be ruled and governed; and this he did, by his exemplary life and doctrine. And, having passed through the world, and lived such a life as was in all points acceptable to God, he received that power and authority, as the Head and Ruler of the human race, by which he could righteously demand their subjection, convince them of the evil nature of sin, and justly dispense rewards and punishments, according to their obedience or disobedience.

III. 1. The law and government which Christ established in his first appearing, did not so immediately and extensively respect this present world, as it did the world of spirits. Yet, before he could extend his kingdom to, and establish his power and authority in, the spiritual world, it was necessary that he should first pass through the present outward world, and experience a feeling of all the trials that ever had been experienced by those over whom he was appointed Ruler, that he might open Heb. ii. 11, the way for them to enjoy with Him, an inheritance in the heavenly kingdom, of which he was the first-born. Hence he said to his disciples, I go to prepare a place for you; which implied that his law, and the order of his government, were not yet established in the world of spirits.

13.

2. It was also necessary that Christ should open, in the present world, such a measure of the nature and order of his government, and the rudimental laws of his kingdom, as should subserve his future purpose, when mankind in the earthly stage of existence in his second appearing, should become the more immediate objects of his labor. Hence his parable of a man See Luke, going into a far country to receive a kingdom, and to return; and giving to each of his servants a certain sum, according to their several abilities, saying, Occupy till I come.

xix. 13.

Rev. xviii. 2.

IV. 1. During the time of this preparatory work of Jesus Christ, in establishing his law and order in the spiritual world, this earth was a seat of the most perfect confusion, injustice, deception and cruelty; which was properly the period of antichrist's reign and dominion. And, indeed, that corrupt hierarchy called the Church, which pretended to have the power of salvation, and assumed all the authority of Christ on earth, was, in reality, "the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." And such extravagant superstitions prevailed, during this period, (as through the invisible operations of God's Providence,) have become objects of just contempt to the enlightened part of mankind.

2. We have endeavored to state with satisfactory clearness, the origin and progress of that system of iniquity, under the reign of antichrist, which, after the decline and final apostasy of the primitive Church, became predominant, and, under the false profession of Christianity perverted all Christendom; and, for

many "dark ages," filled the world with bitter animosities, strifes, confusion, tyranny and blood.

V. 1. Our aim has been, to show that, during that whole deplorable reign of apostasy and false dominion, there neither was, nor could possibly exist, the true Church of Christ upon earth. No personal opposition to any particular sect or denomination, is in the least intended.

2. During the "dark ages," among the Catholics, and afterwards among the various divisions of Protestants, there have been many noble and sincere souls, who have groaned under the oppression of the prevailing iniquities of their times, and who have labored, according to their best light and power, to uphold virtue, and to work "righteousness in the earth;" and such will in nowise lose their reward from the righteous "Judge of all."

VI. 1. As Christ did actually go to prepare a place, and to receive a kingdom, and promised to return, and establish his law of righteousness and order on this earth; so his promise is actually fulfilling; and the most striking evidence in this latter day, that he has gained the kingdom, and begun to set it up on earth, is the manifest change in civil government, and that spirit of toleration and liberty in matters of religion, which began to take place about the close of the seventeenth century.

2. This work of toleration and liberty was directed in the order of Divine Providence, and gradually increased, until liberty of conscience, and the rights of man, were permanently established, by the liberal, national and state constitutions of these United States of America,

1

3. Thus, by the immediate Providence of God, the way was prepared for the everlasting Gospel to be preached, which has been received by many; and "the kingdom of the saints of the Most High;" so long predicted, has been gradually rising, until it is permanently established in this favored land.

4. Therefore, for the sake of candid inquirers after truth, and especially those who are looking for that work of full, salvation which God promised to accomplish in the latter days, and who have not the opportunity of obtaining personal information, we shall consider the various operations of the work of God, in its progressive stages, or degrees, both providential and spiritual, from the first creation of man in relation to this important event: and "let him that readeth understand."

5. By an attentive review of the Scriptures, as well as the general history of the world, it is evident, that the whole manifestation of the work of God, from "the beginning," has been displayed in Four general Dispensations of Divine Providence and Grace, successively brought forth in various eras and orders, each progressively rising into higher and higher degrees of greater and increasing perfection.

6. All these Dispensations and degrees of development and growth of order, as planned in Divine wisdom, are now ultimately perfecting in the present Dispensation of Christ's Second Appearing, which is the Fourth and last; and in which the waters of life and salvation will become an impassable river, as shown to the Prophet in his vision of the holy waters: these, after four successive measures, each rising higher and higher upon man, xlvii. 1-12. became "a river that could not be passed over."

