Chapter XI: Preface (10)

“That there exist beings, one or many, powerful above the human race, is a proposition,” says Lord Kaimes, “universally admitted as true in all ages and among all nations. I boldly call it _universal_, notwithstanding what is reported of some gross savages; for reports that contradict what is acknowledged to be general among men, require able vouchers. Among many savage tribes there are no words but for objects of external sense: is it surprising that such people are incapable of expressing their religious perceptions, or any perception of internal sense? The conviction that men have of superior powers, in every country where there are words to express it, is so well vouched, that, in fair reasoning, it ought to be taken for granted among the few tribes where language is deficient.” The same ingenious author shows, with great strength of reasoning, that the operations of nature and the government of this world, which to us loudly proclaim the existence of a Deity, are not sufficient to account for the universal belief of superior beings among savage tribes. He is, therefore, of opinion that this universality of conviction can spring only from the image of Deity stamped upon the mind of every human being, the ignorant equally with the learned. This, he thinks, may be termed the _sense of Deity_.

SATANIANS.

A branch of the Messalians, who appeared about the year 390. It is said, among other things, that they believed the devil to be extremely powerful, and that it was much wiser to respect and adore than to curse him.

ABELIANS, OR ABELONIANS.

A sect which arose in the diocese of Hippo, in Africa, in the fifth century. They regulated marriage after the example of Abel, who, they pretended, was married, but lived in a state of continence: they therefore allowed each man to marry one woman, but enjoined them to live in the same state. To keep up the sect, when a man and woman entered into this society, they adopted a boy and a girl, who were to inherit their goods, and to marry upon the same terms of not having children, but of adopting two of different sexes.

SUPRALAPSARIANS.

Persons who hold that God, without any regard to the good or evil works of men, has resolved, by an eternal decree, _supra lapsum_, antecedently to any knowledge of the fall of Adam, and independently of it, to save some and reject others; or, in other words, that God intended to glorify his justice in the condemnation of some, as well as his mercy in the salvation of others, and, for that purpose, decreed that Adam should necessarily fall.

DANCERS.

A sect which sprung up, about 1373, in Flanders, and places about. It was their custom all of a sudden to fall a-dancing, and, holding each other’s hands, to continue thereat, till, being suffocated with the extraordinary violence, they fell down breathless together. During these intervals of vehement agitation, they pretended to be favored with wonderful visions. Like the Whippers, they roved from place to place, begging their victuals, holding their secret assemblies, and treating the priesthood and worship of the church with the utmost contempt.

EPICUREANS.

The disciples of Epicurus, who flourished about A. M. 3700. This sect maintained that the world was formed not by God, nor with any design, but by the fortuitous concourse of atoms. They denied that God governs the world, or in the least condescends to interfere with creatures below; they denied the immortality of the soul, and the existence of angels; they maintained that happiness consisted in pleasure; but some of them placed this pleasure in the tranquillity and joy of the mind, arising from the practice of moral virtue, and which is thought by some to have been the true principle of Epicurus: others understood him in the gross sense, and placed all their happiness in corporeal pleasure. When Paul was at Athens, he had conferences with the Epicurean philosophers. (Acts 17:18) The word _Epicurean_ is used, at present, for an indolent, effeminate, and voluptuous person, who only consults his private and particular pleasure.

SKEPTICS.

The word _Skeptic_ properly signifies considerative and inquisitive, or one who is always weighing reasons on one side or the other, without ever deciding between them. The word is applied to an ancient sect of philosophers founded by Pyrrho, who denied the real existence of all qualities in bodies, except those which are essential to primary atoms, and referred every thing else to the perceptions of the mind produced by external objects; in other words, to appearance and opinion. In modern times, the word has been applied to Deists, or those who doubt of the truth and authenticity of the sacred Scriptures.

WICKLIFFITES.

The followers of the famous John Wickliffe, called “the first reformer,” who was born in Yorkshire, in the year 1324. He attacked the jurisdiction of the pope and the bishops. He was for this twice summoned to a council at Lambeth, to give an account of his doctrines, but, being countenanced by the duke of Lancaster, was both times dismissed without condemnation. Wickliffe, therefore, continued to spread his new principles, as usual, adding to them doctrines still more alarming; by which he drew after him a great number of disciples. Upon this, William Courtney, archbishop of Canterbury, called another council in 1382, which condemned 24 propositions of Wickliffe and his disciples, and obtained a declaration of Richard II. against all who should preach them; but while these proceedings were agitating, Wickliffe died at Lutterworth, leaving many works behind him for the establishment of his doctrines. He was buried in his own church, at Lutterworth, in Leicestershire, where his bones were suffered to rest in peace till the year 1428, when, by an order from the pope, they were taken up and burnt. Wickliffe was doubtless a very extraordinary man, considering the times in which he lived. He discovered the absurdities and impositions of the church of Rome, and had the honesty and resolution to promulgate his opinions, which a little more support would probably have enabled him to establish: they were evidently the foundation of the subsequent reformation.

