Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-08-15

conn eclion they are proclaimed children
OF the Lord" AT the very time when their
law is Riven-in the height of lis holiness
and fulness of its authority, they are tod
"ye are children of the Lord your God !"
And at the very moment when his chas-
tening hand is extended-when his threat
ening voice is heard-when the measure of
their inquiry is full, they are still called
'chdren Of the Lord their Cod"
\ What is there IN this particular express
sion " children" SD important so sacred,
that at every part of their connection with
God the same words should be reiterated,
what is the purpose of the relation insti-
tuied between God and Israel, when He
adopted them 10 become his children
What are the duties on US Israel ites--we
who this day have received The high grace
from above to open this temple-what is
on duty, Wha. duty is prescribedto US,
is inculcated on our hearts and minds by
the expression |" children Of the Ii rd your
Cod These orc the questions which |
intend to examine, by the blessing of Col.
And may lie who graclously hearelh ev-
cry supplca,inn addressed to Hin, with
humility and ser r.ousness. NAV He enight-
en- my mind and yours, that you may know
and understand and feel the importance of
the relation that exists between your God
and you. Your God your Faher--lsIael-
ties His children.
! |. What is the nature of the relation in
dcated by a" the children of the Lord your
God !" God is spirit. We are mater
matter mos, abased What connection
is there between spirit and matter. We
'canuo, suppose that in the flesh we are the
children of om God. We cannot suppose
that by any possible process of procreaion
each individual lsraelite is the child of II
Cod. What then is the relation between
spirit and matter. The relation is formed
by mind trained in religon-by religion
founded on the revealed word OF Cod
reve' alton forming the sacred ladder wh'ch
standeth on earth and it reacheth up into
the heavens, revelation the bond Of union
that combines God aud man. And of this
revelation, we lsraeli,es are the guardians.
To the truth OF this revelation, We Israel
les ara tie God-appoin,ed WITNESSES. We
proclaim among the nations of the earth
p,he great truth, tina, there is a God-,hat
God makes His will known TO man--that
God rewards those who obey ais will and
| pu'ishes those who violate it. These are
the three gres, tru hs of revelatjons-theso
are the three great truths TO winch we have
been called 10 hear witness, And il is
this call, given TO us, first among the ma
iions of the earth, ,ha: constitutes US the
| firsl-born sons OF God.
Ii is this call entrusted to our fathers,
who among millions wero elected 10 be
the illnesses of God-it is this call which
constitutes Israeli ties The children Of the liv-
ny Col. 1t is this call-the office con-
ferred on us--lhe ffce to be children Of
our God and his witnesses, il is this which
has preserved us among all viclssitudes OF
our fate and fortunes, amidst prosecutions
the most re, against the combined enmty
Of the world, against prejudlces the most
strong, fanaticlsim the most unIelenting-
against all the bad and violent pas lions Of
the heart. This call Of our God-this re-
laiion 10 his children, TO his witnesses has
preserved and has corrected US. 4" In vain
did the healhens rage, in vain did their
mi shty men take counsel together" In
vain during centuries was the name of Jew
kissing and by-word, among the ma
tions. The great hand of our God still
/ protected Us, because wa are his children.
The Almighty power "f our God still shiel-
ded US because We are his witnesses, The
grace Of our God preserves US to this day
beca s,e lie has vouchSaied to declare "
the Lord change nut, therefore We children
/ OF Jacob are not destroyed" The pur-
pose of which we we're declared g children
| of the Lord our God" is 10 constitute u
witnesses. The relation 10 which we
stand to Him is altogether spiritual, That
relation is lasting, unalicrable, like the re-
/ lation between a child and parent. The
child may be sinful, the child may be lie
/ belous, the ohil may be Ar outcast from
his fathers home. The ohlld may he dry-
en- forth To suffering, sorrow and evil oI all
kinds. Yet rebellious though he be, out
cast though he be, he is stall his fathers
! child. Nothing has The power TO sever
the relation between father and child, and
accordingly in the lowest state of Jisg race,
when the rcpuachfu voice Of their God
thuadsred on their ears, they are still called
his children, corrupt but still his children.
II 1t is a relation established by H,m aud
which nothing On earth can subvest. II is
as much IN force this day as ii was 5000
years ago. IL is as Luch in force this day
a. Il will be when comes the glorious day,
when Israel collected from the North,
Sou h, East and West, ra lied around their
H God shall once more stand for h a hoy
people, priest, kingdom, TEACHERS 70 The
nations oi earth proc aiming oud the pc
Rod OF peace and good vii, which w call