act of rebellion, on the part of the Founder of the State, against its original proprietor, Prince Emmanuel. This unnatural rebellion of a distinguished subject against his rightful Sovereign, resulted in the expulsion of the former, by the latter, from his dominions. Diabolos, for so the rebel was called, enraged against his Sovereign, was permitted, for wise reasons, to persuade the former occupants of the soil to take sides with him in a grand rebellion. Since this event, he has claimed the dominion of the soil, and has erected the greater part of the territory into a sovereign State, since known as the State of Carnality. Upon its eastern boundary, there is a portion of territory called the land of Beulah, which, though formerly claimed by this Usurper, has been taken from him by Prince Emmanuel, to which he has given laws, and has erected it into a province of his empire, and which is since known as the Kingdom of Grace, because it was founded by its gracious Sovereign, for the benefit of penitent rebels, who may be induced to desert the standard of the enemy and return to their rightful and gracious Sovereign. Little, indeed, did I know of the danger to health and life to which I was exposed, while I lived in the State of Carnality. None, indeed, can fully realize his perilous condition, who does not know the character of the government under which he lives, as a citi zen of the State of Carnality. While I lived in the State I was ignorant of the fact, that most of my ancestors, as far back as I could trace them, had perished in the army of Diabolos; in that division of it which was commanded by Col. Oldman. My ancestors were, indeed, brave men, and fought valiantly; but as madly as valiantly. They were on the wrong side. Both might and right were against them. And had it not been for new recruits continually sent in by those recruiting officers, Mr. Vainself, Mr. Proudlook, and Mr. Selflove, the Colonel would have been totally routed, and every man destroyed. But of these facts I was wholly ignorant, while living in Vainshow and in the service of Mr. Oldman, the brother of the Colonel's. And as I was observing, Mr. Oldman being about to enlarge his mercantile concern, determined to take some of the best and wealthiest men in the State into a copartnery with himself, and establish firms throughout the State. So soon as his intentions were known, that he was about to enlarge his concern, many applications were made for situations deemed so eligible. He made choice of those who had formerly been most faithful in his service. The house which he established at Vainshow, was advertised as the firm of Oldman, Simpleone, Loveshow & Co. His next house was estabSERIES IV.-VOL. I. 30 lished at Simpleton, under the firm of Oldman, Vainthought, Haughtyman & Co. His third house was situated in the eastern part of the State, near the line which separated it from the Kingdom of Grace, in the town of Fairshow, and was known as the firm of Oldman, Fairspeech, Wilyman & Co. His fourth and last house he determined to locate at Pridesville, on the southern borders of the State, and to be known as the firm of Oldman, Proudlook, Highstyle & Co. Having established these houses with a view to supply every part of the country with articles of its own manufacture, on the lowest and most accommodating terms, I was employed to travel between these marts, and engage the custom and patronage of the different mechanics, manufacturers, and retail merchants and grocers throughout the State. Mr. Oldman believed I had a peculiar talent for conforming to the tastes and habits of the people, and was, therefore, a fit agent for the business. And, indeed, he praised me no little for the success with which I met in procuring him the favor and patronage of the people. The most difficult part of the State to gain over to the interests of our great concern, was that bordering on the land of Beulah, the territory of the Kingdom of Grace. Mr. Fairspeech and Mr. Wilyman, were, indeed, accomplished men for the business in which they were engaged. These gentlemen assumed manners the most pleasing and winning, to such as knew them only as public men in business. With their affected manners, they still professed much regard for their former patrons and friends, who had left the State and become citizens of the Kingdom of Grace. They, indeed, occasionally visited Christiansville, a bordering town of the kingdom, and spoke highly of the good order, kindness, and hospitality of its citizens. They would even join in speaking of Prince Emmanuel as a most gracious Prince, and expressed a hope that a reconciliation, ere long, would be effected between the subjects of the two governments; that the citizens of the State of Carnality would cordially embrace, in the arms of true friendship, the citizens of the Kingdom of Grace, and be one and undivided in all the great interests of the State. Mr. Wilyman expressed a wish that a better state of feeling might be cultivated between the two countries, and gave it as his opinion, that nothing would so much conduce to it as a reciprocity of trade, commerce, and manufactures. Mr. Fairspeech remarked, that he concurred in opinion with his partner, Mr. Wilyman, though he was aware that Mr. Oldman's policy differed somewhat from theirs, in making the prosperity of the State to depend upon home manufactures and home consumption. He presumed that the policy of Mr. Oldman better suited the condition of the State, as it was in former days, when the population was sparse, and people wanted but few things, and these plain, and such as merely the lusts of the flesh would demand, which the soil, with but little cultivation, produced abundantly. Besides, the great age of Mr. Oldman, has rendered him rather selfish. And indeed, I must acknowledge that it has been owing to his possessing a large share of this kind of feeling, that he has been able to amass so great an amount of wealth. As avarice is, however, the possession of old men, I presume he will not now change his views. But the age in which we live demands a more liberal policy. If, for example, the policy of a city or state has amassed for its citizens wealth sufficient to supply fully all the lusts of the flesh, all the lusts of the eyes, and every thing desirable for gratifying the pride of life, that policy should, in the spirit of a true liberality, be extended, till it shall embrace, in the arms of its philanthropy, the people of every State and Kingdom. Dr. Evangelicus.