The relation existing between God and man

Front matter

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Chapter I Truths And Mystei&es Of Zion

None too good, for all men must be born again or be regenerated before they can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Our Heavenly Father has sent unto man many servants, and they rejected themall, and did reserve His only Son, His all, for the last, and if we reject His only Son, his last, we reject our all by rejecting our only and last opportunity to be redeemed from this guilt of sin, the origin of death in man. I once was spiritually dead to God, but now 1 am spiritually alive to God, by being regenerated, spiritually reborn by the grace and power of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which causes me to be fully acquainted with the nature and feeling a man possesses in either case, when he is in his carnally minded and natural condition, and when he is in his holy naturecl and minded condition. Since I have sought after this salvation I have not been lukewarm, but I have wholly walked with God as far as I knew how, or as I was taught by the Scriptures and through the Holy Spirit. I did not serve God one moment and Satan the next moment, for I have continually strove 'to be closer to 'God, because it is altogether lovely, for itdevelqpes the nobelest nature in man, and by the grace of God' I will continually strive to become more and more perfect in Christ Jesus by surrendering my heart to the Holy Spirit, so that the law of pure and holy love can be more and more developed therein, which w T orketh perfection. The Holy Scriptures and the method therein adopted for the salvation of man are truth, and originate from God.

Oh, man ! is the crucifixion of the Son of God of so little importance — being passed by, barely noticed by the world ? Was his sufferings, sorrows, grief and pain, all endured only for the sake of formality ? No ; but for the sake of nature ; for the sake of the very nature or law existing within me to-day which was placed there through regeneration by faith, which faith I received through his teachings and death. But the worldly cannot know that nature or law until they taste of it. As deep as did the Saviour's grief, sorrow, suffering and pain penetrate into his nature, must also his virtues penetrate into the nature of our souls. He bore the grief and pain so that we might bear his virtues, if we only believe. Oh, man ! the whole matter is a question of nature ; nature being concerned, and will you continue to war against nature, or will you bend to it ? Who is this God that man wants him to bend His will to him ? Does man give Him life, or does He depend on man for existence ? No ; man depends on Him for his existence, life and being ; so man must also bend his will to Him ; but He does not want us to bend our will to Him unless we feel so inclined, because He created us free-will beings, and He wants us to remain such.

Chapter II, Truths And Mysteries Of Zion

Some men say that they do not believe in God as a being, but they acknowledge nature as God — denying that God is the God of nature, or that nature is His laws. If all our buildings have come into existence without a controlling mind, a guiding and constructing hand ; if all our greatest engineering problems have come into existence without a controlling mind, a guiding and constructing hand ; if all our productions from the different arts have come into existence without a controlling mmd, a guiding and constructing hand, then there is no living God. The ax might as well boast of its chopping, as for man to deny the existence of a living God, Supreme Being, designer, creator, and controller of all things. Cast your eyes heavenward on a bright moonlight night, and see the beauty and magnificence displayed in that starry firmament. Then consider the harmony existing in the movement of the planets. Then reflect over the earth's motion — its orbital velocity equals 65,228 miles per hour, and it not being noticeable to us. Then reflect over that great planet Jupiter, whose diameter is about 85,000 miles, and its bulk nearly 1,250 times that of the earth, is accompanied by four moons, and passing through space at the rate of 28,743 miles an hour. Then reflect over that beautiful planet Saturn, surrounded by a series of rings of solid matter, and accompanied in its course around the sun by eight satellites; and all this complicated system moves with a common motion, so exact that no part interferes with another in their orbital revolution ; and this planet moves in its orbit around the sun at the rate of 21,220 miles per hour, and is 700 times greater in volume than the earth.

