:ihtf imiVERSlI 3 ^^22 01089 5605 LA iOlLA. CALIFORNIA V x^ \ ?\ }1 I J 1 ,.-.•, I / THE NINETEE^'TII CENT URY; OR ras NEW DISPENSATION: A BRIEF KXAMINATION OF THE CLAIMS AND ASSERTIONS EMANUEL SWEDEXBOEO. RY A LAYM.U'. NEW YORK: JOHN ALLEN. 139 NASSAU-STREET. BOSTON. OTIS CLAPP. 12 SCHOOL-STREET. LONDON: JAMES S. H0D80N. 1832. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1P51, By JOHN ALLEN, In the aerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. C. A. ALVORD, rniNTFR, 29 Gold-st., N. V. >^^o xp (xXi^- PREFACE. It is obvious to the intclli^'ont mind, that for many centuries the world has progressed in civiliaUion. At the era when our Saviour made his appearance, the nations of the earth were im- mersed in darkness, and, to a great degree, in a semi-barbarous state. At this time the Christian religion Wiis taught, and an opening made, and the foundation laid for future improvement. After a severe struggle, the great truths of Chi-istianity in the fifth century were received and admitted as the established re- ligion of the Roman Empire. At tii-st its truths were received and taught with purity and simplicity, but by degrees the system was misinterpreted and perverted, until, in the hands of the Church, the Holy Oracles became a scourge and instrument of depriving man of his hbertics. Passing the period of the separation of the Church and Roman Empire, and that of the dark ages, we will hasten to the era of the tenth centuiy and the time of the Norman Conquest. At this period the feudal system was the law of the land, might made right, and the great mass of the people were held as tributaries by the robber chivalry, who, issuing from their strongholds, and clad in armor, crushed the least attempt of the peaceful inhabit- ants of the city or laborer of the plain to rise from slavery. It IV PREFACE. may well be believed that at this time religio\is liberty was at a low ebb, and the head of the Catholic Chm-ch held Christendom in the chains of a spiritual bondage. The first and most import- ant discoveiy brought to light by the Divine Providence was that of gunpowder. By the means of this most powerful agent the supremacy of the robber chiv.-.hy was destroyed, and the people were enabled to contend with the mailed knight upon terms of equality. Thus the light of liberty increased, and the masses be- gan to be aware that their rights could not be trampled on with impunity. The next great discovery, made in the fourteenth century, was the art of printing. By this, civil and religious information was diffused ; and, in a century afterwards, a few enlightened minds, disgusted with the irreligion and atrocities of the Catholic Church, seceded, and the Reformation took place. At this era, learning and the arts and sciences might be said, in comparison with the present age, to have been in their infancy. The great body of the seceders or Protestants having httle or no education, were wilhng, in their desire to escape from Catholic bondage, to adopt a system and manner of interpreting the Scriptures taught by Calvin, Luther, and a few othei-s, and which was suitable for that age. From the time of the Reformation down to the present day, a period of more than three centuries has elapsed, and with an un- paralleled rapidity unkno-RTi in former ages, the greatest discov- eries and improvements have been made in every branch of the natm-al sciences; and agencies are now in operation that were imknown to the ancients, and which cannot be found recorded in history. In the departments of geology and astronomy, astonish- ing advances have been made. It is equally so in labor-saving and productive machineiy, by the means of which the ingenuity PREFACE. of man has almost accompHshed miracles. By the powerful ener- gies of the press information is difiused on every side, and the world, as ti-uly said, has become a vast whispering gallery, and the echoing notes of the himian intellect now vibrate through its eternal dome. By the discovery of the application of steam, the two hemis- pheres are separated from each other but by a few days' sail. Even, as has been remarked, the elements have been laid under contribution, and man now, by the subtle agency of the electric teleo-raph, is seemingly endowed with more than human power ; and can converse with his neighbor, who lives a thousand miles distant, with as much ease as if but a few rods apart. If we ex- amine the political horizon of the Old Worid, we perceive that equally astonishing results have been recently produced, and it is plainly evident that the feudal system has received its death blow, and that an inten-egnum is about to succeed previous to the per- manent and eternal sway of republicanism. With all these important and momentous changes, which evince the fact that the times are pregnant with that which will change the old order of things, and produce a new era in the world's history, no reformation hcvs taken place in religion, and the Bible is taught in the same manner as it was three hundred years ago. Now it will be admitted that for the exigencies of the present time, an era pecuUarly an age of reason and individual investiga- tion, that either the Holy Oracles must by some means be caused to open then- revelations with new light and beauty, in a way satisfactory to our rational powers, or there is evident danger that in the struggle between reason and faith, their authenticity will, by many, be doubted. We believe that the powers of the hu- man mind, collectively considered, have increased in like ratio Vi PKEFACE. with the vast discoveries made in the natural sciences, and that the time has anived when an intelligent community will not be satisfied without knowing mcfi-e or less concerning the Scriptures. The present generation do not view religious subjects in the light of centuries gone by, or rest on the Church as their respected religious conductor, under whose guidance they are to reach the realms of happiness. In the plac^ of a blind faith, there is springing up on every side a spirit of inquiiy and investigation, an eager desire to know the truth and the foundation of all things. It is believed that owing to the numerous conflicting sects, the mysteries of the Scriptures, the difficulty of knowing what to believe, that opinions, varying little from deism, and to- tally destitute of spirit and vitahty or power to edify, have spread more or less through all classes, and that secret infidelity prevails to a great extent. Hence the pulpit is comparatively powerless, and Sabbath after Sabbath presents the sad spectacle of congre- gations to whom, in a great degree, the words of the preacher are lifeless and without avail. Beheving that by the agency of the Divine Providence the Scriptures have been caused to open their revelations with new light and beauty, and that the Christian world lias now a fixed and permanent method of interpreting the mystical and hidden sense of the Word, and which answers the demands of the present enlightened age, and concerning which the majority are in total ignorance, we have been induced to give publicity to the follow- -ing brief and imperfect sketches, and which, without farther