# The Evening and the Morning Star, v1n12, editorial matter attributed to W. W. Phelps (editor)
# Date: May 1833 (Independence, Missouri)
# Source: http://www.centerplace.org/history/ems/v1n12.htm (centerplace.org transcription). Pieces: PREACH THE WORD; CHILDREN; SAINT JOHN. 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).

[PREACH THE WORD]

It is very necessary that the disciples of our Lord, especially those that have come up to the land of Zion for an inheritance, and those that have been planted in their inheritance, should have the word preached unto them, that they may understand the peaceable things of the kingdom. Wisdom is profitable for the saints. Jeremiah said: The Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King; at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation: he hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom. And it is certainly important, that all who have come up to the land of Zion, professing to be the disciples of Christ, while blessed with knowledge and wisdom from on high, should be dictated with wisdom enough, to walk in obedience to all the commandments, and observe all the statues of their Lord, not by constraint but willingly, that their reward may be from above.

While in the world, surrounded with fashions, vanities, abominations, and evil spirits, it can not be expected that the members of the church of Christ, considering their opportunities to acquire knowledge, having but little time, or opportunity, with the elders who declare the word to them, can be free from the world; neither is it expected that they will have a knowledge of the evil spirits which are abroad in the earth, nor keep all the commandments, and have an understanding of all the statues of the Lord, as perfectly, as those who have been upon the land of Zion for years. Where much is given, much will be required. How important then, that all walk perfectly, so that, when the destroying angel goes through, he may pass over them and not slay them. Not all that say Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom.

This being the last generation of the wicked, before the Lord comes to his temple, satan will exert himself, and use all his power to overthrow, or hinder the progress of Christ's kingdom. Every deception, therefore, that he is master of, will be practiced, as far as he has power, that he may deceive some, and lead them to destruction. John said in one of his epistles, supposed to have been written ninety eight years after the birth of our Lord: Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. If false prophets, and evil spirits were then in the world, what less is to be expected now, since the world has been engrossed in wickedness, and lain in darkness for ages; the sacred scriptures been robbed of their plainness, and man set himself up as a guide, to direct his fellow beings to happiness by his own wisdom? Is it not important, that the disciples try the spirits, and be reminded continually of the word of the Lord to his ancient disciples, when he said:

After Paul had been writing to Timothy concerning things which would come to pass in the last days, he s

It might be well to bear in mind, that Paul was then writing to the first bishop of the church at Ephesus, and notwithstanding he had previously written to his Ephesian brethren, reminding them of the great promises of the Lord, yet Timothy was required to watch, and labor with all diligence, that they might be blameless, as some of them would not endure, but turn from the truth. And when Paul called the elders of the church at Ephesus, unto him at Miletus, which was the last time they saw his face in the flesh, he said:

After Paul had declared to his Ephesian brethren, that those who first trusted in Christ, should be to the praise of his glory, he says: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. This then, was the condition of one of the churches built up by the ancient apostles: some were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, and some would not endure sound doctrine; and even of the elders, Paul said, some should arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them, &c.; so that Timothy was charged to reprove, rebuke and exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine. And the Lord has said in these last days, that there will be foolish virgins among the wise until he comes. This has always been the case in the church of Christ on earth, more or less since the beginning, except in the days before the city of Enoch was taken to the bosom of the Father.

To be prepared for the coming of the bridegroom, is an all-important preparation; we must have oil in our vessels, and our lamps trimmed and burning. How necessary then, that we walk in humility before the Lord: this certainly is pleasing unto him, for if we walk so, he bestows his Spirit. In this condition we can search his holy commandments, and learn our duty. For unless we keep all his commandments blameles with thanksgiving, we are not prepared to meet him.-By keeping his commandments, we have the promise of his blessings; and by keeping his commandments, we are endowed with the Comforter, and by it, we can try all the spirits and know whether they are of the Lord or not.

To have the Spirit of the Lord always in our hearts, requires a perfect walk in his statutes. A thousand things may be imagined in our minds, and for an instant supposed to be of the Lord, but to be certain, they must be compared with the word, and found to agree. The creations of the Lord, roll in their regular courses, and the stars move in their beautiful order, and will till their time is fulfilled. So likewise with his word. If it has been written and sealed up for ages; if it has been kept from the eyes of man from generation to generation, because of wickedness, when it is brought forth by his own gift and power, the same beauty will manifest itself in it, without a jar or discord, as in that which has been permitted to remain, and still more, as it is given in plainness.

