Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon

all men; yea, verily I say, Hearken ye people from afar, and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen
together; for verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape, and there is no eye
that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated; and the rebellious
shall be pierced with much sorrow, for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret
acts shall be revealed; and the voice of waning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples,
whom I chosen in these last days, and they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have
commanded them.

Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my
commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth; wherefore fear
and tremble ye people, for what I the Lord have decreed, in them, shall be fulfilled. And verily I say unto
you, that they who go forth, bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given
to seal, both on earth and in heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious; yea, verily, to seal them up unto the
day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure; unto the day when the
Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to the measure that he has measured to his fellow
man.

Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear; prepare ye,
prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; and the anger of the Lord is kindled, and His
sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth; and the arm of the Lord shall
be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of His
servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the
people; for they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant; they seek
not the Lord to establish His righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of
his own God, whose image is the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which
waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.

Wherefore I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called
upon my servant Brother William Marrion Branham, and spake unto him face to face and lip to ear, even as
my prophet Moses, and gave him commandments, and also gave commandments to others that they should
proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the
prophets; the weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that
man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh, but that every man might speak in
the name of God the Lord, even the savior of the world; that faith also might increase in the earth; that mine
everlasting covenant might be established; that the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak
and the simple, unto the ends of the world, and unto kings and rulers.

Behold, I Am God, and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants
in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding; and inasmuch
as they erred it might be made known; and inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed; and
inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent; inasmuch as they were humble
they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time, and after
having received the record of righteousness, even of Enoch, have the power to translate, through the mercy
of God, by the power of God, the Lamb’s Book of Life; and also to those whom these commandments were
given might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity, and out
of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I the Lord am well
pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually; for I the Lord can not look upon sin
with the least degree of allowance; nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord
shall be forgiven; and he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received, for
my Spirit shall not always strive with man, Saith the Lord of Hosts.

And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth, I, the Lord, am willing to make these things
known unto all flesh, for I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day
speedily cometh-the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand-when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the
Devil shall have power over his dominion; and also the Lord shall have power over His saints, and shall
reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon the world.

Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises that are in
them shall all be fulfilled.

What I, the Lord, have spoken I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the
earth pass away, my Word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice, or by
the voice of my servants, it is the same, for behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record,
and the record is true, and the truth abideth for ever and ever. Amen.

The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God, can not be frustrated, neither can they come to
naught, for God doth not walk in crooked paths; neither does He turn to the right hand nor to the left;
neither does He vary from that which He hath said, therefore His paths are straight and His course is one
Eternal round.

Remember, remember, that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men; for although a
man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet, if he boast in his own
strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal
desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.

Behold, you have been entrusted with these things, but how strict were your commandments; and
remember, also, the promises which were made to you, if you did not transgress them; and behold, how oft
you have transgressed the commandments and laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men:
for, behold, you should not have feared man more than God, although men set at naught the counsels of
God, and despise His Words, yet you should have been faithful and He would have extended His arm, and
supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and He would have been with you in every time
of trouble.

Behold, thou art even as Joseph with the coat of many colors, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the
Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware, thou wilt fall, but remember, God is merciful;
therefore, repent of that which thou hast done, which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you,
and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work; except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up
and become as other men, and have no more gift.

And when thou deliveredst up that which God had given thee sight and power to translate thou deliveredst
up that which was sacred into the hands of a wicked man who has set at naught the counsels of God, and
has broken the most sacred promises, which were made before God, and has depended upon his own
judgment, and boasted in his own wisdom; and this is the reason that thou hast lost thy priveledges for a
season, for thou hast suffered the counsel of the director to be trampled upon from the beginning.
Nevertheless, my work shall go forth, for, inasmuch as the knowledge of a savior has come unto the world,
so shall the knowledge of a Savior come unto my people, through the testimonies of their fathers, the
prophets, and the plates of my servant Enoch, a faithful and true witness, are unto the capstone, a
revelation.

Now, behold, I say unto you, that because you delivered up those writings which you had power given unto
you to translate, by means of the Urim and Thummin, the breastplate of righteousness through Lee Vayle,
into the hands of wicked men, you have lost them, and you also lost your gift at the same time and your
mind became darkened; nevertheless it is now restored unto you again, therefore see that you are faithful
and continue on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work of translation as you have begun. Do not
run faster and labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be
diligent unto the end; pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and
that you may escape the hands of the servant of Satan, that do uphold his work. Behold, they have sought
to destroy you; yea, even the man in whom you have trusted has sought to destroy you. And for this cause I
said that he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the thing wherewith you have been entrusted;
and he has sought to destroy your gift, and because you have delivered the writings into his hands, behold,
wicked men have taken them from you; therefore you have delivered them up; yea, that which was sacred
unto wickedness. And behold, Satan has put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to
be written, or which you have translated, which have gone out of your hands; and, behold, I say unto you,
that because they have altered the words, they read contrary from that which you translated and caused to
be written; and on this wise the devil has sought to lay a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work; for he
has put it into their hearts to do this, that by lying they may say they have caught you in words which you
have pretended to translate.

Verily I say unto you, that I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing, for,
behold, he has put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord thy God, in asking to translate it over again; and
then, behold, they say and think in their hearts, “We will see if God has given him power to translate
again,” or in other words, “if he bringeth forth the same words, behold, we have the same with us, and we
have altered them; therefore they will not agree, and we will say that he has lied in his words, and that he
has no gift, and that he has no power; therefore we will destroy him, and also the work, and we will do this
that we may not be ashamed in the end, and that we may get glory of the world.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that Satan has great hold upon their hearts, he stirreth them up to iniquity
against that which is good, and their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness and abominations, and they
love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil therefore they will not ask of me.

Satan stirreth them up that he may lead their souls to destruction, and thus he has laid a cunning plan,
thinking to destroy the work of God, but I will require this at their hands and it shall turn to their shame and
condemnation at the day of judgment; yea, he stirreth their hearts up to anger against this work; yea, he
saith unto them, Decieve and lye in wait to catch, that ye may destroy; behold, this is no harm; and thus he
flattereth them, and telleth them that it is no sin to lie, that they may catch a man in a lie, that they may
destroy him; and thus he flattereth them, and leadeth them along until he drags their souls down to hell, and
thus he causes them to catch themselves in their own snare, and thus he goeth up and down, to and fro in
the earth, seeking to destroy the souls of men.

Verily, verily I say unto you, Woe be unto him that lieth to deceive, because he supposes that another lieth
to deceive, for such are not exempt from the justice of God.

Behold, after your ministry begins jealousy will harden their hearts and they will publish sayings from this
book, and Satan will harden the hearts of the people to stir them up to anger against you, that they will not
believe my words. Thus Satan thinketh to overpower your testimony in this generation, that the work may
not come forth in this generation; but, behold, here is wisdom, and because I show unto you wisdom, and
give you commandments concerning these things, what you shall do, show it not unto the world until you
have accomplished the work of translation.

Marvel not that I said unto, “Show it not unto the world, that you may be preserved. Behold, I do not say
that you shall show it unto the righteous, as you can not always tell the righteous from the wicked;
therefore, I say, hold your peace until I shall see to make all things known unto the world concerning this
matter.

Now verily, I say unto you, that translation that has fallen into the hands of the enemy is of less particular
substance than that which I would bring to the knowledge of my people, and you shall publish it as “The
Record of Nephi,” and thus I will confound those who have altered my Words. I will not suffer that they
shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.
Behold, they have only got a part, or an abridgment of the truth. There are many things engraven in my
records from the ages that do throw greater views upon my gospel; therefore, it is wisdom in me, that you
should translate the beginnings first of my story, and the war in heaven, and send forth in this work with
your message. And behold, all the remainder of this work that you must complete, does contain all those
parts of my gospel that have filled the earth in the ages of man.

Thus is it word upon word, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little; and yet though
you declared it with great signs and wonders, and still they turned you down, how much more so I who
speaketh as the High Priest, after the order of the Son of God, after the order of Enoch, who are both after
the Order of Melchizedec, the God priesthood, with only Word in my mouth. Behold, the blind grow
darker still, and the Bride once empty filled, for their desire of the manifestation of the revelation of their
love true is nigh bound found that thou must make thy path quick, for war is on thee, even nigh thee this
day soon. Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, that it is thy enemy I would disturb, and cause to tremble, and
shake to the center. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and I came unto my own, and my own
received me not. I am the light that shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. I am
he who said, “Other sheep I have that are not of this fold,” unto my disciples, and many there were that
understood me not.

And I will show unto this people, that I had other sheep, and that they were a branch of the house of Jacob;
and I will bring to light their marvelous works, which they did in my name; yea, and I will also bring to
light my gospel, which was ministered unto them, and behold they shall not deny that which you have
received; but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine; yea, and the only
doctrine which is in me; and this I do, that I may establish my gospel, and that there be not so much
contention; yea, satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention, concerning the points of my
doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they wrest the scriptures, and don not understand them;
therefore, I will unfold to them this great mystery; for, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts; yea, if they will come, they may partake of
the waters of life freely.

