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PART VII.

THE FAITH AND PRINCIPLES OF THE NEW CREATION.

CHAPTER I.

The twelve Foundations of the law of Christ, exemplified in the twelve Christian virtues.

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1. THE great principles of the gospel revived and brought to light by Mother Ann, and the succeeding Witnesses, comprise the whole law of Christ, manifested in this day of his second appearing. The true nature and character of God can be known only in his Divine Attributes, which are the seven Spirits of God, represented to John by the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne." These seven Spirits are the only true source of all divine light, knowledge and truth, and the only real foundation of all the works of God revealed to man; and these are manifested in Christ the Lamb of God. By the operation of these seven Spirits, through Christ, the foundation, increase, order, beauty and glory of the new creation is formed, brought forth, and manifested to and in man. This brings to light the holy city, New Jerusalem.

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2. "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down "from God out of Heaven, having the glory of God: and her "light was like unto a stone most precious.' Herein is represented the true work and glory of God, proceeding from those divine lamps, or seven Spirits of God: and by these the glory of God is brought to light, and his spiritual work made manifest to man.

3. "And he that sat upon the throne, said, Behold, I make all things new."t It is by the operation of his Divine Attributes, through Christ, that he creates all things new, and establishes the church of the latter day in all its order and glory. The order of the church on earth, proceeds immediately from that which is in Heaven. Indeed the true church of God on earth, is one with that which is in Heaven; and all who are in truth, united to that which is on earth, are also united to that which is in Heaven. This is agreeable to the declaration of the apostle to the Hebrews; “Ye are come unto Mount "Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem." 4. And of the holy city it is said, "The glory of God did lighten

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it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." The seven Spirits of God were the only lights seen before his throne, and the only sight, power and strength of the Lamb. Nothing therefore existed in this holy city, except what proceeded from these seven Spirits.

5. "And the city lieth four-square; the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal." That is, it is equally perfect on all sides. And here it is worthy of particular remark, that all its measures, all its works, fruits, beauty, order and glory have their foundation in the number twelve. These represent the twelve heavenly virtues manifested in Christ; and these are the pillars, protection and substance of the new and eternal creation of God, "wherein dwel"leth righteousness." They may be denominated and arranged in the following order; Faith, Hope, Honesty, Continence, Innocence, Simplicity, Meekness, Humility, Prudence, Patience, Thankfulness, and Charity.

6. These twelve virtues, established in the soul, and operating in perfect harmony, form the eternal and everlasting law of Christ. All other virtues, gifts and graces are the genuine fruits of these twelve, which are the primary principles of virtue proceeding from the Divine Attributes. And altho' there may be different names which imply nearly the same principles; yet names, in themselves considered, are but mere sounds; it is the real spirit and substance of these virtues which constitute the principle. These all proceed directly from the attributes of God; yet each particular virtue has a certain relative connection with its corresponding attributes, from which it more immediately proceeds.

7. 1. FAITH. "Without faith it is impossible to please God.", Divine faith is that pure influence proceeding from the eternal source of all good, which plants the seed of God in the soul. And the obedience of faith produces all the virtues of the gospel, "which is the 66 power of God unto salvation." True faith proceeds from the power and light of God, and stands in connection with all his attributes: "For God who hath commanded the light to shine out of darkness, "hath shined into our hearts."* True faith views every Divine manifestation to the soul in its true light; and believes every promise of God, and every display of his power and goodness to mankind, to be what they really are.

8. But those who profess faith in the gospel, and who profess to be the followers of Christ; and yet do not believe in all the promises of God, nor in all his declarations through his true witnesses; who do not believe that every work will be brought into judgment, with every secret thing, and that every one will be rewarded according to his works; who do not believe that Christ has come to open a

* 2 Cor. iv. 6.

way by which souls can be saved from all sin, and that this salvation is really attainable in this life; who do not believe that the gospel is free for all souls without distinction, and will effectually save all who believe and obey it; in short, those who do not believe all these things, are certainly lacking in the true faith of the gospel of Christ, let their professions be what they may. Or if they really possess faith, and yet indulge themselves in any thing which is contrary to their faith; or knowingly neglect any duty which the gospel requires of them, they are disobedient to faith; they are not the faithful followers of Christ; they do not keep the law of Christ, and therefore are not true Christians.

9. 2. HOPE. Tho' souls may receive the true faith of the gospel; yet without hope, no one would be able to set out in the crossbearing work which faith unfolds: "For we are saved by hope."* Divine hope is a display of the power and wisdom of God in the soul. Hope "hath respect to the recompense of reward." It inspires the soul with confidence in the promises of God, that his reward is sure. "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even "as he is pure." Hope is styled in scripture," an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast.-Happy is he whose hope is in the Lord."

10. All doubting in the work of God, is contrary to this hope; and therefore contrary to genuine Christianity. Those who make a profession of Christianity, and, at the same time, distrust the love and goodness of God, or doubt his mercy or his justice, and have not full confidence that the power of God, contained in the gospel, is sufficient to enable them to obey all its requirements, and save them from all sin, and in the end reward them with a crown of everlasting life, without any hinderance of the decrees or foreknowledge of God, or any thing inconsistent with their own free-agency, are without true gospel hope, and therefore are not true Christians. If they are ashamed of the testimony of the gospel, or of the works of godliness, in any respect, or do any thing whatever, of which they are ashamed, they act contrary to the divine virtue of hope: for " hope maketh not ashamed."

