| 607 TIMES AND SEASONS.
"TRUTH WILL PREVAIL."
Vol. 3. No. 3. ] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. DEC. 1, 1841. [Whole No. 39
TIMES AND SEASONS.
CITY OF NAUVOO,
WEDNESDAY DEC. 1, 1841.
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Post-Master General.
From the Gospel Reflector.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM.
Perhaps there is no portion of the sacred volume that has been an imaginary foundation for more wild, speculative, and enthusiastic notions, that Nebuchadnezzar's dream, recorded in the ii. chapter of the prophecy or vision of Daniel. But in our humble opinion there is no portion of the inspired writings more plain, positive, and explicit, than the above dream, and Daniel's interpretation of the same. However, we shall investigate the subject without much regard to the speculative notions of men. We have ever noticed in most of writings upon this subject, the evincement of an intense desire to support a party at all hazards. We have also discovered the foul practice of the divines, and commentators upon the sacred scriptures, of taking the advantage of the credulous community by handling the word of God deceitfully; spiritualizing such parts as do not, in their most literal sense, suit their purpose; but literalizing other parts that they can use to advantage without spiritualizing. We consider this a productive scheme for the propagation of sectarian principles; but an abominable one in the sight of God. Daniel in the exposition or interpretation of this dream is so plain, and definite in the fixing of times and dates, that there never has been any cause for one word of division whatever: and we trust that the sequel of the subject will disclose to every honest inquirer after truth, the fact that the dream reaches down to a generation as late as the one now on the stage of action and that it immediately concerns all nations.
In this dream and the interpretation of the same, we not only discover the wisdom of God in disclosing the history of future ages; but his willingness to uphold his people in time of trouble, and adversity. It is also manifest that with all Nebuchadnezzar's glory, and his faith in the mythological works of the Babylonians, and also the high pretentions [pretensions] of the magicians, wise men, to the supernatural power of divination, there was doubt on his mind, and he questioned the competency of the magicians to interpret dreams correctly. Hence he issues the proclamation that the magicians, and wise men, should tell him the dream, which should be an evidence to him that they were capable to make known the true interpretation. This proclamation was of such a nature, that honor and promotion, was promised on condition they could make known the dream; but immediate death if they failed doing it. Daniel and his brethren were soon ranked with the wise men of Babylon: "And they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain." We cannot help but remark here, that had it been a decree for their promotion only; they perhaps would have disdained the idea that Daniel and his fellows, who were poor captives of the tribe of Judah, being wise men; but in the time of adversity, and the severity of a decree, they were willing that others should be ranked with themselves. But when human wisdom was exhausted, and the magicians completely panic-struck in consequence of the severity of the decree, the Lord as usual showed himself to be a revealer of secrets-a protector of the righteous-a God at hand and not afar off. This revelation was a source of consolation to Daniel, and his brethren: for it saved them from being sacrificed to appease the wrath of the king; and the effect produced was the revocation of the impious decree. But to hasten.
Nebuchadnezzar after he had subdued many of the nations of the Old world, and greatly improved the beauty, and magnificence of the city of Babylon, began no doubt to reflect upon futurity, and as the mind of man is never dormant,
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