ob- sei-vation, are submitted to the consideration of those who may deem them worthy of their perusal. New York, Oct. 1, 1851. CONTENTS. SECTION I. Introdictory Concerning prejudice. — Of the necessity of exercising our rational powers in respect to the Scriptures. — Tlint the Universe is governed by fl.xcd and unchangeable laws. Page 1 to 11. SECTION II. Necessity of ax Internal Sense to the Scriptures — That witlioiit such n sense many partjj of tlie Holy Oracles are irrational. — Views and opinions of cnunent authorities in respect to the subject. — Difficulty of understanding in the sense of the letter, the narration concerning Creation and the Expulsion of Adain and Eve from the Garden of Eden. — The testimony of the sacred writers adduced to prove that there is an internul or spiritual sense, i'age 12 to 22. SECTION III. Necessity of discovering a Key to the Scriptures — The New Testament examined. — Seemingly taught in Mattliew and In other parts of the Sacred Writings, that many are blinded in such a man- ner that they cannot understand those truths which it is asserted were written for their instruction. — The apparent injustice of such a method of proceeding. — The sin against the Holy Ghost. — Difficulty of under- standing what it is. — A cause of insanity to many. — Difficulty of com* prehcnding the doctrine of the Trinity and the Atonement. — Different views held in respect to the subject by various eminent divines. — Confir- mation of these views by the literal sense of the Scriptures. — The seem- ing impossibility for the inquirer after truth to comprehend these im- portant doctrines. — The necessity of a Key to the Scriptures indicated in the Book of Revelation. — The necessity of an explanation of many passages in Isaiah and Ezekiel, which are apparently as irrational as many parts of the Koran. — Our views in respect to the difficulties of under- Btanding and interpreting the Scriptures confirmed by eminent authori- viii CONTENTS. ties.— Dr. Tholuck's assertion that there is not to be found, in the whole range of classic literature, a volume concerning which there is such a dis- crepancy of opinion as is exhibited in respect to the Sacred Writings. — Page 23 to 34. SECTION IV. Consequences resulting to the Christian Religion from THE WANT of A KeY, AND OF A FIXED AND PERMANENT Method of interpreting the Scriptures — That the discrepancy of opinion in respect to the Holy Oracles has for many centuries been a cause of endless disputes and contentions. — That for this reason thousands have lost their lives amid excruciating suffer- ings, and the reign of bigotry and superstition has been perpetuated. — That from this cause the Church is without unity, and divided into nu- merous sects, each of which claims the pre-eminence. — That the great dis- crepancy in respect to interpreting the Scriptures has a most ruinous tendency, causing many both among the learned and unlearned to doubt the inspiration of the Bible. — That from this and other reasons it is evinced that the Christian Church has become of an external nature, and presents the distinguishing features which characterized the Jewish Church at its fall. — Our views in respect to the external nature of the present Church confirmed by eminent authorities. — Views, «tc., exhibited in the Christian Union and Religious Memorial. — Opinions of Carlyle, Dr. Chalmers, Olin, and others. — General review of the preceding sec- tions. — Inference drawn that the time has arrived When there is a ne- cessity that a new dispensation or revelation should be given. — Farther observations in respect to the subject. — Present era compared to the two great periods in the earth's history (the call of Abraham and the coming of Jesus of Xazareth), when the interests of mankind appeared about to be destroyed by floods of unbelief. — Remarks concerning the spread of infidel works at the period previous to the French Revolution. — The same description of writings now extensively circulated. — Observations con- cerning the "Vestiges of Creation." — General opinion that the era in which we live is such as rarely occurs, and of momentous import. — Page 35 to 53. SECTION V. Inference in respect to the Necessity of a New Revela- tion farther examined — Inference drawn that there is reason to suppose that the Supreme Ruler, instead of manifesting himself as in former periods, would give an ex- planation of the Scriptures which should be considered as an authority. — Absurd pretension of many in respect to the subject. — Emanuel Sweden- borg. — His claims and assertions.— Opinions of eminent writers in respect to his character and scientific attainments. — Inference drawn that his asser- tions are ditlerent from those who have made similar ehiinis.— The inquiry made, what miracles did he work to prove that he is a divine messenger ? — Tlie subject examined : shown that miracles would be useless at the CONTENTS. '^ present day, and if actaally wrought would be disbelieved. — Farther cx- amimition of Swcdeuborg's character.— His appeal to reason and Scrip- ture. — llis claims tested by the ordeal given in tiie Scriptures.— His belief in the Divinity of the Founder of Christianity. — His defending the in- spiration of the Sacred Writings, and teaching there is a t^tate of reward and punishment hereafter.— Spread of the doctrines in Europe and the United States. I'ogo 54 to 73. SECTION VI. The Creation. The Age of Happiness and the Fall ok THE RACE The Creation.— Man created a happy being.— The golden age— The grad- ual declension and fall of the race. — Its cause. — Impossibility of destroy- ing man's freedom. — Proof that man i« free. — If such were not the case, the unhappiness of mankind could be justly ascribed to the Creator. — Important nature of the belief — View of Milton. Page 74 to 79. SECTION VII. The Fall of the Race continued — Man gradually declines into a state of gross materialism and barbarism. — Sacrifice to idols.— Man-worship.— The Deluge.- The call of Abraham. — Difficulty of acting upon sensuous minds. — Sodom and Gomorrah. — Reason given why the first chapters of Genesis are written in a figurative manner and as a designed allegory. — Apparent and real trutl). — Impossi- bility of the Israelites and others understanding any other account of the Creation and the Fall. — Concerning the origin of the serpent or dragon. — What it designates. — What is represented by the Garden of Eden. — Concerning the idolatry of the Israelites, and of their sacrificing living victims. — Their character impartially e.\amined and estimated. Pago 80 to 93. SECTION VIII. The SpiRiTfAL World — The Creator the sole source of life. — Concerning the nature of the soul. — Of its immortality. — That man exists in another life in the human form.— In what consists heavenly happiness. — That man in another existence is governed by laws. — Concerning evil and guardian spirits. — Of their con- nection and intercourse with mankind. — The belief repeatedly tauglit in the Scriptures. — Views and opinions of eminent authorities in respect to . the subject. Page 94 to 117. SECTION IX. Regeneration and Free Agency — The subject stated. — The case of an infidel taken. — Shown that the equi- librium of man's freedom is never destroyed. — Regeneration gradual and progressive, and not of a miraculous nature. — False ideas in respect to the subject. — Importance of connecting faith and works. Page 121 to 135, X CONTENTS. SECTION X. The Atonemext, or Reconciliation — The doctrine stated.