HERALD
OF THE
KINGDOM AND AGE TO COME.
RICHMOND, VA., MARCH, 1851.
We invite the particular attention of our readers to the article headed “What ought to be done at this Crisis.” We printed several hundred copies of it for circulation in Britain, which were nearly all distributed gratuitously. It was suggested, however, when they were nearly all gone, that it would be better to charge something for them to make sure that they would be read, and not destroyed without a reading, which they might probably be if given away without money or price. The suggestion was a good one; for no one will pay for what he takes no interest in. If a man purchase he expects to get something for his money; and he reads to see if he has got the something, or spent his money for nought. We published with this article another styled “The Fierce Democracy and the Powers that be,” showing the working of things in Europe, and the crisis to which they were tending. The two articles were upon one sheet; and adopting the hint, we employed a man at 37 cents a day to go into the stores in the principal streets of London to sell them at two cents apiece. He sold enough to pay his hire from day to day. In his rounds he went into a tailor’s store in Cheapside to make sale of a copy. He recommended the knight of the needle to buy one on the ground of the information it would afford him in relation to the density of Europe as predicted in the prophets. “Oh,” said he, “I care nothing about Europe or its destiny; it may sink into the abyss for what I care, so that I can sell my coats!” What can be done with such creatures, but to “let them alone.” If a copy had been given him, he would probably have cut it up for a pattern. Yet this man is not alone in his stupidity and folly. He is only a specimen of his class—a bright ensample of the swinish multitude; concerning which Jesus says, “throw not your pearls before swine; and give not things holy unto dogs.” The masses of mankind have no souls for any thing above the objects of sense around them. They are “earthly and sensual,” and devoted only to “the things seen and temporal,” which are to them the chief good of their existence past, present, and to come. Such was this seller of coats, whose only sympathy with humanity according to his own avowal, found its focus in the pockets of his customers. So heart-hardening is trade when it monopolises the souls of men.
The article was written at the request of the leading men of a Second Advent congregation, before which we had often lectured. They had become convinced that Millerism was not the true interpretation of the Advent. They came to see that the Twelve Tribes of Israel would be restored to Palestine, and become an united nation and one kingdom in the land under the Son of David and of God; and that all the gentile nations that survived his indignation, would be organised into a dominion or empire, and made subject to the Kingdom of Israel, as Hindostan, British America, and the Isles of the Sea, are subject to the kingdom of England, only under an infinitely superior constitution of things, civil, ecclesiastical, and spiritual. They confessed that as Millerites they knew nothing as they ought to know; and requested us to put them in the way of reading the Law and the Testimony intelligibly and profitably. We were to outline for them a course of study, and forward it to them in a letter. We proceeded to do this; but found the manuscript becoming too large and important for a private epistle. We resolved therefore to multiply copies by the press, and to make as extensive a distribution of them as our limited resources would allow. The publication cost us twenty dollars. It was bread cast upon the waters, the increase of which may appear after many days. We know of some cases in which it has put the reader in the way of understanding “the word of the kingdom” by a systematic reading of the scriptures, through which they have become “obedient to the faith.” We republish it in hope of its proving useful to many in this country, who honestly desire to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but “the truth as it is in Jesus.”