Astronomers say that the observer, when first viewing this object, when it can be seen to the best advantage through a good telescope, is always possessed of admiration. Oh ! the magnitude and variation, the designing hand and controlling mind existing in that creation, and the variations existing there for causes and reasons unknown to us! Then again look at that great luminary, the sun, casting its light, warmth and heat down upon this earth, at the immense distance of upward of ninety millions of miles. Then consider the great mind, capability and possibilities man possesses. Then unfold the book of nature and you will see the designing hand, the handiwork of God, all around you. Will a man look at all this displayed before him and then deny the existence of a living God, a Supreme Being, designer, creator and controller of all things ? Then should we not reverence and pay our homage to such a great power of wisdom, truth and holiness that created and controls all this ? It would not be misplaced, as it often is with man, because God is not deceitful, but truth — everlasting truth. God being our creator, our merciful Heavenly Father, we should humble ourselves to him and be willing to be taught by Him, as little children, because He knows exactly what we require to make us forever happy, and what is required to prevent upcleanness and untruth to penetrate into His spiritual kingdom, as well as He knows what laws are required in the material or natural world to bless us with the light and warmth of the sun every day.

Chapter III. Truths And Mysteries Of Zion

If a chemist, by experimenting in chemistry, has made h certain discovery, and having experimented on it a number of times, always using the same methods and elements, and it having always produced the same results, it must then be truth • it has then become a chemical fact — a recognized law in chemistry. Then look at the worldly persons in their carnally minded and natural condition — the deviation existing there; the different degrees existing in their moral characters; the want of unity ; the strife, deceit, betrayal of confidence, and confusion that exists there, and therefore untruth. Then look at the Christians : I do not mean those that profess to be and are not, but those that have been reborn of the spirit, having complied with the Saviour's commandment, which reads thus: "Ye must be born again to see the Kingdom of God." These Christians will always testify the same ; that heretofore they never knew what real happiness consisted in ; that heretofore they never knew what religious freedom consisted in ; that they loved every one and hated no one but the evil spirit ; and loved all that our Lord and Saviour represents — honesty, truth, virtue, righteousness and holyness, and not only loved it with respect but with a Christian love, a heart filled with charity, which is purity, concord and unity, and therefore truth. This religion, revealed through Jesus Christ, ha3 made the hardest hearts tender and lovely, when they once possessed it; it has corrected and purified the most depraved hearts when they once possessed it ; it has cured the most intemperate when the heart once possessed it. And when these changes are once brought about it is not the fear of God and the hope of Heaven, nor any unnatural restraint, that keeps them in that purified and corrected condition, but it is the change qf their nature; which gives them pleasure to comply with these changes, and causes them to be permanent and be a reality. So, then, if becoming a Christian in spirit and in truth, by being reborn of the spirit through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, always produces such effects, without variation, then there must be a fundamental truth at the bottom of it. It shows just as much truth as does that chemical fact, that recognized chemical law in chemistry; but in this case the transaction takes place in the spiritual world, instead of the material or natural world ; spiritual methods and elements are being used instead of profane, because the soul or spirit is being administered to. Methods are being used that are naturally incomprehensible to us, because we are the creature and not the creator ; but we can test and know the quality of that spiritual compound by the change that is wrought within our heart and nature ; but the worldly and carnal minded can never know the quality of that spiritual compound until they come into possession of it.

Chapter IV. Truths And Mysteries Of Zion

We elect rulers to devise, enact and enforce laws for our government, all for our special benefit, and man derives a great benefit through it if the rulers prove themselves worthy. God wishes to govern us, not for his benefit alone, but for our benefit and happiness, and not by enacted and enforced laws, but by laws of nature or holy love. Oh ! is there anything that can produce greater happiness and pleasure than pure or holy love when it dwells in any heart ? which law of holy love is the essence and law that creates the harmony existing in the spiritual world of God's kingdom, or in its moral division the same as certain laws create the harmony existing in the material or natural world of His kingdom ; but the laws that create the harmony in the material or natural world are createable, and the law of holy love is not createable. We have the law of pure and holy love implanted and developed in our heart and nature through faith in God, which causes us to yield in our will. As our faith increases our love increases, and banishes evil and confusion from the heart, and creates harmony therein, which makes it truth. So faith and holy love produces righteousness. Faith and holy love, are the two spiritual elements that passes us into Heaven, and will be the cause of our life, existence and being there; which two elements, if we do not possess we will have no portion with the Kingdom of Heaven, because we will be, by and through nature, cut off. Our want of faith prevented our nature from being changed so as to coincide with the nature a being must possess in Heaven.

