|
- Dale R. Broadhurst's SPALDING RESEARCH PROJECT - The Library of Congress Spalding Manuscript --- Part 16 --- |
"Romance of Celes..."
A Story Attributed to Solomon Spalding.
pp. 387-405
(387)========================================
Section 6th Excurtion to the Sun.
Those who have embraced the doctrine of the
omnipotence of inert matter, will now shudder at the
presumptuous intention of visiting that immense and
unfathomable ocean of flame! while their shuddering
proves that the very nonentity of the idea has more
influence on them than the great Sun itself.
But as we are beyond the precincts of such reasoners,
we will fly to his glowing atmosphere, whence we shall
realize the unspeakable disparity between the powers of
the living God and the pretended laws and honours
of dead matter -- He, who can carry a beam of light
through millions and millions of miles with the
velocity of lightning, and not suffer it to vary a fraction
from a rectilineal course, is not a servant to dead
matter.
No! "He is the God of the living," "and in him is life,
and the life is the light of men. And altho' the light
shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth
it not," yet light answers to light, and life to life
through the immunity of his power. This sentiment
awoke is us a fervent desire to visit, not only the Sun
itself, but all those planets which bask in the beams of
his benign radiance.
We mounted up through the boundless ocean of ether,
and before we were aware, our cars were bounding
upon the surface of Mercury's atmosphere. Below us
rolled Mercuy the Sceptre of the Sun, ever waving a
joyful welcome to visitants from Hesperus, to the Sun:
Mercury is the beloved planet, and as his disk is never
visited by those who approach the Sun, we shall omit
the description till we return on our way to Jupiter ---
We were content to ride upon his atmosphere till a,
half revolution left us on our way. It must be
remembered that the Sun is perfectly white, and that all
his radiating beams continue so, till the smoke and
impurities of the different atmospheres impede some
of the more feeble rays, and suffer only the red, orange
or yellow to penetrate: Hence we sometimes have a
golden, saffron, or a red sun. But we were now flying
through regions of the most volatile ether which
permitted his rays to (------ ) like a fountain let loose
upon the infinite boundaries of chaos to arouse it from
its drowsy oblivion, and in the profusion of its
centuries and (chiliads), to cause thousands of other
worlds to bloom, and sing, and chaunt the song of the
morning stars.
Our course now was rapid, measured only try the
loftiest strides of the
(388)=========================================
imagination. Sol was ever before us, magnifying
himself a thousand and a thousand fold, till his
horiz;on was lost in the insignificance of our vision,
and all appeared like a boundless plain. The surface of
his atmosphere was covered with an electrical mist,
about ten yards in depth. This was perpetually
circumvolving on itself in distinct portions;
surcharging and discharging the electric fluid from one
portion to another, as these portions happened to be
positively or negatively charged. Instead of witnessing
that horrible, scorching, and all consuming fire which
the children of wrath have conceived it to be, it was
delightful beyond the powers of description; for in
these circumvolutions of living light, a kind of playful
and happy intelligence seemed sporting in its own
element and proved that the glorious king of day "was
a boundleas ocean of fervent love. Here we were
suffered to suspend our cars and feast our delighted
minds with the pleasing novelty of animated
electricity. Sometimes we were involved in rolling
pillars of white and glowing mist as they bounded over
the translucent atmosphere below.. Sometimes we
mounted over their surface as bubbles of air, or like
watery meteors that impede no law of electricity. We
thought to sing and chaunt the praises of that Divinity
who had built the Solar temple: but the thought was
accepted for the performance and we were justified
when we felt that it was suffcient to behold and adore;
for here the enraptured seraph burns with ceaseless
praise to god, and countless millions shine. ---
Here is one perpetual day! One perpetual round of
immense light and glory. No star; no planet or satellite,
is permitted to intrude its feeble rays into this vast
expense and fountain, as well as reservoir of light: for
when we were ninety five millions of miles distant his
rays, in broad day light prevented their feeble efforts;
How much more, must a contact with this stupendous
luminary obscure all the other lights of heaven. We
even rejoiced when we remembered that our existence
had commenced far away: for we had brought with us a
slight knowledge of the middle regions between perfect
light and the dark boundaries of chaos. As there was
no foreign object, no planet or fixed star upon which
we could fasten our vision, we could discover nothing
like a revolution
(389)=========================================
There was no evident motion except the
circumvolutions of the electrified mist. How long we
remained here, it is impossible to calculate from any
dates of planetary motion or otherwise, for the motion
of this electric mist is never uniform, only on the
whole surface of the atmosphere together. In separate
and distinct portions of this regeon the appearance is
probably never twice alike.
At length our thoughts turned inward upon that
Divine principle or rather emanation, which
constitutes us their king, knowing, sensitive and active
spirits; and we forgot ourselves and were lost in the
infinite beatitude of beholding in us the express image
and glory of God.
A voice as of many waters and mighty thunderings
beneath us summoned us to descend, and immediately
we thronged the golden pavements of the occult city,
where the primeval and Great First Cause of all things
was the light thereof.
Here, as upon the surface of the glowing atmosphere
above, the city appeared as if built upon a boundless
plain, altho in fact it is built upon a perfect globe. Such
is the infinite variety of architecture of mansions, gates
and hanging gardens that; two are never found alike in
the same district. The mansions are all without roofs,
while the walls are mere rods of gold, so wrought into
network as to allow a most beautifully figured gold and
silver lace to conceal the rods: At every corner and
avenue is a stately gate: These are so beautifully
decorated polished and adornd with pearls and
precious stones, as to give the idea of triumphal arches.
In whatever portion of this orb you chance to light,
you will find from the surface to the centre; streets;
mansions; gardens; trees shrubs, plants, fountains,
music; and every thing material and ideal; intellectual
and spiritual that can contribute in the least degree, to
fill up that measure of glory and happiness which finite
beings require to satisfy that craving nature & empty
void with which we seem to have been created.
The city is all laid in squares and districts; each district
contains thirty-six squares; and at the angles where four
districts meet, stands a temple composed of six
triumphal arches overhung with golden (fimbria) or
moss fringe which hangs pendant
(390)=========================================
and suspends at the bottom, the most fancifully
wrought and varigated little bells of platina, gold and
silver. These temples have six gates one on each side
opening on a deck which is the commencement of a
spiral staircase which leads you down to the Inner
Temple, or central chamber of the city. As we went
down, we found at the extent of every twelve feet, a
gate opening into other (paved) streets where the same
city plot, of mansions, streets, gardens fountains &c.
predominate as above. Such is the compact state of this
city of many mansions, that the whole geometrical
contents, from the surface to the inner temple, may
strictly, be considered a globe of many cities, or a "house
of many mansions" Here were countless millions
walking to and fro; up and down, in every direction
wherever a highway had been prepared, and among the
rest our own party from Mount Caydarossora were
permitted to visit the Inner Temple and bow before the
great white throne and behold the face of "Him that sat
upon it".
This was enough -- Nothing henceforth has been
added to or diminished from that Spark of Divine life,
light and power which has enabled me to perform my
part in that office of Messenger to all parts of his
universe, so necessary for the salvation and happiness
of all his intelligent beings whom he hath called forth
from the dark regions of chaos by his election and
Omnipotent mind.