Every good and perfect gift is from above: every thing that enlightens, every thing that invites to do good and persuades men to believe in Christ, is sent forth by his gift and power; every spirit then manifested which edifies, is of the Lord if he from whom it is manifested obeys his ordinances.

As all were not called, nor chosen for the same office, it behooves every disciple to watch that they are not deceived. Our Lord says: To some is given by the Holy Ghost, to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world; to others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful. And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the differences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men. And again it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether it be of God or not, so that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every man to profit withal.

As all have not the same gift, but to some it is given to discern all the gifts, lest some should be manifested and not be of the Lord, and thereby the church be deceived, we beseech all the disciples to search diligently the revelations, and learn the order of the kingdom of our heavenly Father. In this way we shall be preserved from evil, and delivered from seducing spirits and doctrines of devils and the commandments and precepts of men. Every thing in the church of God must be conducted in order, according to the authority of the offices which he has given; for these all were given for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

In this way, while we are taught from the revelations, and guided by the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened, and grow up in all things, into him who is our head, even Christ; and when the rains descend, and the floods come, and the winds blow, we shall not be harmed neither moved. But if we deviate from his word, and hold not his sacred oracles carefully, we have not the assurance of his protection from the storm of the enemy, who is stirred up in great anger, knowing he has but a short time.

It requires much time and study to learn all the commandments of the Lord but when we have learned them, they will profit us, for they are sure.

We may readily see by the 14th chapter of Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians that he was careful of sacred things, and preserve order. He says: Let all things be done unto edifying. Moroni, in speaking of the manner of conducting meetings among the Nephites when they were righteous, says, they were conducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost.

In a revelation given for the instruction of the church in these last days, it reads: But notwithstanding these things which are written, it always has been given to the elders of my church from the beginning, and ever shall be, to conduct all meetings as they are directed and guided by the Holy Spirit.

There is much said about miracles, and thousands suppose if they could see one performed, they would believe. When Moses had received the message from the Lord, while feeding the flocks of his father-in-law at the Mount Horeb, he returned to Egypt, and in company with Aaron, called the elders of the children of Israel together, and performed those signs in the sight of the people, which were given them of the Lord, and they believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped . But when they were performed before Pharaoh, he said: Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

It would seem, that some among the servants of Pharaoh believed the word of the Lord by Moses, when the hail was about to come upon the Egyptians, for they caused that their cattle and their servants should flee into the houses. And also, when the locusts were to be sent into the coasts of Egypt, some of the servants of Pharaoh said:

Here we have a sample how far signs and wonders, and even judgments, convince mankind, or the wicked, of the existence and power of God.

When Moses visited his brethren the children of Israel, when he was forty years old, he supposed they would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them; but they understood not: and in consequence of his avenging one who was oppressed, he was obliged to flee. But after remaining in the land of Midian forty years, the children of Israel by this time, were humbled by oppression, and heavy burdens, so that, when the message from the Lord came, they were ready to believe; but Pharaoh in his pride, said: Who is the Lord? and was driven on in his wickedness and hardness of heart, until he, and his mighty host, were drowned in the Red Sea.

After the children of Israel were saved from the power of their enemies; brought forth into the desert; fed with angel's food, and with quails to their fill; the Lord going before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; after hearing the voice of the living God in the thunder from Sinai, and even Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, with seventy of the elders of Israel, went up with Moses, where they saw the God of Israel: after Moses had gone up into the mount to receive the precious oracles from his own hand, because he delayed to come down, they took their golden ear rings fashioned them with a graving tool, after they had made them a molten calf, and said:

Paul, at the close of his epistle to his brethren at Rome, says: Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning. Peter, in his second epistle, says, that the Lord turned the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly. If the saints in the days of Paul, could learn by those things which were written before them, and if the Lord made ensamples of the wicked by destroying them in days of old, would it not be wisdom for those who are favored with the oracles of God in these last days, to beware and hold them carefully?

But they despised the promised rest, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt, and rejected signs and wonders; and after forty years' travel, were permitted to enter the land of Canaan. In these last days their seed will again be brought to inherit the same land, the righteous among all nations be gathered according to the word of the Lord, & those who keep his commandments, see his face, while those who do not, perish.

