Civil theology ...

Front matter

i,r^ uKSaEl^ t

Qass'K R \ ?'C- Book X'-—

A PURELY ORIGINAL WORK , ^

Book I

Explanation of the Nature and Plan of the Salvation, Resurrection and Judgment of Man by familiarity with the seven fundamental forces of God, and by having ascended up into the presence of the Father, 1-28.

Book II

Containing a full explanation of the seven fundamental forces of God, and of tlieir mode of operation upon man, and an outline of the principles of figurative language, with their proof and application to many scriptures recently fulfilled in this government, 28-123.

Chapter V

The Antediluvian World. Deluge and Noah's Ark as prophetic figures recently fulfilled in this government, 71.

CHAPTERS VI AND VII.

Beginning of the Postdiluvian World. How fulfilled in federal rule since the suppression of rebellion. 77-81.

CHAPTER VIII.

Succeeding characters of rule prefigured by the Hebrews and Arabians, 86.

CHAPTER IX.

FulfiUment as figures of the Sons of Jacob. The History of Joseph and Pharaoh fulfilled in recent federal rule, 91.

CHAPTER X.

The Plagues upon Egypt fulfilled in recent federal rule, 96.

CHAPTER XI.

The Hebrews in the Wilderness as figures, 101.

OUTLINE OF CONTEXTS. V

CHAPTER Xn.

The Tabernacle and High Priest as prophetic figures explained. Also the meaning of each tribe of^srael, 105.

CHAPTER XIII.

The Promised Land and Hebrew servitude as prophetic figures explained, 113.

CHAPTER XIY.

Samson as a prophetic figure. How fulfilled in federal politics, 118.

Book III

The Apocalypse explained from a purely original and indisputably proven standpoint, showing much of it recently fulfilled and the rest under progress of fulfillment, all in this nation thus giving many evidences of things to quickly happen in political affairs, 124.

BOOK TV.

Prophecies of Daniel as fulfilled, and in progress of fulfillment, in this nation since suppression of rebellion. And Romanism and Mohammedanism as prophetic figures

BOOK Y.

Natural Laws, Natural Rights, and Constitutional Government considered, 311.

Book I

EXPLANATION OF THE NATUEE AND PLAN OF SALTA- TION FROM EXPERIMENTAL KNOWLEDGE.'

CHAPTEB L

Soon after I was fifteen, years of age, I thought surely tliere is a God, for I see his powers made plain in the works of nature. Preachers said, come to Christ, but Christ seemed to me only as a man. I thought I would never pray to a man. Then I said something is wrong, that God hides himself from us, poor, feeble, helpless beings of his own creating ; for I believe in his power to liear, answer, teach, guide, take care of us and reveal our future destiny, that we may not be in so great darkness. I concluded that it must be our great iniquity that caused God to hide himself. So I said I will cease from all sin and God will reveal himself to me. I began with all my might to obey my sense of duty. I prayed to the God that created all things, and in my prayers would say, If there is any other God let him neither hear nor speak to me, for I only seek the God whose power I see in his works. I soon found God, but it seemed I could not help doing wrong. Then I would feel very bad, and want to know for certain that God had forgiven 1 me. So I would bow my face to the ground and sorje times plead very long before be would answer, which was done by coming upon me. At other times I would plead and plead, but God would not come ; neither would I quit asking, but finally reconcile myself without reserve— to lay there until death, but I would, wait until he come. Then God would come and I would go my way rejoicing ; for his visits refreshed me and made me happy. Soon my conscience became strong, speaking loudly against sin— my angry temper was subdued. I really loved God, because of his teaching, for I had become a hater of wickedness and folly, which I understood apparently of myself, for I remember no effect upon me from reading or from the talking of others. I went to God with all my desires and troubles, pleading for help, using all the argument 1 could to enforce my claim on his care.

On my way traveling overland, far to the West, I was much vexed by the wickedness of my companions, which drove me much from their society. I contended for the revelation of God's will by his Spirit, and struggled hard and steadily to walk in the ways of truth ; but to keep every thought bound was impossible. My cry for victory was constant.

