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Charles B. Thompson
(1814-1895) Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon (Batavia, NY, 1841) |
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Relevant Essay: "Mormons, Mastodons and Mound-Builders"
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EVIDENCES I N P R O O F O F T H E BOOK OF MORMON, BEING A DIVINELY INSPIRED RECORD, WRITTEN BY THE FOREFATHERS OF THE NATIVES WHOM WE CALL INDIANS, (Who are a remnant of the Tribe of Joseph,) AND HID UP IN THE EARTH, BUT COME FORTH IN FULFILMENT OF PROPHESY FOR THE GATHERING OF ISRAEL AND THE RE- ESTABLISHING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD UPON THE EARTH. TOGETHER WITH ALL THE OBJECTIONS COMMONLY URGED AGAINST IT, ANSWERED AND REFUTED - TO WHICH IS ADDED A PROCLAMATION AND WARNING TO THE GENTILES WHO INHABIT AMERICA. BY CHARLES THOMPSON, Minister of the Gospel. "Now, therefore, be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong; for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption even determined upon the whole earth." ISAIAH, 28. -- 22. BATAVIA, N. Y. P U B L I S H E D B Y D. D. W A I T E. 1841. |
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EVIDENCES IN PROOF OF THE BOOK OF MORMON, &c. &c. In treating on this subject, I shall observe the following order, viz: I shall first prove by the Prophets, that God will literally gather Israel, the literal seed of Jacob, from all nations, unto their own land, which God gave unto their fathers by promise. Second: When he shall set his hand to bring to pass this gathering, he will first lift up an ensign on the mountains for the nations -- set up his standard to the people, and set a sign among them. And then immediately he will commission officers and send them to the nations, bearing this ensign, to declare His glory among the Gentiles, and to fish out and hunt up Israel, and bring them to their own land for an offering unto the Lord. Third: This ensign, standard, and sign, consists of a book -- a record of the tribe of Joseph, taken by the Lord and put with the bible (that is published to the nations as the bible now is.) Fourth: This record of Joseph is to come out of the earth in America because Ephraim's seed dwell there. Fifth: America is a promised land to Joseph, and God brought a remnant of his seed here to possess it. Sixth: God will make use of men as instruments in bringing this book forth. Seventh: This generation is the time when this gathering is to take place; consequently the time when this book is to come forth. Eighth: The Book of Mormon is this book, and the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the officers commissioned to bear this ensign to the nations, and to declare God's glory among the gentiles and gather Israel. First, then, the gathering of Israel the literal seed of Jacob. But in order that my reader may understand what is meant by this gathering, they must know that Israel has been scattered. This I suppose is known by most of my readers. But for the benefit of those who do not know, I make the following quotations and remarks, about seven hundred and twenty years before Christ:-- "Shalmaneser, King of Assyria, came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. And at the end of the three years, he and his army took it, and carried off the ten tribes (one kingdom of the children of Israel) into Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them." See 2d Kings, 17th chapt. 5th and 6th verses. Also, 18th chapt. 10th, 11th and 12th verses. From this captivity they never yet have returned to their own lands, neither is there any account of them to be found in any history now extant later than this captivity. These ten tribes revolted from the house of David in the days of Rehoboam the son of Solomon, and Jereboam the son of Nebat was anointed to be their king. Two tribes then clave to the house of David, viz: Judah and Benjamin, over which Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned. See 1st Kings, 12th chapt. From the 16th to the 21st verses. Since this division of the children of Israel into two nations and two kingdoms, the ten tribes under Jereboam are denominated the house of Israel; and the two tribes under Rehoboam are denominated the house of Judah. About one hundred and twenty years after the captivity of the house of Israel by the King of Assyria, six hundred years B. C., "Nebuchadnezer the king of Babylon came against Jerusalem with all his host and besieged the city, and took it, and burned the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire. And he carried the people of the house of Judah away captive into Babylon." See 2d Kings, 25th chapt. From 1st to 11th verses. But after seventy years captivity, the house of Judah, (consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and some few families of the other tribes who left the Assyrian captivity and joined themselves to the house of Judah) returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the city and temple. See Ezra, 1st chapt., also Nehemiah, 7th chapt. And continued there to dwell until the year seventy of the Christian era. At which time Titus the Roman general with his army besieged the city, took and destroyed it. He also burnt the temple and threw down the walls thereof, and led the remainder of the house of Judah away captive into all nations. And they have been a hiss and a bye-word among all the nations of the earth ever since. And Jerusalem has been trodden down of the gentiles, from that time until within ten years. (See Luke, 21st chapt. 24th verse.) From the foregoing quotations, we learn that the house of Israel (the ten tribes) have been lost, and shut out of the knowledge of the nations ever since their captivity by Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, seven hundred and twenty years B. C. We however have the following account of them by prophesy commencing at this captivity, recorded in the Apocrypha, 2d Esdress, 13th chapt., 41st verse. "They took this council among themselves (says Esdress) that they would leave the multitude of the heathen and go forth into a further country where never mankind dwelt; that there they might keep their statutes which they never kept in their own land. For though that country was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half's journey - and the Most High shewed signs for them, and held still the flood of the streams until they had passed over." Also, that they should return to their own lands in the last days; and the Most High would again shew signs for them when they return. The house of Israel (or the ten tribes) being outcasts or cast out from the knowledge of the people, in a land by themselves, very far from off the land of their fathers; and the house of Judah being dispersed among all nations. I shall now proceed to prove by the testimony of the Prophets, that they are to be literally gathered, both Israel and Judah, and assembled upon the land which God gave unto their fathers by promise; and all other nations will be subject unto them. And they will be one nation in the land - never to be divided into two kingdoms or nations thereafter, for ever. I shall begin with Jeremiah, 30th chapt., from the 18th to the 24th verses. "Thus saith the Lord; behold! I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry; and I will multiply them - and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them - and they shall not be small. - Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause them to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? Saith the Lord. And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. Behold! The whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind - it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it." And again, Jeremiah, 31st chapt., from the 7th to the 14th verses. "For thus saith the Lord; sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord! Save thy people, the remnant of Israel. Behold! I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations! And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. - Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd, and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord." And again, Ezekiel 20th Chapt. From the 33d to the 42d verses: "As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with an stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you; and I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein you are scattered with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the people and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God, Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. I will accept you with your sweet savour. When I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers." And again, Amos 9th Chapt. 9th, 10th and 11th verses: "For lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, the evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old." Again, Ezekiel 28th Chapter, 25th and 26th verses: "Thus saith the Lord God, when I shall have gathered the house of Israel from among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the Lord their God." Again, Jeremiah 33d Chapt. 6th and 7th verses: "Behold, I will bring it (the City of Jerusalem) health and cure, and will cause the captivity of Judah, and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them as at the first. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me." And again, Isaiah 1st Chapt. From the 24th to the 26th verses: "Therefore saith the Lord of hosts, the mighty one of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: and I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away thy sin; and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, the city of righteousness, the faithful city." And at the 60th Chapt. 12th verse: "For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish, yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted." Also, Amos 9th Chapt. 14th and 15th verses: "And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God." From the above quotations, and many others which might be added to them, we have the most positive, certain and definite proof, that Israel, the literal seed of Jacob, not only have been literally pulled up out of their land which God gave their fathers, and scattered among all the nations of the earth, but also that they will all again be as literally gathered together and made one nation and one kingdom upon the land that God gave unto their fathers, even upon their own land, on which their fathers dwelt. Also, that when this gathering shall take place, all their enemies shall be literally cut off and destroyed. And they shall be cleansed from all their sins and God shall make a new covenant of peace with them, which shall be an everlasting covenant. And they shall never be removed out of their land, any more forever. And all nations shall be subject to them ever afterwards. Secondly, when God shall set his hand to bring to pass this gathering, he will first set up an ensign for the nations, set up his standard to the people, and set a sign among them, and then commission officers and send them to the nations bearing this ensign, to declare God's glory among the Gentiles and gather Israel. Isaiah 11th Chapt. 