| 137 Perhaps some may think that the above is an overstrained picture, but we think not; and let those who think differently examine the subject, and they will find that none of the above mentioned things, which constituted the beauty and glory of the christian church, are now to be found: no apostles, no prophets, no pastors, teachers, or evangelists, that even profess to be inspired; no gifts of healing, no tongues, or interpretations; no visions, no revelations, or ministering of angels; but all they now possess, as a substitute, is, the dogmas of men, the wild theories of theologians, and the opinion of divines; all doubt, and uncertainty; without the least particle of a knowledge of God, the order of his church, or his will concerning them.
If we turn our attention from the religious world to that of the infidel, we shall find a body of men vainly striving to find happiness in created good, in morality and in social society; but without a knowledge of God. Turn we our attention for a moment to Fourierism, which however laudable in its attempts to ameliorate the condition of man, and out of the broken chaotic, disorered [disordered] mass of societiy [society] that now exists, bring about a social order which shall promote universal peace and happiness; it must fail in its attempts; it has no other religion than that which is above described; it has not the materials to construct such an edifice as it contemplates; and science without God will never make men permanently happy.
What a deplorable aspect the world of mankind presents at the present time, especially on our continent, torn to pieces with dissensions about religion and politics, tossed on the billows of uncertainty, both religiously and politically, men scarcely know which way to steer to shun the various rocks that threaten destruction on every hand.
With several hundred different religions, all clashing and in commotion, the speculative theories of Miller, with his wild enthusiasm;-the deceptive pretensions of Mesmerism; the poison of Infidelity; the plans of Fourier, and the ten thousand other notions that are deluging the earth, and cracking the human brain, render it indeed necessary that God should again speak and point out the way of salvation and happiness with certainty, to the human family and bid 'dire commotion cease.'
With this state of things, shall we glory in our religion, and say that we are living in the 'blaze of gospel day?' Vain pretension! Idle boast! Let us rather hide our heads in shame, and 'stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein;' then should we indeed find rest to our souls. Jer., vi. 17.
If we turn our attention to the ancients, we shall find that their religion was founded upon a very different basis. If they worshipped God, it was because they were instructed by him to do so-if they kept any law, or observed an ordinances, it was because the Lord commanded them to do it; their religion was taught them by the Lord, and if they possessed any knowledge of God, any wisdom or intelligence, if they were made acquainted with his purposes and designs, it was through revelation; and if God had not unveiled himself to them, they must have remained eternally in the dark, and ignorant of the principles of truth. Under the tuition of Jehovah, they were taught the truths of heaven, unadulterated by the foolish dogmas of men, or the corrupting influences of priestcraft. Thus being taught of God, and amenable to him for their conduct; and their teaching being the teaching of heaven and proceeding from God, their adherence to his precepts was their eternal salvation. They knew no other guide, and following his directions, they were safe.
What a contrast there is between ancient and modern religion. Men boast of their religion, of their intelligence, of their knowledge of God, and of his will and purposes, and he has never spoken to them, nor given a revelation for eighteen hundred years, and they believe he never will do again. While Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and the prophets, walked with God, had the ministering of angels, the visions of heaven unfolded, and the purposes of God developed; saw and conversed with Jehovah, gazed on the glories of the eternal world, and wrote the prophesied of events that should transpire through all succeeding ages. If this generation possess any knowledge of God, they obtained it through what the ancients have written and spoken; and yet our modern religionists profess to be wise, enlightened and intelligent; and think that the ancients were in the dark. O consistency, whither hast thou fled!
We must necessarily conclude from the above that 'every good and perfect gift proceeds from the Father of Lights,' through the medium of revelation, and if we cannot obtain revelations from him, we must remain eternally in the dark, in regard to true religion, God, angles, heaven, hell, the purposes of Jehovah, or any thing connected with salvation; and instead of obtaining true intelligence from God, shall be obliged to wander in the uncertain mazes of sectarianism, and of false religion and philosophy; ignorant of God, and of the plan of salvation,
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