— Of the origin of hell.— Of its connection with this world. — That at one period in the earth's historj- there was imminent danger of its being overwhelmed by an influx of evil from the hidden world.— Concerning the appearance of tlie Author of Christianity and of his subjugation of the powers of evil. — Proof from the Scripture*. Page 136 to 164. SECTION XI. The Trinity — The popular belief shown to be erroneous, and one which virtually teaches there are three distinct and separate Gods. — The true doctrine stated, and the truth maintained, that in the Lord Jesus Christ there is a trinity of principles and not of persons. Page 165 to 175. SECTION XII. The Second Advent — Part I. — The popular belief examined and shown to be irrational. — Con- cerning the views held by the Jews and primitive Christians in respect to the advent of Christ. — Consequences resulting from false views in respect to the subject. Page 176. Part II. — The true doctrine stated. — The argument from reason. Page 191. Part III. — The Scriptural argument. Page 219. SECTION XIII. The Resurrection — Belief in the resurrection of the natural body shown to be a fallacy. — True doctrine stated. — Proof from the Scriptures that man immediately at the death of the body enters into another existence. — That then is his judgment day. Page 238 to 254. SECTION XIV. The Divine Providence — Explanation given concerning the manner in which the Holy Oracles arc written. — Necessity that truth should but occasionally appear. — Danger of profanation. — Concerning unavoidable evils. Page 255 to 291. SECTION XV. Conclusion — General review of the preceding sections. — Necessity of a Key to the Scriptures. — Irrationality of supposing that without a divine interposition its mysteries can be revealed.— Progress of the Church. Page 292 to 805. CONTENTS. » APPENDIX A. Davis' Revelations. Page 806. APPENDIX B. The color and civilization of tho most ancient people. — Swedenborg's repre- sentations in regard to tlio subject. Pago 819. APPENDIX C. The origin of idolatroos worship. Pago 834. APPENDIX D. The Delnge. Pago 840. APPENDIX E. Sensationalism or Materialism of the age. Pago 852. APPENDIX F. Swedenborg's Memorable Relations. Page 865. APPENDIX G. lUostrations of tho End of tho Church. Pago 878. APPENDIX H. Life ond Biography of Swedcnborg, taken from the London Penny Cydo- pcuJia. Page 3b6. APPENDIX I. Summary of the Doctrines of the True Christian Chorch, extracted from Swedenborg's Universal Theology. Pago 411. SECTION I. INTHODLCTORY. It is II maxim of irur pliiloMtphy to prove all thiiiLT'^, and to hold fast t»» that which is tj.«>d. Hut how diflicuh, nay, how impossible, to t-xhihit u new theory, when ihosi' to whom it is ad- dressed have concliLMvely determined the matter, and declare that in their view tin' new dm-lrine Ix-ars on its face lui absurdity and I' ly. Thas prejudiced, they condemn and reject that Nv \ have never examined, or exaniin«'d but in the slightest manner. Hut has it not ever been thus in retrard to the reception of the grciitest discoveries which udom the annals of philosophy ? It is certainly true that at tirst they ever have been received with contempt, luid denied lus impossibilities. Pvthagoras, for his novel opinions, wjis driven from Athens; and Socrates, for having demonstrated the unity of (Jod, was forced to drink the juice of the hemlock. As we come down to a later jx-riod, the name of Galileo stands prominent. The facts concemini^ the ilhu^iriitus Florentine are sf) well known that it is needless t^i relate thi-m. yet it is not so gener.illy known that loni,' after that event eminent pious and learned Protestant-s viewed Galileo's doctrine with the sjimc alarm and abhorrence as the Romish Church profes.sed to feel. In a theological work pub- lished at Utrecht in 1048, it is asserted as a truth, that the sun flies round tin- earth even,- twenty-four hours, and that the earth rests immovably in the centre of the universe. " This," said one of the most eminent men of the Reformed Church, " we affirm, with all divines, natural philosophers, and astronomers, Jews and Mahometims, Greeks and Latins, e.vcepting one or two of the an- 2 INTRODUCTORY. cients, and the modern followers of Copernicus."* It is stated tlie theory of the earth's figure being that of an extended plain, was current among the Christian fathers, though they in general disapproved and shumied the study of physical sub- jects. We are informed that only by slow degrees the general doctrine of a globular foi-m made its way among men, and that to a much later period the immobility of the earth w^as main- tained. Considerably within the last two centuries that opinion was the general belief of all denominations of Christians. f In respect to the discovery of the con-position of light by Sir Isaac Newton, Mr. Playfair says, " though it was brought forward in a most simple and unpretending form, hosts of enemies appeared, each eager to obtain the unfortunate pre-eminence of being the first to attack conclusions which the unanimous voice of posterity was to confirm." Mr. Hume, the historian, mentions the fact that " Harvey w^as treated with great contumely on account of his discovery of the circulation of the blood, and in consequence lost his practice." In this country it is known in what manner Fitch and Fulton were received when they first made known then- theory for the application of steam to mechanical operations. The fii-st died through poverty and neglect. The other, for many years, though he applied to those of this country and Europe who woidd be supposed to assist such an undertaking, yet was unable to pro- cure aid, was treated with neglect, and his plans considered those of a visionary. Even not thirty years ago raih'oads were considered as impracticable. In an article in the " Quarterly Re\iew," the editor says, "As to those persons who speculate on the making railways generally throughout the kingdom, and superseding all the canals, all the wagons, mail and stao-e coaches, post-chaises, and, in short, every other mode of convey- ance by land and by water, we deem them and their visionary schemes unworthy of notice ;" and in allusion to an opinion ex- pressed of the probability of railway engines runnmg at the rate of eighteen miles an hour on a railway then in contemplation between London and Woohvich, the reviewer adds — "We should as soon expect the people of Woolwich to suffer themselves to * Gisb. Voetii. Disput. TheoL, Vol. I., p. 637 ; Utrecht, 1648. t See Appendix, page 347. INTRODUCTOEY. be fired off upon one of Congreve's ricochet rockets, as trust themselves to the mercy of a machine going at such a rate." We might give additional extracts of the persecution, lidicule, and condemnation which have ever awaited great discoveries from the earliest ages down to the present day ; but it is