11th and 12th verses: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros. and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the Islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Again, Isaiah 49th Chapt. 22d verse:-- "Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders." And again, Isaiah 66th Chapt. From the 18th to the 22d verses: "It shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. For I will set sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations," (that is those that escape the corruptions that are in the world through lusts, 2d Peter 1st Chapt. 4th verse,) "to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard of my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord, out of all nations, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters," (or coaches,) "and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. And I will also take of them for priests, and for Levites, saith the Lord. For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain." In the above quotations, the prophet is evidently speaking of the same event referred to in the quotations previously made, viz. The gathering of the whole house of Israel. And we learn by these quotations that when the Lord shall set his hand to bring to pass this gathering, he will first set up an ensign for the nations, and a standard for the people, and set a sign among them; and that then immediately after, he will commence the work of the gathering, by sending certain characters (chosen from among the nations, who shall have escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust,) unto the nations - to all the nations, Gentiles and Jews. And these messengers shall go to the Gentiles first, and declare God's glory among them; and then they shall bring all the children of Israel for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations. The Prophet Jeremiah, 16th Chapt. 14th 15th and 16th verses; referring to the same event, says: "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them; and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks." Again. Isaiah 18th Chapt. 3d verse, referring to the same event, says: "All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye." Now an ensign is a flag, the colors of an army, by which they are designated, of what nation or Kingdom they are of, and a standard is the same. Upon the flag, ensign or standard, are always written certain characters or letters, by which the army is designated. And there are of necessity, officers commissioned in every army, whose business it is to bear the flag, the ensign, the standard. These officers are called standard bearers, sometimes cornets and sometimes ensigns, because they bear the ensign. Now when Isaiah says that God will set up an ensign for the nations (11th Chapt.) he evidently means to be understood that he will set up something that is not already set up at the time when he sets his hand the second time to gather the remnant of his people Israel, and that on this something, shall be written, or impressed, words or characters, which when seen, read and understood by the nations, should make them to know that the officers who bear this ensign and who maintain this standard, are the officers of the Kingdom of God; and that the people who marshal under this ensign and rally around this standard, are the citizens of the Kingdom of God. And this same something is a sign or token unto the nations, that those messengers who have it are commissioned or sent by the God of Jacob, to declare his glory among the Gentiles, and to fish and hunt Israel from the mountains, and from the hills, and out of the holes of the rocks. And also, to bring them unto their own lands, for an offering unto the Lord, out of all nations. And by these officers, fishers, hunters, &c. he will assemble the outcasts of Israel, (the ten tribes,) and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth. Now what this ensign consists of, is plainly showed by Ezekiel, in the following prophesy, in which he speaks of two writings, one for Joseph and the other for Judah, which are to be made one, in the Lord's hand, after which, the same event is to follow that Isaiah said should follow the setting up of the ensign, viz. The gathering and union of the whole house of Israel, both the outcasts (the ten tribes,) and the dispersed (or house of Judah.) This prophesy is recorded by Ezekiel the prophet, in the 37th Chapter of his Book, commencing at the 15th verse. He says:-- "The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, moreover thou son of man! Take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, (the stick of Ephraim.) and for all the house of Israel his companions: and join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thy hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, wilt thou not show unto us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold! I will take the stick of Joseph. (which is in the hand of Ephraim,) and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all; neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places wherein they have sinned, and I will cleanse them: so shall they be my people and I will be their God." Now, it is a well known fact, that the children of Israel have not been one nation, or kingdom, in the land upon the mountains of Israel or anywhere else, since they were divided into two nations or kingdoms, in the days of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. - Yet the prophet here declares that they shall become one nation, and one kingdom in the land, upon the mountains of Israel; and shall not be divided into two nations or kingdoms thereafter. And this is to be accomplished by the Lord, taking them from among the heathen, wither they be gone, and gathering them on every side, and bringing them into their own land. And this gathering shall take place immediately after the Lord shall take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and put it with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick in his hand. - It is evident, therefore, that these two sticks becoming one in the Lord's hands, is the ensign that Isaiah will set up for the nations; after which, he will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth. It is evident from this fact, that the same event follows the one that follows the other, viz. The gathering and union of both nations of the children of Israel. Now mark! My reader, upon one of these sticks is written by God's commandment, something for Joseph, or to Ephraim, (for it is called the stick of Ephraim, as well as of Joseph, and is to be taken from the hand (or possession) of Ephraim,) and upon the other stick is written by his commandment something for Judah, (or to Judah.) And what is this something, you inquire. I answer it must be the great things of God's law, written for the government of these two branches of the house of Israel, and consequently containing prophesy of the future events that were to happen to them. I say it must be, because all the writings I ever saw which purported to have been written by God's commandment, to or for any nation, kindred, tongue or people, were of this character. - Therefore the stick of Joseph, or of Ephraim, contains the great things of God's law, written to Joseph, or Ephraim, for their benefit and government; and also for the benefit and government of all those that are connected with them as companions. And the stick of Judah contains the great things of God's law, written to Judah, (or the tribe of Judah,) for their benefit and government, and for the benefit and government of those who are connected with them as companions. But you next inquire why these records are called sticks? I answer, in the days of the prophet Ezekiel, the art of making paper was not known. Consequently, when they wrote, they were obliged to write something that they know how to prepare for that purpose. They sometimes wrote upon skins, tanned for that purpose, which they called parchment; and sometimes upon bark which they called pappirus; and sometimes upon sticks or blocks of wood, hewed and prepared for that purpose. This last was the easiest prepared. Therefore, as the prophet Ezekiel was commanded to fit out a couple of writings, which were to be used by him, in the presence of the Israelites, merely as an ensample of what was to be done by the Lord in some future generation, he commanded him to make these writings on sticks, because they were the easiest prepared for that purpose, of any material then in use. Consequently the records are called sticks, instead of books. But we next enquire where are these records? We have already learned by the prophet, that the stick of Joseph is in the hand of Ephraim, and is to be taken from there and are put with the stick of Judah, after which they are to become one in the Lord's hand. Where the stick of Judah is, we are not informed; but we conclude by the expression made in reference to it, that it is not to be removed from where it is, but the stick of Joseph is to be taken and put with it. Hence we learn that the stick of Judah is already in the possession of the nations of the earth; but the stick of Joseph being secluded from the nations of the earth, and hid up somewhere in the possession of Ephraim, must be taken from where it is, and put in the possession of the nations of the earth, with the stick of Judah. And these are to become one in the hand of the Lord, when he commissions officers to bear them forth as an ensign for the nations, and to declare his glory among the gentiles, and fish and hunt Israel from the mountains, and from the hills, and out of the holes in the rocks; and to bring all the children of Israel for an offering unto the Lord, out of all nations, to God's holy mountain. The bible then is the stick of Judah, for it contains a history of the house of Judah; and not of any other nation or tribe, only as far as their history is connected with the tribe of Judah. It contains the great things of God's law written to the house of Judah by Prophets and Apostles, exclusively raised up within the nation of Judah. It also contains prophesies of the future, and is already in the possessions of the nations of the earth. Now having found out where and what the stick of Judah is, we next proceed to search out the stick of Joseph; keeping in mind that when