Abraham's faith was also imputed to him for righteousness. •

Oh, man ! you may all say I believe in God, but how far may it be from the true saving faith, such as is required to procure for you a home in Heaven? When a man possesses the true faith he will fulfill the commandments of God with an overflowing heart of pure and holy love; the pure incense of holy love will manifest itself to him within his heart, he feeling the effects of the Holy Ghost; and, as I said before, which holy love cleanses the heart and nature of all its impurities, arrd makes it holy.

What constitutes true faith ? Why, supposing a father promised something to his son which he very much desired to have, and which he could possess by fulfilling certain requirements — which requirements being possible for him to fulfill and they not being as dear to him as the reward promised — he will then employ his whole mind, heart and body in fulfilling the requirements, through -faith, that he will receive the reward promised. We all desire eternal life in Heaven, but some lack the faith to receive it. We must fulfill the requirements of our Heavenly Father, which

are written in the Holy Word, with a similar faith

as that son fulfills the requirements of his father

to receive his earthly desire, or we will never receive a home in Heaven. Some might say they

would like to believe with the true faith, but they cannot, so it must not be a fault of theirs, but a fault of nature. They would be justified in making that assertion if there had not been any one redeemed to righteousness through the method pointed out to us in the Holy Scriptures, but as there are thousands of souls redeemed and saved — all testifying to the same effect of the spiritual light they received by following the material or natural light as it is pointed out to us in the Holy Scriptures, so, then, those redeemed souls are all witnesses against them in this life and the life to come. So it is not a fault of nature that they cannot believe, but a fault of their own, by not endeavoring to search out the truth, by disregarding the material or natural light that is given to us all in the Holy Scriptures, and the instruments that are employed by God to lead man into the way of truth.

Chapter V. Truths And Mysteries Of Zion

Consider over the harmony existing in the movements of the planets or celestial bodies, and in the whole material or natural world of Gocl's Kingdom, which harmony must also exist in the moral division of his spiritual kingdom ; so when death comes knocking at the door, calling us, we step out of this world of confusion, either into God's spiritual kingdom of harmony, unity and truth, or into Satan's kingdom of confusion and untruth, just as our nature is fitted for either ; when we are in a fit condition to enter into Heaven, or when we are by nature in a fit condition to enter therein, if we then compare our nature with the word of God, we will find our nature to agree or coincide with the word. So, then, in that condition, if we did not have the word as a guide or light, we would also fulfill the word, because our nature would dictate or lead us to do it ; but before man received the word he dwelt in darkness, was blind, could not see, because he had no light ; so, then, in that condition his nature was in an evil and confused condition, unfit to be placed into God's spiritual kingdom of harmony, unity and truth. So, then, man received the word as a light and standard for to work up to, and as soon as he has, by the grace of God, worked up to that light and standard, the word ; if he will then compare his nature with the word he will find it to agree or harmonize with it. Nature being truth, and the word agreeing or harmonizing with nature, or with the nature existing in all regenerated and redeemed, it must then be truth, and also have its origin from God, as nature. So, then, as soon as our nature agrees or harmonizes with the word we have then already, through nature, formed a connection with God's spiritual kingdom of harmony, unity and truth, and the reason we are not enjoying its full glory is because we have not yet stepped into it across the threshold of death in the flesh. We can also weigh ourselves in the balance by placing ourselves or nature on one side of the scales and the word of God on the other side, and as soon as that scale balances we are by nature in a fit condition to become a member of God's spiritual kingdom; and the reason we are not a member is because we have not yet entered into it through death in the flesh, as God's law prescribes ; so it is not strange that the righteous will scarcely enter into the Kingdom of Heaven when they must pass through such a test.

In this particular I refer to the word # as received through Moses, the Prophets, and as it existed in Christ Jesus, as spokfen b) Him : "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. When I refer to man in his depraved condition, I refer to the word as received through Moses, the Prophets, and as it existed in Christ Jesus; and when I refer to man in his justified state I refer to the word only as it existed in Christ Jesus, as He spoke in those two commandments. Man, having a light given to him from God, in the word, if he heeds it not, closing his eyes against it, he then dwells, at this present day, in as much spiritual darkness as did all mankind before they received the word, or ligli't ; and as long as he remains in that condition, just so long is he spiritually dead to God, and in spite of himself, by and through nature cut off from the Kingdom of Heaven, and if he steps out of this life into the future in that condition, he will be for ever and ever, by and through nature, cut off from the Kingdom of Heaven. Oh ! will that not be a great gulf existing between him and Heaven ? When man is brought before the judgment bar of this world the arguments for and against him are delivered in words, and by that method justice is often abused. When man is brought before the judgment bar of God the arguments for and against him is the nature existing within him, which is impossible to err in condemning or justifying.