As we were Florentines and our names enrolled in
the records of Jupiter, we received our passports,
mounted our cars & with a mighty shout, mounted the
blazing canopy of the city of God and were soon
wending our way to Mercury.
Here we spent several short days in preparing
ourselves with proper etherial and mathematical
instructions necessary on account of a vast comet
which was about to intersect our path on the way to the
golden planet. We wished to pass through his
luminous trait as near his chaotic nucleous as possible
-- for we anticipated there would be a lively time in the
region of watery meteors. Mercury is a city, in most
respects like the Sun He is much less luminous, and
infinitely smaller. He flies around that great luminary,
carrying the mansions, towers and observatories of
those happy servants who are devoted to the sublime
telescope of the Universe. This telescope is located in
the inner temple, and is so suspended upon a universal
hinge or pivot as to enable the astronomer to look
through the centre of any one of the spiral stair-cases
and discover every motion of planet or comet in the
Solar system, and even trace out the comet's flight to its
loftiest appelion.
(391)====================================
The citizens of Mercury lack nothing within the limits of the
universe to match them equal participants of all the blessings
bestowed upon those who harp before the great white throne:
and it is no mokery for them to profess to enjoy the presence
of that Divinity; who, although enthroned in awful and
enrapturing majesty in his own glorious orb; yet pervades
immesnsity with supreme love and Omnipotence; after making
those telescopic observations which we had conceived were
necessary we took our departure for the golden planet. --------
S 7th ------ Section Seventh.. Excurtion to Jupiter. ---------
Anticipation is the life of enterprize; and notwithstanding
the mighty round of pleasures; festivities and holy-day
recreations that may chance to intervene between an
invitation and a walk; or between a promise and fulfflment;
we seldom lose sight of the object of our wishes ----- We had
long since enjoyed the promise of an excursion to a planet
which I had ever looked upon as a beautiful and sunny spot
far away: I had looked upon the earth as a place of transient
probation; and if it had its thousands of delights, it had also its
ten thousand vexations and I was easily persuaded to leave a
place where I found no increasing hope and saw no glowing
expectation, for the sake of that dear star which had so
frequently absorbed all my thoughts and swallowed up my
soul: From the date of the first Florentine promise in Detroit,
to the present glorious moment; every incident of my life has
forwarded the enterprize, increased my zeal and added fresh
hopes to my bosom. -- The enterprize keeps rising in
sublimity and promises fresh felicity; not because I expect to
see any greater object, or come in contact with a mightier
king than I have already seen but because I anticipate a share
in that glory which resounds to the good and faithful, by
becoming an efficient co-worker in the vineyard of our
heavenly Father.. A boundless expense of ether was before us,
and as a golden gem of immense value, hung isolated with its
beckoning glories in the heavens, Jupiter must now be
visited.. Our cars were again flying through space and our
happy and glorified company were once more performing
those splendid involutions and evolutions which serve to
amuse and delight with suck an endless va;rfety of forms and
transformations. ---- Sometimes we resembled two armies
coming in fearful contact with banners flying as if to engage in
hostile and bloody battle: sometimes in solemn and majestic
procession as if attendant on a coronation; but commonly we
had separate
(392)====================================
parties, performing cotillions and sarabands in imitation of
the Aurora Boreallis ------
The comet made its appearance in the
direction where we anticipated it would; and we had but just
entered the regions of watery meteors above the dividing
firmament when his luminous trail enveloped our whole
band..
We changed our course and pursued this mass of rocks and
hills that had been thrown from its chaotic bed; for the
purpose of investigating the nature of that blaze of light which
seems to extend through so many millions of millions of
miles. ----- But we found that instead of its having a luminous
atmosphere, it had no atmosphere at all; and as to its
temperature it had not heat enough evaporate those meteors
and globules of water with which it came in contact.. Yet it
was a source of amusement and instraction to witness the
effect as it passed through with such tremendous velocity. ----
The water, whether suspended in compact globules or in
concave spheres, whether large or small, were thrown in all
directions, radiating from the comets track, and as it advanced
the water behind continued to radiate and expand from the
point whence it was thrown, and growing wider and wider,
the whole takes the form of a cone, having the nucleus, or
comet itself for the apex -- Here then we found a region
exactly on the track of the comet without any watery meteors
--- These had fanned a hollow conical tube, so dense as to
reflect a little light from the sun and give the comet the fearful
appearance and name of a blazing star.. We left the comet and
the watery meteore to obey the impulse they had already
received and went on our way --
Like all other objects the galden planet increased in apparent
magnitude in perspective as we approximated toward his
smiling countenance: His four moons were so nearly in a
direct line with us as to appear almost in contact with each
other; and while they shone with their own borrowed light
they seemed to beckon us with a benign token of love; for as
they had harmoniously devoted their countless revolutions to
so august a planet, they seemed to say to us: "here upon this
vast world of ours are infinite delights for you +-- -- Indeed
we felt to count it all our own, and began to appreciate all its
blessings as if already there: for our imaginations were swifter
than our cars: Our thoughts had flown, and before we arrived
our bosoms contained the prize. -- Larger and wider; and
widening still on breath: --- Jupiter seemed struggling to out-
(393)====================================
strip the Sun, till now his convex sides appeared a plain. -- And
what of Jupiter? Tis hills and plains and mountains too with
silvery streams.. A Land of oceans, bays and seas beside a
world of forest treea A fine and tempting soil to lure the
emigrant from baser climes --- A land where fruits and
melons, grapes and finest wheat and honey bees Combine in
all their growth luxuriant to make a garden ---- And such a
garden none have seen, save with the beautious queen
The queen Hesperus who rides foremost in the train of
morning stars Here no vile shrub or worthless plant or
fruitless tree endures The footsteps and the pruning hook of
holiest culture For at the root of ev'ry worthless tree the axe
is laid And long ago this garden had no herb or shrub
spontaneous -- Save what a thousand years of culture renders
such ---
A glorious convoy met us in the upper regions of the
atmosphere and hailed us in the name and authority of the
Vicegerant of the Commander in Chief of the Armies of
Jupiter: --- They were answered by the Prince of Florence at
the head of our shining battalion in the following style --- "We
are (those) who come through mighty regions of Ether; from
a land far away, a land of darkness and moral drought; from a
world of sin and hypocricy where the common adversary or
light and happiness controls the affairs of men; and but for
divine assistance we must have perished and returned again
to the slumbering elements of chaos = But through Light and
life and hope, we have visited Hesperus, the inner temple of
the Great city; have passed the sceptre of the Sun;
encountered a comet, and now salute the golden plan- et by
authority from your royal Highness in the name of Florence
the Prince of Florence" -- "Welcome! thrice welcome thou and
thine "Welcome to the shady groves and pleasant fields of
Jupiter -- "And all the warm affections of our bosoms too: We
feel "As all should feel a glowing sympathy within: that warms
"And animates a principle of unity and love: We'll sing "And
let these new-born souls awake in sweeter climes "Come! Join
your voices all: Now strike the lyre and let the "sachet note go
round --- Praise! Praise! Adore! And O! "The joyful sound, Let
every voice go round, till all our hearts be full
After the concert, we were conducted into the Imperial
Vineyard, and seated upon evergreen sofas, cushioned with
the flowering velvet moss of Hesperus. In front of us was a
broad open pavement of burnished gold, wrought in the
beautiful figure of the star of Bethlehem. Over us
(394)====================================
was spread a canopy of flowers of beaten gold, and colored to
imitate the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valey and all the
choice and variegated blossoms of the garden of Solomon.. A
company of young and beautiful cherubs were chosen from
the imperial palace to escort the
Vicegerant from his saloon to the vineyard -- These were
preceded by a band of twenty-four musicians, with each an
instrument differing from the rest.. In the midst of the cherubs
walked the Vicegerant with six hundred cherubss before and
six hundred behind him -- Three hundred knights with blazing
ensigns and glittering armour brought up the rear.. The music
commenced with almost imperceptibly soft and warbling
symphonies that seemed to float through distant regions of