DIGGERS.

A denomination which sprung up in Germany, in the fifteenth century; so called because they dug their assemblies under ground, in caves and forests. They derided the church, its ministers, and sacraments.

ZUINGLIANS.

A branch of the Reformers, so called from Zuinglius, a noted divine of Switzerland. His chief difference from Luther was concerning the eucharist. He maintained that the bread and wine were only _significations_ of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, whereas Luther believed in _consubstantiation_.

SEEKERS.

A denomination which arose in the year 1645. They derived their name from their maintaining that the true church ministry, Scripture, and ordinances, were lost, for which they were seeking. They taught that the Scriptures were uncertain; that present miracles were necessary to faith; that our ministry is without authority; and that our worship and ordinances are unnecessary or vain.

WILHELMINIANS.

A denomination in the 13th century, so called from Wilhelmina, a Bohemian woman, who resided in the territory of Milan. She persuaded a large number that the Holy Ghost was become incarnate in her person, for the salvation of a great part of mankind. According to her doctrines, none were saved by the blood of Jesus but true and pious Christians, while the Jews, Saracens, and unworthy Christians, were to obtain salvation through the Holy Spirit which dwelt in her, and that, in consequence thereof, all which happened in Christ during his appearance upon earth in the human nature, was to be exactly renewed in her person, or rather in that of the Holy Ghost, which was united to her.

NON-RESISTANTS.

This is a name assumed by those who believe in the inviolability of human life, and whose motto is, RESIST NOT EVIL,—that is, by the use of carnal weapons or brute force. They cannot properly be called a religious sect, in the common acceptation of that term, and they repudiate the title; for they differ very widely among themselves in their religious speculations, and have no forms, ordinances, creed, church, or community. Some of them belong to almost every religious persuasion, while others refuse to be connected with any denomination, and to be called by any sectarian name. Like the friends of negro emancipation, or of total abstinence from all intoxicating substances, their eyes are fastened upon a common object, and their hearts united together by a common principle; and whatever calls for the violation of that principle, or for the sacrifice of that object, they feel in duty bound to reject.

In the autumn of 1838, an association was formed in Boston, called the “NEW ENGLAND NON-RESISTANCE SOCIETY,” the principles of which are comprehensively imbodied in the second article of its constitution, as follows:—

“The members of this society agree in opinion that no man, or body of men, however constituted, or by whatever name called, have the right to take the life of man as a penalty for transgression; that no one, who professes to have the Spirit of Christ, can consistently sue a man at law for redress of injuries, or thrust any evil-doer into prison, or fill any office in which he would come under obligation to execute penal enactments, or take any part in the military service, or acknowledge allegiance to any human government, or justify any man in fighting in defence of property, liberty, life, or religion; that he cannot engage in or countenance any plot or effort to revolutionize, or change, by physical violence, any government, however corrupt or oppressive; that he will obey ‘the powers that be,’ except in those cases in which they bid him violate his conscience—and then, rather than to resist, he will meekly submit to the penalty of disobedience; and that, while he will cheerfully endure all things for Christ’s sake, without cherishing even the desire to inflict injury upon his persecutors, yet he will be bold and uncompromising for God, in bearing his testimony against sin, in high places and in low places, until righteousness and peace shall reign in all the earth, and there shall be none to molest or make afraid.”

On the same occasion, a DECLARATION OF SENTIMENTS was adopted, in which the views of Non-Resistants are set forth in the following positive and argumentative form:—

“We cannot acknowledge allegiance to any human government; neither can we oppose any such government by a resort to physical force. We recognize but one KING and LAWGIVER, one JUDGE and RULER of mankind. We are bound by the laws of a kingdom which is not of this world; the subjects of which are forbidden to fight; in which MERCY and TRUTH are met together, and RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE have kissed each other; which has no state lines, no national partitions, no geographical boundaries; in which there is no distinction of rank, or division of caste, or inequality of sex; the officers of which are PEACE, its exactors RIGHTEOUSNESS, its walls SALVATION, and its gates PRAISE; and which is destined to break in pieces and consume all other kingdoms.

“Our country is the world, our countrymen are all mankind. We love the land of our nativity only as we love all other lands. The interests, rights, liberties of American citizens, are no more dear to us than are those of the whole human race. Hence we can allow no appeal to patriotism, to revenge any national insult or injury. The PRINCE OF PEACE, under whose stainless banner we rally, came not to destroy, but to save, even the worst of enemies. He has left us an example, that we should follow his steps. GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.

“We conceive that, if a nation has no right to defend itself against foreign enemies, or to punish its invaders, no individual possesses that right in his own case. The unit cannot be of greater importance than the aggregate. If one man may take life, to obtain or defend his rights, the same license must necessarily be granted to communities, states, and nations. If _he_ may use a dagger or a pistol, _they_ may employ cannon, bomb-shells, land and naval forces. The means of self-preservation must be in proportion to the magnitude of interests at stake, and the number of lives exposed to destruction. But if a rapacious and bloodthirsty soldiery, thronging these shores from abroad, with intent to commit rapine and destroy life, may not be resisted by the people or magistracy, then ought no resistance to be offered to domestic troublers of the public peace, or of private security. No obligations can rest upon Americans to regard foreigners as more sacred in their persons than themselves, or to give them a monopoly of wrong-doing with impunity.

