal spirit which is called the tree of life, which gives life to the body. And although flesh and spirit are united, yet they are contrary t$ each other; and as the flesh was intended to multiply itself, which is done by the assistance of the spirit, which gives life to the flesh, the flesh necessarily must be possessed with the greater propensity, or it could not multiply, because this act is contrary to the nature of the spirit. This is what I conceive Moses to mean, Wlitn he says, Adam hid from the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden. The trees of the gar- den are the different lusts and propensities of the flesh- ly nature; all of which are contrary to the nature of the spirit, which in this place is properly called Lord, as it is of the Eternal Spirit. And Adam, after the transaction, is made sensible of the object of his bodily formation, and says or concludes in his un- derstanding that 1 have acted agreeable to my nature; to this end the Mostliigh formed me of the dust, and gave ine a woman who is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh, in order that I might multiply the human body: andin this consideration he is said to be hid,when be had only been led by the lust of the flesh, which was con- trary to the nature of the spirit. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head. The seed of the wo- man is the spirit,and the serpent is the lust of the flesh; the flesh is of the male, and the spirit is of the female; &r the truth of which assertion, I appeal to the wfc£ uoni 17 om of the age. See 1 Cor. xi. 8 to 12, <* Far the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man^ neither was the man created for the woman, but tho woman for the man. Nevertheless, neither is the matt without the woman, neither the woman without th6 man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God."' This passage literally proves what I before as- serted. Thus I have in short, given my belief, and shewn the* testimony on which it is founded, relative to the crea- tion and formation of the human race, and beg the reader to search the scriptures and judge for himself. And as to Original Sin; as it was the cause of the exis- tence of the whole human family, except Adam and Eve, I rejoice to say that God was the author of it ? and that it will finally terminate to his own immortal glory* as well as that of the whole human race, through Christ the second Adam. Why the act has been called sin, is because it is an act of the flesh, (and is perfect- ly agreeable to the propensities of the fleshly nature, which was formed of the dust to this end;) and is con- trary in its nature to the nature of the spirit, which is of God. See Gal. v. 17, « For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would/' From this testimony I am of opinion, that it was impossible for our first parents to withstand the temptations of their fleshly natures. As such, the act hi its nature was not sin, because G »d intended it for his own elorv, and the srlorv of hiscrea- tures; but being contrary to the nature of the spirit, is called sin. In a word, I firmly believe that our first parents acted perfectly agreeable to the will and plea- sure of Deity. The all- wise Creator having determin- ed to bring into a state of existence an innumerable multitude of immortal spirits like himself, to exist through all times for his immortal glory, pursued the following ways and means to do it. First, of his own •eternal fullness he created Jesus ChrisMn spirit, winch 18 created spirit he called his image. Secondly, he ci T'a = ted man inspirit,- male and female, in his own ig&ge'w That is, the spirit of the male and female was created:* in Christ Jesus, who was God's image, 1 hirdiy, a bo- dy is formed of the dust of the ground, and into this formed body God breathed the male spirit (which he had before created in his image:) and man became a liv- ing soul, could see, hear, smell, taste and feel, and con- sequently was a thinking being; or, as Moses says, man was a living soul. Thus man was first created > ti spirit; and afterwards formed of the dust into a bodily shape; and when the creation entered the formation, although contrary to each other in their natures, it was produc- tive of life and sensations to the formation of dust, and the man became a living soul. This done, God said it was not good for man to be alone: that is, no good ca© result from this individual formation without an assis- tant. So God t'nik a rib from the man's bodily forma. How, and of it he formed a female body, and when the female creation entered tire female formation, a $mnatj was presented to man's view, and she being of his bone and flesh, was the proper object of his natural affections. So the woman was the help mate for the man. Thus the happy pair stood alone, under the parental care and protection of the Supreme Eternal, who embraced the moment to reconcile his pair, who had become alarmed ■at their situation, when their eyes were opened to the knowledge of good evil, and invented the fig-leaved a- jpron to hide the imperfections of human nature. lie clothed them with garments of skins, and promised them that the seed of the woman (the spirit) should bruise the serpent's head. That in the fulness of time, the flesh, with all it lusts and passions, should be over- come by the spirit; which is perfectly agreeable to the nature of flesh and spirit. The flesh in its nature is of the dust, and subsists on the productions of its mother (the ground) to which it returns, and Iras neither life nor sensations without the spirit As such, agreeable to the nature of the two, the flesh must finally be sub- missive to the spirit. But as the body was formed for the purpose of generation, the spirit is submissive ved God less after iheir trans- actions ihan tbey did before, is plating man in bis trtffc .G&tir actor* From what has been said the reader willsc© the- pro- priety in believing man to he in an unreconciled state •with God, and has been so, ever since the days of Cain and Abel. God had respect to AhePs offering and ijotto Cain's; Cain was wroth and slew his brother. Cain no /doubt wroth with God also, because God had no respect to his offering. This induced Cain to believe that God was angry with liira, and if so, he (Cain) would be an- $gry with God also; and to this end slew Abel his brother by way of revenge. And in ail ages man appears to have 1)cen of the opinion that God was angry with them for their sins; and yet, men continue to he sinners, *for Ihcre is not a just man on earth that docfhgoorl mid sinneth not. 9 But. it will be recollected that it has i)een, and continues to be, the doctrine of professed preachers of the gospel, that God is awgry with sinner.^; by this doctrine the priests scare mankind into a belief itft their doctrine, which is well calculated to set mfmy liind at war one with the other; for if once we heiievc that God who made -us and who preserves us, is angry "with us because »vc are as he made us, which we cannot nelp, we are ready to find fault and contend against ali who do not think and act as we do; and to this end TDan considers himself justifiable in fighting and abus- ing his fellow man; and Irort'M to relate, the doctrine of professed preachers is directly calculated -to set man- kind at sword points with each other. The nations have believed this through the craft of priests, and individ- uals have followed the example; which clearly proves the aeed of atonement to reconcile -mankind with (heir Maker, that they may be reconciled also to each bitter. I know that the scriptures represent God to be angry with the sinner; but such scripture is not to be under- stood literally. David said God w ' fts ftttgfjP *Mb t&a wicked every dav, but 1 conceive that David alluded to the letter of tbo law. God gave the law to Moses, und in tbo kiter of tfh.e few 6*>d wtts angry wiffc. stl vtify m violated if* Hear ihc testimony of an Apostle in tins case: sec Rom. v. 20, " The law was given t!mt tbf offence might abound: but where sin abounded, grace did muclr more abound." Here the Apostle says that the law entered in order that Use offence might abounds or as he says to the Gallatiaus iii. 24, M The law was our school-master to bring us to Christ." That is to shew mankind the need of a saviour; for e&ys Christy Johnvii. 19, "Moses -gave you the law, but none of you keep the law.'* And this is the reason why David said God was angry with the wicked, meaning in the letter of the law. For instance, where a \m\u \ "iolates the laws of the land the executive who is charged with the execution of the laws may be said to be angry, because the laws which he is charged with the execution of are violated; but in this case the executive is by no means personally angry with the offender. And thus it was with the Supreme; having given the law to the Jews and none of them kept it, David said God was angry with them, (meaning in the letter of the law) but by no means personally angry. For if he was ever angry he remains so; for he is unchangeable, which my opposers will not deny. Again Moses said Gen. vi. 6, "— * — it repented God that he had made man." Here again God is represented as repenting at his own worksf which passage is by no means to be understood literal-* ly, for as 1 ha\c before argued, God knew as well thafr man would commit sin, before lie formed him of the dust* as he did after the man had sinned. An apostle says* Acts xv. 18, "Known unto God are all his works* from the beginning of the world." As such we are not justi- fiable in believing that God ever repented at the works of his own hands. But Moses was writing to an- unenlightened people, who were very stubborn and re- bellious; wiio had but little knowledge of God's real character. As such it was necessary for -him to speak of i the Deity in such language as he wo^d he best under- stood; as such, speaking or writing of the deluge, he. says, " the wickedness of man had become very great/ and that it repeated God that he had man.' Such In ir m guage was well caculated to wean the affections of the Israelites from idolatry to the observance of the law. But it is evident that God had determined to drown the woi hi from the beginning, otherwise that circum- stance wotiid represent him changeable, which my op- posers will not contend for. For there were compara- tively hut few souls drowned in the deluge, who had an existence at the time that God commanded Noah to build the ark; and if God had not determined this event in the beginning, it would have been unjust in him to destroy those who came into existence from and after the command to build the ark. As such I am bound to believe that God had determined this event, as vyell as all others, from the beginning of the World; and if so, ho lias not repented at his own works. But professed preach- ers are daily preaching to mankind that God is angry With thesi; that he is often repenting at the wickedness ef nnini Re. which clearly prove that they have not re- ceived the atonement, and are. in an unreconciled state tvith the Deity, and are absolutely ignorant of God's real character. In God's communication to thepro- jphet Maiachi iii. 6, he says, "-lam the Lord, I change not." The apostle James i. 17, says, u with God there is no variableness nor shadow of turning." The apos- tie John says, first epistle John L 8, " God is love." I will-ask the candid reader if we arc justifiable in ex- plaining the scriptures i?^io a direct and positive con- tradiction? I say we are not. Then the apostle says, God is love. David says, God is angry. The prophets and apostles say, God is unchangeable. Moses says, « -it repented God tiiat he had made man. If those passages are construed literally, the scriptures contra- dict themselves, and consequently their testimony falls to the ground. But we are not to construe 1 tie scrip- tures into direct contradictions; for when David says God is angry, he means hi the letter of the law. And When Moses says it repented God that he had made Bii ?, he speaks so as to be the better understood by a people who were ignorant of God's real character, as Joshua did Vihea he said ' Sun stand still/ And it is most certain itmt all who content! that God is angrj* With the wicked, or that he is ever grieved at man's conduct, are in utter darkness, are ignorant of God'a real character, and are in need of atonement to recon- cile them to God with whom they are at enmity* From what has been said on the subject of atone* raent, the reader will see the propriety in believing that God is not unreconciled with his creatures men, butthafe men are enemies to God, are ignorant of God's real character, have sought for gods of their own make, are often fretted and grumbling at the works of ProvU deuce, complaining at the times, seasons, their disap- pointments, &c. and are often striving against each other, even to the shedding of blood. Which clearly proves that man is in an unreconciled state, and not God,- for instance, IF DEITY WAS UNRECON- CILED WITH MAN, WHAT WAY WOULD MAN GO TO WORK TO CHANGE AN UN- CHANGEABLE BEING? But as it is man that la in an unreconciled state with Deity, and as man in a changeable being, it is an easy matter for God (in whom we live, move and have our being) to reconcile us to himself. And to this end, God, withe dispensation of his providence, has provided a mediator whom we call Jesus Christy I have before proven, that JesusChrist in spirit, was the beginning of the creation of God, and that he was the image in which God created man male and female. As such he is tho only one calculated to reconcile man to his Mafcerj ami to this end, a body of fiesh is begotten of thQ Holy Ghost on the body of a virgin; and into this body the beginning of God 9 s creation is placed. This done Je- sus Christ appeared in the flesh, the mediator between man the offended : *and unreconciled, and God, who is love and unchangeable: which also prove that man was the offended, or God would not have sent the me- diator to reconcile him. I have now come to take notice of the nature of the atonement, and in what way the Mediator lias under* tkken to reconcile man to Gtfd. The way which God 80 v iulcsirs Christ has undertaken to reconcile mankind' to the heavenly Father, is in teaching tis mortals (he real character oi" the Deity. He ..informs us that God knur parental friend and protector; that he knoweth, all our needs before we ask him; that he will . providd. all tilings necessary for our welfare; that he loves man- kind as his own offspring; that all things, however contrary to our notions, work together for our good in the end; and that the only thing necessary to m^n's happiness, is to put their trust, in God. These arc what the Mediator came to teach mankind: who says that by reason of .God's love to mankind, he was sent to reconcile us mortals to God, s*c John iii. 16. Fop Sod so loved the world that lie. gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish,,. hut have eternal life* This testimony of the Mediator proves to us that God's love to mankind was the cause of his sending his Son into the world, in order to teach us mortals the true character of the Deity, that matt- kind might be reconciled to God. See verse If. Fop God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.* This testimony of the Saviour proves to us that God did not send his Son into the world to condemn man- kind, which proves that God was not the offended; for if God was angry with mankind, Christ would have come to condemn: but he says himself that God did not send , him to condemn, hut to save. These passages abun* dantiy prove God's parental love and affection towards mankind, see Rom. v, 8. But God commendeth his Jove towards us, in that whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. As the death of Christ is here spoken of as a proof of God's love for sinners* it ought to he considered, that this love existed before God sent his Son,, and his sending him was a proof of the fact. 1 John iv. 9* In this was manifested the love of G i\ to- wards us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through blip. This pas- sage again proves, that the corning of the Messiah was a proof of GotHslovc for sinners, see verfe 10.. Here is *8i love, not iUal we toyed Cod,tmi thatle laved i&^nu zz&t bis Son to bo the propittatioQ for our hjus. These pns&%. *2Jrs as fully prove that the crmfttig of Christ was tiro effect of God's iove towards mankind, ns any one thing •an be proven by scripture; which is the principle* means towards peror.ciling mankind to God. Wheo One f»ai* celc> angry with another, it is evident that one or both are m :l%& wrong; in Ibis rase the oiTendetl ig informed thai the man whom fie is so mcrh rnragefl at ishis best fi iend; that the v&mz of their rtifj^ttirrsiis wholly on accoont of wrong apprehensions. This being understood, the parties 'become reconciled towards each other, and are friendly, And so it is with mankind and the Supremo Deity. Mev. from a frn-r cducaf im 9 ft a ire been taught to believe that God was their eiiervit^ *?rg such, if lie hates "ns, we will hate him also, and \vii5 oppose him in ati his plans; And as God's plan of sej- •vaiion is to cause mankind to love, each other, tlfykp who are his oppnsers, are using their utmost influence ; wtycb shew •foe need of atonement to reconcile -mrU Hiaractors fa God, that they may be reconciled U* ear!? orheV. B^t it is evident l}i*$ God is not angry wills mankind, bit is our parental friend and protector, who has prov*is bis love towards us by sending his only begotten Son tons, in order to reconcile ns to himself* i bat we n~my be reconciled towards each other; for man's frne hap- .pinrss consists in loving iy'.rli other. Thus I havo shewn testimony to prn\o that God is i\\v friend of mankind, and that ins love towards ns was the eauso of his sending the Mediator to ns in order to recon- cile ns to God and each other, which will render man- kind completely happy. Tho Medi&Sbr farther rirfbnife tra tJnvi Go-d kneweftt- cur needs before we ask bun, sec Math. vi. 8. For your Heavenly- Father knoweth what things you have need of before you ask him. Again, verse 25, 26. Therefore I say unto you, take no thought of your life, What ye shall eat, or what ye skill drink; nor yet for the body, what ye shall put on* Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment? Be- bold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they repp, nor gather into barns: yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Here the Messiah informs us that the Heavenly Father knoweth our needs before we ask him, and that worldly treasures are not calculated to produce happi- ness. But behold, a large portion of mankind are dully calling on him for this, that, or the other; some to bless, and aiome to curse; some to save and some to destroy; which clearly prove that all who thus call 4)$j God are in need of atonement, and are ignorant of God's real character. For if God knoweth our needs, why ask him? For an apostle says, James i. 13, God cannot be tempted with evil. And as there is none good, our petitions are all evil; for Got! knoveth what v>e need better than we do. As such it is vanity to call on him in any case whatsoever; for he hath deter- mined all events, whom to bless and whom to curse, whom to save and whom to destroy; and ncedeth not the instructions of mortal man to guide him in his plan of universal government. And to this end the Messiah informs us, that when we pray, we should sa'y, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; and this prayer to he uttered wt\h the mind or understand- ing, (in the closet wilh the door shut,) see Matth. iv* These considerations are well calculated to recon- cile man to God, and each other. For if God loves us, as before proven, and knoweth our needs before we ask him, we have nothing to fear; for he is Almighty, ami no barm or mischief can befall us, only by his will: and as he is our parental friend and protector, he only afflicts us for our good. As such we should put frtir trust in hinr. A-gain, Math. v. 4S, 44,43, Y& 88 liavc- heard (hat it hath been said, thou sfcalt love tl.r neighbor, and hate thine enemies. But I say unto you, love your enemies; bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that dls- pitefulty use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father, which is in heaven. For Iiemakeih his sun to rise on the evil and on the good* and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Here the Mediator gives us a further account of the charac- ter of the Heavenly Father, that he loves Ills enemies* does good to them who hate him, makes Ills sun to rise on the evil and on the good, sendeth rain on the just and on the -unjustj and recommends those things to our notice, that we may be characteristically his chil- dren. What a blessed state would mankind be in, if they were in full possession of these qualities! But alas, the world is in an uproar; all like sheep have wandered* from the fold of the good Shepherd. The Romen Ca- tholics are in the right way* the Episcopalians are in the* right way, the Presbyterians are in the right way, the Baptists arc in the right way, the Seccders are in the right way, the Methodists are in the right way, and many other sects too tedious to mention; each bound by a particular creed or rule of faith* and each con- lending against all other sects, going to and fro through the earth like raging waves of the sea, en- deavoring to overwhelm ail other sects by the exten- tiou of their own, which is nothing but the spirit of a persecuting inquisition. And if all men belonged to those sects, the awful consequences would be, that eacSi sect would contend for the superiority^ and continual wars and fightings would be the end of all. Winch, clear- ly shows the need of atonement to reconcile those char*, actcrs to God, (with whom they are at enmity,) and each other. For man's true happiness consists in love to God and man. And so far as we mortals love God and our neighbors, we are happy, and no further. I know that worldly treasure contributes to worldly en- [ joyments; but man's true happiness is founded on a due reconciliation to the will of Heavens for all that is, 3**. ^ right, And if Got] is a spirit who -knowcth all .our needs, and loves us as his qwii oifepstRg, which Jesus Christ has attested, what have we to fear? No mau can harm us, unless God is willing. We cannot want for the comforts of life, unless God is willing. Wo could \mt he afflicted, unless God was willing. We could not die, unless God was willing, nor we could not iive, unless God was willing. Jesus Christ says, M.atth.. y\. 9, When ye pray, say, Our Father who ait in hea- ven; verse 10, thy will be. done in earth, (the hu- man body) as it is in .heav.cn, (the spirit.) From this testimony it appears, that we should pray that God's will be done m earth; or that we are willing that his will be done in earth. And now behold man's wickedness, He is not willing to die; he is not willing to be afflicted; he is not willing to he disap- pointed, nor to put his trust in God tor happiness; winch clearly prove that mail is not willing that God's will should be done in earth: by reason .of which, man- kind are distressed in mind, tormented with a guilty conscience, and rendered miserable, all because he is jot willing that God's will should be done in earib, which proves in the positive that men do not love God, For if men loved God they would he willing for his will to be done. And now exevy man can judge of his own love to God; for so far as men are willing for all things to happen, which do happen, so much they love God. For nothing can happen contrary to his will; and if men loved God they would be contented ■at all which happens. And as mankind are not will- ing that many things which come to pass should como to pass, this proves- their need of atonement, to rerun- soncile them to God, that they may be willing that God's will be done in earth as it is in heaven. When :men are perfectly willing that God's will should be done in earth, and believe that ail. events happen by •the will and providence of God, then mankind will be benefitted by the atonement, and enjoy peace and har- mony with each other. Those things are what the $fedr*toi*Game. to teach mankind* It i? most ; certain. 8£ tjm* flil-evcote happea by the will and Q&&y\ifom$ o| God; and tlmi n«|tuiftg ean happen contrary to Uis will in evident from scripture prophecy. For God having determined a!i event*;, gnlcl^s ail times, things, ways and means, so as to come finally, to the determined end; can communicate to his prophets future -events; and although his future knowledge is communicated to 2 ; i a n 5 vet all the iaw-craff, king-craft and priest-craft that possibly may be, cannot kinder or change in the legal God's determined will, As such |bp Mediator commands us whencwe pray, to say, thy vvilj be done, O'Goii. For his will will be done, in spite of ail op- position; sod man's happiness consists- in a- due recon- ciliation to (he will of Deity. And (his is the design. (;[' the Messiah's mission. To lids end God sent him to mankind to reconcile us mortals to the will of Deity, see 2 CoivxviiL 19. All things are of God, who hath reconciled ns to himself by- Jesns Christ, and hath gtvi>« to us ilny ministry of reconciliation, to wit: tliat God was in Christ, reconciling the world to him- self, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and haiu committed unto ns the word of reconciliation. This passage proves yery literally what I contend for, For if man is reconciled to God, he is never disap- pointed, never grieved, nor is fe$ ever uneasy at the prospect of any occurence; for God is the author of all. things, and nothing can happen wrong; and if we mor- tals can view God in his real character, we are per- fectly reconciled at all times. For whatever is, Is rigid; a full belief of which is reconciliation to God. 1 know that many events take place contrary to tho wishes of OS mortals; but has z.ny lb in; ^happened con- trary to Deity? By no means: for. if we could prove that any one circumstance ever happened contrary tp the wdl of Heaven, we would have no sat is facto ry- «v.idence, whereby to prove, that any one thing that wow is in the whole universe, is agreeable to his with As such we do well to believe, that whatever is, is right/ and agreeable to the will of Deity; and so far as we ar$. reconciled totho various events. uriti.circiuistauc.e* 31 *viiid> attend vumian nature, so far we ara t^feonrilelT to God. It betrays a want of the knowledge of God's real character, tor 113 mortals to grime and complain •at any events which happen. For if we love God we are willing that his will should he universally done) hm\ if we love him we are never grieved or disappoint- ed: knowing that whatsoever is, is right, and agreea- ble to his will. These ideas of God and his nature' are directly calculated to cause us mortals to love God, because lie has first loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. For if we love God we will love our neighbor also, which is more than all offerings and sacrifices; for if we loved God and our neighbor, tyranny and oppression would cease; "wars" inid fightings would be no more; emulation and rival- ship would find no protection, and all things whatsoe- ver we would that men should do to us, we would do even so unto them. And God would be all in aii, and he would wipe away all (ears from our eyes. But these things cannot be until Christ has put all ene- mies under his feet; all professed Christians must be converted to the faith of Christ, or put out of the way. So much on atonement I will now show my belief on the cruciftction and resurrection of the body of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is a created dependant being, formed in man for the purpose of teaching mankind the nature and real char- acter of God. That Jesus 'Christ is a created being, see Rev. Hi. 14. These things saith the Amen, the faithful and and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Here St. John says, Jesus Christ is tUv beginning of the creation of God, which proves him to be a created being. Again, Gen, i. 3, G>d said, let there be light, and there was light. This was oft the first day. That the reader may have no doubt on his mind with respect to this created light, and that it is not that light which rules the day and night, gee verse 16. And God made two great lights; the great- or light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the, sitghtf he made the stars also. This was on the fourth. 37 day. But the light which God said, let there be, which he* saw was good, was created on the first day, and Jesus Christ acknowledged himself to be that Light. See John viii. 12, Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying: I am the light of the world. From which testi- mony I have no hesitation in believing Jesus to be. tho beginning of the creation of God; and consequently he is a created being. But the reader will understand that he was created in spirit, as man was Man was created in spirit on the sixth day, and form* cd of the dust after the seventh. Jesus Christ was crea- ted in spirit on the first day, and formed in the flesh four thousand years afterwards, or thereabouts* That Jesus Christ is a dependant being, see John v. 19, The Son can do nothing of himself. Verse 30, I can of my own self do nothing. Chapter vi. 38, For I came down from heaven, not to do my own wilt, but the will ol him that sent me. Chapter vii. 16, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent inc. Those ac- knowledgments of Jesus Christ as fully prove his dc* pendence on the Father for will, power and doctrine, as any thing can be proven. See again, chapt. v. 19, Then answered Jesus and said unto themiVerily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what lie seeth the Father do. Chapt. vi. 65 9 And he said, therefore said I unto you, that no man a\r\ come unto me, except it w r ere given unto him of my Father. Sec verse 44, No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him. Here the Son acknow- legeth his dependance on the Father for his followers. And again he acknowledged his dependanceon the Fa- ther in his risen glory. See Math xxviii. 18, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying: All power is given unto me in heaven and earth. Here he acknowledgeth his dependance on the Father for his risen power. I know that Jesus Christ said, I and my Father are one; and again he said, the Father dwelleth in me, and I in him. But the oneness was undoubtedly in agreement or spirituality. For the Son is now speaking of his spiritual nature, in which D 38 |ve and the Father are one; for all spirits were created of God's own eternal Spirit, and are one in nature. And again, Jesus Christ and the Father are one in agreement; for he it is that has taught us mortals th© mxlure and character of the Father." He says himself that he did not come to do or teach his own will, but the will of the Father, In a word; the apostle says, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to hfm- self: in which case, the Father -and Son are one m agreement. In his Mediatorial capacity, he is in the "Fatlier, and the Father in him. For he, asMedh or between God and man, was dependant on the Father ioi> ■will, power and doctrine; as such, the Father w&s In him. He was also in the Father, for he is h created, defendant being; and the apostle says, Acts xvii. 28, in him (th Father) we live, move and have our being. I so, the Father dwelt in him and he in the Father| and all the benefit which we mortals obtain by the man- ifestation of Jesus Christ in the flesh, is in believing on him. He is GocPs witness who was sent to us to bear witness of God's real character; which witness in- forms us that God is our parental friend and protector:; that he loves us as his own offspring; (hat he knoweth out needs before we ask him, and that he provides all things necessary for our welfare; and to this end wc should love him because, he has first loved us, and has sent his Son to prove this his love to us. The body of Jesus Christ represents all human ua- line, as well as the whole letter of the law, with all its types and shadows. That the body of Jesus Christ re- presents all human nature, see Rom. vj 6, Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth wc sh oiild not ser\e sin. That the old man here spoken of is human nature, which we derive from the old man Am. 11, But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you; he that raised up Christ from life dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dweileth in you. Here the apostle says, that if the spirit of him Jhat raised up Christ from the dead dwell in us, that he will also quicken our mortal bodies by his spirit that dweileth in us. That the spi- rit of God dweileth in all mankind is evident, for it is his spirit that gives life to the human body. See 1 Cor. jii. 16, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, jjuifl that the spirit of God dweileth in you. Here is a proof of the fact that G<*d's spirit dweileth in all men* Thus the death and resurrection of the body of Jesus ieaclvetli us mortals that we are freed from sin, that we live to die and die to live again without end. And to this end men should love one another, for we are all one in Adam, and ail one in Christ; created in Christ Jesus in spirit, and formed in Adam in the flesh. As such, we are all one flesh and one spirit, and all have the same end in the flesh and the same life in the spirit, which is immortal and hath no end. As such, we should love God who created and formed us, because he first loved us, and gave his only begotten Soi to be the propitiation for our sins; and if we love God we cannot be dissatis- fied at any event that happens, for all things happen by Ute will of God, and if we love him we rejoice in the spirit to think that he governs ail things, ways, and mean% by his unchangeable emnisciency. M Thus I have given my belief on the nature and ob- ject of atonement, and the nature and object of the crucifixion arid resurrection of the body of Jesus, and request the reader to search the scriptures and judge for himself; not to pin his faith to the sleeve any man Or set of men, but to the written word of God, which will not err. If the professed christians worshipped God, and believed in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, difference in opinion and rules of faith would not be found amongst them. But the different creeds and rules of faith by which they are governed, prove in the positive that they are in outer darkness, lost in the wilderness of sin, and iri the bye paths of iniquity, and have not received the atonement; for Christ is not divided, nor is there but one mode of wor- ship for the true God, which is in spirit and in truth; Hot by sacraments and ordinances, but with the spirit; saying with the understanding, thy will be done in -earth as it is in Heaven. This mode of worship is productive of love to our neighbor. But all modes of worship confined to particular creeds or rules of faith is a proof of carnal niindedness and is death. Divisions^ contentions, wrath, strife, envying, wars, fighting, and rivalship, are the consequences; which prove in the highest degree the need of atonement to reconcile those characters to God and each other. There is a gross error rivetted to the minds of all Protestant christians by a false education; which I will notice. That is, they say that their religious creeds and rules of faith are calculated to moralize mankind, and keep them from committing depredations. But that this is an erroneous idea they themselves will occasion- ally acknowledge. For I, myself, have heard a profes- sed preacher say, that mankind grew worse, and that proiching appeared to do no good. It is an erroneous idea to suppose that the threats of the clergy are calcu- lated to moralize mankind, for these have been preach- ed up V) mankind in all ages by idolaters to no purpose. The civil law is calculated to keep mankind in subjec- t!ou. And the professed christian's doctrine is directly '4fS calculated to make mankind worse sinners than they are by nature. For instance, agreeable to the faith of all professed christians, repentance atones for ail crimes and offences, And if the protectant church ruled the go\ eminent, all crimes and offences would go unpunish- ed. A man might, if he had will and power, slay ids thousands and ten thousands, turn to his church and say he had repented, was sorry for what he had done, and would do so no more, and he would be restored to the fellowship and communion of the church as good a christian as ever. Such doctrine, in my humble opin- ion, has proved the cause of more sin and villainy than every thing else; for it ; holds forth inducements to man- kind to commit villainy. For says the honest preacher, it makvjs no odds how great a sinner you are, or have free]), only repent, and all is well, your happiness is Sure. This doctrine of theirs prove them to be led by a false education; and are not aware of God's real char- acter, which prove that they have not received the a- tonement. If any man w ish to show his faith and love to God, let him do so by acts of charity and kindness to all who are in need; calculating assuredly, that there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified due time. Who will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. See 1 Tim. ii. 3, 4 $ 5. ISAAC J. FOSTER. NO, II, ON FREE AGENCY. Majs a dependant creature and moves by necessity: and consequently he is not a Free Agent, Professes preachers of the gospel have said and wrote much in trying to prove that man was a free a- gentj which doctrine, is the broad road to infidelity. For if man was a free agent, God would be often disappointed, and all prophecy would, be guess-work., Because man can go and come, do this or that; he is persuaded that he is a free agent, can serve God or let it alone at pleasure. And if so, it had as well be other- wise, as there is not a just man on earth which doeth good and sinneth not. And yet man is a free agent. Miserable doctrine: that morial man should assume a power superior to God himself. For if God is un- changeable he certainly is not a free agent, for if he was a free agent he could change. But as he is unchange- able, lie is not a free agent. But mortal man, the most miserable of all earthly beings, who was created and formed by the unchangeable wisdom and power of God, has assumed a power superior to that of his Maker. If we may rely on scripture testimony, it is not in the power of God to change; as such, he is not a free agent. See Malachi iii. 6, For I am the Lord, I change not. If this passage is the truth, God cannot change; and if lie cannot change, he is not a free agent. But it is by the unchangeableness and sameness of the Supreme, that the worlds are kept in such admirable order. All D 9, M trie wars &m cc*&2&r>ftons in the wartd; all the earth- quakes, the revolutions, changes and eclipses of the oarth, sun, moon and stars, have no effect on the Deity, because all things exist hy his unchangeable power, AH things are known to him, and he comprehends futu- rity as a moment past. As such, he cannot change. The prophecies also, att> st his um hangeableness and foreknowledge. As such, he is dependant on His un- changeable omnisciency. And by the power of his un- changeablcncss and omnisciency, he created and form- ed the heavens and the earth, the sun, moon and stars, and all tilings therein exist by Him. From what has been said, the reader will see the impropriety and disadvantage there would be in free a- gency, because it is contrary to the nature of God; and consequently, would be destructive to universal nature. As such, I rejoice in the belief that God is unchangea- ble, the same yesterday, to-day and forever; and that he has determined all events. And to this end, I love him because he cannot change, and first loved me. Whereas, if he was a free agent, he could love us to- day and to-morrow hate us. And consequently, he would' not be worthy of that worship which his unchange- able omnisciency entitles him to. So I conclude that Deity is not a free agcnt.But that he is almighty and unchangeable, and is entitled to the worship of all crea- ted beings. The professed preachers