About the middle of February we visited Charlottesville, Albemarle, Va., at the request of bro. A. B. Magruder, an intelligent and devoted fellow-soldier of the kingdom. We enjoyed his hospitality and agreeable society for about ten days; during which we had ample and frequent opportunity of exchanging views of the things of the kingdom and the name of Jesus, which have become as practically interesting to him as to us. It was his anxiety that his fellow-townsmen should hear the things we had confessed that led us to Charlottesville. When men’s hearts are opened by the Lord’s truth, it opens their doors and their purses; and they use their means, their money, their tongues, and their influence, to bring the truth to the very door posts of their contemporaries. The truth is expansive in its effects upon the hearts of believers. They cannot shut it up, and hide it, as it were in a napkin. It must find vent in some way; so that if they cannot plead for it publicly, or being prophets at home are without honor, they will do the best they can in conversation to make it understood, they will spare no pains and expense within their ability to procure a public testimony in its behalf, and will leave no endeavour untried to collect the people together to hear the word explained for faith and practice. There is but one alternative for christian men, and that is, either to “go and preach the kingdom of God,” or enable others to do it. There is no discharge from this duty and privilege, if they would be saved. If they are rich and endowed with the ability to preach, not simply to talk, but to preach the truth, they are themselves bound to go out and say, “come!” and to furnish others with the means of doing so likewise: if they cannot preach, they must contribute liberally to the diffusion of the truth; for they will find when they “appear at the judgment-seat of Christ,” that he recognises no drones, or misers, or close-fisted men, among the heirs of his kingdom. It is a flagrant absurdity to suppose, that such men can inherit God’s kingdom, who during their life-time have done absolutely nothing according to their ability for the promotion of its truth. According to what a man sows so will he reap. If he sow parsimoniously, when he is able to sow liberally, his entrance into the kingdom is as certain as the passage of a camel through the eye of a needle, oppressed with a tower of merchandise upon its back.
We have heard those testify who have listened to him, that bro. M. is a good and interesting advocate of the kingdom; yet, being at home, he is not appreciated as he deserves in Charlottesville. If the people there only knew the day of their visitation, they would insist upon his granting them a portion of his labors of love instead of bestowing them all upon extra-urbal populations. But so it is, the Great Teacher himself was not appreciated where he was most familiarly known. They were acquainted with him as a neighbour, whom they had seen working at the carpenter’s shop, sawing and planing boards. What “honor” would they give to Jesus, a poor journeyman carpenter of Nazareth, when he should presume to rebuke the rulers of the synagogue, and to instruct the people? Literally none; and none they gave him, for “they were offended at him.” They were astonished at his doctrine and mighty works, but being a prophet in his own country and town, they gave him no honor or respect; thereby evincing that too much familiarity between the preceptor and the taught is not conducive to the interests of the truth.
Under the circumstances of the case it was deemed fit that we should be the mouth-piece of the occasion, while he should procure accommodation and get the people together. Application was made for the use of the Baptist meeting house, which it was supposed would be granted for their convenience; but a majority of one thought it inexpedient, so that sittings for the public had to be sought elsewhere. They were found at the Lyceum Hall, which was politely opened to the inhabitants by the society for a course of lectures on the things noted in the scriptures of truth. Accommodation being thus happily provided the following notice appeared in the town’s newspaper:
DR.THOMAS’ LECTURES.
“Dr. John Thomas will deliver a course of Lectures, by request, at the Lyceum Hall in Charlottesville, commencing on Thursday evening, 13th inst. At 7 o’clock. The public is invited to attend.
“The design, as well as the direct tendency of these lectures is to awaken a deep interest in the extraordinary revelations of the Bible, when interpreted with reference to the prophetic future and the signs of the times, as exhibited in the remarkable events now transpiring on the ancient theatre of the Western Roman Empire—the old continental dynasties tottering to their destined fall—the precarious Papacy—the rapid decay of the Turkish Power—the Colossal Empire of Russia—the rising prominence of the Jews, &c. These the Lecturer regards as strikingly illustrative of the prophecies and as introductory to the birth of a New Age in the world’s history, and the establishment of that kingdom and dominion over the Nations, which is expressly foretold in Daniel, 7th chapter; Revelation, 20th and 21st chapters, and elsewhere in the Holy Scriptures.”
Bro. Magruder spared no trouble in getting his fellow-citizens together; nor was he unsuccessful. The difficulty was to find sittings for them. Many had to stand, and more to go away for want of room to receive them. We spoke seven times to attentive and intelligent audiences; and understand that the gospel of the kingdom is more favourably regarded at Charlottesville than hitherto. We trust the impression will be permanent.