“The dogma, that all the governments of the world are approvingly ordained of God, and that THE POWERS THAT BE, in the United States, in Russia, in Turkey, are in accordance with his will, is not less absurd than impious. It makes the impartial Author of human freedom and equality unequal and tyrannical. It cannot be affirmed that THE POWERS THAT BE, in any nation, are actuated by the spirit, or guided by the example, of Christ, in the treatment of enemies; therefore they cannot be agreeable to the will of God; and, therefore, their overthrow, by a spiritual regeneration of their subjects, is inevitable.

“We register our testimony, not only against all wars, whether offensive or defensive, but all preparations for war; against every naval ship, every arsenal, every fortification; against the militia system and a standing army; against all military chieftains and soldiers; against all monuments commemorative of victory over a foreign foe, all trophies won in battle, all celebrations in honor of military or naval exploits; against all appropriations for the defence of a nation by force and arms, on the part of any legislative body; against every edict of government requiring of its subjects military service. Hence we deem it unlawful to bear arms, or to hold a military office.

“As every human government is upheld by physical strength, and its laws are enforced virtually at the point of the bayonet, we cannot hold any office which imposes upon its incumbent the obligation to compel men to do right, on pain of imprisonment or death. We therefore voluntarily exclude ourselves from every legislative and judicial body, and repudiate all human politics, worldly honors, and stations of authority. If _we_ cannot occupy a seat in the legislature, or on the bench, neither can we elect _others_ to act as our substitutes in any such capacity.

“It follows that we cannot sue any man at law, to compel him by force to restore any thing which he may have wrongfully taken from us or others; but, if he has seized our coat, we shall surrender up our cloak rather than subject him to punishment.

“We believe that the penal code of the old covenant, AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH, has been abrogated by JESUS CHRIST; and that, under the new covenant, the forgiveness, instead of the punishment, of enemies has been enjoined upon all his disciples, in all cases whatsoever. To extort money from enemies, or set them upon a pillory, or cast them into prison or hang them upon a gallows, is obviously not to forgive, but to take retribution. VENGEANCE IS MINE—I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD.

“The history of mankind is crowded with evidences proving that physical coërcion is not adapted to moral regeneration; that the sinful dispositions of man can be subdued only by love; that evil can be exterminated from the earth only by goodness; that it is not safe to rely upon an arm of flesh, upon man, whose breath is in his nostrils, to preserve us from harm; that there is great security in being gentle, harmless, long-suffering, and abundant in mercy; that it is only the meek who shall inherit the earth, for the violent, who resort to the sword, are destined to perish with the sword. Hence, as a measure of sound policy,—of safety to property, life, and liberty,—of public quietude and private enjoyment,—as well as on the ground of allegiance to HIM who is KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS,—we cordially adopt the non-resistance principle; being confident that it provides for all possible consequences, will insure all things needful to us, is armed with omnipotent power, and must ultimately triumph over every assailing force.

“We advocate no Jacobinical doctrines. The spirit of Jacobinism is the spirit of retaliation, violence, and murder. It neither fears God nor regards man. _We_ would be filled with the Spirit of CHRIST. If we abide by our principles, it is impossible for us to be disorderly, or plot treason, or participate in any evil work: we shall submit to every ordinance of man, FOR THE LORD’S SAKE; obey all the requirements of government, except such as we deem contrary to the commands of the gospel; and in no case resist the operation of law, except by meekly submitting to the penalty of disobedience.

“But while we shall adhere to the doctrine of non-resistance and passive submission to enemies, we purpose, in a moral and spiritual sense, to speak and act boldly in the cause of GOD; to assail iniquity in high places and in low places; to apply our principles to all existing civil, political, legal, and ecclesiastical institutions; and to hasten the time when the kingdoms of this world will have become the kingdoms of our LORD and of his CHRIST, and he shall reign forever.

“It appears to us a self-evident truth, that whatever the gospel is designed to destroy at any period of the world, being contrary to it, ought now to be abandoned. If, then, the time is predicted, when swords shall be beaten into ploughshares, and spears into pruning-hooks, and men shall not learn the art of war any more, it follows that all who manufacture, sell, or wield those deadly weapons, do thus array themselves against the peaceful dominion of the SON OF GOD on earth.”

