| 1002 the means they would employ, to sustain themselves. He saw they would enter into a covenant with the forces of the internal ones, to sustain them in their deeds of blood and destruction. But says the prophet, notwithstanding this, your agreement with hell shall not stand, and your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and every band shall be broken, and every cord shall be loosed, and while you are preparing these things to hedge up the way of the saints, He that sitteth in the heavens, and works the wires behind the curtain, shall laugh; and He that is invisible, shall have them in derision, whose movements are to ensnare, and seek to overthrow the people of God.
So long then as the saints have to maintain the law of the Most High God, and make it honorable, there is no power that can successfully oppose. There is no power that can bring us down, if we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets; for if we are magnifying the law, and making it honorable, as soon might they dethrone Jehovah, as to prostrate the saints, or blast our peace, or drive us from the course we have started in.
As God has given as a commandment to rear a temple to the honor of his name, this ought to be the leading subject before the people.-In it we ought to engross our attention; for upon a faithful observance of that command, is suspended great blessings. If we relax our exertions to complete that work, what claim have we to the blessings that are promised to be given within the walls of that structure? It is there we shall receive qualifications to stand in the presence of Jehovah.
I would have you remember, dear brethren and sisters, that we are at the present time-what shall I say? what name shall we receive at this time? We read in the revelations of John, that "they sung in heaven, thou are worthy; thou has redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and has made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth."
We are kings and priests, then, to reign on the earth; but we are not qualified yet to bear rule upon the earth, until the principle of power has been imparted unto us. Certain exalted principles, by which we can receive all that God is pleased to bestow; by which we can receive every principle of power; (and knowledge is power;) and when we have received of this knowledge, we are then prepared to bear rule and to be kings and priests to the Most High God.
I have reflected and considered how, and in what way Jehovah is to clear the way among the nations for the establishments of his kingdom. God has declared that his kingdom shall come, and his will shall be done on earth as it is done in heaven: do we suppose that in heaven there are different laws and different regulations, as the kingdoms of this world are?
Here is the United States; there are in the Old World, England, France, Spain, Portugal and in fact all the governments that are upon the face of the earth; are different in their forms of government one from another; there is no grade of similitude between them. But we are told that the kingdom of God shall come, and his will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven; and old Daniel has predicted that the kingdom of God would break in pieces and subdue all the kingdoms of this world; and they shall become as the chaff of the summer threshing floor. Well, now then we soe [see] the Bible points out a time when not only the religions of the earth, but when kingly governments also should be destroyed.
Is not the Bible one of the most treasonable books ever introduced among mortals? it lays the axe at the root of every earthly government. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, at one sweep are laid prostrate in the dust, and by the grand design of heaven. What a treasonable character is Jehovah? why set out and wage war against the great God for such kind of language in his book.
You say your kingdom shall break in pieces, and subdue all other kingdoms; these things are very treasonable, and I think his people are very much inclined to be something like him. It is natural, you know, for the son to be like the father, and that the spirit of the eternal God, should enter the bosom of his servants and dwell there. But if the spirit should enter into the heart of such a man as Old Tom Sharp of Warsaw, it would flee therefrom as from the midst of the fire. Why: because it is the wrong place for it; but the spirit of God will enter into the hearts of his servants, and inspire them with the same principles of truth, and prompt them to accomplish what is the mind of their heavenly father.
Is God going to make use of his servants to carry into execution his purposes and designs? will God take his servants and break in pieces all these kingdoms that Daniel saw, and by their hands establish his own? Here is a matter that arouses the jealousies of this generation. Yea, it arouses the jealousy of all men.
I had a dream. I dreamt I saw a small barque on the bosom of the mighty deep; it was sometimes upon the wave, and sometimes the
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