While offering up my evening prayer and supplication to Great God, all at once it seemed I stood upon the side of a sphere, so small that to get on top of it where my Saviour was, required steep climbing over sparkling steps. The sphere hung in open space with light about it, and away down in the distance gathered clouds, darker and blacker, until they hid from view the depth below. I said, I would climb up to m}

NATURE AND PLAN OF SALTATION. 3

Saviour, or die trying. So I began with all my impetuous energy, but lost ground, for the sphere turned against me, my hand-hold broke, and I began to fall off into the space below. Theu I cried out. Lord save me, or I perish. That instant I was rescued and carried around upon the other side without making the least effort of my own. After this my labor seemed to cease, for God filled me with his Spirit, holding me above sin by his own strength ; and my heart was full of rejoicing, for the Great God had become my strength and joy. Then I understood that no one can obey the truth of himself, but his ability to do so is of God.

For months my cup had been full to overflowing. When kneeling for my regular prayers, often I could only say. Glory, glory to my God on high, and praise to the Creator of all things, and could not restrain my feelings, or speak for their depth.

I desired to go in a way that God objected to, but I could see no harm in it, so I insisted on going my own way, and we contended with each other ; but after a little he suddenly left me, and I felt as if some of my life had gone.

Oh I I am deceived. The way I chose was too hard for me. I am taken captive and have sinned. I rally to break the bonds, but alas, how often I try in vain, for they are of white, scarlet and yellow. Soon God, as it were, encased my soul with black, hard walls of steel that I could not break from my aching breast. My tears were dried up. I suffered, mourned and could get no relief, although the Spirit said I was not cast off forever. I went to the Scriptures to see what I could learn of my case, and was surprised to see how plainly they revealed the same spirit God had put in me. Before this I seldom read any in the Testaments ; but they now had power. I searched and found terrible penalties. Turnin<^ a deaf ear to the voice of the remaining spirit within, I applied them to my case ; and such passages as Heb. vi. 4-6 and x. 26, seemed to strike death to my soul, for I thought I had experienced these states of grace. I continued searching until the midnight hour of the long winter night had passed, then in heavy trouble fell asleep. That night God spoke to me in a dream, and said, Let God be true, but every man a liar. Then I was much ashamed to think I liad turned a deaf ear to the voice of the Spirit and set up man's wisdom in its place, by attempting to opply the Scriptures, for the things of God are known only by his Spirit. l-Cor. ii. 10, 11, So I trusted in God for deliverance, because his Spirit gave me hope ; but I was fettered and bound, powerless in prison. So God alone could break, melt and consume its walls. Even in this situation he put liis Spirit upon me, but my suffering was intense. I struggled on, the Lord's chastisements teaching me his fear, for there was no forgiveness for me. I had the uttermost farthing to pay by actual suffering, because God opposed my way — becoming my adversary — and I did not agree with him quickly, wliile I was in the way with him, so he delivered me to the Judge (Spirit of Truth), and the Judge delivered me to the Officer (myself), and T was cast into prison. Matt. V. 25, 26. Years passed, and heavy chastisements that were necessary did their work.

NATUEE AND PLAN OF SALVATION. 5

Oh ! my God, thou dost tear down and build up ; thou dost bind and loosen^; all things are under thine eye, and thou art always by us. When surrounded by danger I saw thine Angel as a great cloud, with a drawn sword wonderfully large to defend me with. When in affliction, I turned from the counsel of man unto thee, thou didst furnish a remedy, and raised me up quickly. My misery has been very great ; how could I have borne it without my God ? Thou art my portion, or I perisli, and desire to pass quickly olit of existence, for without thee my life is worse than annihilation. I wish I could show you, fallen man, how open your ways are. Your dark spirits cannot be hid from the man that is illuminated, for you know not yourselves, neither can you see the light that uncovers you. " He that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man" — 1 Cor. ii. 15 — because he cannot be known by the natural man. 1 Cor. ii. 14. How every idle word and thought burns. How narrow is the way. How close I am hedged in on every side.

