In presenting the following subject to the consideration of whom it may
concern, I would here state that the two leading motives which have
actuated and guided me through this absorbing subject has been--first,
the truth of God to encourage and strengthen the true-believer. Second,
to correct, or "rebuke" the spiritual views, (may I not say of almost
all Christendom,) in respect to the appearing and kingdom of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. Twenty-one years observation and experience,
but more especially the last seven, in pursuit of this object, has
taught me that truth is the only thing that can save the soul. But the
great mass of the professed Christian world seem to pay no more regard
to it than their great _Predecessor_, who said unto the Saviour "what is
truth?" when he had just said to him that he "came into the world to
bear witness unto the truth, and every one that is of the truth, heareth
my voice." Jesus in his last prayer for his disciples asks the Father to
sanctify them through the truth. "Thy word is truth." _St. John._ Again,
he saith. "The Spirit is truth." The forerunner of Christ said, "The law
was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Jesus
says, "I am not come to destroy the law or the prophets; but to fulfil,
for verily I say unto you till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law until all be fulfilled."
_Matthew._ Then of course man is required to believe "and live by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Third, thousands who have
been looking for the personal appearing of the Lord Jesus from heaven in
these last days, have in their disappointment about his coming, given up
the only Scriptural view, and are now teaching that he has come in
spirit and this is all we shall ever see of him here. One single passage
from the Saviour's last words, when about to leave the world in the
flesh, ought to have rectified any such mistake: "And lo, I am with you
always, even unto the end of the world," meaning of course, his spirit.
But I submit the subject.
Fairhaven, May 8, 1846.
Joseph Bates.
[The copy right is secured with Him that sits upon the Throne in the
coming Heavenly Sanctuary. The grant to use it is unlimited. Those only
are punished that abuse the right.]