ether like some fond wish that whispered in a sigh: then
fainting in a cadence pitiful as grief; but sobbing in a stronger
tone and louder still, brought sweet response from all the
band: Now louder melodies awoke the locomotive steps and
the procession (moves)... A chair of state, glittering in the
profusion of its gems and jewels was placed in front of our
company for the reception of his august person --- The
procession arrives; the Vicegerant is seated and the ceremony
of drinking the juice of the grape commences -- I had never
seen the first Chief Magistrate of the United States and
Generalissimo of the American army; but his pourtrait had
been as familiar to my mind, as my nearest neighbor, and the
recent exhibition of one at Detroit had prepared me for
recognizing the original at the first glance of the eye ----- And
here sat Washington in all the pomp and splendour of an
emperor enjoying immortal honors, for he had gained his
millions --- -- --
Josephine, in a low voice, observed, "she knew that was
Washington, but she had thought him of a graver and courser
mould; but she presumed that the climate {meaning moral
climate} and (future) prospects had a great effect upon the
moveable spirit of his countenance".---
His Etherial Highness arose and received the role of
enlistments from the hand of Florence, cast his eye rapidly
over the contents and then called for Lady Wellington, Lady
Elizabeth, Madam Spencer, and Lady Milan --- These stept
forth --- "Look on the company," said he.. "Have you seen all
these?" "We have"-- "Then you will will witness that these ( )
drink of the juice of the red grapes with me in those blesst and
happy fields where sorrow is never known" They drank; and
while the cherubs (hand- ) ed round the roseate wine to the
rest of the company, their sprarkling eyes twinkled in the
golden bowl, and a livelier tune with sweeter notes was never
played than now danced through the merry fingers of the
band.. We were all seated ae;aia, and Washington delivered
the following discourse for our edification, entertainment &
benefit. ---
(395)====================================
"Beloved, I am not the first born among many brethern, but I
am equal with him; being joint-heir in the kingdom of our
heavenly Father; and as he possessed a more glorious planet
than this; I shall diminish nothing of his inheritance by
swaying the sceptre of righteousness over this orb as once I
did over the continent of America. --- I have been faithful over
a few things and am made ruler over many: -- "The earth is
the Lords and the fullness thereof.." So also is that; infinitude
of worlds which he hath created; and it is not a small thing
that we are called out of chaos and permitted to behold his
glorious works == For this purpose hath he given us eyes, the
meeter piece of all his works and become the happy recipients
of his grace, and thereby become his children indeed: heirs
and joint-heirs of immortality
My predecessor has gone to Fomalhaut: has visited Arcturus
and Orion and when this planet is converted into a city like the
Sun he will visit Jupiter as one of the mighty angels of God ----
---
Furnaces, like volcanoes are now in successful operation in
the in- terior of the gold mines, fusing; metals and preparing
mansions like those in the house of God--.. The smoke carries
up the gross materials, which cannot be used here, and they
ride upon the upper atmosphere in broad clouds which are
often seen from the Earth and are there called belts -- In some
future period these will be elec- trified and envelope the whole
planet in one (sheet) of white light and the whole body of this
planet upon which we now stand will be converted into a
compact city of gold, a house of many mansions and a
residence for the good and faithful -- Then will Jupiter soar
away and take an independant station in that endless galaxy
of the heavens, and his moons will become primary planets
and at length suns in that endless round of eternity which
never had a beginning --- I have met you in character at this
time to bid you welcome and make you equal heirs with me
in the joys which our heavenly Father hath promised to all
his faithful children: --- You are all invited to visit me at my
palace so often as it suits your pleasure and convenience.
Forget not the library -- The first book you will read is the
Sublime Philosophy of Heaven: Read this and forsake not
its maxims, and wherever you go, the highway of the Lord
will be open for you and the fate of Lucifer will not be your
catastrophe" -----.. We were dismissed and the, evening
dews began to fall, for the Sun had imperceptibly gone
down over the western mansions, and although his disk
did not appear so large as Jupiters smallest moon yet with
four moons over our heads we felt the want of light. ---
(396)====================================
S 8 ---- Section Eighth -- A Ramble ------ ---
When Sol had once more illuminated the Eastern horizon,
Josephine and myself commenced rambling; for we had spent
the night in reading the first thirty six paragraphs in the
Philosophy of Heaven; and altho our minds were refreshed
and our intellects quickened; our bodies, etherialized as they
were, seemed to demand the invigorating influence of
exercise: We called at Washington's palace in obedience to his
request; and instead of imperial garments, he wore the
common white robe; while his only badge of distinction was a
large carbuncle set in jet and surrounded with thirteen jewels
of the most beautiful and fascinating briliancy: This constituted
a part of his crown -- -- We were seated and made welcome in
a style indicative of that supreme love which conquers and
subdues the hardest heart makes friends of enemies, and
bears away the broken heart to the bosom of the Father ----
We felt that if there remained upon the Earth a spirit to
forgive sins, and restore to the bosom or the father, that
which was lost; the adversary had nearly shrouded that spirit
in darkness, for the enemies of all righteousness were the
ruling party there: -----
Washington said they were transcient beings but for the
grace of God the best of them must perish.. ---- "Yet" said he
"Philander, Read the Book!. and when the four moons are all
in conjunction again, give me another call; for I sent my
Florence to Detroit on purpose to snatch you from the
burning (flames) of avarice. Perhaps you would like to be my
Florence and go on a similar [message]. Here you will have
nothing to do but read and travel, and amuse yourselves
And you will not be wanting in materials nor opportunity for
them -- At the time I mention you will be better qualified to
answer my proposition, and better prepared for the
enterprize" We kissed his hand, took our leaves and went on
our way rejoicing, singing and conversing. Josephine said I, ,
since we are in possession of the long wished for home, there
will be no harm in contemplating the time when this planet
will be in all respects like the sun.. Mars is a turbulent world;
but Saturn with his seven moons will soon be like the Sun
with seven primaries. His smoky belts are now convolving in
electrical effervesence in the two great rings that appear like
solid masses of rocks: The inner ring con tains the elements of
the true fire which is to envelope the planet while the exterior
one will pass off and dissipate upon the wide abyss of Chaos --
- "All correct" said Josephine "and by the time that Jupiter will
have dissipated all but the pure gold, Earth would be a
thousand times lost in chaos; had not the promise gone forth
that there should be a new one" ----- We continued our
ramble from street to street; from mansion to mansion till we
had compared several whole districts
(397)====================================
with those we had seen in the Solar city; and in general we
found the difference to consist merely in the difference of
color and briliancy; owing all to the want of light and
electricity -- This was supplied however to a sufficient amount
by electrified lamps --- as this planet was still dependant upon
the sun, we had no wish to change the order of Nature for the
sake of a greater luminary; for all things were prepared for us
& ten thousand more: All that was wanting was more and
more partakers in the predominant happiness that reigned
here. -----
We could have settled down in a golden mansion and
enjoyed the never ending delights of an exalted paradise, had
we not been partakers of the nature of Him who redeemed
us. But there were millions behind who needed the aid of
ministering servants; and while there was room and servants
enough, qualified for the business, why should we recline in
the lap of luxury while so many are perishing for want of our
services.. I told Josephine I believed that the whole universe of
matter would yet be converted into mansions, gardens and
vinyards for the blessed and redeemed intelligent beings
whom God would yet see fit to redeem by his boundless
grace: if we are called to labor as ministering angels, no doubt
our enjoyment will increase as our labours enlarge. We cannot
go beyond the embrace of that love which is so all powerful as
to harmonize a boundless universe --- Where ever we walked
we met with shining faces, flowing robes and glittering
coronets, emblematical of that conquest which ever attends
the good and faithful. The recollection of that glowing
company which visited us upon Mt. Caydarossora, and that
immense convoy which went down from Jupiter at the time,
encircling the whole earth as a glorious halo of intellectual
light,--, and the animated narrations of Lady Elizabeth upon
the octagon, began to kindle up in our bosoms a warm desire
to see, upon this delightful planet, those faces which had
smiled upon us with such unspeakable joy upon another
planet.