Chapter VI. Truths And Mysteries Of Zion

Before the gospel was revealed through our Lord and Saviour, the world had the law only represented in word, which man received from God through Moses, but the coming of* our Lord and Saviour into the world gave us the law represented in nature and flesh by our Lord and Saviour, being the bearing messenger within himself of that law, by having it written within his nature, heart or soul, within his flesh, and Satan causing the destruction of that temple, causes that law to shine brighter and brighter as time passes on. So, then, the word or law was made flesh in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Look at the harmony and truth existing in the word, will or law of God, in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the nature existing in all regenerated or justified. Oh, why should we not all take God at His word, that if we obey His law or commandments in spirit and in truth, that we will receive thereby eternal life in Heaven ; if we comply with those requirements we cannot receive anything else, because His laws of nature so decree it, the same as they decree death in the flesh as the wages of sin.

Oh, man ! I pray consider that you are created in the image of God in point of mind and intellect, and in having your will left as free to act as the will of God. Look at yourself; your importance, when you are transferred out of your rebellious state against God into harmony and peace with God, by being washed with the blood of righteousness which flowed from the veins of the lamb on the cross, and look at your insignificance if you are cast out into confusion — into everlasting darkness and ruin. Oh, man ! it is not a question of a life time, but a question of eternity. Hence the great importance existing in it.

Chapter VII. Truths And Mysteries Of Zion

Here in this material or natural world we are governed by laws framed in words, which admit ■ of being altered or changed without creating confusion. Not so in the spiritual world of Heaven ; there we are governed by laws framed in nature, which laws cannot be changed to suit the various conditions of the beings ushered out of this life because that would create confusion in God's spiritual kingdom. So, then, our nature must be brought into the nature of the fixed spiritual law of nature existing and controlling in Heaven, which all beings live and exist in that are in Heaven, by passing under the cross of Jesus. All roads leading around or outside of that cross of righteousness, truth and holiness, leads to Hell, which place receives all confusion, because the nature of the place is confusion.

Chapter VIII. Truths And Mysteries Of Ziok

There are two laws and a principle in existence showing the relation existing between God and all created beings that are endowed with the law of reason ; one of those laws is the law of free agency or free will, which law must exist in every

being that is endowed with the law of reason ;

which law of free agency or free will is controlled by

the power of the law of pure and holy love ; which

law of free agency or free will does admit itself to

be controlled harmoniously or voluntarily by the

law of pure and holy love ; or which law, when it

exists in any being will control the will of that

being with as much certainty or reliance as does

the laws that control in the material or natural

world — cleansing the heart and nature of all its

impurities, and making it holy. But by what power was that law and principle of free agency or free will existing in man, controlled before the fall of man? Why by the principle or the commandment of God for man not to eat of the forbidden fruit, which left his will free to act — to obey or not to obey. As long as Adam, or man, obeyed that command, there existed harmony and happiness, because he only indulged in good ; so, then, there existed no evil to come into collision with good ; but as soon as Adam or man disobeyed that command he threw himself out of that controlling power into confusion, wherein man exists at this present day. But that holy, all- wise and just God has devised for that law and principle of free agency or free will existing in man, another controlling power, an everlasting power; which controlling power, if we are once placed therein, we will never be ejected therefrom and thrown into confusion. And what does this new controlling power consist of? It consists of the law of pure and holy love. So the methods adopted by our Heavenly Father through His holy word and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, is for the purpose of placing man back again into that new controlling power just as he left his former one, by continually retaining his law and principle of free agency or free will intact, remaining a free will, rational being, as he was created ; so every soul that is redeemed causes that soul to be again placed back into that new controlling power, never again to be thrown out into confusion. And in possession of a holy nature, as is the nature of God, and the being that is not placed into this new controlling power or law, is a soul out of the law in confusion in this life and the life to come, and for ever and ever ; because it can no more return to this earth in the nature it at present exists in ; in which nature it must be placed within that law, or controlling power