we find it, it will contain the great thing of God's law written to Ephraim, and giving a History of a branch of the tribe of Joseph, and will be written by a succession of Prophets and Apostles, raised up from Joseph's loins; and at the time when God is to take and put it with the bible. It will be found deposited (or hid up) somewhere within the boundaries of the land where Ephraim dwells (for it is to be taken from the hand of Ephraim, and as Ephraim in this quotation, refers to the nations, or tribes descended from Ephraim; so the hand here spoken of, signifies possession, or the land where Ephraim dwells.) Then in order to find out where this record is deposited, we must first find out where Ephraim dwells. First, then, we will examine some of the prophesies concerning Ephraim, and see if by these we can get any information concerning his place of residence. We will begin with Genesis, 48th chapt. Jacob, while blessing Ephraim, and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph, said, -- "Let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." And in the 19th verse he says of Ephraim, "His seed shall become a multitude of nations." The sense of these put together would make Ephraim's seed a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth. So much we have learned then in reference to this matter; that Ephraim's seed dwells somewhere in the midst of the earth, and is become a multitude of nations. Hence we shall not be at a loss to know them when we find them, but where shall we commence our search? and to what point of compass shall we go in order to find them? We will examine another prophesy concerning them, and see if we cannot find out these particulars also. Hosea, 11th chapt., 10th verse. The Prophet here, in speaking of the children of Ephraim, says, "They shall walk after the Lord; he (the Lord) shall roar like a lion when he shall roar. then the children shall tremble from the west." From this then we learn that the children of Ephraim are somewhere in the west, from Jerusalem, or Palestine, for that was the place of the Prophet's residence when he wrote the above declaration. Let us therefore consider ourselves standing in Jerusalem, where the Prophet then stood, and take a geographical search for Ephraim, westward from that place. In going due west from Jerusalem, we cross the northern extremity of the continent of Africa, and so pass through Tunis, Algiers, Barbary, and Morocco. But in none of these places can we find any descendants of Ephraim; therefore, we must continue our search west. But now of necessity we must cross the Atlantic ocean -- we will then take a ship at Morocco, and sailing directly west, we land in North America, not far from the city of Charleston in the State of South Carolina. Here we find an almost boundless country, extending from the north frigid to south temperate zones; comprising almost every variety of climate, and inhabited by a race of men, evidently of the same origin, although as evidently divided into a multitude of nations. Here then we have found a people that bear the description the Prophets have given of Ephraim; a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth, on the west of Jerusalem. But have this people no record by which we can learn of their origin? If not, where is the stick of Joseph which is to be taken from their possession? If they are indeed the seed of Ephraim, God has written to them great things of his law -- for the Prophet Hosea says so, in the 8th chapt. and 12th verse of his book, he says -- "I have written to him (Ephraim) the great things of my law and they were counted as a strange thing." Therefore we will examine some of their traditions, in reference to this matter. First, says Mr. Boudinot, "It is said among their principal or beloved men, that they have handed down from ancestors that such a book as the white people have, was once theirs; that while they had it they prospered exceedingly, &c. They also say, that their fathers were possessed of an extraordinary Divine Spirit, by which they foretold future events, and controlled the common course of nations; and this they transmitted to their offspring, on condition of their obeying the sacred laws; that they did by these means bring down showers of blessings upon their beloved people; but that this power for a long time past had entirely ceased." Col. James Smith, in his journal, while a prisoner among the Natives, says -- "They have a tradition, that in the beginning of this continent, the Angels, or Heavenly Inhabitants, as they called them, frequently visited the people, and talked with their forefathers, and gave directions how to pray." Mr. Boudinot, in his able work, remarks concerning their language: "Their language in its roots, idiom, and particular construction, appears to have the whole genius of the Hebrew, and what is very remarkable, and well worthy of serious attention, has most of the peculiarities of the language -- especially those in which it differs from most other languages. There is a tradition related by an aged Indian, of the Stockbridge tribe, that their fathers were once in possession of a "Sacred Book" which was handed down from generation to generation, and at last hid in the earth, since which time they had been under the feet of their enemies. But those oracles were to be restored to them again, and then they would triumph over their enemies and regain their ancient country, together with their rights and privileges. Mr. Boudinot, after recording many traditions similar to the above, at length remarks: "Can any man read this short account of Indian Traditions, drawn from the tribes of various nations, from the west to the east, and from the south to the north, wholly separated from each other, written by different authors of the best characters both for knowledge and integrity, possessing the best means of information, at various and distant times, without any possible communication with each other; and yet suppose that all this is the effect of chance, accident or design. From these traditions we learn that these people once had a "Sacred Book" containing Sacred Laws, (or the great things of God's Law,) written for them; and the presumption is, that they were written by their forefathers who possessed the extraordinary divine spirit by which they foretold future events, and controlled the common course of nature. This Book, we are informed, after having been handed down from generation to generation was hid in the earth; not always to remain there, but to come forth at some future time for their blessing and gathering to their ancient country. This agrees exactly with what is said concerning the stick of Joseph; "that God will take it from some secluded place in the land of Ephraim and put it with the stick of Judah after which he would take the children of Israel from among the heathen, and bring them into their own land." And the Prophet Jeremiah says in the 31st chapt. 9 verse of his Book, that Ephraim is God's first born in this gathering. Here, then, after so long a search, we have found a people resembling Ephraim; a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth, on the west of Jerusalem or Palestine, with the testimony of their tradition that the stick of Joseph (or their "Sacred Book") is hid up in the earth somewhere in this land, but to come forth again out of the earth at some future period of time; that then they will be restored to their ancient country, together with the rights, privileges and blessings which their fathers enjoyed. We will now examine some more of the prophecies which speak of the restoration of the children of Israel to their own land and former blessings, and see if we can find anything that will warrant us in the belief that the stick of Joseph is coming out of the earth. We will commence with the 85th psalm, which is very plain on this subject; it says, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." But what is to bring this event to pass? Answer: "truth shall spring out of the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good, and our land shall go before him, (the Lord,) and shall set us in the way of his steps. Now, nothing can be more plain than this psalm. The Psalmist had beheld by the spirit of prophesy, God's wrath and fierce anger turned away from the house of Israel, and the captivity of Jacob brought back to their own land, their sins all covered and his glory revealed upon them; and while he beheld this he exclaimed in an ecstasy, "mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." He then goes on to tell how this great event is to be brought about. First he says, "Truth shall spring out of the earth." But what is truth? In the 119th psalm 142nd verse the Psalmist says (to God) "thy law is truth." And in the same psalm at the 151st verse, he says, "thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth." It is recorded by Sr. John 17th chapt. and 17th verse that the Savior while praying for his disciples said, "sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." The law, the word, and commandments of God, are truth." And the Psalmist says, "truth shall spring out of the earth," after which, righteousness (that is, knowledge and power to do right,) shall look down from heaven and shall go before the Lord to set Israel in the way of his steps. And at the same time the Lord shall give that which is good, and their land shall yield her increase. This is proof positive, that the stick of Joseph referred to above, is to be taken out of the earth. But again, Isaiah 45 chapt. 8 verse says, "Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness, (that is, knowledge and power to do right;) let the earth open and let them bring forth salvation. (or a knowledge of the way of salvation,) and let righteousness (or a knowledge of the right way) spring up together, for I, the Lord have created (or appointed it.") And again, Isaiah 29th chapt. 1st verse says, "Wo to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt," or (marginal reading,) O Ariel, Ariel, of the city where David dwelt. 