Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-03-27
Some gG;;"gs
Experienced and Perceived in
Following the Star OF the
New JerusaIem-.--As
Given in a
LETTER TO A BELOVED
BROTHER

DEAR BRoTHER:-I must confess,
that acknowledge to myself that | am
constrained from the heavens; hence
from the Lord to write to you again.
wrote to you once, from similar inn
pressions for the purpose only of arouse
ing your attention to such an extent,
that you would reconsider the evidences
given by Swedenborg in his writings as
to the validity of his claim of being the,
or herald of the new dispensation, or
by the marvellous quickening power of
the Spirit of the Lord upon gigantic
! intellect to discern the celestial sense,
of this marvellous book of the ages
The Word of God, that he could, and
has so revealed it to the world, that
common people can discern it, and that
such doctrines only, can be deduced
from it, as is CONSTANT for celestial, or
holipess, people to stand on. And |
never had any intimation from You,
(but knew from purposeful inquiry
that you had received it until | received
what | then considered insult and
dagger thrust from you that first Sab
bath morning of the camp meeting,
when l offered you one of my papers
and you refused it with scorn, and
accused me of stabbing you in the back.
do not doubt In my own mind, but
that from your standpoint, yon con-
sidered that letter an insult, but / be-
lieve that you will acknowledge this,
that never in your presence manifested
anything but good will toward you.
Many thoughts are in my mind just
here, but will say only this "The heart
of man, except by being constantly illu-
minated from heaven, is decetful above
all things, and desperately wicked"
! never told you many of the expert
ences that | have had with church
people, and preachers generally, 1 sup
pose though that it would not add much
to the purpose of this letter, to enumer-
ate them, for realize that those who
have their faces determinedly set Zion
ward have some such like experiences,
because of the lack of genuine Goodness
being manifested excepting in but a
remnant of the church people of the
present time. Though | believe these
experiences have been more severe, in
some respects, with me than some Others
because of my being more outspoken,
and using some infectious comparisons,
in denouncing their degeneracy. | will
give two instances;-T first is that it
has become an abomination in the sight
of the Lord to take the sacrament of the
Lords Supper or to be baptized, ana
gave reasons; the other is that | would
as soon have slavery or a catalogue OF
| all the crimes directly traceable to it or
of which it was hotbed, on banner
for me to march under, as to have
Southern" prefxed to name for iden-
tifcation As | said, | could give n
number of reasons all of which think
can well be put under this Goods ways
are not mans ways" or "God moves in a
mysterious way his wonders to perform
So send it hoping it will accomplish
the mission whereunto or for which it i;
sent.
Your fellow laborer for the speeding
of the prayer thy will be done on earth
is it is in heaven.
E. d. Caward.
P.S. thought had finished this one
r day last week and intended to have sent
it but tbs still here and another thought
has been aroused in nv heart. | say