■God had delivered me from prison, and almost set me at liberty from the past, when, in the spring of 1858, one like a man of African color, came and stood in the air some fifty feet from me, and twenty feet up from the ground. He was filled with fire, and the fire was God, for he put it upon me, and I know God's spirit. When the spirit came upon me strong, I saw his face as the sun, its black color being lost in brightness. In comparison to his glory,, my spirit was black, and became as fuel to fire. Like the rays to the sun, his glory seemed to strike my spirit and burn with a perplexing heat. At the same time on the East of me, about the same distance off, some ten feet high from the ground, stood a robe, as if made of compact white mist in one body. The spirit, referring me to the robe, continued to say, Put on Christ. I could not hide my face from the man and robe, for I did not see them with my eyes, but through the spirit. The man was always on the North, and the robe on the East of me. The glory of this holy one shone from his head like irregular flames of fire, and towards the last, more of it reached me than I thought I could endure. I felt that I must have rest from this perplexing heat, and if confined to it, would gladly be crushed by a mountain, if it would give me but one single hour's rest ; but I knew nothing could hide me from his face. The revelation came to me for several hours on several days in succession, while working in the woods alone ; and by it I saw Christ's power to be wonderful, for but very little of the fire seemed to reach me.

Taught of God, alone in the world, surrounded by wickedness, my cry was. Oh, what shall I do ? I cannot live this way ; my responsibility is an anxious care too heavy for me ; for I am weak and do not possess the powers and gifts promised, but they are sure, so I will patiently wait. This was on my year of atonement.

In July, A. D. 1859, the Spirit of the Lord came upon me different from what it had ever come before, and said, If you resist me I will riot come again for two weeks. I was sleeping and before I could get awake enough to exercise my mind the spirit left, so I had no chance then to resist it. I felt sure this was

NATURE AND PLAN OF SALYATIOX. 7

notice of something to come. It was Sunday morning and I concluded to go to camp-meeting, but in every movement, the mind of the Spirit was examined through fear. During the day a great presence of the Lord rested upon me different from ever before. While preparation for the Lord^s Supper was making, I again considered this subject with respect to myself, for I never seemed to understand the outward forms of service. Then the Spirit said unto me, You may eat of the bread and drink of the wine, if you do not let it answer for eating and drinking of Christ's spiritual body and blood. On my way home the Lord Jesus Christ caught me up into the third Heaven before the Father, where I glorified him to his face, and knew he would give me whatever I asked of him. While there I saw wonderful things, beholding the nature and separate persons of God, the coming of Christ, the resurrection, life and salvation of saints, with other things that I will not here mention, all of which are hard to explain.

Reader, how will you understand God ? If you say by the Bible, I ask you who agree on what it teaches ? but if by following its directions, I say amen, for its first requirement with promise is, " Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts ii. 38. Now see what next. " But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things," John xiv. 26. Also, see the following : " But the anointing- which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you ; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, ye shall abide in liim.'^ 1 John ii. 27. See how perfectly all other means of guidance tlian the Spirit is taken away. There is nothing more fully taught in the New Testament than that the things of God are only known by his Spirit. So the Holy Ghost teaches us our duty to God and man.

In God are two persons and a spirit. The spirit is not a person, but a medium of the Father ; a substance, the essential part of which is spiritual light, and teaches by giving understanding in justice, as if by feeling siglit — so the mind has no argument against its word. In further describing the Holy Ghost, the blood in God flows from the mind, and the body is dependent upon the mind for its blood, the mind existing throughout the body, for the Holy Ghost is God's blood. I liad shown me a picture of the persons of God. It was a round body, of color like compact mist of water, containing a dark red figure two, of size suited to tlie body. This figure two was of distinct outline down to the beginning of its lower dash, where it began to grow dissolving until lost in the body about where the dash should end. The color of this body stands for vision, and the color of the figure for mind only. Thus, two minds are in one body, the separate persons being only in mind, each having the same body, and these two minds are one, as the figure" two is one figure, being two only in person — the mind of a Father and the mind of a Son. The body is the Saviour principle of God. Tlie dissolving dash of the figure pictures the connection of the mind with the body.

The blood is the life of the body, and as the Holy

KATUEE AND PLAN OF SALTATION. 9

Ghost proceeds from the Father, the body, which is Christ, lives by the Father. John vi. 57. With respect to man, for his body and by his body he does all his work. So it is with God, for by Christ and for Christ all things are made. Heb. ii. 10. This body is the power and glory of God, and love and righteousness dwell in it, as heat dwells in fire — it being supremely positive, and contains all the nature of God bodily. Its power to consume everything created by its negative, the devil, is as the power of living liquidfire, to burn up chaff and stubble.