4th verse, "And thou (Ariel, which signifies light or lion of God) shalt be brought down, and shall speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.: The above quotation is very plain. Now reader, mark, Ariel of the city where David dwelt, (evidently having allusion to a people possessing the light of God's revelations, who once belonged to the city of Jerusalem where David dwelt,) is to be brought down, and speak out of the ground, which could not be, unless their words should be written and deposited in the ground, and afterwards brought forth out of the ground, and made intelligible for people to read and understand. Then they would speak out of the ground, and their voice would whisper out of the dust. Thus we have abundance of evidence to warrant us in believing that the stick of Joseph is to come out of the earth in the land where Ephraim dwells. Also, that the Indians of America are the seed of Ephraim, and that God will take the stick of Joseph, or in other words, the records of a branch of the tribe of Joseph, containing the great things of God's law written to Ephraim, which is hid up in the earth, in the land of America, where Ephraim dwells, and put it with the stick of Judah (the bible) and make them one stick in his hand; after which he will commission officers to bear these forth to the nations of the earth, as an ensign; also to declare God's glory among the gentiles, and to fish the children of Israel and hunt them from the mountains and from the hills, and out of the holes of the rocks, and bring them for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations, upon horses and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts to God's holy mountain. But the next inquiry that arises is, if the Indians of America are descended from Ephraim, how came they here, and what business have they here? We will therefore, next attempt to prove that the land of America was promised unto Joseph, as the land of Canaan was unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and consequently a branch of Joseph's posterity was brought here by the Lord to possess it. We will commence with the 49th chapt. of Gen. 26th verse, Jacob while blessing Joseph, says, "The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors." But who were Jacob's progenitors? and what are the blessings God bestowed upon them? Answer: Abraham and Isaac were Jacob's progenitor's, and the land of Canaan was the blessing God conferred upon them. See Gen. 17th chapt. 8th verse, God said to Abraham "I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God." See also 26th chapt. 3d and 4th verses, where he confirms the same unto Isaac, saying "Unto thee and unto thy seed I will give all these countries; and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father, &c." Now says Jacob, my blessings have prevailed above these blessings of my progenitors. From this we learn that God bestowed upon Jacob the blessings of another land besides the land of Canaan. Now, the land of Canaan was bestowed upon Jacob as well as upon his progenitors: see Gen. 35th chapt. 11th and 12th verses, and "God said unto him (Jacob,) I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and Kings shall come out of thy loins, and the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land." But how far off is this land which was conferred upon Jacob as a blessing above the blessing of his progenitors? He continues in the same verse saying, "unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills." Now, reader, stand in Egypt where Jacob then stood. and measure to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, and you will land in North America. Here then, in America, is the land conferred upon Jacob, as a blessing above the blessing of his progenitors. But Jacob confers the blessing of this land upon Joseph saying, "they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren." Also Moses while blessing the tribe of Joseph, evidently alludes to the same blessings. See Deut. 33d chapt. 13th, 14th, 15th & 16th verses, "And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious put forth by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for the precious things of the earth and fullness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush; let the blessings come upon the head of Joseph and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren." And here, let me remark, if Moses had been in America from the time it was discovered by Columbus until now, enjoying all the blessings of heaven which have been conferred upon the inhabitants of this land, such as liberty of conscience, right and control of property, the privileges of education and knowledge of the fine arts, together with the revelations of God and the fullness of the gospel proclaimed among them, had he considered the climate and witnessed the dews that it distilled upon the land, and at the same time considered the depth of the soil, its richness and strength, and examined the many precious fruits brought forth by the sun, together with the variety of vegetation produced by the Moon's diurnal motion round the earth; had he visited the ancient mountains and viewed the numerous fortifications and remains of ancient cities together with all the ancient ruins called Antiquities, which are found so profusely scattered over the face of this land; and had he excavated the lasting hills and contemplated the numerous mines of gold, silver, copper, iron, lead and precious minerals which are to be found in such abundance in this land; and he had seen all the productions of the earth which are produced in this land, with all their endless variety, together with their abundance or fullness, he could not have given a more accurate description of all those things, in few words, than he has in describing the blessings of Joseph's land. He then closes his blessing upon Joseph by saying, "For the good will of him that dwelt in the bush, (evidently having allusion to the burning bush which he, Moses, saw, out of which God spake to him, and commissioned him to go and deliver Israel.) Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren." This last declaration of Moses is evident proof that the land here described by him, is the same land spoken of by Jacob, which he said was conferred upon him as a blessing above the blessings of his progenitors, which was to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills. And he conferred it upon Joseph in nearly the same words that Moses uses above, in conferring the blessings of the land he describes. The only difference is, Jacob says, the blessing shall be upon the head of Joseph; while Moses says, for God's good will, let it come; or, that it is God's good will to let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, &c. The land of America, then, was promised unto Joseph, as the land of Canaan was unto Abraham; therefore God brought a branch of his posterity here to possess it. But how did he bring them here, and when? will be our next object to show. First, then, we will remark, that we have the history of Ephraim's posterity from his days down to the captivity of the ten tribes, or house of Israel, by Shalmanezer the King of Assyria, seven hundred and twenty years before Christ; and during this time his seed never became even one distinct or separate nation, but was in bondage in Egypt until Moses delivered Israel, at which time, his seed constituted about one-twelfth part of that nation, until the revolt of the ten tribes under Jereboam, the son of Nebat, from which time until their captivity by the King of Assyria, the seed of Ephraim constituted only about one-tenth part of the nation of Israel. And this is the last scrap of history now extant, which gives any account of the tribe of Ephraim upon the eastern continent. We, therefore, must resort to the prophecies to find what has become of them. Had the seed of Ephraim remained upon the eastern continent, they could not have been lost, or cast out, from the knowledge of the eastern nations, from the fact that they were to become a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth. Therefore they could not have existed without the knowledge of Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander the Great and the Roman Emperors. For they pushed their conquests and extended their dominions to every part of that continent. Therefore if the prophesy concerning Ephraim, (recorded in Genesis, 48th Chapt. 19th vs.) that his seed should become a multitude of nations, has ever been fulfilled, they have left the eastern continent and gone to some other land. And, as we have already learned that America is Joseph's land, we have good reason to believe that this is the land unto which they came. And again; Jacob says, (Genesis 49th Chapt. 22d verse:) "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall." This is figurative language, comparing Joseph to a fruitful bough, whose branches run over the wall; which signifies that Joseph's posterity should become very numerous, and finally a branch of his seed should pass over the boundaries of their first inheritance, (the wall signifying boundary,) into another land, which boundary I will now show is the sea, by the testimony of the prophet Isaiah, 16th Chapt. 8 verse. He says: "The fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness; her branches are stretched out, (or marginal readings, plucked up,) they are gone over the sea." This Heshbon and Sibmah (or Shibmah) were cities built and inhabited by the ten tribes or nation of Israel. See Numbers, 32d Chapter, 37th and 38th verses. Now the tribe of Joseph was the first and chief tribe of this nation. Jereboam, their first king, was of the lineage of Joseph -- and the birthright was given to Joseph. (See 1st Chronicles, 5th chapt., 1st and 2d verses.) -- Now Isaiah says that the lords of the heathen had broken down the principal plants of the nation that inhabited Heshbon and Shibmah. which was done at the time the Assyrians broke down the ten tribes in the days of Hosea the king of Israel -- about twenty-four years before this was spoken by the prophet. But he says, notwithstanding the principal plants of this nation are broken down, yet her branches wander through the wilderness, being stretched out or plucked up, they go over the sea. Again Jeremiah says, on this same subject, in his 48th chapt. 32d verse; "O vine of Sibmah! I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer; thy plants are gone over the sea." From these scriptures we learn that some of the branches, or plants, of the house of Israel, the ten tribes (the nation who built and inhabited Heshbon and Shibmah) did go over the sea. Now this, taken in connection with what has been before quoted, concerning Joseph's branches running over the wall -- Ephraim's seed becoming a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth -- and being somewhere west of Jerusalem -- together with the proofs that America is Joseph's land -- we have good reason to believe that these branches, or plants, of the house of Israel here referred to were of the tribe of Joseph, who left their first inheritance and the eastern continent, and crossed over the sea to inherit the land of America, which God gave unto Jacob as a blessing above the blessings of his progenitors; which land both Jacob and Moses conferred upon Joseph and upon Ephraim, the crown of the head of Joseph. But when did these branches or plants of Joseph, come here? And what were the circumstances under which they came? Jeremiah will tell us, in the 49th chapt. of his prophesy, commencing at the 30th verse. God commands by him saying, "Flee! get you far off! dwell deep! O ye inhabitants of Hazor! saith the Lord; for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you. Arise! get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the Lord, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone. And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the Lord." Now Hazor was a city and kingdom in the land of Canaan, and was the capital or head of all the kingdoms round about. But Joshua the son of Nun, took it and smote the king thereof with the sword; and they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them -- there was not any left to breathe -- and he burnt Hazor with fire. (See Joshua, 11th chapt., 10th and 11th verses.) Afterwards, in dividing the land unto the children of Israel, he appointed Hazor unto the tribe of Judah. (See Joshua, 15th chapt/. 