God's laws, which are nature, have the penalty existing within themselves for their violation, and as sure as they are violated, so sure is the penalty to follow — cannot be withdrawn — because there would be no protection to good. Hence, the great delicacy existing in our redemption. Oh, we should all humble ourselves to God, and be willing to be taught by Him, like little children ; because He created us ; He knows us thoroughly, and knows exactly what we require to make us forever happy, and what is required for the protection of His spiritual kingdom, to prevent uncleanness and untruth, to enter therein, not for His sake alone, but for the sake of the souls under His protection.

We might ask the reason why that law and principle of free-agency, or free-will, -existing in man must have a controlling power or law, because it makes him a free-will being and a being within himself, the same as God is a free-will being and a being within Himself, only we are dependant beings and God is not a dependant being ; and we, depending on God, a higher power, for our life, existence and being, we must also be controlled and governed by that power and that power must have a law within our nature, to control us by, and that controlling power or law must be established on principles to leave our will free to

act; so that we can remain free-will beings and

i beings within ourselves, as God wants us to, as He

created man, so that we will be able to, or can enjoy, the great glory and happiness God can bestow upon us, which controlling law is the law of love only known to those who have their life hid in Christ.

We being free-will beings and beings within ourselves, as God is a free-will being and a being within Himself, we being in possession of mind and intellect, as God possesses mind and intellect, makes us in the image of God, and the redeemed souls having a holy nature developed within them through redemption and life, within themselves, given to them, they can then rightly, justly, by nature and in truth, be called sons of God, and will always remain sons, because they are dependant.

CHAPTEE IX.

TRUTHS AND MYSTERIES OF ZION.

Man devises, enacts and enforces laws for the control and government of man during his existence here on earth, for the purpose of protecting right against wrong, truth against untruth, as a security to society, but the enacted law and power of man can only reach and control the effects, and not the cause, which, if they could, there would be no effects, hence no punishment required, no ill feelings engendered ; but as the enacted law and power of man can only reach and control the effects, so their law and power is limited, and where man's power and enacted law ceases, Divine power and law begins. God has devised a law that will control the cause, so then there will be no effects, which is the law of pure and holy love. And how is this law implanted and developed within us ? By faith in God, in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; whereas, if you have the true faith in Him your heart will show as much love for what He represents as He showed for you, me, and all humanity, when He gave His life as a ransom on the cross, which will cleanse the most impure heart and nature of all its impurities..

Chapter X, Truths And Mysteries Of Zion

When man disobeyed the command of God, the law could not be changed to suit the changed nature in man, which the fall or disobedience inaugurated ; but his nature had to be changed in a manner to satisfy and conform with the law or principle he was created on ; and how was this to be accomplished to retain us free-will beings conforming with the law man was created on ? It would not do to interfere directly against the will of the being to change his nature — that would be impossible — because he would discontinue to be a free-will being, as he was created, and could not remain a rational being, so there had to be a mediator between the law and our will to satisfy the law and to satisfy our will, or to control it voluntarily, and for that reason the Son of God sacrificed himself on the cross so as to become a mediator between us and the law to satisfy the law and to satisfy our will, or to control it voluntarily, so as to change our nature, He becoming the foundation of our faith and church, such as Satan and all the wisdom of the world cannot undermine, or even make an impression on. Oh, what love! we can never repay it.

CHAPTER XL

TRUTHS AND MYSTERIES OF ZION.

When man is born into this world, the law already exists here that is to control or govern him during his existence here on earth; or if it does not already exist it is brought into existence after his arrival. Not so in God's spiritual Kingdom of Heaven ; a son that is born into that kingdom must arive there with the law existing within him which is forever to control him in that kingdom ; it must be born along with him, as being part of himself, or being part of his nature and being. 'So, then, it is not words nor forms that is at stake, but it is nature, truth ; yes, you are warring against the God of nature, the God of everlasting truth; and you will make no headway in that direction. If you war against God's physical laws of nature the result may not be noticed for some time, but eventually the result will be a shattered constitution, a shattered specimen of humanity; and if you war against his spiritual laws of nature, the result will be the same — a shattered soul at death.