Behold, this is my doctrine; whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church; whosoever
declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore, he is not of my church.
And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will establish
upon my Rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against him.

And now, remember the words of him who is the light and life of the world, your Redeemer, your Lord, and
your God. Amen.

You have a gift to translate my Word from the Akashic records, and this is the first gift that I bestowed upon
you, and I have commanded that you should pretend to no other gift until my purpose is fulfilled in this; for
I will grant unto you no other gift until it is finished. Verily I say unto you that woe shall come unto the
inhabitants of the earth if they will not hearken unto my Words; for hereafter you shall be ordained and go
forth and deliver my words unto the children of men. Behold, if they will not believe my word, they will
not believe you, even if it were possible that you could show them all these things which IU have
committed unto you. Oh, this unbelieving and stiff-necked generation, mine anger is kindled against them!

Behold, for the Word I have spoken and laid forth in many generations past have I reserved for a wise
purpose in me, that it might be made known in this hour now; even the last generation of my bringing forth
sons in the earth. And this testimony shall I give unto a dying and perverse generation through three of my
servants. I shall vindicate myself unto a prophet likened unto Moses, yea, even bearing witness of my
Shekinah glory, and my godly vale shall reveal the Son of God, and the Son of David shall in turn burn
these true sayings in the hearts of all men through Zion, and the heavens will declare my handiwork; I will
give them power that they may behold and view these things as they are; and to none else will I grant this
power, to receive this same testimony, among this generation in this, the beginning of the rising up, and the
coming forth of my church out of the wilderness; clear s the moon and fair as the son, and terrible as an
army with banners. And the testimony of three witnesses will I send forth of my Word; and, behold,
whosoever beleiveth on my Words, them will I visit with a manifestation of my Spirit, and they shall be
born of me, even of water and of the spirit; and their testimony shall also go forth among the inhabitants of
the earth, and shall continue to be poured out, from time to time, if they repent not, until the earth is empty,
and the inhabitants thereof are consumed away, and utterly destroyed by the brightness of my coming.
Behold, I tell you these things even as I foretold the people of the destruction of Jerusalem, and my Word
shall be verified at this time as it has hitherto been verified.
And I command you, my servant, to repent and walk more uprightly before me, and yield to the persuasions
of men no more; and that you be firm in keeping my commandments wherewith I have commanded you,
and if you should do this, behold, I grant unto you eternal life, even if you should be slain.

Since you desire my witness, I say unto you, if you exalt yourself and do not humble yourself sufficiently
before me, bowing down, and humbling yourself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of your heart, I
will grant unto you a view of the things that you desire to see. And then you shall say unto the people of
this generation; behold, I have seen the things that the Lord has shown unto His servants the prophets, and
known of a surety that they are true, for I have seen them; for they have been shown unto me by the power
of God, and not of man. And now, except you humble yourself and acknowledge unto me the things that
you have done which are wrong, and covenant with me that you will keep my commandments, and exercise
faith in me, Behold, you shall have no such views. Even so, some lye in wait to destroy thee; yea, and for
this cause, that thy days may be prolonged, I have given unto thee these commandments; yea, for this cause
have I said, Stop and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest
accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee; and if thou art faithful and keepeth my
commandments, thou shalt be lifted up at the last day. Amen.

A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men: behold, I am God, and give
heed unto My Word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two edged-sword, to the dividing asunder
of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words.

Behold, the field is white already to harvest, therefore whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle
with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for His soul everlasting salvation in the
kingdom of God; yea, whosever will thrust in His sickle and reap, the same is called of God; therefore if
you will ask of me you shall receive it, if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.

Now, as you have asked of me what is the more perfect question desiring My perfect will that you might
ask, you have asked well; behold, I say unto you, Keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and
establish the cause of Zion: seek not for riches but for wisdom; and behold, the mysteries of God should be
unfolded to you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.

Verily, verily I say unto you, even as you desire of me, so shall it be unto you; and if you desire, you shall
be the means of doing much good in this generation. Say nothing but repentance unto this generation: keep
my commandments and assist to bring forth my work according to my commandments, and you shall be
blessed.

Behold, thou hast a gift, and blessed art thou because of thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries, that
thou mayest bring many to the knowledge of the truth: yea, convince them of the error of their ways. Make
not thy gift known unto any; save it be those who are of thy faith. Trifle not with sacred things, for these
thy matters are of no minor insignificance, and regard my Eternal plan in completion. If thou wilt do good,
yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all
the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation.

Verily, verily I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done, for thou hast inquired of me, and,
behold, as often as thou hast inquired, thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so,
thou wouldst not have come where thou art at this time.

Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me, and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these
things, that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of Truth; yea, and I will tell thee
that thou mayest know there is none else save God, and I knowest the thoughts and intents of thy heart. I
tell thee these things as a witness unto thee, that the words or the work that thou hast been writing is true

Therefore be diligent, and stand by my servants faithfully in whatsoever difficult circumstances present, for
the words sake. Admonish and be admonished. Be patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith,
hope, and charity.
Verily, verily I say unto you, “Desire no further witness, for I heard the night that you cried unto me in
spirit, that you might know concerning the truth of these things; and I spoke peace to your mind concerning
the matter. What greater witness can you have than from God? And now, behold, you have received a
witness, for if I have told you things that no man knowest, have you not received a witness? And behold, I
grant unto you a gift, if you desire of me, to translate even as my heavenly scribe Enoch.

Praise the Lord shouts the heavens seven times thundered down under the throne my phone direct so
neglect not the ring bring resurrection joy employed this favor so I love Thy savor, oh God, my lightning
rod and Savior Love, my Dove and Lion roar, my all I am adore. I love thee so, as thou wouldst ever know
so send me then and I will go. Impress me thought and I ought dress them words. Will and I will fill, spill
and I will empty, hold and I will let go. I know thee, for thou hast been gracious and full of mercy in my
days, and have delivered up thy sacred writings unto wicked men who would set at naught the counsel of
the Lord. Lo, and still thou forgivest me. I am nothing Lord, but pray thee keep me bound always to your
side, that I might hide always in the cleft of the garment, for apart from thee I am rent torn asunder, and
blunder fumble trip and stumble steal, for I have broken thy commandments that thou wouldst have me
keep. Thank you, My Lord, and always Eternal God of the heaven and the earth. Amen, and Amen.

Verily, verily I say unto you, that there are records which contain much of my gospel, which have been kept
back because of the wickedness of the people; and now I command you, that if you have good desires, a
desire to lay up treasures for yourself in heaven, then shall you assist in bringing to light, with your gift,
those part of my scriptures which have been hidden because of iniquity.

And now, behold, I give unto you the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry; and in the
mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Verily, verily I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, Where two or three are gathered together in my
name, as touching one thing, behold, there I will be in the midst of them; even so am I in the midst of you.
Fear not to do good; my sons; for whatsoever you sow, that shall you also reap; therefore, if ye sow good,
ye shall also reap good for your reward;

Therefore fear not, little flock, do good, let earth and hell combine against you, for if you are built upon
my Rock, they cannot prevail. Behold, I do not condemn you, go your ways and sin no more; perform with
soberness the work which I have commanded you; look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not:
behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful;
keep my commandments and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

And the Lord said unto me, Shawn, my beloved, what desirest thou? For if ye shall ask what you will, it
shall be granted unto you. And I said unto him, “Lord, give unto me power over death, even unbelief, and
that thereby I might know him who would exalt himself into heaven above your throne and cast him down
to earth, having the Word so revealed in my heart a fire passion, that my every second might be reckoned in
your service, that I might paint your majesty across the sky, for so glorious was I beholden by your face and
deepest grace that I prayed according as you would have me ask, Father, not mine will, but thine be done,
forever and ever, eternal in the heavens, that I might bring souls to thee, Amen.

And the Lord said unto me, Verily, verily I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I
come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people. Because you desirest
of me that you might bring souls unto me, you are my beloved, and a greater work you might do amongst
men than that what has been done before; yea, you have undertaken a greater work; therefore I will make
you as a flaming fire and a ministering angel; and you shall minister for those who shall be heirs of
salvation who dwell on the earth; and I will make you to minister for my Son Jesus, in order prophet,
teacher, evangelist, having the power and keys of this ministry until I am come among you in my fulness.
Blessed be the name of the Lord forever. Amen. Verily I say unto you, Ye shall have according to your
desires, for ye joy in that which ye have desired.

Verily, verily I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and Redeemer, even so
shall you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that
you shall receive a knowledge concerning the engravings of old records, which are ancient, which contain
those parts of my scripture of which have been spoken, by the manifestation of my Spirit; yea, behold, I
will tell you in your mind and in your heart by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you, and which shall
dwell in your heart.

Now behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the Spirit by which Moses brought the children of
Israel through the red sea on dry ground; therefore this is thy gift; apply unto it and blessed art thou, for it
shall deliver you out of the hands of thy enemies, when, if it were not so, they would slay you, and bring
your soul to destruction.

