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bread, abundance of idleness, cruelty, ambition, and other evils, have a tendency to afflict mankind, and to operate as a curse upon them; so certainly, will humility, love, mercy, temperance, and patience, confer blessings on every act, and bring peace, joy, and consolation, over our spirits. And our reward is not uncertain-it is not at a great distance-it is not beyond the grave: for the kingdom of heaven is within you. And if we are disobedient unto its laws, we bring ourselves unto the gates of hell. And what are these devils, these tormentors, if they are not the sense of evils which we have committed, and which bring trouble over our minds? Therefore, I feel no hesitation in coming to the conclusion, that every individual who has fallen from the witness for God in his own mind, has crucified God afresh, and put him to an open shame; and every man who has cast out the angel of the divine presence, and cultivated an aversion for all the heavenly dispositions, such an individual constitutes a fallen angel: and every fallen angel is a devil.

Now under this view of the subject, we need not say who shall ascend into heaven to bring Christ down from above? Or, who shall descend into the deep, to bring Christ up from thence? The word is nigh thee, even in thy heart and

in thy mouth, to hear it and do it. This principle which reproves for evil, is instructive, for here we come to a knowledge of that which God hath a controversy with, in each individual; and the proud will feel the effects of pride, and if cruel, he will perceive the fatal effects of cruelty, and that which brings sorrow, will create an abhorrence of it. And thus it is, that the blind eyes are opened-thus it is, that the spiritual ears are unstopped, to hear the voice of wisdom; and by the operation of the same process, every malady of the soul becomes healed, and we are raised from a death of sin, to a life of Christ. And this is by the power of the gospel, which is baptizingly preached in every creature. And thus we have a fulfilment of the whole declaration, that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile.

Now in the performance of these acts, there is a daily obedience and a daily manifestation. We find that this new law is not statutory but prescriptive, and adapted to every state and condition. And as some are lofty, proud, and fierce; these are brought under sorrow and trouble-brought under the correcting power of what is called conscience; these feel the effects of their own works, and they receive the reward

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of their own works. "Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Wo unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hand shall be given him." As we attend daily to these manifestations, they will bring down the mountains of pride, and all those things which are above the witness for God in our souls; and the low and despairing will at times become. partakers of the cup of his consolation, and be raised into firmness, the crooked and perverse dispositions will be made straight, and the rough places plain.

Thus mankind, through very different operations of the same baptism, will be brought to that mighty level in which the glory of the Lord will cover the earth, and every earthly and evil propensity will be brought under his influence as the waters cover the sea. Here it is, that we must experience this wilderness of desolation to become an Eden, and this desert "like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody." And it was this view of the subject that the prophet had, when he saw that coincidence and accordance of all the various dispositions which he describes; and where the most ravenous and vicious dispositions unite with those the most

meek and barmless-" The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, together, and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

Thus we see that every rancorous disposition will be brought to meekness, and that there will be none to destroy. These are the effects of the gospel of Christ; and this is the nature of true christianity. And until these effects are produced, and thus experienced in our minds— though morning, noon, and evening we may pray, and lift up our voice like a trumpet, and bow down the head like a bulrush, and call it prayer, or adopt systems, and speculative theories of religion, all will be useless and unavailing: for the kingdom of God stands not in words, but in power; not in opinions, but in obedience. It stands not in sentiments, nor in the exertion of our rational faculties in rowing all day

through the tempestuous sea of speculation: but it stands in, and is supported by, an intrinsic internal power, which gives us the victory over all opposing dispositions, and in the ark of safety we are raised above all fluctuating elements. And here we come to know a mighty angel to fly through heaven, preaching the everlasting gospel; not with the wisdom of words, but with power. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

Now, my friends, I have not declared these things unto you boastingly, or as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I trust I am endeavouring to follow after, if haply I may rise into that state which is designed for me, or, as said the apostle, "apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." And in this I would not direct you unto him as an external offering. But I commend you to God, the author of your existence. And I again commend you unto him, and the word of his

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