-With whom had Mr. Wilyman and Mr. Fairspeech this conversation? James Conformitas.—With Mr. Lovetruth and Mr. Singlemind, in the store of the former, who was a merchant in the town of Christiansville. Dr. Evangelicus.-Did these gentlemen approve the policy advocated by those merchants from the town of Fairshow? James Conformitas.-Not at all. So far, indeed, was he from approving it, that he pronounced it, at once, a short-sighted and ruinous policy, at war with the best interests of the Kingdom of Grace. He further showed, that the interests of the Kingdom were antagonistic, and diametrically opposed to what they were pleased to call the best interests of those who lived in the State of Carnality. Mr. Lovetruth finally addressed these men in the following style: "Gentlemen, I regard you as enemies in disguise. You attempt to introduce a hateful and detestable policy. As a revenue officer of the government, I am authorized, by the authority of my King, to brand every commodity brought into our market from the State of Carnality, as contraband goods. You have often attempted to smuggle your goods into our ports, that they may be used by our citizens, in direct rebellion to the statute of our Sovereign. They are, sirs, easily detected by our officers. They are but base imitations, and are like your garments, spotted with the flesh. Your connexion with Oldman is a most unfortunate one, and if it be not broken up, bankruptcy and ruin is your portion. He is, and I know him well, the most noted rebel in all the State of Carnality. I, too, was once in his service. There is nothing too mean, low, corrupt, or filthy, for him to do. Diabolos, the founder and ruler of your State, and the declared enemy of our Sovereign, has had him in his service since he was able, indeed, to serve; and for the sake of filthy lucre, he has been the veriest drudge in his service. You, Mr. Fairspeech, he has now in his service, that he may through the deceitful lusts, with goodly words and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple. And you, Mr. Wilyman, are also his most humble servant, seeking, by your wiles and cunning stratagems, to entangle us again in the net of the old Adversary. But be it known unto you, we have, through the gracious aid of our good King, put off the old man, with his practices. We counsel you, therefore, by all that is sacred and dear, if you would love our King and be happy, to put away the old man, and have no longer any partnership with him, and buy of us wisdom and understanding; for the merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. Then abjure allegiance to Diabolos, and take the oath of loyalty to Prince Emmanuel. Take off the regimentals of the Adversary, with all their frippery-those garments spotted with the flesh-and put on the armor of righteousness and be clothed with the garments of humility, and join the standard of our King, live in his fear, and be forever happy." A. W. C. QUERIES ON DISCIPLINE. 1. What ought a congregation to do, when a brother, who has been excluded, presents himself, confessing the sin for which he was excluded, and a brother notifies them that he is guilty of an indictable offence, which he can prove? Answer. They should investigate the matter, and settle it according to the scriptures. 2. If a person thus accused, is received into the congregation without an investigation of the matter, would those having personal knowledge of the fact, or believing it on good testimony, be justifiable in going to the table with such a person? Answer.-Abstaining from "the table," is not the scriptural mode of settling difficulties. The preparation for the Lord's table consists in self-examination, not in the examination of others. 1 Cor., xi. 28. To abstain from the Lord's table, when it is scripturally spread in his house, because some unworthy intruder may be there, is no where commanded, nor, that I can see, authorized in the Word of God. We might as properly forsake the church itself. 3.-Under these circumstances, would a brother, having knowledge of the fact, be justifiable in entering a complaint before a legal tribunal? Answer.-If the offender does not stand in such a relation to the church as to have his offence tried and settled by her, then, of course, the only resort is to the civil authority. If the nature of the offence is such as to justify a Christian man in going to law with an alien, (which is not always the case,) then this is his proper remedy; but "what have we to do with them that are without;" and if the indictable offence is not in injury of our own rights, of person or property, what law calls us to volunteer in the forbidden work of a busy body?" 66 W. K. P. THE CHURCH AT WASHINGTON CITY. Report of the contributions received at this office, for the erection of a Meeting-House at Washington City, on the scheme of 25 cents per member: H. Blackstone, (per Geo. E. Tingle,) 2.00 S. F. Miller, for the church at Jeffersontown, Ky., 6.00 W. S. Gitner, Moreland, Ky., (for a few friends of the cause of Christ,) 3 00 Josiah Scott, for the church at Cheneyville, Lap, 7.50 North Street Church, Lexington, Mo., per Elds. Vancamp & Bledsoe, 35 00 A. H. Best, Salona, Pa., 2.00 7.00 Church at Bethel, per M. G. Elkins, Alexandria, Tenn., Church at Clear Creek, Ky., per Joseph H. Stone and T. G.) Maddox, 1.00 $15 50 17 00 Hitherto we have been, and still are, ashamed to make a report on this subject. But for two reasons we should still continue silent, and SERIES IV.-VOL. I. 30** |