Oh, remember these words, and keep my commandments! Remember this is your gift. Now this is not all
your gift, for you have another gift, which is the gift of Lee Vayle; behold, it has told you many things;
behold, there is no other power save the power of God that can cause this gift of Lee Vayle to be with you;
therefore doubt not, for it is the gift of God, and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works;
and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the work of God. And therefore,
whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, and you shall have
knowledge concerning it; remember, that without faith you can do nothing. Therefore, ask in faith. Trifle
not with these things; do not ask for that which you aught not; ask that you may know the mysteries of
God, and that you may translate and receive knowledge from all those ancient records which have been hid
up, that are sacred, and according to your faith shall it be done unto you. Behold, it is I that have spoken it;
and I am the same who spake unto you from the beginning. Amen.

But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and
if it is right, then I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore you shall feel that it is right;
but if it be not right, you shall no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you
to forget the thing which is wrong. Therefore you cannot write that which be sacred unless it be given to
you from me. I have given unto thee sufficient strength whereby it is made up, and condemned you not.

Do this thing that I have commanded you, and you shall prosper. Be faithful and yield to no temptation.
Stand fast in the work wherewith I have called you, and a hair of your head shall not be lost, and you shall
be lifted up at the last day. Amen.

A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Behold, thou hast a gift, or
thou shalt have a gift if thou wilt desire of me in faith, with an honest heart, believing in the power of Jesus
Christ, or in my power that speaketh unto thee. And now, verily, verily I say unto thee, put thy trust in that
Spirit which leadeth thee to do good; yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my
Spirit. Verily, verily I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind,
which shall fill your soul with joy, and then ye shall know, or by this you shall know, all things whatsoever
you desire of me, which is pertaining unto things in righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall
receive.

Behold, I command you that you need not suppose you are called to preach until you are called; and you
have waited now long enough, for you have my Word, my rock, my church, and my gospel committed unto
thy hands, and know of a surety thy doctrine; and now according to your desires regarding my people, and
according to your faith in me, shall it be done unto you.

Keep my commandments; hold thy peace till the last; appeal thunder unto my Spirit; but for now until then
cleave unto me with all your heart, that you may assist in bringing to light those things of which have been
spoken; yea, the translation of my work; be patient until you shall accomplish it.

Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments; yea, with all your might, mind, and strength; seek
not to declare my Word, but first seek to obtain my Word, and then your tongue shall be unleashed, then if
you desire you shall have my Spirit and my Word; yea, the power of God unto the convincing of me; but
now hold your peace, study my Word which have gone forth among the children of men from the beginning
unto the end. Yea, until you have obtained all that which I grant unto the children of men in this
generation; and then shall all things be added thereunto.
Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and
establish the cause of Zion. Behold I speak unto you, and also to those who have desires to bring forth and
establish this work; and no one can assist in this work, except he shall be humble and full of Love, having
faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things whatsoever shall be intrusted to his care. Behold, I
am the light and the life of the world, that speaks these words; therefore give heed with your might, and
then you are called. Amen.

And it shall come to pass as you have asked in faith that you shall receive the Holy Ghost, which giveth
utterance, that you may stand as a witness of the things of which you shall both hear and see; and also, that
you may declare repentance unto this generation. Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, who
created the heavens and the earth; a light which cannot be hid in darkness; wherefore, I must bring forth the
fullness of my gospel from the Gentiles unto the house of Israel. And behold, thou art called the Son of
David, and thou art called to assist; which thing if thou doest, and art faithful, thou shalt be blessed both
spiritually and temporally, and great shall be thy reward. Amen.

Hearken, my servant John, and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, your Lord and your Redeemer, for,
behold, I speak unto you with sharpness and with power, for mine arm is over all the earth, and I will tell
you that which know man knows save me and you alone; for many times you have desired of me to know
that which would be of the most worth to you. Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my
Word that I have given you according to my commandments.

And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you, will be to declare
repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom
of my Father. Amen. You must rely on my Word, with full purpose of heart, and I will show you the
plates, and also the breastplate, the sword of Laban, and the Urim and Thummin, and it is by your faith that
you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old. And after that
you have obtained faith, and have seen them with your eyes, and you shall testify of them by the power of
God, and if you do these last commandments of mine, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; for my
grace is sufficient for you; and you shall be lifted up at the last day.

Behold, I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances, that the things that you have written
are true; wherefore you know that they are true; and if you know that they are true, behold, I give unto you
a commandment, that you rely on the things which are written; for in them are written all things concerning
foundation of my church, my gospel, and my Rock; the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.

Behold, the world is ripening in iniquity, and it must needs be that the children of men are stirred up unto
repentance, both the Gentiles, and the house of Israel. I command all men everywhere to repent, and I
speak unto you, even as unto Paul, mine Apostle, for you are called even with that same calling wherewith
he was called. Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; for behold, the Lord your
Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent
and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him on
conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth. Wherefore you are called to
cry repentance unto to this people. And if it so be that you should labor all your days, in crying repentance
unto this people, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you shall receive into the Kingdom, how great will be
your joy if you receive many souls unto me! Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my Rock, and
my salvation. Ask the Father in my name, in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the
Holy Ghost that manifesteth all things, which is expedient unto the children of men. Contend against no
church save it be the church of the devil. Take upon you the name of Christ, and speak the truth in
soberness; and as many as repent and are baptized in my name, enduring unto the end, the same shall be
saved.

And now behold, there are others who are called to declare my gospel, both unto Gentile and unto Jew; yea
even twelve, and they shall take upon them my name. And the twelve are they who desire to take upon
them my name, with full purpose of heart; they are called to go into the entire world declaring forth the
industry of Zion in the earth. They are ordained of me to baptize the earth awash in my Spirit, unto the
hasting of the day of the Lord, and my works and words shall be published in Zion hill, and the siren shall
sound as an advance warning; and the earth shall bring her glory unto Zion.

Mine twelve apostles are ordained to ordain priests and teachers to declare my gospel through Zion
Communications over the airwaves to establish thought ether to form, according to the power of the Holy
Ghost and the dictates of the High Priesthood; and according to the gifts and callings of God unto men. For
the scripture surely sayeth, “An alarm shall be sounded in Zion, and go throughout the earth.”

These words are not of men or of man, but of me; wherefore you shall testify they are of me, and not of
man; for it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you; and by my
power you can read them one to another, and save it were not by my power you could not have them;
wherefore you can testify that you have heard my voice and know my Word.

You shall search out the twelve who shall have the desires of which I’ve spoken; and by their desires and
their works you shall know them; and when you have found them you shall show these things unto them;
and you shall all fall down and worship the Father in my name. The twelve are called according to the
business that I work in the earth; my strange work; an odd job that will establish Zion as a leader in
technological innovation, political masterings, chief astronomers, earth architects, lawyers of the letter,
bankers of the better, master of the print, sensation of shipping, yielders of unheard power equipping; the
one true church of God through this earth sojourners tripping, lovers of peace; despised by the rich and
loved by the meek. The library of Zion shall be established, and my seekers of truth shall need knows what
literature unto which their course is made. And from all the works of the ages, my greater body of truth,
will I fully establish myself before my face and create a new internet wherein I leave no excuse for man,
sluggard though he is, in the great and horrible recompense; and I will lay to naught the lies of wicked and
corrupt men who have turned crooked through the power of their granted stewardship. Yea, and verily yea,
many shall come unto Zion by her light that shineth in all the earth as a candle on the hill; but only those
who utterly forsake the world and repent shall be lent a hand upward. And the rulers of the earth shall be
made sore distressed by Zion, yet truth and the law are her letter, and none shall come against thee, for I the
Lord will be with; even a pillar of fire by day, and a cloud of smoke by night. Truly, truly, none shall enter
my holy mountain who remains in his unbelief, and the day will come suddenly when the foolish will be
cut off with the wicked; and I the Lord thy God will sound the last trump in the secret of my sanctuary to
all those who came from the four corners of the earth unto Zion, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then
the judgment of the Lord shall sound in all the earth, and an alarm shall sound in Israel, and I, the One
Righteous God will set one foot on the earth, and one on the sea, and I will cause a great earthquake the
like of which has never been seen in the earth, as was prophesied by my servant son of man. The whole
earth will shake, and the sky shall be jarred by thunderings and lightning, and great hailstorms shall sweep
the earth whipped up tornadoes slipped the wind slapping clapping ripped down to shreds gripped chaos.
Los Angeles shall fall dashed into the sea, that city of fallen angels, for it was the foolish man who built his
house upon the sand. And volcanoes as man has not witnessed will erupt plumes fuming sulphur ash
crashing booming bang and rumble grumbled gross and shudders snapping snapped that on earth below or
heaven above is no hiding place for man. And the clouds from the volcanic ash shall encircle the earth
round about, and the sun shall withdraw its shining, and the stars shall not twinkle wink or sink descend at
all. I the Lord, the God of Wrath shall come out of Zion, instructed according to my commands, even as
they have labored under my easy yoke, for I have declared unto her, “Make place for wrath, or, make way
for wrath, for Vengeance is mine,” Thus saith the Lord of Hosts. And she made unto me an offering of
righteous, which is her fine linen, even her wedding garments, and as co-creators they have made unto me a
temple builded not with hands, and made in the heavens, even as unto a rainbow for my Godhead, a
flowing river glowing colors shone above the world round about that I, the Director, Producer, Author, the
Alpha and Omega, command that my voice be heard, unto every creature, in every nation, under every
tongue, for I have labored long to bring men unto repentance, but no more, even so, shall I yet minister a
way – by testimony of death. The alarm was raised, and man repented not. I am the Just Judge of the
earth, and even so my judgment falls; my sword bathed in heaven; and whosoever does not repent shall be
cut off unto the second death, even the soul in hell. And whosever does repent shall be hunted down like
dogs and murdered as a testimony for my names sake. Lo, and behold, great and terrible and awful and
dreadful dark is the day of the Lord, for the day of the Lord is darkness, and in it is no light, yea, but gross
darkness round about the earth; and all the earth shall tremble exceeding great for fear when the earth stops
moving, and darkness circles round-about. Confusion shall be but for a moment, because I the Lord God,
am not the author of confusion. I will give my promised Bride her parting kiss – for but a moment only
will she miss Me gone – I must first finish my pre-dominant role of Judge in the earth unto the tares; and
then will I return for My Bride as Her Groom, having so then descended all the way to us each
apprehended, and we will all as one return through the air to heaven higher where I shall enter then my Son
who joyously descends with all the Old Testament saints, so apprehend, and consider unto the single calling
wherewith you are called. Make a place for wrath, because I, the Lord, have endured ye all with much
long-suffering by the hands of those whom I have appointed vessels of wrath, for I the Lord am exceeding
great and desire to make my wrath and vengeance known on an unjust wicked wanton vile and uncomely
grossly darkened corrupted iniquity bound monsters made insane. I am great, and exceeding great, and
terrible is my name to the wicked; even so, prepare ye the way for the Lord. But first, ye shall lend unto
many nations, but no nation shall lend unto you. You shall have power over many nations, but no nation
shall have power you. Amen. I am with you, even to the end.