have also assumed a power superior to that of Jesus Christ. They say that man is a free agent. Compare this their assertion, to that of Jesus Christ, See John v. 19, The Son can do nothing of himself; verse 30, I can of my own self do nothing; ch. vi. SB, For I came down from Heaven, not to do my own wiii but the will of him that sent me; chapt. vii. 3 6, my doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me; eNpt. vi. 65 9 Therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my Father. See verse 44, same chapt. No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him, £e<: Mattls, xxh** S6< 'But of that day and huttr know- 47 elh wo man; no not the angels, but my Father only; chapt. xxviiL 18, AH power is given unto roe in Hea- ven and in earth. Those acknowledgments of the Sa- viour as fully prove his dependan-e oiVtlte Father for power, wili, doctrine, knowledge and followers, as any thing can be proven. As such, he was not a free agent, but a dependant being. And for mortal man to assume a power superior to the Father or Son is more than I dare to presume. And I venture to assert that all who hold the doctrine of free 'Agency are lost in the wilder- ness of sin, and are in the broad road of infidelity; for this is the doctrine of devils, not supported by reason or scripture, and is directly calculated to make men miserable. If any created being was a free agent, he could exist, because the life, will and power of all cre- ated beings is dependant on the unrhangcableness of the Deity. The doctrine of free agency is ih^ key to the worship of the beast; and the \\M'\ doctrine itself makes all miserable who believe it. For no man can believe that he is a free agent until he loses sight of all the glorious attributes of Deity. To believe in a freo agency man must view God as changeable, loving at onetime and at another time hating the same object; angry at the sinner, but on repentance grow lovely; fixed at a particular place some where in the universe called Heaven, yet he is always at Qvevy place on earth at the same time. In a word, to believe it\ free agency, the man must believe in the infallibility of the pope; they must believe that the pope is really and substan- tially lord of lords and king of kings; vicegerent of Heaven and God on earth, which he is pleased to be styled. I know that every professed christian will cry- out th.it they do not believe in the pope. But I will ask them if they do not believe in the infallibility of the pope. Why have they embraced Hie pope's sacraments in preference to the faith of Christ? They will no doubt answer that the pope ? s sacraments arc scriptu- ral. If so, why so much division \n the protectant kingdom, with respect to the mode, subject and order of tkv sacraments, The protesting kingdom has been 48 quarreling and contending for one hundred ft"d fifty years, with respect to the mode and subject of baptism* and the proper order of the other of the pope's sacra- merits. And yet the sacraments arc genuine, because the pope has said so* St, John in his prophecy of the P-pal empire, says, xii. 9, And the great dragon was Cast out; that old serpent called the devil and satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him. Here is the pope with his infallibility, and truly as it was said, his seven sacraments have deceived the wliolo world. The protectants believe in his infallibility and in his sacraments, which they gladly embrace because they are free agents. I know the infallibility of the pope was denied by Luther and Calvin; but what sig- nifies bare words when the creed and sacraments which they taught to mankind was an acknowledgment of the pope's infallibility. This is the way that the old ser- pent has deceived mankind, and caused them to think that they were free agents, which makes them misera- ble through life. But glory be to Him who shall reign until he puts all enemies under his feet. The pope's infallibility and the protestant free agency shall have nn end. For the judgement shall sit and they shall take away his dominion to consume and destroy it unto the end; (see Dan'l vii. 26.) Then I say, that no- thing in heaven or in earth or the seas is a free agent; if there is, it cannot exist one moment. But the su- preme Deity is dependant on his unchangeable omnis- ciency: and all things either created or formed, are dependant on the great first cause. And nothing but downright infidelity and unbelief of the scriptures can cause man to believe that he is a free agent. Those are my ideas relative to free agency, and I will now show scripture testimony in support of my be- lief. It is something astonishing with me that the profes- sed preachers of the gospel will often proclaim from the pulpit that they are compelled to preach, and yet he is a free agent; can do so or let it alone at pleasure. And 40 ttgaib, hear them pray, Lord if it be ihy w3I, grant that I may. be able to do (his or thatj and yet he says Be is a free agent. Miserable stuff. I know that man ran do any thing that he is willing and able to do. But from whence, will and power? From God alone. Pon- tius Pilate believed in the doctrine of free agency, but the only begotten of the Father contradicted bis belief in positive terms. See John xix. 10, 11, Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakcst thou not unto mc? Knowcsfc thou not, that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, thou couldst liave no power at all against me, except it were given Iheefrom above. Here is a positive contradiction to the doctrine of free agency. Again, Acts iv. 27, £8, For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and people of Israel, were gathered iogeiher. for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Here the infallible doc- trine of free agency is again contradicted by an inspir- ed pensman. I know that the people of Israel were willing to do by the holy child Jesiis that which they did, but this was not free agency, but absolute depend - ancy. For he says, they were gathered together against Jesus, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. As such, (Jad having determined this event, the Jews are made tho instiMS- merits of his determined counsel. For lie give them the spirit of slumber; eyes that they .should not see. and ears that they should not hear. This done, they \icwcd the Lord of glory to be an imposter and false prophet, and. crucified him between two thieves. As such, 1 say that Herod, Pontius rilate, the Gentiles and people of Israel, had no agency in th& affair; but were so completely dependant on the Supreme for will, power and knowledge, that they are made instruments to fulfil bis will. If man was a free agent, he CQuhj act contrary to the determined will of Deity; and conse- quently, all prophecy might fail. Hut man is a depend- | -tint creature, end compelled by necessity to nnrsuc 1!;** 50 road which God in his wisdom has directed. Sec Rev* xiii. 8, All that dwell on the earth shall worship him (the beast) whose names arc not written in the Lamb's book. If man was a free agent, he undoubted- ly could worship the beast or let it alone. And God might be disappointed — for he says by the words o£ this prophet, that all that dwell on the earth shall (posi- tively shall) worship him whose names are not written in the Lamb's book. The worshippers of the beast are the apostatized christians of every denomination, and although these characters hold to the doctrine of free agency, this prophecy proves that they are compelled to worship the beast, by the determined counsel and fore- knowledge of God. See again, Rev. xvii. 17, For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to a- gree and give their power and strength unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. Here the apostle says in the positive, that God hath put in the hearts of men to worship the beast— and yet the wor- shippers of the beast say they are free agents, can do so or let it alone. This is assuming a power superior to God, for God says they shall worship the beast; they say they have power to do so or let it alone; which proves them to be enemies to God, enemies to truth, en- mies to the happiness of mankind, and enemies to the faith of Christ. And are friends to the infallible sa- craments of the pope, friends to tyranny and oppres- sion, and friends to wrath, strife, envying, emulation and confusion amongst mankind. This js my sacred opinion, which, as 1 said before, is founded on the truth of the scriptures. Again, see John vi.44, No man *:an come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him. This text says that man is not a free agent; for if man was a free agent, he could come to Christ without being drawn by the Father. As such, all *ho hold to the doctrine of free agency do not be- lieve in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, ^vhich will be proven in a future number. For as I said before, the doctrine office agency is the broad i-oad to infidelity; it is the key to the worship of the Si beast, and is a denial of the scriptures of the t)ld anft New Testaments; it teaches truth to be error, and er- ror to be truth. And hence the necessity of a belief m a devil and a hell to keep such infidels in subjection. This they will acknowledge in terms, for say they, if I did not believe there was a devil and a hell I would do all the harm or mischief I possibly could in this life* but the fear of hell and its flames keeps me quiet. 1 will ask the candid reader if a gallows is not a better remedy to rid the world of such characters than a fic- titious hell. The man who acts honestly through fear of being punished after he is dead, is not entitled to the privileges of the faith of Christ, who says, this is my commandment that ye love one another* If men loved each other they would do each other no injury, and we Would have no need of either gallows or hell to keep men in bounds. I lately heard a professed preacher say, that if he thought there was not a fixed place some- where in the universe called hell, to torment men in af- ter they were dead, that he would burn his bible. This acknowledgment of hisatonce show r ed his mind on the subject— he no doubt would be in mischief continually were it not for the fear of he!!. And to this end the na- tions long since have determined that, a gallows, prison, pillory, whipping-post, &c. is far preferable for the go- vernment of infidels to a devil, hell or purgatory. But as man's true happiness consists in love to God and each other, let them once believe this, and there will be no need of |ruiiishijtci)t, neither corporal nor infernal* for which 1 pray 3 ON HELL, Hj&ii is trouble in this life of mortality, occasioned %j contrary principles of the miitd. Professed preachers of the gospel labor to convince mankind that there is a fixed place somewhere in the universe called hell, which they represent to us to be a vast fire, which burns with unabated fury and is never quenchedj and in this fire they tell us departed souls or spirits, are tormented as long as God exists; and that the sufferings of those who are thus toraiehted afford pleasure to all who arc injiappiness. To believe which, is calculated to derange the minds of at!. To think lifat the heavenly Father has prepared such torments .fur his own offspring, and that the suffering of our fel- low creatures will afford us pleasure, seems to me to be contrary to God and nature. If there is a fixed hell, such as the hired preachers describe to us, where is it? IVc have uo account in history neither sacred nor pro- fane of any such place. Yet those characters can de- scribe the color of the flames, and the stench, as well as the screams and groans of the tormented; and yet, lib person ever satf such a place, nor have we any account in history of such a place, nor is there lirij use for such a place. For, God is able to torment the wl< k d Whilst in a state of mortality, and after the spirit leaves the body there cannot be any more suffer- ing: for the body returns to dust as it was, and the spi- rit" to God who gave it. See Eccl. xil 7, The spirit b yig created of God's own eternal spirit is immortal arid cannot suffer or feel pain. And to think that the all wise Creator has created a lie!) of burning flames to torment his own children in, as long as he exists, is more than I dare to believe whiUt I believe my Maker to be an all-wise, merciful and good (5ml. Where tthulri be tl)e justice in God to punish the spirit for an offence 33 avifjimtted by iho flesh? Man could not commit sin if he was not mortal, and as sin is the erfect of mortality, mortality must be the sufferer; and that Hie mortality can suffer after the spirit leaves it, I deny. For, with- out the spirit the body is dead, having neither life nor sensations, and of course cannot suffer. I am perfectly willing to believe in such a hell as we have an account of in the scriptures. But I am not Willing to believe in Mahomed's hell, or the Pope's pur- gatory. The scriptural hell is a troubled conscience, produced by contrary principles of the mind, which I will clearly prove to the satisfaction of every candid reader, if he will give credit to scripture testimony. The fust account i will notice of the scriptural hell is ibund in Deuteronomy, chv.pt. xxxii, which chapter is a prophesy of Moses concerning the failing awaj of Is- rael from the trine God, to the -worship of that which was not God; who says, verses \7 and 18, Tuey sa- crificed iirttft devils not to God. To gods whom they knew not, to gods that came newly w\v 3 whom their fa- thers k?)ew not. Of the rock that begat them they were unmindful, and had forgotten G od that formed them. And says in consequence of such idolatry, verses £2 to 25, A fire U kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. I will heap mischief upon them. I will spend mini* arrows u,)ou them. They shall be burnt with hunger, ami devoured With burning heat, and with bitter destruction. 1 will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of thedtrat. The sw^rd without ami terror within shall destroy both the young man and the virgin; the suckling also with the man of grey hairs* In tins passage we find the word hell means trouble niti distress in this life of mortality; and why it is Said, th<5t a fire was kimUed. which would burn to the lowest hell, is this, for as much as the JV.ws had received some light and instruction from the Supreme, and af- terwards to fall away to idolatry, that they wool L iii consequence of such falling away, be filled With fearful 04 apprehensions, contrary principles of the mind, and consequently a troubled conscience. And in addition to these troubles,the sword without and terror within, they would be reduced to a contemptible situation. Which is their case at present, and has been since the end of the law dispensation, which our Saviour in the parable of the rich man, also describes as being in hell in torments. Again we hear David's complaint: 2 Samuel xxii. 5, 6, When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; the sorrows of hell corn- passed me about, the snares of death prevented me. Thus the patriarch David informs us that when his en- emies distressed him, he was compassed or surrounded with troubles, which he called hell. Let the reader turn to 2 Samuel xxii. chapt. and read it attentively, and he will at once discover that David's hell was trouble in this life of mortality. Again Ps. ix. 16, 17, The Lord is known by the judgments he executeth: the wicked is snared in the works of his own hand. The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God. This passage of David is often quoted by professed preachers to prove a fixed place of punish- met called hell, where the wicked wiil he punish- ed as long a^ God exists. But hear what the same David says concerning the wicked which are cast into heii: Ps. x, 15, 16, Break thou the arm of the wicked and evil ijian, seek our ttij? W-M kedness .until thou find none. Her*" D;c\id.savs, the arm (or power) of the wi< ked wiii be broken, and that God will seek out his Wickedness until he Studs norm; which proves to us ih*t there will be an end to %m 9 and if sb, an end to misery. As such the wicked and ail who forget God, b^ing turn- ed into hell, cannot menu any thing mure than] fi£ij\lie- ing turned into trouble during this life of mortality. See Ps. Ixxii. speaku got Christ's kingdom^ v., 5.) they shall fear Ihee as long as the sun aid moon endmcth throughout all generations; verse 9, they that dwelt in the wilderness shall bow before him, and his e?u i ies shall lick the dust. No one will deny that the wicked are Christ's enemies, and that his enemies* licking I Ml srs dust also means the same as their being turned into hell, and all saved at last. See verse 11, Yea all kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him; verse 17, His name shall endure forever; his name shall be continued as long as the sun, and men shall be bles- sed in him. All nations shall call him blessed. From this testimony the reader will agree with me no doubt, that David's hell means trouble and tor- ment in this life of mortality. And that ail mankind will finally be blessed in Christ Jesus. Again, Ps. xvi. 8, 9, 10, I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I will not be moved, There- fore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope, for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to sec corruption. By this testimony David informs us that he had faith in Christ, by reason of which, his heart was glad, big glory rejoiced and his flesh rested in hope; for what? because his (David's) soul would not be left in hell; which means this, David's mind (by reason of his faith in Christ) was in peace; it was not left in trou- ble, as it had been previous to his obtaining faith; for David was not dead yet, and he says his soul would not be left in hell; which goes to say that it had been there, but by reason of his faith in Christ it was not left there. David not doubt like other men was often troubled in mind, but as soon as he obtained faith in Christ his niind(wich is called the soul) was not left in trouble, which lie called hell. From this testimony the reader will at once discover that the hell which David so often speaks of, is nothing more than a troubled conscience or mind, which proceeds from contrary principles in the under- standing. Again see Ps.cxvi. 3, 1 he sorrows of death en- compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me; I found trouble and sorrow. Here-David says that the pains of hell got hold on him, even whilst he was yet living. Professed preachers tell us that we suffer the pains of hell after we are dead. David was undoubtedly living when he wrote the Psalms, and he says positively in this place, that the sorrows of death compassed hmu 56 #,and the pains of hell got bold on him, and that lie found trouble and sorrow. Which clearly proves that the hell he spoke of was trouble in this life of mortality. Hear the testimony of the prophet Jonah chapt, ii. 1, 2, Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, and said I cried by reason of mine affliction un- to the Lord and he heard me; put of (he belly of he!! cri- ed I and thou heardest my voice. From this testimony of the prophet, it appears, if there be a fixed place call- ed hell, as the preachers say, that it has a belly to it; but the reader will at once discover that the belly of hell was the fish's belly. And why Jonah called it hell was, because the belly of the fish produced conscious guilt in the mind or understanding of Jonah, and for this reason Jonah called it the belly of hell, which means the belly of trouble. There are many other texts in (he Old Testament, which contain the word hell, but in each of them the word hell means trouble in tins life of mortality, cither in body or mind; as such, I pass to notice home passages in the ^cw Testament, Tie first account we have in the New Testament of hell, is found in Matth. v. 22, But whosoever shall say thou fool, shall be in danger of hell- fire,. To understand the meaning of the phrase 'hell fire/ 1 will call the attention of the reader to the whole pas- ; nc;e. See. 21 and 22, Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a ( -ause, shall he in danger of the judgment, and whosocvt r shall say to his: brother raca (vain, empty) shall he in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say thou loo! (unjust or idiot) shall be in danger of hell- fire. The Jtws had two courts, one (ailed fh^ judg- mc -ut', which j- --dged by the law, whose jurisdiction was confined to matkCss relative to the letter and meaning id' ila: law (if commandments. 1 his court consisted of twentyjluve judges, and had jurisdiction in caees of murder as well as other personal injuries done through anprr.Thc other court, called the ceinuih or saub^diiiti. 57 consisted of seventy-two judges, had jurisdiction m all cases other than such offences as wm punishable by tho law of Moses, such as slander, blasphemy, &c. Before this court our Saviour was arraigned and tried. And the meaning of the passage appears to b6 this: whosoe- ver kills or is angry with his brother without just cause, is in danger of being arraigned before that court called the judgment. And whosoever blasphemes or slanders is in danger of being arraigned before that court cab- led the council. And whosoever says thou fool, although this offence was not cognizable in either of the courts, yet the offender should be in danger of a guilty con- science, by reason of the divine light shining on his un- derstanding* And as this divine light proceeds {mm the Father (who is a consuming fire) and is productive, of condemnation and guilt; it is called hell-fire, which means trouble-fire. — Trouble-fire is whatfis meant by this passage. The word fire throughout the New Tes- tament undoubtedly means the same. John the Baptist saidjChrist would baptize with fire, and that the trees (or wicked men) should be hewn down and cast into the fire, and that the chaff would be burnt up with unquenchable fire. SeeMatth. iii. The Son o4: man said, Luke xii. 49, that he had come to send fire on the earth. And again he said, Mark ix. 49, that every one should be salted with fire. All of which I conceive to mean the same fire; and if unquenchable, as John the Baptist said, it undoubtedly is the spirit of God; for an apostle says, Hcb. xii. 29, our God is a consuming fire. For what else but the nature of God can justly be called unquenchable fire? If any other priciple or power which is in the universe, can justly bear that appellation, it must be equal with God him- self— for the apostle says that God is a consuming f\vr 9 and it would be erroneous to suppose that God was quenchable, or that there is other unquenchable fire than that called God. And this fire of eternal truth will undoubtedly destroy erery thing that is opposite or con- trary to its nature; but it has no power to destroy its own nature or its offspring, which offspring is the spi~ 58 rits of all mankind. From what has been said on the subject of this fire, the reader will at once see that this ft re is that which produces love to God and man; which is so far from proving the endless misery of the sinner, that it is the only possible means of his salvation, though his works or wicked principles be consumed by it. See 1 Cor. iii. 13, 14, 15, Every man's vvoik shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work a- bide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved,yct so as by fire* Here the apostle declares that this (ire is the salvation of every ii&Kii, though his works be burnt by it. But as I said above, this fire has no power to destroy its own nature or its offspring, which is the spirit of every man. See verse 16, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you. It is a portion of God's own eternal spirit that dwelleth in every one which gives life to the body of clay. And thus it is, that this divine fire has power to destroy the fiesh or the works thereof, but has no power over its own nature. And so it is that our works are burnt by this fire; but we are saved by it. Why it is called hell- fire, is because this divine fire communicates to the earthly Adamic nature. That it is inferior to the heavenly nature, and must submit to its divine truth, 'which produces guilt and condemnation in the mind, '■which is called hell, and being produced by this divine light which is fire, it is called hell fire or trouble-fire~ for instance, all the vile appetites of man, were they gratified without the least restraint, could never pro- duce this hell or trouble, without the reflection of divine truth on the understanding. Though the body might be debilitated by it, and impregnated with disorders, yet no disturbance is felt in the mind until a divine principle wakes up like alight shining in a dark place. As when a traveller enters a dark cave for rest, though poison- ous stt-pents afahie there, yet he is not disturbed until 59 the sun rises and discovers to him by what he had becu entertained. He is shocked and is in great distress un- til he makes his escape. Now it is evident that this traveller's trouble was produced by two circumstances: first, the serpents' being there, and secondly, the light's giving the knowledge of them. But this glorious light of heaven is by no means to be accused for having tor- merited the traveller; and yet were it not for this light lie would not have been troubled. So it is *\ith mortal man; he might enter into all the vile ambitions of a, carnal mind, he might indulge his fleshly appetite m cv ry sensuai pleasure, he might indulge Ids feet in eve- ry by-path, his eyes in ^vory fleshly lust, and his hands in blood, and feel no remorse, were it not for this fire, which all the floods of corruption can never quench.— And to this end it is called hell-fire, which me uis trou- ble -fire; which is nothing more than the divine light shining on the understanding, which produces guilt and condemnation in the understanding. This was the principal object of the Messiah's mission to send this fire on the earth, as he said himself, Luke xii. 49, and that every one should, Mark ix. 49, be salted with fire. And <»gain he says, John viii. 12, I am the light of the world; which light the Evangelist says, John i. 9, light- eth every man that cometh into the world. But if this divine light is productive of a troubled conscience, it is not to be accused, as it is the salvation of the sinner. From what has been said, the reader will see the propriety in believing that it is thesupremeDeity in his divine nature, which is The fire that professed preachers call hell-fire; and that this same fire is that a hich Je- sus Christ came to send on the earth, which is produc- tive of peace, and love to God and man. And this same fire is the salvation of the sinner, although his works (or wicked principles) are burnt by it. Again, Matth. v. 29, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body be cast into hell. This I conceive to be the same hell as before mentioned in the 2£d verse of the sune chapter, which I haye just explained* and means trouble in this 60 liftf. The members here spokeu of, which our' Lord commands to be cut off and cast away, I conceive to mean inclinations or forms of worship, which arc con- trary to gospel light; and that man would be more hap- py if he could divest himself of those prejudices, al- though it would be as difficult for him, whilst unenlight- ened, to divest himself of such principles or notions, as it would be to part from an eye, hand or foot. And the consequence would be, if mankind were not divested of such members, that the whole body would be cast into trouble by reason of gospel light; or as it is in St. Mark ix. 43, 44, to be cast into hell, where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. Here we have the fact stated in plain terms. That the hell here spoken of, is trouble in this life, is evident from this testimony — for the hell here spoken of is where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. That their worm i^s the lust of the flesh, my opposer with his eyes half open* will not dispute. The Saviour does not say the worm, as of one, — but their worm; which is the lust of the flesh. And the fire that is notquenched is that portion of God's spirit which gives life to the body, and of course, as the spirit of man is a part of God's own e- ternal spirit, it is unquenchable. If my opposer should deny that God's spirit dvvelleth in every man, let him turn to St. Paul's first epistle to the Cor. iii. 16, know yet not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spi- rit of God dwelleth in you. See again, chapt. vi. 19, 20, which testifies the same. And in further testimony that their worm is the lust of the flesh; and the fire that never is quenched is the spirit, see Gal. v. 17, for the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other. Here is their worm that dieth not, as also the fire that is ne- ver quenched, and the flesh and spirit will continue to lust against each other until we put off this corruptible and put on incorruption; but not after death. A- gain the Lord said to his apostles, Matth. x. 28, fear not them which kill the body and are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both eotTl and body in hell. The soul is the sensations oV mind, as I have already proven; and man has no power over the -sensations or mind. As such, the apostles were commanded not to fear men who kill the body, and were not able to kill the mind or thinking powers; but rather to fear God who had power to destroy either the body or mind. And to this end, the apostles could de- liberately exhort their enemies whilst in U\g agonies of death; which proves that man has no power to kill the soul or mind. If so, the minds of the apostles would liave been destroyed, for they were often beaten, stoned^ Ac. for the doctrine they advanced, but to no effect; fox* .God only has power over the mind or sensations. The next passage I will notice concerning hell, is is iiukexvi. chapter, beginning at the 19th verse: The rich man and Lazarus. As this passage is the protes- feint's strong clue for hell, and torments after death, I ,will recite the whole paragraph, and show the reader that it alludes entirely to this life of mortality: — There- was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores; and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table; moreover^ the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom: And the rich man also di^d, antj I was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in tor- I merits, and secth Abraham afar off with Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, father Abraham have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the j tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, son re- member that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And besides ali this, between us and you there is a great gulph fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot^ neither can they pass to us that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore father that thou 6S wouldst send him to my father's house, fori have five ^brethren, that he may testify unto them lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said unto Iiim, they have Moses and the prophets let them hear them. And he said, nay father Abraham; but if one went vmto them from the dead they will repent. And he said nnto him. if they hear not Moses and the prophets nei- ther will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. This account, professed preachers tell us, is a literal Account of the death of a rich man, and his torments in hell after death; and also the death of a beggar, and Ms happbiess after death. But that this account of the rich man and Lazarus is a parable, my opposer, (if in las right senses) \\ ill not deny. But wheiher it be si literal or figurative account, my opposer cannot pro.ve I>y it that any other two will ever share the fate of the rich man and Lazarus, or that even those characters continued in the state here described, to a never-ending eternity, or as long as God exists. If there is a fixed place called hell,whese king is the devil, as represent- ed by professed preachers — it seems strange to me that this place t>f torments is in sight of Heaven, or Abra- ham's bosom, where the subjects confined in each are permitted to talk together. How would his Satanic majesty like to hear one of his subjects petitioning A- feraham for comforts, and to warn his brethren lest they come into his majesty's dominions. This is undoubt- edly rebeHiGn; as also, Abraham signifies -his willing- mess to relieve the wants of the rich man, for he says they which would pass from hence unto you cannot by reason of the gnlph, which also is rebellion against Heaven- And a kingdom divided cannot stawj And again, I will ask those who make high professions of religion, if they could enjoy peace and happiness in A- T>raham 9 s bosom, seeing their fellow creatures, say their own wives, husbands, or children, in torment?! I can answer for myself, and leave the reader to anfwer for liimself. I am perfectly sensible that 1 neveriball be perfectly happy whilst I retain the recollection that ! &* e> Iticre is so much as one individual of the human ■ family" suffering torments that never will end. Whit ftiafi can enjoy peace under the shrieks and groans of the afflict- ed or dying? None who are enlightened with Heaven- born charity* The word death, in the scripture sense, has been miserably construed, as weli as the whole volume. The word death in the scripture sense, is the carnal miftdy see Rom. viii. 6. This is the death which Adam died on the day of transgression. That the carnal mind is the death that the rich man and Lazarus died, is evident IVom the Saviour's testimony; see John xi. -11,14, Laza- rus is not dead but sleep th, See Ma- k v; 39, Give place,; for the damsel is nut dead but sleepctli. From this tes- timony, it appears that the word death or died, often signifies the carnal mind — and that live literal death of the body is often called sleep. As such, when the Sa- viour says, the beggar died and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom, he no doubt inearr* iho carnal mind. ■ For it is evident thai tins rich man*;? sufferings- is in this life of mortality; for lie wished to have his tongue cooled, which proves that he was in the flesh; for every one knoweth that this body dp flesh returns tcr dust when the spirit leaves it; and that the next life is a; spiritual life; and if we may believe Gl>rist 9 stesthnoi$y, Luke xxiv. 39, A spirit hath not flesh and bone :k (dearly proves that the rich man's sufferings* ai e in tl life of mortality. If the reader wiii give a little (tori to the paragraph, ■ lie will at once see th&t it i3 apaiv able, and alludes entirely to the adultery of ti priest committed in rejecting The gospel, and a. to the-fctter of the law, which led to the destructioj U*mp!«ind dispersion of the nation of the Jews; sliuahin of the Jews ever since is what is meant by the rich man's death, burial and torments. Ills live brethren we?e the i ve sects of the Jews, Scribes, Pharisees, Sa~ rioceeslEsuus and Hcrodeans, which constituted the? | whole nation, of which the high priest was the head arid 'representative, for whom lie offered sacrifices day by I day. iSie rich man's clothing is purple and fine linen, 64 'Which was the artier of ilic high priest's dress, aa t tormented. The rich man's lifetime was during the dispensation of the legal priesthood — during which time the Jews received their good things, and the Gentiles evil things; but now, that is since the end of the legal priesthood, the Gentiles are comforted through faith— and th^t Jews tormented under the old law; dispersed in- to all the ends of the earth, despised and rejected by all iu:n and not known as a nation, and yet a distinct pro. pie. And in this situation they are said to Jift up fheti* eyes in hell, being in torments. The gulph, which A* bi-aham said was fixed between him and the rich man*, signifies that state of blindness which the apostle says, 85 Bom. xi. 25, 28, Is happened in part to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be rome in. And so it is yet; by reason of this gulph the Jews cannot believe in Christ or the gospel, and consequently, cannot be received in- to Abraham's faith or bosom, From what lias been said, the reader will at once see the propriety in believing that the paragraph of which I have been treating is a parable, and that the Jews are the certain rich man, and that the Gentiles are the beg- gar Lazarus, and that the state of the Jews ever since the end of the law dispensation, is what is meant by the rich man being in hell in torments. And the present? state of the Jews is what our Lord meant when he said? Luke xiii. 34, 35, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, tfaouttratf kiHest the prophets, and stonest -them ih^t'are Senium to you, how oft would 1 have gathered thee together as a hen doth her efvickeus,and ye would not;behoid ydu£ house is left unto you desolate. And verily I say unto you, ye shall no" see me until ye shall say, blessed is k& that com ih in the name of the Lord, Hear what a glorious promise to those blinded Jews, who hnve been driven from country to country, despised and rejected ever since the end of the law dispensation; and during this their miserable state, the 'Lord said they should nofc see him, bat paints to a time that they should see hha and call hi in blessed. And so alllsrael shall be saved* see Rom. xi. 26. The next passage that I will notice concerning hell, is. Rev. vi. 7, 8, And when he had opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, come and see. And 1 looked and behold a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was Death, and hell followed with him. Here hell is said to be following with the char- Hctet'ori the pale horse, which proves that hcl; muais trouble in this life of mortality. The pale horse here spoken of I conceive to mean the reformation from pop??- rj, as propagated by j oKn Calvin ana Martin Lutheft Whv it is called pale, is by reason of the reformers' ha- ving niif-evideuee-for tlirsr creeds ami sacraments hut that of. tr.iiditfim 5 as taught by the Roman church. Th* m rider on this pale horse is all apostatized christians** who hold to the pope's sacraments, baptism, &c. Why the rider is called Death,- is because all apostatized -christians are led by a< carnal mind, which the apostle says is death (Rom. viii. 6.) The hell that follows af- ter them is a guilty conscience, which is visible (in their countenances) to every beholder. That there is uojixccl place iri the universe called hell, such as is represented by professed preachers, is evident to every man of ra- tional understanding, and all scripture also deny it; but without a devil and a hell a hired preacher would cut but a poor figure, for he would be as a soldier m the field of battle without arms or ammunition, for those are their weapons,whieh are as valuable to them as the god- •lle&s Diana was to vhe Drafts- men of Ephesus, (see Actsxix. 