Having thus frankly stated their principles and purposes, they proceed to specify the measures they propose to adopt, in carrying their object into effect, as follows:—

“We expect to prevail through THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING, striving to commend ourselves unto every man’s conscience, in the sight of GOD. From the press, we shall promulgate our sentiments as widely as practicable. We shall endeavor to secure the coöperation of all persons, of whatever name or sect. The triumphant progress of the cause of TEMPERANCE and of ABOLITION in our land, through the instrumentality of benevolent and voluntary associations, encourages us to combine our own means and efforts for the promotion of a still greater cause. Hence we shall employ lecturers, circulate tracts and publications, form societies, and petition our state and national governments, in relation to the subject of UNIVERSAL PEACE. It will be our leading object to devise ways and means for effecting a radical change in the views, feelings and practices of society, respecting the sinfulness of war and the treatment of enemies.

“In entering upon the great work before us, we are not unmindful that, in its prosecution, we may be called to test our sincerity, even as in a fiery ordeal. It may subject us to insult, outrage, suffering, yea, even death itself. We anticipate no small amount of misconception, misrepresentation, calumny. Tumults may arise against us. The ungodly and violent, the proud and Pharisaical, the ambitious and tyrannical, principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places, may combine to crush us. So they treated the MESSIAH, whose example we are humbly striving to imitate. If we suffer with him, we know that we shall reign with him. We shall not be afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. Our confidence is in the LORD ALMIGHTY, not in man.

“Having withdrawn from human protection, what can sustain us but that faith which overcomes the world? We shall not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try us, as though some strange thing had happened unto us, but rejoice, inasmuch as we are partakers of CHRIST’S sufferings. Wherefore we commit the keeping of our souls to GOD, in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator. FOR EVERY ONE THAT FORSAKES HOUSES, OR BRETHREN, OR SISTERS, OR FATHER, OR MOTHER, OR WIFE, OR CHILDREN, OR LANDS FOR CHRIST’S SAKE, SHALL RECEIVE A HUNDRED FOLD, AND SHALL INHERIT EVERLASTING LIFE.”

For entertaining these sentiments, they say that they “have been stigmatized as no human government men,” and ranked among disorganizers and anarchists. But they believe that the gospel requires men to suppress every angry emotion, to forgive every injury, to revenge none; and they ask, “Shall we forgive as individuals, and retaliate as communities? Shall we turn the other cheek as individuals, and plunge a dagger into the heart of our enemy as nations? We might as well be sober as individuals, and drunk as nations. We might as well be merciful as individuals, and rob as patriots.” They believe that the forgiveness of enemies, whether foreign or domestic, is the essence, the chief virtue, the soul of the gospel; that we should preach our Savior’s peace, even if it brings us to our Savior’s cross; that Christians should not punish, either to amend those who trespass against them, or to comfort themselves; for they do not amend others by fines and imprisonments, nor do they need any better comfort than that of their Savior, who, on the cross, not only prayed, but apologized for his murderers; that, if the gospel is right in prescribing pardon, the law is wrong in inflicting punishment; that, if a Christian reigns, he reigns by love, not by force; that he cannot smile with frowns, forgive with punishment, love with hatred, bless with the sword, do good with evil, be humble with pride, love God and serve Mammon; that moral power would govern men altogether cheaper and better than physical; that the destruction of every kingdom that has heretofore existed, proves that men will not, cannot be governed by physical force; that the refusal of our Savior to govern, when he had the power of miracles, was his greatest miracle; and that his obedience, forgiveness, sufferings, and death, established the constitution of a government, in which peace on earth and good-will to men will be maintained by the God of peace, the Prince of peace, and the Spirit of peace. They believe that, when Jesus referred his hearers to the law of retaliation, which law constituted the great fundamental principle in the Jewish civil government, and when, in express terms, he repealed that law, he laid the axe at the root of that government, and virtually repealed or abrogated the whole of it; for of what force can any civil government be, which cannot enforce its laws by inflicting evil upon its violators? When Jesus took from the Jewish civil ruler the right to inflict punishment, he declared the only civil government, which God had ever instituted, and recognized as of any rightful authority, to be null and void forever. They think it will be admitted, by all who receive the plain declarations of Scripture as truth, that no man, as an individual, has the right to render evil for evil, or to enforce even his lawful claims, by his fist, the club, or the sword. But if a man has no such right as an individual, he has none as a member of a family, or as the inhabitant of a town, county, state, or nation; hence he cannot delegate any such right to others, called legislators, magistrates, judges, sheriffs, &c. If no man has the right to retaliate with the fist, or club, or sword, it is equally and immutably true that he has no right to render evil for evil, by using laws, or magistrates, or judges, or sheriffs, as the clubs, or swords, or the instruments of such retaliation. When men “resist evil,” either by the use of the club, or of human law, the principle upon which they act is the same in both cases; the only difference is in the instruments employed.

SOUTHCOTTERS.