23d verse.) And king Solomon in his days rebuilt it. (See 1st. Kings, 9th chapt., 15th verse.) Now in the days of Jeremiah Jerusalem was the capitol, head, and chief city of all that country round about, as Hazor was before its destruction by Joshua, and as Jeremiah had already been in jeopardy for saying that Jerusalem should be smitten, and destroyed by Nebuchadnessar. (See Jeremiah, 36th chapt.) Therefore he calls the country by its former names, and speaks of Hazor as its capitol, instead of Jerusalem. Now it was a thing well known among the Jews, that there was at that time two families in Jerusalem, which the Lord had chosen. This is evident from the fact that after the city was destroyed and the temple burnt by Nebuchadnezzar's army, the Jews complained, saying, "The two families which the Lord hath chosen, he hath even cast them off." Jeremiah, 33d chapt. 24th verse. And they made this complaint, not knowing that the Lord had led them out previous to the destruction of the city into the wilderness that they might go over the sea. For Jeremiah in the above proclamation did not particularize 'the two families which the Lord had chosen;' but spoke in general terms, saying, 'O ye inhabitants of Hazor!' &c. -- Not saying how many, or defining any particular ones. As they were to 'dwell deep,' that is, go in secret; hence none understood the proclamation fully, at that time, except 'the two families which the Lord had chosen' -- they being the ones to whom the commandment was particularly given. Now at the time when the Assyrians broke down the principal plants of the house of Israel, those branches, or plants, (from whom sprung the two families which the Lord had chosen) were dwelling in Jerusalem. (See 1st Chronicles, 9th chapt. 3d verse.) And there they remained until about one hundred and twenty years after, when Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, took counsel against the nation of Judah, and conceived a purpose against them. And then (as there was no longer safety for them there) the Lord commanded them to flee and get far off. He also commands them to dwell deep; that is to dwell in secret. He also tells them where to go, saying, "Arise and get you up into the wealthy nation which dwelleth without care, and have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone." But where did such a nation exist? We are informed that it was afar off. Now such a nation could not have existed upon the eastern continent, at that time, for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, had then pushed his conquests to all parts of the land -- and all the wealth of the nations he had plundered and brought to Babylon, to make the place of his throne more glorious. Therefore if a wealthy nation had existed any where in the reach of the Chaldean armies, they could not have dwelt without care, having neither bars nor gates. Neither could they have dwelt alone; for other nations being round about them, and knowing of their wealth, would not have permitted them to have dwelt alone. Therefore a nation of this description could not have existed upon that land at that time, nor anywhere within the knowledge of the people of that continent. -- Hence when He commanded them to get up to such a nation, He commanded them to get far off, even beyond the sea; to a land unknown to the people of that continent -- but inhabited by a wealthy nation, which God promises to destroy by bringing their calamity from all sides thereof, so that their cattle should be a spoil, &c. Now that such nation has once existed upon the land of America and been utterly destroyed, is evident from the history of the antiquities of the country. An extract from which I will now subjoin. Ruins of the city of Otolom, discovered in central America, extracted from American antiquities by Josiah Priest, page 241: The ruins of this city were surveyed by Capt. Del Rio in 1787, an account of which was published in English in 1822. -- This account gives partly the description of the ruins of a stone city of no less dimensions than seventy-five miles in circuit -- length 32 miles -- breadth 12 miles -- and full of palaces, monuments, statues, and inscriptions; one of the earliest seats of American civilization, about equal to Thebes of ancient Egypt. At Bolivar in the same country, is another mass of ancient ruins and mine of historical knowledge. It appears that this people in cutting roads through the Cordillera mountains, found gold, silver, copper, and lead mines, which were opened and worked to a great extent; all of which is evidence of their knowledge of architecture, mineralogy, and agriculture. It further adds, in many places of that country, are found the ruins of whole aqueducts, some of which says Dr. Morse, the geographer, would have been thought works of difficulty in civilized nations. Again, on page 243, he says, -- "We are compelled to ascribe some of the vast operations of the ancient nations of this country, to those ages which correspond with the times and manners of the people of Egypt; which are also beyond the reach of authentic history." This extract is proof sufficient to warrant us in the belief that such a wealthy nation as is described above, did live upon this land about that time; and that they dwelt alone is evident from the fact that no other nation knew of this land. -- And that they dwelt without care, is evident, not only from the same fact, but also from the fact that this tremendous great city had neither gates nor bars. Many other extracts might be made from the antiquities in proof of the same thing, but I judge this to be sufficient to establish the fact in the mind of every thinking person, that such a nation once existed upon this land, and have been destroyed by some means or other, and another people are now in their place. The following quotation from Jeremiah explains the whole mystery: God says, I will scatter into all winds them that are in the uttermost corners and bring their calamity from all sides of them, and thus clear the land, leaving their cattle, &c. for a spoil and a booty unto the inhabitants of Hazor, the branches of Joseph. I will now introduce the traditions of the Indian tribes inhabiting Mexico, concerning the time of the first settlement of this land, and the confusion of languages at the tower of Babel. American antiquities, by Josiah Priest, page 200 and 202, the tradition says that the tongues were distributed by a bird, and were infinitely various, and those receiving them were dispersed over the earth in different directions. But it so happened that fifteen heads of families were permitted to speak the same language. These embodied themselves and traveled till they come to a country which they called Astelon or the Lake Country, supposed to be in the region of the now United States, according to Humbolt. As favoring this idea we notice the word Astelon signifies in their language, water or a country of much water. Now no country on the earth better suits this appellation than the western country, on account of the vast number of lakes found there. From this tradition we learn that this continent was peopled as early as the confusion of languages at the great tower -- and this tradition is corroborated by the fact that these ruins of ancient cities are of so ancient a date, that whatever nation built them, they must have commenced their settlement immediately after the confusion of languages in order to have been capable of building such works at so early a date. Here then in America is not only Joseph's land, which is a choice land above all other lands, with Ephraim upon it -- a multitude of nations on the west of Jerusalem, and in the midst of the earth -- with the stick of Joseph containing the great things of God's law, written to Ephraim, hid up in the earth, to come forth again out of the earth -- but here is the land where the wealthy nation existed, who dwelt without care, having neither gates nor bars -- which dwelt alone -- and they commenced their settlement here immediately after the confusion at the Tower of Babel. Now we will sum up all these testimonies, and see what we have gained. First, a few families at the time of the confusion of languages at the tower of Babel, were permitted to speak one language. These were embodied and came to America, where being shut out from the rest of the world, upon a choice, rich, and healthy soil of land, abounding with minerals of almost every sort, and possessing the knowledge of architecture, mineralogy, and agriculture, so far as they were known to the descendants of Noah, before the confusion of languages; with a reasonable degree of industry and perseverance, they soon became a wealthy nation. And they dwelt without care, having neither gates nor bars, because they were shut out from the knowledge of all other nations, and thus dwelt alone; having no fears of being robbed, plundered or destroyed by any other nation. -- Therefore they dwelt without care, and in all probability became lifted up in pride, and forgot the God who had led them to this choice land and blessed them so abundantly upon it. Therefore he says, I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof and scatter into all winds them that are in the uttermost corners, and thus clear the land for a more righteous people, even for the branches of Joseph which were to run over the wall (or sea) and possess this choice or blessed land. Second, Joseph's posterity which was to grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth, and Ephraim's seed which was to become a multitude of nations, continued with their brethren of the other tribes, until the Assyrian captivity of the ten tribes, at which time some of the posterity of Joseph and of Ephraim being joined to the house of Judah at Jerusalem, were not carried away into captivity, but remained in Jerusalem until the days of the prophet Jeremiah, six hundred years