27.) But they shall pm^Suti© further, for their folly shall be made manifest to ail men, as the E- gypliau sorcerors were, in the days of Moses, see> 2 Tim, iii. 8, 9. THE SERPENT, DEVIL, OR SATAN The Serpent, Devil, or Satan, in the Scripture' stnse, means the lust or works of thejlesh* As there is no fixed place in the universe such as tho clergy call hell, so likewise there is no created being called the devil; and if there was such a character as the. preachers call the devil, there Is nothing for him to do, for the Supreme Eternal governs and directs all things, ways and means agreeable to the council of his own will. As such, there is no earthly use for a devil. Professed preachers of the gospel have and continue to give some very astonishing accounts of a monster which m they call the ck\ il. They say, lie was first an angel ai light, who resided in the courts of heaven in attendance on the Deify; but for his pride and disobedience he was Oast oat of heaven unto the earth; and that his business now is to tempt "mankind to act contrary to tlte will and purposes of Almighty God; that he -is every where at all times and places on earth at the same time; and that he tempts mankind to do every wicked act that he does, particularly such acts as are contrary to the creeds and doctrines of the protestant churches. If there is a devil lie must be a created being, and I deny that any created being can he in more than oi*£ place at the same time. And again, if the professed christians' devil has the power which they say, he is e- qjual in power villi the Deity, And to admit that (he Almighty has created a bring which is his equal and greatest enemy, is more than Icnn, we rail llm devik this will be admitted by all,. The Go*] which Jrsus taught his followers to worship, is a spirit, and all who worship him do it in spirit with the mind, (see Jiom. vih 25.) — All mankind who have life, are composed of fle^h and spirit, which the apostle says* Gah v. 17* Are con- trary to each other, and each Uisteth against tUv- other.. i As such, those Mho \vorship God in spirit, their flesh -or tin 5 lust thereof is their devil: and to those who whr- : ship I he god of this wr vld, who is the pope, a god of I ^fiesh, worship him wiih the flesh, hy fasting, repenting praying and observing his sacraments, And with all such the Supreme Deity is their devil and the pajie their God. 1 know this cuts dose, bat the Lord said to Pi- late, I came to bear Witness of the truth. As such, the ! truth cannot be blamed though it morftfies many. I am perfectly willing to admit of such a devil as the scrip- tures give us an account of, which is the lust of the flesh* ?is before stated. See ilch \ii> 9, And (bat great dra- ■goh wtts east out, thai old serpent called the devil and satan, which deccivc.Ua the whole world. This is his satanic majesty the pope, who has deceived the whole world with his religion or sacraments. All of which is without scripture foundation, and is idolatry. The reason why the pope is styled dragon, is because in his persecutions against the primitive christians.be so much resembled the ancient .kings of Egypt, who were the persecutors of the primitive church of Israel; and that 4Iiose persecuting kings of Egypt were styled dragons. Let the reader-turn to Ps. ixxiv. 13.1sa. li. 9, and Ezk. xxix. 3. The wars that St. John mentions as being \\i Heaven, were the ten general persecutions that the Ro- man emperors (or popes) carried on in succession a- gainst the primitive christians, during which the chris- tian name was entirely cut off, and idolatry reinstated, .jander a pretence of its being christian because the Ro- mans worshipped the image of Jesus, and the empe- ror for the time being declared head bishop of tha -Church, and styled pope; who is pleased to be styled lord of lords arid king of kings, vicegerent of heaven; and god on earth. Thus the wicked emperor of Rome, feeing entirely led by the lust of the flesh and a carnal mind* after puffing all the primitive christians to death, and reinstating idolatry under a pretence of its being the religion of Jesus Christ and the apostles, has -violently opposed the plan of salvation through the iaith of Jesus Christ And for these reasons St. John styles him that old serpent, the devil, and Satan out of the bottomless pit, because he is entirely led by the lust *>.f the flesh anci a carnal mind, which is contrary to the spirit, Why he is said to be out of the bottomless pif, is because he is of the earth and earthy, for this globe of earth is the bottomless pit; for it has no bottom to il, being round like a ball, has a surface and centre but no bottom. The popes assumed to have all the powers of Jesus Christ, can forgive the sins of thousands in a mo- ment, can grant passports to heaven, indulgences. &c. lie is the grand enemy and opposer of Jesus Christ* and is pnticJU'istj the devil and satan, eye. And all who 60 etebracehis sacraments, under a pretence of reformat tion from popery, worship the. beast, and style the Su- preme Deity their devil. But the pope is undoubtedly the devil, worship him who may: and not only the popes fcut every man that is led by a carnal mind or lust of the flesh, is in the scripture sense a devil. Hear the testimony of the Son of man in this case: — see Mattln xvi. 21, Christ said that he should suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and that he should be crucified, and that he would rise again on the^ third day. The apostle Peter says, be it far from thee Lord, this shall not be unto thee. But hear the answeiy verse 22, Get thee behind me satan, thou art an offence unto me. Here the Son of man called his own apostle Peter satan; and for what? Because Peter's being at that time led by a carnal mind and lust of the flesh, sig- nified his willingness to oppose the plan of salvation through the means of a Mediator, which was the object of Christ's manifestation in the flesh; and for this rea- son our Lord called him satan, which means that Peter was led by a carnal mind, as the popes and all whe em- brace their sacraments are, and scripturally are devils. Again the son of man says to the unbelieving Jews who were led by the lust of the flesh and a carnal mind, who were the great enemies to gospel light and salvation* John viiL 44, Ye are of your father the devil and his lust ye will do. See verse 57, I know ye are Abra- ham's seed. Here the Son of man acknowledges that his enemies, the unbelieving Jews, were the children of Abraham, and yet they were of their father the devil, Whose lust they would do. From which testimony it a- bundttUtly appears, that the devil was the fleshly nature or carnal mindedness, such as was and is opposite to the spirit. Again, St; John in his address to the church in Smyrna, Rev, ii. 10, says, Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer, behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried. Here this mighty devil is casting the primitive christians into pri- son, which proves him to be a wicked man or men, led i fey the lust of flesh and a carnal mind. Ami to this eady< *■&'■ he was the grand oppeserof the religion of Jesus Christ,. as the popes and all apostatized christians are, and are properly called devils. Our Lord said, Matth, xiii. 39, The enemy that sowed the tare among the wheat was The devil. I, have before proven that all apostatized christians are tares, and that the pope sowed them. See John vi. 70, Behold I have chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil. This was Judas Iscariot, who when he received the sop, John iii. 27> was filled with satan, and went and betrayed his Lord into the hands of his enemies; and for this reason he was called a devil See the case of Elimas the sorceror, a false prophet, who withstood Paul, seeking to turn away the deputy (or such as believed the apostles' doctrine.) And for this wickqd principle Paul called him a child of the devil, see Actsxiii. 6 to 10. When all that he had done was to oppose the plan of salvation through faith a3 the apos- tles taught. The next passage I will notice is the temptations of the Son of man See Matth. iv„ l, 2, Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness, to bo tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and nights*, lie was afterwards an hungered. And when the tempter came to him he said if thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread. Here we have a for- mal account of his majesty's temptations. But a little attention to the passage will show that this tempter was the carnal fleshly nature. When the Son of man was pro- claimed by the. heavenly voice to be the Son of God, his earthly carnal nature-was highly exalted; but his spirit drives him into the wilderness that the carnal mind may try its nature in temptations against the spirit. And to this end, the Son of man fasted forty days, and when lie was hungered a fleshly appetite comes to him and says to the understanding, if thou be the Sun of , God command Wjat these stones be made bread. Here was temptations to gratify a fleshly appetite, but to no avaiL Again, verses 5,6,Then the, devil taketh him up into the boly city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saitli uqto hiw); if thou be the Son of Qod cast thy* «4 sdf dowia, as it is written, God will give hi& atsgefs charge concerning thee. Hero is that passion which gives rise to presumption, and wishes to avoid duty.- Again, verses 8, 9, The devil taketh him up into aa exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the king- doms of the world and the glory of them:- and saith un- to him, all these things will I give to thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me. There is no mountain in the universe from whence all the kingdoms of the world can be- seen; as such, I conceive tins to he a figu- rative passage, as well as that of the pinnacle of the temple. The mountain here signified, I conceive to be the mountain of. human pride, and when one is on a mountain, the mountain is under his feet; as such, the mountain of human pride our sinless Redeemer had uu- der his feet As such his fleshly ambition to avail him- self of the kingdoms of this world had no effect on his spiritual nature • — Thus we see, when our Lord was an hungered he was tempted to turn stones into bread — here was a fleshly appetite. When he wason the pin. nacle (as G >d had given his angels charge over him) he was tempted to cast himself down,. Here was that fleshly nature that wishes to avoid duty. And when he had a view of all the worldly kingdoms, his fleshly na- ture tempted him to avail himself of them, Here was natural ambition, such as gave rise to Napoleon. Thus this devil which tempted the Sou of man, appears to be mothing more or less than the lust of the- flesh. And it appears that the Son of man was tempted as other men are, yet without sin. If we know how we are tempted, we also know how he was tempted.— We read that thero were seven devils castoutof Mary Magdalen, see Luke viii. 2. Those devils I conceive to be contrary ideas, such as deranged persons aro in possession of, — the ease of the Gurgesenes, Mutth. viii. 28, is similar to that of Mary Magdalen. Those tvio men were posses- sed with devils, and made their dwelling among tombs, or as it is in St. Luke viii. 27, They wear no clothes. Or as it is in St. Mark v. 3 to 5,Xhat they always, night ami day, were in the mountains, and in the tombs, cry- iiig and cuiting themselves with s(ones 9 and that they 1 or he could not he hound wifhchains.This or those men Were undoubtedly in that state which we now call de- ranged or distracted. And yet, the scriptures inform us that they were possessed with devils; whichcanmean nothing more than the fleshly nature having got the victory over the understanding, so as to cause the minds entirely to dwell on subjects which were contrary to gos- pel light, which distracted the understanding, as is the Case with every one whose mind is deranged. Those Gurgesenes having their minds bewildered, were in a complete state of derangement, and were said to be pos* sessed with devils,— as is the case with many of oui* fellow-mortals at this day; nay, all who view the pope's sacraments as necessary to salvation are in a state of derangement, and in the scripture sense are possessed V>ith devils. From what has been said on the subject .'of his Satan- ic majesty, the reader will at once see the propriety in believing him to be the works or lust of the flesh sup- ported by a carnal mind. For there is nothing better calculated to make mankind completely miserable, than the gratification of a carnal mind. Whenever a car* tial mind gets the victory over the understanding, the creature is then miserable; he is often disappointed, vexed and grieved, for he often imagines that the great* or part of the affairs of the universe are progressing, not only disagreeable to his own will and pleasure, but positively disagreeble and contrary to the will of Ilea* ven, and consequently is often in dread that the Almigh* ty will destroy Hie greater part or the whole of mankind by some unnatural earthquake, whirlwind or thunder- storm; and thtis the carnal mind is at enmity against God, ad renders the mafi completely miserable. In further testimony that the devil and satan means* the lust or works uf 'the fl led by a carnal mind, see 1 Johniii. 8, He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sifineth from the beginning. For rliis purpose the Son »>f God was manifested, tbnt he might destroy the works of the devil.«-»Here the apostle bays that siir 73 is of the devil, and that the Son of God was manifest- ed to take away our sins, (see verse 5,) which is done by bruising the serpent's head, which serpent is our carnal, fleshly nature, derived from our earthly Adam. This being overcome by our heavenly nature, which produces love to God and man, the serpent's head is bruised, and the works of the devil destroyed; which Was the object of the Messiah's mission. And as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive* Again, (see 1 Cor. v. 5,) To deliver such an one unto safan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Here the apos- tle informs us that satan's power is confuted to the de- struction of the flesh, and that the spirit is saved; which further proves that satan, devil, &c. mean the lust or works of the flesh. Thus I have, no doubt, proved to the reader's satis- faction, that the terms devil, safan, and serpent, in the scripture sense, signify the works or lusts of the flesh, being the effects of a carnal mind. And this is the God that professed christians worship; and hence the ne- cessity of sacraments and ordinances, all of which have been invented by idolaters to please the carnal mind. And with all such worshippers the Supreme Eternal is their de\il. Hear what the professed preachers say from their wooden pulpits: < Few of Adam's posterity will be saved, because few are led by a carnal mind to Worship the beast, and the devil gets all who do not worship as we do.' Now it is evident, that all who are Not worshippers of the beast, and idolaters, worship God in spirit; as such, those who worship God in spi- rit, and are not subject to ordinances and sacraments, are saved, and the balance damned. The reader will Understand that the word damnation, in the scripture sense, signifies torments in this life of mortality. And it is evident that all professed christians are in a state of damnation, from their divisions and conten- tions with respect to their (reeds arid rules of faith. — . The methodist gays he is right, and all others wrong; the presbyterian says the same, the baptist says the G same, the episcopalian the same, the seceder the same;' tilid the catholic, more daring than the rest, knowing that all apostatized christians descended from the Ro- dman church, arid worship the heast, boldly asserts that they are all wrong, because they do not worship the image of Jesus as he does. This is the effects of car- jial-mindedness, and nothing is wanting to put an end to those sects but to place them in one quarter of the continent to make their own laws and govern them- selves, and perpetual rebellion and blood-shed is the consequence as long as there is two sects remaining, which will be the case at the pouring out of the sixth vial. I know that my belief of devil and hell is very dif- ferent from that supported by the clergy. But the cler- gy acknowledge the propriety of reading the scriptures; they have recommended it as a duty, and if a duty to lead them, it is undoubtedly right to believe them. And if the scriptures do not warrant us in the belief of such devil and hell as the preachers have described, why be- lieve their description of de\i! and hell? I am perfect* ly willing to believe in such hell as the scriptures give an account of, but I am not willing to believe in such Iiell as the clergy declare to us. The reason why 1 do not believe in such hell is, because the scriptures do not Warrant such belief. 1 am also willing to believe in such devil as the scriptures give an account of, but I •• they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and \x\ the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathens do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye, therefore, like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him. Al- ter this manner therefore, pray ye: Our Father whicii art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not in- to temptation; but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen* This appears to be the order of prayer that the on- ly begotten of the Father taught to his {©flowers- But shameful to relate, the catholics and protectants have introduced in lieu thereof, the prayers of heathen idol- aters — in the place of the closet with a closed door, they stand in their synagogues (or houses of worship) or other public places where they can be seen of men, and there use all the vain repetitions they possibly can think of, saying, God help us, God bless us, God save lis, God pardon us, God guide us, God give us rain, God give us health, &c. &c. And thus with their vain repetitions they have taught mankind generally, to take 1he name of God iti vain. For it is evident, that the practice of profane swearing originated in the pulpit, or the catholics' sanctum sanctorum; for sjstys the com- fei 6 jnon people, the priest calls on God for this, that, and the other; in a word, whatsoever the priests or profess- ed preachers want done, they 'call on God to do it; and in thus acting they represent God to be the common servant of mankind. And to this end, men in a passion ■will call on God to damn this, that, or the other; w hicli shameful practice unquestionably originated in the pul- pit, for the pulpit is the place from whence the name of God was taught to mankind. The priests and profess- ed preachers have set the example, and mankind gene- rally have followed. The Royal law says, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. The gospel says, When thou prayest use not vain repetitions, for your Hea\enly Father knoweth what things ye have need of before you ask him. But in open defiance to law and gospel, the clergy have taught mankind to call, on God for ail things that they need. And the lament- able consequence is, the name of God is daily and hour- ly taken in vain; some calling on him to bless, some to curse, some to save and some to destroy. The sacred oracles declare, that God is unchangeable, the same yesterday, to day and forever: that he tempts no man, neither can he be tempted. This being the character of the Supreme, he said on the tables, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Jesus Christ the only begotten of the Father says, When thou pray- est use not vain repetitions. As such, it is vanity to call on God for any thing, either to gave or destroy, bless or curse, for he knoweth our needs before we ask htm; and consequently, there is as much vanity in calling on God for one thing as there is in calling on him for an- other; for he knoweth our needs before we ask him, and needeth not the instructions of man to guide his uner- ring hand. As such, it is vanity to call on him on any occasion whatsoever; for he created and formed us, and in him we live, move, and have our being. As such, it betrays a want of the knowledge of his character to call on him to bless or curse, save or destroy. And such petitions are calculated to throw contempt on the character of him who made the world and all things '77 thtt*ein. But tins is priestcraft, invented for the sake of gain, *Tl»e church after teaching mankind to take the name of God in vain, have influenced the govern- ment to fine ail who call on God to damn or destroy, which fine was anciently, payable to the church war-, dens, for (he use and support of the clergy. But this jewel they have been robbed of, and the fine is now pay- able to the commissioners of the poor. Thus we see, as St. John long ^go predicted, the old serpent has deceiv- ed the whole woi Id: first, he learned mankind to take the Lord's name in vain; and then fined him for so do- ing; this is one of t lie many deep rooted schemes that they have invented to bring themselves into power; for as I have observed, wealth begets power, and power begets the right. And the church is the autlior of all the tyranny and oppression in our world. — Wolves in sheep's clothing, under the pretended character of lambs; they have proven themselves to be the authors of every evil in the land. But all is right, for man has no knowledge of the value of justice until injustice op- presses him. Whom I love I rebuke and chasten. Maii being the object of God's love, is consequently the object of his rebuke and chastisement; and universal nature has experienced the evil of tyranny and oppres- sion, which is calculated to make justice and equity more sweet and lasting. We would never know the value of health if we were never sick. But having experienced all the evil consequences of unbelief and infidelity, when once enlightened with the glorious light of liber- ty > we will be happy beyond description. Explanation of the Lord's Prayer. When thou prayest enter into thy mind and shut thy lip c ; and say, Our Father who art in happiness, sacred be thy name; thy kingdom of faith (or reign of the spirit) come; thy will be done in the human body, ns it is in the spirit. Give the body food and raiment day by. day. And forgive its lust against the spirit; lead it not into temptations superior to the powers of the spi- 78 Htj but deliver it from evil. For tlie spirit gives life to the body, and all the powers of the body are depend- ant on the spirit, and ail the glory of the body is of the spirit. Amen. Tiiis is in short, the explanation of the Lord's prayer. Every man is composed of flesh and spirit — the flesh or body of itself, is dead, the spirit gives it life, and of course, the spirit is the higher power. The word earth, signifies the human body that Adam was commanded to multiply and replenish. Those things shew the need of atonement to reconcile man to God, that they may not take his name in vain: that tyranny and op- pression may cease to be; and universal nature comply with that golden rule which says, Do unto all men as you would that men should do unto you. To which end* I pray. ISAAC J. FOSTER. ISO. III. ON ELECTION. The object of Election is f that all may be saved, Professed preachers of the gospel have said and wrote a great deal on the doctrine of election. In do- ing which, they have endeavored to prove that the Heavenly Father in the dispensation of his providence, has fleeted a small part of his children (say one hun- dredth) to the enjoyment of endless happiness after death, and the whole balance to suffer endless pun- ishments after death. This they say, is the plan pur- sued by an all-wise, just, impartial, merciful and good God: which assertions of theirs are so contrary to the nature of God and his offspring, that I venture to as- sort, that if any man believed it he would become de- ranged. And at the same time those deluded mortals (who call themselves christians) flatter themselves that they are the elect, who are to enjoy endless happiness after they are dead. But if so, 1 will ask those charac- ters whence the necessity of all this parade about their religion? Whence, the necessity of fasting and pray- ing, repenting, baptism, feast of Bacchus, &c. &c? If they are the elect, who are to enjoy happiness after death as long as God exists, I see no use for all this round of pretended religious duties. But the great pa- rade they make about their religion, clearly proves that they are in doubts of happiness after death. Their experiences, visions, dreams, and articles of faith, all bespeak doubts and fears on their part: and yet they say they are the elect, and their happiness after death <*8 88 is sure. But admitting this to be the ftiet, their conduct* which speaks louder than words, proves that they do not believe their happiness is sure. And to this end, they make a great show of faith and righteousness: but we know by their fruit, that they are extremely doubt- ful of salvation; and well they may be, for they worship the beast, and partake largely of his principles. It is something astonishing with me, that professed chris- tians will attribute that to their God which they would not like to be guilty of themselves. How would a pro- fessed preacher like to be accused of partiality towards his own children; — -even before they were born, to make mery necessary provision for the happiness of one, and every possible provision for the misery of the other ninety-nine? Would this be justice? would this be im- partiality, or would this be doing to all men as you would that men should do unto you? Has not the Hea- venly Father sufficient stores $>f goodness for the happi- ness of all his children? Undoubtedly he has. If so, why feed a few to the full, and leave the whole balance for whom Christ died, to suffer endlessly in sight of their brethren, who have plenty and to spare? The doctrine of election, as contended for by professed preachers, is bet- ter calculated to make tyrants than friends. The rea- der will, no doubt, agree that something wrong is en- tertained on the subject of election. The object of elec- tion is, that all may be saved. If every man in the U- nited States was a member to congress, what house, or what city could hold them? Anil who can calculate }>aif the confusion occasioned by such an assembly, all to no purpose? As such, it is necessary to elect a few, whose duty it is to serve the whole. And this is the object and meaning of election throughout the Old and New Testaments Noah was elected to build the ark, that thereby the seeds of creation might be preserved from the deluge. Abraham was elected to be the father of the faithful. Jacob was elected before he was Born, (Rom. ix. 1 1, 12,) to be the father of the twelve tribes. Moses was elect- ed at his birth, hid in the bulrushes, found by Pbaroah's 88 daughter and brought up in Fharoah's house, to-be the instrument in the. hands of God to deliver the Jews From Egyptian bondage, lead them through the sea and wilderness, and to receive and give them the la.w. Aaron Was elected to the priesthood. Solomon was elected to build the house of God. Mary was elected to be the mother of Jesus. Judas was elected to betray him, and the apostles were elected to pi each the gospel of Christ to all nations, and write it as the last dispensation of God's providence to man. All those characters were elected, not for their own salvation nul happiness only,, but for the common salvation of all men. I will ask the reader, if the gospel would have been any better preached, or any better understood, 'or any better written, if all the Jews had been elected to tills duty? For my part, I feel no hesitation in sa>mg, -that God floes at I tilings well. As such, 1 believe that Chrises gospel was as fully preached, as fully understood, arid as fully written by the twelve who were elected for this purpose as it could have been provided .'the whole Jew- ish nation had been engaged in it; and perhaps more go. As such, we see the propriety in elections, if all men were public servants of the same grade, \\ ho would they serve? If all nfen had been elected to the apostleship, who w oid d t h e y ha ve pre a c h e A to? it w a s not n e c e s s a - ry that every man should be a priest* or a prophet, or an apostle. This would be coming at the point at once. But an election has and is yet rieeessary that all may be sen ed. Our Saviour was God's elect- See Isa. xlii. 1, Behold my servant whom I uphold; mine elect in whom my soul delighteth. Was Jesus Christ elected for Ins own individual happiness, or was he elected for the common salvation of all men? He said, The Foxes have holes, and the Fowls of the air have tests, but the Son of man hath not wl^re to lay his head. From this testimony of the Son of man, who was God's elect, it appears that this election rather made him miserable th n happy. See his whole life, a continued scene of mockery, False ace 'ligations, stoning, stripes, spitted on, buffeted and finally crucified between two thieves; and 88 is sure. But admitting this to be the ftiet, their conduct* which speaks louder than words, proves that they do not believe their happiness is sure. And to this end, they make a great show of faith and righteousness: but we know by their fruit, that they are extremely doubt- ful of salvation; and well they may be, for they worship the beast, and partake largely of his principles. It is something astonishing with me, that professed chris- tians will attribute that to their God which they would not like to be guilty of themselves. How would a pro- fessed preacher like to be accused of partiality towards his own children; — -even before they were born, to make mery necessary provision for the happiness of one, and every possible provision for the misery of the other ninety-nine? Would this be justice? would this be im- partiality, or would this be doing to all men as you would that men should do unto you? Has not the Hea- venly Father sufficient stores $>f goodness for the happi- ness of all his children? Undoubtedly he has. If so, why feed a few to the full, and leave the whole balance for whom Christ died, to suffer endlessly in sight of their brethren, who have plenty and to spare? The doctrine of election, as contended for by professed preachers, is bet- ter calculated to make tyrants than friends. The rea- der will, no doubt, agree that something wrong is en- tertained on the subject of election. The object of elec- tion is, that all may be saved. If every man in the U- nited States was a member to congress, what house, or what city could hold them? Anil who can calculate }>aif the confusion occasioned by such an assembly, all to no purpose? As such, it is necessary to elect a few, whose duty it is to serve the whole. And this is the object and meaning of election throughout the Old and New Testaments Noah was elected to build the ark, that thereby the seeds of creation might be preserved from the deluge. Abraham was elected to be the father of the faithful. Jacob was elected before he was Born, (Rom. ix. 1 1, 12,) to be the father of the twelve tribes. Moses was elect- ed at his birth, hid in the bulrushes, found by Pbaroah's &3 the happiness of the poor. As such, the Supreme Eter- nal having determined to communicate his love to his' children, in order to render them happy, has elected Moses and the prophets, Christ and the apostles, to su- perintend this important business. See the Old and New Testaments, That the object of election is, that all may he served, I will prove by scripture testimony. Sec Rom. xi. 7, What thcn$ Israel hath not obtained that which he seeked for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Verse 8, According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day. Here is the fact fully stated by the inspired pensman. The election obtained that which Israel seeked for, and the rest were blinded — But did they blind themselves? No. God gave them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, ana ears that they should not hear. And must those Israel- ites, whom G-J in his wisdom has blinded, suffer end- lessly? V> ill my opposers dare to say, that God will torment those Israelites endlessly, because they did not sec and hear, when God himself had blinded and deaf- ened them so that they could not? Do professed preach- ers wish to represent the Supreme Deity as full of ty- ranny and oppression as their holy pope is? But here they will bring in their agency, and say, that the Israel- ites were free agents, and could have prevented this spi- rit of slumber, and as they did not use their agency i:i that case, and suffered the God of Heaven to blind them, that they must be endlessly miserable for their own ne- glect. But 1 trust I have blotted out that jewel of theirs 1 agency. We now say, thatGod erave the Israelites the spirit of slumber for the glorious purpose of cruel- lying the Lord of glory: and that the scriptures might he fulfilled, 1 say then, that it was as absolutely nc- cessaiy, to universal salvation, for si part of Israel to he blinded, as it was for a part to he elected. For if all Israel had believed Jesus to have been the Messiah and Saviour of the woild, they would not have said, a^ him, crucify him, crucify him. And cense- B 80 quently, no crucifixion; and without the shedding of blood could have been no remission of sins. And now tvc see the necessity of a part of Israel's being elected, and apart being blinded; and the intention is, that all may be served. So Israel did not obtain that which he seeked for, but the election obtained it, and the rest %vere blinded. All Israel seeked for the righteousness *>f Christ, which is of faith, but none but the elect ones obtained it; the balance being blinded, seeked in the let- ter of the law, and in their zejai crucified the Lord of glory. If it was necessary that Christ should be sacri- ficed for the sins of the world, it was undoubtedly ne- cessary that some part of the human race should do it. As such, God gave a part of the Jews the spirit of slum- ber, eye$ that they should not see, and cars that they should not hear. This done, the blinded Jews took delight in crucifying the Lord of glory, and persecuting Ins followers. See Acts iv. 27, 28, For of a truth a- gainst the holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do what- soever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Here is the proof of the fact, that Israel was blinded, that they might do whatsoever God's hand and counsel had determined before to be done. And so all Israel shall be saved. See Rom. xi. 25, 26, For I "would not brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery (lest ye should be wise in your own conceits,) that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written. Then shall come out of ;Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 87, For this* is my covenant unto them, ^vlien I shall take away their sins. £8, As concerning the gospel they are enemies for your (Gentiles) sake. But as touching the election they are beloved for the Fathers sake. This passage proves very literally, what 1 contend for. But my opposer will quote a pas- sage that says, They are not all Israel which are of Is- 'ae!/b^t in Isaac, &c. But .his quotation is no contradic- S7 {km to the salvation of all Israel. For the apostle Iierb says, As touching the gospel, they are enemies,- — it vi not the 4 - elect who were enemies to the gospel, but the non-elect, of whom the apostle says, They arc beloved for the Father's sake. Hear what the apostle furthe?* says in evidence of the salvation of the blinded Jews; see verse 11, I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid; but rather through their fail salvation is come unto the Gentiles for to provoke them to jealousy. See verse 15, For if the casting away of them be reconciling of the world, what shall the receiv- ing of them be but life from the dead? See Terse 1> I say then, hath God cast avuay his people? God for- bid. In short, this whole chapter is positive testimony in favor of the salvation of the non-elect Jews. Then I say, God has an elect in every work that is done on earth; and the object of his elections are, that all may be served. And to this end, a sufficient number of Jews and Gentiles were elected to the faith of Christ, dining the apostles' ministry, to give credit to the truth of the scriptures. Even so in the worship of the beast, God having 'determined that the apocaliptical beast should be worshipped for a season, hns influenced al! such worshippers to do so. For ! prophet, Kfcv. xiii. 8, AH that dwell upon the earth shall wo whose names are not wr • lamb's book of slain from the foundation. Thu voi%? ship of the beast is not a ma e but of neces- sity; in as inucti as ti;e-Supieme has determinetl it. So I sa^, a^l who worship the beast ha\e been elected to that service, although they are torrm nted ^ay and iitffht whilst they continue in such worship. Yet they have been productive of much good in circulating the go^p 4 of Christ. So, as the blinded Jews, part of Israel were instrumental in effecting the means of the corifmori salvation of all men. Even so, the Protestants or blind- ed pat t of the Gentiles, have been made t\^ instrument to circulate Christ's gospel amongst the nations of the. earth, for the common b< mfit of all. Bet it wit! he re- c*Ucct<.'dj that the Protestants had no better intention 88 ill circulating the gospel of Christ, than the blindeci Jews had in eriicrl'yihg the Lord of glory. For said the Jews, if we let him alone all men will believe or* him* and the Roman's will take away our place and na- tion. See John xi. 48. So in order that all men should not believe on Christ, the blinded Jews crucified I im; which was the grand cause of all men's believing on litiH. So the blinded Jews were disappointed; and the "Romans took away their place and nation. Even so, fl;e blinded Gentiles, after the pope was firmly seated .;.; his throne of glory, governing by his seven idola- trous sacraments purporting to be scriptural, seeing that mankind began to doubt his infallibility, who also viewed the image of Jesus with a jealous eye; says Lu- ther and Calvin, If we let the people alone they will tsrRe away the pope's authority, and we shall be shut out m power altogether. We will also protest against the ftr- falHbiiity of the pope and his image. But at the same time preach up that his sacraments are genuine; and to remove all doubts on the subject, we will give the people the scriptures to read for themselves, telling them at the same time, that they cannot understand them: that they never were intended to be understood by any tiki inspired men, such as m. And thus acting we wilt secure to ourselves and posterity the pone's reli- gion, which is so wc41 calculated to uphold tyranny and; oppression. Thus, Luther and Calvin, under a pretence of pro- testing against the infallibility of the pope and his idol- atry, soon brought about and established the reforma- iion, which is an acknowledgment of the infallibility of the pope. Thus the apocaliptical beast began to be worshipped about the beginning of the fifteenth centu- ry. And the blinded Gentiles are as much mistaken in llieir design, as was the blinded Jews. For \hc whole object of the reformation was to establish the infallibili- ty of the pope by the observance of l^s seven sacra- ments; in doing which the reformers have been indus- trious to circulate the scriptures as evidence of the pope's sacraments. But the scriptures bear witness m iTM the pope's SucramenU are all idolatry, that tlie pops hmjself is that man of sin, and that all apostatized chris- tians woiship the beast. Thus the Protestants have as completely failed in their designs as did the blinded Jews. But to this end, they were elected; and by their elecffon the scriptures have been circulated; and t he main bulk of mankind believe the scriptures, but do not believe in the pope's sacraments: for all who believe iiv the sacraments embrace them; in which case actions speak louder thai} bare words. Thus we see that the elect Protestants were not elect- ed for their own benefit, but for the benefit of all men to whom they have carried the scriptures. Thus they have fulfilled their course. And the object for which they were elected is nearly accomplished, But they hare failed in their design: but God has carried the whole of his into execution. BrS*HHfras with the blind- ed Jews, even so it is with the blinded Protestants,™ What 1 mean by blinded Gentiles is, that they are blind- ed as to the faith of Christ; but elected to the worship of the beast. Judas Iscariot was also elected to betray his Lord into the hands of his enemies, For said Jesus, He it is to whom i will give a sop when I have dipped it. And ^fi6n he had dipped the sop behave it to Judas, saying? That thou doest do quickly. Thus was Judas elected to this i\id\; and behaved his Lord into the hands of iiis enemies for thirty pieces oi'sih ei% (funking no doubt that Jesus would perform such miracles before the san- liedHm as would canvlnee the nation that he was the expected Messiah, and would be proclaimed K r og of the habitable earth, ivliicfa was the prevailing opinion amongst the Jews at that day. But when Judas fi'unifl that instead of his Lord's being proclaimed king, he fajj to be crucified: like an honest muri disappointed, h^ goes Lark to the council with agonies of grief, saying* I have betrayed the innocent blood. And wished them to rescind the contract, ottering: bark (he thirty pieces ofsiWer. But to tro effect, it" is ton ^ ate* The object ~* imw i\tvmi\\j\\s\x$i&i k -hrist rmfet lie crfecifie.fi; fur with- 90 out the shedding oF blood there could be no remission of sins. Arid to this end, Jutlas was elected to betray him into the hands of the chief-priests, that the scrip- tures might be fulfilled* and that Jesus might taste death for every man. And so Judas went to his own place, his spirit to God who gave it, and his body to dust from whence it came, see Eccl. xii. 7. So I conclude that Judas was elected to betrav Christ, Christ was elected to make an atonement for sin, the apostles elected to preach the gospel of atonement to all nations, the beast elected to be worshipped, and his worshippers elected to that service. And the intention of those elec- tions is, that all may be served. ON TH1 SOUL, AND TRINITY. The Soul i$ the Iwdiki sensations, %0Mch produce think' ing 9 or, coiisdtitfe Urn Mind* Profkskfd preachers of the gospel are often heard to 8 >, that the soul of H^ shiner is punched after the death of the body. And the ingenious method tha* they have connived to give this assert inn credit is, by as- serting that the sou! ad spirit are the same. But I will ask them, if the genii and the spi? it are one anil the same, v>h} ftive it two names a though they we?e two in r.