XIV. Prophecies and Promises fulfilling in the present NOTE. Page 510, at the end of verse 25, after es- secured to them until they became of age. INTRODUCTION. WHATEVER degree of natural wisdom may be attained by those who are without Christ and without God in the world, certain it is, that the only true saving knowledge of God that ever was, or ever will be communicated to man, is by and through the revelation of Jesus Christ: and therefore such as reject Christ, and take their own wisdom for their guide, never were, nor ever can be saved. And in no better situation are they who profess faith in an absent Saviour, who believe that Christ was once upon earth, but is now departed to some remote and unknown heaven, where it is impossible for the weak capacities of mortals to reach him; when in truth, nothing but the real and abiding presence of Christ, by the indwelling of his spirit, ever did, or ever could save one soul. And as Christ is the only Saviour, the only true light of the world, to lead souls into the knowledge and enjoyment of God, and as there is no other name or substance under heaven given among men, whereby any can be saved; it follows, beyond all contradiction, that until Christ made his appearance in the world, the world was in darkness, without the saving knowledge of God, without a Saviour, and consequently without salvation. II. Man was at first created under the law and government of God; but having violated that law, he never could again be brought into his true order and line of subjection, until God sent forth his own Son into the world for that purpose. It is true, a law was given to one particular nation, by which great restrictions were laid upon that lawless disposition, which governed man in his fallen state; but it availed nothing as to the redemption of the soul from the influence of that disposition; nor could it bring any into that perfect obedience with which God was well pleased: hence it was truly said, I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live. But when Christ Jesus made his appearance; as a wise legislator, his first work was to form a law, by which man C should be ruled and governed; and this he did, by his examplary life. And having passed through the world, and lived such a life as was in all points acceptable to God, he received that power and authority, as the head and ruler of the human race, by which he could righteously demand their subjection-convince them of the evil nature of sin, and justly dispense rewards and punishments, according to their obedience or disobedience. III. The law and government which Christ established in his first appearing, did not so immediately and extensively respect this present world, as it did the world of spirits. Yet, before he could extend his power and authority to the spiritual world, it was necessary that he should first pass through the present, and experience a feeling of all the trials that ever had been experienced by those over whom he was appointed ruler: hence he said to his disciples, I go to prepare a place for you: which implied that his law, and the order of his government, were not yet established in the world of spirits. It was also necessary that Christ should open, in the present world, such a measure of the nature and order of his government, as should subserve his future purpose, when mankind in the present state, should become the more immediate objects of his labour. Hence his parable of a man going into a far country to receive a kingdom, and to return, -and giving to each of his servents a certain sum, according to their several abilities, saying, Occupy till I come. IV. During the time of this preparatory work of Christ, in establishing his law and order in the spiritual world, this earth was a scat of the most perfect confusion, injustice, deception and cruelty; which was properly the period of Antichrist's reign and dominion. Hence that corrupt hierarchy, called the Church, which pretended to have the power of salvation, and assumed all the authority of Christ on earth, was, in reality, the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.And such extravagant superstitions prevailed, during this period, as through the invisible operations of God's providence, have become objects of just contempt to the enlightened part of mankind. And as Christ did actually go to prepare a place, and to receive a kingdom, and promised to return, and establish his law of righteousness and order on this earth; so his promise is actually fulfilled; and the most striking evidence in this latter day, that he has gained the kingdom, and begun to set it up on earth, is the manifest change in civil government, and that spirit of toleration and liberty in matters of religion, which began to take place, about the close of the seventeenth century. V. Faithful witnesses, chosen and appointed of God, had, from age to age, borne testimony against the beastly and bloody power of Antichrist, millions of whom had fallen victims to his cruelty; but under the invisible and restraining power of Christ, his influence began to be cut off, at the time appointed. The people called Quakers were the last, who were persecuted unto death, for the testimony which they held; but n process of time, distrusting the providence of God, and petitioning the same antichristian power for toleration and protection, they gained an honourable standing in the world, but lost that degree of the light and power of God, in which they had at first set out. Soon after this, the spirit of prophecy appeared in those called French Prophets, attended with the most convincing evidences of divine power; but these extraordinary appearances were not of long continuance. However, a few of those French prophets came over to England about the year 1706, and opened their testimony in and about London, which was a means of great awakening, and numbers received their spirit, which continued to operate, in a greater or less degree, until its principal effect was produced in a small body of people, who were gathered into a society, under the special ministry of James and Jane Wardley, among whom was a particular work of preparation for the true and real manifestation of Christ. This work began in Bolton and Manchester, in the county of Lancashire, in England, about the year 1747. VI. James Wardley, a taylor by trade, and Jane his wife, who wrought at the same occupation, had belonged to the society of people called Quakers; but receiving the spirit of the French prophets, and a further degree of light and power, by which they were separated from that community, they continued for several years, disconnected from every denomination. During this time, their testimony, according to what they saw by vision, and revelation from God, was, That the |