The second person in God is Melchisedec, the vine, that Jesus was created in the similitude of, for our High Priest was only a man, until clothed upon with Melcliisedec, the vine. Until then, only being the Son of God by conception of the Holy Ghost, and in human sameness is still a branch — the human identity of all thus clothed upon, being the branches. The Fatlier is Most High God, whom Melchisedec is Priest of, because in addition to having the same body, is also Father.

Jesus Christ the brancli, like other men, had to come to responsibility by age and expansion of mind, before he knew to refuse the evil and choose tlie good. Isa. vii. 16. So this knowledge was not in him by nature, as it is in the vine, or he could not have felt our infirmities and temptation. " For we have not an High Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like, as we are, yet without sin." Heb. iv. 15.

Jesus Christ could^ not have understood the future

spiritual changes he had to pass through, only as by

obedience he was prepared to learn them by revelation

of the spirit. By revelation he saw that the mind, aa

1*

10 CIVIL THEOLOGT.

well as the body, is of this earth. Then he strove to obtain the Lord from Heaven for a new body, and the mind of the second person for a new mind. The spiritual body completed his subjection to God by coming upon him, as he was prepared to obey its nature ; changing him from glory to glory until he was prepared for the tliird Heaven. Then all passed away, and mortality was swallowed up of life, the vine taking full possession of mind and body, forming a union, so they were one. Then Jesus was the very God, like unto a son that was with the Father from the beginning, for old things liad passed away, and all things had become new, and all things were of God for out of twain was made one new man, which waa the Lord from Heaven.

Tlie third Heaven is the resurrection unto everlasting life, and full coming of Christ in person. To help the reader to understand, I give the following comparative simile. Because I have the body and mind of a man, I feel that I am a nmn, and that my body is me, and where my body is, I feel that I am in the same place, and the feelings of my body are my feelings. Also, the same in the motions of the mind, for it is my mind. Thus all in whom Christ has come in person, feel themselves to be God tlie Son, who was with the Father from the beginning, dwelling in the space above the earth, because of their body and mind.

When Christ formed a union with my soul, so the old man passed away and I became a new creature — it was like I had been caught up into the firmament above. As the union took ])lace, the Father appeared all around, filled witli hidden light, and I knew that I was the very Christ, and could neither die nor sin. I

NATURE AND PLAN OP SALVATION. 11

looked back, back into eternity, and knew I was there with the Father, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and was his son, owning all things.

The old man had passed away as if it had fallen out of existence as I arose, and I looked back to him, feeling sorry and pitying him, and thought I would like to return into the old man and be married for awhile in the earth before going to Heaven, for I did not understand, and this earthly pleasure in Heaven was not then shown to me. So I tried to return into the old man, and the Lord let me come. After this I understood the scripture. " I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me ; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Gal. ii. 20.. Crucified with Christ in respect to the crossing out of the old man. Nevertheless I live, by retaining the knowledge, memory and existence of the branch. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, as before explained. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, for in proportion as we have the Son, we have his justification and freedom. So we live by his faith. Gal. ii. 16. It alsa applies to us in the middle Heaven proportionately to Christ's presence in us. After returning into the old man, I was one to whom the Son had revealed the Father, Matt. xi. 27, and knew there could be but one God in boundless space, for any God not like this, would be devil. But if like this, he would be the same God.

I was in trouble — I had watched, but did not abide in him. I thought of the foolish virgins and was afraid. Then I remembered what the spirit said

12 CIYTL THEOLOGY.

about not coming back again for two weeks, and took courage. But I unhesitatingly, without any reserve whatever, attacked the desires that deceived and brought me back to earth ; and in a few. days conquered all, and supposed my mind sealed forever against any thought of getting married.

