# The Evening and the Morning Star, v1n02, editorial matter attributed to W. W. Phelps (editor)
# Date: July 1832 (Independence, Missouri)
# Source: http://www.centerplace.org/history/ems/v1n02.htm (centerplace.org transcription). Pieces: HOSEA CHAPTER III; ITEMS FOR THE PUBLIC; TO THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, WHO PREACH GOOD TIDINGS TO THE WORLD. Notes: unsigned editorials in Phelps-edited issue (confidence medium; 'To Man' June 1832 signed W. W. PHELPS = high); revelations, scripture extracts, reprints, hymns, and others' letters excluded; quoted matter and detected unmarked scripture paragraphs stripped; transcriber bracket-corrections removed (original spelling retained).

[HOSEA CHAPTER III]

WE select this chapter for a few comments, because it contains some figures of speech, as well as plain prophecy.

Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other Gods, and love flagons of wine. So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a homer of barley, and a half homer of barley:

(->) Notwithstanding some, or nearly all professing denominations of what are called Christians, have invented a general rule to spiritualize the Scripture, yet these sacred records carry, on almost every page, a very different idea: For instance, when God said, let there be light and there was light, every rational man, that believes the word of God, must know it was temporally so, because the light continues yet. When God told Noah to prepare an Ark, for Behold I even I do bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh, who dare say it was not literally fulfilled? When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, and Pharaoh followed after and was swallowed up in the Red Sea, what spiritual construction will turn this mighty scene, from the power of God naturally displayed to man? When the Lord told Ahaz, Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and Jesus Christ came in the flesh: not only them that saw him and believed then, but those who have believed and have been baptized, and have received the gift of the Holy Ghost since, know that this prophecy was literally fulfilled as foretold. Using such literal examples far a guide, we shall commence literalizing this Chapter of Hosea, and say the first verse alluded to sending the gospel to the Gentiles, which Peter and Paul afterwards fulfilled.-No one can dispute that the woman means the church, for the Lord has created a new thing in the earth: A woman shall compass a man, and the church of Christ will eventually triumph over the man of sin, and Satan will be bound. The second and third verses may refer to the son of perdition, who sold his master for money.-Then salvation to the Gentiles: which salvation was to continue many days, viz: to the present day. The fourth verse shows the time that the children of Israel were to remain scattered abroad, without the sacred things which God gave unto them when they were to remain scattered abroad, without the sacred things which God gave unto them when they were in favour with him. They were even to do without the Teraphim, or sacred spectacles or declarers; supposed to be the same called gods and images when Jacob fled, from Laban. For Jacob was a man of God and did not worship idols or images. The original in Hebrew is Teraphim. Moses when blessing the tribes in the 33rd of Deuteronomy, s

It is also found in the records, that Jeremy the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it has been signified: And how that the prophet, having given them the law, charged them not to forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, when they see images of silver and gold, with their ornaments. And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts. It was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet, being warned of God, commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go with him, as he went forth into the mountain, where Moses climbed up, and saw the heritage of God. And when Jeremy came thither, he found a hollow cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door. And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but could not find it. Which when Jeremy perceived, he blamed them,

The fifth verse directs to the time of the gathering, and positively promises their return, which our Savior referred to, when he declared that he would send his angels and gather his Elect.-Here let it be known once for all, that Israel, the twelve tribes of Jacob, are the Elect of God. Isa. 45th and 4th and Romans 11th 28th which says, as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. Again, it not only promises the return of Israel in the latter days, but it declares that they shall seek the Lord their God, and David their King. Seek David their King! Here remember that David had been dead many years, for Hosea prophesied about 175 years before the Babylonish Captivity: It opens the meaning of the latter part of the 37th Chapter of Ezekiel, which speaking of the gathering of Israel, says that they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, and they shall dwell therein, they and their children, and their children's children for ever, and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. David must have had his eye upon the same thing when he said in the 71st Psalm, Thou shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depth of the earth. No man will attempt to say that the children of Israel have lived in the land of Jacob, governed by David as King or Prince, since God by the mouths of Hosea and Ezekiel declared, that such should be the case, in the latter days! The secret of the matter is, that God, in his infinite wisdom prepared the children of promise, the heirs of the Celestial kingdom, to live twice in the flesh on the earth, once in a state of probation; and once in a state of approbation, and this is the reason why Job exclaimed: For I know my Redeemer liveth, and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. And again this accounts for the Redeemed out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation, which John the Revelator saw who were made Kings and Priests to God, and reigned on earth or as it is written They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