before Christ, when in consequence of the purpose which Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, had conceived against Jerusalem to destroy it, God commanded them to flee, and get far off, even beyond the sea, unto the land now called America,) and to go in secret, lest they should be followed and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar commands, as he was then monarch of the world. Yea, he commands them to arise and get up unto the wealthy nation which dwelt without care, having neither gates nor bars, which dwelt upon the land of America, which land God gave unto Jacob as a blessing above the blessings of his progenitors, which is to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, from Egypt. Which land also, Jacob conferred upon Joseph their father; and Moses the man of God, blessed it unto his seed. Therefore God promises to destroy this wealthy nation (undoubtedly for their wickedness,) and give the land with all their wealth, unto these remnants of Joseph. Accordingly, in obedience to this command, they started from Jerusalem, privately, and went into the borders of the wilderness, by the Red sea. And after wandering through the wilderness, unto the Arabian sea, they built a ship, by God's direction, and came over the sea to the promised land. There they found the wealthy nation all destroyed and their bones scattered over the face of the land. But their cattle, and beasts of every kind, being left, were a spoil unto them. These remnants of Joseph, possessing the light of God's revelation, having continually among them prophets and inspired men, who were the rulers of the nation, and being of Jerusalem, the city where David dwelt, they were in deed and truth, the Lion of God, (or Ariel.) These, therefore, possessing an extraordinary divine spirit, by which they could foretell future events and control the common course of nature, wrote a history of their nation, together with the word of God revealed unto them; and this was a sacred Book, which was handed down from generation to generation, and written by a succession of prophets who were raised up to be the rulers of that nation. But as there were some of that nation who did not wish to be governed by the revelations and commandments of God, therefore they dissented and established a nation by themselves. This dissenting nation, finally overpowered the other, after protracted wars, which accounts for the numerous fortifications and works of defence which are found so profusely scattered over the face of this land. Ariel was brought down -- the nation that had prophets and inspired men for its rulers, was brought down; but their words having been written in the sacred book, which must not be destroyed, it was hid up in the earth, but to come forth at some future time, when they will speak out of the ground, and their voice will whisper out of the dust. Yea, this is the stick of Joseph, in the hand of Ephraim, which God will take and put with the stick of Judah, the bible. And these two sticks (or books,) put together, and becoming one in the Lord's hand, is an ensign which God will raise upon the mountains of America, as recorded by Isaiah, 18th Chapt. He says: "Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia." Now, the whole continent since called Africa, was then called Ethiopia. The rivers referred to, are a little south of west from Jerusalem, (the place where the prophet dwelt, when he wrote the above declaration,) on the western shore of Africa. Their present names are, as follows, viz: Niger, Senegal, Grande, and Mesurado. In looking beyond these rivers, from Jerusalem, upon the map of the world, the first land the eye lights upon, is North and South America, stretched out between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, from the South Temperate to the North Frigid zones, and the form thereof is like the shadow of two great wings. Here, then, is the land, shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia. But the prophet goes on in his description, and says, that they send embassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes (or rushing vessels,) upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers to a nation scattered and peeled, and to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled; (or marginal readings, whose land the nations have despised.) The nation and people here referred to, are evidently the nation and people called Jews, from the fact that they are scattered & peeled, and have been terrible from their beginning, and hitherto a nation meted out and trodden down, and the nations have despised their land. Therefore, the prophet says that embassadors shall be sent out from his land, by the sea unto the nation of Jews, even in rushing vessels upon the waters, saying, "Go ye swift messengers, &c." But before these swift messengers shall be sent from this land, God will lift up an ensign on the mountains, and call upon all the inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth to see it, and to hear the trumpet which he will then blow. For the prophet continues in the 3d verse, saying: "All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye. when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains: and when he bloweth a trumpet hear ye. For so the Lord said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning-hooks, and take away and cut down the branches. They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth; and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. In that time shall the present be bro't unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, (or the nations have despised,) to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion." Now when we sum up the sentiment couched in this chapter, we have the following: First, that God would take his rest, (that is cease to work on earth among the children of men, by giving them revelations and working miracles among them.) But he would consider in his dwelling-place, like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest, (that is, he would while abiding in his dwelling-place. consider the inhabitants of the earth, and would shed forth certain general blessings, equally upon all, like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvests.) Second: Just before the harvest, or end of the world, (for Christ said, the harvest is end of the world; see Matthew 13:39;) when the sour grapes or harvest of the earth is ripening, God shall take the stick of Joseph out of the ground in America, containing the words of Ariel, which were to speak out of the ground, even the sacred book of the natives, containing their sacred laws, (or the great things of God's law written to Ephraim,) and put it with the stick of Judah, (the bible,) in America; and this shall be lifted up as an ensign on the mountains of the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia from Jerusalem, (which land I have shown to be America,) and call upon all the inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth to see it, and to hear the trumpet he will blow at the same time. Third: Immediately after this ensign shall be raised and the trumpet blown in America, there will be swift messengers sent from this land to the Jewish nation; and after they are gone, God will cut off the sprigs of this nation, with pruning-hooks, and take away and cut down the branches; and they shall be left together, for the fowls of the mountains, and for the beasts of the earth, to summer and winter upon. Now a sprig is a branch not come to maturity; therefore the territories of this nation are the sprigs, and the states are the branches. Fourth: After God has cut off all the territories of this nation and has taken away and cut down the states; and the inhabitants thereof are left for the fowls of the mountains and for the beasts of the earth to summer and winter upon, then at that time these swift messengers, who were sent from this land will return and bring from Jerusalem, a part of the Jewish nation, as a present unto the Lord of hosts; and this present they will bring unto the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the Mount Zion: which is the same mountain upon which God will lift up the ensign and call upon all the inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth to see it. As a corroborating proof of this last declaration, I will just quote Jeremiah 4th chapt. commencing at the 5th verse. He says: -- "Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, blow ye the trumpet in the land; cry, gather together, and say, assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities. Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not; for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction." Here somebody is commanded to declare in Judah and publish in Jerusalem, that they must gather together and assemble themselves, and go into the defenced cities. And he commands them to "set up the standard toward Zion" and "retire and stay not." Hence they were to go to Zion from Jerusalem, with some of the Jews, as a present to the Lord of hosts. From this we learn that America is not only Joseph's land, where Ephraim dwells, and the place where the stick of Joseph is deposited in the earth, to be taken by the Lord and put with the stick of Judah, (the bible,) and lifted up as an ensign for the nations upon the mountains of this land. -- But it is also the place where the Zion of God is to be built, in which there will be deliverance and holiness. For Zion and Jerusalem are two places, as you will learn from the above quotation, where they are commanded to leave Jerusalem and go to Zion. -- This one being in Asia, and the other in America, (or upon the land shadowing with wings beyond the rivers of Ethiopia from Jerusalem.) The gathering is to be both to Zion and Jerusalem. The tribe of Judah will gather to Jerusalem, and the remnants of Joseph to Zion. But at the coming of Christ, they are to become one. The sea will return to its own place in the polar regions, and the islands and the continents will then become one land, and Zion and Jerusalem one city. Again Ezekiel seems to have an allusion to the following subjects in his 17th Chapt. commencing at the 22d verse. After having put forth a riddle, and spoken a parable to the house of Israel and explained it, he says: "Thus saith the Lord God, I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken, and have done it." Now we are informed in a former part of this chapter that the cedar tree represents the nation of Israel. Therefore the other trees represent other nations. The prophet had been speaking of Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, coming against Jerusalem, to carry the house of Judah into captivity -- the same captivity spoken of by Jeremiah, when he commanded the inhabitants of Hazor to arise and get up unto the wealthy nation. Now the high cedar being the nation of Israel, the highest branch of the high cedar is the tribe of Joseph -- for the birth-right was Joseph's. See 1st Chronicles, 5th Chapt. 