The . two weeks tlie spirit spoke of had more than passed, when Christ appeared in me in a very strong body of love, with rather distinct outline, being some less in size tlian ray breast, and moved about over me, passing down my legs and up again into my breast, and up ray neck into my head. As he came into my head, I saw the truth of the things that made me want to come into the old man again, for the mind of the Lord was upon matrimony, and while in my head I saw and understood that all its pleasures belong to Christ. This time I saw nothing of the -Father, neitlier was there any of that strange, penetrating, grasping feeling, that I cannot describe, which was wlicn tlie spirit united with my soul. Near tliis time I had great anxiety about my orphan brothers and sisters, and Christ came upon me and rose into my head and let rae see from Ores^on back across the plains to the States of Indiana and Ohio, to where they all were but one, and that he had gotten all but that one, situated as he wanted them. I saw Christ the entire distance, as liquid fire, covering and overruling all things. The brother he did not show me, soon after came to the Pacific States.

I felt a desire to preach, for God had told me to teach the divinity of Christ — but not then. And Christ carae upon rae and showed rae that his power was puprerae ; that he could accomplish his work at

NATUEE AND PLAN OF SALVATION. 13

pleasure, and was therefore not in a hurry. A^gain, not many days after this, Christ came upon me and pervaded my whole being, administering to me faith, so I could almost speak and know it would be done. I think I saw* faith as strong as it could be, and not be knowledge, as it is when we are in the presence of the Father. And mighty Angels came down and held council over me. I knew they were there, but could not see them. To illustrate, suppose you see and know something, and can give your mind to another, then he will know as yourself, without seeing with sight ; and thus I knew by the mind of the Lord.

Then the spirit withdrew, gradually leaving me until all gone, and a deep stupor came over me with a state of great inactivity of my mind, and a voice came to me like one whispering in my ear, and said, Maybe you are mistaken, about these things. I answered, I cannot be, for I know them. Then the voice said, But stop and consider, for maybe they are imaginations. I answered. Get behind me, Satan, for I know they are not. Then the voice began to argue with me, bringing up optical delusions, and delusion of the brain. Then I cried. Oh Lord, I feel so weak, dull and stupid, that I am afraid I may doubt, save me from it I pray thee, for I am afraid of myself. Then the voice left.

During all these manifestations, I tried to retain the Lord, but he was so foreign to me that my nature would resist him. From the two weeks after I was caught up to the Father, I had been patiently waiting to enter into the Kingdom, for I hoped that I could stand the change ; and G-od did not suffer me to be discouraged through ignorance, for Christ again came and commenced a union with my soul. As soon as he began, I knew it was to bring me into the third Heaven ; for the difference is very great between this and merely coming into us. As I began to see through the spirit, and the Father come into view, the glory was so great that I was afraid and shrank back — so he left me. fsTow I clearly saw that I had to be further prepared, and that the Lord came to me this time to give me understanding and courage.

Again Christ came upon me and showed me his care over man, concerning giving and withholding the things of this world, and how terribly heavy apparent misfortunes are sent as blessings to his soul.

Again the Lord came upon me weaker, so I could bear his presence, changing my feelings towards man, making my heart glow with love in real substance, but I could not retain him, and in a few days he had gradually gone, and I was alone. After patiently awaiting for a while, the Lord came again, but not so strong as the time before. This time I retained the body some longer than the last time before, but still my nature would resist it, and soon I was again alone, and somewhat discouraged. In a few days it came again, but still less powerful than the last time before this, and in some over a week it was all gone. Then I thought, Oh, what shall I do — I cannot help resisting this spiritual body. I was in trouble, but I believed the Lord that created could so change me that I could accept him. I trusted in the Lord to prepare me for his glory. After this he came upon me in different ways, and I soon saw his power to so change me, that I could contain him in some quantity all the time without feeling a resistance.

Christ came in some instances, so I thought it a

NATURE AND PLAN OF SALVATION. 15

notice of answer to my prayer, given by touching me much stroiiger when asking, for in those cases ray petitions were granted.

At one time he came and constrained me with great • power to ask for the recovery of a sick person, making my heart ache to grasp him in my arms. I felt that virtue would pass from me to him, but I wrongfully resisted the feeling, and contented myself with grasping his hand ; but all was well.

The Father is greatest, and his consent must be gotten. The Son prevails with him, so4he Son gives us of himself, that we can ask according to his will, and prevail until we are of age, and come before the Father in person ; then we are one with him. Until then, our power is according to the gift of Christ. So Christ said, " Without me ye can do nothing.^^ Christ's chosen ones, in the beginning of his church, had a delegated power to perform miracles, because of the times, to prepare the way until the indwelling power come.