II. Concerning the Decrees of God, Election and Reprobation,... 111 III. The Creation and Order of the Natural World, a figure of IV. The Established Order of Times and Seasons in the Natural I. The cause, nature and effects of Man's loss from God,... II. Objections against the preceding doctrines stated and answer- III. The subject continued, in which further Objections are stated and answered, and the doctrine of Continence and Celibacy IV. The figurative import of Circumcision, and other Ceremonies V. A few remarks on the nature and typical design of the Jewish The falling away of the Primitive Church; the Reign of Antichrist, and progressive rise of the Witnesses of Truth; also the increasing nature of the Work of God, manifested by Divine Revelation. I. The declension of the Primitive Church, and the progressive II. The period of the Reign of Antichrist and its effects, illustra- ted by the concurrence of Ecclesiastical History, and proved by the prophetic times of the Prophet Daniel,.. III. The Rise and Progress of the Witnesses of Truth, that prophe- cied during the long night of Antichristian darkness, toge- ther with a brief calculation of Prophetic Scriptures, allud- ing to these periods, and to the events,. IV. A brief illustration of the Four General Dispensations of Di- vine Providence and Grace to Man, as pointed out by the Prophet Ezekiel's Vision of the Holy Waters; Chap. xlvii. V. A brief illustration of the necessity of Divine Revelation, that Chap. Page. This Illustrated by various Similitudes, which also point 245 ERRATA. Page 40. Paragraph 37, second line from bottom; after you. add It. In third line of note; north-easterly should be south-easterly. Reference should be Mat. xxiii. 84. 96. "100. Third line from bottom; fountains should be foundations. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: COMPRISING A SHORT REVIEW OF THE FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITIES. 1. THE present age of the world is an age of wonders. The most extraordinary changes, revolutions and remarkable events are rapidly rolling on, through the physical, political, moral and religious world, that were ever known on earth. These premises, we believe, will generally be admitted. It appears to be the prevailing sentiment and expectation among nearly all ranks and orders of people, that something wonderful is about to take place; that there will be such a revolution of public sentiment, and such a reformation will be effected in the various branches of human economy as never has been exhibited in the world since the creation of man. 2. These expectations are evidently effected by the operations of Divine Providence upon the hearts of the people, and are manifestly the precursors and signals of coming events. These events can be truly understood in no other light than as allusions to the period of Christ's second coming. The general expectations of the near approach of a Divine Ruler and Teacher called the Messiah, which prevailed among the Jews, and more or less among other nations, about the time that Jesus Christ came into the world, were also the effects of the same overruling Providence. These two events are the most important to mankind of any that have ever taken place on earth; and will yet appear so to all people, whether they believe it or not. 3. The events relating to Christ's second appearance, of which we are more particularly to treat in this volume, are rapidly progressing towards their accomplishment, in many and various ways. But among all the hopeful expectations, labors and desires of mankind, in the present age, none appear more evident than those which lead to the formation of associations in which all the members can enjoy equal rights and privileges, physical and moral, both of a spiritual and temporal nature, in a united capacity. Many have become fully convinced that this is the ultimate destiny of mankind, and that they never can enjoy that happiness for which their Creator designed them, in any other way than in such united capacity. This is true; but this united capacity must be built on the true foundation, which is nothing less than divine revelation, or it cannot stand. 4. Some of the greatest pursuits of the age appear to be directed to these communities. They have their combined associations for almost every kind of improvement, whether of a religious, moral or physical nature. Yet to attain this desirable object, and support it in its true order, they have not the power; in this they are greatly deficient. The great inequality of rights and privileges which prevails so extensively throughout the world, is a striking evidence of the importance of a reformation of some kind. Who can view the unequal state of human society, the overgrown wealth of the few, and the abject poverty of the many, and not be convinced of this? Surely it is too obvious to escape the notice of any rational mind. 5. To see the luxurious state of the pampered rich, the oppression and destitution of the poor, who are perishing by thousands, yea, hundreds of thousands, for the want of the necessaries of life; and the consequent bitter animosities and increasing collisions between the rich and the poor, must suggest to every benevolent mind the indispensable necessity of some system of operation among men, that will confer a much greater equality of rights and privileges, both in person and property, than any which now prevails, in order to prevent mankind from rushing on to utter ruin. 6. Multitudes of people have been so firmly persuaded of the utility and practicability of such a system, that they have attempted to form communities upon the plan of equal rights and privileges, with a unity of interest in all things, believing that it is the design of the benevolent Creator that man should be a social and benevolent being; that their joys and sorrows, as fellow beings, may be shared together. These sentiments are evidently the impressions of Divine Goodness, and clearly show his benevolent designs for his creature man, who is his intelligent representative in this lower world. This was prefigured under the law, when Divine Providence |