Dr. Evans gives the following account of the religious views and opinions of Joanna Southcott, who made considerable noise in England, towards the close of the last century:—

“The mission of this prophetess commenced in the year 1792, and the number of people who have joined with her from that period to the present time, as believing her to be divinely inspired, was considerable. It was asserted that she was the instrument, under the direction of Christ, to announce the establishment of his kingdom on earth, as a fulfilment of all the promises in the Scriptures, and of that prayer which he himself gave to his followers; and more particularly of the promise made to the woman in the fall, through which the human race is to be redeemed from all the effects of it in the end. We are taught by the communication of the Spirit of truth to her, that the seven days of the creation were types of the two periods in which the reign of Satan and of Christ are to be proved and contrasted. Satan was conditionally to have his reign tried for six thousand years, shadowed by the six days in which the Lord worked, as his Spirit has striven with man while under the powers of darkness; but Satan’s reign is to be shortened, for the sake of the elect, as declared in the gospel; and Satan is to have a further trial at the expiration of the thousand years, for a time equal to the number of the days shortened. At the close of the seven thousand years, the judgment is to take place, and the whole human race will collectively bring forward the testimony of the evil they suffered under the reign of Satan, and of the good they enjoyed under the spiritual reign of Christ. These two testimonies will be evidence, before the whole creation of God, that the pride of Satan was the cause of his rebellion in heaven, and that he was the root of evil upon earth; and, consequently, when those two great proofs have been brought forward, that part of the human race that has fallen under his power, to be tormented by being in the society of Satan and his angels, will revolt from him in that great day, will mourn that they have been deluded, will repent, and the Savior of all will hold out his hand to them in mercy, and will then prepare a new earth for them to work righteousness, and prepare them ultimately to join his saints, who have fought the good fight in this world, while under the reign of Satan.

“The mission of Joanna is to be accomplished by a perfect obedience to the Spirit that directs her, and so to be made to claim the promise of ‘bruising the head of the serpent;’ and which promise was made to the woman on her casting the blame upon Satan, whom she unwittingly obeyed, and thus man became dead to the knowledge of the good; and so he blamed his Creator for giving him the woman, who was pronounced his helpmate for good. To fulfil the attribute of justice, Christ took upon himself that blame, and assumed his humanity, to suffer on the cross for it, that he might justly bring the cross upon Satan, and rid him from the earth, and then complete the creation of man, so as to be after his own image. It is declared that ‘the seed of the woman’ are those who in faith shall join with her in claiming the promise made in the fall; and they are to subscribe with their hands unto the Lord that they do thus join with her, praying for the destruction of the powers of darkness, and for the establishment of the kingdom of Christ. Those who thus come forward in this spiritual war, are to have the seal of the Lord’s protection; and if they remain faithful soldiers, death and hell shall not have power over them; and these are to make up the sealed number of one hundred and forty-four thousand, to stand with the Lamb on Mount Sion. The fall of Satan’s kingdom will be a second deluge over the earth; so that, from his having brought the human race under his power, a great part of them will fall with him; for the Lord will pluck out of his kingdom all that offend and do wickedly. The voice which announces the coming of the Messiah is accompanied with judgments, and the nations must be shaken and brought low before they will lay these things to heart. When all these things are accomplished, then the desire of nations will come in glory, so that ‘every eye shall see him,’ and he will give his kingdom to his saints.

“It is represented that in the Bible is recorded every event by which the Deity will work the ultimate happiness of the human race, but that the great plan is, for the most part, represented by types and shadows, and otherwise so wrapped up in mysteries, as to be inscrutable to human wisdom. As the Lord pronounced that man should become dead to knowledge if he ate the forbidden fruit, so the Lord must prove his words true. He therefore selected a peculiar people as depositaries of the records of that knowledge; and he appeared among them, and they proved themselves dead to every knowledge of him, by crucifying him. He will, in like manner, put the wild olive to the same test; and the result will be, that he will be now crucified in the spirit.

“The mission of Joanna began in 1792, at which time she had prophecies given her, showing how the whole was to be accomplished. Among other things, the Lord said he should visit the surrounding nations with various calamities for fifteen years, as a warning to _this_ land; and that then he should bring about events here which should more clearly manifest the truth of her mission, by judgment and otherwise; so that this should be the happy nation to be the first redeemed from its troubles, and be the instrument for awakening the rest of the world to a sense of what is coming upon all, and for destroying _the Beast_, and those who worship his image.

“Joanna Southcott died of a protracted illness. It Was given out that she was to be the mother of a _Second Shiloh_. Presents were accordingly made her for the _Babe_, especially a superb cradle, with a Hebrew inscription in poetry. But she expired, and no child appeared on the occasion. A stone placed over her remains in the New Burial-ground, Mary-le-bone, has this mystic inscription:—

In Memory Of
Joanna Southcott.
Who departed this life December 27th, 1814,
Aged 60 years.

While, through all thy wondrous days,
Heaven and earth enraptured gaze,—
While vain sages think they know
Secrets thou alone canst show,—
Time alone will tell what hour
Thou’lt appear in greater power.”

FAMILY OF LOVE.

