| 1084 justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Noah was a preacher of righteousness, and, of course, must have understood what was necessary to save souls. Nor is it less a matter of fact that "righteous Abel," had and practiced the same glorious knowledge. What a singular figure many of this generation cut, with all their boasted light and intelligence, in inquiring into the ancient modes of worship and discussing and doing away, or "changing the ordinances," in order to show the people of these last days how wise, gracious and self saving they are?
Besides repentance, baptism, reception of the Holy Ghost, and many other essentials, the UNION of male and female, both temporal and spiritual, is of as much importance before God as all the rest; for the man is not without the woman, neither is the woman without the man in the Lord. And again what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder, for the especial reason, that all contracts for time and eternity, have to be made while we sojourn in the flesh: "In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but the great lineage, through the priesthood, and the everlasting Covenant sealed on earth, and sealed in heaven, continues throughout generations.
Another important point which the Gentile world, have reduced to a practice beyond the Lord's wisdom, is the disconnection of kindred. This has been done from the rules or statutes which governed Israel after they had rejected the gospel, which was broken upon the stone tables: and as we are afterwards informed, the Lord gave them statutes not good. All right; the law was added because of transgression.
Who does not know that Abel, Noah and Abraham, were as well qualified to teach the gospel, and the true principles of salvation, both temporal and spiritual, as Moses, Elijah, or Paul? Who does not know that Noah's children, saved in the Ark, had to marry their own kindred: And who does not know that Adam's children, brothers and sisters, were joined in holy matrimony, as well as their Father and Mother, who was "bone of my bone!"
Now, to do the Almighty justice, we suppose that he was just as wise in the beginning, or in the days of the flood, as in the days of Israel, or the apostles, and should the "great restitution of all thing spoken of by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began," begin to be realized before this generation ends, who will deny the right of God to fulfil [fulfill] his own words?
As to the cogitations of M. M. Noah, and ten thousand more, they are as the drop of the bucket; not one rises up and brings forth his strong reasons, to show that God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, and that his celestial laws are eternal.
SUNDAY IN MEXICO.
The day of all others sacred to devotion among a civilized people, is a day of unusual festivity in Mexico. It would seem that every other day in the week is passed in listlessness and indifference; but all that is gay, animated, and amusing, is reserved for Sunday. A correspondent of the New Orleans Tropic, after noticing the crowds of beauty and fashion which throng the cathedral to morning mass, describes the gay scene when the mass is over. All, says he is bustle and animation. At a corner of the great square are suspended large placards on which the nature of the day's amusement is depicted in every variety of color. Here is a pictorial illustration of the most prominent attractions at the great theatre [theater], which, in common with all the rest, is open twice on this day. A little further on is a full length figure of Figaro, which draws your attention to the fascinating allurements of the opera. The bull fights next solicit your notice, announcing the most terrific particulars. Nor are the minor theatres [theaters] behind hand in presenting their attractions. Endless varieties of other exhibitions put forth their claims. A balloon ascension is advertised for the afternoon. One would suppose, too, that the old Roman gladiatorial shows were revived; for at one spectacle is a contest between a man and a beast. Cock fights, dog fights and fandangos are announced in every quarter of the city. Horse-racing, the circus, jugglers, posture-masters, tumblers, fire-eaters, monstrosities, concerts, cafe gardens, fencing matches, pigeon shooting, gymnastic exercises, country excursions, and balls graduated to every pocket, form but a fraction of the entertainment to which this day is devoted. In the afternoon the public promenades are thronged and the long array of equipages, with the rich and gay dresses of the senoras, is calculated to convey an imposing impression of the wealth and luxury of the city. In the evening the theatre [theater] presents a spectacle which probably few theatres [theaters] in the world can parallel. The beauty, elegance, wealth and luxury of Mexico seems concentrated in one brilliant focus. The finale of the day is generally wound up by a splendid display of fire-works; and thus concludes a Mexican Sunday, and in no other part of the world, probably, is a Sunday so spent-not even in Italy.-Sunday Times.
(->) Let me ask how much worse the citizens of Mexico act than the citizens of New York,
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