The record-union., 1899-09-03

God; yet at the same time claim that
they are the children of God, and that
man is the masterpiece of His crea-
tion-created in the very image of
God Himself. If man is in the image
of God-if his soul is the very breath
of God breathed into his nostrils, how
did man cease to be a part and parcel
of God? According to- this theory, man S
soul is a part of Gods soul implanted
in him, and could never cease to be
divine. Indeed, it is recorded that God
spoke of man by the increase of his
wisdom as becoming ssas one of US"
Who, among the learned theologians of
to-day, can dispute that men are the
Gods of this earth-that the destinies of
nations and people are completely
under the dominion of men? We are
told. in the book of Genisis that the
Creator ordained men to "replenish the
earth; subdue it, and have dominion
over it, In the same chapter He is
accredited with saying that His spirit
would not always strive with man, thus
leaving us to conclude that men should
be the rulers and controllers of affairs
on earth, and the only gods to whom
the children of men could look for sue
cor. If Christians need further evil
dence that men are the gods of this
world and it's creatures, let me quote
from the New Testament, when the
God of the universe said to the people
who were faithful (wise) when I was
an hungered you gave me to eat; when
| was athirst you gave me drink" ETC.,
and the people answered him saying:
Lord, when did we see Thee an hum
gered, and gave Thee to eat; when did
we see Thee athirst and gave Thee
drink?" etc. The Lord answered them:
"Inasmuch as We did it to the least Of
these My brethren SO ye did it unto
Me-" and He bade them enter into the
inheritance of the kingdom intended for
them from the foundation of the world.
Thus we see that the Jehovah of the
Bible referred to men as His brethren
not as mere puppets placed on earth
without a higher destiny than to finally
pass into eternity and while away the
endless ages in singing and harp play
ing Not only did He call men His
brethren, but He decreed that they
should enter into their inheritance of
the kingdom intended for them from
the beginning of the world If men are
Gods brethren-if the things done unto
the least of them are done unto God
Himself, then are they not Gods? If
men are to subdue the world and have
dominion over it, and over every living
creature, and inherit the kingdom, are
they not the divine lords of this earth
and themselves?
Does any other God than the people
exercise authority over the affairs of
men in these days? The churches are
almost a unit in saying that the days
of miracles are long since past, and
yet they ask especial dispensations
from Jehovah, knowing that if He
granted their prayers it would be a
miracle as much as the one related Of
Christ feeding the thousands of people
with the seven leaves and fishes. When
the inhabitants of any city or locality
are brought to destitution and want by
some famine or great calamity, prayers
for Succor for them addressed to men
are answered, while prayers to other
Gods have no force and effect And
when men become aware that they
Were intended and distined to be gods,
and will begin to love God with all their
soul by loving one another, then, in
deed, will the millennium have come
upon earth, and life will be worth the
living. Come, let us reason together"
and become wise and worthy heirs of
the kingdom of the earth.
1 believe mans highest duty is to love
his fellow man, and his allegiance due
to the intelligence and wisdom of
men. There is no higher or greater
power controlling the destinies of man
kind than the intelligence of men. Man
is an attribute of God, and God only
manifests Himself on this earth
through the intelligence of men,
Come, let us reason together" and
bring forth a harvest of wisdom in the
fertile minds of men,
Sacramento, Cal, Aug. %, 1899.