A sect that arose in Holland, in the sixteenth century, founded by Henry Nicholas, a Westphalian. He maintained that he had a commission from Heaven to teach men that the essence of religion consisted in the feelings of divine love; that all other theological tenets, whether they related to objects of faith or modes of worship, were of no sort of moment, and, consequently, that it was a matter of the most perfect indifference what opinions Christians entertained concerning the divine nature, provided their hearts burned with the pure and sacred flame of piety and love.

HUTCHINSONIANS.

Hutchinsonians, the followers of John Hutchinson, born in Yorkshire, 1674, and who, in the early part of his life, served the duke of Somerset in the capacity of steward. The Hebrew Scriptures, he says, comprise a perfect system of natural philosophy, theology, and religion. In opposition to Dr. Woodward’s “Natural History of the Earth,” Mr. Hutchinson, in 1724, published the first part of his curious book, called “Moses’ Principia.” Its second part was presented to the public in 1727, which contains, as he apprehends, the principles of the Scripture philosophy, which are a plenum and the air. So high an opinion did he entertain of the Hebrew language, that he thought the Almighty must have employed it to communicate every species of knowledge, and that, accordingly, every species of knowledge is to be found in the Old Testament. Of his mode of philosophizing, the following specimen is brought forward to the reader’s attention:—“The air, he supposes, exists in three conditions,—fire, light, and spirit;—the two latter are the finer and grosser parts of the air in motion; from the earth to the sun, the air is finer and finer, till it becomes pure light near the confines of the sun, and fire in the orb of the sun, or solar focus. From the earth towards the circumference of this system, in which he includes the fixed stars, the air becomes grosser and grosser, till it becomes stagnant, in which condition it is at the utmost verge of this system, from whence, in his opinion, the expression of _outer darkness_, and _blackness of darkness_, used in the New Testament, seems to be taken.”

The followers of Mr. Hutchinson are numerous, and among others the Rev. Mr. Romaine, Lord Duncan Forbes, of Culloden, and the late amiable Dr. Horne, bishop of Norwich.

MORMONITES, OR THE CHURCH OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

In a little work entitled _Religious Creeds and Statistics_, published in 1836, we gave some account of the origin and faith of the Mormonites, or _Latter-Day Saints_, as they prefer being called. Since that time, we have received an additional stock of the publications of this people, and are now enabled to tell their story in their own words.

In a letter dated Nauvoo, Illinois, March 1, 1842, Prophet Joseph Smith says:—

“On the evening of the 21st of September, A. D. 1823, while I was
praying unto God, and endeavoring to exercise faith in the
precious promises of Scripture, on a sudden a light like that of
day, only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and
brightness, burst into the room; indeed, the first sight was as
though the house was filled with consuming fire; the appearance
produced a shock that affected the whole body In a moment, a
personage stood before me surrounded with a glory yet greater than
that with which I was already surrounded. This messenger
proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful
tidings, that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was
at hand to be fulfilled; that the preparatory work for the second
coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was
at hand for the gospel, in all its fulness, to be preached, in
power, unto all nations, that a people might be prepared for the
millennial reign.

“I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands
of God to bring about some of his purposes in this glorious
dispensation.

“I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this
country, and shown who they were, and from whence they came; a
brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws,
governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the
blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people,
was made known unto me. I was also told where there were deposited
some plates, on which was engraven an abridgment of the records of
the ancient prophets that had existed on this continent. The angel
appeared to me three times the same night, and unfolded the same
things. After having received many visits from the angels of God,
unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should
transpire in the last days, on the morning of the 22d of
September, A. D 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records
into my hands.

“These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of
gold; each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and
not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with
engravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a
volume, as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through
the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness,
a part of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part
were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited
many marks of antiquity in its construction, and much skill in the
art of engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument,
which the ancients called ‘Urim and Thummim,’ which consisted of
two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a
breastplate.

“Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the
record, by the gift and power of God.

“In this important and interesting book the history of ancient
America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that
came from the tower of Babel, at the confusion of languages, to
the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are
informed by these records that America, in ancient times, has been
inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called
Jaredites, and came directly from the tower of Babel. The second
race came directly from the city of Jerusalem, about six hundred
years before Christ. They were principally Israelites, of the
descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time
that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the
inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second
race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The
remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country. This book
also tells us that our Savior made his appearance upon this
continent after his resurrection, that he planted the gospel here
in all its fulness, and richness, and power, and blessing; that
they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists;
the same order, the same priesthood, the same ordinances, gifts,
powers, and blessing, as were enjoyed on the eastern continent;
that the people were cut off in consequence of their
transgressions; that the last of their prophets who existed among
them was commanded to write an abridgment of their prophecies,
history, &c., and to hide it up in the earth, and that it should
come forth, and be united with the Bible, for the accomplishment
of the purposes of God in the last days. For a more particular
account, I would refer to the Book of Mormon, which can be
purchased at Nauvoo, or from any of our travelling elders.

“As soon as the news of this discovery was made known, false
reports, misrepresentation, and slander flew, as on the wings of
the wind, in every direction; the house was frequently beset by
mobs and evil-designing persons; several times I was shot at, and
very narrowly escaped, and every device was made use of to get the
plates away from me; but the power and blessing of God attended
me, and several began to believe my testimony.

