0° \ ^"^ ^. 'r.T*' A <> *'T7 ' ■ %.** •«'• ^^/ A-. "w* * ♦ o 'V'y^r^'y ^<' '*..<'" •• ft? ^*0 O. • • « » .0-^ ''^ * • , 1 t^y ^^ ^'^u^c,'^^ 5)' '^ r ^. o ^y^^*\^ \--^-\ ice of the living God, it went well with them, but when they,forsaked the true God, and worshipped idols, it went ill with them. 9 The temple of the Lord — this t'^mple was erected upon twelve foundations, and was de- corated with twelve rows of the finest and most beautiful stones. They were placed at a dis- tance from each other with great regularity and judgment, so that they beautified the temple completely; so that travellers at a far distance could see the light, the lustre and the brigut- ness of those stones. The first row was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedoney, the fourth an emerald, the fifth a sardonix, the sixth sardus, the seventh chrysolite, tht^ eighth beryl, the ninth, the topaz, which is a native of Afri- ca, and its prefiguratiou is, that God is no re- specter of persons, and that it is his will that they shall partake of the blessings of this world and of that which is to come; the tenth stone a chrysoprosus, the eleventh, a jacinth, and the twelfth an amethyst; this concludes the num- ber of the tw elve stones, the twelve gates, the twelve tribes, the twelve apostles; and it is more than twelve thousand sermons, and the sound thereof is gone out into all the w orld, in- viting of sinners to come to the Lord,, and he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; he that believeth not, shall be damned. In all this we neither see, nor read, nor hear any particular remarks relative to colour, save that whicii stands recorded in the l)ook of Num- JO bers, 12 Chapter, and the 2d Book of Kings, 5th Chapter, vei. 20. And again, king Solo- mon sa> s, ''- I am hlack but comely." This may sufiiee lor a ^vhile; in the same time we will take a walk in our own gardens now, as there was a liint dropped relative to the idolatious Jews; for as much as we need not go to Jerusalem to worship God, since he can and may be found in ail places. We need not go to the land of the heathen to search out idolators, and a num- ber of other abominations. The following is the real productions of our own soil and gar- dens; murderej's, thieves and dnmkards; liars, fornicators and adultci'ers; false swearing and evil speaking; cheating and defrauding; oppres- sion and traffic in human flesh, keeping them in bondage, slavery and ignorance, half stan ed and naked; hard lal)our night and day, and oft times the Sabbath is spent in labour, ^'c. with- out any reward to sweeten their labours — divi- sions in families, and disobedient children, and a number of other evils and idols, ^c. may pro- fess to serve the living God, and yet they fol- low idols. It is said, while Solomon was king of Judea, there was a great confederacy betw ecu him and Hiram, the king of Tyre, and that there is a secret in their possession, that the general bulk 11 of mankind have not obtained, and it cannot be obtained without money; and the inost pleasing part of the human family, namely the fens ale, have neither part nor lot in the matter, money or no money. This is a mystery, and it is pro- nounced a very bad note, and will not pass in this enlightened and gospel day; it might have been current under the slar-light of the Law. We are informed, that Solomon worshipped many idols; it is likely that this is one of them, and it becometh the people of God to be very cautious, and not to participate therewith; but let that be as it may, we know that all the first proprietors thereof, is crumbled with the clods of the vallev. and their never-dyinsr souls is in a vast eternity, and we know not since which period, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has came into the world t© save sinners: and free salvation is offered to every nation, tongue and people under heaven, without money and with- out price, his promise is all-sufficient for every believing soul. And if your ears refuse the language of his grace, and hearts grow hardened like the stub- born Jews, that unbelieving race; the Loid in vengeance drest, will lift his hand and swear, as you despised my oifered rest, ye shall have no portion there. O Jerusalem, there is more difterencc between the temporal and the spiri- 12 tual Jerusalem than there is hetwecn a sim- shiriy day, and a dark cloudy night. It must be a very desirable thing to become an inhabi- tant of that ji'lorious city, since it is none but the righteous can abide there. The prophet Jeremiah sums up all the human family, and calls them in the following language: Earth, Earth, Earth, hear the word of the Lord, as though he beseeched you in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. They who are not spiritually-minded may inquire, what gave rise or cause to the prophet to be interested, and call upon the earth in the above language, and the answer is as follows: because the spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he saw the wickedness of earth, and abomi- nations thereof, like unto what is prevalent in this our day. There is another dark and human evjj in the land; it has been remarked by some of the wise, that the population increased very fast — and there is a mixed multitude; how hap- pened that saying, the answer is as follows: — It appears they were all of a dark hue at first, how has this great change taken place? Is it from the climate ? No. Has oppression and hard labour done it? No; I fear it is sin, that has done it, that abominable and cursed evil, namely, adultery; not satisfied with trading and traftick- ing in human ttcsh, but living in adultery with IS them, till tired of them, then sell them and their own children into ahjeet bondage. The very act of* adultery \vas death by the Jewish laws, but it is now threefold worse, because the Jews committed it under the moon-light of the