un- necessary, sufficient having been adduced to demonstrate that they ever have been " treated with hostility by the generation to whom they were addressed." Mr. Combe remarks, that " if we are to profit by the lessons of history, we ought, after surveying these mortifying examples of human weakness and wickedness, to dismiss from our minds every prejudice against the present subject founded on its hos- tile reception by men of established reputation of the present day." He adds, that " if the new theory should prove true, pos- terity will view the contumelies heaped on its founders as an- other dark speck in the history of discovery, and that he who wishes to avoid all participation in this ungenerous treatment should dismiss prejudice and calmly listen to evidence and rea- son, and thus not encounter the chance of adding his name to the melancholy list of the enemies of mankind by refusing, on the strength of mere prejudice, to be instructed in the new doc- trines when submitted to his consideration." Trusting that such are the sentiments of the reader, we shall briefly allude, as a foundation for our inquiry, to that method of interpreting and teachmg the Scriptures which has for so many years been in vogue. Thus an eminent authority says : "We have no right to sit in judgment over the Holy Oracles ; that in all things in relation to them an entire and unconditional surrender of our mmds must be given ; that the question should be, not what thinkest thou, but tvhat readest thou.'" In defence of this course of proceeding, it is asserted that the authenticity of the Scriptures has been proved, and hence the time has gone by when they should be examined and scrutinized. In regard to a view like this, we must beg leave to enter our dissent. With multitudes the question, " What thinkest thou?" has not yet been determined, and until it has, it may well be said it is in vain to substitute tlie principle of " what readest thou." We hardly need say, too, that the sentiment that " every 4 INTEODUCTORY. thought must be brought into the captivity of obedience," would not oiily take rwaj that which is held most sacred, the right of private" judgment, but would confirm the Catholic in the creed which for centuries has held its terrible sway. The belief would also destroy the hope of a Church ever being founded, which, from the intelhgence of its members, should present an impene- trable bulwark against the attacks of infidelity. A distinguished writer, after quoting with approbation the catechetical aphorism, that the chief end of man is to glorify his Creator, observes, that " the perfections of God are the glory of his character ; that in order that these may be disclosed by one intelligent creature to another, it is plainly necessary that he should first know them or understand what they are ; this knowledge being the basis on which all other in regard to them must be founded. Without this knowledge mankind might in- deed glorify God as he is glorified by the mtite, 2yassive, incogi- tative works of his hands, such as earth, plants, and trees, that is, by being displays of his power and skill to conscious beings ; but they cannot in this glorify him as intelligent beings." Lord Bacon, the father of modern philosophy, confirms the above, and says : " Let no man taking the credit of a sobriety and moderation ill applied, think or maintain that man can search too far in the book of God's Word, but rather let them excite themselves to the search and boldly advance in the pur- suit of an endless progress in it ; only taking heed lest they ap- ply their knowledge to arrogance and not charity, to ostentation, not use." If the Scriptures are examined in respect to this sub- ject, it is found that they do not require us to worship the Cre- ator except by making use of our noblest powers ; and in lan- guage worthy the Divine Father it is said, " Come, let us reason together," and throughout the inspired volume we are asked to judge of God and his works. By asserting that the principle " what thinkest thou," should not be applied to the Scriptures, that reason should conform to faith, the utmost advantage is given to the skeptic, and there is nothing more pleasing to the infidel philosopher than to have it understood that the Bible holds forth doctrines which set at defiance all modern discoveries. A writer of note says that " more than half the work of Atheism is done, if the world INTRODUCTOKY. can be persuaded that Christianity contemplates the surrender of the deductions of reason, and sets up the Christian plan as something that stands in irreconcilable opposition to the coui-se of nature and the just process of thought." Those religious persons who assert that the human mind is weak and faUible, and incapable of judging concerning the Holy- Oracles, do not appear to be aware that they are asserting that which, if fully carried out, would destroy confidence in all truth, even that of the Bible itself. For, as is truly observed, " admit- ting that there are persons who are in possession of truth, they must have received it from some who went before them ; they again from the generation before that ; and so on till we come back to the mind who received the truth directly from God. But these first recipients must have vised their own impressions obtained either through some reason or feeling, and they must have transmitted these through the medium of other minds. If these faculties, therefore, are so weak, wavy, and deceptive as is supposed, what guarantee have we that they have either appreciated or transmitted truth with faultless accuracy?" The same author adds, " that in matter of fact private judg- ment must be exercised whether we will or not. We came into God's world without any mark upon our spirits to tell us where we are to find the truth, and it is equally a matter of pri- vate opinion whether we determine to work out our own system of religious belief for ourselves, or whether we determine to yield to the authority of others. If reason, then, be invalid, this very determination which it makes to resign itself into the hands of authority, may be an erroneous judgment. In short, if the validity of reason be once destroyed, nothing, not even revela- tion, which must be received through its medium, can save us from universal skepticism, that is, a universal reductio ad ab- surdum."* The next point we shall consider before entering into further explanation, is in respect to the divine law and order in which the Deity exists. In regard to this important subject a variety of opinions prevail, some even supposing that the Deity can act * Morell's View of the Philosophy of Europe in the Nineteenth Century. Vol. n., p. 289. 