“On the 6th of April, 1830, the ‘Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints’ was first organized in the town of Manchester,
Ontario county, state of New York. Some few were called and
ordained by the spirit of revelation and prophecy, and began to
preach as the Spirit gave them utterance; and though weak, yet
were they strengthened by the power of God, and many were brought
to repentance, were immersed in the water, and were filled with
the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. They saw visions and
prophesied: devils were cast out, and the sick healed by the
laying on of hands. From that time, the work rolled forth with
astonishing rapidity, and churches were soon formed in the states
of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.
In the last-named state, a considerable settlement was formed in
Jackson county; numbers joined the church, and we were increasing
rapidly; we made large purchases of land, our farms teemed with
plenty, and peace and happiness were enjoyed in our domestic
circle and throughout our neighborhood; but we could not associate
with our neighbors, who were many of them of the basest of men.”

After giving an account of their removal from Jackson to Clay, and from Clay to Caldwell and Davies counties, Missouri, with a relation of their persecutions and consequent distresses, the prophet proceeds:—

“We arrived in the state of Illinois in 1839, where we found a
hospitable people and a friendly home; a people who were willing
to be governed by the principles of law and humanity. We have
commenced to build a city, called ‘Nauvoo,’ in Hancock county. We
number from six to eight thousand here, besides vast numbers in
the county around, and in almost every county of the state. We
have a city charter granted us, and a charter for a legion, the
troops of which now number fifteen hundred. We have also a charter
for a university, for an agricultural and manufacturing society,
have our own laws and administrators, and possess all the
privileges that other free and enlightened citizens enjoy.

“Persecution has not stopped the progress of truth, but has only
added fuel to the flame; it has spread with increasing rapidity.
Proud of the cause which they have espoused, and conscious of
their innocence, and of the truth of their system, amidst calumny
and reproach have the elders of this church gone forth, and
planted the gospel in almost every state in the Union; it has
penetrated our cities, it has spread over our villages, and has
caused thousands of our intelligent, noble, and patriotic citizens
to obey its divine mandates, and be governed by its sacred truths.
It has also spread into England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. In
the year 1839, where a few of our missionaries were sent, over
five thousand joined the standard of truth. There are numbers now
joining in every land.

“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations; and in
Germany, Palestine, New Holland, the East Indies, and other
places, the standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand
can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs
may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the
truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it
has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every
country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall
be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say, ‘The work is
done!’

“We believe in God, the eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

“We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

“We believe that, through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

“We believe that these ordinances are, 1. faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2. repentance; 3. baptism, by immersion, for the remission of sins; 4. laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“We believe that a man must be called of God by ‘prophecy, and by laying on of hands,’ by those who are in authority to preach the gospel, and administer in the ordinances thereof.

“We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, viz., apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, &c.

“We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, &c.

“We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

“We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and in the restoration of the ten tribes; that Zion will be built upon this continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisaic glory.

“We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what, they may.

“We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent virtuous, and in doing good to _all men_. Indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul,—we ’believe all things, we hope all things;’—we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is any thing virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

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From the _Gospel Reflector_, a volume edited by B. Winchester, presiding elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Philadelphia, we extract the following.

“History Of The Ancients Of America, And Also Of The Book Of
Mormon.

“Six hundred years B. C, according to the Book of Mormon, Lehi,
who was a righteous man, was forewarned of the destruction of
Jerusalem and the Babylonish captivity, who was commanded by the
Lord, took his family and fled into the wilderness. He pitched his
tent in the wilderness, near the Red Sea, and sent back his sons
to Jerusalem, who persuaded one Ishmael and his family to
accompany them to their father Lehi. The Lord promised to lead
them to a choice land above all lands; therefore they set out on
their journey for this land. After a long and tedious journey,
they came to the great waters, or the ocean. Nephi, the son of
Lehi, who was also a prophet, and their pilot, or leader, in the
wilderness, was commanded and instructed to build a ship
sufficiently large to transport them over the sea. This work was
accomplished in eight years from the time they left Jerusalem.
They set sail, and in a proper time they landed, as we infer from
their record, somewhere on the western coast of South America.
They immediately commenced tilling the earth, and erecting
mansions for dwelling-places.

“Lehi had six sons, Laman, Lemuel, Nephi, Sam, Jacob, and Joseph.
Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, rebelled against God, and
would not keep his commandments; for this they were cursed. Their
posterity, in process of time, became a powerful nation, but
extremely wicked; and their chief occupations were hunting,
plundering, and roving about from place to place. In the Book of
Mormon, they are called Lamanites. The other sons of Lehi were
obedient to the commands of God. Their posterity, also, in the
course of time, became a great nation, and were called Nephites.
To them God committed his divine oracles, (the holy priesthood,)
and they had prophets and inspired men among them. They also kept
a record of their prophecies and revelations, and the proceedings
of their nation. When they left Jerusalem, they brought with them
the law of Moses, and the writings of the former prophets, down to
the days of Jeremiah. This accounts for the quotations from Isaiah
and others, which are found in the Book of Mormon.