1st and 2d verses. Now then, God says, I will crop off from the top of the young twigs of Joseph, a tender one; (here is the branch of Joseph that run over the wall, and here is the plant that went over the sea;) and I will plant it in the mountain of the height of Israel, which is the land of America; for it was after Jacob's name was changed to Israel that his blessings prevailed unto this land. Therefore it was planted in America, and grew and become a goodly cedar, and brought forth boughs, and bare fruit, (now that it bore fruit their sacred book is evidence.) And now as they are to build up Zion in the last days, by their sacred book, or the stick of Joseph coming forth, as an ensign, &c.; And as there will be a gathering unto Zion some from every nation under heaven; therefore under it will dwell all fowls of every wing, in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. That is, under the government of Zion and her stakes, shall men from all nations, tongues and languages dwell. "Then all the trees of the field, (or all the nations of the earth,) shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, (the nation of Israel,) and exalted the low tree, (the nations of the Gentiles.") And again, "That I have dried up the green tree, (the gentiles) and made the dry tree (the nation of Israel) to flourish. I the Lord have spoken, and have done it." Our next object will be to show how God is to take the stick of Joseph which is hid up in the land of America, and put it with the stick of Judah; or in other words, how he is to bring forth this sacred book, containing the sacred laws of God, written to Ephraim, or the aborigines of this country, and hid in the earth. For this testimony we will quote Isaiah 29th chapter, commencing at the 9th verse: "Stay yourselves and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers, hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed. And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, read this, I pray thee: and he saith. I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men; therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Now the prophet had been speaking in a former part of this chapter, of Ariel being brought down, and speaking out of the ground. And he says, when this shall come to pass that Ariel shall speak out of the ground and their voice shall whisper out of the dust, that the multitude of his (Ariel's) stranger (or the people that were of the nation of Ariel,) would be like small dust; (that is, mouldered away to dust,) and that the multitude of his (Ariel's) terrible ones (that is, his warriors,) should be as chaff that passeth away; (that is, they shall be all gone;) and they passed away suddenly. Now the prophet says that when Ariel shall be about to speak out of the ground, or when the Lord shall be about to take the stick of Joseph out of the earth, that the nations shall be drunken, but not with wine; and they shall stagger, but not with strong drink. He then goes on and tells what they are drunken with, and why they stagger; for he says: "The Lord has poured out upon them the spirit of deep sleep." They are drunken therefore with spiritual drowsiness, having closed their eyes, and rejected the prophets. Therefore their rulers and the seers, God hath covered; and spiritual darkness covers them all. And they stagger, not knowing the truth; and the vision (that is, the sight or understanding,) of all, has become unto them as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed, &c. That is, they are filled with so much spiritual darkness, that they cannot see, understand or know any thing beyond the research of human learning. Therefore, as the learned man could not read the words of the book because they were sealed, (or the knowledge of their meaning lost from among men, and consequently could not be obtained by human learning,) so the prophet says that all the learned men of that generation were just like him -- none of them could read it; because it is sealed, (or beyond the research of human learning,) and as the unlearned said I am not learned, so all the unlearned of that generation would make the same excuse. -- The vision of all, both learned and unlearned, has become so dimmed unto them, that they do not discern, understand or know any thing beyond the research of human learning. "Wherefore the Lord said, for as much as this people, (that is all the people of the generation in the which this book is to be brought forth, the words of which is to be delivered to one that is learned,) draw near me with their mouths, and honor me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from me; and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men;" (that is, they have none that teach them the fear of the Lord, but such as have no inspiration; and they teach by their learning, according to the doctrines, commandments and precepts devised by men since inspiration ceased.) "Therefore, Behold saith the Lord, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder;" (that is, he will do a work among this people that they will marvel and wonder at; for he will make the unlearned, by the inspiration of his spirit, read and translate the words of the book which their learned men could not read; and thereby he will make the wisdom of their wise men to perish, and the understanding of their prudent men to be hid.) This then, is the way God is to take the stick of Joseph and put it with the stick of Judah. He is to make use of man as an instrument, and command him to deliver the words of the book to the learned, &c.; and finally, inspire the unlearned man to read and translate it, and cause it to be published to the nations. And thus the Lord takes it and puts it with the stick of Judah, (the bible.) Now we next come to speak of some of the events that are to follow this book's coming forth. The prophet says: "Wo to them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?" Now this wo is pronounced against them that persist in teaching a fear toward God by the precepts of men, after this book has come forth and brought the light whereby they might see and know the truth. But because they love darkness rather than light, their deeds being evil, the continue in the dark and will not come to the light, lest their deeds should be reproved. And while they work in the dark, thinking that no one sees them or knows them, at the same time professing to fear God and to teach men the fear of the Lord, they look upon them that God has chosen to do his marvelous work, and wonder at them, yet they say surely, your turnings of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay. But the answer of God unto them is, "Shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not; or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? For it is not yet but a very little while, and Lebanon (a forest in the land of Palestine,) shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field (or the place where the gentiles dwell,) shall be esteemed as a forest. And in that day, the deaf shall hear the words of the book; and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord; and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the terrible one (that is, he that oppressed the poor and persecuted the meek,) is bro't to nought, and the scorner (he that despised and scoffed at the poor and meek,) is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off; for all that watch for iniquity are cut off; for all that watch for iniquity make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. These being all cut off, "Thus saith the Lord who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale, when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, (or he in the midst of them,) for they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and shall fear the God of Israel, They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine." In the above quotation we have a sketch of all the great events which are to follow the coming forth of this book. First; there is to be extensive priestcrafts, and secret works of darkness, and the actors in these things are to predict the overthrow of the work of God. Second; there is to be a gathering to the land of Palestine, so as to turn Lebanon into a fruitful field. Third; there is to be great miraculous power displayed on earth, and spiritual gifts given unto the children of men; insomuch that the deaf will be made to hear, and the blind to see, while the meek increase and the poor rejoice in the Holy one of Israel. Fourth; there are to be those who oppress the poor and persecute the meek -- called terrible ones, -- and scorners, those who despise and scoff at those that are good: also there will be those that watch for iniquity, and that will make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate and that turn aside the just for a thing of nought; and these shall all be brought to nought, consumed and cut off, insomuch that the fruitful field will be esteemed as a forest. Fifth; the whole house of Israel, the children of Jacob, being gathered together, and Jacob in their midst, shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the God of Israel. And they also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. All these different events which are here merely sketched, are dwelt upon at large in different parts of the prophecies. But you ask, how are these events to be brought about by the coming forth of this Book? I answer; when God takes this Book, (the stick of Joseph,) and puts it with the stick of Judah, (the Bible,) as I have stated above; this being the sign set among the nations, (Isaiah 66th chapt. 19th verse,) and the ensign lifted on the mountains, (Isa. 18th chapt. 3d verse,) and set up for the nations, (Isaiah 11th chapt. 12th verse.) He will then commission officers to bear this ensign to the nations, and to show forth this sign among the people. These officers being the fishers and hunters of Israel, Isaiah 19th chapt. 