6 INTKODUCTOKT, in opposition to his attribute of justice, and that it is not true that "order is Heaven's first law." It will be our endeavor in the present section briefly to examine the subject, to show the fallacy and pernicious tendency of views of this nature, and to exhibit the importance of adopting, as a fundamental principle, the behef which teaches that " there are divine or spiritual laws as fixed and immutable as those which govern the natural world." And first, to introduce the subject, let us state what is designa- ted by the term law : Law, as generally understood, designates a rule of action, or it is the general command of one intelligent being to another intelligent being ; or, as remarked by Blackstone, " it is a rule of conduct prescribed by the superior power of the State com- mandino- what is right and 'prohibiting what is wrong." In considering the facts relating to law, it is readily seen that nothing can be done without it, and it is necessary for the very existence of the present state of things. A child first learns the immutable lessons concerning law from his parents ; for their commands are at this period of his life the law to him, and obe- dience is required. At school the child also learns his second great lesson concerning law, and begins to perceive that it is for his interests to comply with the regulations of the teacher. Again, as the youth reaches the age of manhood, he becomes better acquainted with the general principles of law, and of the necessity of obedience to its dictates. He sees that if laws were not enacted and prisons did not exist, there would be safety for neither life nor property, and the country would be left to the mercy of plunderers. Nowhere does he see a better instance illustrating the stem necessity of law and order being maintained than when a fierce and infuriated mob have collected. In this case he sees that if the rioters were not put down, not only would the greatest of enormities be perpetrated, but at the same time it would afford a precedent for another like occasion, and in which possibly his own hfe and property would be sacrificed. The young man upon advancing on his career still further per- ceives the necessity on all occasions of having a proper respect for the majesty of the law, for he now sees that the Universe itself is governed by fixed and unchangeable laws. He becomes INTEODUCTOKY. 7 aware that he himself is governed by physical or natui*al laws which are as plainly written as if inscribed in letters of fire in the heavens. He perceives that these are the laws which regu- late the enjoyment of health, and which must be obeyed, or sickness will be the inevitable result. He now sees why it is, if he precipitate himself from a lofty elevation, his life would be en- dangered, and W'hy, if his hand is placed in a burning flame, he suffers exquisite pain, or if poison be taken it will cause his death. He also learns wliat causes -water to boil at a certain tempera- ture, whether in England, China, or America, and why articles not buoyant sink in water. These and other laws of a similar nature he finds are the same in all parts of the world, and he is led to beheve they were ever the same. He gives credence to the supposition, not only because all past and present experience prove the similarity, but also from the reason that the Scriptures concur in enforcing the behef, and infonn him that God, from whom are derived nature's laws, is an imchangeable Being, the same to-day as yesterday. Nothing is more convincing to him that " order is Heaven's first law," than an examination of the vast planetary system, and the sight of countless worlds moving in the most exact and majestic order. The mere mention of the unerring mathematical calcula- tions, which the navigator and astronomer are enabled to make, is sufficient to confirm his belief. Again, when he examines the vegetable, the animal, and the mineral kingdoms, he finds each created after an order and method far more exact than the most perfect specimen of human mechanism. All things which he scrutinizes, even to the tiny msect fluttering before him, he finds created after a law and order peculiar to itself, and without which it could not exist. Now he can perceive why " order is Heaven's first law." He finds it thus, because the great Creator, considered as the ruler of the universe, its director and preserver, must necessarily have a plan, order, and method in his vast and intricate affairs, or all would be in disorder and perish. He sees that the same regulations which are observed in regard to the preservation of order in carrying out any great undertaking, or even to the pres- ervation of order in a piece of intricate mechanism, are applicable to the work of the mighty Architect, and that when he created 8 li^TEODUCTOKY. he formed all things in the most perfect order, and by his om- nipotence sustains them. Such views of God's laws, and of the divine order in which he exists, we may suppose the youth of the nmeteenth century might form ; and now let us proceed with the inquiry, why it is we°are led to believe that the Supreme Being is so governed by any law that he cannot surpass it. To this question, with rev- erence we reply : first, that it is a law of Heaven, and which can- not be changed, that there should le fixed and permanent things, or otherwise all would be changeable and inconstant, and we could be sure of nothing ; neither of summer nor -svinter, seed- time nor harvest, and literally would not know what a day or hour might bring forth. Again : God is governed by the law which regulates the administration of perfect justice. If the Deity, as a moment's reflection will convince, could act in an unjust manner, he Avould not be God, but his opposite, and a spirit of evil ; therefore whatever he does, he is necessitated to act the part of a wise and beneficent Being. Such a view of the subject is corroborated by the words of Scripture ; and we are repeatedly informed that "justice and judgment are the habita- tion of his throne," and that it is " far from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity." Again : the subject of God's omnipotence, and of his acting according to the divine laws and order, is illustrated by taking the case of a human being. Such a one is, we are informed, made after God's likeness and image, and procures all his might from the observance of the order and laws by which he is cre- ated ; if he evades those primal laws his strength is gone and he becomes sick, disordered, and powerless. As we understand the Scriptures, it is the same with the Deity ; for if it were pos- sible to destroy the divine law and order in which and by which he exists, as believed by some, he would, so far from being more powerful, be without omnipotence and powerless. If or- der, or good, be united to disorder, or evil, it would become the same ; hence unless it can be shown that the Deity can exist in disorder, and be the author of confusion, it cannot be believed he can exist except in the most perfect order. It may be said, an Omnipotence in any possible way Umited, is INTRODUCTOKT. » a contradiction. To this we reply : that it is not a contradiction to act according to the laws of justice with sound judgment ; but it would be a contradiction if the Deity acted contrary to the laws of his justice and goodness, for this would be acting con- trary to his wisdom, or himself. The greatest of contradictions is implied in the faith which virtually teaches that the Deity can work evil, or transform himself into a spirit of darkness ; for, as before observed, this would render us unable to distinguish