We retraced our steps to the palace to inquire of the Notary
What method we should have to take in order to see certaixa
persons of our acquaintance whom we wished to converse
with -- The door of the office was open, and as we came up,
De Medicus Mont Cary, the adopted son of Washington, came
forth and bid us welcome.. "Let me tell you" said he "the
Florentine Heroes whom I have the honor to represent at this
time, will appear this evening in front or the palace, and
(there) with unusual briliancy will be celebrated, in
commemoration The signal conquest over the powers of
darkness in the Caverns of Bath --- You will be present, and
the faces you delight to see, and the characters you delight to
honor, will be present and you will be greeted personally &
specially:
(398)====================================
We returned to our ovn mansion {for it is lawful to claim the
first we enter} and its galleries were thronged with cherubs
with their golden harps singing and playing as we entered the
gate "As worlds on worlds above redundant roll in heavenly
harmony "And each to each (------------) respect maintains;
so moved the wheels "The ancient Patriarch beheld.. A wheel
within a wheel.. "A world within a world, and yet another
firmament.. "Forget the broad galaxy cannot tell how many
worlds there are.. "If system roll on system, all may well
unite.. for why "If God sustains them all, shall not his power
the harmony preserve? "So we shall sing his praise, and
when ten thousand times ten thousand "Years are up, our
singing is but just commenced.. Sing on! Sing on, "While here
Philander and his Josephine can testify what love "And what
celestial spirits wait to greet them with their smiles:: "Oh! Blest
of heaven! for now you know what fearful distance "God can
reach with messengers of love to grasp his dear ones "From
the despoiling hands of Satan and his fierce banditti. ----- While
yet they sung, a chariot of fire Came blazing through the air,
and soonthe happy train were far away And in our blissful
musings we oft enjoy the selfsame harmonies
S 9th ---------...... Section Ninth. ------- The celebration
The Sun had declined behind the western belt which
had been thickening and gathering blackness for several hours;
which circumstance in connection with four moons in quartile
with each other, is always the signal for a grand and universal
turn-out for an aerial excurtion throughout both hemispheres:
And in whatever region this phenomenon happens, there
they first begin and follow up the Sun till the whole population of
the planet are collected in one vast company: All mount their
cars and with harp in hand, soar away upon the atmosphere..
And if we had never witnessed the same company encircling the
earth I presume we should never have seen it here: But being
already in anticipation of something extraordinary, I told
Josephine that the evening celebration would probably
consummate all our wishes respecting the golden planet, and
the blessed privilege of seeing those dear friends whose anxious
bosoms had so frequently sympathized with ours . -- "Yes,"
said Josephine "and that dear Mother Lady Elizabeth, whose
countenance smiles upon us with such benign radiance
sets my heart to glowing with raptures every time she passes
in review! Could I be conscious that my presence produced
equal felicity in any bosom in the universe, it seems that my
bliss, altho' perfect now
(399)====================================
would be increased a thousand fold, for it seems that the glory
of bestowing happiness must be infinitely more exalted than
that of receiving." ---"Yes, said I, and we read in the
philosophy of heaven that "God's benevolence is paramount
to his power and will, and is the prime motive of all his
actions,, and in this does his happiness consist,, for no wise
beingcan be perfectly happy without participants" ------ at
length a shout the united voices of millions, like the voice of
Jehovah, burst upon the air at once, and in a moment we were
on our fiery chariots sailing over the tops of the temples and
witnessing the (egress) of myriads as they came bounding
from the winding stairs..
It seemed as if every temple was a volcano sending forth her
legions to the battle of the great day of the Lord.. Each had his
golden harp and glowing lamp besides our chariots were
seven times more luminous than usual == Our ascent was
gradual, but our speed was like the firey meteor in order to
compass half the circuit of so great a world in time to enjoy
the amusements and festivities of the evening celebration -----
The way was broad..
But yet the present view of North and South; wide as it
seamed,Could not contain us all; for opticks without telescopic
tubes Can never compass Jupiter: And then the circling turn
From pole to pole outreaches the optician's skill.. -------- But
'twas enough, our army had no bounds apparent ---For all the
space before, behind, on right and left was full And like a
living flaming, sapient ocean all appeared. ---
The sun was totally eclypsed by Jupiter's second moon: the
first had set, and the third was behind us In the east this was
soon to be obscured by the dense belts of smoke over our
heads.--- "See there" said Josephine." What singular
phenomenon is going on there?" I looked and large beheld a
beast with seven heads and ten horns and a mean of small
stature leading it, exactly in the direction of the Sun: ---------
"What means all this" said Josephine "I thought we had
escaped the powers of darkness by coming to a world of light;
yet I have no apprehensions of ill, for I suspect His Aerial
Majesty, King Decoah is there playing up some of his tricks of
Legerdemain--." It is even so" said De Staal for he had just
come along side "It is even so; the servant in livery will not fail
to amuse us this evening I'll assure you.. I have a part in this
celebration too: Here! follow me"We followed, and
immediately the Heroes of Bath and Caydarossora were
separated from the rest and were seen rushing to the
battlefield like a brave battalion of grenadiers In the cause of
liberty
(400)====================================
We mounted up, and as we approached, the aerial monster
stood aghast for a moment vith fear and trembling: But
surveying the length of his chain and the dwarf at the other
end, he shook his heads and rattled his horns, then pounced
upon us like a tiger upon her prey, while we brushed him
with electric shocks from our chariot wheels till he roared out
most lustily: His forces as yet were concealed in the thick
cloud; but his (outeries) rallied thence, When a sulphurous
volcano opened from the under surface of the thick vapours
and legions of furies were let loose upon us: ---- These,
although dressed in the most horrible and fantastical
uniform(s) seemed limited in their power as well as their
royal master and had no other effect upon us than to excite
our merriment
We moved off, taking a circuit on a swift motion for ten or
fifteen miles round --- This gave the enemy a chance to
reinforce, and having seen the powerful effects of fire, he
ordered out his whole army artillery and ammunition, which
so exhausted the magazines of the western belt that the light
of the Sun, {altho' but just emerging from the eclypse} began
to break through and expose the whole extent of his power
We came up and renewed the attack: His cannon of eleven
hundred pieces were all charged, and the beast, at the end of
his chain stood with a match in his paw to fire the signal gun..