-ature? il' so»il and spirit are the same, I do not see the use of the two names, unless to puzzle the minds of men. Ail the kjiowlsUge we have of thone things are derived from scripture, and if it is lawful to believe, 91 the scriptures, they at once confound the preachers' doctrine; for the apostle says positively, that man is composed of spirit, soul, and body. See 1 Thes. v. 23, I pray God, your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless. Read for yourselves and see that I do not forge, as I have already been accused. If the apostle Paul is a lawful witness in this case, his testi- mony clearly proves that the soul and spirit are not the same. But that man is composed of spirit, soul and body, which things I have hinted in my treatise on cre- ation and formation. But to give the reader further in- formation on the subject of spirit, -spul, and body, ob- serve, that man was first created in spirit, male and female on the sixth day; and formed of the dust after the seventh. But he had no soul until after God breath- ed the created spirit, then man became a living soul. The reader will at once discover that on the spirit's entering the body m^ti became a living soul. That is, the body became alive to sensations, could see, hear, taste, smell, feel and think; and of course had a mind, which Moses called a soul. But take away the spirit or breath of life, and there is no more sensations, and consequently no soul. The body of itself, is dead. The spirit or breath of life introduced into, the body gives life to the body: and whilst there is life, \UevQ is sensa- tions, and whilst the body is in possession of sensa- tions there is a soul, and no longer. As such, man has no more a soul after the body is dead, than Adam had before God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. The spirit's leaving the body causes death to the body. These things, that is, spirit, body and soul, are in fi- gure and nature, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; three in one. But not really one, neither in substance or nature: but three in one. The spirit is not the body or soul, neither is the body the spirit or soul; nor yet is the soul the spirit or body; and j et spirit, soul, and body are* three in one. So also, Father, Son, and Ho- ]y Ghost, are three in one, but not really one, in sub- stance or nature; neither is the Father the Son, nor the Son the Father; neither is the Father the Ilolv p Ghost, nor is tltc Son the Holy Ghost; nor is the Holy Ghost Father or Son. And yet Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three in one; iii th^ same order, the same nature and to the same end as spirit, hody, and soul is man. I invite the attention of trinitarians and unitarians to this subject:—*- Man was first created in spirit, and his spirit was created of God's own eternal fulness; a # s such, the spirit of man is theFather in nature. Man's bo- dy was formed of the dust into flesh and blood; this is of the Son manifested in the flesh, in nature and substance. The created spirit, or Father, entered the body or son, produced sensations, which are the means of communi- cation to man's ideas, ami is in its nature the Holy Ghost. And spirit, body, and soul, is Father, Son, and iloly Ghost in nature and substance. When the Son or body was expiring on the cross, he says to the Father, .Why hast thou forsaken me. It was his spirit that was forsaking him. which was necessary to the deal it of the Son or body. Again, see Matth. xxvi. 38, My sou! is exceeding sorrowful unto deatln Verse 41, The sjutit indeed is willing hut the flesh is weak. From this testimony it appears that spirit, body, and soul -arc three in one. For he says that the spirit was wil- ling, the flesh or body we; k, and the soul exceeding sorrowful even unto death. The Father was undoubt- edly willing to the crucifixion of the Bon. And it is evident* that the Son or body was weak at the idea of its sufferings, fcrt- he sweated as it were great drops of blood. 1 he mind or Holy Ghost was also sorrowful at i\\Q idea or knowledge of the approaching sufferings of the body on the cross. WliicJi dearly prove my as- sertions iiiative to spirit, body, and soul being in na- ture Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I confess that I have been often staggered at the assertions of professed' preachers, who delight to siy that Jesus Christ was es- sentially God, and essentially man. Such "doctrine I never could reconcile. Neither do I ever expect to, for J flatter myself that I ha\e drawn from a more pure fojmJlMn. I have before proven that Jesus Christ 98 was a created and dependant being; as such, I shall not notice that subject again. I have also proven that man was first created in spirit, and afterwards formed of the dust; and after the creation entered the formation, the man became alive, could see, hear, taste* smell, feel and think, and as those sensations are the means of communication to man's mind, they are in ntt~ lure and figure the Holy Ghost.- For instance, how does God communicate to man? Most certainly it is by communicating to the man's mind. Witness the lan- guage of the prophets and apostles: the prophets often speak of their night visions. Joseph said that God. warned him in a dream that he should not return to Herod. And again he says the angel of the Lord ap- peared to him in a dream, and directed him to take the young child and his mother and go into Egypt. Paul says that they were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. See Acts xvi. 6. The evan- gelist Luke says ii. £6, That it was revealed to Simeon by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ. John the Baptist said, that Christ would baptize with the Holy Ghost, prom which testimony the reader wiii at once see that the Ho- ly Ghost is the means by which God communicates to man. And is, in nature and effect, the same as the bodily sensations. For when Hie body sees, hears, tastes, feels or smells, it believes. So also, when the Holy Ghost communicates to the understanding, it also produces belief. With this difference only; that which the Holy Ghost communicates to the mind, is neither seen, heard, tasted or smelt, and yef, is as fully and as satisfactorily communicated to the mind, or under- standing as though communicated by all the sensations of the body. So I conclude that man is spirit, body, and sou!^ three in one. And is, in nature and figure, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Consequently, the spirit is im- mortal, and is not subject to change, being of the Fa- ther, is unchangeable, and cannot stiff r. The bodv, being formed of dust at first, and daily subsists on the m productions of the ground, is in its nature earthy, and returns to the ground. The soul, being the bodily sen- sations, it of course will not exist after the spirit leaves the body. And unless it can be proven that man can see, feel, taste, smell or hear, after the body is dead, it cannot be proven that man w ill suffer after death. So I conclude that there is no paw* or sufferings after the spirit leaves the body, which we call death. The Fa- ther, Son, and Holy' Ghost are three distiucts, but, one in- agreement, as relates to Christ's mediatorial office. — But not one In agreement in man, or man would go in peace. But when the spirit has the whole governing power of the man then one in agreement. And God is all in alL ON FUTURE REWARDS AND > PUNISHMENTS, I believe in future rewards and 'punishments, but m a limited sense. 1 believe that all rewards and punish- ments are limited to this life of mortality;- ami that all rewards and punishments are future to the acts which authorise them. As for instance, man is never reward- ed for a good work until after he performs the good work. Nov is a mm* punished for a crime until aft< r he commits the crime. As such, the reward and punish- ment is future. to the act which requires them; as such, I say all rewards and punishments are future to the acts which require then?. It would be extremely unjust to hang a man fur murder before he had committed the murder; but at the- time he is engaged in the act of murder his punishment is future. And not onb firurtv but certain; for if he escapes public justice, yet he is tormented with a guilty conscience, occasioned by w& 93 son of tftc divine light shifting on his underhand; Even so, it would be extreme! y unjust to reward a niad for a good work before he had fume the good vVdrkj and yet if he doeih the good work, his reward f?>r it is ceriain,' but fuloi'e at the lime he is (hung the good work. Conse- quently? 1 am of opinion that all 'rewards and jHiniih- nients aie future, but 1 insit< cl to this life of mortality.— Flesh arid blood is the ofifowfef', and flesh and blood mast suffer for its offences, Tife^mritj being immortal, only gives life to the body. BfeiYig created of G >d*s own eternal fuhieps, is like hi'msrU, unchangeable. Con- sequently, it would be unjust to punish the spirit for an offence of the flesh. Not only so, but the spirit being of God, is unchangeable, and cannot suffer. That all rewards and punishments are limited to [Lis Vifc&f mortality , even God, in his communication to Moses in giving the law, hath witnessed. See Exd. xx.5, Thou shait not bow down thyself to them iio.i* serve them; for 1, tin- Lord, thy God, am a Jealous God, visit- ing the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generations of them that hate me: and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. This communication proves to us 1 h <« t rewards and punishments are limited to this life of mortality where we reckon generations And truly as God said to Moses, man's iniquities or bad conduct is often visited on his children to Use third and fourth generations. Human nature is inclined to view the son of a base character with' a jealous eye. lis al- so, wc are apt to respect the son of an honorable man for the renown of Ills father, even to the third or feonlh generation. But that any part uf the human rare ever wasor ever will be punished after the death ojffTte (Sbdy, we have no reason to belh ve. God in his law to Mo- ses has not intimated any such thing; nor have any of Goo's prophets o! apostks signifi d any six h thiug.Nor have we any reason to believe any such thing. Bu? if we may rely on scripture testimony, there are no suffer-- ings after the liberal death of the tmdv. See liiccl. xii a 7, 8, Or e\eu the silver cord be loosed, or the goicUn 98 bovJ he broken, or the pitcher broken at the fountain^ or the win el broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was;-- and the spirit shall yeturw unto God who gave it. If this text which I have quoted m*y he considered as truth, there is no cause for man to dread deal!) or punishments after death .^ But a hired clergy have taught mankind to believe that they were in danger of being punished after death, or after the spirit leaves the body, which is called death. Whirh abominable doctrine of theirs is held forth to our \i \v in order to scare mankind into a belief of their abominable system of idolatry. But I \\ ill ask the caw- did reader, if he was the author of his own existence? Is -nan his own creator, maker or preserver? Is he an imtepctidant being, who exists in and of himself? Or, i> he a dependant creature and moves by necessity? Most assuredly every rational man will acknowledge that he is a dependant creature, that fee whs brought i'lfo existence without his own knowledge or cons* nt^ and that he is dependant on the Supreme Eternal for every blessing of life > and even breath itself. Under which circumstances, man is undoubtedly a dependant creatine,, which moves by necessity^ and consequently,, is not accountable. -Then as relates to punishment i\\'~ tvv deaths I boldly assert, that agreeable to all scrip- ture, there is none. For the spirit is immortal, being created of God's own eternal spirit, and consequently cannot ■ suffer.- The body alone is subject to pain; and the soul is the sensations and only exists whiist the spi- rit and bod} are in one. I am well aware that this tract will meet with vio- lent opposition from the clergy, as future punishment is their principle rod with which they chastise and dis- cipline 'their troops hi the pope's service. But no odds for tliis; 1 live in a laud where religious principles arc freely granted to i-xcry man, and no persecution admit- ted. As su h, II idolaters must soon give way to the (rosnr! of him who said, I come to bear witness of the tru 1 h. The do< u-ine of all apostatized christians is the same as- that of the ancient Pharisees* who were the w #ing-)eaders o# the persecutions against Christ arid the primitive christians, and they are daily bringing the same accusations against all who do not think as they do, that their ancestors did against the primitive chris- tians; and not having it in their power to persecute us openly, as their ancestors did the primitive christians, they gratify their ambition by threats of future punish- ments, but to no avail; for their folly shall be made manifest to all men, as was the case of their ancestors in the destruction of Jerusalem. All the evidence we have relative to future misery or happiness, is derived from the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and that there is no testimony contained therein rela- tive to punishment after death, I will prove to the sat- isfaction of every candid reader. The first account we have of a law, was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, which is called the ten com- mandments. And in this law it is expressly stated? what man should or should not do, in obedience to this law. Which law I consider to have been given to Moses as a constitutional guide in the enactment of all laws for the government of the Jewish nation, in which law or constitution it is said, Thou shalt not kill. Which means, that man should not commit murder. And Moses in rehearsing this law to the Jews, says, Exd. xxi. 1£, He that smiteth a man so that he die, shall surely be put to death. But Moses says nothing about any punishment after death. And as murder is one of the greatest offences that man can commit, agreeable to the law which was given to Moses the murderer was to suffer death. But that God's law required any punish- ment after death, we have no shadow of evidence to be- lieve it. It appears that, the law which was given to Moses was intended only for the government of man whilst mortal or in the flesh; and agreeable to this law, all crimes and offences are punishable according to their degree. In a word, Moses says, Exd. xxi. 23, 24*, 25, If any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life To? life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wotfiid; 98 stripe for stripe. From this testimony it appears that the law which was given to Moses, was intended for the government of man in the fleshy and that every of- fender should be punished agreeable to the nature of his offence, which is the object of all civil law. And it appears reasonable to say, that if the All-wise intends to punish man after the spirit leaves the body, that he tvould have hinted it to Moses, and Moses to the peo- ple; but we have no such accounts in the sacred volume. One man could not kill another if man was not mortal; sis such murder as well as all sin being the effect of mor- tality, it is only necessary that the mortality should suffer for the offence; but the spirit which gives life to the body cannot suffer, being created of God's own eternal spirit; it, agreeable to its nature, returns to God, as the body does to the dust. I will ask those hired preachers, what pleasure it could afford in the heaven- ly mansions to see a large portion of God's children groaning in pain as long as God exists. Would the Heavenly Father be pleased at such a sight? or what man could be really happy in heaven, when he knew that his fellow creature was suffering in never-ending torments? Such a scene would serve to render the whole heavenly host completely miserable. But the blessed Saviour has said, John xii. 32, That he would draw all men unto himself. As such we have a better hope than that propogated by a hired clergy. I will invite the attention of the reader to some of the passages of scripture, which professed preachers of the gospel hold forth to our view, as indicative of pun- ishment after death. See. Math. xii. 32, But whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiv- en him, neither in this world nor the world to come. The common opinion about this world and the world to come is this life of mortality and the next of immor- ialitv, but this passage carries no such meaning right- ly understood. The word world, in the scripture sense, signifies age or dispensation; as such the world in which the Son of man came, was the dispensation. the sacrifice of himself. See also, 1 Cor. x« 11. Which at once prove that the world and world to come, as the Son of man used the expression, meant nothing more than the two dispensations, of law and gospel; and that the sin which the Pharisees commit- ted against the Holy Spirit, by which Christ done mira- cles, has been visited on their descendants, the protcs- tauts, who are daily blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, and have never forgiveness whilst they continue thus to blaspheme, but are filled with fearful apprehensions and a troubled conscience whilst they continue to com- mit this sin, and no longer; and unless it can be proven that man will blaspheme against the Holy Spirit after he is dead, it cannot be proven that any one will suffer for this sin after denth. The next passage that I will notice is found, Matth. xiii. chapter, the paraMe of tti0 I verse 30. And bind tin opposers say that this met it after but let us examine into the passam 1 that the good seed are the chiiin\$n of the i ; m $ and that the tares are the children of the wirk^d one, the Roman Church is the wicked one. See % Thes. ii. Then shall thut wicked be revealed \\vt soo of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is cal- led God, or that is worshipped, so thr?t he as G-sd sitreth iii the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Here is the pope, who the apostle called that wicked one, and this is 1 J i e God that all apostatized christians look to, fov their sacraments and ordinances; as such they are figuratively her children, and these be they 100 that the Son of man called the tares, who are already bound in bundles by their respective church creeds and 2'ulcs of faith. And that those characters will be burnt, see St. John xx. 15, And whosoever was not found written in the book, was cast into the lake of fire: Chap. xjii. &, And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him (the beast) whose names are not written in the book of life, &c. From which it appears tiiat the worshippers of the beast are the tares alluded to in the parable, and that all such are to be cast into the lake of fire, which is the burning that the Saviour alluded to. Which fire is the Spirit of God, which destroys sin by love, and saves the sinner. The fire that John said Christ would baptize with, which would burn up tlve chaff, and trees that brought not good fruit, and the fire that Christ said, Luke xii. 49, That he had come to send on the earth, and that, Mark ix. 49, every one should be salted with, i conceive all to be the same fire; and is that which the apostle said, Ileb. xxii. 29, that our God was a consuming fire, and those who are cast into this fire are purified by it from all un>- 3*ighteousness; which is done by the operation of tin? Spirit of God, on the minds of mortal men, by which they arc made to love G<)d and man. And this fire which burns the tares, is the salvation of the sinner at last; in testimony of which see 1 Cor. iii. 13, 14, 15, Eve- ry man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it : because it shall be revealed by fire, and the iire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, lie shall receive a reward, If any man's work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall ho saved, yet so as by fire. Here the apostle informs us, that this fire, which 1 conceive to be the same as before stated, is the salvation of the sinner, although his works are burnt by it; and the tares being burnt, is the end of gospel opposi ion. The next passage that I will notice is found Matth. xxv. in the p -irabre of the virgins. Fi\e were wise and live foolish: the foolish virgins took no oil in their lamp% and their Samps went out; and when they Went to My oil, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in to the marriage, and the door was shut. Af- terwards fame the foolish virgins saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us ; but he said unto them, I know you not* This, my opposers say, alludes to that part of mankind which are rejected, and suffer endless torments. But how can they prove it? The passage carries no such meaning. The whole Jewish nation under the law dis- pensation are represented by ten virgins. The close of the law dispensation and introduction of the gospel, is the time alluded to in the parable. The lamps sig- nify the rites and ceremonies of the levitical priesthood, which contained the light of the expected Messiah.— The oil, which the wise had in their lamps, was the knowledge of that which those figures represented.-^ The foolish virgins, not looking from those rites to the antitype, but expecting salvation by the letter, were called foolish. John the Baptist was tbc friend of the bridegroom, and was that voice which cried in the wiU ilemess behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Midnight represents the gross state of darkness which covered the minds of the Jewish nation at the coming of the Messiah or bridegroom. And when Christ entered the sanctum sanctorum by his resurrection, (hose whom he had chosen to propoxate liis Gospel were ready, and went in to the marriage, | and the door of the law was shut. And th^ situa ?i? n of the Jews ever since is represented by rirgfjris with- out, knocking for entrance. The idea thai those blind > led jews were so rejected by Cllrist as ifot to be Ifemiit- l ted by him, or never receive mero from him, is by no means warrantable. Bfft the reverse evidently ap) ears from many passages ^f scripture. See Matth. xxiii. 37, 38, 59, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together^ even as a hen gatherer!! her chi- kens under her wings, ar»d ve would not. Beholcf your hoiise is left unto y oh !ate* For 1 sav tjnto ■ yov, jc shall not set i\io 102 henceforth till ye shall say, blessed is he that cometfe in the nnneof the Lord. This passage is frequently quoted as evidence of the final rejection of the unbe- lieving Jews; but the latter clause fully defeats such an itlea, for although Christ spoke of the desolate state in which the Jews would be for a season, yet he points to a time when they should see him, and call him bles- sed. Of which the apostle also bears witness, see Rom. xi. 25, 26, that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the gentiles be come in* and so all Israel shall be saved. The next passage I will notice is in this same xxv c Chapt. Mattb. the parable of the talents. My oppos- crs found their argument in favor of future punishment, on verse 30, which says, And cast ye the unprofitable servants into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This the professed preachers tell us means endless misery. But a little attention to the passage will confute their opinion. Light and dark- ness, in the scripture sense, signify gospel and law: or believer and unbeliever. The Son of man says, John viii. 12, That he Was the light of the world. The Apostle also says, John i. $-, That Christ was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. The Lord also said to the unbelieving Jews, John iii. 19, ye love darkness rather than light, be- cause your deeds are evil. From which it appears that the enter darknrss, where there is weeping am) gnash- ing of teeth, is applicable to the situation of the Jr*ws even ,-ince their Aspersion, who have rejected the gos- pel, which is flu light, and bold to the law, which is darkm\ss or ursb^iit IV Which is !so the rase, with all apostatized cln istiaus who hold to the sacraments of \\\c church ol Rr f? e. Those are so outi'i- darkness, arfcd that there is we* pi. g and gnashing of teeth in all ihefr as- semblies for worship, is visible to over > hebohler. The parable 61 sheep and goats i^ next in order, and mentis Hie same as the two foregoing, only the subject is: rendered a little more plain. I will insert the whofe fm- fabie, thafc the .reader may hate a better idea of my be- 108- Kef on it. See Matth. xxv. 51, \o the last, When (lie Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he set on the throne of his glory. And before him shall he gathered all nations^ and he shall seperate them one from another, as a shep- herd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, come ye hiessed of my Father, inherit the king- dom prepared for you trom the foundation of the world, For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat: 1 was thirsty and ye gave me drink: was a stranger and ye took me in: naked and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison and ye came unto nic. Then shall he say to them or. the left hand, depart from Hie yecurscd into everlasting tire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was an hrfngred and 3 e gave me no meat: I was thirsty and ye gave sne no drink: I was a stranger and ye took me not in: baked and ye clotheu me not: sick and in prison and ye visited me not. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal. This passage (which I conceive a parable) the pre.. fessed preachers tell us alludes to the general judgment, And that the goats signify that class of mankind which they say will suffer torments as long as God exists. But if so, how could the Lord say (John iii. 17.) that he was sent not to condemn the world, hot that the world through him might he saved. I hone it will not be doubted that the All-wise could save the world Ijirougfj the means of his Son; as such if any Oppoiieht admits Christ's testimony in this case, how can he contend that any will he finally lost. If the Supreme sent his Son into the worjd not to condemn the world, but to save it, and yvt a gnat portion, of mankind suffer endlessly, it seems that God is wanting in power. But if (lie Fa- ther sent the Son to b^ the Saviour of the world, which all scriptures go to say, 1 contend that he gave the Son sufficient power to effect that which he came to do^ an,d that all mankind will be saved -accordingly. 104 I will now give my belief of the parable in hand. Sheep and goats in this parable signify believers and unbelievers. The time of Christ's coming in his glory was on the day of Pentecost. Sheep are believers, and goats .unbelievers. That the time -of Christ's coming in his glory was in the life-time- of his hearers, -when he spake this parable, is evident from his own testimony. See Matth. xvi. 27, £8; For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Christ's kingdom and his glory is undoubtedly the same; as such the time of Christ's coming in his glory was in the life-time of his hearers, which was on the day of Pentecost; and that his angels were the apostles, see Rev. xxii. 8, 9, And John saw these things and heard them: and I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel, which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me see thou do it not; for I am thy fellow servant and of thy bre- thren the prophets, and of them that keep the sayings of this book. In this testimony the angel acknowledged that he was St. John's fellow servant, and of his brethren the prophets, which proves the angel to be an apostle* for fellow servants are equals, and no one was equal with Saint John but the other apostles. See also St. John's address to the seven churches, each is addressed to the angel of the church; which angels were bishops who had received the Holy Ghost and were appointed by SL John to oversee their respective flocks. Which testi- mony proves that Christ's holy angels were the apostles. All nations being gathered before Christ, signifies that Die apostles would preach the gospel to all nations as he afterwards commanded them. As such, if Christ was with the apostles, as he promised them (Matth. xxviii,. £0,) it follows of course that all nations was gathered before him, and that the sheep who were the believers were seperated from the unbelievers is evident from the apostle's testimony. See Acts ii. 44, 45, And all that believed were together,. ana aau an things com- mon; and sold their possession and goods, and parted (hem to all men as every man had need. Here we see the believers are found in that duty which our Saviour attached to the sheep; but the unbelievers were then as they are yet, get all they can, and keep all they get: and have no regard, nor make any provision, for the benefit of the poor of their respective churches. The goats allude to the unbelieving Jews, as well as all pro* testant christians, to whom Christ said depart ye curs- ed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels, which alludes to punishment in this life only. The everlasting fire here spoken of is the same as "be- fore argued; which is the spirit of God, and the devil and his angels are the lust of the flesh, which is mani- fested in the character of the popes and those who are employed to propoxate their doctrine applicable to the protectant clergy. Their being commanded to depart into everlasting fire, is that their flesh or the lust there- of will continue to be tormented by their spirits as long as they remain in unbelief. The word everlasting signi- fies that the effect, will last as long as the cause; and Whilst those characters remain in unbelief they are tor- mented by this fire, which will finally devour their lust- ful -nature and the serpent's head be completely bruised. But unless \t can be proven, that those unbelievers will continue in unbelief and rebellion against Christ after they are dead, it cannot be proven that they will be punished after death. There is a passage, Mark ix. 44, 46, 48, that I will take notice of, which reads thus: Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. This pas- sage like many others has been construed to mean pun- ishment after death. But unless it can be proven that the flesh will lust against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, after men are dead, this passage can- not be construed so as to allude to punishment after death. Their worm, (not thfe worm,) but their worm, is the lust of the flesh striving against the spirit; the fire that is not quenched is the spirit; which two, that 106 is fle3h and spirit, are and will continue to lust agains : each other, until the flesh is overcome by the spirit, which is the fire before mentioned, which burns the works but saves the sinner. The next passage that I shall notice is my text fron* which I wrote my Millennium, see Rev. xiv. 9, 10, 11, And the third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive bis mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he shall be tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence ef the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who wor- ship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. This is the key to my Millen- nium; but as the object of that work was to prove the sacraments of the church to be unfounded, I was care- ful to add no comment on any passage which the hired clergy hold forth as indicative of future punishment. But I will now shew to the reader's satisfaction, that the plagues here threatened allude to this life of mor- tality. The beast is undoubtedly the Roman papal empire* The worsh ppers, are the apostatized christians of eve- ry denomination that embrace the sacraments of the Roman church. The members of the Roman church are not worshippers of the beast, for they compose the beast. But it is other sects who embrace the sacra- ments of the church of Rome under a pretence of re- formation; such as hold to the docrineof John Calvin and Martin Luther. These be they which worship the beast, having embraced his sacraments (which are not scrip- tural) in preference to the faith of Christ, which is worshipping the beast, The beast has an image in each of his chapels; and to this image the priest says mass, or prays, in which prayers or miss he speaks out so as to be heart! by all in the house. This is the worship of Ms image, and all .who embrace this form of prayer^ illicit is Offered with the iips irr public, worship hh im< age. For Got! is a spit it, arid is ito* to be addressed with the lips. But those who pray to him do it with the mind or understanding, as the Son of man taught his followers. Mat. vi. chapter, When ye pray enter in- to ihv closet and shut the door. The closet is the heart or mind, and the door is the lips, and when thus entered and the door shut, then we ran pray with the understanding, saying: Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. The apostle says. Roan viii. 26> We know not what v*e should pray for as we ought; but the spi- rit itself tfihketh intercession for us with groauings which cannot be uttered. And again he says, 1 Co?* xiv. 15, Pray with the spirit and pray with- the under- standing also. As such, every species of public pray- er is the worship of the image, and is idolatry. To re- ceive his mark in the forehead is water baptism, for the cross is the mark of the beast: this is acknowledged by many, and if any man doubt it, let him take a peep in- to their chapels in time of service. The whole of the sacraments of the church of Rome were invented for image worship, and baptism and the cross were invent- ed by the Romans for the worship of the image of Je- sus; because he came by water and died on the cross. And to this end, the Romaics sprinkled the forehead with water, which ihey Fall baptism, and make the sign of the cross, which means this: we worship the image of that God who came by water and died on the cross. All members of the Catholic church are taught to kneel to the image of Jesus as often as they enter the chape!, then sprinkle their forch ad with water, and make the, sign of the cross, which bespeaks this: i came to wor- ship the image of that God who came by water and di- ed on the cross. Ami as many as are baptized with water receive the mark of the beast in their forehead, whether the cross be represented or not it makes no dif- ference, for the baptrsm goes before the cross, and without the baptism then- is no cross, and the baptism authorises the cross. A>,d the reason why the reform- ed churches that have dissented from the Espiscopalian iOb dm re h do not represent the sign of the cross at bapiisiE* is for fear of detection in the imposition — The mark of the beast In the hand, which is the feast of Bacchus, i*§ a cup of wine and a bit of bread. This is the ancient feast of Bacchus; and is celebrated by the Romans in ih^ same order now as it was before the coming of the Messiah. And this is the reason the wine is always presented to the image before the Roman priests drink it. The reason why it is called sacramentum is, because* tins in the oath of allegiance to the government of the beast. Why it is celebrated twice a year is, in mm- memoration of the vintage and importation. Now the protestants tell us that this feast was instituted by the Saviour in the stead of the passovcr feast; but if so, it would b^ celebrated annually on the same day that the passovcr feast was, which the Jews yet observe in their passovcr feast. Having shown the mark of the beast, his image, and so on, I will now show that the protestants are tormented day and night, as the apostle says, and that With fire and brimstone. The fire here spoken of is ihv same as before stated, which is the spirit of God, which gives life to every body of flesh. Which is that fire, which the apostle says, lusteth against the flesh and the flesh against it; and yet flesh and spirit arc both in one, and are contrary to each other. See Gal. v. 17, The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and thespi- iit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other. This is the fire and brimstone which tor- ments the worshippers of the be^st. The professed christians when assembled together for worship arc fil- led with con ti\ivy principles of the mind. The spirit says to the understanding of the creature, yon can do nothing; the flesh rises in opposition and says to the wuh rstanding of the creature, you have agency, and can doeverv thing ne; essary to salvation. Here is the contention b tween'the flesh and spirit, which torments the worshippers »f the beast, and often prostrates them on the . gruiuid, raging, weeping and gnashing of their teeth: and in the scripture sense, they are tormented 109 with fire and brimstone,(flesh and spirit) and that in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. The apostles are the angels, and Jesus Christ is the Lamb. And as the New Testament is the Lamb and angels' testimony, and ail churches have this vo- lume, their sufferings are said to be in their presence. But I deny that those infatuated worshippers are tor- mented any longer than they continue in such worship* For as the worship of the beast is the cause of their torments, so soon as they cease to worship they cease to be tormented; for when once the cause is removed the effect will cease. And unless it can be proven that such characters will worship the beast in the next life, or af- ter they are dead, it cannot be proven tjiat they will be tormented by reason of such worship after death. As relates to the smoke of their torments ascending up forever and ever, I conceive it means the particular agitations and combustions which are frequently seen in their large assemblies of worship. And the reason it is called smoke is, that it is produced by the conten- tion between spirit and flesh, which is the fire and brim- stone. The word forever, in the scripture sense, means that the effect will last as long as the cause; — the word being repeated, is intended to add more force to the passage, as was the custom of the Saviour when he wished to lay particular stress on a subject he says, verily, verily. That all those sufferings are in this life of mortality, is evident from the apostle's own. testimony, See Rev. xxii. 5, speaking of the next life, he says, There shall be no night there. As such, we are bound to believe the sufferings here alluded to are in this life of mortality, where we reckon day and night. For the apostle says, They have no rest day nor night -who worship the beast; and their countenances show- that they have no rest. I will now take notice of the general judgment; for some will say, if there be no punishment after death, what need of a judgment? I answer that none will be punished after death; and yet a judgment is necessary. See Be v. xx. 12 to last, And I saw the dead small jvjnd K 110 great stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works; and the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and deatli and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every man according to his works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. This passage has been construed by professed preachers to mean the time when the sinner is sentenced to punishment as long as God exists; and the lake of fire here spoken of, is what they call hell. But a little attention to the passage will confute such an idea. The reader will notice that death and hell first deliver up the dead which are in them, and then, death and hell are cast into the lake of fire. Death is the carnal mind; and hell is a troubled conscience, or any distress in this life.