good from evil, or the Deity from his opposite. It is probable that if ever the omnipotence of the Deity was exerted to the utmost, it was in adopting means by which his laws and statutes might be made known. The miracles in Egypt, at the Red Sea, that in the Avilderness, and the terrific one wrought at Sinai, were performed solely and expressly for this purpose, and with the intention of inculcating upon the Is- raelites, and through them the rest of mankind, the importance and necessity of obedience. Repeatedly it is said. Obey my laws ; keep my statutes, and health, happiness, and prosperity will attend you : disobey, and ruin and misery will inevitably follow. To the reflective mind, the mere fact that because Heaven's law was broken by man's disobedience the Saviour was necessi- tated to appear upon this earth, is of itself sufficient to demon- strate the existence of divine laws. And the stern, inexor- able necessity of obedience to them, even to the smallest, is ren- dered evident from the words of Scripture, intimating that so great and important are they, that it is easier for the heavens and the earth to pass away than for one tittle of them to fail. Mr. Tupper tlius beautifully illustrates our observations con- cerning Law and Order : " Law hath dominion over all tilings, over universal mind and matter ; For there are reciprocities of right which no creature can gainsay. Unto each was there added by its Maker, in the perfection of being, Dependencies and sustentations, accidents, and qualities, and powers ; And each must fly forward iu the curve into which it was forced from the beginning; Each must attract and repel, or the monarchy of Order is no more. Laws are essential emanations from the self-poised character of God, And thej- radiate from that Sun to the circling edges of creation. Verily, the mighty Lawgiver hath subjected himself unto laws, 10 INTEODUCTOEY. And God is the primal grand example of free, unrestrained obedience ; His perfection is limited by right, and cannot trespass unto wrong. Because he hath estabUshed himself as the foimtam of only good. And in thus much is bounded, that the evil hath he left unto another And that dark other hath usurped the evil which Omnipotence laid down. Unto God there exist impossibilities ; for the True One cannot he, Nor can the Wise One wander from the track which he hath deter- mined for liimself ; For his will was purposed from eternity, strong in the love of order ; And that will altereth not, as the laws of the Medes and Persians. God is the origin of Order, and the first exemplar of his precept." The source of the behef that all things are possible with God, even though they shock our clearest ideas of right and wrong, originated wth those who were overwhelmed by the vastness of creation, and at the existence of a Being without beginning or end. These circumstances, joined with the wonderful events re- lated in the Scriptures, were so surprising, so contraiy to their ordinary experience, that in an unfortunate moment they came to the conclusion, in their desire to praise the Deity, that it was the better part to banish the use of reason in reference to the Scriptures, and believe that nothing was impossible to the Cre- ator, and this in the most unlimited sense. Nothing is impos- sible to the Deity, rationally considered ; for we know and hum- bly acknowledge that we are as nothing ; that this vast planetary system is but as a single point in the unhmitcd universe ; and there are mysteries in the Scriptures which it is m vain for the human mind to attempt to pierce ; yet it was not from this in- tended that we should not reason concerning the Holy Oracles, or beUeve that it was possible that the Deity coidd prove false, or act contradictory to himself. It is the most hrational manner in which the words possibility and impossibility are used, to which we object ; for how many are there, who have so firm a behef in the magical words om- nipotence and faith, that if asked the most absurd of questions, would make it a point of duty to answer in the affinuative. Now such a belief, and the idea frequently taught concerning omnipo- tence, or that God is without order, and responsible to no law, though well intended, is not far from the grossest superstition ; and instead of adding to the sovereignty of the Deity, robs him of his glory, leaves the mind enveloped in darkness and imcer- INTKODUCTORY. 1 1 tainty, creates the most erroneous and false ideas concerning the truths of the Scriptures, and too frequently is the direct cause of secret skepticism and infidelity. Let us admit that the di\ine benevolence and wisdom can originate evil, or, as expressed by the Scriptures, " do -wickedness and commit iniquity," and we are lost in a sea of inextricable con- fusion ; but on the other hand, admitting that all things are pos- sible except the former, and we have an unerring clue to disen- tangle the thousand eiTors by which Ave are surrounded — have a gmde to show why so distressing a thing as sin was permitted to exist, and are sho^-n why the place of future retribution is not erased from creation. SECTION II. NECESSITY OF AN INTERNAL SENSE TO THE SCRIPTURES. It was intimated in the Preface, that there was a hidden or in- ternal sense to the words of Scripture, which was superior to that of the mere letter. That this is the case, we shall endeavor to make apparent in the present section. 1. If an internal sense be not admitted, there are chapters and nmiierous passages in the Sacred Oracles, which are Avhollj^ unin- telhgible ; as, for instance, the following taken from the book of Ezekiel, chap, xxxix : " And thou son of man, thus saith the Lord : -, speak to the fowl of eveiy wing, and to every beast of the field ; Assemble yourselves, and come, and gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice, that I do sacrifice for you (even), a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, and of lambs, and of goats ; of buEocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be di-unken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Thus shall ye be filled at my table luith horses and chariots, with might]/ men, and all men of war, saith the Lord God." In another part of the same Book it is vkTitten : " Also out of the midst thereof, came the hkeness of fom* h\Ting crea- tures. And this was their appearance ; they had the hkeness of a man. And eveiy one had fom* faces, and eveiy one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet ; and the sole of their feet was hke the sole of a calf's foot ; and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides ; and they foiu* had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another ; THE SUBJECT CONTINUED. 