See Ezek.

ii. 15, 17.

7. Thus will it be in the work of this Dispensation: all souls will have to swim in the waters of spiritual life, clear of all attractions from the corrupt earthly nature, or be borne down by them See 1 John, and sink to destruction with the world. But, if they swim clear of the attractions of the world, by stripping off all its corrupt weights and the defiled clothing of nature, the holy waters will waft them to the HEAVENLY LAND OF ETERNAL LIFE. For in the manifestations of this "great and last day of God Almighty," the work of God will be consummated to the human race; as it is written, "In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God will be finished." Each of the aforesaid "days" doubtless signifies a new era of increase in the manifestations of God's work, before the present Dispensation is completed.

See Rev. xvi. 14.

Rev. x. 7.

See Dan.

xii. 7-13, &

I Pet. iv. 7; also Jude, v. 6.

8. Therefore this Dispensation is ushered in and brought forth, by the voices and conjunctive powers of the seventh trumpet. This is the final work, and brings "the time of the end," foretold to the Prophet. Daniel, which will decide the destiny of all things, and the ultimate lot of all souls and spirits. For these reasons, the present volume is illustrated according to the respective orders of the aforesaid Four great disPENSATIONS.

THE TESTIMONY

OF

CHRIST'S SECOND APPEARING.

BOOK I.

THE PATRIARCHAL DISPENSATION.

THE STATE OF MAN FROM HIS FIRST CREATION UNTIL CHRIST.

CHAPTER I.

THE ORDER OF THE VISIBLE CREATION.

In all the works of God throughout the order of the visible CHAP. I. creation, there is an evident relation of one thing to another, as the effect is related to its cause; and we may every where see one thing springing out of another, and progressing on to still higher degrees of perfection.

2. This is manifest, not only in the works of nature, but of art; and upon this principle, the new is granted to be superior to the old, inasmuch as it contains all the useful properties of the old with additional increase.

3. It is not, however, our design to reason on the works of nature or of art, any further than as they serve to illustrate the things of eternal duration. It belongs more properly to men of natural wisdom, to search out the properties and progress of that creation, of which they are a part.

4. But, as God promised to create new heavens, and a new earth, wherein should dwell righteousness, and as the new creation stands in a certain sense related to the old, being formed out of it; therefore, the children of God are not immediately

CHAP. I. created in that character, but have first a certain relation to the chil iren of men, until by the spirit and power of Christ, in the fulfilment of the promise pertaining to the new creation, they arise out of the old, in a gradual increase, to higher degrees of perfection.

5. Man, in his natural creation, was designed for a higher purpose than merely to fill up the momentary scenes of the present life. An evidence of this truth is implanted in the breast of every individual possessed of common rationality.

6. The immortality of the soul, and a future state of existence, is a sentiment that requires no other argument for its establishment than the hopes and prospects of every rational mind.

7. Hence it is, that natural death, or the departing out of the active scenes of this world, is, of all objects the most frightful, inasmuch as it appears to put an end to man's existence, and is the strongest argument against the immortality of his present state of being.

8. On the other hand, nothing is so productive of joy and triumph, as those sensible manifestations from a world of spirits, which at times operate in the mind of man, and promise a durable felicity in a future state of existence.

9. Had man even continued in the order in which he was at first created, he could never have been established in any precise measure of that order, because the very order itself was changeable, and he must of necessity advance to some higher order, or sink into an inferior state; much less could his natural creation be supposed to stand in the highest degree of perfection when he had fallen from God into a state of sin and misery.

10. Eternal life was but an object of hope to man in his highest state of innocence; for if he had possessed eternal life, he must have been eternally out of the reach of death; but his being subject to fall into a state of death, was an evidence that he was only as yet, in a state of probation, and of course, that the whole creation of man was unfinished, and had not yet progressed to the ultimate end for which it was created.

11. When God promised to create another heaven and earth at some future period, saying, "Behold I create new heavens, and a new earth;" and when the Apostle said, "We according to his promise, look for new heavens, and a new carth, wherein dwelleth righteousness; it is evident that this new heaven and earth spoken of in different ages, was something yet to be created, therefore none could possibly reach it, but through those revolutions which should lead to that period.

12. It is certain that the matter which composed the body of man, existed before the human body was formed; and that matter was incapable of comprehending its intermediate state, before it was organized into human form.