“The Nephites tilled the land, built cities, and erected temples
for places of worship; but the Lamanites lived a more indolent
life, although, in some instances, they built cities. The Nephites
were at times faithful to God; at other times they were
indifferent, and would not be faithful. They frequently had long
and tedious wars with the Lamanites, and were often driven before
them. They were constantly emigrating to the north. At length they
commenced settlements in the region of country not far from the
Isthmus of Darien; and, while in those parts, they advanced
further in science and arts than at any time previous, and built
more spacious cities and buildings than they did before.

“Six hundred and thirty odd years from the time Lehi left
Jerusalem, Christ, after his resurrection, appeared unto many of
the Nephites, and established his church, chose disciples, and
sent them throughout the land to preach his gospel, thus
fulfilling the saying, ‘Other sheep I have, which are not of this
fold; them I must go and bring also.’

“Individuals of the Lamanites, at times, were obedient to the
faith. The Nephites, after Christ’s appearance, were faithful for
many years; but, in the third or fourth century, iniquity began to
abound, and their love began to wax cold. Some dissented, and
raised up churches for the sake of gain; and thus they were
troubled with the spirit of pride and haughtiness. God commanded
Mormon, who lived in the fourth century, to preach repentance to
them, and foretell their destruction if they would not repent. The
Lord, foreseeing that they would not repent, commanded Mormon to
collect the writings of his forefathers,—their revelations and
prophecies, &c.,—and make an abridgment of them, and engrave them
upon new plates, (their manner of keeping records was to engrave
them on metallic plates.) But in consequence of their wars, and
their flight to the north, to escape the Lamanites, he did not
live to finish this work; and, when the final destruction of the
Nephites drew near, he gave the records to his son Moroni, who
lived to see their final extermination, or destruction, by the
hands of the Lamanites, and they, with his father, left to moulder
on the plain.

“Thus a powerful nation, whose fathers were the favorites of
Heaven, were cut off, and their names have faded into oblivion!

“The Indians of America are the descendants of the Lamanites, and,
according to predictions that are in the Book of Mormon, they will
yet lay down their weapons of war, and be converted unto the Lord.

“Moroni finished compiling and abridging the records of his
fathers, which he engraved upon new plates, for that purpose, to
use his own words, as follows:—‘And now, behold, we have written
this record, according to our knowledge, in the characters which
are called among us _the reformed Egyptian_; being handed down and
altered by us, according to our manner of speech. And, if our
plates had been sufficiently large, we should have written in
Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and, if we
could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no
imperfection in our record. But the Lord knoweth the things which
we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our
language; therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation
thereof.’

“He also engraved on them an account, called the ‘Book of Ether’
of a people who left the old world, and came to this continent at
the time the language was confounded at Babel, which was a partial
fulfilment of the saying, ‘So the Lord scattered them abroad from
thence upon the face of all the earth.’ (Gen. 11:8.)

“Moroni was then commanded to deposit this record in the earth,
together with the _Urim and Thummim_, or, as the Nephites would
have said, _Interpreters_, which were instruments to assist in the
work of the translation, with a promise from the Lord that it
should be brought to light by means of a Gentile nation that
should possess the land, and be published to the world, and go
forth to the Lamanites, and be one of the instruments in the hands
of God for their conversion. It remained safe in the place where
it was deposited, till it was brought to light by the
administration of angels, and translated by the gift and power of
God.”

The Mormon Bible contains five hundred and eighty-eight duodecimo pages, and purports to have been written at different times, and by the different authors, whose names the parts respectively bear. The following are the names of the different books, in the order in which they occur:—

1. First Book of Nephi.

2. Second Book of Nephi.

3. Book of Jacob, brother of Nephi.

4. Book of Enos, son of Jacob.

5. Book of Jarom, son of Enos.

6. Book of Omni, son of Jarom.

7. Words of Mormon.

8. Book of Mosiah.

9. Book of Alma.

10. Book of Helaman.

11. Book of Nephi, son of Nephi, son of Helaman.

12. Book of Nephi, son of Nephi, one of the disciples of Christ.

13. Book of Mormon.

14. Book of Ether.

15. Book of Moroni.

Two new books have recently been published,—the Prophecies of Enoch, in the _Morning and Evening Star_, and the Book of Abraham, in the _Times and Seasons_.

The Mormons seem to think that revelations from Heaven and miracles wrought, are as necessary now, and as important to the salvation of the present generation, as they were to any generation in any preceding age or period.

In a volume entitled “Doctrine and Covenants,” are a great number of revelations, purporting to be from Jesus Christ to Smith and his coadjutors. The following extracts from a revelation given on the 22d and 23d of September, 1832, convey, it is believed, a fair specimen of the whole. We copy _verbatim_.