13 they turned not when they went, they went eveiy one straight forward. As for the hkeness of theu- faces, they four had the face of a man and the face of a Hon on the right side ; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side ; they four also had the face of an eagle." It is easy to perceive that these passages, and there are others of the same nature, are so abstruse and hieroglyphical, that it is utterly impossible to gather any rational sense or meaning from them ; and thus far, no one has given any interpretation wiiich is at all satisfactory ; yet it is endent that there is a meaning and true sense, and that they were not recorded in the sacred vol- ume except for benefiting mankind. " Without the spiritual (or internal) sense," says an eminent writer, " it is impossible for any one to know why the prophet Jeremiah Avas commanded to buy himself a girdle, and not to draw it through the waters, but to go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole in the rock (Jer. xiii. l-r?) ; or Avhy Ezekiel the prophet was commanded to make a razor pass upon his head and upon his beard, and afterwards to divide them, and to burn a third part in the midst of the city, and to smite a third part with the sword, and to scatter a third part in the Avind, and to bind a little of them in his skirts, and at last to cast them into the midst of the fire (Ezek. v. 1 — 4) ; or why Hosea was twice commanded to take to himself a harlot to wif(^ (Hos. i. 2 — 9 ; iii. 2, 3) ; or what is signitied by all things appertaining to the tabernacle ; as by the ark, the mercy-seat, the cherubim, the candlestick, the altar of incense, the shew-bread on the table, and veils and cm*- tains. Who would know, Avithout the spiritual sense, what is signified by Aaron's holy garments ; as by his coat, his cloak, the ephod, the urim and thummim, the mitre, and several things be- sides ■? Or, without the spiritual sense, w^ho would know what is signified by all those particulars which were enjoined concerning burnt-offerings, sacrifices, meat-offeiings ; and also concerning sabbaths and feasts ? The tnith is, that nothing was enjoined, be it ever so minute, but what was significative of something ap- pertaining to the Lord, to heaven, and to the Church. From these few instances, then, it may be plainly seen that there is a spiritual sense in all and every part of the Word." — (See Doctrine Concerning the Sacred Scriptures, n. 16.) 14 NECKSSITY OF AN INTERNAL SENSE. Reference can be made to distinguished and eminent authori- ties, who have ever believed that there was an internal and hidden sense to be attributed to the words of Scripture, the knowledge of which was far more impoilant than that indicated by the letter. Dr. Mosheim, the eminent author of the Ecclesi- astical History, mentions, among the illustrious writei-s of the second centmy, and men most renowned for their piety and eru- dition, the names of Pantcenus, Clemens the Alexandrian, Tatian, Justin Martyr, and Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch ; and concern- ing these distingmshed luminaries in the church, he says : " They all attributed a double sense to the words of Scripture ; the one obvious and literal, the other hidden and mysterious, which lay concealed, as it were, under the A'eil of the outward letter. The former they treated with the utmost neglect, and turned the whole force of their genius and application to unfold the latter." — [Cent. II., part 2* chap. Hi. 4, 5.) Among the Christian Fathers of the third centur}-, the name of Origen stands pre-eminent. Speaking of the principal writers that distinguished themselves in it (the third century) by their learned and pious productions. Dr. Mosheim says : " The most eminent of these, whether we consider the extent of his fame or the multiplicity of his labors, was Origen, presbyter and catechist of Alexandria ; a man of vast and uncommon abilities, and the greatest luminary of the Christian world that this age exhibited to view. His virtues and his labors deserve the admu-ation of all ages ; and his name will be transmitted with honor thi'ough the annals of time, as long as learning and genius shall be esteemed among men."* — {Cent. Ill, jiart 2, chap. ii. 1.) Such is the eulogistic language which our historian employs in speaking of Origen. And he tells us in another chapter, that this illustrious man maintained and taught that the principal, wis- dom of God's Word lies within or above the letter. To cite his * The historian Gibbon confirms the testimony of Dr. Moslieim. In ref- erence to the Bubject, he says, "that tlie most learned of the Fathers, by a very singular condescension, have imprudently admitted the sophistry of the Gnostics. Acknowledging that the literal sense is repugnant to every principle of faith, as well as reason, they deem themselves secure and invul- nerable behind the ample veil of allegory, which they carefully spread over every tender part of the Mosaic dispensation."— Fo?. /., p. 231, Harper's edi- tion. ^ ^ GEOLOGICAL AND OTHER EVIDENCE. 15 own language : " He (Origen) alleged, that the words of Scrip- ture were, in many places, absolutely void of sense ; and that though in others there were, indeed, certain notions conveyed under the outward terms, according to their literal force and im- port, yet it was not in these that t^e true meaning of the sacred writers was to be sought, but in a mysterious and hidden sense arising from the nature of the things themselves. This hidden sense he endeavors to investigate throughout his Commentaries." (Cent. III., part 2, chap. Hi. 5.) And in the next section of the same chapter, the historian adds : " A 2i^'odigious number of interpreters, both in this and succeeding ages, followed the method of Origen, though Avith some vanation." — (See Barrett's Lectures, p. 164.) Without comment upon the above, we would now call atten- tion to geological, and other evidence, in regard to the work of Creation, and which, we believe, substantiates the grounds taken. All who ai-e conversant with Geology, are aware that it now takes its place among the rigid and exact sciences ; and its truths are considered capable of demonstration. Now it is evinced, that the same faculties which enable us to consider Geology as true, enable us to believe that the Bible is a sacred book and the Word of God. This being the case, we cannot deny the one without the other ; for our knowledge of both was acquired by obsersa- tion of occurrences and facts, which in all went' to fix our belief in the truth of the particular knowledge. The Sacred Writings (according to common chronology) inform us, that the world has existed only six thousand years ; Geology, on the other hand, asserts to the contrary, and by facts which it is impossible to deny, proves that this is not the age of the earth, but that it is far more ancient. Here in this case is a direct contradiction ; for both cannot be tnie. Yet upon no account is the Bible to be re- jected ; for we believe that every part, even to the most seeming insignificant passage, is of the utmost value : hence the plain inference, and there is no other, that the narrative of the Crea- tion, as recorded in the Scriptures, is chiefly written in an allc' gorical and figurative manner, and conveys a different sense than that indicated by the mere letter. The Rev. Baden Powell, Professor of Geometry in the Univer- sity of Oxford, one of the most profound writers of the present 16 NECESSITY OF AN INTERNAL SENSE. day, says : " With regard to the nature and extent of the dis- crepancy thus disclosed, we shall observe that it