He only waited for us to come within reach of his shot+ But
while we were confounding his ranks and throwing his
hideous squads into confusion by such an intolerable glare of
light they could not withstand, he applied the match; and
whether the guns were aimed directly at us or not, we cannot
tell: --- His cartridges were wrapped in course Iinnen paper
and labeled thus: "The bulls of the pope to impede all false
lights that do not proceed directly from our most serene and
pontifical inspection".. The noise was tremendous, but before
the smoke and stench were dissipated the noise was forgotten
--- Each of us had secured a cartridge paper with the
expression of the Pope, and again we retired fran the field to
give them a chance to prepare for another assault, for "altho' it
was (death) for them, it was sport for us" ----. while on our
retreat we converted these papers into electrified rockets, and
charged them from the wheels of our chariots: We advanced
slowly and cautiously, harping the dirge of the Fallen Enemy,
and eating downward we beheld the innumerable multitude
enjoying the spectral warfare in great hilarity + They had
formed the great involution of state and were revolving
around one common centre like the revolving amphitheatre
in the eliptical cavern.. The great mass of ( ------ ) in their
chariots had risen
(401)====================================
one above another extending and sloping back like an
ampitheatre, till the last member of the great family just filled
up the compliment-- They formed, as one may imagine, a vast
luminous vase, and in this performance, {standing as they did,
so many thousands deep at the base, and diminishing in
column upward} their tactics required double ranks so that
while one approached the centre the other receded; and this
went on with such amazing briskness that every one became
in his turn a near spectator to the aerial combat --- As soon as
the seven headed monster discovered that he was a mere
object of ridicule, and that there was no eye to pity him, he
roared out in despair and his forces disappeared: --- He now
made a desperate effort to escape, but the dwarf held him fast
and let him up for our inspection
De Stall asked him "what he most desired" He said that if he
possessed universal empire over one planet he would be
satisfied He had tried his arts of usurpation in various ways;
but never succeeded so well as when he sold indulgences for
crime to get money to build up his church; For the want of
the genuine unction of the holy spirit, he had assumed the title
of Holiness; and for many years the title, with a few pompous
trappings were all he thought he ever should need; but since
some one has blundered into the truth and exposed the fraud
his success has been rather wavering.. DeStaal asked him
"what he would try next if they would unchain him and let
him go." "I will throw fire brands" said he "every where and
get the protestants into such confusion that they will be glad
to come back to my standard where I skhll make them believe
there is power, protection and money too." DeStaal told the
dwarf, that seeing this was an aerial spectre and could never
be permitted to set foot upon Jupiter he might snap the chain:
The dwarf sprung back upon the chain and et was instantly
hurled aloft in ten thonsand pieces where it disappeared with
the monster in the smoky belt-- The cloud became dense and
the darkened canopy added a fresh lustre to the blazing
celebration bellow. We now Formed little family groups and
after receiving King Decoah, who had chained the monster,
we came down in the spiral deseent. -- Tables were set in one
crf the gardens ard fhe heroes of Bath and Caydarossora
were fed upon the delicate fruits of that blest planet of light --
far away: After the feast,, Lady Elizabeth came and seated
herself by the side of Josephine and said "she wished her
darling daughter was only conscious of the infinite delight she
enjoyed in her presence, especially when one felt the glowing
influ- ence of her smiles:" "It seems" she addcdd "that heaven,
after all is located in the human heart: for my soul is never so
full as when that fountain of bliss is poured out for me in that
heavenly coun-
(402)====================================
countenance of yours." "Now" said Josephine "I am satisfied,
This is what I sought: The delights of heaven dwell mostly in
the etherlal spirit; that refined intellect which drinks deep of
the fountain of pure sensibil(ity) and love, and from the purity
of its nature must always escape the observation and elude
the grasp of its enemies: Such joys are rich and none can so
well appreciate their value as he who is redeemed from a
chaos of sin" I looked up and Lord Duncan and his Lady, Gen.
Towner, Esqr. Marlborough, Dr. Marlborough, Madam
McPhelon and a large company of wives sons and daughters;
and finally the whole group from the Florentine caverns at
Bath and Caydarossora were present and on tip toe for social
chitchat. Their bosoms also were glowing with the same flame
of love and happiness; and none seemed delinquent in the
delightful duty and pleasure of imparting to others that bliss
which language is designed to communicate. Lord Duncan
asked Lady Duncan"if she was cured or her partiality for
England" "Yes! yes! you know I am" said she, "for how could I
get here in a British packet? One ride upon a fiery chariot is
worth more than the whole British empire" ---- Dr.
Marlborough said he was afraid to look back upon the twin
planets lest he should behold the spectre of the Lady of
Barleyfields, and he was sure that such a vision would make
him dizzy as ever and he should capsize his car, however well
it might have been electrified. ---- The Three female knights
repeated the history of their captivity in true theatrical style..
sang a song, and the celebration was ended ---
S 10th Section Tenth: Visit at the Gold Mines
The first e;lympse of daylight was accompanied by a halo of
prismatic colors radiating frum a bow like the rainbow in the
west produced by the ascending vapors and smoke from the
volcanic furnaces in the gold mines, reflecting beams of the
rising Sun.. --- The celebration broke up in the most perfect
order and harmony and our party, led on by DeStaal repaired
immediately to the mines --- It was not so distant but that we
reached the scene of operations a little before sunrise + We
found nothing here peculfarly different from the other
districts of the great city, save only the cupolas of the furnaces
which took the places of the temples that led down into the
winding staircases: -- Here was a territory nearly three
hundred miles square sending up smoke and vapours from
many thousands of cupolas: There vapours ascended in
beautiful columns of curling, twisting and expanding as they
mounted the atmosphere, till they all united in one broad and
dense cloud: "Here" said De Staal "is the fountain from which
arise the broad belts of Jupiiter" --- Here were streets,
mansions, gardens, golden walls as in other parts, and
(403)====================================
there was no fear nor appreheasion of any disaster, for even
these volcanos were subect to skillful masters whose
business it was to superintend those powerful Galvanic
batteries below which subjected every material to a smelting
and refining operation.. At a little distance from these cupolas
were temples and winding stairs that led us down to the
crucibles and smelting kettles -- Here we witnesses
tremendous operations..
