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out the devil of despair, and every heavenly minister of God to cast out its opposite, or its enemy; then we shall come into a state, in which we can testify, that there was war in heavenIn which "Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was there place found any more in heaven." This brings us as the Apostle spake, "I knew a man in Christ about fourteen years ago (whether in the body I cannot tell; or whether out of the body I cannot tell: God knoweth,) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth,) how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeaka ble words which it is not lawful for a man to utter." And those who thus experience this warfare, will hear those things which are not lawful to be uttered. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it."

Now, I apprehend that heaven is a state and not a place: And if our affections are fixed on things of a low groveling nature; and if our animal passions are permitted to govern, there is

our heaven; for there is a first

and a last hea

ven; and whatever our affections are placed in,

there is our heaven, there is our hope of enjoyment. If then we are under the influence of our numerous passions, we are in the first or lowest heaven. But Paul was trained up at the feet of Gamalies, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous towards God-he had advantages above many of us; but he actually went so far in attempting to persecute those called by the name, by which we are called, that he came into a state, in which he believed he was verily doing God service-here was a second heaven. But when he attained to that heavenly vision which appeared unto him, then he heard things which were not lawful to be uttered; because thus the mysteries of heaven were revealed to him through the immediate communion with the author of his existence. And thus it is that we must advance from the lowest heaven to the highest-we must experience this war between the angels of God and the angels of the devil. And when we have experienced these operations-these effects-then when we stand on mount Zion, we can "sing the song of Moses the servant of God; and the song of the lamb, saying, great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou king of saints."

And this I apprehend constitutes the true ground of the doctrine of election and reproba

tion; for reprobation I apprehend has been from the foundation of the world, a disobedience to the manifestations of the spirit—but if we attend to them, and obey them, we come under the influence of the holy spirit, and know him to be a teacher, a preserver, and a guide; and as we grow in grace and strength, we become more and more likened unto our divine pattern -we become wedded together, and are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, because they are begotten into the same power. But if, on the contrary, we neglect these manifestations, and disobey him, we shall not have his power to rule over us; and these manifestations will become weaker and weaker, till we are brought into a state, that we are not sensible of any good thought word or work. This is not in consequence of any foreordina

tion of God; but because we have hardened our hearts, and cast his law from us, "for it is baptism that doth also now save us (not putting away the filth of the flesh, but) the answer of a good conscience before God." It is my desire that we may all attain unto this, let our name be what it may. Names are but the distinction of things; but Christ is one, religion is one; and if we are not under the influence, and have not the mind of Christ, and have none of his light, let our names be what they may, it

will avail us nothing. Therefore I have desired that all may experience this, to become a growing principle over our minds, conduct, and actions; for it will crucify every passion. For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. And that you may individually experience a foretaste of this, here below, and enjoy its full consummation in a future state, is the earnest desire of your poor brother, who was induced from these motives, to request this opportunity. Feeling thankful for your attentive and quiet deportment, I affectionately bid you all farewell. And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all henceforth.

SERMON IV.

DELIVERED BY THOMAS WETHERALD, IN LOMBARD-STREET MEETING, BALTIMORE; ON THE MORNING OF THE SIXTH OF FIRST MONTH, 1826.

OUR opinions of what some term religion, and religious truth, are, in a great degree, formed by the circumstances with which we are surrounded; and I apprehend, that a great part of the religion of the present day, is founded in tradition and education. Now, we find, that causes, which are essentially different and opposite, may produce results, which, to the casual observer, are very similar.

There is a variety of causes which produce a great appearance of religious zeal, and of great religious knowledge; and to instance one: I am convinced, that all the powers of eloquence combined, have never begotten in the soul of man, one single, actual, real, devotional feeling. It may have caused ebullitions of the imagination, and an excitement of the feelings; and under this excitement, from these external causes, the powers of eloquence, (instead of the spirit of God) have operated on the feelings and

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