A correspondence was opened with one of the Professors of the University, to ascertain whether its chapel would be granted for one or more lectures on the kingdom. But though the Professor would have no objection on his part, yet it was his opinion that an application for it would not be successful. It appears that the established religion of the University of Virginia is Quadrangular Orthodoxy, styled “the Four Orthodox Denominations,” to wit: Episcopalianism, Presbyterianism, Baptistism, and Methodism. The standard by which these hostile and contradictory systems are decreed to be the true faith at the University, is numerical. There are more people in Virginia belonging to these four sects than to the Jews, Papists, Universalists, Quakers, Campbellites, and advocates of the gospel of the kingdom; therefore it is supposed to be the interest of the University to establish them in paramount and exclusive possession of its spiritualities. But such favouritism is a violation of the letter and the spirit of the Constitution of Virginia, and of the United States. These symbols give no preference to one or to four sects over the others. The faculty, therefore, has no right to enthrone exclusiveness in the University chapel pulpit under any name or pretence whatever. A Jew has as constitutional a right to preach there as any sectarian theologue the sun ever shone upon. If he preach not according to the law and the testimony, let his error be combated with reason and scripture; and not by a decree forbidding him to speak within its walls. There ought to be no chaplain at the University at all; but rather let the preachers of the town “take turn and turn about;” and if any stranger visit it, let those who can be heard at any time give place, and let him deliver what he has to say, leaving the hearers to judge according to the written word. In this way equality would be maintained, and the principle of a State Religion excluded from the University, which belongs to all the citizens of the Commonwealth, and not to sects be their systems true or false.
It having got wind, however, among the students that the Faculty were opposed to our speaking in the University chapel because we were regarded as a heretic, a meeting was convened of the members of the Jefferson Society to consider the propriety of offering us the use of their Hall, over which, it was supposed, the Faculty had no control. This, however, had to be tested. The case was stated and considered; and a resolution passed to the effect, that if we applied for the use of the Hall of the Jefferson Society of the University of Virginia to lecture in, it should be granted. One of the Society was deputed to make this resolution known to us. Thanking them for their liberality, we replied, that we did not wish to assume an attitude of opposition to the Faculty and appear to be determined to speak in the University at all events; we could not therefore apply for the Hall: but that if the Society were to pass a resolution inviting us to lecture there, we would make an appointment with pleasure. Another meeting was accordingly convened, and our reply reported. Having been duly considered, a second resolution was passed, and forwarded to us in the following note:
“Dr. Thomas:
Dear Sir—In obedience to the commands of the Jefferson Society, I am requested to tender you the use of our Hall, if you should desire to deliver any sermons whilst you remain in our vicinity.
I am, dear sir, your obedient servant,
T. A. T. REILEY, President of Jefferson Society”
To this polite invitation we returned the following
REPLY.
Charlottesville, February 19, 1851.
Dear Sir:
In reply to yours in which the Jefferson Society of the University of Virginia “tenders” me the use of its hall whilst I may remain in this vicinity, I would say that I shall feel pleasure in accepting your liberal offer, and delivering an address there tomorrow evening (Thursday) at half past 7, or thereabout. It is an honorable and praiseworthy disposition to be willing to “prove all things and to hold fast that which is good.” That this may be always our volition is the hope of
Dear Sir, yours in liberty
And fraternity of truth,
JOHN THOMAS.
Mr. T. A. T. REILEY, President of Jefferson Society.
The President of the University had been consulted by some of the students before the first resolution was passed, in the hope of obtaining his sanction to the step they were about to take. But he expressed himself as quite opposed to our coming into such orthodox precincts. He said it was irregular, and objected to us in particular on account of heresy. But the students were not to be turned from their purpose, and the resolution was passed. Upon further reflection, however, his Excellency concluded that it would be most expedient to be in harmony with the wishes of the students, and signified his assent to the invitation they were about to give.