— Death and hell delivering up the dead which are in them, signifies the end of sin.— Their being cast into the lake of fire, is their being o- vercome by the spirit of God, which is the fire. Why it is called the second death, is, the carnal mind is death; (see Rom. viii. 6,) which carnal mind is the effect of sin; and the carnal mind is the first death, and the end of sin is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book was cast into the lake of fire. The names of all who worship the beast are not written in the book of life. See Rev. xiii. 8, And all who dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life. (Q* A further description of the general judgment hereafter. W* VN «$&. NO. IV ON ATONEMENT AN ACCOUNT OF THE LAST JUDGMENT The prevailing opinion is, that the last judgment will be in the world of* spirits. This opinion has been Aiight to mankind by a hireling priesthood, and is without foundation. 1 have before proven that there cannot be any suffer- ing after the spirit leaves the body: as the body returns to dust, and the spirit to God who gave it. As surh, there will be no need of a judgment to judge the spirit, for it returns to God the giver, and is immortal, and unchangeable, like himself, and cannot be condemned, or suffer. But we are informed by holy writ, that the seed of the woman(spirit) shall bruise the serpent's head,(flesh.)S<> jl am of opinion that the last judgment will be on this garth, to judge, condemn and destroy the works of the lesh, which are contrary to the spirit. This done, a tniyersal peace and love to God and man will ensut-.— 'he law of the spirit of life will become the whole go- Tiling principle of all human nature; and God will be in all. The gospel of Jesus Christ fully believed K2 1U< and adhered to, is productive of peace and love (o God and man. The faith which the apostles preached was, (to all who believed.) productive of brotherly love and equality with all men; superstition, idolatry, tyranny, and usurpation vanished like an evening dream. Ami all things whatsoever you would that men should do uirfi* you do ye even so unto them, became the governing principle of all the primitive believers in Christ. See Acts of the Apostles ii. 44, 45, And all that believed were together, and had all things common: and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all as every man had need. From this testimony it appears that the primitive believers in Christ were entirely govern- ed by principles of love to each other, which is the sure means of happiness. This was that kingdom that the blessed Christ said, Matth. x. 7, was nigh at hand. The kingdom of heaven, w herein men arc governed by faith and love to God and each other; not by laws, statutes or decrees, but by love. To do unto all men as they Would that men should do unto them. See again, Acts iv. 32 and 34, And the multitude of them that be- lieved were of one heart and of one soul, neither said any, that ought of the things which lie possessed was his own; but they "had all tilings common. Neither were there any among them tin t lacked: for as many as were possessed of lands or houses sold them, and brought the pwee of the things that were sold, 35, and laid them down at the apostles 9 feet: maldistribution was made unto every man according as he had need. Tims it a htmdantly appears that the apostles and believers in Christ were entirely governed by love to God and man. And consequently. equal rights, privileges and immuni- ties were bestowed on all. This glorious form df..g«- vcrnment was preached by the apostles to all nations; and an apostle says, Col. i. 23, To evvvy creature which was under heaven. And consequently all earthly kingdoms were shaken to their foundations. But thegos- pel of 1 his glorious kingdom met with violent opposition, as well as all who were engaged in preaching of it. For as early as the year of ourLor,d f>5 ? the empcrc 115 set tire to the city of Rome and laid (he blame Uiereo )ii the innocent believers in Christ, (see Buck's .Theo- logical Dictionary — Persecutions Chris, by heathens, which so enraged the idolatrous Romans that a persecu ting war was waged against those innocent people; first, those were apprehended who openly avowed themselves to be of that sect; then by them were discovered an immense multitude, all of whom were convicted. Their deaths and tortures were aggravated by cruel dirisiou and sport, for they were cither coveted with the skins of wild beasts and torn in pieces by devouring dogs, or fastened to crosses and wrapped up in combustible gar- ments, that when (he day-light failed, they might like torches, serve to dispel the darkness of the nigh!. For this tragical spectacle Nero lent his own garden^ and exhibited at the same time the public diversion'; of the Gircus, sometimes driving a chariot in person, and sometimes standing as a spectator, while the shrieks of women burning to ashes, supplied music for his cars, — Second, i The second general persecution that the heathens carried on against the primitive cliVisiift'us, v.as under Domitian the Roman emperor, in the- yea 95, when 40.000 were supposed to have suffered mar tyrdom.' — Third, The third general persecution tin same against the same, began in the third year of Trajan, in the year 100, and was carried on with great violence for several years. — Foui th f The fourth was under Antonius, when the christians were banished froirt their houses, forbidden to 'show their heads, re proached, beaten, hurried from place to place, plunder ed, imprisoned, and stoned. — Fifth, The firth begat in the year 127, under Severus, when great cruelties were committed. In this rroj>het Isaiah xlii. i to 4 verse, which is also recited by St. Matthew chap. xii. 13, 20 Verses, Isa. Behold my servant whom I uphold; mine elect in whom my sou! delightctb; 1 have put my spirit on him: lie shall bring forth judg- ment to the Gentiles, lie shall not cry, rior lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruis- ed icvd shall he not break, and t he smoking ilax shall lie Hat quench; be shall bring forth judgment unto truth. lie shall not fail nor he discouraged, till he has set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. From this testimony, it appears that neither Christ or his followers, nor those who believe in him, would make any show or parade about their religion; for he says that he should not cry, or lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. And even so it has been: Jesus tamely submitted to the open pursccutiou of his enemies, even to the death of the cross; his apostles all shared the same fate in humble submission. 1»0 The primitive christians also submitted, with patience to the persecutions of idolatrous Rome; ape! during the dark age of popery, the friends and believers in Jesus Christ have tamely and patiently submitted to the pursecuting inquisitions and tyrannical threats of the clergy. And even at this day, the professed preacher of the gospel, will stand in the pulpit, and in the fury of his infidelity, he will boldly and daringly threaten nine- ty-nine hundredths of the human family with tiie wrath of his God, and positively assert that they shall suffer torments in hell as long as God exists. x\ll this is sub- mitted to with patience; not a word is said in reply; and not only so, but the friend of, and believer in Christ, will often throw his mite into the hat, as It were to fan the: flame of this persecuting spirit as it may the sooner burn up the chaff in which it rages. He shall neither cry nor strive, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street; till he sends forth judgment unto victory. But the enemies and persecutors of Je- sus Christ and his followers have, in all ages, and even at this day, cry aloud, strive hard, and proclaim in the streets, or so as to be heard in the streets, threat- ening men with the wrath and fury of their God for their faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Every Sunday the streets and lanes of the city arc awakened by the yells, shouts and imprecations of the enemies and per- secutors of Jesus Christ, his gospel and the faithful. And not only in the city, but also in the country, and even in the wilderness, those characters have their per- secuting dens erected, which causes the earth to mourn,' and the sons and daughters of Adam (Rev. vi. 10,) to cry with a loud voice, saying, how long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on rhe earth. And truly at this day, human nature crieth aloud to the God of heaven for de- liverance from the yoke of bondage (the tyranny, -op- pression and injustice) laid on the necks of the human family, by means of the papal and protestant churches. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which makes free from the law of sin and death, has been al- most blotted out during the dark age of popery; and the reformation or protectant church has acknowledg- ed, and taught the mysterious idolatrous sacraments of papal Rome to be necessary to salvation, which eclip- ses the light of the world. These are the great stumbling blocks to the faith of Christ; these be the means of nation rising up against nation; and kingdom against kingdom; and even man against man, all for want of faith in him who said, (John viii. 12.) lam the light of the world. Which glorious light has promised that he had come to send judgment on the earth. Who also has said, Matth. xiih 41, 34, The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend ..and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnash- ing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth ays the sun in the kingdom of the Father. Who hath ears to hear let him hear.Here is a glorious promise to the faith- ful of the final overthrow of the antichristian kingdom. The angels that the Son of man promised to send forth were his apostles; the object of their going forth, was to gather out of his kingdom all things which offend and them which do iniquity. The reader will observe that the angels were to ga- thur together the bad, and not the good. This is the explanation of the parable of the tares: and it is not the wheat that is to be gathered, but the tares, the things 1 that offend and them which do iniquity. These are to be gathered out of Christ's universal kingdom and cast into a furnace of (Ire; arid then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Fa- ther. The way the angels have gathered together the tares or all things which offend and do iniquity, is through the instrumentality of antichrist and the gospel or New Testament. The apostle informed the Thessi- lonians that the day of the Lord should not come except there corne a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition; who op poseth and exalteth himself above all that is called i God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God,sittetu in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God* (See 2 Thes, ii. chapt.) This testimony of the apostle shews the necessity of an opposer to Jesus Christ pre- vious to the judgment. The preaching and doctrine of Jesus Christ, his apostles and primitive christians, was communicated to all nations; and the apostle says, Col. i. £3, To every creature under heaven. This be- ing universally helieved through the miracles which attend the gospel, (not believed by every man) but by men in every part of the habitable earth. The king- doms of this world were likely to become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ; but as the day of the Lord should not come unless there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdi- tion. The man of sin must make his appearance, and begin to claim his right, which was done by the Roman empire; and as before stated, the persecuting sword was drawn and never sheathed until the Roman empire %vas again secured, and antichrist in his full glory, in direct opposition to Jesus Christ, and in positive con- tradiction to all scripture, is causing mankind to bow down to the image of Jesus holding out his golden cup of wine of the wrath of his fornication together with his aeven sacraments, saying to the nations, these be the gods which brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and out of the house of bondage. This is the image of Jesus; I am his priest, can forgive sins on earth as he did; therefore, come unto me all ye ends of the earth and be ye saved, for I am god, and there is nonerclse. This has always been the doctrine held forth by the Roman church; she is the great enemy to Jesus Christ and his gospel. She is the preserver of idolatry, ty- ranny and oppression, and is antichrist, the apoealip- tical beast, the devil and satan out of the bottomless pit, and the mother of harlots, and the abomination of the earth. And it is through the means of this church, that Ch rist\s enemies are gathered together. It was necessa- ry to the final salvation and happiness of mankind in this world, that an opposite power should arise: Jesus Chi 1&8 must have an opposer in order that the enemies of Je sus may be gathered together against him; that they may be separated from the balance of mankind. The popes, as well as the whole catholic church, openly and publicly b©w to the image of Jesus; they make no se- cret of their idolatry; the image is found in all their chapels. The object of thecatholic religion never was in- tended to make men happy in the next life, butto unite them in this, to perpetuate the memory of Christ, his office and power, as Mediator between Gotl and man; and the pope, priests and laymen, or the whole catho- lic church is a figure of Jesus Christ, the apostles and primitive christians. Their persecuting inquisitions re- present the Holy Ghost subduing human nature, and causing it to submit to the faith of Christ. The sacra* ments of the Roman church are intended to shew the ways and means which led to the manifestation of Jesus Christ, his power of healing, .his gift to the apos- tles* &c. I will take notice of the catholic creed and sacra ments, and shew in the first place, that the creed and sacraments of the catholic church, were originally in- tended to perpetuate the memory of Jesus Christ, the apostles and primitive christians, as well' as the ways and means which led to the knowledge of those things. The Romans being idolators, imve idolised the body of Jesus and his apostles; and the sacraments of the Ro- man church are intended to prove the fact. The Roman catholic creed, as recited in the Encyclopedia, Ameri- can edition, under the head of Roman catholics, and called pope Pius tilth's oved, is as follows: Art. 1— I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of a!! things visible and invisi- ble. The one true and living God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 2 — 1 believe In one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, light of Sight, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. 3— Who for us men, and tor is* our salvation came down from heaven and was inmr- imte of the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. 4 — And was crucified also lor us undep Pontius Pilate: he suffered and was buried. 5 — And flic third day rose again, according to the scriptures, o — He ascended into Heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father. 7 — And is to come again to judge both the living and the dead, of Whose kingdom there shall be no end. 8 — I believe in. the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Fattier and the Son is adored and glori* iiecl; who spake by the prophets. 9 — I believe in our holy, catholic, and apostolic church. 10— I acknow- ledge one baptism for the remission of sin. 11 — I look for the resurrection of the dead. 12—1 believe in the life of the world to come. Amen. ; ■';. — I. most firmly admit and embrace the apostolical and ecclesiastical traditions, and all other observations, and constitutions, of the same church. 14 — I do ad- mit the holy scriptures in the same sense that holy mo- ther church doth, whose business it is to judge, of the true sense and interpretation of them, and I will inter- pret them according to the unanimous consent of the fathers. 15 — I do profess and believe that there arc seven sacraments, truly and properly so called; institu- ted by Jesus Christ our Lord, and necessary for the .salvation of mankind, though not all of them to eve- ry one, viz: baptism, confirmation, cueharist, penance, extreme unction, orders, and matrimony: and that they do confer grace; and that of these, baptism, con- firmation and orders, cannot be related without sa lege. I also receive and admit tie received and ap- proved rites of the catholic church in her solemn ad- ministration of all the aforesaid sacraments. 16—1 embrace and receive every tiling that hath been defined and declared by the holy council of Trent, concerning original sin and justification. 17 — I do also, profess that in the mass there is offered to God a true, proper and propitiatory sacrafice for the quick and the dead; and that in the most holy sacrament of the eucharist, there is truly, really, and substantially, the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ; and that there is a conversion made of the whole of the bread into the body, and of the whole substance of the wine into the blood; which conversion the whole catholic church call transubstan- tiation. 18- — And I believe that under one kind only, whole and entire, Christ is taken and received only, 19 — I do firmly believe that there is a purgatory, and that the souls kept prisoners there do receive help by the suffrage of the faithful. That the souls of the patriarchs- and .ludy men who departed this life before the crucifixion of Christ, were kept in prison, in an apartment of hell, without pain. That Christ did really go into lo- cal hell and delivered the captive souls out of this con- finement. The fathers assert that our Saviour descen- ded into hell, went thither specially, and delivered the souls of the fathers out of that mansion. 20 — I do be- lieve that the saints reigning together with Christ are to be worshipped and prayed unto, and that they' do offer prayers unto God for us, and that their relics are to be had in veneration 21—1 d*> firmly believe that the images of Christ, the blessed Virgin, the mother of God, and of other saints, ought to be had and retained, and that (\ue honor and veneration ought co he paid un- to them. 22—1 do affirm that the power of indul- gences was left by Christ in the church, and that the HHc of them is beneficial to christian people. 2 3 —J do acknowledge the holy catholic and apostolical Roman church, to be the mother and mistress of all ejmrches;; run! I do premise and swear true obedience to the bish- op of Rome, the successor of St. Peter, the prince of the apostles and vicar of Jesus Christ. 24—1 do un- doubtedly receive and profess all other things that been delivered, defined by tho sacred canons, 1 councils and especially by the holy synod of Trent; and all other things contrary hereunto, and all heresies condemned, rejected, and anathematized b the rfmrrh, ! do condemn, reject, a>;d anathema This bears date on the ides of ~No\> I r 126 The iirst twelve articles which close with amen, I conceive to be the creed. And the other twelve, are articles of confession, or faith. The image proves be- yond doubt, that the whole scheme is idolatry, and as the image of Jesus is seen in all catholic chapels, this proves that due honor and veneration is paid to it, as declared in the £lst article. Why the creed and con- fession are divided into twelve articles each, is to typi- fy the twelve apostles; which twelve apostles are also typified by twelve wax candles, all lighted up in open day-light in front of the image in time of mass. Christ said to his twelve, Matth. v. 14, If e are the light of the world. And veVse 16, To let their lights shine before men, &c. It will be recollected that each member of the catholic church on entering the chapel kneels to the image of Jesus, (looking on it at the same time,) rise, sprinkle their foreheads with water, and make the sign of the cross on their foreheads; kneel again and take their seats. This is called baptism, and ty- pifies Jesus Christwhocame by water and died on the cross. The apostle says, 1 John. y. 6, He came by water and blood. And again he says, John i. 31* (in the language of John Baptist,) And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I eome baptizing with water. This testi- mony warrants the assertion, that Christ came by water; that is, he came to the knowledge of Israel by means of John's baptism. And the scriptures abundantly prove that he died on the cross. So an apostle says, he came by water and blood: for without a death and resurrec- tion he would never been worth the name of Mediator, for these things are a proof of his mission. So I con- clude that Jesus Christ came bv water and the cross. And this is what the Romans typify in the sacrament of baptism: we worship the image of tSiat god who came b^xvvater and the cims; sprinkling the forehead and making the sign of the cress; this is the initiating sa- crament in all churches. The reason w bv these figures are made at ail timts on entering the chapel, is to -how that the image of Jesus is the object of theiv iz7 worship. View the priest when at mass, bowing, kneeling, and petitioning the image for this, that, or the other blessing; and yet he will say that the image is intended only to keep him in remembrance of Jesus. But behold his motions and conduct towards this image; this proves that the image is the object of his worship; for men's actions prove their intentions more positive- ly than their words do. In a word> the 2nd article in their creed proves the fact, that the Romans view Jesus Christ as God, for they call him God of God, light of light, very God of very God, &c. — - They do not believe him to be the Supreme Creator, for in article 1, they acknowledge one God, the Father, maker of all things, &c, But they believe Jesus to be very goti (in the sense of idolatry,) of all the heath- en gods, that is, very God of very God of all earthly gods, who ever appeared in men's persons. And this is the reason that the bishop of Rome professes to be in possession of the powers which Jesus Christ posses sed, whilst in the flesh: for he, the vicar of Jesus Christ, as acknowledged in article £4, must necessari- ly have the same rights, powers, gifts and graces, that Jesus Christ hail whilst in the flesh. And can confer those gifts Pdid powers on whom he will, as Je- sus did on his apostles. In a word, the whole catholic church typifies the following: the image represents Deity, made known toman through means of a Media- tor, who employed twelve lights or apostles to enlight- en mankind. The Bishop represents the Mediator, who for the happiness of mankind, has many priests, each of whom are mediators between man and God. "he Romans hadf perfect knowledge of all things rela- tive to Jesus Christ, through the means of their gover- nor Pontius Pilate, and have framed their worldly kingdom so as to represent that of Jesus Christ, as near as possible, in a figurative sense; but directly op- posite and contrary thereto in a literal sense. This is the way that the old serpent has deceived mankind. The enemy, or lust of the flesh, is always ready to op- pose God, or the nature of the spirit. Srst at 128 tempt that the devil made, after Jesus Christ was made known, was to prevail on him to fall down and wor- ship him: offering at the same time, all earthly king- doms; this shows that his satanic majesty's power was in worldly kingdoms. And it is perfectly natural for the flesh to oppose the spirit, for the flesh histeth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other. As such, it could not he expected otherwise, hut that the flesh in its lustful nature would oppose Jesus Christ when he attempts to erect a heavenly or spiritual kingdom in this world. For if the flesh had been obedient to the nature of the spirit, there would have been no need of a Mediator to reconcile man to God; for the obedience of theflesli to the spirit is reconciliation. But as human nature was unreconciled to Deity, or in other words, the flesh unreconciled to the spirit, a Mediator is ne- cessary to reconcile the flesh or human nature. And through Jesus Christ, as Mediator, human nature or the lust of the flesh (commonly called the devil) discov- ered what was the will and desire of the spirit, or Dei- ty, which was to unite all mankind into one kingdom; and that Rom. viii. 2, The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which makes free from the law of sin and death. This should be the whole governing principle of all men. This is the kind of kingdom that Jesus Christ came to set up, which is calculated to make mankind happy in this world. And as before stated, it was perfectly agreeable to the nature of the two, for the lust of the flesh to oppose, the spirit in the erection or establishing of such kingdom: human nature at that c^i-ly period was not able to bear so great a change. The Inst of the flesh was now in the prime of life, and bends all its 'powers against the law of the spirit, and with sword in hand, shed the blood of all who were wil- ling to submit to the law of the spirit of life. This done, an opposite kingdom is erected in the same name as that of Christ's. Arid now we have the two ki: doms, that of Jesus Christ, which makes free from the law of sin ami death, and that of antichrist, which k- 129 the author of sin and death. And as it was with the children of Israel in the days of Joshua, so it was with the Gentiles in the days of Luther and Calvin. Those men were instrumental in putting down the persecuting powers of the Roman church; and the civil laws of England and France, as well as soniH other .nations*- say to human nature, we have rescued you from un- der the Roman yoke: choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served* which were on the other side of the, establishment of the papal powers, (Jupiter, Bacchus, &c.) or the gods of the papists (Jesus, Mary, and Saints,) in whose ecclesiastical dominions ye dwell. This was the lan- guage of the civil law; the papal yoke shall no longer be forced on the necks of the subjects of these king- doms; but every man may serve the gods of the heath- en Roman empire, whom his forefathers served, who lived iii the days of heathen Rome; or he may serve the gods of the jmpal liohums, who yet have chapels, j>riests> &c. in our lands and nations. And so said Joshua to (he Israelites. After .the Israelites were re- deemed from the Egyptian yoke, and had arrived at their Canaan of rest, their hearts were still on idolatry which geudereth unto bondage. And Joshua said un- to them, Chant, xxiv. 15, If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you Will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the. Amorites in whose land ye^dweH; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. The language of* Joshua in this case, is in substance, the language of the national authorities after the establishment of the reformation from popery. Says the national autho- rities of England, France, &c. to their subjects: we have rescued you from the persecuting powers of the -Roman church, if it seem evil unto >ou to serve God in spirit and truth, — choose you thi* day whom you will serve; whether the gods that your fathers served previous to the coming of Christ, or the gods of the papists, in , whose dominions you dwcll^ but as for me, *.2 130 (the throne) and my house, (my national councils) we serve the Lord. That is, no church shall have the civil authority over our respective national concerns, or dictate to us the means of happiness. It now rem&ins to show which gods the reformers chose for the object of their worship: which is best de- termined by their creed and articles of faith. See the constitution of the presbyterian church in the United States of America, commonly called the pres- byterian cqnfession ot faith, Page 368. Thecreed.-*-* I believe in God the Father, almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was conceit ed by the Holy Ghost, born of the Vir- gin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilrfte, was crucifi- ed, dead and buried; he descended into hell,* the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of the saints^ the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The reader will turn to the catholics' creed and there observe article 21, I do firmly believe that the images of Christ, the blessed Virgin, the mother of God, and of other saints, ought to be had and retained, aird that due honor and veneration ought to be paid unto them. This article acknowledges the light to worship the images of Jesus, Mar}, and the other saints; all of Vvhich images the mother church at Rome, has in pos- session, but the image of Jesus is sufficient for the lit- tle provinces abroad, which image of Jesus, thte Ro- mans worship openly and publicly; and if any man disputes it, I request him to enter a Roman chapel in time of servic. , and he can see the fact These things prove beyond doubt, that the Roman catholic church is idolatrous. A d I will now take notice of the presbyterian creed, * That te, continued in the state of the dead, anckinder the powers death until the third day, 181 winch is in substance, the creed of all proiestant ( am! is literally the same as the first eight article?' of the Roman creed: in a word, the presbyterians,. iii their creed, acknowledge that they believe in (lie holy catholic church; which catholic church is undeniably the Roman catholic church, which is the apoi aliptical beast; this church or beast, the protectants acknow- ledge in their creed that they believe rri it, That is, they believe in the beast and embrace the seven sacra- ments of the beast, as the sure means of salvation. I will ask the protectant clergymen, what catholic church it is that they believe in? As the word catholic, is not to fee found in the Old or New Testaments. I will set it down for granted, that the holy- catholic church, which the protectants in their creed acknowledge to be- lieve in, is the Rom^n catholic church or apocalipticat bea$»t. This at once settles the point, for it is evident that the protestants worship that in which the> believe. As a proof of which, see the sacraments of the Roman catholic creed, arti. 15. I do profess and believe that there are seven sacraments, truly and properly so called, viz: baptism, confirmation, eueharist, penance, extreme unction, orders, and matrimony. These are the sa- craments of .the holy catholic church, in whom the pro- testants believe. All of which the protestants believe in and embrace as necessary to salvation. As to bap- tism and the eueharist, they are generally known and understood by most of men. As such, I will add some explanations of the othe^five, that tire reader may at once aee that the protestants embrace them all. Confirmation, is the ac< of establishing any thing or person; and is what our professed christians call experi- mental knowledge, by which they are confirmed in their religion. Penance, is what our professed christians call repentance, which is wellknowrr. Extreme unction, is the prayingfor the sick, or dying; which is often heard of amongst the protestants, but no good has ever yet resulted fr> m this sacrament, or any other. Orders, sig- nify the different offices in th^chun h. th« pardon, dea- cons, or elders, and clerks, &c» The Roman church o4 has seven orders; the protest ants put up with three or four. Matrimony* sign i Ties the uniting of male and female together fyy certain vows, in which state they ivniain during life, let the consequence be what it may. This sacrament is well known to mankind; as such, it needs no explanation. Thus, ihe loader will readily perceive that the pro- tcstants not only believe in the catholic church, or beast, but absolutely worship it. And thus acting, they are the enemies of Jesus Christ. The tares, the Wor- shippers of the beast, and the advocates of tyranny and oppression: not believing in Jesus or the New Testa- ment, but believing in the holy catholic church, and worshiping the beast. That the protcstants do not believe iuMesus Cbrist, I will prove by scripture testimony, and their own acknowledgments. Jesus Christ said, Matth. xii. SI, Wherefore 1 say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men. If the protectants believed in Jesus Christ, which they openly profess, why all this parade about repent- ance, &c. for sin? If they believed in Jesus Christ, llley would he free from the burden of sin and gnili; and no need of repentance for sin; which no man can Ihe without, if the protcstants believe in Jesus Christ, why do they say in Hieir creed that they believe in the holy catholic church, and absolutely embrace her sacra- ments a» the means of salvation? If the protcstants be- lieve in Jesus Christ, why do they say in their creed that they believe he descended into hell after his buri- al? In this place the protectants have added a note, but it only proves their condemnation. For they first say, he was crucified, dead and buried, descended in- to hell; <>nd then explain that this hell means that he continued in the state of the dead, &<;. But I request the reader to notice the passage: they say, lie was cru- cified, dead and buried; he descended into i.ell. First, death; second, buried; third, descended into hell; this descent undoubtedly took place after his hm ial, agreea- ble to the literal sense of the artic le, or (reed. And now let us see how this agreeth with Christ's uw n vvtfrirts. See Luke xxiii. 43, This day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Again, verse 46, Father into thy hands I command my spirit. These were the dying words of the Son of man. And now I contend, that if the pro- tcstauts believed in him, they would not thus contradict him. And more than this, if he descended into hell, I wish to know how the protestants found it out, as there is no scripture that proves the fact. But an article in the catholic creod says, art. 19, The fathers assert that our Saviour descended into hell. This I conceive to be the -authority which the protectants have tcT war- rant them in the belief of Christ's descending into hell after burial. Which facts, 1 conceive to be suffi- cient to prove 'that the protectants do not believe in Jesus Christ. I admit that the protcstants do believe in the image of Jesus Christ, or they would not observe the sacraments which the Romans have in- troduced for the worship of said image. Again, if the protectants believed in Jesus Christ, they would not consider themsel ves under 1 he law of Moses; for an apos- tle informs us, Acts xiii. 39, And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. From this testimony it appears that the believer in Christ is justified from all things; but the protectants do not consider themselves justified from all things, even after they have observed all their round of religious duties; they have no rest day nor night; no justification to be found by them, because they do not believe on him that justifieth the un- godly. Rom. iv. 5. Behold the professed "'christian, with his countenance dejected, his eyes fixed, and his hand'on his breast; there gnaws their worm that never dies, and there burns the fire that never is quenched; all through unbelief. For they neither believe in Jesus Christ or the New Testament; for they deny Jesus Christ and the gospel, saying, that the sinner will be tormented to a never-ending eternity. Jesus said that all sins should be forgiven; and again, he said, if he tvias lifted up he would draw ail men unto himself; and again bo said, that (*trf! so loved the world that he sent ht« o?..., i a* 184 ly begotten Bon, not to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. The apostle Paul says to Timothy, that Jesus Christ will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. See 1 Tim. ii. 3, 4. The protestants openly and publicly deny all those facts; and acknowledge that they believe in the holy catholic .church; and by observing her sa- craments they worship the beast. They are enlisted enemies of Jesus Christ; they arc the friends of anti- christ, and of tyranny and oppression. Jesus Christ said, Mark ix. 40, He that is not against us is on our part. But the protestants have acknowledged by their creed and sacraments that they are against him; and wo be unto them; for the wrath of God in the letter of the gospel abideth on them; the general judgment will condemn them, and their names will be blotted out un- to the end. A religion divided into so many sects, each contending against all others, is by no means worth the name of Christ; for were it not for the civil laws, those sects would be continually warring against each other. These be the tares which the Son of man said that his angels or reapers would gather together and bind them in bundles to be burnt. And they are alrea- dy gathered and bound in bundles by their particular rules of faith; and are absolutely enrolled. These be they, that the enemy, the devil, sowed whilst men slept, They are the worshippers of the beast, which cannot be denied. For it cannot be said that the catholics wor- ship the beast, for they have the image in all their chapels, which is the object; of their worship. Aud \i cannot be said that the Jews worship the beast, for they worship as they did under the law. And it cannot be said that the mahomedans worship the beast, for fhey believe in the true God. and Mahomet as his prophet, and worship accordingly. Nor can it be said of those who observe no outward forms of worship that they worship the beast, for they worship not at all, but believe on him who justified* the ungodly. But the protestants have no image to worship, no prophet to guide ihem, Bor are they justified by faith. 135 They are the children of the Roman catholic church w which they helieve. * Having said enough on the subject of the papal and protestaut religion, to justify a belief that the holy ca- tholic church is the apocaliptical beast, and that all protestaut churches (which embrace any of the sacra merits,) worship the beast, I will now show that those churches have been the authors and promoters of all tt& tyranny and oppression in our world, and that the ge- neral judgment will remove those the obstacles to man's happiness. The kingdom which John Baptist, and Jesus Christ preached, and which the apostles estab- lished, was a kingdom of faith and love to God and .man. John Baptist said to the scribes and pharisees, Matth. iii. £, Rejrent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Jesus Christ said to his twelve, Matth. x. ? § And asyo go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Again he said to the seventy, Lukex. 9, And say unto them, the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. And again he said, Luke ix. £7, Bui I teli you of a truth, there be some standing here which shall not taste tit death till they see the kingdom of God, Again, Mark ix. 1, And he said unto them, v rily I say unto yoir, that \\\qvg be some of them that stand hen? which shall not taste of death till they have seen the king- dom of Gud come with pouer. And again, St. Matth.. says, chap-t. iv. 23, That Jesus Christ preached the gos- pel of the kingdom. And now the sum of the foregoing testimony is this: Christ himseif preached the gospel of the kingdom oCGod. Ami sale ttrlM some who heard him preach, should not (lie, Unlit tl»ey would see the kingdom of God come who power. And I ask what new form of kingdom that wus which came with power during the life-time of those who heard Christ .preach? ^e Lear ol three thousand souls revolting from toe kingdom of the law dispensation, to that of the gospel in our day. See ActiHi. 