In some of these furnaces, the very brine of the sea and salt
from the mines were converted to smoke; while in others the
primitive granite, hornblende, silex, and marble were
decomposed -- Every thing finally gave way to the astonishing
powers of Galvanic Electricity which was here displayed in all
its glory and demonstrated the tenth of the olden apothegm
that there is fire enough in the planets to consume them. ----
And how consoling it is to reflect, that even "in wrath God
will remember mercy" and spare, and even renew those
planets he has doomed to destruction; for John saw in
prophetic vision even a new heaven and a new Earth for the
first had passed away as a scroll Here interpolate Note 1st
( -------- ) {As often as a sufficient vacancy was made, golden
walls and mansions, streets, gardens, temples, and staircases
were erected with the precious metal obtained by these
operations}: Thus was Juplter suffering a renovation and
passing away as a scroll, and in its place was erecting a golden
city like unto the city of the Most High: We were surprised to
discover that this business instead of being laborious was
most delightful employment: The great society who labour in
the mines are privileged {if posslble above all others; because
they have only to march from place to place, harping and
singing praises to God; and occasionally moving the
conductors of the batteries + We now visited the inner
Chamber in the centre of the planet: -- This was a spherical
cavity about one mile in diameter encased in pure gold and
richly bedecked with jewels and gems, too beautiful and
glorfous to admit a description; and which even the powers of
the human imagination are infinitey too feeble to conceive..
The moment we entered we discovered that the direction of
gravitation was reversed -- and this beautifully decorated
casing at once became a pavement under our feet: Wherever
we walked we seemed to be at the bottom and on the inside
of a concave globe, our feet always embracing the pavement
and our heads pointing to the centre --
The only piece of furniture in this inner chamber was a
quadruple temple thirty cubits long and its length, breadth,
and height were equal, while its construction gave it the
appearance of four temples in contact. This temple consisted
of wals and seats arranged in the form of an altar, or rather
like an amphitheatre reversed; for the outer seats were lowest
whire the others rose one above another
(404)====================================
like the steps of an altar.. Above was a deck or platform
upon which stood a great white throne, +++ to describe
which is impossible. It is sufficient to say that its workmanship
displays infinite skill and strikes the beholder's imagination
with a quiatus never to be forgotton Those who are permitted
to see it once, never attempt to seek out a new invention to
supply its place on the presumption that a more splendid seat
could be constructed Here sat enthroned the Commander in
Chief of the armies of Jupiter; to all appearances a mere man;
but of celestial beauty having a glowing and changing
countenance which seamed to respond to every holy
aspiration in the universe: He was not the Creator of the
Universe but was one of his agents whom he delighted to
honor ---
In fact tis England's pride To crown his honored head with
laurels quite immortal For not a spot has marred the name of
Alfred.. -------------------- And if in due gradation, souls
immortal rise 'Tis time to find him ruling in the skies And
while his rule extends to subjects without blemish Now blest,
and how auspicious must his reigning be --------
Here we were all seated, and for the purpose of becoming
adepts in the art of translocating the intellect from ourselves
to others in order to perceive the thoughts of the heart; we
suffered ourselves to be thrown into a profound sleep + Here
we forgot every thing; even our very existence; and for the
time being knew no difference between empty space and the
mountain of adament -- When we awoke from this lethargy,
we found ourselves surveying the thoughts and intentions of
the leading personages of Europe and America; especially
those politico-ecclestical usurpers who design to obtain "all the
kingdoms of the world and the "glory of them" by one act of
supreme reverence to Satan When we had looked, and
looked in vain in the human (heart) for an end of these things,
we desired no longer to be mere spectators, but asked
immediately for permission to rescue as many as possible
from the grasp of the enemy. Our petition was granted and
we received our verbal commissions accompanied with a
charge in the following words from the throne: "Beloved, By
this time you must have perceived by every evidence of the
intellectual soul and the etherial spirit, "that God is a spirit, and
they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth"
You are exhonerated from all outward formalities.. for the
Divine Presence will forever witness with your spirits that you
are his children; heirs to the liberties of the saints and
ministering angels: --
(405)====================================
You are commissioned like the angel of God who went before
the Israelites "to keep them in the way," in whom was the
name of the living God, and who bore that sacred name upon
Mount Sinai, before whom the priests and seventy of the
elders of Israel appeared.. Your duty will ever be distinctly
manifest, being dictated by the immediate inspiration of the
Holy Spirit who being every where present and and knowing
all things will not fail to communicate all that knowledge you
may require to execute those benevolent designs you
propose --- The vicegerant will give those special directions
which appertain to the western continent of that planet you
intend to visit; and should he see fit to send one of your
member to the Earth's Satellite to illuminate "the spirits in
prison" it will be optional with Philander, who conceived such
a design while on the planet of the preserved Antideluvians
Our greatest enemy on those planets where he is not
subdued, appears under the banners of religious politics; but
there is no dificulty in distinguishing between an earthly,
avaricious, sensual and devilish kingdom and the one that is
not of such a world --- The one leads to chaos & anarchy, and
the other to eternal light and glory "Look up" said he "and
behold the glory of the annointed of the Lord whom he hath
been pleased to exalt! We looked up and saw twelve shining
dignitaries with unparalleled beauty and grace, and crowned
with the laurels of martyrdom; the principal of whom was
Lady Jane Gray. These were attended by a hundred and forty
four cherubim, shining singing and harping as they passed in
review three times around the outer court of the temple. ----
The appearance of Lady Jane in every respect, was calculated
to inspire ones mind with the most exalted views of the
human character, when nurtured by the Fostering hand of
that guardian genius which was origlnally designed to elevate
the standard of human greatness, and place mankind above
the influence of temptation. She was of that dignified and
serene model of intellect, and that spiritual sublimity which
excites the envy and jealousy of baser beings and brings down
the vengeance of the assassin. Unfortunate upon the Earth,
but Princess Etherial among the Cherubim and Seraphim Her
robe was of the most perfect whiteness, and xxx ornamented
upon its borders with treble rows of orange blossoms just
beginning to expand. Her head was crowned with a white
diadem wreathed with laurel and having six spires tiped with
carbuncle so as to resemble briliant drops of blood just ready
to fall. The trail of her robe was borne upon the fingers of six
cerrubs or exquisite beauty who were continually singing and
smiling and receiving from her gracious countenance the
reciprocal return
(406)====================================
When we left the temple, Lady Jane and her retinue
oonducted us once around the inner chamber, and our walk
was attended with the most deligfitful music imaginable.
When we were exactly opposite to the temple we looked
directly overhead for in order to see it, and from this point it
appeared as if suspended from the key of a great arch.. -----
When we came to the front of the temple, a door was opened
through the pavement, and our chariots being in readiness we
took our departure for the upper surface of Jupiter. ------
And 'twas no lonely voyage, --- For streets and gardens,
temples, mansions and vocal choirs Salute our band on every
side, while purlfng fountains flow And flowing greet ten
thousand fountains more And in the mighty round leave not
one garden dry Nor yet a mansion destitute + Such is the
never ending (cha ) That when we sound the depth of
Jupiter or scale the lofty heights With fiery pinions;
surmounting the etherial blue, tis all the same For God who
fashioned us just like himself knows what we are And how to
make the universe our home, and home delightful
It was so ordered that we emerged from the interior to the
surface at the temple near Washington's Palace; a delilghtful
incident when we remember that the gold mines are located
on the opposite side of the planet; making our passage
through the planet on a direct line. ---
S 11th Section Eleventh The Lunar Feast -----
Time, such as happy souls forget to count, rolled on And in
the twinkling of a few short months the silvery moons The
satellites of Jupiter once more arose in contact most apparent
And while the signal for sublime display held out, The armies
of the Living God appear in bright array, and all With one
accord mount up and soar away for heavenly recreation.. --
The Palace of the Vicetgerant seemed to know my walk For
on their hinges even doors and shutters turn, as I approached
the (dwelling) For I had come a sacred charge to take, to bear
away to mortals Even what the Noble Washington would
send in heartfelt love To those who seek a country blesst with
all the joys of life immortal...