Having taken sufficient from the history of the ancients, to show the dealings of the Lord with them, by all these examples we may in our day receive instruction. In fact, it only needs a careful examination of the records of olden time, to convince the unprejudiced and sincere, that great things await the inhabitants of the earth in the last days.

Much is said in our day relative to the literal fulfillment of ancient prophecy.-Some assert, that the ancient prophecies are to be literally fulfilled. Others say that those pointing to the coming of the Messiah, were to be, and were literally fulfilled, but the remainder of the prophecies contained in the bible, are to be Spiritually understood, and that they are not to be fulfilled literally, or are not to take place as they read, according as they were spoken by the mouths of the prophets.

We find a prophecy contained in the 18th chapter of Deuteronomy, spoken by Moses, t

This prophecy according to Matthew, was literally fulfilled, probably between seven and eight hundred years after it was spoken.

The word of the Lord to the Israelites, was, that they should be scattered if they rejected his word; and in the 17th chapter of II Kings, we learn that they were led away captive out of their own lands. The Jews were admonished from time to time, and the Lord said that they should be carried captive to Babylon, and according to the scriptures, in the days of Zedekiah their king, they were. He also said that they should return and re-build Jerusalem, and after seventy years' captivity, this promise was literally fulfilled.

In five hundred and thirty years from the end of their captivity, the Savior was born in Bethlehem of Judea, as Matthew s

Micah, who probably delivered the above prophecy, lived in the days of Isaiah, as it will be seen by the commencement of the two books. Indeed, his comes very near the words recorded in Matthew. He s

When Christ rode into Jerusalem, Matthew says all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,

Before the Savior was crucified, when instructing his disciples concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and the signs of his coming, he says, There shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. The prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and the scattering of the Jews, was literally fulfilled. All who are acquainted with the history of Jerusalem, know that it has been trodden down by the Gentiles, notwithstanding all the efforts made in the holy wars, to wrest it from the power of barbarism.

In these quotations, we have a plain sample of the literal fulfillment of ancient prophecy; and not finding any rule directing them to be understood different, given by those from whose mouths were delivered, the rules of men formed by their own wisdom, certainly must fail to establish the principle in the mind of the diligent searcher after truth, that they were ever designed by the great Author of them, to be understood in the least, contrary from what they were actually spoken, by those who spake moved by the Holy Ghost.

Many parables were spoken by our Savior, and many figures, types, similitudes, &c., were set forth by the ancient prophets. We conclude then, that a parable is to be taken, or understood and applied as a parable; and that figures, types, or similitudes, are to be understood and applied as such. But if the plain word of God, without a parable, without a similitude, and without a type, spoken to man, with all the fulfillment of plain prophecy which ever has been from the beginning to Christ, and from that time to the present, for examples, is not now, in these last days to be literally fulfilled, then certainly a change has taken place, and the Lord is a respecter to persons, and dealt better with our fathers than with us! but this is not the case: he ever remains unchangeably the same.

The prophet that said, rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem:

It may be thought by some, that the destruction and captivity here mentioned, would refer to the time of the captivity of the Jews, by Nebuchadnezzar; but a moment's reflection is sufficient to correct the idea, as only half were to be cut off and go into captivity: and also, this prophecy was spoken after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, who took all except the poor with him to Babylon, and they, in a short time fled into Egypt, and Jerusalem and the land of Judea lay waste; and, according to the words of the prophet Jeremiah, enjoyed her Sabbaths for seventy years.

Some may suppose, that if this captivity does not mean the captivity of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar, that it may be applied to the destruction of Jerusalem after the Savior was crucified: but this is not so, because when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, no part was left. According to the account, one million one hundred thousand of the Jews perished, ninety seven thousand were taken prisoners; besides an innumerable company in other places of Judea, killed themselves, or perished through famine, banishment, or other miseries.

It can be seen further by the expression of the prophet, that this captivity has not yet been, for he says that when one half of the city goes forth, and the other half not cut off, that, Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations as when he fought in the day of battle. By the expression above, it will be seen that all nations are to be gathered against Jerusalem at the time of this captivity, which has never been at any of her previous destructions. By the mouth of Jeremiah before the Babylonish captivity, the Lord said, Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, & will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.

By this prophecy from Jeremiah, it may be seen that all nations were not to be gathered against Jerusalem at the time of Nebuchadnezzar's conquest over it, but that the nations round her, were also to become subject to him as well as the Jews; for he further says, These nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.-But at the end of seventy years, he would punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, and the land of the Chaldeans, and make it perpetual desolations.