44; and again, Arts iv. 4, five thousand. Arid vast multitudes of all nations rc\ cited in a similar way, and joined the seme siandard throt gh the preaching of the apostles, Which wasnndoubkdj 186 Jy iho kingdom of heaven,, or kingdom of God, winca is th? same: for the kingdom of heaven, or kingdom of God, is evidently a kingdom of happiness: for as I ..have- before proven that hell means torments in this life, even so, hea\en means happiness in this life. And the kingdom which Christ and the apostles preached, was, vvith those who believed, productive of happiness. For all that believed were together, and had all things com inon, sold their possessions and goods, and made distri- bution to all, as every man had need. This Lconccive to fae, the kingdom of God, for God is no respecter of person^ and where God\s kingdom prevails, equality, peace and happiness abounds uuto ail. An apostle says, GaL ill 28, In Christ there is neither Jew nor Grng the wheat and went his way. But when the biades v ere sprung up and brought foi th trust , then apj^nred the tj, rs rdsn. So the servants of the house- In :ld( t (M? ( ;n r said into him. S ;« didst not thou sow trocul se^ii m tl y fit Id? p Yom when e ibrn hath it %i\rml Be said unto th in, anenny In th rent ti is. le tenants said unto him, wilt thou that we go and g*a lay ruer them up? But lie said nay; lest white yc gaiuei up tares ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of har- vest I will say to the reapers, gather ye together, first the tares, and hind them in hundies to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. The best explanation that can be given 'of this parable, is that given by him who spake it, to which I will invite the reader's attention. See venae 36, and so on, Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house; and his disciples came unU* him, saying, declare unto us the parable of the tares of (he field. He answered and said unto them, he thai sowed the good seed is the San of man; the field is the worid: the good seed are the children of the kingdom; hut the tares are the children of i\\& wicked; the ene- my that sowed them is the devil: the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As there- fore, the tare:-; are gathered and burnt in the fire, ssi shall it be also in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth ins angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace v»f fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth/ Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. \Y.ho hath years to hear let liim hear, Tikis is the explanation which the Son of man gave of the parable of the lares of the field, — Which tares are ti>c professed christians of every dle- i nomination that observe the sacrame n is of I he holy hgtluK •lie church, in which they acknowledge to believe. And that all those gatherings and binding into bundles and burning of the tares, are limited to this life of mortal- ity, is evident from these words: There shall be weep- ing and gnashing of teeth. Men do not weep after their bodies are dead, neither can they gnash their teeth. This parable is relative to the kingdom of heaven, h Jesus Christ said should come with power dur- ing the life time of those who attended him in his min- istry. As such I am clearly of opinion that V^e king- heaven, ^a$ ihat-kmgdoni o fi m^baiH; love to 140 God ami-maii, which (he apostle* partially, (though with power) established on this earth during their na- tural lives. For Jesus says in the positive, that he the Son of man, sowed the Rood seed, which good seed was the children of the kingdom or wheat. But whilst men slept, an enemy came and sowed tares amongst the wheat and went his way. When was this time that men s!ept, and gave the enemy time to sow tares among the wheat and go his way? Sleep, this wot d often means the literal death of the body; — La- zarus is not dead hut slecpeth.— The damsel is not dead but sleepeth. — David fell asleep and was laid with his fathers. In each of those quotations, the word -leep, signifies the literal death of the body. He thatsoweth the good seeil is the Son of man, the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom. Jesus Christ sowed the good seed of faith and love to God and man; and all who embraced his faith were children of the kingdom of heaven. But the Honiau sword put all such to sldep, as I hav^e before proven. This done, the enemy commenced sowing his seed; and sowed them all by the middle of the fifteenth century. When the nations of France, England #nd others, shook off the persecuting powers of the Roman church, and behold the tares made their apprearanee among the wheat. For as soon as the protest-nit reformers sprang up and -brought forth fruit, it was evident to many, that this was. not the seed that the Son of man sowed in the world; for if the ruling powers had believed that those reformers were the goad seed which Christ sowed, they would have given them the reins of government; but not so; they w ere careful to keep them out of .power; saying by their jaws ami decrees to the protectant reformers, we give von free privilege to worship as you see proper; but give you no nower or authority to make laws or it^u jations to govern us; our treasuries, armies, and na- vies, shall not be subject to your orders. This war; the language of the servants of the householder, who was commanded not to gather up -il»e tares lest jtb 141 root up also the wheat with them. For hypocracy has caused some wheat to put on the appearance of a tare. As such, it is not prudent for them to he separated un- til the harvest, hut let hoth grow together. The tare? are the children of the wicked, — the enemy that sow- ed thrm is the tlevil. It will not be denied that thfl wicked are Christ's enemies; it was his enemies that crucified him; it was his enemies that persecuted the primitive christians, and put them to sleep by the sword; it was his enemies that erected his image for the object of their worship, and framed the seven sa- craments as the necessary means to such worship* Which enemy is the holy catholic church; this church is the wicked, and her children are the protestant re- formers: for they acknowledge in their creed, that they believe in the holy catholic church, and they em brace all of her sacraments, which proves the fact. The holy catholic church is the mother church, and her members cannot be her children; for her members con- stitute the church; without which, there could be no catholic church. But the protestant reformers of every denomination who observe the sacraments of the holy catholic church, are the children of the wicked, for they look up to the holy catholic church for their creed and sacraments, as a child doth to its mother for the breast. The enemy that sowed them is the devil! the devil isthednst of the flesh, as I have before proven* The protestant reformers being led by the lust of the flesh and a carnal mind, preferred the kingdom of anti- christ to the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ; and have* embraced the idolatrous sacraments of the holy catholic church, as the necessary means to salvation, in preference to the faith of Jesus Christ. So I conclude that the protestant christians are the tares, the children of the catholic church; and that the devil sowed them. Let both grow together until the bar- Test, and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tares and bind them in bun- dles to burn them. The time of harvest is the time allowed by the nations to the different sects of protes M2 14S tauts: freely to preach their doctrine; which cojaaiuen- ced .about the year 1694 to 6, and is to continue five months or 150 years. See St. John. ix. 5. The tares being gathered together, and bound in bundles, signi- fies the different sects of professed christians being gathered together into societies, and absolutely bound in bundles by their rules and articles of faith, whose rrames arc enrolled or registered in a book kept by each sect for the express purpose. Thus the different sects of professed christians are already gathered and bound in bundle?. The Son of man shall send forih his an- gels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them that do iniquity. I will ask who those angeis were, whom the Son of n an sent forth? We have no account in scripture of asiy others that were sent forth but the apostles*: Those were the angels that the Son of man sent forth sayivig, Go jo into all the world, and preach the gospel to every crea- ture. Those angrls were not sent forth to .gather to- gether the people of Christ's kingdom; but to gather out of his kingdom all things that ofTend and them which do iniquity 1 To which passage 1 wish the lea- der's attention; Christ's kingdom was then universal; —Ask of roe and 1 shall give thee the heathens for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth lor thy possession. See David's Ps. ii. 8. Sol conclude that the kingdom was already Christ's; and he sent forth his angels to proclaim this news to the different nations; and to write bis gospel of the kingdom, which would be the sure means of gathering out of his king- dom all tilings that offend and them that do iniquity* — . For without the gospel (for a show of protectant faith,) the protistant chsgynen (oukl do nothing, but by making an open profession of Jesus Christ and his gos- pel, and holding out at the same time a system of law Works (as necessary to salvation.) which will give the al,n to the creature, and not to the Creator, is very leasing to the -carnal mind or unbelievers; and the tare' are thus gathered and bound in bundles. The fe&ed christians say in their hearts;— wc thank 14<* God " ihut We are not as other men are* aiiullerei; *., drunkards, blasphemers, gamblers, &<\ Yve have repented of our sins, we ha\e been baptised, we have taken lhecu( harist, we l*av€ liCfiti confirmed by sell evi- dence, &*;, aiid thus by onr gocd \wn ks, in observ- ing the sacraments of the holy ( -athnlic church, X ^C ha\e a; -rived at culr Canaan of resi:. And thus it is, that the ti.i-:s are gathered in bundles to be burnt. And this was one of the objects of the written gospel, to gather cut of Chiisfs kingdom all thirds that of tend and >kcm which do iniquity. And to this end, the gospel is (iupmuvM so as to ensnare the carnal minded who offead and do iniquity, that they may be bound in bundles to he burnt at the general judgment. 1 will ask the reader, what other class of mankind are gath- ered together and bound into bundles? For my part, I know of no (lass of mankind who make profession of religion that are gathered together and bound m bundles but -the protestant christians. The cratboHes cannot he (ailed tares, (or they are one; and tares is plural, and signifies many. But the protectants arc n-anj sects, each of which are gathered together in sentiments and doctrine, and are bound in bundles hv their rulers of faith, and church rolls, and are un- doubtedly the tares alluded to in the parable. Those sects make an open profession of Jesus Christ and his gospel, but worship the beast and believe \\\e sacra- ments of the holy catholic church to he accessary to salvation. As such, they arc the avowed enemies of Jesus Christ and his gospel, and their doctrine des- tructive U) the irappiness of mankind; they arc liv- ing on the fat of the land by their begging societies; are bringing accusations against all who do not think and act as they do; and whole states and kingdoms are) often in confusion in consequence of their divisions, and calumniations. As such, it is necessary to the peace and happiness of mankind, that those char- acters should be judged by the gospel of Jesus Christ, ami dealt with according!): which sentence, \\\\\ be to Cast them into a furnace of fire, where they will weep and gnash their teeth. 144 Aiiot her parable, same as fust, Maiih. xiii. 47 to *M 9 Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net thai Mas cast into the fcea, and gathered of ever) kind: which when it was full they drew to shore, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the had nway. So shall it be in the end -.of this world; the angels shall cojne forth and sever the wicked from the just, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. This parable means the san e as that of the tares of the field, and closes with the same sentence on the wicked, as the former doth on the tares, each of which will be fulfil- led at the end of this world. The word world, signi lies dispensation; the dispensation of the legal priest- hood was railed world; in the end of which, Paul says, ileb. ix. £6, That Christ came to put away sin by the sacrifice '.of himself. T he world to which these para- bles relate, is the dispensation of the gospel: in the end of which, the general judgment will sit; the tares be condemned and cast into a furnace of i\\c. The reader will observe in the parable of the net, that the wicked arc separated from the just. Who are the just? an apostle says, that the just shall live by faith; (see Horn. i. 17.) The professed christians cannot be cal- led the just, for they glory in their sacramental works. As such, they cannot be the just, or they would live bv faith, and not by the sacraments of the holy catholic church. So I conclude that they are the wick- ed; and that they will be severed or separated from the just, and be cast into a furnace of fire, where they will wail and gnash their teeth. I will give a further account of the wicked: The wicked are those characters Who are led by a perse- cuting spirit; the enemies and opposers of Jesus Christ and his gospel. See Acts of the Apostles ii. 23, Him being delivered by the determined council and fore- knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands, have crucified and slain. Here, the word wicked is applied to the enemies and crucifiers of Jesus 'Christ. See also, the case of Simon, who wished to purchase 14* the gift of the holy ghost with money, whom Peter thus answered;-— Thy money perish with the, repent of this thy wickedness, &c. See Acts viii. 18 to 22. See again, 2 Thes. ii. Now we beseech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him. The subject of whicU the apostle is treating, is the coming of the Lord Je- sus Christ. For it appears that the Thessalonians were of opinion, that the coming of the Lore!, or gen- eral judgment, was then nigh at ham!; and this chap- ter is written the better to inform them of that great event. Verse 2, That ye be not soon shaken in raind^ or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us; as, that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and thitman of sin be revealed the son of perdition. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above ail that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sittetii in the temple of God, showing himself that he :s God. Remember ye not that while I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of tin way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, &c. There, the man of sin, the son of perdition, and thai; wicked, mean the same, and allude to the popes. Tin pope for the time being, is head bishop of the church;; and he is the great enemy and oppos rof Jesus Christ and his heavenly kingdom. This is the enemy jthat sowed the tares among the wheat. This the god who has made that to be sin, which was no sin; and thai: which was no sin to be sin: he h the sovereign judge of controversy, who cannot on. And in himthe pyrq. iestant reformers trust. For say they, I belicv the holy catholic church; her sacrame?fts are neccs \y to salvation, and the observation of them prove our faith and love to the holy catholic church. The tjircs -si children of *he wLo-k 146 Ix. 15, 16, The heathens are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Here the patriarch says, in the net which they hid they are taken. The heathens are in- fidels, or unbelievers. Those are hid in the net of the apostles, (New Testament) and in this they are taken. The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity. The apostles must ne- cessarily make use of ways and means to gather up those offenders, and the new Testament is the net, by which they do thus; and in this net the professed chris- tians say they are hid, and in this net their foot is ta- ken. That is, they are snared in the works of their own hands; for they are led by the same persecuting spirit of those who crucified the Lord, and the primi- tive christians, and of those who worship the image of Jesus, of Mary and the Saints; for say the profes- sed christians, we believe in the holy catholic church: and they are finally caught in the net, in which they )iid: and are snared in the works of their own hands. And to this end, the patriarch says in tins same 16th verse, The Lord is known by the judgment he exe - cuteth. Verse 17, That the wicked shall be turned into hell, &c. So I conclude, that the wicked arc those who worship that which is not God, as all pro icssed christians do; for they acknowledge to believe in the holy catholic church, and embrace her sacra- ments as necessary to salvation. And now, if it can be proven that the holy catholic church is really God* then the protectant reformers shall be acquitted; but if on the contrary, it can be proven that the holy catholic church is not God, nor her sacraments necessary to salvation, then the protestant reformers stand con- demned, and the wrath of God in the letter -abideth on them, and the genera! judgment will be the execu- tive power of the gospel, which will put an e\u\ to the enemies and opposes* of Jesus Christ and his go&pcl. I will now notice St. John's discipline of the general judgment. SeeRevelatwusxx.il to fasti \nd 14? I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is of life; and the dead u ere judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to his works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life Was cast into the lake of fire, This is St* John's ac- count of the general judgment, in which the reader will observe, that previous to the judgment he saw a great white throne; and him that sat on it; from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away; and there was found no place for them. The reader will recol- lect that I before asserted, that previous to the general judgment, the kingdoms of this world would all be* come one grand kingdom: and the throne of this uni- versal kingdom is the great white throne alluded to. In St. John's vision of the seven trumpets, he says, Re\. xL 15, And the seventh angel sounded; and (here were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become of our Lord and of his Christ: find he shall reign forever and ever. The reader will observe, that I ha\e left out the supplied words in this verse which are, *« the kingdoms,** these words are not found in the original, and arc added b) translators in order to li«*lp the sense, and are always found in Italics, and in this place the supply ought to rtad, the king- dom, for he says that Use kingdoms, which is plural., and means many, are b« < omr the kingdom as one of our Lord and of his Christ; and he si ah reign fojoer and ever. See \erse 18, And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the *lead that; they should he judged. This passage, i?elatiye to sounding of ;he seventh trumpet, liieraiJy proves that the kingdoms ot this world will become one king 148 «iorn previous to the genera! judgment. See Prophet Daniel relative to this great and important, event? Chapf. ii. 44, And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never hi destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to othcj people, but it shall breek in pieces and consume all ibese kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. See rhapt, ii. ±3, 14, I saw in the night visions, and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and caific to Use Ancient of Days, and they brought Iliwi near before him. And there was given him do- -.minion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, S&tiWns, and languages should serve him; his dominion an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom which shall not be destroyed. Those passages ns fully pro\c that there shall be an univer- sal kingdom, as any one thing can be proven. And he-, ttie prince, emperor, or king, of this universal kingdom, wilrbejike unto the Son of man: that is. he v?\il ! : with the spirit and power of Jesus Christ, agau*, Daniel vik 21 to 25, inclusive. In these vei 'ses the prophet gives a description of a king, or "kingdom, who made war with the saints, and prevailed against them until Use same Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints, who possessed the .kingdom. And tlien In verse £3 ? 4, and 5, the prophet describes the Roman empire as wearing out ihe saints of ihi Most High, whose kingdom would be divers from i\\\ kingdoms, which would devour the earth, tread it down and break it in pieces. This I conceive to be (lie Roman empire previous to her beconiihg christian. And the t^n horns out of this kingdom arc ten kings •which shall arise; and another shall arise after them; and he shall be divers from the first, and he shall sub- due these kings. This is the Roman papa! empire, or Loly catholic church. And the king that was divers from the first, which also subdued these kings, he shall speak words against the Most High; and shall weaf 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* This 140 is the celebrated Roman catholic churchy she is thcr power that subdued these kings, who also s peaks- great words against the Most High, and thinks to change times and laws, but they are given into his bands only 1260 prophetic years, equal to 1243 of the present years. Verse 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 shail serve and obey him. Here again is positive testimony relative to the king- doms of this world alt being united into one kingdom* And reason teaches us, that a universal kingdom is necessary to a universal peace and happiness on this earth* So I am inclined to think that agreeable to scripture prophesy, the kingdoms of ihis vyo will all be united into one kingdom, by or before the year 1843. And him that has the rule thereof will be like the Son of man, as the prophet has foretold; that is, he will execute justice and judgment. He is the Michael who i\w prophet Daniel speaks of, chapt. xih 1. The -Word Michael signifies, to be like God, oi Jesus Christ; and so says Daniel, chapt. vii. 13, I saw the Right vision, and beheld one like the Sou of man. See 14, and to him was given a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve him. Our Saviour always railed himself the Son of man. Dan- iel says that the >, universal prince is like the Son of man. So Michael, ehapt, xii. 1, and Use one like the Son of nictn, ehapt. vii. 13, are undoubtedly the same person; Who will he universal \n ince, let him come when he may. And now we come to St. John's gener- al judgment. And I Saw a great white throne, and lino that sat en it. This is the throne 61 Michael the urriversal prince, or prince of the habitable earth* Iliw that sat thereon is the Michael, like God, or like the Son of man, that is in the spirit and power of the Sou of man; before whose i\*ce the earth and heaven fied away; all earthly powers submit to him, and all 150 former rules and regulations cease to exist, for there was no place found for them. This done, the judgment sits. The judgment — that court of the Jews, winch judged by the law, was called (lie judgment. See St. Matth.'v. 21; And that court that judgeth by the gospel of Jesus Christ is called the last judgment. For this prince of -the habitable earth, being Michael, or like God, and as Daniel says, like the Son of man, he will judge by the gospel, and his court or universal council will be the general and last judgment. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the Ifooks were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things, which were written in the books, according to their works. I will in the first place, take notice of the dead.-— Dead, death, and die, in the scripture sense, often sig- nify the carnal mind, wine h is at enmity against God* In testimony of which, see Rom. viii. 6, For to he car- nally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. This testimony nays, that the life and death, is the different states of the mind or soul. See prophet Ezekiel xxxiii. 11, Say unto them, as I live, saith-the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death o£ the wicked; but that the wicked turn from hisAvay and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel. The death here spo- ken of, is evidently the carnal mind, for tliey were com- manded to turn from their evil v ays and live; and let them have been eye* m righteous, tin j inust die, lit- Orally, and turn- to i\u*A< But if they turned from their: evil ways they should live: which clearly praxes that the life and death hjerf spoken of* is the spiritual ami carnal mind, as the apostle also bears witifrss. Again, John xi. 25, 26, And Jefeus safid unto her, i m the re- surrection and the lite; he "that belli vetl» i»me, though he were dead, yeisbiJi he live. And whosoever li\eth and believeth in me, shall never (tie. The applies iin- -doubted]} believed in Jesus i hrlsU but the> are all liter- ally dead and their bodies turned to dust; ai •' he say? positively, that whosoever liveih ami believeth on Imia 15£ shall not die; that is, whosoever livcth and belie vet u in me, shall never be carnally minded and at enmity with God. Tiiis is undoubtedly his meaning. Again, God said to Adam, Gen. ii. 17, Ye shall not eat of it; for i si the day thou eatest thereof thou shajt surely die, Adam both touched it and eat of it, and lived 930 years after, before he returned to dust; which again proves that this death was the carnal mind. From which tes- timony, i am clearly of opinion, that the word dead, often signifies the carnal mind, and not dead bodies: for dead bodies cannot stand; and St. John says he saw the dead, small and ; greati % stanil before? God; which dead were not dead bodies, bat bodies led by a carnal mind. Stand before God: a!! men stand before God literally speaking. But the carnal minded or dead, smaH and great, are now to be judged. As such, they are said to stand before God, or before the power of God, And the books were opened. The books, is plu- ral, and signifies more than one: the hooks, is the Old Testament; this is the books, for each prophet's wri- tings are called the book; all bound in one volume, it is called the books. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. Book is SrrgnTar, and s ; g< miles one; and tins book is the hi lijle, or B tament. And the dead (carnal minded) were judg- ed out of those things whica were written in the books according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it:— all carnal minded seniilen are jmlged as well as landsmen. And death and boil gave he dead which were in them, and fhev judge*! y man according to their works. Death and hell. —At the opening of the fourth se a pale horse made his appearance; and his name thai sat on him was death* and hell followed witli him. This pale horse was the reformation from popery. Death is the : protectant reformers; and hell ih^ troubles and contentions which have always accompanied them in all Their devotions. llowever, I will attend to the seals generally, hereafter. Aii protectant reformers;, or nil professed christians who believe in the sacraments oi the catholic; church, vriMte deli • wed up to t.h 152 ral judgment, and every one judged according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.— AH professed christians, as aforesaid, cast into a Sake of fire, the same as the tares. This is the second death; —that is, the destruction of those characters aforesaid, is the end of sin; the carnal mind is the first death; and the end of sin is the second death. And Whoso- ever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire;— this verse proves the fact, for St. John, in chapter xiii, after describing the beast, says, verse- 8, And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose nanvestfare not written in the book *>f life, of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This testimony proves beyond doubt, that it is the worshippers of the beast, who are judged at the genera] judgment and cast into the lake of fire. For he says that all who dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in th^ book of life. And them he says whosoever was not found written in tin- book of life, was cast into the lake of (ire, which is so plain that comment is unnecessary. It now remains to show what this lake of fire isj which is best determined by the testimony of the apos- tle, and the angel's explanations. The reader will no- ;ice that it is the great whore that is judged. See ilev. xvii. 1, I wili show unto thee, the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters. Which waters the angel says, verse 15, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. The great whore is the doctrinal tenets, and sacraments of all protectant reformers: the whole mass of people who believe in those tenets and sacraments, are' t!ie many waters; tfcoge waters collected together into one place is-al&ke; llre|f?rsecimrig principles by which th« dif- ferent sects are governed, strive against the spirit or Ore. The different sects of pretestant reformers will ^ ithcrcd together into one place, immedi- ately previous ttt, or after the judgment; or their bc« gatherfctl together into one place, is the judgment See seven via) 'lie seven last plagues. Ro 153 These vials arc all poured out on those men who have the mark of the beast, and them who worship his image. And when the sixth vial is poured out, three unclean spirits go forth, to gather those worshippers of the beast, ail together to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. So I conclude that the lake of fire is the whole number of protectant reformers, the wor- shippers of the beast, the tares, &c. assembled to- gether into one place: called in the Hebrew tongue Armagiddon; or mountains of destruction. This done, the most awful, dreadful, distressing, and mur- dering persecution that ever was, since there was a nation or ever will he, will immediately commence. Each sect will contend for the supremacy: and the watch word will be the name of the sect, to whom the party challenged, may belong. This will be the bat- tle of that great day of God Almighty. Why it is called the battle of God Almighty, is because it is a contention between flesh and spirit: the spirit striving against the flesh, and the flesh against the spirit; and as all protectant flesh will then be destro}ed, by the power of the spirit, the spirit will have the victory; as such, it is called the battle of that great day of God Almighty. This will be a never-ending proof to the balance of mankind, of the great error by which those sects have been led. And then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Matth. xiih 43; and Rev. 21, 1 saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. A new heaven.— -I have before observed that heaven signified happiness on this earth. As such, the new heaven is a new rule or or- der of happiness amongst mankind. And a new earth;—* the word earth, signifies the human body, as proven hi the account of creation. The new earth signifies new bodies, not literally new, but new in principles; that is, no more to contend against each other, but new in their nature; for each will love his neighbour as himself; for he says, verse 2, 3, 4, And I, John. 154 safer the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned lbi her husband. And 1 heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold the tabernacle of God is with nun, and he will dwell with them; and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, tbi the former things are passed away. Verse 5, And he that sat upon the throne said, behold I make all things siew. And he said unto me, write; for these words are true and faithful. This last quotation is a descrip- tion of Christ's kingdom fully established on this earth, And as a further proof that all those things will come to pass in this life, observe, * the holy city comes down from God out of heaven,' and that God is to wipe away all tears, no more crying, and that the same Michael, or him that Daniel said was like the Son of man, is still on the throne, and proclaims that he maketh all things new. These things protethat the general judgment and the filial restoration of uni- versal peace and happiness with mankind will be on this globe of earth and water. For spirits do not cry? feel pain, or sorrow. Again, see Daniel xii. 1, And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one found written in the book. And at that time: — the time here alluded to, is the struggle of Michael for his universal dominion; which will truly be a time of trouble, such as never was. For all kingdoms* nations, states and provinces, must be revolutionized, and be united into one kingdom: this kingdom to be governed by Michael, or like God, or like the Son of mar., who will rule all men with most just judgments. AU things whatsoever ye would that men should do to j tin, do yc even so unto them, will be the governing principle of this glorious kingdom of heaven* But ioa the changes necessary to this glorious event will tru- ly be a tune of trouble. All worshippers of the. beast delivered up, all tyranny and oppression, weights, boundaries, and measuies, will vanish: trade and commerce, which hitherto has been carried on for the fake of gain only, will henceforth be for the mutual and equal accoflfttwodatioB of all men. And during this time *f trouble; — Thy people shall be delivered, every one found written in the book. Heie is the sane book that St. John lias. St. John says, And whoso- ever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake ot fire. Daniel says, every one found written in the book shall be delivered. Ail professed christians who belieye the sacraments of the holy catholic church to be necessary to salvation, will he delivered into the hands or power of Michael, and be commanded or gathered together into one place. (Sf. John xvi. 13, 14,) and this place is the lake of fire, which will be an ever memorable end to the woi ship- pers of the beast. And then will be heard the joyful sound, peace and good vvifi towards men. See Rev. xix. 1, 2, And after these things, 1 heard a loud voice of many people in heaven, saymg, Allelujah, salvation, glory, honour and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornications, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. The angel, chapt. xvii. 1, shewed John the judgment of the great whore that sat on many waters. And here it is that God is praised for judging the great whore. Even so thy will be done God. Tin balance of mankind are al- ready judged; see Rev. 7. The servants of God are sealed in their foreheads; of all nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues; of whom the angel said, verse 14, These are they which came out of great tribula- tion, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of tin* lamb. And again, cha'pt* x\. 2, Anil I saw as it were a sea of glass, mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, *56 and over the number of his name, stand on the sea oi glass, having the harps of God. And they sung the song of Moses, Ihey sung the song that Moses and the Israelites sung when they had escaped the hands of persecuting Egypt, and looked back, and saw the horse and his rider drowned in the sea See Exodus xv* So in like mar nee when the servants o God, obtained a victory over the beast, his image, & and see the total overthrow oi ail sects of protestant christians, who are 41; il) and hourly accusing of us, calumniating and threatening of all men with hell and in -ver-ending torments, because they do not join their respective churches and pay into their. pockets; whe we behold their final overthrow 7 , we will sii g the son of Moses, &c. for our happy deliverance from the per secuting tyranny of worn deluded mortals* Thus I have given the* reader my opinion on the gen cral or last judgment, and shewed the testimony o which my belief is founded, and earnestly recommend to all men, the necessity of reading the scriptures. The show the final salvation and happiness of all men The New Testament is intended to act in a two-fold sense. First to show that Christ put an end to sin by the sacrifice of himself. And secondly, to act as a snare or nett; to catt » Christ's enemies or opposers. It is ?n unpleasant thing to be the messenger of bad news, which 1 am to the protestant reformers. But it will he recollected that my news to them is not so had, as the news which they are daily proclaiming to mankind. They say that the sinners will be tormented to a never- ending eternity. My news threaten them with tor- ments in this life only. As such, I do consider that my news is good; compared with that of the protes- tant clergymen. But I recommend to the reader to search the scriptures and judge for himself. Counting a surcdly that God governs all things, w ays, and means, by his unchangeable oinnisciency. To which end* Thy will be done O God, on earth as it is in heaven. Have the government of the flesh, as thou hast of the cuirit. Antra.: I. J.. FOSTER. NO, V, ON ATONEMENT, 4 DISSERTATION ON THE REVELATION OF ST* J0HNJ TO WHICH 13 ABLED S TESTIMONY RELATIVE TO UNIVERSAL SALVATION, I am well aware of the explanation that the learned doctors of divinity have given of St. John's vision of the seven seals and seven trumpets. I am also well a« ware of the great error which prevails in the world relative to these visions, by reason of such erroneous ex- planations. St. John knew to whose care the scriptures of the New Testament would be committed; and he also knew that all the black powers of idolatry would be strongly exerted against the love, meekness, justice and mercy of the followers of the Son of man; and his revelation is intended to shew the commencement of the gospel day; the great opposition to that glorious day; the firi 158 tnnph of idolatry over that day; the re-establishment of idolatry on the blood of the martyrs of the blessed Je- sus, under the name of christian; how long this state of things would continue; the great events which would tend to the final success of Christ's gospel kingdom; the universal joy and happiness of all men in conse- quence of the kingdom of Christ's being established on this earth on the ruins of antichrist, and all enemies put under his feet. The reader will observe that the revelation of St John is addressed to the seven churches of Asia. To each church the Saint is careful to enumerate the trials, afflictions and want of faith, that they would several- ly undergo. This done, chapt. iv. He looked and be- hold a door opened in heaven, he heard a voice as of a trumpet, which invited the saint to come up. And he, the speaker, would show him things which must be liereatter. In chapt. i. 19, the Saint is commanded to write the things which he had seen, the things which then were, and the things which were then to come. The state of Christ's church in the beginning, the state of it at the time of this vision, and its state from thence to the end of the gospel dispensation. All of which states or circumstances, St. John lias characterised in the opening of the seven seals and the soundings of the seven trumpets. Which things I will endeavor to un- fold; and as I shall not insert the whole passage as it stands recorded by the Saint, I request the reader to keep his bible at hand, read, think, and judge of these things for himself: — Rev. v. 1, And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within, and on the back side sealed with seven seals. This book which was written within and sealed with seven seals, contained a prophetic account of the gos- pel dispensation from first to last; and the introduction of the reign of the Holy Ghost or the Millennium: when the kingdoms of this world become of our Lord and his Christ; God dwell amongst men and be their God and we shall be his people,, 109 The Lion of the tribe of Judea, the root of Davui, prevailed to open the book and loose the seals thereof. — This Lion of the tribe of Judea, is Jesus Christ the root of David. He it is that loosed the seals and made known to St. John the things that should be hereafter. The first seal. Chapt. vi. 1, 2, A white horse made his appearance, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him ; and he went forth conquer ing and to conquer. The mysteries of the first seal open to our view the following: — A white horse typifies the gospel of Jesue Christ; which is pure, holy, merciful, loving, forgiving n productive of peace and good will towards all men. In a word, the Saviour said his doctrine was not his but the Father's. See John vii. 16. As such, this is a white horse, which signifies purity. The rider is Jesus Christ and his followers, and to them was given a crown o£ immortal glory and honor. And he went forth con- quering and to conquer. In his first commencement of gospel instructions, both Jesus and his apostles went forth conquering. And that he will finally conquer, is evident, for he has the keys of death and hell, and must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet. Why it is snid he had a bow, is, that the bow was the instrument of warfare in the days of the Son of man and the primitive christians. Not that the bow was used by any of them, by any means; but as the gospel, to all who believed, was destructive of the use of all im- plements of war, he is said to have a bow. Which bow was the exec utivc powers of the gospel.The conquering pow- ers of the gospel continued to prevail through the world until ihe bow or sword of the red horse over- came it — 313. W hich things I have before noticed in No. iv. So I conclude that the first seal opens the gospel dispensation by Jesus Christ, which has contin- ued to prevail (though in silence) ever since the end ol the 10th persecution; for all men who observe none of the .outward ordinances and ceremonies of worship taught in our world, worship God in the spirit of the heavenly man, and have faith in him who justifieth the 160 ongodiy; who will finally, and that quickly, conquer their persecuting enemies. Second seal. Verse 4, When the second seal is open- ed, a red horse made his appearance, and it was given to him who sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another, and there was gi- ven unto him a great sword. The second seal is opened the year 65, when the em* peror of Rome set fire to that city, and laid the blame on the innocent christians. By this measure he started a persecution against the innocent followers of Christ. A red horse signifies the doctrine of persecution against the white horse. Which red horse made his appearance the year 65 as above; the rider on the red horse was the authors, promoters, and executors of the ten gene- ral persecutions which the Romans carried on against the primitive christians, which terminated in the silence of those who rode on the white horse; which opened the way for a black horse. Third seat Verses 5, 6, And when the third seal was opened, a black horse made his appearance; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand, and a voice is heard, saying, a measure of wheat for a pen- ny, and three measures of bailey for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil nor the wine. } The black horse made his appearance in the year 306, when Constantine began his reign. A black horse sig- nifies idolatry, a doctrine of enmity, iniquity, tyranny, or persecution, under a pretence of holy zeal. Thus Constantine commenced his reign the year 306, about the middle of the tenth and laht general persecution a- gainst the primitiv e christians-. And under a black pre- tence of favouring the christian name, who wen- all al- ready cut off by the .