11. 3. HONESTY. Neither faith nor hope can bring forth good fruit, unless they are received "in an honest and good heart." Agreeable to the testimony of Jesus Christ, those who receive the word of God, which is the seed of faith, "in an honest and good heart, bring forth fruit." So important then is the virtue of honesty or sincerity, (which is essentially the same,) that no one can be benefitted by the gospel, or by any gift of God without it. The virtue of honesty is the operation of the righteousness of God, in man, and

Rom. viii. 24.

See Heb. xi. 28.

#1 John iii. 3.

plants the principle of uprightness in the soul.

the upright shall flourish."

"The tabernacle of

12. The professor of Christianity who is not honest and sincere, in all his conduct and conversation, who uses any dissimulation, or seeks to cover any of his conduct, in word or deed, under the cloak of deception, who designedly deviates from the truth, in any respect, and does not honestly do good and shun evil, and conduct himself, in all things, according to his best light and understanding, transgresses the divine principle of honesty, and sins against God; and therefore cannot bring forth the fruits of the gospel. The gift of God can find no abiding place in such a soul: for God is a God of truth, and no hypocrisy can find acceptance in his presence. "The hope of the hypocrite shall perish."

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13. 4. CONTINENCE. This is the fruit of that seed faith, and nourished by hope, in the good and honest heart. It is the principle of self-denial and abstinence from all evil; the source of seclusion or separation from the principles and practices of the world; and the spring from whence proceeds the virgin life. It is a chaste and pure principle, and flows from the holiness of God. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

14. He who, under a profession of Christianity, indulges a lascivious propensity, in actions, words or feelings; he who does not take up his cross against all impurity, according to the requirements of the gospel; but who indulges himself in any thing whatever, that has a tendency to lead the mind from the pure work of God, and to attach it to the impure things of this world, violates the virtue of continence, defiles his soul and dishonors his christian profession; and therefore he is not a true self-denying Christian.

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15. 5. INNOCENCE. This is the handmaid of Continence, and, like that, proceeds from holiness. The operation of continence destroys all fleshly lust, and implants in the soul the virtue of innocence. Thus the soul is fitted for the Kingdom of Heaven, and for the acceptable worship of God. "I will wash my hands in innocency; so will I compass thine altar, O Lord!" said the Psalmist.* Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not "enter into the Kingdom of Heaven;" said Jesus.† Little children are innocent; their souls are not defiled with any known sin; they know nothing of the nature of pride, lust or any evil; they feel dependent on their parents for protection and support.

16. Hence it must appear plain and obvious, that professors of the christian religion, who do not become as little children, by living lives of innocence, and feel their daily dependence on the gift of God, for spiritual nourishment, strength and support, and for continual direc

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tion in the line of their duty, can have no just title to the Kingdom of Heaven, and need not expect to enter therein. Those who indulge, in themselves, any feelings of lust, pride, envy, covetousness, malice, hatred or revenge, are not innocent before God; they can bring no acceptable sacrifice to his altar; they are not the humble followers of the innocent, meek and lowly Savior; therefore they are not true Christians; and their profession will only increase their condemnation in the day of trial.

17. 6. SIMPLICITY. True gospel simplicity implies a godly sincerity, and a real singleness of heart, in all our conversation and conduct. This virtue is the operation of holiness and goodness, and produces in the soul a perfect oneness of character, in all things; its thoughts, words and works are plain and simple, and wholly directed to the honor and glory of God. It is harmless and undefiled, and wholly unmixed with any evil. It is without ostentation, parade or any vain show, and naturally leads to plainness in all things. In all the objects of its pursuit, in all the exercise of its power, in all its communications of good to others, it is governed solely by the will of God, and shows forth its peculiar singleness of heart and mind in all things. "If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of

light."

18. Hence it will readily appear, that a professor of Christianity must be greatly deficient in true gospel simplicity, however great his profession, whose heart is not single towards God, whose faith is corrupted with a mixture of pride and vain glory, whose conversation is mixed with duplicity, and his conduct with craftiness, whose mind is filled with jarring passions, and continually exercised with vain imaginations. Such professors do not live simply according to the faith of the pure gospel of Christ, they do not seek to do the will of God, and live to his honor and glory in all things; they do not honor their profession; they do not follow Christ, nor bear his cross; they do not walk in christian simplicity. How then can they, with any propriety, be called Christians?

19. 7. MEEKNESS. This is that mild, gentle and unassuming virtue which is the very opposite of pride and haughtiness. Pride separates the soul from obedience to God, but meekness readily leads to obedience. Meekness fits the soul for that gospel soil in which it may bring forth fruit unto godliness. "Blessed are the meek: "for they shall inherit the earth." This alludes to the " new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness," and which is composed of that spiritual soil in which souls can "take root downward, and bear fruit upward." True meekness is the fear of God, the beginning of wisdom and gospel understanding. It implants in the soul a lively sense of the greatness of God's power, and the dependence of the soul upon him for every good gift.

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