[ITEMS FOR THE PUBLIC]

IN connexion with the star, we publish a weekly paper, entitled It will contain sketches of the news of the day, politics, advertisements, and whatever tends to promote the interests of the Great West.

(->) An extract from the Prophecy of Enoch in our next number.

(->) The which appears on the second page, is the greatest news that was ever published to man. It shows the economy of God, in preparing mansions for men: Blessed be the name of the Lord.

(->) Notwithstanding the Month of May was wet and cold, the weather, for some time past, has been such, that the prospect of the farmer is fair, and we have hopes of good crops.

(->) The frontier Indian war continues. There have been several killed on both sides. The government of the United States has appropriated $300,000 for this purpose, and we may calculate, the war will be prosecuted vigorously as far as necessary.

(->) The Cholera Morbus commenced its deadly work at Quebec, Lower Canada about the first of June. It is said to be severer, than in Europe. The will of God must be done whether by pestilence, famine, or the sword.

[TO THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, WHO PREACH GOOD TIDINGS TO THE WORLD]

BRETHREN, As stars of the ensign, which is now set up for the benefit of all nations, you are to enlighten the world; you are to prepare the way for the people to come up to Zion; you are to instruct men how to receive the fulness of the gospel, and the everlasting covenants, even them that were from the beginning; you are to carry the ARK OF SAFETY before the wondering multitudes, without fear, entreating, and beseeching all men to be saved; you are to set an example of meekness and humility before saints and sinners, as did the Savior; and when reviled you are not to revile again; you are to reason with men as in days of old, to bear patiently and answer as the spirit of truth shall direct, allowing all credit for every item of good. You are to walk in the valley of humility and pray for the salvation of all; yes, you are to pray for your enemies; and warn in compassion, without threatening the wicked with judgments which are to be poured upon the world hereafter. You have no right to take the judgments, which fell upon the ungodly before the flood, and pour them upon the head of this generation; you have no authority to use the judgments which God sent upon Pharaoh in Egypt, to terrify the inhabitants of America, neither have you any direction, by commandment, to collect the calamities of six thousand years, and paint them upon the curtain of these last days, to scare mankind to repentance; no; you are to preach the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, even glad tidings of great joy unto all people.

Again, you are not to take the blessings of an individual, or of a church, from the days of Enoch to the days of the apostles, and place them upon an individual or a church, in these last days; but you are to teach all men that they shall be judged according to their works: For, if God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, his reward is always with him, and his revelations and blessings, and judgments, before the flood, were fitted for that people and that time; in the days of Abraham, for that man and that time; in the days of Moses, for that man and that time; in the days of David, for that man and that time; in the days of Paul, for that man and that time; and now, for this generation, and this time: You therefore, must reason from the Bible and the Book of Mormon, with great care and not pervert the meaning of God's sacred word. If our Heavenly Father saw fit to destroy Sodom and Gomorah for their wickedness, Nineveh for its abomination, and Jerusalem for a transgression of his commandments, what have their destructions to do with the salvation of the world now? The Lord says vengeance is mine, and I will repay. Teach all men to trust in God and not in man, and do works meet for repentance.-Again, teach all men that God is a God of the living and not of the dead. Finally, whatever you do, do it with an eye single to the glory of god. You are the light of the world in matters of pure religion, and many souls may be required at your hands. Let the idea not leave you that, not only the eyes of the world, but the eyes of the angels and of God are upon you.