And now, after that you have received this great commission as a body of believers, I excel ye all with one
purpose of mind to purpose the heart continually in the lot of your inheritance of the Word which I have
divided amongst you through my servant Joshua, and by your hands I will work a marvelous work among
the children of men who are your brethren in the world, even your foolish brethren, the foolish virgin. For
my salvation must be ministered unto all ends of the earth, unto the convincing of many of their sins, that
they may come unto repentance even though it be to late to enter in at the gate of Zion, for her gate is
closed lest she bear the judgment of the hand of God; yet they to will yonder 2 nd resurrection be counted as
my sheep for the testimony you declared unto them which I first declared unto you; wherefore, the
blessings which I give unto you are above all things.

And after that you have received this, the fulness of my gospel at the closing of the gentile ages, the fulness
of times, and the ushering in of the 144’000, if you keep not my commandments in your heart and repent of
the lie, you cannot be saved in the kingdom of my Father, for you are of your father the devil; even so, I
have testified unto you, and there is no excuse before the righteous Judge of all the earth, only certain fear
and pain of torment in the 2nd death. Wrath be done. Amen.

By the Spirit of prophecy and revelation through much grace, has pointed out unto me the precise day upon
which according to his will and commandment, we should proceed to organize his called out ones once
more upon the earth and set His church in order. In April the 4 th month, on the 6th day, 2 days after Palm
Sunday, shall my High Priest after the order of Melchizidec, after the order of the Son of God, after the
order of Enoch, even my Apostle Evangelist and Teacher Shawn Paul Janzen, be established through the
laying on of hands in front of my 5-fold ministry that I have commanded attend the Bishop and Teacher
Lee Vayle, whom I have vindicated amongst you through my Prophet William Branham, unto Ohio, in the
year 2004; and this according to the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory both
now and for ever. Amen.

The Book of Mormon contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to
the gentiles, and to the Jews also; it was given by inspiration through the minor prophet Joseph Smith Jr.
and confirmed unto me by revelation given of the Holy Spirit. God has inspired and called men to His holy
work in every age and every generation that food in His storehouse might be full for us now are called unto
the most high calling in one Spirit, by one Mind, even God our Father; for He is the same yesterday, today,
and forever. Amen.

Therefore, having so great witnesses, by them shall the world be judged, even as many as shall hereafter
come to knowledge of this work; and those who receive it in faith and work righteousness, shall receive a
crown of eternal life; but those who harden their hearts in unbelief and reject it, it shall turn to their own
condemnation, for the Lord God has spoken it; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We know there is a God in heaven who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same
unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth and all things which are in them, and that he created
man male and female; after His own image, His image being the Lord Jesus Christ in spirit form, and in His
own likeness created He them, and gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve Him,
the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship. But, by the
transgression of holy laws, man became sensual and devilish, and became fallen man. Wherefore the
Almighty God gave His only begotten Son, as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of
him: he suffered temptations but gave no heed to them; he was crucified, died, and rose again the 3 rd day;
and ascended into heaven to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power
according to the will of the Father, that as many as would believe and be baptized, in his holy name, and
endure in faith to the end, should be saved: not only those who believed after he came in the meridian of
time in the flesh, but all those from the beginning, even as many as were before he came, who believed in
the words of the Holy prophets, who spake as they were inspired by the gift of the Holy Ghost, who truly
testified of him in all things, should have eternal life, as well as those who should come after, who should
believe in the gifts and callings of God by the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the same, who is the
Father, and of the Son, which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are all manifestations of the one God, infinite
and eternal, without end. All men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ and worship the
Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of
God.

Justification and sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are just and true, to all
those who love and serve God with all there mights, minds, and strengths; but there is a possibility that man
may fall from grace and depart from the living God. Therefore let the church take heed and pray always,
lest they fall into temptations; yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also. These things are
true and according to the revelations of John, neither adding to, nor diminishing from the prophecy of His
book, the Holy Scriptures, or the revelations of God which came thereafter by the gift and power of the
Holy Ghost, the voice of God, or the ministering of angels: and the Lord has spoken it; and honor, power,
and glory, be rendered to His Holy name, both now and forever.

All those who humble themselves before God and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts
and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are
willing to take upon the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve Him unto the end, and truly
manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto remission of their sins, shall be
received by baptism into His church.