Although quite indisposed and suffering from a varicose and painful condition of the right leg, we arrived at the University about the time appointed, through the kindness of a reformer, who furnished us with a hack. It gives us pleasure to be able to state that long cherished prejudice is waning from the minds of some of Mr. Campbell’s party in Charlottesville. Several we are told came to hear us and were led to entertain more favourable opinions than before. For ourselves we are satisfied that if the party in general could be induced to break the fetters the hirelings have bound them with, and to hear and judge for themselves, we should have the faith, and cooperation of all the honest and good hearts among them. They cannot gainsay the things we advocate if they admit the law and the testimony as the ultimate appeal.
We found the Jefferson Society Hall filled with students to overflowing. The attention they gave was respectful and such as indicated an interest in the subject discussed. We spoke to them about an hour and a half, during which the gospel of the kingdom was published for the first time within the walls of the University of Virginia. On Saturday morning we returned to Richmond, leaving bro. M. to conclude the week by a lecture at night in the Lyceum Hall.
* * *
We expect to be at Free Union, Albemarle county, on the third Lord’s Day in April, and on the Friday and Saturday before.
* * *
The political aspect of affairs in the prophetic world is becoming more and more threatening every day. By the prophetic world, we mean, that civil and ecclesiastical constitution of things which obtains upon the area of the Roman Empire, old and new; whose revolutions and final destiny are noted in the scriptures of truth. The German and Italian questions, created by the revolutions of 1848; the Eastern question, and the French presidential election of 1852, are all questions pregnant with trouble for Europe and the East. Austria, the Sultan, and the Pope are destined by their crooked policy to embroil the world. These are the three Daemons (daimonioi) whose “unclean spirits like frogs” are to go forth to the kings of the earth, and of the whole empire, to stir them up to war by their accursed diplomacy. Austria has been in time past, and is now performing her mission faithfully at the Dresden conference. She carries things there with a high hand, and strengthened for a time by Russia, forgets herself. She grasps at dominion from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, and by her ambition stirs up the French to jealousy.
The parcelling out of Britain into papal bishopricks has excited the church-clergy and a portion of the people to great wrath. This papalising the English territory is styled “papal aggression.” It is the working of the unclean spirit of the False prophet in England. It has already produced a political effect. It has broken up the Russell Administration which has held office for so many years. Lord John Russell took his stand against “papal aggression,” by which he lost the support of the Catholic liberals, who conjoining with the anti-Free-Traders, have formed a majority against the ministry and necessitates his lordship’s resignation. A new administration with a new policy may set the world on fire. Lord John and his colleagues are not the men for the coming crisis; therefore providence has set them aside to make room for fitter tools. The position of their successors will be extremely difficult. How they will extricate themselves remains to be seen. This is certain, however, that no present good can result from a policy which makes “the times,” and which originates in papal, tory, and clerical antagonisms. If Britain were one of the Ten Horns of the Beast, the attempt to papalise its territory by the Pope would not have caused such ministerial hostility, and such an outcry in all the land.
The Sultan is preparing trouble for himself by his jealousy of Egypt. The latter is increasing its military and naval forces in spite of remonstrances from Constantinople. War seems imminent. Should it break out, the Turkish empire will be the sufferer, and the Land of Israel come into view. Great has been the cry of “peace and safety” among the visionary for the last two or three years. But peace and safety to the world there is none, but destruction, sudden destruction, and that without remedy, at the doors. Peace is not God’s order of the day. The sword must be unsheathed. The Austrian empire must be destroyed; the Roman False Prophet must be uncrowned; the Turkish dominion must be dried up; Russia must reconstitute the Dragon empire of the East and West; Egypt and Persia must be subjected to the Autocrat; Jerusalem must fall before him; and he and his hosts must also fall upon the mountains of Israel, smitten by the Stone, which shall grind him to powder—all these things must come to pass ere all nations shall be blessed in Abraham and his seed in the Age to Come.
* * *
To this date, March 15th, we have received names for a little over 100 copies of Elpis Israel. We trust that the believers in Israel’s Hope will stir themselves, as we mean to do when the season for travel arrives, to obtain subscribers. Some friends have subscribed for extra copies which they will sell to the rich, and make presents to their friends who are too poor to purchase. One brother has procured upwards of thirty names. Who will do likewise?
