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became tainted with sin, it polluted all his posterity; for which reason, "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward."

8. BUT CHRIST, as he undertook the work of redemption, hath entered on his divine mis. sion, and laid the foundation thereof, which the gates of hell cannot prevail against; by passing through every state, he has secured to himself power and dominion; to overthrow all the arts and wiles of the devil, conquer death, subdue sin,and finally reconcile the world unto himself, having destroyed the enmity thereof: And hath left us a glorious example for our faith and practice.*

I cannot express my mind in full, on this beautiful and sublime subject, for the want of language. The gious plan of salvation, taken in a spiritual view, far surpasses my comprehension. When I take a retrospective view of the grand system of creation, and then look forward to the final reconciliation of all things, O how I want words to express my ideas! It exceeds in magnitude any thing that I can write, as far as the great system if the planetaty, worlds doth surpass the small atmosphere of this earth! Some people argue that if God created man with a design to make him good and happy, in the service of God; and now man has rebelled against his Maker, and become sinful, and ensequently miserable he has therefore frustrated the designs of the ALMIGHTY but it is my opinion that if all the powers of earth and hell should unite and combine together with a design to overthrow the plan of salvation, or the kingdom of CHRIST, or even to make one soul eteipally miserable; they could have no more tendency towards promoting their design, than the small struggles of an'ant, by impinging against the earth, would tend towards the removing of it out of its place, and rushing it to the sun, with a design to burn the inhabitants thereof! But notwithstanding that it is not in the power of any created being, nor ad of them united together, to alter the Divine Plan, in the least degree; yet as GOD is every where present, at all times, and filleth all immmensity, he taketh notice of all sin and transgression, however secretly committed, and will most assuredly punish all transgressors according to the just demerit of their crimes. saith the LORD by the prophet," I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth, for the spirit should fail before me and

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9. God is, through CHRIST, "Reconciling the world unto himself." The work of salva tion is now going on,and the many souls which are brought to believe in the gospel, and to a knowledge of JESUS CHRIST,in a spiritual sense, "Whom to know aright is eternal life, already begun in the soul," is an evident token that the work is of the LORD, and will be accomplished in due time.

10. ALL those humble souls, and living and faithful witnesses of JESUS CHRIST, "Who have not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither have received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands," and who live and die with CHRIST, shall have part in the first resurrection, and shall "Live and reign with CHRIST a thousand years." Rev. xx. 4.

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11. Ar the conclusion of this thousand years there shall be a general and final resurrection, when the sea shall give up the dead which are in it, and death and hell for the grave) shall deliv. the dead which are in them; then shall the books be opened, and the dead shall be judged out of those things written in the books according to their works: And another book shall be opened, which is the book of life, and all that are found written in the book of life shall escape the second death, although they had no part in the first resurrection; as it is written,

the souls which I have made." Isaiah lvii. 16. Although this passage doth not argue, but that the LORD will continue to be angry, or punish the wicked, as long as the wicked continue to rebel, yet I think it fully proves that he never intended to inflict endless punishment for one crime.

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire,"which is the second death.

12. AND all those miserable sinners, who shall be cast into the lake of fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels, must endure all the misery which is denounced in scripture, against the children of disobedience, and who despise all the calls and warnings of GoD, and would none of his reproofs. The smoke of their torment shall ascend up forever and ever for ages of ages.) Awful and terrible indeed will be the state and circumstance of the damned,and although it is beyond all comprehension, yet it will continue until all are brought voluntarily to submit to the government of GOD, willingly to bow the knee to JESUs, and with their tongues confess him to be LORD, to the glory of GOD the Father..

13. BUT CHRIST JESUS still reigns in his mediatorial kingdom! for although he shall deliver up the kingdom to his Father; when he hath fulfilled his office; yet he must and will reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet; and the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death; and when he hath "Reconciled all things unto himself (by the blood of his cross) whether they be things on earth (men) or things in heaven (angels) then shall he deliver up the kingdom to Gon even the Father, and he him. self shall be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be ALL in ALL.' 1 Cor. xv. 25, 26. Col. i. 20,

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14. AFTER this there will be a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth will pass away; and there shall be no more sea; and the tabernacle of GoD shall be with men, and they shall be his people, and GOD himself shall be with them and be their GOD. "And GoD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things shall pass away." Rev. xxi. 4. And behold all things shall be made new: that is, not only the works of nature shall be formed anew, and there shall be no more sea, &c. but all creatures, principalities and powers, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven, shall be créated anew in CHRIST JESUS unto good works, and reconciled to God through the death of his Son, or by the blood of his cross.

О ноw applicable to these ideas, are a few lines written by a person reputed to be an ideot,

ON THE LOVE OF GOD.

"COULD we with ink the ocean fill,

"Was the whole carth of parchment made,

"Was ev'ry single stick a quill,

And ev'ry man a scribe by trade:

"To write the LOVE of GOD above,
"Would drain the ocean dry;

"Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

"Though stretch'd from sky to sky!"

THUS I have very briefly given the outlines of my mind (written in an illiterate and broken manner) as touching the great system of SALVATION. And now, kind reader, if you would wish to gain any light or knowledge, or reap any advantage from these or the subsequent pages of this book, let me entreat you to read them with candor, and without being prepossessed of any prejudice or partiality; and before you form any final decision upon any subjects, compare them with the word of God, and whatever you find agreeable to the truth of the gospel, according to the best of your understan.. ding, let there be room in your breast to receive it, however contrary it may be to any notion or idea that you have heretofore entertained about religion; and on the contrary, if after careful examination, there should be any ideas that appear to you to be erroneous, when compared with the scriptures, then you will have a right to reject them on this account. But permit me to adjure you by all that is sacred, as you would wish well to your never-dying souls, not to reject one truth contained in this book, merely because you cannot see clearly through, and comprehend the whole system.

MAY GOD add his blessing to this work, and after wishing your health and prosperity in this life, and eternal felicity in the world to come, I subscribe myself, kind reader, your and the LORD JESUS CHRIST's very humble, and most obedient, and faithful servant,

ABNER KNEELAND. State of New Hampshire, June 1, 1803,

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