is not a case merely involving the question of the literal acceptation of a word or phrase. It is the contradiction of existing monuments of past events, with the obvious sen^ of what is recorded as a part of divine revelation, in the form of a circumstantial nariative of the same events. And this discrepancy is not one with any theory or partial discovery of science Avhich is not thoroughly made out, and Avhich future investigations may modify or set aside, but with the broad, primary facts, which involve nothing hypotheti- cal, and which are in reality identified with the principles of all truth." — (Kiito's Bibl. Cyclop., Art. Creatio7i.) Professor I. P. Nichol, LL.D., F.R.S.E., of the University of Glasgow, says, speaking of the primitive formation and early condition of the world, that " the periods of time required for these events it is impossible to estimate ; but that they were indefinitely longer than that which has been imputed to the earth's existence by many, or recorded data, is unquestionable. Myriads of years may indeed have been required for the forma- tion of one stratum, or for the appearance and ultimate extinction of an entire race or order of existences, now only to be found deeply imbedded in the interior of the earth."* — [Architecture of the Heavens, p. 126.) The majority of enlightened theologians, aware of this discrep- ancy or difficulty in reconciling geological facts with the literal se-nse of the Scriptures, endeavor to settle the mooted point by asserting that the days mentioned in the first chapter of Genesis are not such days as at present, but might have been six or ten thousand years in duration. Dr. Good remarks that " we have no knowledge whatever of the length of the first three or four days, or generations, that marked the great work of Creation, * The prevalent opinion until recently has been, that we are there (in Genesis) taught that the world began to exist on the first of the six days of creation, or about six thousand years ago. Geologists, however, with one voice declare that their science indicates the earth to have been of fur higher antiquity. The geological view carries the mind back along the flow of countless ages. Is there any reason to doubt the high antiquity of the globe as demonstrated by geology ? ■ If any point not capable of mathemati- cal demonstration in physical science is proved, surely this truth is estab- 'ishcd.— y/ie lieligion of Geology and its Connected Sciences, by Edward Hitchcock, D.D., LL.D., 1851, pp. 83, 69, 70. GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE. 17 antecedently to the completion of the sun and moon, and their ap- pointment to their respective posts ; and hence, for all that ap- peal's to the contrary, they may have been as long as the Wer- nerian System and the book of Nature. In his argument he endeavoi-s to show that the word day, in the Hebrew, signifies a generation, and frequently the whole term of one's life ; and that there is not any word used in a Avider latitude of construction. But if it is admitted that the term day signifies, in a figurative sense, twenty thousand years, or a generation, how are we to understand tlae description given concerning the Vegetable King- dom, which, according to the literal sense of the Scriptures, was produced before the formation of the sun ? The rays of the sun are, according to the laws of nature, or God's laws, absolutely necessary for the growth of the vegetable world ; if tl\e days were twenty thousand yeai-s or more in duration, the earth must have remained for this immense period of time clothed with vege- tation, which had sprung up and existed without the sun's influ- ence, as this was not created until tlie fourth day ! The learned Origen on this subject observes, that ' no one of a sound mind can imagine there was an evening and moraing during the first three days, without a sun.' — {Good's Book of Nature, Art. Geology, p. 79.) In Genesis it is also stated that " two great lights were made ; the greater to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night ;" and we are given to understand that the moon, or lesser light, is laro-er than any planet in the solar system ; when, as well known, it is the smallest. There is every reason to suppose the ancient Israelites understood it thus, and not after the manner of a New- ton or Herschel. This is evident from the fact that the Coper- nican system, not two hundred years ago, was generally disbe- lieved by both Catholics and Protestants, and its promulgators were exposed to the imputation of disbelieving the Avhole of the sacred writings. With this additional evidence, we will now briefly endeavor to show that the narrative of the Fall is of itself insufficient and un- satisfactory, and plainly evinces that there is another sense than simply that conveyed by the letter. That this is a just inference is proved, first, from the fact that there is no reason given to show why the serpent, or evil 2 18 NECESSITY OF AN INTKKNAL SENSE. principle, was ever created, or after his creation was allowed to enter the Garden of Eden. It appears incredible that Adam and Eve should not have been warned against his devices, particularly as it was an event of such transcendent importance, involving the happiness of unborn myriads. It is contraiy to our daily experi- ence to believe that, even after partaking of the interdicted fruit, they should so soon have fallen from the high state of excellence in which they were created, to such a degree of degradation. At the present time no good man falls at one assault upon his morals ; and if not, and as none can compare their morality with that of those Avho were first created, then must it be believed that the real fall of Adam and Eve is otherwise than represented. We are led to believe that there is a great eiTor in receiving simply the literal sense of what is said respecting Cain, in the fourth chapter of Genesis. It is stated, that after he had killed Abel, he had a mark set upon him lest any finding him should kill him ; also, that after he had gone from the face of Jeho- vah, he went into the land of Nod and took to himself a wife and built a city. It does not appear why a mark should be set upon him, when there was no one living at that time except Adam and Eve, or where he procured himself a wife. From this it is evi- dent that there must have been others existing before the Adam mentioned, or that the whole statement is figurative and alle- gorical. In chap. iii. v. 1, it is said, " the serpent Avas more subtile than any beast of the field ;" and that he Avas endowed Avith the pow- ers of speech and reason; that he ivalked erect : for this is im- plied, as Ave are afterAvards infomied that he Avas cursed and made to creep upon his belly. We ask if there is not every reason to believe that the snake, or serpent, always did creep upon the ground, and that his natural organization and genus are such, as to render it impossible for him to Avalk erect, or liave the gift of speech and reason ? A Avell-knoAvn biblical Avriter re- marks (speaking of the serpent, of his being endowed Avith rational powers, &c.), " Noav I apprehend that none of th