But when all nations are gathered against Jerusalem to battle, and the city is taken, &c., and the Lord goes forth to fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle, the prophet s

If the last quotation is to be literally fulfilled, then certainly the Lord himself will come upon the earth once more for the salvation of his people, and according to the word of the prophet, set his feet again upon the mount of Olives before the city of Jerusalem. That the captivity spoken of by Zechariah, does not mean the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, is plain, because then the city was utterly destroyed, and according to the word of the Savior to his apostles before he was crucified, the Jews were led captive into all nations: when at the time, of which Zechariah speaks, only a half of the city is to go into captivity, while the residue are not to be cut off from the city.

At the time when the Lord sets his feet upon the mount of Olives, agreeable to Zechariah, and the mount divides so as to form a valley, he further s

If this prophecy is to be literally fulfilled yet, and the following which immediately succeeds it will also show that it has not been: then the inhabitants of the earth may rely upon the certainty of the Savior's making his appearance in person from heaven. Zechariah further s

All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem:

All who are acquainted with the situation of Jerusalem, know that there is but the small brook Cedron, which takes its rise there, and that empties into the sea of Sodom, or the lake of Sirbon, anciently called, now called the Dead Sea. But the prophet said, that living waters should go out from Jerusalem in summer and in winter, half toward the former sea, and half toward the hinder sea. Ezekiel who was among the captive Jews in the land of Chaldea, after giving a description of the re-settling of the Israelites in the land of Canaan in the last days, and after giving a plan, or description of the house of the Lord then to be built, says, Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the outer gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ancles . Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen; waters to swim in; a river that could not be passed over.

From the prophecy of Ezekiel then, we also learn, that a change is to take place at Jerusalem, if this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled; and that it yet remains to be fulfilled, must be admitted from the facts, that those waters mentioned, do not now flow; and, that the land of Palestine has never been divided into inheritances for the whole twelve tribes of Israel, as mentioned by him since they were led away captive by Shalmaneser king of Assyria in the days of Hoshea king of Israel, seven hundred and between twenty and thirty years before Christ came in the flesh.

From this prophecy of Zechariah, if we may understand him as it is written, we may conclude, that the Lord is coming on earth yet before the end, and, that from the city of Jerusalem, where now rises the small stream Cedron, living waters will go out from thence in summer and in winter; and according to Ezekiel, they will be a great river. A material change will also take place with the country south of Jerusalem according to Zechariah. The city is now situated on a rocky mountain, on all sides of which are steep ascents, except toward the north. But he s

Again, the prophet that said, A virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, also said, Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. He further s

The Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land:

Perhaps some may think, that the last quotation was fulfilled when the Jews returned from Babylon. But it will be recollected, that the house of Israel, as the ten tribes were called after their revolt from the house of David in the commencement of the reign of Rehoboam the son of Solomon, were not led to Babylon, but were taken away more than one hundred years before the Babylonish captivity.-And that this prophecy can not be applied to the Jews, will be admitted from the fact, that when they returned from Babylon, they neither took those captives, whose captives they were, nor did they rule over their oppressors.

Some may suppose, that if the above prophecy of the return of Israel, when they were to rule over their oppressors, does not mean the return of the Jews from Babylon, it is to be understood in a spiritual sense, or in some manner different from the plain words. But it can be seen in the preceding chapter, that the destruction of Babylon is spoken of by the Lord by the mouth of the prophet where he says,

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

It can be seen from Daniel, that this prophecy upon Babylon, so far as related to its being taken by the Medes, took place in the days of Belshazzar the son of Nebuchadnezzar; and that it has long remained desolate, a habitation for dragons, and a court for owls, a lasting monument of the literal fulfillment of ancient

prophecy, can not but be admitted by all. Not a spire, not a tower, not a palace, nor scarce a wall, or even a stone remain visible, to show where once stood the ancient and splendid city Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeas' excellency.

From Isaiah then, we find the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah, and the destruction of Babylon; and we find from others, that both were literally fulfilled. If we are to understand that the remainder of his prophecy is to be literally fulfilled, (and he has left no rule to the contrary) then certainly, the children of Israel may lift up their heads and rejoice, for they will yet be gathered. For the prophet, after saying that the earth should be full of the knowledge of the Lord, and that the Lord should set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, says, that the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dry-shod. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Asyria: like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

When the defenced city is desolate, the habitation forsaken, and left like a wildernes , Isaiah s

The Lord also says by Isaiah, Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers, yea, upon all the houses of the joyous city: because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens forever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks, until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places, when it shall hail coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.

