The earth and other planets of a like sphere, have their inward or spiritual spheres, as well as their outward or temporal. The one is peopled by temporal tabernacles and the other by spirits. A vail [sic] is drawn between the one sphere and the other, whereby all objects in the spiritual sphere are rendered invisible to those in the temporal.
First. THEOLOGY is the science of communication, or of correspondence, between God, angels, spirits, and men, by means of visions, dreams, interpretations, conversations, inspirations, or the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Second. It is the science by which worlds are organized, sustained, and directed, and the elements controlled. Third. It is the science of knowledge, and the key and power thereof, by which the heavens are opened, and lawful access is obtained to the treasures of wisdom and intelligence—inexhaustible, infinite, embracing the past, the present, and the future. Fourth. It is the science of life—endless and eternal, by which the living are changed or translated, and the dead raised. Fifth. It is the science of faith, reformation, and remission of sins, whereby a fallen race of mortals may be justified, cleansed, and restored to the communion and fellowship of that Holy Spirit which is the light of the world, and of every intelligence therein. Sixth. It is the science of spiritual gifts, by which the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the sick are healed, and demons are expelled from the human system. Seventh. It is the science of all other sciences and useful arts, being in fact the very fountain from which they emanate. It includes philosophy, astronomy, history, mathematics, geography, languages, the science of letters; and blends the knowledge of all matters of fact, in every branch of art, or of research. It includes, also, all the scientific discoveries and inventions—agriculture, the mechanical arts, architecture, shipbuilding, the properties and applications of the mariner's compass, navigation, and music. All that is useful, great, and good; all that is calculated to sustain, comfort, instruct, edify, purify, refine, or exalt intelligences; originated by this science, and this science alone, all other sciences being but branches growing out of this—root.
The sooner the present generation lose all reverence and respect for modern "Christianity" with all its powerless forms and solemn mockeries, the sooner they will be prepared to receive the kingdom of God. The sooner the treasuries of nations, and the purses of individuals, are relieved from the support of priestcraft and superstitions, so much sooner will they be able and willing to devote their means and influence to print and publish the glad tidings of the fullness of the Gospel, restored in this age, to assist in the gathering of the house of Israel, and in the building of the cities and temples of Zion and Jerusalem.
I will suppose, in the spirit world, a grade of spirits of the lowest order, composed of murderers, robbers, thieves, adulterers, drunkards, and persons ignorant, uncultivated, &c., who are in prison, or in hell, without hope, without God, and unworthy as yet of Gospel instruction.
As in earth, so in the spirit world. No person can enter into the privileges of the Gospel, until the keys are turned, and the Gospel opened by those in authority, for all which there is a time, according to the wise dispensations of justice and mercy.
The gift of the Holy Spirit adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, developes, cultivates and matures all the fine toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It developes beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigour, animation and social feeling. It developes and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.
“There is a divine substance, fluid or essence, called spirit, widely diffused among these eternal elements … It is the light, life, power, and principle of all things … the supreme, all-controlling, all-pervading element, under the directing power of Deity.”
“There is a divine substance, fluid or essence, called spirit, widely diffused among these eternal elements. This spiritual substance is the most refined, subtle, and powerful element in the universe. It is the light, life, power, and principle of all things. This divine element, or spirit, is the immediate, active or controlling agent in all holy miraculous powers ... By this Divine Spirit all things were formed … and all in accordance with the laws of nature, it being perfectly natural for the subordinate elements to obey the supreme, all-controlling, all-pervading element, under the directing power of Deity.”
This is the true light which in some measure illuminates all men … It is … in its higher degrees, the intellectual light of our inward and spiritual organs, by which we reason, discern, judge, compare, comprehend, and remember the subjects without our reach. Its inspiration constitutes … reason in man.
The sooner the present generation lose all reverence and respect for modern "Christianity" with all its powerless forms and solemn mockeries, the sooner they will be prepared to receive the kingdom of God.
There is a divine substance, fluid or essence, called spirit, widely diffused among these eternal elements. This spiritual substance is the most refined, subtle, and powerful element in the universe. It is the light, life, power, and principle of all things. This divine element, or spirit, is the immediate, active or controlling agent in all holy miraculous powers ... By this Divine Spirit all things were formed … and all in accordance with the laws of nature, it being perfectly natural for the subordinate elements to obey the supreme, all-controlling, all-pervading element, under the directing power of Deity.
“This is the true light which in some measure illuminates all men … It is … in its higher degrees, the intellectual light of our inward and spiritual organs, by which we reason, discern, judge, compare, comprehend, and remember the subjects without our reach. Its inspiration constitutes … reason in man.”
"As the mind passes the boundaries of the visible world, and enters upon the confines of the more refined and subtle elements, it finds itself associated with certain substances in themselves invisible to our gross organs, but clearly manifested to our intellect by their tangible operations and effects." "The purest, most refined and subtle of all these substances—is that substance called the Holy Spirit." "It is omnipresent." "It is in its less refined particles, the physical light which reflects from the sun, moon and stars, and other substances; and by reflection on the eye makes visible the truths of the outward world."
It may be inquired, why God made one unequal to another, or inferior in intellect or capacity. To which I reply, that He did not create their intelligence at all. It never was created, being an inherent attribute of the eternal element called spirit, which element composes each individual spirit, and which element exists in an infinitude of degrees in the scale of intellect, in all the varieties manifested in the eternal God, and thence to the lowest agent, which acts by its own will.
The science of geography will then be extended to millions of worlds, and will embrace a knowledge of their physical features and boundaries, their resources, mineral and vegetable; their rivers, lakes, seas, continents and islands; the attainments of their inhabitants in the science of government; their progress in revealed religion; their employments, dress, manners, customs, etc. The science of astronomy will also be enlarged in proportion to the means of knowledge. System after system will rise to view in the vast field of research and exploration! Vast systems of suns and their attendant worlds, on which the eyes of Adam’s race, in their rudimental sphere, have never gazed, will then be contemplated, circumscribed, weighed in the balance of human thought, their circumference and diameter be ascertained, their relative distances understood. Their motions and revolutions, their times and laws, their hours, days, weeks, sabbaths, months, years, jubilees, centuries, millenniums and eternities, will all be told in the volumes of science.
The earth and other planets of a like sphere, have their inward or spiritual spheres, as well as their outward or temporal. The one is peopled by temporal tabernacles and the other by spirits. A vail [sic] is drawn between the one sphere and the other, whereby all objects in the spiritual sphere are rendered invisible to those in the temporal.