| 1004 what God has done, in times and seasons gone by. Inasmuch as they have slain the prophets of the Lord, the very destiny of this nation is given into their hands. Carthage jail presents a scene of blood, and that blood has not been avenged; and when the time can come, and when it can be ordered in wisdom in the heavenly council, the scourge shall come. And when you see these things come to pass, then rejoice and be exceeding glad. We will rejoice, because our redemption draweth near.-We will look on the scene with joy, while the wicked fear and tremble. All these things are working for our good, while our enemies are saying, we have made lies our refuge, and we will kill the prophets, for the people are fond of this deed, and we will say to the people sware [swear] so and so, and if it goes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. AH! but He that sitteth in the heavens, is manufacturing something for you all this time. And these men that have been martyred by you they have a voice in the heavenly council to say how, and what things shall be done; for he that overcometh, to him will I give power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron. As the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers.
What have the saints of God to do? have they to stand still? No; we have not to stand still? We have to build the house of the Lord, and do all things enjoined upon us by his commandments, and when we have done all things here on the earth, we will stand still, and see the salvation of God. And when he that sitteth in yonder council shall send forth the proclamation to reap down the wicked, and the destroying angels shall commence the work of destruction, it will be done in a way that just leaves a door sufficiently wide for our escape, while the ungodly are left to fight and kill one another. Thus, the wicked are the instruments of their own overthrow. God also uses them sometimes as a scourge for his people. And when he has used it sufficiently, he will take that scourge and burn it up. But he will use it until he has brought his people to their proper bearing; after which he has no more use for his scourge.
Hear then! all people, in one sense are doing the will of God; and you know it is declared by a legal gentleman out here, (and they never tell a lie; what a lawyer has said must be lawful, it cannot be treason for saying what a lawyer said,) and that is: "The voice of the people is, the voice of God."
Is that a true doctrine? If it is not a lawyer said so. Well, let us examine and see whether the voice of the people is the voice of God.
Don't you know the people once said let his blood be on us and on our children." It was a righteous deed, the putting of the Savior to death. It was the voice of the people he should suffer. Was it the voice of God that his blood should be required of that people, and be upon their heads, according to their voice? Let his blood be upon us and our children! The innoceut [innocent] blood that stained their hands, rendered them worthy to be cursed almost to the latest generation. It was the will of God his blood should be upon them. It was not the voice of a few individuals: it was the voice of all; the whole nation sanctioned the deed. Very well, says God, let it come; you are all guilty; let his blood be upon you and on your children.-Had they taken a few individuals and executed them for killing the Savior, they would not have made the plaster as big as the sore. It was upon the whole nation; and they were inspired by the spirit of God to say "his blood be upon us and on our children." Amen, says Jehovah, you are all alike worthy.
Here is a sample of what follows; for if they have killed the master of the house, they will do the same to his household; and if they have treated him thus, the nation will follow a similar course. We see the same spirit manifested in the late trial at Carthage. Says one of the lawyers, whether they are guilty or innocent, I am not prepared to say; but if they are guilty we are guilty, and if you hang them, you may as well hang this honorable council. Jehovah says so too. We all want a hand in this matter, and if one is punished we will all be punished; and if you let one go free, we will all go free. Well, says Jehovah, I will give you the desire of your heart. let not these men be punished, but let them go clear, and when he causeth his vengeance to be poured out, he will visit them all alike, for they are all alike guilty: Amen, says Jehovah, I will fulfil [fulfill] and execute the judgment.
Here stands the matter. Thus you see, all things work together for good to them that love God, and are called according to his purpose.
These creatures are afraid they will be assassinated: fear always steps in after a guilty conscience, but it would be no gratification to me to go and kill this man or that man, or of only singling out one or two; I feel as I do with my plants in spring. When they are dry I put on some water; but it is a slow business, and the water is either too cold or too hot; and all the water I put on, don't seem to do them much good, any how. I then begin to want water from the heavens; water that is tempered right and will water them all at once: so I might go, and try to kill this man or that man, but the
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