Now, while the atmosphere is buoying up its millions,
floating on, My Josephine pursues the etherial flight to join the
blest Elizabeth And I am left to play a separate part where
Washington directs "My son" said he, for now I sat, before his
chair of state" "My Florence For such I call those heroes whom
I choose to sead to that sad world Cheer up for honors of a
thousand fold await your labours And on another planet must
your harvest grow till quite matured.. ----
(407)====================================
"Your voice must whisper in the breeze, while list'ning
consciences awake "And list'ning oft will catch the sound of
inspiration. Then is your time "Let not the precious moment
pass, 'tis yours, and all their thoughts are thine "Be gentle,
perssive; yet, let the all-searching truth divide the spoil ---
"And what is built on pomp and avarice is Satans own, for he
"Vile wretch, spurs up his minions to build themselves a
church -- "And what they lack in splendid dress and trappings,
they now contrive "To take by virtue of their piety; and thus
the poor are robbed, and thus "The chains of darkness are
made ten thousand times more strong "The poor in spirit and
the meek and they that mourn are jewels ---- "Snatch them as
brands from the burning flames and give them holy shelter..
"In some lone cave or mountain top till they can have a
convoy "Now take this roll and haste away" -----------------
I took the roll and bowd, and soon the belts of Jnpiter.. .. ..
With all the smoking phantoms of the atmosphere sunk down
And far beneath my feet rolled Jupiter in light effulgent.. -------
Soon I was numbered with the throng while myriads &
myriads of gay battalions join the troop to fly to distant
worlds To sound glad news of joy and peace and point the
way to heaven..
As on we passed we formed a halo oft, sometimes a ring
Encircling as it were a world, for all was pastime &
amusement Altho a world of wo demands our speediest
flight..
We passed the sceptre of the Sun, then Queen Hesperus, and
flying on We hailed Mars and spanned the smoky rings and
viwed the moons Then walked the golden streets of Saturn;
But the twin planets smoking yet And burning with the rage
of Lucipher demands a speedy succour. --- We now surround
the Moon and young Philander with a chosen band Alights &
the old mountain ov'r the vale of diamonds embraced our feet
There were but twelve of us who stopped at the Moon, and as
we designed to commence with the Florentine Missions here,
we decided upon this mountain as the most eligible location
for our rendezvous. ---
After taking a critical survey of every point and crevice: every
opening and avenue; we fixed upon a beautiful cavern about
thirty feet above the diamond hearth for our permanent
residence.. We soon commenced singing and harping the
Florentine Song in the Noetic language.. ---- When we had
finished the performance our ears were saluted with hundreds
of voices from the Diamond hearth.. We looked; and behold!
The inhabitants were holding a feast in commemoration of
our former visitation --- We heard their fervent ejaculations to
God for his mercies. We heard their superstitious
incantations and numberless vain oblations We saw them eat
their bitter herbs with tears and our souls were moved . ---
(408)====================================
We kept ourselves concealed from their observation till they
had afflicted themselves many hours, when they were about to
sacrifice the eldest son of their Chief to propitiate the Divine
favour and persuade the Divinities of heaven to bless them
with another visit, for the former one had set their souls on
fire for the love that pervaded the upper realms.
------ A young prince was brought forward amidst grievous
lamentations and sighs, and while the women were screaming
and tearing their hair from their heads; and while every thing
bespoke the highest degree of grief & horror ---
As the instrument of death was raised, a blast from our
golden trumpets put a stop to the fatal blow; and
notwithstanding their fervent petitions for our reappearance
they fled like so many wild foxes, leaving their victim bound
hand and foot upon the altar. We flew to his rescue, unloosed
his bands and claimed him as our prisoner, knowing that from
the nature of the conquest he must feel himself under infinite
obligations to that power who preserves the universe and
is abundantly able to save to the uttermost all who put their
rust in him. ---
And indeed his gratitude seemed to have no bounds, and
altho' he was the only one in the vast congregation destitute
of superstition, and was an unwilling sacrifice; yet he was
the first, and for a long time the only convert to the
Sublime Philosophy of heaven. ---
We conducted him to our cave where he related all the
particulars respecting the conduct of the Lunarians after our
first visit to that planet..
He said, "From that time to the present, there, had been a
great strife and stir among the inhabitants, Some believing
and more disbelieving the report of the witnesses, till the
believers claimed the honor of having been visited by Abel
and his sainted friends; and accused the unbelievers of being
the unregenerate descendants of Cain whose offering God
refused to accept --
This was leading to such a mighty conflict that the King
ordered the sacrifice of a human being that all might be
satisfied whose offering would be the most acceptible:
The king's orders were particularly offensive to all the
unbelievers, and to exhibit their malice in the true spirit of
Cain, they seized up me, the kings only son and heir and
would have slain me the next moment had you not
interfered.. It was their design after the sacrifice to feast
and make merry in order to banish from the whole
kingdom every thought of a superstitious nature: --
We were followed by hundreds of witnesses and believers
whose prayers, incantations and groans you heard."
"And as we are a people very subject to superstitious dread,
there is not much wonder that all as one left the premises,
and especially the believers in the vision as we called it, for,
after the first impulse of fear was gone they would probably
all have been slain! ----- This event filled the whole kingdom
with consternation, while the
(409)====================================
story spread even to our antipodes on the Circle islands, and
was now believed by all parties. The king was exhonourated
from censure andwas thought by some to have been directed
by divine inspiration. ---
After a long time the public' teachers were called upon to
give their views upon the subject; and lest there should be a
clashing of sentiments, they postponed the subject till they could
hold a general conference; for it was well known that two
distinct sects could not long exist in the kingdom of the Moon.
The conference met at the Garden of Eden, and after a long and
tedious controversy, it was agreed to adjourn to the Valley of
Diamonds, and should the Divine Messengers reappear and
explain the object of their missions they would abide the
testimony without any further discussiosn ----
During all this time our captive was learning and making
great strides in the etherial sciences; and as he was already the
greatest prodigy in tbe realm, we determined to put him
forward in the ministration of good tidings to the children of
darkness and error; believing that as many as knew him
would would reverance him as their prince at least
and would be the more ready to believe him on that
account.. ---
At length the conference met, and all the learning and ability
of the Antedeluvians were displayed in the true poetic and
laconic style of Moses and the Prophets. They related the
tradition of the flood, of the ark and the preaching of Noah
whom the people looked upon as a mad man or a fool; but
now they were ready to receive
instruction from heaven; They were ready to believe in one
God if he would at this time manifest himself as he did on the
day they were about to sacrifice the young prince, Lamech,
our captive, heard them with evident sorrow for their
blindness and impatience toward them for their ingratitude
for what God had already bestowed upon them; and waiting
till they were about to break up the conference and depart in
the most total unbelief, he stept forth.
