| 39 according to his abilities, than he would require of others, who were to inherit the same glory. The Lord has said of his children in our day, "They must needs be chastened, and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son; for all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified." And this agrees with the Bible, Heb. 2nd chap. 10th verse. "For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.-"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all one." Also the 5th chap. 8 and 9th verses, "Though he were a son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Also, from the 19th chap., "My son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons."-Admitting that the apostle has told us the truth in the above extract, I ask what portion of the religious world, at the present day are entitled to the appellation of sons? And also what proportion must come under the head of bastards? I would also ask, do bastards become heirs; or are they not generally despised and cast off? These questions I leave you to answer for yourself.
But for one I am free to say, I am convinced that a great majority of the professors of religion are not sons of God, nor heirs of a celestial glory, but are bastards & as such will receive their reward whether it be good or evil. I do not say this because, I wish to hurt any person's feelings, but rather that I might stimulate my fellow travelers to eternity, to examine the subject more fully than they have heretofore. I feel sorry for them, and pity them, because I believe many of them are honest, and verily think that they are sons and heirs of God, but are blinded by the cunning craftiness of men., and the traditions of their fathers.
Oh! that those chains of tradition and superstition, that bind so many of the human family, might be broken, and their minds set at liberty; that they may expand as broad as eternity, and as high as the throne of God, that they may increase in wisdom and knowledge, until they can comprehend the vast creations of God: even until they can see as they are seen, and know as they known.
Detroit City, Sept. 18, 1839. TO THE PUBLISHERS OF THE TIMES AND SEASONS.
I hereby transmit to you a short account of my labours [labors] in the State of Michigan this season; myself in conjunction with other elders have preached much in parts of Wayne, Washtenaw, Lenawee, Oakland and Lapeer counties, I have been present and assisied [assisted] in ordaining proper officers, and organizing thereby the following branches; viz: one at Macon, Lenawee County two in Wayne County, in the towns of Livonia and Van Buren and one in Lapeer, Lapeer county, the branches now contain about 60 members among whom we have ordained 5 elders, 4 priests, I have laboured [labored] for the most part with Elder A. Blanchard and may God bless our testimony unto those who have heard and not as yet obeyed, may it be found to have produced fruit after many days. Man being by nature always the same, and we having examples of what hath been done in times past, may calculate on the present, and future; therefore while a few have believed the gospel, loved God and obeyed him, many have believed, loved the world and neglected so great a salvation, and perhaps may stand still, for fear the work of God will come to naught, till the angel of death shall seal them his.
And many have disbelieved the gospel altogether; some few in Plymouth Wayne county, go so far as to disturb public worship, with drums, fifes, horns, bells, ridiculous gestures and horrid yells, and some of them too, professing Godliness, and others whose parents profess to bring up their soes [sons] in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and have them initiated in their infancy. In Lapeer village, some went
(page 39) |