Eph 4:11
And God gave in the Laodicean Church age gifts to the church, men chosen by the Holy Spirit to be as God to the people. William
Marrion Branham foreran the 2nd coming of Christ. In 1933 on the Ohio River, when he was baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus,
a light came and set over his head. A voice from the light spoke, “As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming of Christ,
you are sent to forerun the second coming of Christ.” It is written in the Book of Mormon, “When William Branham comes on the
scene it is all over.” As it was in the days of Noah, so was it when our Son of Man, William Branham, as an Apostle-Prophet to the
world doing the work of an Evangelist while being Pastor over his church and Teacher of the restored doctrines in perfection through
the opening of the 7 seals. All 9 spiritual gifts were at work in his ministry, “Thus Saith the Lord” his Sword. In 1963 seven thunders
uttered their voices, in the days of the voice of the seventh angel William Branham, and the mystery of God should be finished as He
hath declared to His servants the prophets in every age. Through his ministry we have everything to take us in rapture. But beware,
the snare to stay on that alone, for his light was given to be used as light on light; for the former rain also must fall in the latter rain of
the prophet. Yea, the Word is restored, and God gave us His God-Lee Teacher Vayle, even unto us as the Son of God, for under him
the Holy Spirit continued amongst us as the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that we might come to the knowledge and unity of faith
understanding the Son of God, God in Sonship, and our stewardship therein. Of the teacher, the prophet indicated that he was a
special man. He is able to put the Word of God together in a way that either the Pastor or Evangelist cannot do it, and tie it all together
neat, like manifested Word to scripture. The Pastor or Evangelist are not ordained to do it, though building upon what he has laid as a
wise master builder are more than able to carry the Word of God forward. The Pastor and Evangelist must acknowledge the trickle-
down and there place in the economy. Our most noted true theologian and knowledgeable student of the Holy Scriptures was
faithfully taught and indicated by the prophet, nicknamed “Doc,” short for Doctor, meaning Teacher, as a man who is able to decipher
the language of the prophet and tie it to Holy Scripture, and that he would be with us at all times to answer our questions, any lay-
member or minister even, who has a question on any of the things Bro. Branham taught, acknowledging that Bro. Vayle taught the
same things and that he was an able man to answer our questions. Amen. So, some men are apostles and they are there to set the
church in order, and Jesus last commission to the 12 Apostles was to teach all nations. And he said unto them, “Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned. This is as it was said, “In the last days I shall pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and my sons and daughters shall be anointed,
and the tares too shall be anointed of my Spirit. And both shall dream, prophesy, and have visions. And I say and repeat, verily,
verily, and truly too, “In the last days, narrowed down not to the last 2000 years though that is true, but narrowed down to the last days
of man, even the last few 24 hours, will I pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and the fulness of my Gospel shall be taught in every
nation unto every creature; that is to say all of creation. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the Word that my
Spirit might fall upon all flesh living. And again, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” So our high-
calling must needs be fulfilled, and herein lies a mystery, that to go into all the world until every creature is preached unto and every
nation taught the gospel is impossible to be done by any other than the Bride of God, for it is her alone who is prone to the revelation
of the Word; any attempt by any group outside of His chosen does not count, though were they to succeed a Bible in every hand
through every nation in every land, because they have no one to interpret what wonderful salvation we hold. His Word is Spirit and
Life, and the revelation of Salvation must come through the foolishness of preaching, reaching every creature, blessing and cursing;
this is the white throne judgment rehearsing. God is Lord of hosts, has every creature at his command, and, when he pleases, can
humble and mortify a proud, rebellious people, by the weakest and most contemptible creatures. The evidences of the truth of the
gospel are so full, that those who receive it not, may justly be upbraided with their unbelief. Doubtless this is a solemn declaration of
that true faith which receives Christ in all his characters and offices, and for all the purposes of salvation, and which produces its right
effect on the heart and life; not a mere assent, which is a dead faith, and cannot profit. The commission of Christ's ministers extends to
every creature throughout the world, and the declarations of the gospel contain truths, encouragements, and precepts, but also most
awful warnings. Observe what power the apostles should be endued with, for confirming the doctrine they were to preach. These were
miracles to confirm the truth of the gospel, and means of spreading the gospel among nations that had not heard it, and today ways of
spreading the Gospel that have never been heard of in the most glorious manner dressed that in one fell swoop might the Holy Spirit,
even as in the day of the Lord, tear off the veil and show his terrible face in the heavens. Shall not men seek to hide from the face of
Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the face of the wrath of the lamb? Shall not the heavens part like a scroll and the Sword of the
Lord be bathed in heaven unto judgment? Shall not a Deliverer come out of Zion unto Israel? What of Moses and Elijah, two
witnesses given power to prophesy unto Israel regarding the three and a half year tribulation, clothed in sack-cloth, having power to
shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophesy, and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will? The Lord reveals
His Word by bringing it to pass. God is here predominantly as Judge, and one Christ Jesus shall judge the world, and He is the Word.
Judgment begins at the house of God and a judgment prophet declared the Bride virtuous, spotless, and sinless. Elijah the prophet,
even, crying grace. Did not the prophet also witness to the Law of Moses, for the same Holy Spirit was that whom both Elijah and
Moses witnessed of, the two witnesses of the Lord who will prophecy in the earth concerning the days of the tribulation. Verily,
verily, have they not already prophesied concerning such times, that the Word of God has already gone forth concerning such
judgments? Is not that same Word of God in our mouths even the same as the witness of Moses and Elijah, clothed in humility of the
Bride? Yea, let the Word speak for the Word, and the Word to the people is the 5-fold ministry, for the perfecting of the saints, for the
building up of the body of Christ by the work of the ministry, even as every joint from the 7 church ages effectually supplieth that
which is needed for the fulness of the Body. The Body of Christ the Holy Spirit is the Word. Our job is the mechanics, the proper
placing and rightly dividing of His truth, especially able and blessed so to discern from unrighteousness His righteous works that we
might make a place for wrath, His Spirit in vengeance, the dynamics and quickening power of the voice of the resurrection, until we
all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ:

Lu 11:49
Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That
the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

Ac 4:32
¶ And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things that he
possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the
Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of
lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution
was made unto every man according as he had need.

Ac 5:12
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in
Solomon's porch.

Ro 1:1
¶ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his
prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the
flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom
we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

1Co 4:1
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards,
that a man be found faithful.

1Co 9:14
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the gospel should live of the gospel, but I have used none of these things: neither
have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my
glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I
preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed
unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse
not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain
them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,)
that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men,
that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

1Co 12:1
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And
there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God that worketh
all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of
wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by
the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of
tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:
so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and
have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand,
I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it
therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the
smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member,
where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of
thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble,
are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour;
and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body
together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the
members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member
be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the
church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities
of tongues. Are all apostles, prophets, teachers or workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing or speak with tongues and
interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men
and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and
understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am
nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth
me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself
unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all
things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy
in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I
understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass,
darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity,
these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he
that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he
speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an
unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye
prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive
edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by
revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp,
except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain
sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it
be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them
is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that
speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying
of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue,
my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding
also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that
occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily
givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather
speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written,
With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that
believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and
there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one
that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and
so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come
together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done
unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one
interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets
speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all
prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God
is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not
permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing,
let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? Came the word of God out from you?
or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto
you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and
forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.

Eph 2:19
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the
Spirit.

Eph 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was
made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less
than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make
all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things
by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the
manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: That we henceforth be no
more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby
they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From
whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in
the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

1Th 2:4
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our
hearts.

Divine grace can make the coward brave. The smoking flax can flame forth like fire on the altar when the
Lord wills it. These very apostles who were timid as hares, grew to be bold as lions after the Spirit had
descended upon them, and even so the Holy Spirit can make my recreant spirit brave to confess my Lord
and witness for His truth. Here is sovereignty. Impatient spirits may fret and fume, because they are not
called to the highest places in the ministry; but be it thine to rejoice that Jesus calleth whom He wills. If He
shall leave me to be a doorkeeper in His house, I will cheerfully bless Him for His grace in permitting me
to do anything in His service. The call of Christ's servants comes from above. Jesus stands on the mountain,
evermore above the world in holiness, earnestness, love and power. Those whom He calls must go up the
mountain to Him, they must seek to rise to His level by living in constant communion with Him. They may
not be able to mount to classic honours, or attain scholastic eminence, but they must like Moses go up into
the mount of God and have familiar intercourse with the unseen God, or they will never be fitted to
proclaim the gospel of peace. Jesus went apart to hold high fellowship with the Father, and we must enter
into the same divine companionship if we would bless our fellowmen. No wonder that the apostles were
clothed with power when they came down fresh from the mountain where Jesus was. We must endeavour to
ascend the mount of communion, that there we may be ordained to the lifework for which we are set apart.
Let us not see the face of man today till we have seen Jesus. Time spent with Him is laid out at blessed
interest. We too shall cast out devils and work wonders if we go down into the world girded with that divine
energy which Christ alone can give. It is of no use going to the Lord's battle till we are armed with
heavenly weapons. We must see the Lord Christ as He is, then we receive our change. At the mercy seat we
will linger till He shall manifest Himself unto us as He doth not unto the world, and until we can truthfully
say, "We were with Him in the Holy Mount."

Should we not learn from Jesus to resort to special prayer when we are under peculiar trial, or contemplate
fresh endeavours for the Master's glory? Lord Jesus, teach us to pray. "We must through much tribulation
enter into the kingdom of God." God never designed it when He chose His people, that they should be an
untried people. They were chosen in the furnace of affliction; they were never chosen to worldly peace and
earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of mortality was never promised them; but when their
Lord drew up the charter of privileges, He included chastisements amongst the things to which they should
inevitably be heirs. Trials are a part of our lot; they were predestinated for us in Christ's last legacy. So
surely as the stars are fashioned by his hands, and their orbits fixed by Him, so surely are our trials allotted
to us: He has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have upon us.
Good men must never expect to escape troubles; if they do, they will be disappointed, for none of their
predecessors have been without them. Mark the patience of Job; remember Abraham, for he had his trials,
and by his faith under them, he became the "Father of the faithful." Note well the biographies of all the
patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and you shall discover none of those whom God made vessels
of mercy, who were not made to pass through the fire of affliction. It is ordained of old that the cross of
trouble should be engraved on every vessel of mercy, as the royal mark whereby the King's vessels of
honour are distinguished. But although tribulation is thus the path of God's children, they have the comfort
of knowing that their Master has traversed it before them; they have His presence and sympathy to cheer
them, His grace to support them, and His example to teach them how to endure; and when they reach "the
kingdom," it will more than make amends for the "much tribulation" through which they passed to enter it.

Again, grace was preparing her Bride soul for the blessing--grace preparing for grace. Never neglect the
means of grace; God may bless us when we are not in His house, but we have the greater reason to hope
that He will when we are in communion with His saints. Observe the words, "Whose heart the Lord
opened." The Lord Himself must open the heart, to receive the things which make for our peace. He alone
can put the key into the hole of the door and open it, and get admittance for Himself. He is the heart's
master as He is the heart's maker. The first outward evidence of the opened heart was obedience. It is a
sweet sign of a humble and broken heart, when the child of God is willing to obey a command that is not
essential to his salvation, which is not forced upon him by a selfish fear of condemnation, but is a simple
act of obedience and of communion with his Master. The next evidence was love, manifesting itself in acts
of grateful kindness to the apostles. Love to the saints has ever been a mark of the true convert. Those who
do nothing for Christ or His church, give but sorry evidence of an "opened" heart. Lord, evermore give me
an opened heart.