From these prophecies then, we conclude, that if the Lord ever brought the children of Israel out from Egypt, and divided the waters that they might pass over in the days of Moses; even so in the last days he will gather them again, and according to the prophet, smite the river in the seven streams or beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt and cause them to pass over dryshod. If Jerusalem and the land of Judea, were inhabited in ancient days by the children of Israel, even so in the last days they will be again.

If the Lord ever made his appearance in the flesh, was born in Bethlehem of Judea, rode into Jerusalem, was smitten upon the cheek, slain upon the cross, rose from the dead and ascended on high according to the scriptures, then in these last days he will set his feet upon the mount of Olives, deliver his people, that Jerusalem become a quiet habitation, and no more be destroyed.-For the prophet said, The Lord my God shall come and all the saints with thee:

For the time is at hand, when the Lord will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents and have mercy on his dwelling-places:

For the time is near when that which was written by Jeremiah concerning the house of Israel, will be fulfilled, which s

For the time is near, when the Lord will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.

None need mistake relative to the time of the fulfillment of the above prophecy; nor need any suppose for a moment that it has yet been fulfilled, for Jeremiah, (by whose mouth it was spoken) lived long after the house of Israel were led away captive, who have not since returned to their former habitation in righteousness, when their iniquity has been sought for and there was none: but the time is near.

And the time is near when the Lord will fulfil his promise to the house of Israel, and to the house of Judah, according to his covenant, when he will put his law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; when he will be their God, and they will be his people. When none will have occasion to say to his neighbor, or brother, Know the Lord: for all will know him from the least of them to the greatest of them. These promises are sure to the children of Israel, as the fact is certain, that the Lord gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and stars for a light by night; and that heaven above can not be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath by man.

For the time is near when the Lord will rend the heavens, and come down, and the mountains flow down at his presence. When he will reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients, gloriously: when there are none to molest or make afraid in all his holy mountain. Therefore, we again beseech the disciples of our Lord, to let solemnity rest upon their minds, to lift up their heads and rejoice, and put their trust in him whose word never fails, and whose course is one eternal round.

[CHILDREN]

Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord, says the Psalmist; and our Savior said, Wisdom is justified of her children: let them, then, be trained up in the way they should go, that when they are old, they may not depart from it: let them be trained up in the commandments of the Lord, and they will be saved in his kingdom.

After Lehi had finished speaking to his sons, as he was about to leave this world, he said to the children of his eldest son:

Among many nations, some of the children are schooled and taught much of the wisdom and knowledge of the world, that they may have a knowledge of men and things, and become famous. If, then, the world, merely for gain and fame, which, to their children, can not last longer than life, train them up to science and learning, for the sake of happiness in this state of existence, how much more necessary is it, that the disciples of Jesus Christ should teach their children, not only in common learning to transact business among men, but in the knowledge of God, which points out their way to eternal life?

As soon as Adam became a member of the church of Christ, by being baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit, he received a commandment to teach his children; which is the first example of teaching children, and might serve as a profitable lesson to all the disciples of our Lord in these last days to do likewise, lest the blood of their souls be required at their hands in a day to come.

We feel anxious on this point, when we reflect upon a certain clause of a revelation given for the benefit of the saints in November, 1831, and particularly for the saints in Zion, who are required to teach their children the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, that they may be baptized, and receive the Comforter, and all this by the time they are eight years old. Certainly, then, there is to be an important duty attended to, by all who are blessed with children in Zion. In the world, surrounded with wickedness, children are allowed (many of them) to do as they please, or as their fancy leads them, being allured by the scenes of vice and folly constantly presented before them, until they grow up to years, and then are prepared themselves to fill the same paths of wretched depravity.

But in Zion, where the disciples are blessed with the oracles of God from time to time, they may so instruct their children, especially those that are now young, that they will be strangers to the thousand vices which now shock the meek and honest in heart, who are striving to do the will of the Lord in the world. Here

they may be kept from polluting the holy Sabbath, from strolling about according to their own wills, and mingling with those who blaspheme the name of their Maker. Here they may be taught to appear before the Lord from time to time, and unite their petitions to him with their parents, and call down the richest blessings from above upon their heads: so that, out of the mouths of babes, praise may be perfected. Here they may grow up in righteousness, and be prepared to meet their Lord in peace, when he comes in his glory.