law, and it is committed now, under the sun- shine of the gospel. The Jews committed it with their equals, and it is committed now with the degraded slave; from such wickedness good Lord deliver us. The prophet was moved by the same spirit that Noah was, when he built the ark; he was moved by the same spirit that moved .Abraham, to offer his only son as a sa- sacrifice to God, by faith; the same spirit that Jacob, who wrestled with an angel until he be- came acquainted with his name and nature; the same spirit remained with Joseph, while in 1^ gypt; the same spirit was upon Moses, when he preferred to suffer afflictions with the people of God, than* to dwell in the courts of Egypt, and there be called the son of Pharoah's dauo:h- ter; that wicked king, that lover of slavery, that great oppressor, who refused to let the people of the Lord go free, and serve the Lord. You may view his end; as all those who follow the same wicked practice will meet with a similar end, only ten fold worse, by reason of the gos- pel privileges. My respected renders, will please peruse with carejulness, and with the understand- 14 «w^, the 22nd Chapter of the Prophesy of Ezekiel; an inspired servant of the moHt hish God. The predictions of the prophets was not (miff pronounced against the land of Ju- dah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, hut they stand good for all nations and people, so long as the world shall stand — where there is similar wickedness pre vai tin S!"^ there shall be greater punishments and miser tf upon all such nations and people. Aaron was moved by the same spirit; so m as Caleb, Joshua and Samuel; the same spirit was with kini; David. Now let us pause here a while, in the midst of these good men, and see if we have done all things well, to the best of our knowledge; we bear the title of Christians, we have done many good deeds, and given alms, ^c. there has been and is still much doing, to aid the Greeks, and there's missionaries gone out among the heathen, to promulgate the gos- pel of Jesus Christ; it is very good. There is much done for the Indians, to atone for their sufferings, they may travel tlirough the Union, under a strong protection, without molestation; this is also good; the right hand of fellowship is received by the Jews, all Europe is received with pleasure and cordiality, and their oifenders is even protected, this is excellent fruit to be be gathered from a christian land, and it calls 15 for much applause. It is true indeed, that there is a oTt at deal doing, and very much left undone, which will he to the shame, to the sorrow and to the pain of many in a coming day; the Lord is a just God, and cannot behold sin with the least degree of allowance. It is a violation of any Christian laws, to steal, or to sell, or purchase stolen property or goods of any kind, and who- soever is found guilty in such cases, the same is tried and punished for the offence. Then how is it that great men, and wise statesmen, and ministers of the gospel, and others, toge- ther with the laws, and their own consciences and feelings, forbear crying against all these evils? How can they be asleep to such abomi- nation, to see, to hear of, and to read the ac, counts of the barbarity of a part of the human family, and the purchased of the blood of Christ? O wretched man, who shall deliver us from this body of sin and death? They are stolen from their mother country, and stowed away on ship board, treated like brutes, and many are thrown overboard alive, to avoid detection. They are purchased with a full knowledge, how and from whence they came, their suffering has exceeded two centuries. It commenced when the world was in gross darkness, but now the light is come, O man, and there is no excuse for your cruelty. They can scarce go from city to city, from place to place, if it is even upon spiritual matters, and 16 ^ to visit their friends, but they are molested, in- sulted, abused, and often times ini]>risoned, and continued to be hunted like the beast of the fo- rest, or partridge upon the mountains; yes, and that in a f iiristian world, whose motto is liber- ty, ^c. It is those, with a number of other sin- ful acts, that caused the men of God to break out in the above language. " TiU'n and live, for why will ye die, ^c." Solomon felt the same spii'it; it was with Jo- siah, and all the good men until the coming of Christ, which was the fulfilment of the law, and the ushering in of the .U'ospel, which is free for all nations and people, he wrought many won- derful miracles, he preached and reached thirty and three years; he suffered tmd took his flight to glory; he has left great encouragement to all those that live and die faithful, in Christ Jesus our Lord. All the Apostles and disciples was moved by the same i^pirit; a Peter and a Paul; they cried against all manner of sin. — 'i'he spirit moved an Asbury, a Wesley, a Fktcber, a Rogers, a Schofield, a Shnw, a Whitfield, and an Allen, who liave toiled and laboured night and day, in heat and cold, wrt and dry, through much weakness and pain, tiirough evil reports as well as good, and with false brethren, and with uncultivated people, whom he found on the commons, and in the streets and alleys, and IT elsewhere; and many are now become God's people, and followers of the meek and lowly Lamb; and the Lord abundantly blessed his la- bom-s. Through grace, he is bound to remain in the service of King Jesus, so long as life is spared; and after that he is sm*e of his bounty and reward. An Osbond was moved by the same spirit, a MTaley, a Grover, a Jones, and S. Allen, a good man, went through perils by sea, to the mansions above; a Brown, a Miller, and a Glou- cester. There are thousands of other good men, who have warned you again and again, against every evil and sinful act, and yet you will not turn to the Lord and live; they will be swift witnesses