16th verse,) and having escaped (the corruptions that are in the world through lust) go to the nations bearing this ensign, even to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow; to Tubal and Javan, and to the Isles afar off, that have not heard of God's fame, neither seen his glory, to declare his glory among the gentiles; and being officers of the kingdom of God, commissioned from on high, they will disclaim all fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness -- the commandments and precepts of men -- but rather reprove them. Calling on all men to repent and believe the gospel: baptising, or administering the ordinances of adoption, to all that believe, and thus translating them from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son; and the Holy Ghost being mightily poured out upon them, the deaf are made to hear and the blind to see, they that erred in spirit come to understanding, and they that murmured learn doctrine. While at the same time, the Priests of the different sects of religious, who preach for hire and divine for money, and all that love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil, cry out, saying, sorely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay. And thus they predict the overthrow and downfall of the work of the Lord, while their works are in the dark; and they say, who seeth us, and who knoweth us. And they oppress the poor and persecute the meek and those that fear God and keep his commandments, despising and scoffing at them, watching them for iniquity, making them offenders for a word, and laying snares for these officers who reprove them for their wickedness, and they turn aside the just for a thing of nought. All this while the Jews are gathering to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and temple, and turn Lebanon into a fruitful field. And these officers, after finishing their work of fishing the children of Israel from among the gentiles, or out of the cold streams of spiritual Babylon. They commence their mission of hunting them among the mountains, and hills, and rocks, and more rugged parts of the earth which have not been settled and cultivated by civilized nations. And while they are thus ranging the mountains and the hills, and clambering over the rocky steeps in search of Israel, God will pour out his judgments upon the gentile nations, and scourge them for their wickedness until the Lord shall come in the clouds of heaven, and bring to nought the terrible one that oppressed the poor and persecuted the meek, and consume the scorner that despised and scoffed at the people of God; and cut off and destroy all that watched for iniquity, and made a man an offender for a word and laid snares for his servants, and turned aside the just for a thing of nought. And thus will God make the fruitful field to be esteemed as a forest; and when these officers shall have finished their hunt among the mountains, hills and rocks, and have gathered up all the remnants of Israel, they will bring them as an offering unto the Lord out of all nations, upon horses and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts to God's holy mountain where they will sanctify the name of the Lord, and sanctify the Holy one of Jacob and fear the God of Israel; while at the same time the Lord will come with ten thousand of his saints, (and Jacob among the rest to stand in the midst of his children, while they sanctify the name of their God and fear him,) to execute judgment upon the ungodly and cut them off and consume them as stubble. And to place his sanctuary in the midst of Israel forever more, and to divide the earth for an inheritance unto the meek, while Satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit, and shut up, and a seal placed upon him that he shall not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years shall be finished. And the Spirit of God being poured out upon all flesh the enmity will be destroyed, and the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid, and the Calf and the young Lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them; the cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together, and the Lion shall eat straw like the ox; and the suckling child shall put his hand upon the cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all God's holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. We next come to enquire when shall these things be? and what signs will there be when these things are about to come to pass, that God is to bring forth this Book, and all these mighty events are to follow it? The Apostle Paul has told us when these things shall be, in the 11th chapt. 25th verse of his epistle to the Romans. He says, "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. There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins." Now from this quotation we learn, that these things will take place when the fullness of the Gentiles is come in; for then the deliverer will come out of Zion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is his covenant unto them when he takes away their sins: (Or this is the way, he will make a covenant with them, and take away their sins.) Now, a covenant is a bargain between parties, and God says in this quotation that he will make a bargain with all Israel, (when the fullness of the Gentiles be come in,) and take away their sins, and save them. And that this bargain shall be made with them through the agency of the Deliverer coming out of Zion. But who, or what, is this Deliverer? I answer, it is the Priesthood, and authority of Jesus Christ conferred upon the officers of the Church or Kingdom of God in the last days; these are the fishers who are to fish the children of Israel from among the gentiles; these are the hunters who are to hunt them from every mountain and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks; and these are the men who have escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust, and God will send them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, and to the Isles afar off; that have not heard of his fame, neither seen his glory; and they shall declare his glory among the gentiles. And then after having turned away ungodliness from Jacob by receiving them into covenant with the Lord, and adopting them into his Kingdom, they will bring all the children of Israel for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts unto their own land. And all these things will they do by virtue of the authority of the priesthood of Jesus Christ, conferred on them for this very purpose. And this is the Deliverer come out of Zion to turn away ungodliness from Jacob; and this is to take place when the fullness of the gentiles be come in. But how shall we know when their fullness has come in? The savior has told us in the 21st chapt. of Luke, after speaking of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, and of the events and signs which were to precede it, he says, "And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the gentiles, until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled." Now, from this we learn, that when the times of the gentiles is fulfilled; (or the fullness of the gentiles is come in, which are synonymous in their meaning,) Jerusalem will no longer be trodden down of the gentiles. But the Saviour proceeds and speaks of other signs, by which all men might know when these things were about to take place. He says, "And there shall be signs in the Sun and in the Moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth, distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring, men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory; and when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable, "Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees, when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away till all be finished." But what generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled? I answer. The generation of which he was then speaking -- the generation that should see the things begin to come to pass, of which he had just been speaking -- the generation that shall see the signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, should not pass away till all should be fulfilled. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away." Now, the Saviour has told us in the above quotation, that when we see the signs spoken of above, viz: signs in the sun, moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity, the sea and waves roaring, men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, together with Jerusalem no longer trodden down of the gentiles, but the Jews returning there and rebuilding their city upon her own heap. When we see these things come to pass, we may know that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand, with as much certainty as we know that summer is nigh when we see the trees begin to leaf out. But what is the kingdom of God? I answer It is God's organized government on earth. Now, this kingdom was given to Israel in the days of Moses. See Exodus 19th chapt. 6th verse. And it continued with the Jewish nation until Christ, but they did not bring forth the fruits; therefore it could not be called the kingdom of Heaven while it remained with them; but it was the kingdom of God for it was his organized government. Now, John preached to the Jews, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." That is, the spiritual and heavenly part of the kingdom of God, is at hand; therefore, repent, that ye may receive it. The Saviour preached the same, and he sent out his disciples and commanded them to preach the same also; saying, repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. But they would not repent. Jesus, therefore, after putting forth a parable to them, representing that they had possessed the kingdom for a long time, as a nation, and God had sent prophets to them, calling upon them to repent and bring forth the fruits of the kingdom, but they had stoned and killed them all, and at last God sent his Son, and they sought his life. Therefore, says Christ, "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." See Math. 21st chapt. 43rd verse. The kingdom of God was then taken from the Jews and given to the gentiles, and they not only received it, but for a while brought forth the fruit. Now, the fruit of this kingdom was the signs Jesus said should follow them that believe. Mark 16th chapt. 17th and 18th verses. And the spiritual gifts spoken of in 1st Corinthians 12th chapt. But finally, they not only ceased to bring forth the fruits, but also destroyed the organization of the kingdom by killing the officers, transgressing the laws and changing the ordinances; and then the kingdom of God ceased to exist on the earth. The gentiles however, organized a new kingdom, commissioned new officers, and made new laws, and instituted new ordinances; and this they called the kingdom of God. But it never produced any of the fruit of the kingdom of God, neither did it ever have any of the officers of the kingdom of God. Now, the officers of the kingdom of God are as follows, viz: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, all commissioned of Jesus Christ, the king of this kingdom, and inspired by the Holy Ghost. The laws of this kingdom are whatsoever Christ the king commands. The ordinances are baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost. See |