"We are called to be saints."

We are very apt to regard the apostolic saints as if they were "saints" in a more especial manner than the
other children of God. All are "saints" whom God has called by His grace, and sanctified by His Spirit; but
we are apt to look upon the apostles as extraordinary beings, scarcely subject to the same weaknesses and
temptations as ourselves. Yet in so doing we are forgetful of this truth, that the nearer a man lives to God
the more intensely has he to mourn over his own evil heart; and the more his Master honours him in His
service, the more also doth the evil of the flesh vex and tease him day by day. The fact is, if we had seen the
apostle Paul, we should have thought him remarkably like the rest of the chosen family: and if we had
talked with him, we should have said, "We find that his experience and ours are much the same. He is more
faithful, more holy, and more deeply taught than we are, but he has the selfsame trials to endure. Nay, in
some respects he is more sorely tried than ourselves." Do not, then, look upon the ancient saints as being
exempt either from infirmities or sins; and do not regard them with that mystic reverence. Their holiness is
attainable even by us. We are "called to be saints" by the same voice which constrained them to their high
vocation. It is a Christian's duty to force his way into the inner circle of saint-ship; and if these saints were
superior to us in their attainments, as they certainly were, let us follow them; let us emulate their ardour and
holiness. We have the same light that they had, the same grace is accessible to us, and why should we rest
satisfied until we have equaled them in heavenly character? They lived with Jesus, they lived for Jesus, and
therefore they grew like Jesus. Let us live by the same Spirit as they did, "looking unto Jesus," and our saint
ship will soon be apparent. "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." The fatherhood of
God is common to all his children. Ah! Little-faith, you have often said, "Oh that I had the courage of
Great-heart, that I could wield his sword and be as valiant as he! But, alas, I stumble at every straw, and a
shadow makes me afraid." List thee, Little-faith. Great-heart is God's child, and you are God's child too;
and Great-heart is not one whit more God's child than you are. Peter and Paul, the highly- favoured
apostles, were of the family of the Most High; and so are you also; the weak Christian is as much a child of
God as the strong one. "This covenant stands secure, though earth's old pillars bow; the strong, the feeble,
and the weak, are one in Jesus now." All the names are in the same family register. One may have more
grace than another, but God our heavenly Father has the same tender heart towards all. One may do more
mighty works, and may bring more glory to his Father, but he whose name is the least in the kingdom of
heaven is as much the child of God as he who stands among the King's mighty men. Let this cheer and
comfort us, when we draw near to God and say, "Our Father." Yet let us not contented with weak faith, but
ask to have it increased. If it be real faith in Christ, we shall reach heaven at last, and if then you would
live to Christ's glory, and be happy in His service, seek to be filled with the spirit of adoption more and
more completely, till perfect love shall cast out fear. The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to
do this. Just so far as the Lord shall give us grace to suffer for Christ, to suffer with Christ, just so far does
He honour us. The jewels of a Christian are his afflictions. The regalia of the kings whom God hath
anointed are their troubles, their sorrows, and their grief. Let us not, therefore, shun being honoured. Let us
not turn aside from being exalted. Grief exalts us, and troubles lift us up. "If we suffer, we shall also reign
with Him." The Israelites, who had been masons and bricklayers in Egypt, were not qualified for curious
workmanship; but the Spirit who gave the apostles utterance in divers tongues, miraculously gave Bezaleel
and Aholiab the skill that was wanting. The honor that comes from God is always attended with a work to
be done; to be employed for God is high honour. Those whom God calls to any service, he will find or
make fit for it. The Lord gives different gifts to different persons; let each mind his proper work, diligently
remembering that whatever wisdom any one possesses, the Lord put it in the heart, to do his
commandments. The prophet said that He comes laden with 1000’s of love gifts for His Bride and gives
them to her just before the Wedding Supper. These gifts are not without purpose or gifts just for gifts sake.
They each and all have a duty to be filled, and many of us will find that more than one duty fills our plate.
These are talents of His Majesty and grant us what are ability cannot do, for remember it is not our abilities
we are to rely upon, but our ability to rely upon him. All these gifts are of one purpose regarding the one
high calling and make us blessed above all the nations of the world, a nation unto our own called Zion, the
kingdom of God ruling on earth from the throne room of our hearts. The earth in birth pains sore travail is
moaning and groaning to bring forth the promised son of faith, waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of
God, even the Bride, having been made known through the placing of each into the body by the 5-fold
ministry who is recognized as God in their midst, the mystery of His Will, according to His good pleasure
as He hath purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in
one all things in the Anointed, both which are in heaven and earth. This is the great and dreadful day of the
Lord, in whom we have also obtained an inheritance, predestinated to His purpose who counseled in
Himself, that we might be to the praise of His glory and assessment reflecting as the moon the sun. And in
this the eyes of our understanding are being enlightened, that we may know the hope of His calling, and
what the riches of the glory of His powerful Word inherited in the saints and divided up amongst us as that
portion of God we are allotted to manifest through our Being so that we are the Word of God made
manifest in this hour, yea, written epistles read and known of all men, for unto us is given exceeding
greatness by His power to us-ward who believe on him and they whom he hath sent so that according to the
working of His mighty power we are now the Sons of God, and the earth groans unto our manifestation.
He has quickened us together with Christ, raised us up together as his workmanship created in Christ Jesus
unto God works as co-creators and joint heirs in the Salvation of Christ, and has before pre-ordained that
we should all walk together many minds united as one mind under Christ. We are fellow citizens with the
saints and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone. And in Christ our God the whole building of His glorious Word
body is framed together and groweth unto a Holy Temple in the Lord’s name, and it is in His name we are
also built together many members manifest each a portion of Word by Grace for an habitation of God
through the Spirit via the channel of His Word dynamically coursing through our temples made all together
a temple of the Word Mechanics arrayed in light and set in the heavens to become an habitation of the God
through the Spirit, for we are candles set on a hill, and we have this special dispensation of Grace to
understand the mystery of Christ that has been declared through the ages yet veiled until now, and made
known to the sons of men who are sons of God through His Holy Apostles and Prophets to make all men
who are sons of God by the Spirit what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning God
hath hid in Himself; to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be
known by the called out ones the manifold wisdom of God, even according to the eternal purpose which he
purposed in our Lord Jesus Christ that we would be granted according to the riches of His glory
strengthened with might in the Inner Man that Christ might dwell in our hearts by revelation in our deep
roots that connect us to His Eternal Love that we might be able to comprehend with all saints the breadth,
and length, and depth, and height of His 4-dimensional Love knowing the Love of Christ which passeth
knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fulness of God’s inheritance allotted this age and turn the
page of Rhema to Logos, wherein He is able and willing if we but hearken to do the exceeding abundantly
of above all we could ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. If so, are all the willing
prisoner of the Lord and are all called a vocation of God to the effectual purpose of His One calling,
reminded always of the lowliness of our existence without God’s power upholding our desires for His will
made known in us, that in such power we do not tower pride and cast down our eyes as though we on our
own merit lifted ourselves so high, but in meekness accepting our positions as we inherit the earth and
receive a kingdom that shall never fade away, enduring with much long suffering those days wherein with
fear and trembling we worked out our salvation before God that in our due and present time we might know
His purpose clear as in a mirror face to face, that we might bear for each other in the Love wherewith we
have received of God, in which Love we set before us in everything we do so that God is ever increased,
for without Love set first in our very deep, though we give our life a sacrifice, we have not eternal which to
keep. For in Love is correction, that Love wherewith all whom the Father hast called He has chastened and
rebuked with His mouth, and that whosever can not abideth correction is a bastard child and not of the
Father, nor does He Love the Son, for the Love of God that is in the Word of God through correction and
chastisement is not known by the offended children of disobedience, but the disobedient child stands the
scourge of the fiery trials that try his heart in the fire by the Word, purified seven times and formed to be
molded through the victory of his character to manifest the attributes of the Father in Sonship form. We
cannot Love God unless we suffer for Him with Him, attempting by employing our effort to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace through harmonious relations by fellowship in the Word of our Lord.