How important then, that they be watched over, and instructed in a feeling and impressive manner. How important that they be taught to be sober, and avoid every vain and foolish amusement. How important that they be taught to love one another, and always speak the truth: and that for every word they will have to give an account. How important that they be taught to avoid quarrels, and angry words. How important that they be taught that God sees their hearts, and knows the thoughts and intents of the same. How important that they be taught the example of the Savior, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. How important that they be taught that he laid down his life for mankind, and that ere long he will judge the secrets of all hearts, and that none can escape the glance of his all-searching eye.

Up to the days, when the tower of Babel was built, there was but one language, and how far the knowledge of men extended as a whole family, we shall not pretend to say. But notwithstanding Noah and his sons were saved from destruction, because of wickedness the earth was divided in the days of Peleg, the sixth from Noah; after which Abraham was called, and unto him and his seed the promises were made.

The words that the Lord gave to Moses for Israel, were commanded to be taught diligently unto their children also, that they might grow up in the knowledge of God.

We said we would not pretend to say how far the knowledge of the world extended as one great family, even up to the days when the tower was built: but as to the saints, we have a right to say from facts revealed, that, before the flood, they knew more than the world will believe now: yes they had a knowledge of the mysteries of eternity, that have been hid from the eyes of the wicked men for ages and generations; mysteries and glories which have been sought for by holy men, and seen by an eye of faith, even the city of Enoch, that was taken up to the bosom of the Father.

What is learnt in childhood, is retained in age: so then, let us teach our children the great virtues that make men good; and the truth from God that guides to eternal life.

We will teach them to trust in the arm of the Lord; to respect their parents; to honor age, and not rove abroad; for hundreds that have roamed to foreign parts, have been ruined. When children, as soon as they are old enough are seen seeking employment and diversion for themselves, we may calculate, in nine cases out of ten, that they have not been taught strictly to keep the commandments of the Lord, for if they had, the words of truth would always be in their hearts: Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Men, that have not professed to be guided by the revelations or religion of Jesus, have had wisdom enough to adopt the maxim of the poet:

Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclin'd.

Now, if the world at large, form their minds by precept, how much more noble will it be in the sight of the Lord, for the saints to teach their children by example.

When men preach about being saved, before a scrutinizing generation, they must show, by example, that they are heirs of eternal life themselves, or who will be bettered by what they say? If children are taught to be humble, and keep the commandments of God, they set a pattern for mankind, that the angels will rejoice over. The Savior, when speaking of little children, said: Of such is the kingdom of heaven.

The prayers of the righteous avail much; yea, much more than many are aware of; and it ought to be impressed upon the minds of children. It ought to be impressed upon their minds also, as soon as they are old enough to know good and evil, that this life is one in which they must prepare for another: that this world will pass away, and bring them in the resurrection, into the presence of Jesus Christ, if they have kept his commandments, where they will live and reign.

It is a glorious thought, that some of the present generation will live to see great things, but it is more glorious to reflect, that the time is near when all that live will know the Lord, from the least even to the greatest: Then the children will be a heritage of God.

[SAINT JOHN]

It is generally admitted that Saint John wrote his book of Revelations in the year 96 after the birth of the Savior. There has been much said by many on the import of the two following verses, viz:

Now let the reader take notice, that the words of the prophecy of this book, meant the Revelation of Saint John, and not the whole bible as some have endeavored to make the world believe.

If John meant any other book than his Revelation, it would have been better for him to have written his gospel and his epistles first: But the Index to the Holy Bible, which is appended to many Great Bibles, has this information: Saint John is banished into the isle of Patmos by Domitian, and there receives and writes his Revelation. After the death of Domitian St. John returns to Ephesus, and at the request of the church writes his gospel.

The fact is, the various books of the bible were not put together, in form, for many hundred years after John wrote the Revelations, and when authorised to be translated into English, by king James, the translators rejected some books, as doubtful, & admitted others with a small majority of one or two votes, as is said, and all this, too, without a prophet to inquire of the Lord, and know what was right.

John was the beloved disciple of the Lord, and would never be the first to break the Revelations of his Savior.

And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it my belly was bitter.

This promise to John that he should again prophesy, brings to mind what the Savior said to him before he was crucified:

Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die:

In one of the late revelations to the church in these last days, it is thus given of what was said:

