sin to take the life of one of his dear children; the consequence would be, he would immediately be translated to glory; and possibly the assassin might become a penitent: but should he take the life of the assassin, in defending himself, the consequence then would be, he would hurry him into the abyss of the damned; where his probation would be eternally ended. He who puts his trust in the Lord shall not fear what man can do to him; he will be like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved.

Remember, dear brethren, that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual, and mighty through God. "Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God; that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood; but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, (here is the equipments of a soldier of Jesus Christ,) that ye may be able to withstand in an evil day, and having done all, to stand: stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto

with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints.” And the very God of peace shall be with you; and he will shortly bruise Satan under your feet. For yet a little while, and the Almighty angel will come down with a great chain in his hand; and he will lay hold on the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and will bind him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him; that he shall deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years are fulfilled. Then wars will cease from under heaven, and the implements of death will be converted into the harmless utensils of husbandry; and there will be nothing to hurt nor destroy in all God's holy mountain. The stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands, will become a great mountain, and fill the whole earth. Then will be heard, "a loud voice, saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them bofore God, day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them."

It is, however, very important, dear brethren, that we keep it constantly in mind, that the nature and precepts of the gospel are the same now, that they will be then; in that glorious reign of righteousness and peace; and that it is our duty constantly to be influenced by the same spirit now, which will

then be manifested by the followers of the Lamb. The little leaven is of the same nature of the whole lump when it is leavened.

Let us therefore gird up

the loins of our mind, and watch unto prayer*.

4. If the Mediator's kingdom is not of this world, but spiritual, heavenly, and divine; and if the kingdoms of this world are under the dominion of Satan; and if the subjects of Christ's kingdom are not permitted to use carnal weapons; then we may infer who is the "great whore that sitteth upon many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.". A virgin or chaste woman, is a familiar symbol in the Scriptures, of the true Church of God; and an unchaste woman is as familiar a symbol of an apostate, or corrupt Church. As a lewd woman calls herself by the name of her husband, notwithstanding she has constant intercourse with other men; so the corrupt Church calls herself by the name of Christ; notwithstanding she has constant illicit intercourse with the kings of the earth †.

* In the 35th page, the writer perceives that he has made too unlimited a statement respecting the disciples who inhabited the vallies of Piedmont. Historians have generally considered those who dissented from the Church of Rome during the dark ages, as possessing similar sentiments. It is true, they did agree in renouncing the authority of the Pope; but in other things they did not all agree. Some courted the protection of earthly powers, and united with them in defending their rights by the point of the sword; and were finally destroyed by the sword. Others, instead of defending themselves with carnal weapons, fled from the face of the serpent; and were, under divine Providence, the seed of the church in the wilderness. It is the latter class to which the writer would be understood as referring.

As the writer has been for some time studying the symbolical lan guage of the Scriptures, and intends, (if the Lord will, unless some perF

To understand the true nature of spiritual whoredom, will assist us in ascertaining the bounds of mystical Babylon.

The children of Israel were separated from all the nations of the earth, and set apart to be holy unto the Lord. As they were in covenant with the God of Israel, he addressed them in the endearing character of a husband. Whenever they made any covenant or formed a confederacy with the nations around them, or imitated their idolatrous abominations, they were charged with spiritual whoredom. The Church, under the gospel dispensation, is redeemed from amongst men out of every nation; and sanctified, and set apart, to be a peculiar people to show forth the praises of God. It is styled the Bride, the Lamb's wife. Its members are not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of the Spirit. They do not belong to any earthly kingdom; for our Lord

son more able should attempt an explanation,) to give his views to the public; he will not be so particular at present, in explaining the symbol of the great whore, which sitteth upon many waters, as he otherwise should. He early perceived that the heavens, and the earth, with all their furniture, were used as an alphabet, in the language of things, to represent moral subjects. His object has been to learn the true meaning of each symbol by comparing Scripture with Scripture. No language can be read until the alphabet is first learned. Symbolical language does not, like other languages, change with time and place; but represents the same idea to all nations, and at all times. He is of opinion, that one symbol does not represent two events; unless it first have a reference to some less event, which is typical of some more important event; in that case, all together may be figurative of some great ultimate end. Although one symbol is supposed never to represent two different things, yet two or more symbols generally represent one thing. He has found by tracing back a symbol to its first use, that its true meaning is generally manifest. Since examining the Scriptures with this view, he has been irresistibly drawn into the conclusions now exhibited.

has said " they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world;" but they are citizens of the heavenly Zion; and belong to the household of God: they are members of the same community, with the innumerable company of Angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect; and are to be governed by the very same spirit and temper, which reigns amongst those blessed inhabitants above. God is an overflowing and unbounded ocean of blessedness and love love is, therefore, the fulfilling of the law. Whenever the subjects of the Redeemer unite themselves to the kingdoms of this world, and engage in their political contentions and fightings, then it appears they cominit spiritual whoredom; for they forsake the fountain of living waters, and hew out to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, which can hold no water. When they thus mingle with the world, and unite in its pursuits, they may spiritually be styled adulterers,

The Apostle James, while reproving the twelve tribes which were scattered abroad, for their wars, and fightings, and friendship to the world, styles them adulterers and adulteresses. In direct opposition to this representation, the first fruits of the Church are styled virgins, as not being defiled with women. "These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from amongst men, being the first fruits unto God and the Lamb; and in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God." As virgins are pure and undefiled, so were the disciples of Christ