There is One Word Body of Christ, and that is the unadulterated, spotless, not a thought added or thought
removed, Rhema-Logos, the conduit of the Holy Spirit through which God Almighty pours out His Spirit
anointing all flesh. This One Word Body of Christ is the effort of the Holy Spirit through 6000 years by the
prophets and scribes of the Lord through the ages; it is the Word of God that has been spoken and recorded
as a testimony against the nations. It is the Poet, the Reformer, and the martyr whose testimony was a life
sacrificed as a witness against the unbelieving and wicked children of that evil deed done by the serpent
inhabited by the devil. There is One Word Body of Christ, and you cannot take from or add to this great
masterpiece. It is the gospel of Christ testified in the Book of Enoch, it is written in the stars, and it is
recorded in the very ether as by the recording angels so witnessed. It is the Lamb’s Book of Life written
before the foundation of the world by God in Christ Jesus, His Eternal Purpose that was purposed in Christ;
wherein we all were placed beforehand according to the pattern of His attributes that make God the
becoming God a Father, a Savior, even our King and Lord who is our Sheppard and the Creator of His
Heavenly Kingdom wherewith He has appointed us before times to reign and rule with Him through the
invisible union a many-members to a single head, that God might be All in all manifesting of His Divine
Purpose and Eternal Grandeur. He is the High Priest Melchizedec, of whom our brother the Lord Jesus
Christ is first in the Order of the Melchizedec Priesthood, to whom God hath said, “Thou art my Son, to
day have I begotten thee as unto a light that formed from My Spirit substance, even My Spirit Theophony
that I have spoken, for in the beginning of My manifestation I spoke the Word attributing to My thoughts
regarding every attribute of My Spirit Essence I would manifest through the Omnipotence of My Power set
according to the Infinite of My Omniscience based on the Never-ending Fountain of My Love channeled
via the Well-Spring of My Spirit unto Life Begotten of the God the Father a First-Born Son. In the
beginning of My manifestation prior to substance materialization I spoke from within My Spirit Intrinsic
Thought to Word formed in Power outwards, so that which formed was of that which had no form, and that
which had no form became in the form of a Light that issued forth from substance having no form, so that
the form was with God distinctly unto its own the Word, and the form was God for it was the intrinsic
expression of the manifestation of the beginning of the creation of God, and was God in as such it was a
perfect image of what lye there invisible, waiting to be brought forth. In the beginning was not the Son of
God, in the beginning was the Word, and God dwelled in His Word that formed a light around His invisible
Spirit. And there was none to witness or testify to the glory of God, for all life being unmanifest within
God first needs be brought forth so that God might be known as He to Himself was known. The light that
formed around the Spirit of God, became the Son of God indwelling the God form with God who was his
Father; both dwelling in the Theophony of God’s Spirit. Thus could the Son say, I was in the bosom of the
Father, El-Shaddai, the breasted one, God nurturing in communion His Son who being the First Born and
Only Begotten of the Spirit in such a manner was housed indwelling the very form of God. God is the
Christ unto Jesus, for verily, verily, God is truly the Christ, and Jesus became the Christ of God, the very
Anointed of the Father when the Word was made flesh. Our Lord Christ Jesus is God the Father who is the
Holy Spirit Anointing nurturing Jesus in His Bosom unto the Christ Mind. Let this same Christ Mind that
was also in Christ Jesus, when the Son of God, being in the form of God, received the mind of the Christ.
God is the Christ, Christ Jesus is the Son who took on the form of God, who being the brightness of His
glory, and the express image of His Person. Here begins the High Priesthood of Melchizedec, even God the
Father unto His Son, who is made the First High Priest after the order of Melchizedec. Melchizedec is the
King of Righteousness, and the King of Peace, the priest of the most high, even God Himself, the possessor
of the heaven and the earth, made like unto a Son of God. The High Priest Melchizedec brought forth
bread and wine; this was to foretell of the coming Word body that God would sacrifice, broken and
bleeding, and the blood of the covenant represented through the wine. After the Order of Melchizedec
refers to the royal authority and unending duration of Christ’s High Priesthood, that he abideth a priest
continually. The fact that Melchizedec in the Alpha of Genesis administered the sacraments is proof that in
this very hour not only do we have a high priest who sits on the throne of God in power in heaven as the
High Priest after Melchizedec, and intercedes between all men and God through the blood, but the High
Priest Melchizedec Himself is here in the name of the Son as the gift of the Son in the form of the Holy
Ghost as the very King of Righteousness, the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, right now among us
bringing a Bride to perfection and setting all things under the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ. The God Christ
Jesus is on earth, and our Lord Jesus Christ waits the day when every knee shall bow, and every tongue
confess that he is Lord to the glory of the Father.

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may
offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out
of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason of such weakness and
uncomeliness he becomes a vessel unto strength and comely form in order that the Lord might be all the
more glorified unto His people to offer for sins a righteous testimony in the Lord. And no man may take
this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God a son learned in obedience by the things that he
suffered. And being made perfect, Jesus became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him
and those representatives in his stead, called of God a high priest after the order of Melchisedek, after the
order of the Son of God. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you
again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not
of strong meat. Strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have
their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall
grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the
LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his
throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. And they that are far off shall come and build
in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall
come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

For by one offering the High Priest and Captain of our Salvation perfected forever them that are sanctified.
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us unto baptism. This is the covenant that I will make with
them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write
them. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no
more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, our
high priest over the house of God. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith according to
the wonders He would manifest according to the greatness of His glory and power. Let us hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner
of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we
disbelieve willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice
for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the
adversaries. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an
unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance
belongs unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which,
after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazing stock
both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For
ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves
that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which
hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye
might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now
the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an
innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in
heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of
the new covenant. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that
spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth
only, but also heaven. And this word, yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are
shaken, as of things that are made, that those things that cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we
receiving a kingdom that cannot be moved; let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.

The LORD God said unto my Lord Jesus, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy
footstool. The LORD God shall send the rod, even the Branch of thy strength out of Zion; rule thou from
Zion in the midst of thine enemies America. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power through
the Branch; in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning you were Only Begotten of me: thou
hast the dew of thy youth in resurrection, and are my witness. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent,
“Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek, the Son of God.” My Lord Jesus who sets on the
right hand of the Majesty, has set me Lord at thy right hand on earth, and I shall strike through kings in the
day of God’s wrath in the name of the Son of God. I shall judge among the heathen and shall fill the places
with the dead bodies; I shall wound the heads over many countries. I shall drink of the brook in the way:
therefore shall I lift up the head, even Christ. Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole
heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, sought out
of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth
forever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of
compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. He hath
shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of
his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and
are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant
forever: holy and reverend is his name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good
understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever

The Spirit descended upon the apostles in fire. And the descent of this holy fire into our souls, to kindle in
them pious and devout affections toward God, and such a holy zeal as burns up the flesh and the lusts of it,
is a certain token of God's gracious acceptance of our persons and performances. Nothing goes to God, but
what comes from him. We must have grace, that holy fire, from the God of grace, else we cannot serve him
acceptably. The people were affected with this discovery of God's glory and grace. They received it with
the highest joy, triumphing in the assurance given them that they had God nigh unto them. And with the
lowest reverence, humbly adoring the majesty of that God, who vouchsafed thus to manifest himself to
them. That is a sinful fear of God, which drives us from him; a gracious fear makes us bow before him.
Those who are truly sensible of the mercy they received from God will show mercy to the poor without
grudging.

God will find a resting-place for his ark; if some thrust it from them, the hearts of others shall be inclined to
receive it. It is no new thing for God's ark to be in a private house. The assurance God has given us of
victory over our spiritual enemies should encourage us in our spiritual conflicts. David waited till God
moved; he stirred then, but not till then. He was trained up in dependence on God and his providence. God
performed his promise, and David failed not to improve his advantages. When the kingdom of the Messiah
is to be set up, the apostles, who are to beat down the devil's kingdom, must not attempt any thing till they
received the promise of the Spirit;

That fulness, from whence prophets and apostles had all their supply, still exists as of old, and we are told
to ask large supplies from it. Diligent attendance upon Elijah, particularly in his last hours, would be proper
means for Elisha to obtain much of his spirit. The comforts of departing saints, and their experiences, help
both to gild our comforts and to strengthen our resolutions. Elijah is carried to heaven in a fiery chariot.
Many questions might be asked about this, which could not be answered. Let it suffice that we are told,
what his Lord, when he came, found him doing. He was engaged in serious discourse, encouraging and
directing Elisha about the kingdom of God among men. We mistake, if we think preparation for heaven is
carried on only by contemplation and acts of devotion. The chariot and horses appeared like fire, something
very glorious, not for burning, but brightness. By the manner in which Elijah and Enoch were taken from
this world, God gave a glimpse of the eternal life brought to light by the gospel, of the glory reserved for
the bodies of the saints, and of the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. It was also a figure of
Christ's ascension. Though Elijah was gone triumphantly to heaven, yet this world could ill spare him.
Surely their hearts are hard, who feel not, when God, by taking away faithful, useful men, calls for weeping
and mourning. Elijah was to Israel, by his counsels, reproofs, and prayers, better than the strongest force of
chariot and horse, and kept off the judgments of God. Christ bequeathed to his disciples his precious
gospel, like Elijah's mantle; the token of the Divine power being exerted to overturn the empire of Satan,
and to set up the kingdom of God in the world. The same gospel remains with us, though the miraculous
powers are withdrawn, and it has Divine strength for the conversion and salvation of sinners.