-Raman sword, this most christian empemr recalled the persecuting armies and gave free toleration for all to worship as second good* What is this done for? Because the primitive christians are all put to sleep, and we have to sow tares among the wheat. And now it is, in the reign of Constantine, that the black system of idolatry is reinstated under the empty ■ 161 Bame of christian, on account of that image which is yet the principle god of the Romans, to wit, the image of Jesus on the cross. Tho. black horse is the black system of idolatry, under a hypocritical pretence of faith and love to God; which black system of iniquity commenced with the reign of Constantine the great, and continues to this day, though greatly divided. 1 am well aware of the exalted character, which learn- ed divines have given of the christian emperor Con- stantine. But [ will show the reader that this chris- tian emperor is he who caused the tares to be sowed amongst the wheat. The reader will recollect that the first persecution under the red horse commenced the year 64, the second 95, the third 100, the fourth shortly after, the fifth the year 127, the sixth 235, seventh 250, eighth 257, ninth- 274, the tenth and last 503, which lasted ten years. And from the same chrono- logy, in the year 142, the feast of lent was institu- ted; the same lent now observed by the Roman catho* lies. In the year 153, consecration of churches was instituted. In the year 157, penance (now repentance.) first enjoined as it punishment for sin. In the year 158, the title of pope was bestowed on the bishop of Rome, In the year 167. baptismal founts were intro- duced into churches. In the year 190, confirmation was made a sacrament in the church. In the year 217, church yards were first consecrated and set apart lor the benefit of church revenue. In the year 270. the first monastery was founded. The year 308, the first bod) of cardinals were created, by whom the pope is elected out of their own number. In the yea* 316, surplices were first worn in churches by the prints, wlii< !t is yet the custom of the catholic, episcopal l.tn, and unitarian priests. In the year 325, the first gen- eral council of Nice was in session, and the Nicene creed composed: which is the constitutional creed of all the creeds in the Roman and prof est ant churches. The year 350, church music uas introduced. This year, the annunciation of the blessed virgin Mary was first observed. The year 559, tue festivals of the 162 saints were instituted, which are yet observed by the Catholics. The year 387, anathemas were first used in the church, which means the turning out a member, and pronouncing vengeance against him, &c. The year 394, mass was first celebrated in Latin, which is yrt the case with the catholics, &c. &c. The intention of this scale of chronology, is to show to the reader that the Romans, whilst employed abroad, in shedding the blood of the primitive chris- tians, were al&o busily engaged at home, sowing the tares; that is devising a new system of idolatry, to be called christian, in order tliat it cannot be told from the good wheat until it brings forth fruit. Thus, during the worst of their persecutions abroad against the primitive christians; they are engaged at home, establishing the feast of lent, consecrating churches, teaching repentance to be necessary to salvation, be- stowing on their bishop the title of pope, introducing baptismal founts (stone vessels in which the water for holy baptism is contained) into their churches; w hich are yet seen in the catholic and episcopalian, as well as preshyterian churches; establishing the ordinances of baptism, confirmation, penance, prayer to the image, or public prayer, forming their creed, intro- ducing the surplice, marriage vow, praying for the sick, &c* Thus whilst the Romans were engaged in the bloody persecution of the primitive christians abroad, the Emperor is countenancing, the black system of idolatry, under the wicked pretence of irs being f he religion of Jesuj Christ, when in truth, it is the religion of the barbarous persecutors of Christ and his followers. This is the black horse, and the good christian Emperor Constantine cherished this abominable system of idolatry. Historians'uho have written of the glorious reign of Constantine, relate, that the most remote and bar- barous nations wt re converted to tie faith of Christ; that is, they began to believe that Jesus Christ was really and essentially God, very God and very man, Its the famous Nicenc creed, which was invented during 163 the reign of this celebrated christian emperor Con- stantino asserts. And that the image of this very God and very man, was the proper image for all earth- ly worshippers, in preference to the gods of the Greeks or Romans. And as water baptism was the initiating ordinance to the worship of the image of that God who came by water and blood, vast multi- tudes, of all descriptions of persons and characters, are .baptized with water, and impressed with the sign of I the cross in their forehead. The ordinance that the pope and bishops was divining, whilst the Roman sword was hilted into the bowels of Christ's followers, is now freely tolerated by Constant's ne. If the primitive; christians could have consented to those idolatrous sa- craments, penance, baptism, confirmation, extreme unction, feast of Bacchus, -&c. they would not have been persecuted; but those holy men of God could not help exclaiming against idolatry, and for this cause they are all put to sleep; and tares sown amongst the wheat; (false doctrine taught) and free toleration giv- I en to worship as you please, and ho cue to exclaim against you: the bishops and pope of Rome by this time have their new system of idolatry ready for mar- ket, which is perfectly black. Thus I am clearly of opinion that the reign of Constantine, opened the way for the establishment of popery > that black system of iniquity taught by the Roman catholic church. So the second seal was opened the year 315, the end of the last general persecution, and by the year 600, the church of Rome cut a shine. For the bishops and the pope from the year 313, to 600, had established a system of religion, suitable to the spirit of the times; judeaism, idolatry, and barbarism, all mixed to» gether, constitute the triple crown and sceptre. And now the black horse is presented to view with his Nieefte creed, and seven idolatrous sacraments; pen- ance, baptism, confirmation, feast of Bacchus (now called eucharist) extreme unction, orders, and matrimo- ny. The pope of Rome for the time being is head bishop of the church* seated in the chair of St. Peter , 164 and has the keys of eternal justice; is the grand ar- biter of all spiritual concerns, and the dispenser of par- dons for all sins, past, present, or to come. Here is the black horse of iniquity, and he that sat thereon had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, a measure of wheat for_a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil ami the wine* The reader will recollect the glorious days of the primitive christians. See Aits ii. 44, 45. And all that believed were together, and had all things 'common; and sold their possessions and goods, and made dis- tribution to all, as every man had need. Again, Acts iv, 34, 35, Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the price of the things that were sold, and laid it down at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. Here is that purity possessed by the rider on the white horse. See Matth. vii. 12, All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them, for this is the law and the prophets. Here is that glorious system of purity which rode on the white horse. But the red horse or rider, put the rider on the white horse to sleep; and then came the black horse, whose rider had a pair of balances in his hand, whirh signifies strictness; no longer are the blessings of life to be enjoyed in com- mon, but a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny: bread stuff shall hereafter be bought and sold by measurement, as well as every article of provision strictly weighed in the balance, and rated agreeable to the times; a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; according to the scarcity of the article, and she demand. Thus the reader will see, that the glori- ous purity of the primitive christians, was destroyed by the sword of him who sat on the red horse, or persecuting Rome. This done, the black system of paganism* superstition and idolatry, is erected on the 165 ruins thereof; weights, measures, and boundaries* instituted, and the land divided for gain, as the proph- et Daniel had foretold, ehapt. xi. 59. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom lie shall acknowledge increased with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall ci\ide the land for gain. Here the prophet foretold what the ri- der on this black horse would do: and truly the Roman church was instrumental in reinstating idolatry, as well as weights and measures; who also divided the land for gain. Thus saint George shall have England, Saint Andrew Scotland, Saint Dennis France, Saint; James Spain, Saint Mark Venice, &c. And all the black iniquity of the black hone, yet prevails in our world, to the shame and contempt of him who sat on the white horse, whose gospel we all profess to believe.— This done, the way is prepared for another horse that was pale. Each horse signifies the doctrine or rule of faith, by which the rider is governed. Thus the white horse, the executive power of the gospel; the rider, those who believed the gospel in the days of the primitive christians. The red horse signifies the doctrine of persecution; the rider the executive power of a persecuting spirit, typified by a great sword. The black horse the doctrine of hidden idolatry, ini- quity, &c. The rider the executive power of this idolatrous system of iniquity, under a pretence of christian religion. Which abominations gave rise to to a pale horse. Fourth seal. Verses 7, 8, And I looked and be- held a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was Death, and H< II followed with him; and power was given unto him, over the fourth part of the earth; to kill with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the eajth. A pale horse is the doctrine and sacraments of idolators, taught to be necessary to salvation. This pale horse is the creed and sacraments of the church of Rome. And the rider is the protestant reformers of every denomina- tion. The pale horse made his full appearance about o £ 166 the year 1696, when protestantism was established over popery. About the year 1520, Luther and Cal- vin, the champions of the reformation, began to expose the errors of the catholic church; and by these mea- sures they soon had power over the fourth part of the earth (all Europe) to kill with the sword, and -hunger* and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. And in the exercise ot this power, Europe, the fourth part of the world, was drenched with blood; for the catholics opposed the doctrine of Luther and Calvin, with sword in hand; but the doctrine still flourished and gained reputation, which furnished slaughter for the catholic sword. Thus Irani the year 1520 to 1696 and 7, Europe was at war on the great subject of le- ligion, and to the confusion of all catholics, the pra- testant reformers succeeded, and their religion was cs. tablished over catholicity; and the kingdoms which for ten centuries had given their power and strength to the Roman, catholic church, on account of this great re- formation, gave their power partly to the protectants; and v\bat was a death blow to the eatolics, they are stopped in their persecutions; here is a check to him er the red horse. The creed a; d sacraments, which were invented by the iiiiinan bishop, during the period of their ten per- secutions against the primitive christians, which creed and sacraments are all idolatrous, are the horse on which the protestants all ride, which is a pale horse; that is, they have no authority for the creed and sa- craments* by which they are governed, only the Ro- man catholic church; which they condemned during their struggle for reformation. As such their horse is very pale; no creditable authority for the same; all 'Scripture condemns them; and consequently they are pale, a counterfeit, and pass for that which they are not; this is the hoi se which is nearly broken down by the vast weight of his riders, who from their great division about the way, are unquestionably lost in the wilder- ness of sin, and in the bye paths of iniquity. This pale horse or creed and sacraments are now taught to 107 be necessary to salvation; as such his rider is called Death. Which death, is the carnal mil d; or ci mity against God. See Rom. viii; 6, 7% I or to be carnally winded is death, hut to he spirituall) minded i? life and peace, because the carnal mind is et mity against God. The roc k on which the protestants built their Babel, is the creed arid sacraments ot J be persecutors of Jesus Christ and flu primitive christians; as such it fe a system of iinqi.ity and persecution against Christ and his followers; and consequently all vvho em- brace them are at enmity against God, which is death. These had power to kill with death, as well as frith the beasts of the earth, hunger, and the sword • Which death, is ibe carnal mind aforesaid; by means of their iniquitous system of enmity and lying hypo- crisy, a few weak minded persons are induced to em« br^ce their religion; which is a system of enmity against God; and consequently all who embrace it arc dead. It also appears that Hell followed with Death, wfeo was on the pale horse. Hell, as I have before proven, signifies condemnation in the understanding, occasioned by contraiy piinciples of the mind: which is the situation of all who embrace the pale doctrine of protestantism. Sol conclude that the whole band of protestants are death and hell, who are to be cast into the lake of fire. Rev. xx. 14. The peace of Ryswick, 1696-7, gave power to the pale horse; and his rider, since that time, has travelled into all parts of the world in quest of prey for Death. The fifth seal. Verses 9, 11, And when he had o- pened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saving, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them that they should ivst yet for a little season, until theirfellow-ser- vants also, and their brethren, that should be killed, as they were, should be fulfilled. 168 This seal signifies the grief and astonishment of all good men at the prospect of the establishment of pro- teMantism; for they anxiously hoped for deliverance from the persecuting, iniquitous doctrine and power of the Roman church; but on seeing the two churches established, they are greatly astonished, and cry, say- ing, How long, U Lord, holy and tiue, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given to every one of them. V hich robes are the righteousness of saintsj ail men who are not observers of sacraments and ordi- nances, are those whose souls are under the altar; that is, they are no longer allowed to speak publicly of their faith in Christ for salvation, by reason of the persecu- ting inquisitions of the catholics, aid the abusive threats of the protestants; but their minds, which is the soul., are concealed under the altar, or in their breasts, from whence they commune with, and put their trust in Him that justificth the ungodly. Sixth seal. Verse 12 to last. This seal shews the total downfall of the idolatrous Roman church, which commenced at the time of the establishment of the pro- testant reformation, 1696, or thereabouts. And I be- held when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a migh- ty wind. And the heavens departed as a scroll when it is rolled together. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond man, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of Ihe Lamb; for the great ctay of his wrath is come, and who shall be a« ble to sta This sea) shews the calamity and distress of all ca- tholic christians at the prospect of protestantism being 169 advanced to the thrones of Europe. Those idolaters, who were the descendants of the persecutors of the pri- mitive christians, and who had divined tlrn black system of idolatry upon the blood and ashes of the primitive christians, now expect a just reward; and seeing that Christ's gospel had got out of their hands, where it had for ten or twelve centuries been concealed; and know- ing that the whole volume of the New Testament con- demned their black religion; they no doubt expected the great day of judgment was at hand; and to this end, called on the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of them who sat on the. thrones of Europe, and from the wrath of the Lamb* or condemnation of the New Testament. And I beheld and lo, a great earthquake;— .earth- quake in the prophetic sense, signifies a revolution of a kingdom or nation. This groat earthquake was the great revolution of the kingdoms of Europe from the catholic to the protestant faith. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, the moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell. Sun, moon, and stars ty- pify the king, officers and subjects of a kingdom. In this earthquake or revolution, the sun or king of Rome (the pope) became as black as sackcloth of hair; that is, his doctrine and character was exposed by the pro- testant reformers to all Europe; and his indulgences, his purgatory, his image, and his persecuting sword, rendered his character as black as sackcloth of hair. And his officers (cardinals, bishops, and priests,) who were typified by the moon, became as blood; that is, many of them are slain during the wars of the reforma- tion, and all that were not, lost their lustre or bright- ness by reason of the triumph of the protestants. And the stars of heaven or the subjects of catholic faith, fell to the ground; many of them were slain during the wars in Europe which led to the establishment of the pro- lestant faith. The heavens departed like a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. This verse shews that by ~eason of the great earthquake or reformation f: 170 popery, ihat mankind would be freely privileged to read the scriptures and judge for themselves* Which scrip taral testimony at once condemned the doctrine of the church of Rome relative to heaven or happiness, and caused them to depart from the understanding as a scroll when it is rolled together. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Mountains and islands hinder us in our progress by land or sea; so, in like manner, the doctrine of devil, hell, and end- less misery (obstacles to faith) by reason of the gospel light, are all removed out of their places; they no long- er have place in the human understanding. To shew to the reader's satisfaction, the propriety of the explanation which I have given of the sixth seal, I will introduce other testimony, which was delivered on similar occasions: The destruction of Babylon predicted by the prophet Isa. chapt. xiii. 9, 10, Behold the day of the Lord com- cth both with wrath and fierce anger to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinner out of it. For the stars of heaven, and the constellations thereof, shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And again, the judgment upon Idumea, see Isa. xxxiv. 4, And all the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heaven shall be rolled together as a scroll, and all their hosts shall fall down as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. See also, the destruction of Egypt foretold by the prophet Ezekiel, chapter xxxii. 7, 8, And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heavens, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God. Our Saviour makes use of the same figurative expres- sions when he foretells the destruction of Jerusalem. See Matth. xxiv. 29, Immediately after the tribula- tion of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light* and the stars shall 171 from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken. To prove to the reader that those expressions of the Saviour alluded to the destruction of Jerusalem, the le- gal priesthood and end of temple worship, sec verse 34, Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled. From these quotations the reader will see that the same figures are used concerning Babylon, Idutnea, Egypt, and Jerusalem, which St. John makes use of concerning the destruction of the Roman catholic church by the reformation or great earthquake; and the peace of Ryswick gave a general triumph to the protestants over the catholics; after which, the affairs of Europe were a little calm. In allusion to which,|St. John be- gins, chapt. vH. as follows: — And after these things. What things? The things or circumstances relative to the progress and establish- ment of the reformation over popery. I saw four an- gels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and sea, saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. From this testimony I learn that the doctrine or creed and sacraments of the protcstant reformers were not to be preached freely in the four quarters of the world, uutfifr the servants of God were sealed in their foreheads. Those that were seal- ed, I learn, were not to be deceived by the imposition of the protestants' doctrine. Here follows the number seal- ed: of each tribe of Israel were scaled twelve thousand; there being twelve tribes, and twelve thousand of each tribe sealed. I am of opinion that the whole family of the Jews were sealed, as well as all their posterity; par- ticularly, as those people have not been deceived by the protestants, notwithstanding their great exertions to do so. Which also agrees with the opinion of St. Pan! 17'S- Horn. xi. 26, And so all Israel shall be saved. After • he twelve tribes are sealed, he says, verse 9, I beheld, and lo a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. This vast multitude who are clothed with white robes, are also sealed in their foreheads with the seal of the living God* Which is evident from verses 13, 14, 15, And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these arrayed in white robes; and whence came they? And I said unto him, sir, thou kuowest. And he said unto me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his tem- ple. From this testimony, it appears that those whg were settled are those who have the white robes; who also sene God in his temple. God's temple is the hu- man body, for the apostle says that God dwelleth not in temples made with hands. And again he says, 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17, Ye are the temple of God. And again, *W hose temple ye are. — Moses. Deut. vi. 4, 5, Here, Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Here Moses taught to loveoi serve God with the soul, which is the mind, as I have before argued. And to this St. John agreeth saving, the sealed are before the throne of God* and serve him in his temple; which temple is the hu- man body, and the soul the mind; and thus serving God, those who are sealed pay no respect to outward forms and ceremonies of worship, which is death. Seventh seal. Chapt. viii. And when he had open- ed the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. This silence typifies peace on earth, or respiration to prepare the mind tor the great events contained in the mysteries of the seven trumpets. Verse 2, seven angels make their appearance, to whom were given g$- 173 ven trumpets. Verse 3, Another angel maketb his ap pearance with a golden censer, to whom was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all saints, (those who were sealed and clad with white robes.) Verse 4, And the smoke of incense with the prayers of the saints ascended up before God out of the angel's band. This to strengthen the fahh and patience of the saints, who were sealed and clad with white robes, that they might be able to withstand the various threats and abusive doctrine of a wicked protectant clergy, wiio would shortly make their appearance in such abun- dance that they are compared to locusts. Verse 5, And the angel took the censer and filled it with fire of the al- tar and cast it unto the earthy and there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Voices, thunderings, lightnings* &c. signify contentions, strifes and commotions, or even wars, &c. And an earthquake signifies one revolution, or a revolution of our kingdom; which things are specified by the angels with the seven trumpets. Verse 7, The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast unto the earth; and the third part of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. Verse 8, And the, second angel sounded, and as it were, a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood, and the third part of the creatures died, and the third part of the ships, were destroyed. Verse 10, And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven burning as it were a lamp; and it fell upon the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters: the name of the star Worm wood, by reason of which the waters are made bitter, &c. Verse 12. And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, so that the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. These four trumpets all relate to the same great im portant circumstance; which is evident, for ^each o\ 174 them has effect on the one third part of, &c. The first trumpet affects the earth, burns the third part of the trees, and all green grass. The second trumpet affects the third part of the sea, the creatures in it, and the shipping. The third trumpet affects the third part of the riyers and fountains of waters, the third part of them became bitter, and many men die by reason there- of. The fourth trumpet affects the third part of the sun, moon, and stars; also the third part of the day, and night likewise. The reader will recollect that there are but three prin- cipal orders of religion in our world — Jews, Mahome- dans and Christians; these three are the religions of our world. So I conclude that the christians are the third part: not the third part of the inhabitants of the earth; but that the christian religion is a third part of the religion in the world; there being but three princi- pal orders called religion. These four trumpets allude to the effect that the christian religion would have in the world after the reformation from popery. The first trump says, the third part of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass* That is, all who embrace the christian religion, which is a third, are idolaters; the papists worship the image, and the protestants the beast, are carnal minded, enemies to God, and are said to he burnt up;— all who do not embrace the chris- tian religion, whether Jews or Mahomedans, are, by our learned divines, sentenced to endless punishment. These are green grass, and are said to be burnt up, be- cause the doctors of divinity give them to the endless flames. The second trump affects the sea; the third part became blood, and the third part of the creatures in it, i, e. the seamen or ships, die; this death is the carnal mind; and this trumpet shews that the protec- tant christians would carry their religion on the sea as well as land. The third trump affects the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters. This shows that the protestants would not stop on the earth and sea, but would carry their religion into all large rivers, buys, harbors, lakes, &c» These three trumpets show that 175 the protestant reformers would carry their religion and teach it on land, sea, and the rivers, and fountains of waters. And by their means, says the fourth trumpet, the third part of the sun would be smitten, and the third part of the moon and stars. The sun typifies kings, emperors, or presidents; the third part of them being smitten, shews that they would be under protestant in- fluence. The moon typifies officers in a government; the third part of them being smitten, shews that they also, would be under the same influence. The stars typify private subjects, who are also smitten in the same proportion by the same influence. Verse 13, And I beheld and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with aloud voice, wo, wo, wo, to the the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels which ate yet to sound! Gliapt. ix. And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. A star falling from heaven, typifies a prophet, or number of prophets, either true or false, Balaam prophesied of the Messiah under the type of a star. See Numbers xxiv. 17, I shall see him but not now: I shall behold him but not nigh: There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, &c. Here the Messiah is intended by a star. See again, Amos v. 26, But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch, and chime your images, the star of your God. Here a false prophet, or a guide to idola- try, is intended by a star. See again, Acts vii. 43, Yea ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Rcmphan, figures which ye made, to wor- ship them, &c. Here again, a false prophet, or a guide to idolatry, is intended by a star. So I conclude that the star which fell from heaven to the earth, to whom was given the key of the bottomless pit, is that light which directs or guides to the worship of the beast; which star is the protestant clergymen of every denomination. The key which was given to this star, L te creed and sacraments ©£ tfee Roma?) church; 476 whose angel or pope, is, Rev, xti. 9, the devil and satan who deceiveth the whole world. Whose creed and sacraments, immediately after the establishment of the reformation, was by this star (the protectants) taught to be necessary to salvation. Thus the star which fell from heaven unto the earth was the protec- tant clergy: and the key that was given unto him, was the creed and sacraments of the Roman catholic church. With this key, they opened the bottomless pit: the bottomless pit, as I have before observed, is this globe on which we exist, for it is a pit, and being round like a ball, it has a surface, and a centre, but no bottom. The pope of Rome is styled the angel of the bottomless pit, verse 11; which means that he is the God of this earth, or globe; or the third part of the religion of the world, as before observed. He being the angel of the earth, or God of this third part of religion; his creed, sacraments, and doctrine, are like himself, earthy and lead to death. This star is the same as the character on the pale horse. (Fourth seal) whose name was death, and hell following with him; here now, he is done killing with the sword, hunger, and beasts; and has arrived at his Canaan, established by law, and has the key of the bottomless pit ready to open and go to work; (Peace of Ryswick 1690 to 98. During the struggles for re- formation, the protestants were engaged in exposing the doctrine and errors of the Roman church. And as soon as the reformation obtained a triumph over pope- rv, the creed and sacraments of the Roman church were, by the same protestant reformers, taught to be necessary to salvation: this was at once acknowledging the supremacy of the pope, and worshipping the beast. It will be necessary in order to get into the true sense of Revelation, for the reader to take a summary view of the whole mystery from the going forth of the w iiite horse, until this great star fell, to whom was giv^n the key of the bottomless pit. The white horse shows the commencement of the gospel dispensation: and this star with the key, shows the establishment of the reformation from popery. 