Extract From the Voice of Warning. The Kingdom of God

"Seek first the kingdom of God" was the command of the Saviour [Savior] while on the earth, teaching the children of men.

Having taken a general view of the Prophesies Past and Future-we will now proceed to fulfil [fulfill] this command, and search out the kingdom of God. But before we proceed, I would again caution the reader not to proceed with me in this research, unless he is prepared to sacrifice every thing, even to his good name, and his life itself, if nesessary [necessary], as a sacrifice for the truth; for if he should once get a view of the kingdom of God, he will be so delighted as never to rest satisfied short of becoming a citizen of the same. And yet it will be so unlike every other system of religion now on earth, that he will be astonished that any person with the Bible in his his hand should ever have mistaken any of the systems of men, for the kingdom of God. Now there are certain powers, privileges, and blessings, pertaining to the kingdom of God, which are found in no other, kingdom nor enjoyed by any other people. And by these things it was ever distinguished from all other kingdoms and systems, insomuch [inasmuch] that the inquiring mind, who is seeking the kingdom of God, being once acquainted with these peculiarities concerning it, need never mistake or be at a loss to know when he has found it. But before we proceed any father [farther] in our research, let us agree upon the naming of the term or the sense in which we will use it; for some apply this term to the kingdom of Glory above, and some to the individual enjoyments of their own souls, while others apply it to his organized goverment [government] on the earth.-Now when we speak of the kingdom of God, we wish to be understood as speaking of his organized goverment [government] on the earth.

Now reader, we launch forth into the wide field before us, in search of kingdom. But stop, let us consider what is a kingdom? I reply that four things are required in order to constitute any kingdom, in Heaven or on earth: viz: first a king; second, commissioned officers duly qualified to execute his ordinances and laws; thirdly, a code of laws, by which the citizens are governed; and fourthly, subjects who are governed. Now, where these exist in their proper order and regular authority, there is a kingdom: but where either of these cease to exist there is a disorganization of the kingdom, consequently an end of the kingdom, until

re-organized after the same manner as before. Now in this respect, the kingdom of God is like all other kingdoms: wherever we find officers duly commissioned and qualified by the Lord Jesus, together with his ordinances and laws existing in purity, unmixed with any precepts or commandments of men; there the kingdom of God exists, and there his power is manifest, and his blessings enjoyed as in days of old.

We shall now take a view of the commencement of the setting up of the kigdom [kingdom] of God in the days of the Apostles. The first intimation of its near approach was by an angel to Zachariah, promising him a Son, who should go before the king to prepare his way. The next manifestation was to Mary, and finally to Joseph, by an holy angel, promising the birth of the Messiah; while at the same time the Holy Ghost manifested unto Simeon in the temple, that he should not die until he had seen the Saviour [Savior]. Thus, all these, together with the shepherds and the wise men from the east began to rejoice with a joy unspeakable and full of glory, while the world around them knew not the occasion of their joy. After these things, all seemed to rest in silent expectation, until John had grown to manhood, when he came bounding from the wilderness of Judea with a proclamation strange and new: crying, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand baptizing unto repentance, telling them plainly that their king, was already standing among them on the point of setting up his kingdom.

And while he yet ministered, the Messiah came, and was baptized and sealed with the Spirit of God, which rested upon him in the form of a dove, and soon after he began the same proclamation as John, saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

And soon after choosing twelve disciples, he sent them forth into all the cities of Judea, with the same proclamation-the kingdom of heaven is at hand: and after them he sent seventy, and still another seventy, with the same news, so that all might be warned and prepared for a kingdom, which was soon to be organized among them.-But when these things had produced the desired effect, in causing a general expectation, more especially in the hearts of his deciples [disciples], who daily expected to triumph over their persecutors, by a coronation of this glorious personage, while they themselves were hoping for a reward of all their toil and sacrifices made for his sake by being exalted to dignity near his person-what must have been their disappointment, when they saw their king taken and crucified, being mocked, derided, ridiculed, and finally' overcame and triumphed over both by Jew and Gentile? They would gladly have died in battle, to have placed him upon the throne. But tamely to submit without a struggle, to give up all their expectations, and sink in despair from the highest pitch of enthusiasm to the lowest degradation, was more that they could well endure. They shrunck [shrunk] back in sorrow, and turned every man unto his net, or to their several occupations, supposing all was over: probably with reflection like these: is this the result of all our labours [labors]? was it for this, we forsook all worldly objects, our friends, our houses, and lands, suffering persecution, hunger, fatigue, and disgrace?-and we trusted it should have been he, who would have delivered Israel: but alas, they have killed him and all is over. For three years we have awakened a general expectation through all Judea, by telling them the kingdom of heaven was at hand, but now our king is dead how shall we dare to look the people in the face. With these reflection, each pursuing his own course, all was again turned to silence, and the voice had ceased to be heard in Judea, crying, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven as at hand. Jesus slept in the arms of death; a great stone with the seal of state secured the tomb where he lay, while the Roman guard stood in watchful silence, to see that all was kept secure; when suddenly from the regions of glory, a mighty angel descended, at whose presence the soldiers fell back as dead men, while he rolled the stone from the door of the sepulcher, and the Son of God awoke from his slumbers. burst the bonds of death, and soon after appearing to Mary, he sent her to the disciples, with the joyful news of his resurrection, and appointing a place

to meet them. When, after seeing him, all their sorrow was turned into joy and all their former hopes were suddenly revived, they were no longer to cry, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, but were to tarry at Jerusalem, until the kingdom was established, and they prepared to unlock the door of the kingdom, and to adopt strangers and foreigners into it as legal citizens, by administering certain laws and ordinances, which were invariably the laws of adoption; without which no man could ever become a citizen.-Having ascended up on high, and having been crowned with all powers in heaven and on earth, he again comes to his disciples and gives them their authority, saying unto them, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned: and these signs shall follow them that believe: in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."-Mark xvi., 15, 16, 17, 18. [to be continued.]

TIMES AND SEASONS.

COMMERCE, ILL. APRIL, 1840

We have several lengthy communications, and numerous extracts, which for want of room we are under the necessity of omitting in this No. but they will appear in our next.

We are happy however, to be able to state that the cause of truth is gaining ground very rapidly in almost every State in the Union; hundreds are embracing the gospel both at home and abroad almost daily; the East are listening to the proclamation of truth with intense interest, and hundreds are yielding obedience to the requirements of the gospel, and are rejoicing in its gifts and blessings: the South is contributing no small share of the honest in heart as candidates for the celestial kingdom of our God; and the west and north are "not keeping back," but are following the glorious example: Finally the great wheel has rolled with such velocity, that it has crossed the mighty deep, and the "Old Country" is now listening with interest to the gospel of the Redeemer, and his kingdom is rising in majesty, not only in England, but Scotland, is begining [beginning] to rejoice in the heavenly principles; yes, Edinburgh, the seat of science and literature are now being made acquainted with the gospel, and some are obeying its precepts.-Thus the cause of truth rolls on, and priests, people, mobs nor the devil cannot hinder it in its decreed course; therefore, O Lord! arm thy servants with with power, wisdom and grace, according to the greatness of the dispensation which thou hast committed to them: O give them thy Spirit, that they may rightly divide the word of truth, that they may be clad with righteousness as with a garment, and "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." And go forth among all nations proclaiming the words of eternal life, until Israel shall be gathered, and the heavens shall "reveal the Son of God in flaming fire" to the utter consumation [consummation] of the wicked, and the glorious establishment of the principles of righteousness upon the face of the whole earth, is the prayer of they servant: Amen.

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