against you in the Judgment day. — All ye kings and rulers of the earth, ye judges and great men, even to the most inferior offi- cers, it is unto you great power is given, to rule and govern, to manage and protect all people, who is under their dominion, and that to the Jionour, and to the glory of the most high God; therefore take care, take care, take care, as there is much given unto you, also there will be much required of you, O ye men of God, wo, wo, wo, be unto you, if ye warn not the people. Unto all priests and clergymen, pastors, elders and deacons, and all ye located men, and heads of families; each one of you, examine well first J8 yourselves, and then all that is placed under your care, and know that your conduct is agree- able to the will of the Lord, before whose bar we shall all appear, and all those who are de- termined to live to the glory of God, are in the service of King Jesus; there is no end to his reign, his kingdom endureth for ever and ever. He commands that swords shall be turned, or beaten into ploughshares, and spears into prun- ing hooks, and that the lion and the lamb shall dwell together, and the leopard and the calf, the wolf and the kid shall lie down together. The Christian's weapons of war are not car- nal, but mighty through faith, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord, in destroying of the strong holds of Satan and dispersing of the works of darkness, and to shew forth the gi*eat and won- derful works of the most high God; yes, they are enlisted under the royal banner of love, sword of prayer, and helmet of faith, and shod with gospel grace; these, with the king: on the Chris- tian's side, they will defy all the powers of dark- ness, and will be able to stand bold, when the world is on fire. A word to the bigot and self- wise, if this should by chance fall into your hand, remember Solomon's words, there are persons who know every thing, and every bo- dy's business, and condemn every thing after their own judgment — take care, take care, who- soever you be, O man, and you had better pre- 19 pare for death and judgment, for God will surely judge you before long. Such a person is often- times more ignorant than a goose, and less use- ful, because it will make good food for men, and beds for his rest, ^c. and through the me- dium of their quills, much news is conveyed from all quarters of the globe. They may be very justly compared to a wild ass colt, head- strong and unruly, and has to be governed by bridles and bits, ^c. It is well for you to be careful, or you will likely stumble over your bundle of conceit, head foremost into torment; as there is more hope of a fool than for such per- sons. Again, a word to youth of both sexes; refrain from all bad and giddy company, be in- dustrious, live honest, treat every person with respect, particularly the aged and grey headed: strive above all things, to love and serve the true and living God, love and obey your parents, for they have done much for you; do nothing to cause them to fret, as it is sinful, be frugal in your dress, make but little or no use of spi- rituous, liquors, and be faithful in all things in this world, and the God of love will preserve and keep you throughout time, and save you in eternity, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. A MESSENGER 20 P.S. — As time and means have not permitted the full investigation of this large field, and there being many parts yet untrodden and un- seen, I have therefore some thoughts of making another trip; if so, 1 will strive to let you know, with the help of God, so as to give you an op- portunity to go with me if you please: if not, I'll endeavour to describe some of the particulars to you for the sake of your souls, as they are in much danger, these three monsters being close at hand, and almost at the thresholds of your doors; they will tear the husband from the wife, and the father from his children; the tyrant from his slave, and the slave from his suffering. These three, as stern officers, shall bring all mankind before the judgment seat of the King of kings, and when Gabriel's awful trump shall sound, the nations that have been lying dead for thousands of years, their dusty bodies shall rise and come to judgement. Then hear the word of the Loid, as we are living under the last dispensation — at the appearance of that great and mighty angel — all things will end!!! Then those three monsters will be fully satis- fied; tliey will rest — namely, time, sin ^ death! They shall have no power over the righteous and those who liave lived free from all the evils which is forbidden in the holy law, and have continued in grace fulfilling of our duties to all 21 mankind, and die triumpliinp: in the faith which was in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. All those shall be cauglit up into the kingdom at the first sound of the trumpet, and there to rejoice for ever and ever. But O, where shall the sin- ner and the ungodly appear? Ther«* shall be a line of distinction drawn in that awful day, be- tween the righteous and the wicked, the latter shall be termed goats, yea, all and every one who is guilty of any one of the above mention- ed evils, or any other sinful acts, they shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous, but shall stand at the left hand of the great king of glory, there to receive their awful sentence, with- out respect or partiality, the rich and the poor the great and the small, the young and the old, the white and the black, th e gaudy and the gayj they shall all go away into utter darkness, where there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, for ever and ever — never to return again. This is free without reward or fee. 54 ^W V* .. * «? <}\ "^ ^0^ c ♦ «<» • -^"^ . • «? *#^, «>^ <> *'7V ;♦ ^K ^' /..i.:^.''°o .y.-^^^'X c°^c:^.> O 4^ ^°'V . . * A S' v- ^^^^^. ^"^^^, V BOOKBINOINC ■ \r»