177 White horse, gospel of Jesus Christ; the rider, all who embraced that gospel; red horse, doctrine of per- secution against the primitive christians; the rider, all who engage in the persecution, to whom was giv- en a great sword; by this sword of persecution the rider on the white horse was slain. This event made roein for the third or black horse; a black, idolatrous doctrine, purporting to be scriptural but bare-faced idol- atry; the rider, Roman catholics; the doctrine or black horse, creed and sacraments of the church; ri- der lias apai of balances; a voice proclaims, a mea sure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of bar- ley for a penny; no longer to enjoy the blessings of life in-common, as the rider on the white horse had taught and practised: but, buy and sell, and get gain, cheat the weary, enslave the ignorant, oppress the poor, &c. And these things gave rise to a pale horse,, protestant reformation; at this time the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads and clad with white robes. Much incense is given to offer with their prayers. Then the first four trumpetssound,which shows the establishment of the protestant reformation. This done, the fifth angel sounds, and a star falls from hea- ven unto the earth, which star was the whole number of protestant clergymen at the establishment of the re- formation, and their successors to this day. These have the key of the bottomless pit, they open, &e. Rev. ix. 2, And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the bottomless pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and ai? were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. The pit being opened a great smoke rose up: smoke is the ef- fect which is produced by the application of fire to fuel. So the key, or creed and sacraments which opened the pit, being applied to the human understand- ing, saying these be necessary to salvation, the reverse, endless misery, produced a great smoke; a great stir, contention, argument, or other confusion, among the people: this I conceive to be the smoke; and out of 'his smoke came locusts* Those various opinions con- 176 cermng the way to happiness, produced an army of preachers, well assorted in doctrine: as many differ- ent opinions as there was in the smoke, so many per- suasions of derg> men, sprang up out of this smoke. And these be the locusts, the protestant clergymen of every denomination; who hold to the key, or creed and sacraments of the Roman catholic church. See verse 3, And there came out of the smoke lo- custs upon the earth: and unto them was given power as the scorpion of the earth has power. The protes- tant clergymen are the locusts, who have the power of scorpions, their doctrine is as poisonous and perni- cious to the minds of men, as the poison of scorpions is to the flesh. Verse 4, And it was commanded them, (the locusts,) that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads. Here those locusts are limited in their power; God's "favourite, the faithful, are first sealed in their foreheads, and the locusts turned out to torment the balance; here is the fact clearly estab- lished. For it cannot be said that the Jews are tor- mented by those locusts: nor can it be said that the Mahomedans are tormented by them; neither are those who observe none of the outward ceremonies or sacra- ments of the church, tormented by them. But behold the awful calamities of a camp meeting; shouting, shrieking, ringing their hands, gnashing their teeth, and wallowing in the dust: all in confusion and tor- ment. At such a scenery all who belong to this order of beings, look awful; their countenances bespeak great distress of mind, and fearful apprehensions, at this time a thundering voice is heard from the place of slaughter: all ye sinners will be damned in hell as long as God exists. The tormented r:tge most furi- ously, and death ;>nd hell are now going the grand rounds. The horn is sounded, and all is calm again. Now a lesson of instruction necessary to salvation is given from the stand on which the locusts have settled. Thus, we are the servants of the most high God, the iiopc is sent forth specially, to proclaim tho follow ing glad tidings to mankind generally: In the first place, we inform you that man is a free agent, can serve God, or let it alone, as he may see Jit. And that good and evil are set before htm, to choose or refuse at pleasure; chouse our creed and sacraments and you are happy endlessly: refuse them and you will be tormented enukssly. For by reason of Adam* $ transgression, sin have passed upon all men: but as man is afr would have golden crowns; but ISi as they are false prophets and deceivers, their crowns are only like gold. Their faces as the faces of men. They have the appearance of men, but under the im- mediate power and influence off his Satanic majesty* Hair like women, hanging loose round their necks, more resembling women than men. And teeth of lions; carnivorous in their doctrine; also, fond of rich dishes and full purses: and like devouring lions, every thing gives way to them. They are exempt from all public duty; allowed freely to profane the Sabbath for gain* and all is right. Verse 9, And they had breast plates, a£ it were breast plates of iron. The apostle Paul, speak- ing of those same characters, says, 1 Tim. iy. 2, They speak lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. Conscience is generally considered to have its seat in the breast, so those locusts have their consciences seared with a hot iron; or, as St. John has it, they have breast-plates of iron, which is the same. And the sound of their wings as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. Who can enumer- ate half the bustle and parade that those locusts have made, even in the United States, with their missionary trumpets, theological seminaries, camp-meetings, so- lemn feasts, &c. like contending armies, each sect is strivingfor the ascendency. Verse 10, And they had tails like unto scorpions; and there were stings in their tails* and their power was to hurt men five months. Stings in their tails: the tail is hindmost, and after those lo^» custs' subjects have joined the standard, they have a long train or tail of experimental testimony to*deliver$ and the sting is thus communicated to the hearers. Which sting, when it striketh a man's mind, he is dis- tressed as though a poisonous scorpion had hit him* See verse 11, And they had a king over them, the an- gel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue he hath the name Apolyon. I will ask the learned doctors of divinity and protestant clergymen generally, from whence the origin of their creed and sacraments, by which all protestant churches are governed? They aire <* 18S bound, if they answer in truth, to say from the Roman catholic church; whose great head, governor, or king*, is the pope: he being the angel or god of this earth, "is the king that the protestant locusts have over them; whose name implies a destroyer. And truly this king of the locusts has been the author of more bloodshed than any other order of beings who ever existed on earth. And hence it is, that he who destroys this de- stroyer hath the name Napolyon. See verse 12, One wo is past, behold there come two woes more hereafter. This brings us down to the establishment of the re- formation over popery; and also gives us a specimen of the performance of the locusts in their new system of divinity, &c. The reader will recollect that those had no power to kill, but their power was to torment, and not to kill; which was the only possible means of pre- serving the seed of mankind on earth. For if those swarms of locusts had power to persecute with the sw r ord to death, as their king had, the whole race of man would have been destroyed long ago. But to the unspeakable honor of Him who governs all things, those locusts have no power to kill with the sword, but are limited to torments only; and truly they do great mis- chief by their torments. Thus the first wo trumpet alludes to the establishment, progress, and awful calamities occasioned by the lo- custs who came out of the smoke which ascended out of the bottomless pit. Which locusts are protestant cler- gymen of each denomination who are guided by the key (creed and sacraments) of Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots (or protestants;) the abom- ination of the whole earth. The sixth angel and second wo. Verse 13, And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel, which had the trumpet, loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphra- tes. And the fo€r angels were loosed, w Inch were pre- pared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year. For to day the third part of men* The four ang 18a which were bound in the great river Euphrates, I con- ceive to be the governing powers of the four quarters of the globe, Europe, Asia, Africa and America, These governing powers being loosed and prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, shew that the four angels or powers of the four quarters of the globe would favor the locust system, and be prepared to receive them for an hour; a single sermon for a day; a day's preaching by a number of clergymen, for a month; a monthly sermon once a month for a year; ayear'sser- vices on the circuit, or missionary, or a settled residence, paid by the year, &c. Here follows, verse 16, the number engaged in the business, who are typified by an army of horsemen, as they generally go on horse-back; and they now have breast plates (17) of fire, jacynth and brimstone; Ja- cynth signifies a precious jew^I; this precious jewel which those locusts have, is the gospel of Jesus Christ; which jewel they carry in their pockets purely for a de- lusion. By this jewel they make a show of love to God, But they are his sworn enemies, who teach that the sa- craments of the idolatrous persecuting church of Rome are necessary to salvation. The fire, is that persecu- ting spirit by which all locusts are led. And the brim- stone is the lust of the flesh, which is the main spring of the whole locust system. Thus armed with jacynth, fire and brimstone, they go forth like devouring locusts in pursuit of fresh range, with lion's teeth; and in verse 16, lion's heads; and out of their mouths issue fire, and smoke, and brimstone. The fire is the persecuting spirit by which they are led, threatening with endless torments, all who oppose them or their contradictory doctrine. Smoke, their contentions about their parti- cular tenets. Brimstone, the lust of their flesh. Verse 13, By these three were the third part of men killctfc by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. Thus, agreeable to the doctrine of the clergy, the third part, or one of the three great religious orders are killed; not literally, but figuratively; having an opportunity of embracing the re* 184 ]igion of the locusts and not doing so, being free agents* are destined to endless torments. And all that em- brace the locust system are dead, being carnal minded* So the third part of men are killed by the fire, smoke, and brimstone, which issued out of the mouths of the jocusts or protcstant clergymen. See verse 19, For, their power is in their mouths, and in their tails* It is a well known fact that the clergymen's power is in their mouths, and in their tails; their experimental testi- mony by which they are confirmed and delude others, With these they do hurt. Verse 20, And the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues yet re- pented not of their deeds, of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and'idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood, which nei- ther can see, nor hear, nor walk; neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornicatmn, nor of their thefts. These last verses prov at the protestant religion, or the religion of the locusts, has no effect on any but those who wor- ship the beast; these worshippers of the beast being they who were not sealed in their foreheads and torment- ed by the locusts. Which at once proves that the lo- cust system is calculated only to make men enemies to God, or as our blessed Saviour said, Matth. xxiii. 15, Wo unto you scribes, pharisees, hypocrites; for ye com- pass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. And who can enumerate the half of the misery that the locust tribe (of scribe and pharisee hy- pocritical principles) have brought on mankind by their circuits and missionary tours. Not satisfied at driv- ing the harmless Indians from the Atlantic to, the 'Pa- cific ocean; they are now extensively employed in teaching them tyrannization; learning them a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; to deal out the staff of life to each other.- by strict measurement. Which gives rise to lying, cheat- ing and stealing. And thus it is, that the innocent sans and daughters of. Adam, for whoso happiness Christ's 18S Uood was shed, who knew no law but love to God and each other; are taught the tyrannical doctrine of the locusts under the hypocritical pretence of civilization. And in doing which they are made twofold more the children of hell than the locusts themselves. How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth. Chapt. 10. This chapter contains the following sum- mary account. A mighty angel is seen coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, a rain-bow on hie head* his face as the sun, and his feet as pillows of fire; had a little book in his hand; sets one foot on the earth, and the other on the sea; and swears by Him that liveth forever and ever, that in the days of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mys- tery of God shall be finished; gives the bitter book to St. John who eats it, and is thereby prepared for fur- ther visions, or prophesy, &c. And the next chapter " contains the further mysteries, or revelations, relative to the third great religious order of mankind; and to the re-establishment of Christ's kingdom on earth, when the white horse will have succeeded to conquer. Chapt. xi. And there, was given me a reed like unto a rodj and the angel stood, saying, rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that wor- ship therein. But the court which is without the tem- ple leave out and measure it not; for it is given unto the gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty-two months. The intention of this measure- ment is a figurative representation, of ascertaining the strength, or the number of true worshippers; or rather to communicate to us at the present day, who are the true worshippers at the altar in the temple; and to whom the outer court is given. The great question, relative to the true mode of worship, due to the most high God, is here particularly described by St. John; and from this testimony, every man may judge and determine for himself. First the temple \h measured, then the altar, and lastly them that worship therein. The temple I learn to be the human body; 186 Che altar, the mitid or soul: and those who worship-, therein, are all those, who under the christian dispen- sation, do not observe any outward ceremonies or forms of worship. The angel as well as St. John, knew that the great temple at Jerusalem would be thrown down shortly after this revelation was wrote- They also knew that God dwelleth not in temples made with hands, see Acts. vii. 48 and xvii, 24, And conse- quently would no longer be worshipped in such' tern- pies. As such 1 am clearly of opinion that the temple which St. John was commanded to rise and measure* was (figuratively) the human body. For the apostle says positively, that God dwelleth not in temples made with hands. The same apostle also informs us, what is God's temple. Seel Cor. iii. 16, 17, Ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you* For the temple of God is holy, which temple yc are. Here the apostle declares the human body to be God's temple: and that God dwelleth therein. Rise measure the temple of God, the human body; and the altar, the mind, and them that worship therein. Those who ob- serve no outward ceremonies, ordinances, or sacra- ments, for these be they who worship God in his teni- ae, See John iv. 23, 24. But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; tor the Father seeketh such to worship him. God a spirit; and they that worship him, must worship in spirit and in truth. 1 re- joice to think that a large majority of mankind worship God in spirit, or in his temples. But the gentile idol- aters are left in the outer court of the temple, there to observe the creed, sacraments, and ordinances of Mystery Babylon the great; vvbirh is death. And tlie holy city shall they tread under foot forty-two months. The holy city is that innumerable multitude of human beings, who worship God in his temple. These have been trod under foot since the year 600, the pope's supremacy; they have been persecuted, oppres- sed, threatened with purgatory, and of late stigmati- sed with enemies to civilization, friends to vice, pes- iB7 ttrers oft society , and destined to endless punishment But glory be to Him in whose temple we worship,, we begin to awake out of sleep, and have a glimpse of the real character of those who have so long trod the holy city under their black hypocritical persecuting feet And we are now ready to dispute the point, with that sword which proceedetli out of the mouth of him who rode on the white horse. Verse 2, and so on* And 1 will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the god of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, lire proceedeth out of their mouths, and devoureth their enemies; and if any man will hurt them he must in this manner be killed. Here is God's tsvo witnes- ses;; the Old and New Testaments* which God has promised to preserve in purity, although for 1260 pro- phetic years, the whole reign of antichrist, they prophe- sy in sackcloth; that is they are construed into error, made to represent God changeable, passionate and re- penting; construed so as to allude to the endless tor- meat of all who do not worship the beast. And final- ly the whole of the two volumes have been made to how down to the moonshine of tradition, which is liter- ally prophesying in sackcloth; and that for 1260 days, the same as forty two mouths, during the whole reign of popery. Verse 7, And when they shall have finish- ed their testimony, the beast th^t ascendeth out of the bottomless pit, shall make war against them, and shall overcome them and kill them, and their dead bodies in the streets of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations, shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put In graves, and they that dwell upon the earth shall re- joice over them and make marry, and shall send gifts ane to another, because these two prophets tormented tV.9* that dwelt on the eartfak When these two wit- 188 Besses were wholly construed into efrror, the beast made war against them and overcame them, which was the case when the doctrine of the Jpsuits obtained the ascendency in France, which lastedffor three years and a half, immediately previous to the revolution; then they were slain; and during the period that this doctrine was adhered to by the rulers of that nation, particularly in the great city of Paris, their dead bodies are said to lie in the street of the great city; which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt. Paris, like Sodom, for idolatry, for many centuries, espoused the cause ef the pope, who is styled by St. John that old serpent, whirh is the devil and satan. And during this espousal, like Egypt, she persecuted and oppressed those who worshipped in God's temple, (in spirit.) Where also our Lord was crurified, (not literally, but figuratively,) by the tyranny and despotism of the crown and clergy, wider the immediate influence of popery, the beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit. And during this sad stale of things, the two witnesses were seen, by people of all nations, tongues, and langua- ges, who were then dwellers at Paris; but their dead bodies were not allowed to be buried, not allowed to be burnt, put away or totally destroyed, but preserved; although totally condemned by the prevailing doctrine of the,day. But after three/ years and a half the spi- rit of life from God entered into the minds of the op- pressed citizens of Paris; and on May 5, 1789, a general deputation from all the sections of France, un- der the denomination of the states general, was assem- bled; and on the 16th of June following they resolved themselves into a national assembly, to oppose with violence the despotism of the crown and clergy. This I conceive to be the time when the two witnesses ascended up to heaven, and the same hour (fifteen days) there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake there slain of men seven thousand. Here is the revolution of France: the French nation was the first to espouse the causejof the papal church, and for ten or twelve centusriep^was a 189 most faithful friend to the pope. Ami as Rome is the great city which ruleth over the kings of the earth. Rev, xvii. 18, and especially as she hath, or had, ten horns, w hich wei e ten kings or kingdoms, see Rev. xvii, 12, 13, and as France was from the earliest ages of popery until the revolution, the most friendly horn to the papal interest, I have no hesitation In believing her to-belhe tenth part of the city which in the earthquake fell from the support or interest of the papal church; which fall was the revolution, when all the black dregs of despotism were at once shaken off. Here the red, live black, and the, pale horse, as well as their riders, was furiously attacked and defeated by him who rode on the White horse; here tlie pope was burnt irr effigy; here all religions cloisters were abolished forever: liere the churches of religion became republican tri- bunes; here the property of the clergy was all confiscat- ed, and themselves threatened with the guillotine; ma- ny were butchered, all fled that could fly, and the balance resigned their ministerial functions. Here the nation- al assembly decreed that there was no such God as was represented by the clergy; and that death was an eter- nal sleep to the body, or that there was no suffering or pain after the death of the body. Here the slaves in the French West India Islands were all decreed free Here all prison-bound debtors were released. And here it was that seven thousand officers, civil and ecclesias- tical, who adhered to the cause of the crown and clergy 9 were slain. In a word, all that could be done against the beast and the worshippers of the beast was done; and one hundred thousand citizens danced for joy on this occasion. So I -conclude that the revolution of France was the fail of the tenth part of the city; this was the earthquake in which seven thousand men were slain; and the Wars which immediately followed the French revolution down to the abdication of the thrones of France, and Italy, by Napoleon, or the battle of Waterloo, was the end. of the second wo tmmpe* in 1S14, 190 Verse 14, The second wo is yasi; behold the thirfi wo cometh quickly. It will be recollected that by the fall of the French empire, several other kingdoms were shaken or in a great degree revolutionized, and also iell from the persecuting despotism of the church, papal and protestaut, But immediately after the battle of Waterloo the same despotic principles were attempted to be reinforced on the nations who had fell from the tyranny of the church to republican liberty and free- dom; and in a great degree has succeeded/And France now groans under the same complaint that caused the the fall. But behold the third wo Cometh quickly. One more shake, and the beast and the whore wire made to drink the wine of the wrath of God, and that poured out without mixture. The revolution of Fr*. and her career immediately after for hiteen years? was a type of the resolutions now shortly to come on all tho world. For lie says, Heb. xii. 26, £T, Yet once mom I shake not the earth only, but also the heavens. And this 'yet once more/ signifeth the removing of t! things that aie shaken] as of things that are rru that those things which cannot be shaken may r Ail the religion in our world is easily shaken, for they are as the tilings that are made. The Jews 9 religion is easily shaken; for if Christ has been manifested in the flesh he was the end of the law; and if it can be proven that Christ has come in the flesh, which the figures in the Roman church will do in the positive the Jews' re- ligion is shaken ixnil must fall. The Mahomedan reli- gion is easily shaken; for all of God's prophets con* demn the prophet Mahomet, who is the foundation of Mahomedauism. The christians can be easily shaken; for the catholic chur< h,wjuch is the mother of ail church- es, is idolatrous, proven by the image of Jesus on the :ross, which is Ihe object of their worship. And the creed and sacraments of the Roman church is the sa- yicftir of all protestam churches, w huh pro\c the protes- fants to \V< Hie beast. So all the religion in our .world is easily shaken. But justice, mercy, and truth cannot be shaken. These three are tiic jewels of the law arid gospel and c- Ifakcf*, but wsllTerru It is an easy matter to shake the catholic church — take away the pope, cardinals, bishops and clergy, and an end is put to catholicity. But Hie protcstants* faith be- ing (bunded on self-evidence, they pay no respect to law nor gospel; cannot hear reason, know not justice, mercy nor truth, but are like their ancestors, the ph. ij during this shaking or the sounding of the seventh trumpet, they will be exiled from kingdom to kingd their property confiscated, they despised and rejected of all men, and finally gathered together into one ph to the battle of that great day of God Almighty; and death who rode en the pale horse, and hell which lot- lowed with him, now destroyed by their ownptrs tions against each other. Rev. xi. 15, 19, And the seventh angel sounded: and there were great voices in heaven, saving, the kins* m "of this world are become of our Lord and Iris Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. Here St, John declares that during the sounding of the seventh and last wo trumpet, the kingdoms of this world would become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ. By which I understand that the whole of the nations and kingdoms oi this world will be united into one kingdom; and now justice, mercy arid truth will become the whole governing principles of all men who come into this glorious kingdom. But Da* lei's time of trouble is now began, for 1 am clearly of opinion that the se- venth trumpet began to sound this year, 1823. And already is there a power! til attat k made on the clercy of all denominations, v* lire last vial. The I der will recollect that the seventh and last seal is ex- plained by the soundings of seven trumpets. And the seventh or last l: unpei isexpkunvd by the .pouring out of seven vials. St. John at the sounding oi the seventh and lust wo trumpet, prod si a universal kingdom on earth. And then goes on to repeat tlic its ftant with the gospel— the persecuting empire of Home which stood ready to devour the gospel — The. ten wars tA persecution under a pretence ot holy zeal — the estab- lishment or popery in tire xiin cbapt. — the reformation from popery, verses 8 to 11 — the iwn horned beasts, &r. — the : faith and petknc e of the saints, ebapUxh. to 5 vei fee. — 1 he pi ev »iance of gospel truths in the latter days of poperv, verse 6 to 8— the torments due to the worshippers of the beast, verses 9 to 11 inclusive— the patience of the saints during the struggle of the proles- tants, together with the great efforts of the faithful to reclaim the protestants from the worship of the beast, verses 12 to last. — Chapt. xv, The seven angels ap- pear with their vials of wrath. The faithful sing the song ot Moses at the many prospects of the re-establish- ment of Christ's kingdom en earth.— Chapt. xvi. The vials are poured out. The first is poured out on the earth, and a noisome and grievous sore fell upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them who worshipped his image. This fust vial commences pouring out at the beginning of the third wo or seventh trumpet, which is this year 1823. And the noisome and grievous sore has now began to fall on those men who have the mark of the beast, and who worship his: imagei which men are the prostestant clergymen, "Which they never w ill be able to resist; they will strug- gle hard and make many repeated charges; but those on the white horse are chosen, and faithful, and true, and cannot be resisted. The whole balance of Revelation, from the end of the eleventh chapter, is partly a repetiton (in other fi~ gures) of what 1 have already gone over; and a figu- rative account of the great struggles, contentions, wars, and revolutions, which are now at hand, and will take place atrd God will wipe away tears from off all facesj and the rebuke of his people shall be taken away from off all the earth, for the Lord hath spoken it. No one will doubt that the provisions here spoken of, are those contained in the gospel of salvation. Then iearn, first, the feast is made for all people; second, the face of the covering cast overall people, and the veil that is spread over ail nations are destroyed: thirdly, death swallow r ed up in victory, God %ipe away tears from off all faces, and the rebuke of hb people taken away. from off all the earth. And thecvi- tlence we have to these facts is, the Lord hath spoken it. Such plain testimony needs no comment. See a* gain, prophet Daniel, ch. yii. 14, who speaking of the extent of Christ's kingdom, he says, And thenc was gi- ven him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve him; his do- minion an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroy- ed. Again, verse 27, And the kingdoms, and domin- ions, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of the saints 1 the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Again, see Isa. xlix. 6. 7, And he said, it is a light thing that thou shouldst be my salvation, to raise lip the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. 1 wjfi also give theefor a lii*ht to the Gentiles, that (hou ma) st be my salvation unto the ends of tha earth. Ycrse 8, And I will preserve thee and give i'9'6 it of the people, to e shew yourselves. If a i of the !u, man race are to suffer endlessly > it appears i the prophets were ignorant oi'it; and not only so« absolutely' believed to the reverse. I will now pass ice the fcstmionv recorded in the New Testa- he to the fbral salvation and happiness of i. 2u The s coinnumieatiora to Joseph l call his name Jesosj for he shall save his tn thru- mnk That there may be no doubts oivtj ;ve to this saving, and that /he Ueivd to all, see Eaekiel xviii. 4, b. Matth. xxvii;. 18, AH paw- gtve'ii i>nto sue, Jesus teh were given tin- For he shall si • 10, . era them, and the glory . t th&ttj and they s? hcvn, fear not: tor i e*y<>y* v> shali be I Iris day hi the i Ij&Ii is 6in ist (he ilar to : : to bo good Or iJ saved, .:. vines cqn-tew'd for. why call fiirn a saviour! IT God has given* C- powcr in heaven n earth, a?.d he s&tt -annoi (jit: ; tieiS a savior* r, hut rather a M*oyer. But I Insist, that if the birth of Christ was good tilings of grciat joy k* all people, that ail ore will finally he blessed and happy through him. John *h\\A\xt; sec John i. 29. The next day John sceth Je~ comUtg unto hi Qi, imdtsaith, behold the Lamb of Inch taketh aWa$ the sin of the work!' I tone 197 before argued that the sinner will be tormented as h as he Is a sinner, and no longer. And if Christ taketh away the sin of the world, it proves as before that all men will be blessed through Christ;' for all have sinned; Christ taketh away the sin of the world* &w\ of cor all men are blessed through him. See first Epistle of John ii. 2, And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. If Christ is the propitiation 1 the whole world, I should like to know for what me i will suffer endlessly? Gar divines tell us we will ptitikp end- lessly for our sins; the apostle says in the positive. : Jesus Christ is the propitiation for the siiiss of the whole world; so I conclude that lite celebrated doc- tors of divinity, and all who adhere to their creeds sacraments, are unbelievers, infidels,, and enemies to Christ antl his gospel. See k ill, £8, Ve I say nnto you, all sins shall be forgiven unto men and blaspfteritere, whefewitbsoe^er they ahaii blaspheme, if the Saviour did. not consider im empowered to forgive the sins of the whole world, as the apostle John hras declared, why doth he use the pression, Ail manner of sin and blasphemy shall be civen mi : blasphemy against the Uqtj excepted. Bu /may learn that Chris': duly a apawered to fopgi'ye sin am! Ulft$}ih«mieft, /, 6, 7, But that ye i nrf that the Son of Man hath power on earth to for •sins, (then saath he to the sick of the pa! ./. take up thy bed and go to thine house: and he ad departed to his house. Tins testiir; proves to us that the Saviour had power to forgive sins," and that he exercised this power effectually. And as lie h miised that all sins and blasphemies should rgi van (except against the holy ghost) I know of no reason for my part why we should doubt it; for he is faith- ful thai has promised, The apostle Paul says, Heb. ix. £6, That Christ. appeared to put away sin by the sa- crifice of himself. Here is another positive testimony: an, see Rev, v# 11, to last yerse, And I beheld arfu! 498 heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts and elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are therein, heard I, saying, blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him thatsittcth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. And the four beasts said Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that Hveth forever and ever. Here I request the reader's attention: first ab serve, that ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of beasts and elders proclaim that the Lamb is worthy of universal worship. Then every creature in heaven, on earth, in the sea, and all that are in them, are heard saying, blessing, and honour, and glo- ry, and power, be unto him that sitteth on the throne. of the universal kingdom of this earth, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. Where is your hell and end- less flames? Swallowed up in the victory of him who rode on Use white horse. From the testimony I have adduced in behalf of the universal happiness of all men, the reader will acknowledge that the prophets, angels, Christ, and the apostles, has given it as tlicir opinion, and human reason teaches, that all mankind will finally be happy; for thuv is not an individual in existence, nor ever .was, nor ever will be, but toil at had, has, and will have, hope of happiness; without which no one could exist; for if any one could be led to believe that he would be miserable to an endless eternity, he could not exist one minute. As such, the doctrine of • endless punishment is of no a\ail, as there is no individual that believes he will come to that miserable end; and if he did he could not exist. The doctrine o enoless punishment represents God to be ft tyrant, and makes tyrants of all who hold to ttie 199 doctrine, and whilst the doctrine prevails tyranny and oppression is the consequence. But the doctrine ot' \\iG endless happiness of all men, represents God to be love, just, merciful, truth, and forgiving; and has effect on all who believe if, As the doctrine of iiniiTsalvation, and happiness of all men, is calculat- ed to produce union, peace, love, justice, mercy, and U*uth, which alone can make men happy on earth, I will show the reader that it is the will of God that i : : should be so. See John v. 39, And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given n:c,I should loose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. It may he asked what portion of mankind the Father gave the Son. 'Then see P< t % 8, Ask of me ami I give the heathens for thine inher- itance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy pos- session, Sv-e again, Matth. xxviii. IS, All power in heaven and in earth is given unto me. Mark xvi. 15, And he said unto them ? go ye irJo all the world and preach (he gospel to every crcature.From the above cjuo- lations it appears that the heathens and the., uticrnuvst parts of the earth were given to Christ. Ami again It is stated- that all power in heaven and in earth was given him; as such he commanded that the gospel be pleach- ed, to every creature: which proves that he considered whole human family was given to him. and to this .mhI he says it was the will of the Father that he should loose nothing that was given him, bat raise if all up at the last day. Again, John xit. 32, And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men uuii> me„ Here the Son of Man said if he were lifted up (meaning on the cross) he would draw all men unto himself: why? ause on the cross his body was sacrificed for the sins of the world; and consequently he will draw all men onto himself; or as it was stated ale e, he would raise them up at the last 4ay. See Rom. xiv. ll 9 For it is written, as I live, saith the J^ord, oyery knee shall bow to rne, and every tongue shall confess to God, Here it is again ? that every knee shall bow, and e\?vy tonaue shall confess to God, It shall he so, it is the £00 will ot) God it should he so; anil all the black perse eating doctrine of papists and protestants cannot hin- der it. And if every knee bow, and every tongue confess to God, surely there can be no one lost; not one for the protestants' hell to torment. See again, Paul to Tim- othy. 1st epistle, £d chapter, 3,4, verses. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. M ho will have al! men to he saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time. If any part of the human family are to :v io an endless eternity, it appears that the apos- tle, was ignorant of it: for he writes to Timothy in this chapter: First, that prayer and supplication be made for all mcii: Second, for this was good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: Thirdly, who will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the trutii: Fourthly, the reason why, because there is one God. and one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for &c. The evidence is this; Christ Jesus the Me- >r gave himself a ransom for the sins of all men; u lu prayer and supplications must be made for all men; because, he will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the tvuih. Again, sec the :h chapter of Paul's first epistle to the Corinth- This chapter was wi >ten to refute those win d the resurrection; but as my opponents profess to believe in the resurrection, I will only quote such parts of this chapter as prove the doctrine for which ! contend. Bee verse 20, But now is Christ risen :. the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. Christ as the first-fruits of them who lent, (or of all who died previous to his resurrection) Ih represented by the heave-offering under the law. Sec Num. xv. 19, £0, Then it shall be that when ye eat the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an fife ring unto the Lord. Ye shall offer up a cake Irst of jour dough* for an Hca?€*of&rh£: 20i ye do the heave offering of the threshing-floor, ab shall ye heave it. Again, Exodus xxii, 29, Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of they liquors; the first born of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. See also Num. xviii. 15, By the offering of the first ripe fruits, the whole of the succeeding harvest ^as sanctified; and in the first born which were re- deemed, the succeeding fruit of the womb were con- sidered holy. See Acts xxvi. 23, That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead. Christ being the first who .rose from the dead, and rising as the first fruits, satisfies all the rest, as did the first fruits under the law. Again, he says, Christ has become the first fruits. Then «ee Rom. xi. 16, For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy. So I conclude that Christ being the first fruits, and being offered up as such, who was holy and without sin, he sanctified the whole race of man- kind. See 1 Cor, xv. 21, 22, For since by man came death, by man also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterwards they that are Christ's at hte coming. Here the apostle shews us that death is by the earth- ly man or by man's formation, and that eternal life is by the heavenly man or man's creation. Which things I have before noticed. Man was first created in Christ God's image, and formed in Adam the earthly; and as in Adam the earthly, we all die, even so, in Christ the heavenly, we are all made alh e. But every man in his own order, Christ the first fruits. But Christ must first rise to sanctify the harvest; then at his coming when (£erse 24,) he delivereth up the kingdom to the Father, the whole rise to partake of the immortality of the heavenly nature, when God will be all in all. But the reader will do well to notice verses 42, 43 and 44 P which shew, That there are two bodies, a natural body and a spiritual body; that it is sown or buried, a natu- ral body, and raised a spiritual body. That isj all tha B2 n »> ^fibpring of Adam (natural bodies) according to its nature, returns to dust as it was: and all the offspring of Christ, the created heavenly spirit, agreeable to their nature, return to God the great spirit. 1 have before ar- gued, that the spirit was created in Christ, who was God's image, and that the spirit that dwelleth in us is that portion of the eternal spirit necessary to give life to the body; this, after the last trumpet is done sound- ing, will be raised incorruptible, and the living at that day will be changed to a state of immortality; sec verse 51 to last of this chapter. Again, see Rom, ix. 21, Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor. Here our learned divines tell us that God intended a portion of his children to suffer endlessly. But hear, hear: The clay is of the same lump* See diapt. xi. 16, And if the first fruits be holy, the lump is also holy. Th.s passage implies, that if Christ the first fruits be holy, the lump of mankind are also holy* Again, see God's communication to Jeremiah, concern- ing the potter, his clay and vessels. Jer. xviii. 1 to 4, The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, arise and go down to the potter's house, and there 1 will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hands of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. One vessel unto honor and another unto dis- honor. The reader will observe that the first vessel that was made was marred in the hands of the potter. The •vessel could not help that, this was the business of the potter, so the marred vessel is not condemned and thrown away as useless because it marred in the hands of the potter, who is able to make it over again into a vessel of honor. So he made it again another vessel, as seem- ed good to the potter to make it. So says the apostle, tin re are two bodies, a natural body and a spiritual bo- dy. The first is a marred vessel, or natural body, which is made over again into a vessel of honor or spiritual bo« dy. Beei Cor. xv.47,The first man isoftlieearth earthy, the second man is the Lord from heaven. Here arc the two vessels, the first a marred vessel, or man in the earthlj nature, flesh and blood. The second, a vessel of honor, or man in the heavenly nature, eternal spirit, Sec verse 49, And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Here the apostle informs us that as we have borne the image of Adam, the vessel of dishonor, that we shall al- so bear the image of Christ, the vessel of honor and im- mortal glory. These important truths should incline all men to love one another; for we are all one in Adam and all one in Christ. Love is the fulfilling of the law. To this end may all men he inclined to receive the love of the truth with pleasure. Nevertheless, not my wi!4 but thine he done, O God. These five numbers are the fruit of gospel studies; not of tradition, but derived from the holy scriptures, with a view to come to the knowledge of the truth, And I recommend to all men to read the scriptures and to judge these things for himself, Let no man deceive "von, I. J. FOSTER, THE END: s c-96 I ^ V * s V C° '*^% ** 4.* « 4J« "*b 0* o * 4 <4» * • ^ qv # fc # * Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: July 2005 PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION \o a o 111 Thomson Park Drive » * * • ^ , *t> Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724)779-2111 J.°°*. ^ a^ •;•:- X ** •$ K- / • / 1 sV '<£ & a*> •;•£- ^ a° • ;•£- <^ X *• vf»^ VV D0BBS6R0S * * ^A AT « °JL" * "^ .(V . • l ' * * DEC 81 Ci *o<£ :: ST. AUGUSTiur ^ » » «*> . AUGUSTINE^/ « ill FLA. ' * jO' 4> :m£/>k\ V a* ; v »• v> LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 478 245 8