"Behold your sacrifice," said he --- "Know you not that God
accepted the offering of Abel and rejected that of Cain, for
which he was wroth and slew his brother?" ---- "I say, behold
your offering!
This very sacrifioe you offered in wrath and get God has been
pleased to accept it even at your bloody hands! And now you
say if God will appear to you as he did when you were about
to slay your prince you will be ready to believe the witnsses --
Were not your fathers guilty of deriding and gainsaying the
preaching of Noah: Yet, if God should appear to you as he
did to your fathers you would all be drowned: Do you, who
are witnesses yourselves dare to distrust the evidences
you have already seen
(410)====================================
You are the ordained teachers of the people, and should
you declare to them your unbelief in evidences which they
have seen, what profit can they receive from your preaching?
Will they believe against the evidences of their own senses?
And again let me ask, What caused this commotion of the
whole world? Was it a dream, a mere vision of fancy, a
phantom of the imagination; or has some one (warned)
you to flee from the wrath to come? Be careful! The sacrifice
of yourprince may lead to disquietudes of a political character,
and where then will stand the ancient dignity of the
priesthood: Sirs, the time has come when the preaching of
Noah, the ancient of days shall be heard in the land, and the
desolation of the flood shall awake to your shame and
confusion, and the witnesses testimonies of heaven
which you now strive to invalidate and impeach shall appear
in full force and virtue before the whole world whom you are
ready and willing to deceive and lead into still greater darkness
and error. -------
You would shut out the last ray of divine light from
yourselves and the world, and if possible deceive the angles of
heaven; all for the sake of that fiendish domination which the
professed teachers exercise over the children of men + instead
of being the servants of the Most High; you determine to lord
it over God's heritage and make this world your kingdom,
and its beggarly elements your glory: Whereas the children of
light seek a better country, a heavenly home; where pain and
wo can never come: You not only sacrifice your prince, but
you sacrifice all -- even a world of glory, and by some blind
infatuation forfeit your own eternal peace and happiness: I wish
you could declare to me your prince, the philosophy upon which
your hope or happiness is built.
When temporal things shall have passed away with this
generation, what will be your state, If in this life only you have
hops, where then will be your rest?" Their chief speaker rose up
and said --
"Sir, we have great reverence for your Royal Highness and
would gladly humble ourselves befor(e) you on account of
the sceptre which your royal father sways over both the secular
and ecclesiastical destinies of this his happy realm; but we seek a
sign; we want still greater evidence that God in heaven has
power over the minds and consciences of men, and that the
vision which he has sent is absolutely for our future benefit and
glory: For if that is not the case, we shall lose all without an
equivalent, for unless we stifle the present tumult we shall now
lose the priesthood at any rate: And should the story of the
vision prove true, all will know it from the least to the greatest
and our craft will be reduced to a song + Lamech continues:
"What sign do you ask, that yell have not already seen? Do you
suppose another
(411)====================================
sacrifice would now be accepted from your guilty hands?
Nor your smarting consciences forbid the open blasphemy;
yet as modestly as you presume to ask another for sign, the
act is in fact more impious than the sacrifice you made: --
You add sin to blasphemy, and there is not one amongst
your proud numbers worthy the privilege of beholding
that grace and condescension which you have all ready seen.
Our fathers in the days of Noah were in great prosperity; and
while the teachers were the greatest cutthroats in the universe,
adding wealth to wealth and power to power till the "Earth
was full of violence," they heeded not the signs of the times
nor the prophecying of that good man whom the Lord sent
to save the world: -- but rushed headlong into every species
of iniquity, laden with the prayers and vain oblations
of the hypocrites who go down to hell with the nations that
forget God! Will not the privilege of believing in God and
becoming partakers of his holy nature and thus inheriting
everlasting life and the kingdom of the saints, be an
equivalent for all the transitory pomp and power which you
vainly suppose you possess here? By what frail tenure do you
hold your own lives. -- A moment as it were and all is gone --
Had you but the least hope that you should enjoy the company
of that blest vision as you call it, and are now striving to ridicule
you would hasten to seek the mercy and favor of the God of
the living; for the the god in whom you put your trust is not
the God of the living -- but is Mammon, the power of avarice
and the glory of the prince of this world" ----------
Lamech now proposed that all believers should separate
themselves from the unbelievers and come out from among
them: -- The request was cheerfully complied with by a small
number, to whom he addressed himself as follows:
"God hath seen fit in his infinite mercy to elect you, as be has
chosen others from the distant planets of the universe to his
own glorious purposes; as vessels of mercy, intelligent,
intellectual and spiritual vehicles, to convey his word to those
who sit In darknesswhich (now) he promises to make
powerful unto salvation, to all who believe. The evidence of
your belief will will always be present to deliver you from
temptation and the powers of darkness, and in due time you
will share the glory of our heavenly father in heaven and sit
with him in his everlasting kingdom: -- Being second to my
ather the king, I make you my priests taking the Bishopric
from unbelievers and gainsayers and giving; you power over
the spirits of the air, and power to convert souls
by the excellency of truth without the vain pomp of wealth &
power -- for these have ever had their minions in the darkest
of times..-- .. -- ..
The unbelievers perceiving that God had determined to
show his power
(412)====================================
in the temporal kingdom by changing the ancient
priesthood which had always gone hand in hand with the
kingdom of this world, began to look about for the means and
measures to sustain as long as possible, the tottering fabric;
and before they left the valley of Diamonds it was determined
that their chief speaker should assume the name and office of
prince Lamech and ursurp the throne of his father and claim
the powers of heaven and hell, and as fast as possible to
annihilate all Florentfnss and their followers. They left the
mountain and pushed forward with all speed for the Circle
Islands, for here upon the Garden of Eden was the Royal palace;
but before they arrived, the Circle Islands and all that vast
Archipelago beonging to the royal family were converted and
were sending out Florentine teachers in every direction ---
We received those few who choses to follow us through the
trackless void to the city of many mansions; and gave them a
temporary home in our beautiful cave. Their numbers are
continually increasing, with a shining prospect of a complete
renovation of that race who escaped the desolation of the
flood
The last intelligence we have from those stubborn members
of the lunar Synod they had mostly committed suicide and left
the field like vanqueshed Jews who prefered death by their own
hands to a captivity by gentiles whom they professed to
despise -- Lamech proposed to convert (the) whole mountain,
which had once been the basis of a vast watery meteor, that
almost depopulated the Earth and peopled the Moon; into a
Florentine temple which should be a lasting fortress for the
good and faithful, till the fullness of those times which are
required to make this planet an everlasting mountain of
holiness, and a city of many mansions --shall come in ----
The proposal was acceded to unanimously and the work is
going on by day and by night amidst the shouts of praise and
the melodies of the golden harps: -- Having revolutionized the
Lunar kingdom and established a priesthood of the order of
Melchisedec we joined the armies of Jupiter as they were again
making suit to the Earth
We first set foot upon the Rocky Mountains; and perceiving
the great tide of emigration from the Eastern states and Europe,
we sought out this cavern where you have found us, being
favored by the grace of God and divine teachings: And as you
are now initiated into the society of the Florentinss, you will
excuse me from attempting to relate any farther what "eye
hath not seen nor ear heard; neither hath it entered into the
heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared
for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us
by his Spirit."
1st Cor. 2:9-10
Finis ---- an end
|