The dragon or Satan is bound in the other world for 1000 years,
but we know not the time ; Christ comes to reign on the earth 1000 years
;
if a prophetic thousand, (a day for a year,) it would be 365,000 ; again, as
one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as
one day, it may be 365,000,000 of common years.
Considering the present agitated state of Europe, and the East, where
can we calculate for peace and safety unless in America ?
There are about 15,000,000 of men under military requisition ; and
God's controversy with the nations will not cease until they learn right-
eousness.
Therefore it stands all true Christians in hand to look to God, that our
rulers may be influenced aright, and have his wisdom to guide them ; that
we may be kept in peace, and from falling into the general commotion
and calamities of Europe and the East.
kingdom, must be removed. "
Therefore, those ecclesiastical establish-
ments which bind the consciences of men, and prevent the spirit of free
inquiry, must be shaken as a rope of sand. Also, those civil or mo-
narchical governments, which uphold those religious national establish-
ments, must be torn down ; seeing they are mutually dependent on each
other.
The peace of nations is dependent on the laws of nations. Custom
makes law ; when certain customs which are the laws of nations are in-
fringed upon, the public peace is disturbed, and commonly settled with
powder and ball ; which shows that the laws of nations are dependant on
the martial law, and supported thereby.
The martial law is dependent on the civil law, for it is put in execution
by the same, as the military act, by the magistrate's command.
'
The civil law is dependent upon the ecclesiastical, for our rulers are ad-
mitted into office upon oath. An oath is a sacred thing, and is connected
with the moral law, which shows that religion is the foundation of civil
* The constitution of the federal government, and the proceedings of Congress, may be
providential, as ii relates to American citizens receiving conferred honors and titles, occ,
from other governments, to preserve us as a nation from falUng into the genend calarnity.
Query—It is possible that some are connected with », and should they be convictea
of the reception as American citizens, it would run them hard as being guilty of treai^on
therefore, to save their •* would wish for a back door to plead that they were not Amer-
ican citizens, &c. Miss or Mrs. ••*'s young Bonaparte, with his throne and impe-
rial retinue may be *embryo ! Remember, an egg may hatch a ^rpent ! and u peo-
ple sleep now, they will awake then
!
J
in France twenty being prohibited from meeting together is hkc' •
FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY. 395
government, particularly ours; therefore, all persons who oppose religion,
strike at the public safety, by sapping the very foundation of civil autho'
rity ; of course, advertise themselves to be public enemies. Again, any
person who does not believe in religious sentiment, (the ideas of our future
rewards and punishment,) does not believe in things sufficient to constitute
an oath ; therefore for such person or persons to take an oath, would be
to act a sham, and perform a solemn nothing, also a mocking of common
sense ; and any persons who thus would act should be considered as
deceitful hypocrites, and dangerous to society, because they trifle with
things inost sacred to answer their sinister designs, and cannot feel such
oath binding upon their consciences ; of course can give no assurance of
fidelity to the public. Hence it is evident that all who give or receive a
drink of grog for a vote, do no better than give or receive a trifling bribe
;
therefore they are trifling persons, and consequently are not fit for free-
men, much less for rulers, seeing they take such improper measures to
answer their own designs, which shows they are not men of principle nor
veracity, but may be influenced to swerve from the path of justice by de-
signinnr men, and let the guilty escape, and make the innocent suffer.
Therefore, watch the conduct of people, and look out for men of noble prin-
ciples, that there may be practice accordingly, good society cultivated,
and justice appear in our land : be guarded against office-hunters, who
would become worse than a nuisance to society.
All rulers ought to be men of information and veracity, and influenced
by noble and virtuous principles, as guardian angels for the public safety
and welfare, who must render an account. They being, as it were, trus-
tees for the welfare of society, are accountable to God and men for their
conduct, having derived their power and authority from the same, and of
course are praise or blame- worthy, according to their motive and conduct.
Truth will bear investigation, aiKl carry its own conviction with it, when
properly understood, ^ut error says hush to the spirit of inquiry ; wish-
ing truth to lie dormant, and herself unsearched, to appear gay to every
glancing eye. Therefore, our freemen ought to look well to the choice
of their rulers, as it relates to society, as sponsors for what is to come.
t
ON THE MINISTf^i
§
How shall one person know, and be able lO deternrli i »ii*<l ^adpe, wheth-
er it be the duty of another to preach or no.. ?
There are but three evidences by which he may be able to judge and
determine concerning him on that subject. 1st, Divine evidence in his
own soul ; or 2dly, by the fruits of his labor ; or 3dly, the witness of his
word with power.
How shall one know whether it be his own duty to preach or not ? Says
one, leave it to your brethren to determine. But if they have not the
proper evidence' by which to judge, are incapable of forming a correct
judgment ; of course may err, to his great injury ; therefore, there should
be further investigation beyond those who are incomptent to be judges.
Search the Scriptures
!
The Scriptures do not say whether he, as an individual, shall go or stay.
If God wills the thing and requires it at his hand, there is no counselling;
against the Lord. And if it be not his duty, no man nor any body of men.
have a right to tell or command him to go.
There is no rational evidence that wicked men are called of the Lord
to preach. Those who feel the call enjoined upon them, by obeying the
divine convictions in their soul, they feel quietness and peace, and joy in
God, by walking in that way. But the rejection of duty brings pain and
wo
!
*
As there are various gifts in the Christian church, and yet all by the
same Spirit, how shall a person know and determine what place and sphere
is his ? Answer—he must get the spirit of his station, and then he will
feel the witness, and have the testimony that he pleases God. The open-
ing of providence corresponds with the calls of the spirit, when and where
to go. r 1- • I. J
But some people who are too much bigoted to a mode of their own, had
rather good would not be done at all, if it does not come in their own way,
agreeably to their preconceived notion of the thing—if we may judge of
their conduct in opposing the instruments which it pleases God to use, as
means to accomplish it. But the words of Gamaliel, Acts v. 35, are
apropos to such as forbid others, because they act not with them