Ps 96:1
O, sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his
name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among
all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the
gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him:
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the
LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come
into his courts. O, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Say among
the heathen that the LORD reigneth, the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall
judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the
fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with
righteousness, and the people with his truth. When Christ finished his work on earth, and was received into
his glory in heaven, the church began to sing a new song unto him, and to bless his name. His apostles and
evangelists showed forth his salvation among the heathen, his wonders among all people. All the earth is
here summoned to worship the Lord. We must worship him in the beauty of holiness, as God in Christ,
reconciling the world unto him self. Glorious things are said of him, both as motives to praise and matter of
praise. God has praise from his own people. They have most reason to praise him; for those who attend him
as his servants, know him best, and receive most of his favors, and it is easy, pleasant work to speak well of
their Master. God's name ought to be praised in every place, from east to west. Within this wide space the
Lord's name is to be praised; it ought to be so, though it is not. Ere long it will be, when all nations shall
come and worship before him. God is exalted above all blessing and praise. We must therefore say, with
holy admiration, “Who is like unto the Lord our God? How condescending in him to behold the things in
the earth! And what amazing condescension was it for the Son of God to come from heaven to earth, and
take our nature upon him, that he might seek and save those that were lost! How vast his love in taking
upon him the nature of man, to ransom guilty souls! God sometimes makes glorious his own wisdom and
power, when, having some great work to do, he employs those least likely, and least thought of for it by
themselves or others. The apostles were sent from fishing to be fishers of men. And this is God's constant
method in his kingdom of grace. He takes men, by nature beggars, and even traitors, to be his favorites, his
children, kings and priests unto him; and numbers them with the princes of his chosen people. He gives us
all our comforts, which are generally the more welcome when long delayed, and no longer expected. Let us
pray that those lands which are yet barren, may speedily become fruitful, and produce many converts to
join in praising the Lord.

Ps 150:1
We are here stirred up to praise God. Praise God for his sanctuary, and the privileges we enjoy by having it
among us; praise him because of his power and glory in the firmament. Those who praise the Lord in
heaven, behold displays of his power and glory that we cannot now conceive. But the greatest of all his
mighty acts is known in his earthly sanctuary. The holiness and the love of our God are more displayed in
man's redemption, than in all his other works. Let us praise our God and Saviour for it. We need not care to
know what instruments of music are mentioned. Hereby is meant that in serving God we should spare no
cost or pains. Praise God with strong faith; praise him with holy love and delight; praise him with entire
confidence in Christ; praise him with believing triumph over the powers of darkness; praise him by
universal respect to all his commands; praise him by cheerful submission to all his disposals; praise him by
rejoicing in his love, and comforting ourselves in his goodness; praise him by promoting the interests of the
kingdom of his grace; praise him by lively hope and expectation of the kingdom of his glory. Since we
must shortly breathe our last, while we have breath let us praise the Lord; then we shall breathe our last
with comfort. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. Such is the very suitable
end of a book inspired by the Spirit of God, written for the work of praise; a book which has supplied the
songs of the church for more than three thousand years; a book which is quoted more frequently than any
other by Christ and his apostles; a book which presents the loftiest ideas of God and his government, which
is fitted to every state of human life, which sets forth every state of religious experience, and which bears
simple and clear marks of its Divine origin.

Not only the setting forth Christ's kingdom in the times of the apostles, but its enlargement by gathering the
dispersed Jews into the church, is foretold. Christ is called the Branch of the Lord, being planted by his
power, and flourishing to his praise. The gospel is the fruit of the Branch of the Lord; all the graces and
comforts of the gospel spring from Christ. It is called the fruit of the earth, because it sprang up in this
world, and was suited for the present state. It will be good evidence that we are distinguished from those
merely called Israel, if we are brought to see all beauty in Christ, and holiness. As a type of this blessed
day, Jerusalem should again flourish as a branch, and be blessed with the fruits of the earth. God will keep
for himself a holy seed. When most of those that have a place and a name in Zion, and in Jerusalem, shall
be cut off by their unbelief, some shall be left. Those only that are holy shall be left, when the Son of man
shall gather out of his kingdom every thing that offends. By the judgment of God's providence, sinners
were destroyed and consumed; but by the Spirit of grace they are reformed and converted. The Spirit herein
acts as a Spirit of judgment, enlightening the mind, convincing the conscience; also as a Spirit of burning,
quickening and strengthening the affections, and making men zealously affected in a good work. An ardent
love to Christ and souls, and zeal against sin, will carry men on with resolution in endeavours to turn away
ungodliness from Jacob. Every affliction serves believers as a furnace, to purify them from dross; and the
convincing, enlightening, and powerful influences of the Holy Spirit, gradually root out their lusts, and
render them holy, as He is holy. God will protect his church, and all that belong to it. Gospel truths and
ordinances are the glory of the church. Grace in the soul is the glory of it; and those that have it are kept by
the power of God. But only those who are weary will seek rest; only those who are convinced that a storm
is approaching, will look for shelter. Affected with a deep sense of the Divine displeasure, to which we are
exposed by sin, let us at once have recourse to Jesus Christ, and thankfully accept the refuge he affords.

His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom and shall not be advanced by outward force or carnal weapons. His
gospel shall be preached to the world, and be received among the heathen. A sinful state is a state of
bondage; it is a pit, or dungeon, in which there is no water, no comfort; and we are all by nature prisoners
in this pit. Through the precious blood of Christ, many prisoners of Satan have been set at liberty from the
horrible pit in which they must otherwise have perished, without hope or comfort. While we admire Him,
let us seek that his holiness and truth may be shown in our own spirits and conduct. These promises have
accomplishment in the spiritual blessings of the gospel that we enjoy by Jesus Christ. As the deliverance of
the Jews was typical of redemption by Christ, so this invitation speaks to all the language of the gospel call.
Sinners are prisoners, but prisoners of hope; their case is sad, but not desperate; for there is hope in Israel
concerning them. Christ is a Stronghold, a strong Tower, in whom believers are safe from the fear of the
wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the assaults of spiritual enemies. To him we must turn with lively
faith; to him we must flee, and trust in his name under all trials and sufferings. It is here promised that the
Lord would deliver his people. This passage also refers to the apostles, and the preachers of the gospel in
the early ages. God was evidently with them; his words from their lips pierced the hearts and consciences
of the hearers. They were wondrously defended in persecution, and were filled with the influences of the
Holy Spirit. They were saved by the Good Shepherd as his flock, and honoured as jewels of his crown. The
gifts, graces, and consolations of the Spirit, poured forth on the day of Pentecost, Ac 2:1-47 and in
succeeding times, are represented. Sharp have been, and still will be, the conflicts of Zion's sons, but their
God will give them success. The more we are employed, and satisfied with his goodness, the more we shall
admire the beauty revealed in the Redeemer. Whatever gifts God bestows on us, we must serve him
cheerfully with them; and, when refreshed with blessings, we must say, How great is his goodness!
Mt 3:12
There is a day coming when the wheat and chaff shall be separated. The last judgment will be the
distinguishing day, when saints and sinners shall be parted forever. In heaven the saints are brought
together, and no longer scattered; they are safe, and no longer exposed; separated from corrupt neighbors
without, and corrupt affections within, and there is no chaff among them. Hell is the unquenchable fire,
which will certainly be the portion and punishment of hypocrites and unbelievers. Here life and death, good
and evil, are set before us: according as we now are in the field, we shall be then in the floor.

Christ gave power to work miracles for the confirming of their doctrine. This is not necessary now that the
kingdom of God is come. They are directed what to do in strange towns and cities. The servant of Christ is
the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it
behooves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to
conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole
counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown
that their state is dangerous; this should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their
privileges only serve to increase their condemnation.

Our Lord's promise to the apostles is, that when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, he will
make all things new, and they shall sit with him in judgement on those who will be judged according to
their doctrine. This sets forth the honour, dignity, and authority of their office and ministry. Our Lord
added, that every one who had forsaken possessions or comforts, for his sake and the gospel, would be
recompensed at last. May God give us faith to rest our hope on this his promise; then we shall be ready for
every service or sacrifice. Our Saviour, in the last verse, does away a mistake of some. The heavenly
inheritance is not given as earthly ones are, but according to God's pleasure. Let us not trust in promising
appearances or outward profession. Others may, for aught we know, become eminent in faith and holiness.

The offer of Christ and salvation to the Gentiles was not expected; it was such a surprise as it would be to
wayfaring men, to be invited to a royal wedding-feast. The design of the gospel is to gather souls to Christ;
all the children of God scattered abroad No man has the wedding-garment by nature, or can form it for
him self. The day is coming, when hypocrites will be called to account for all their presumptuous intruding
into gospel ordinances, and usurpation of gospel privileges. Take him away. Those that walk unworthy of
Christianity, forfeit all the happiness they presumptuously claimed. Our Saviour here passes out of the
parable into that which it teaches. Hypocrites go by the light of the gospel itself down to utter darkness.
Many are called to the wedding-feast, that is, to salvation, but few have the wedding-garment, the
righteousness of Christ, the sanctification of the Spirit. Then let us examine ourselves whether we are in the
faith, and seek to be approved by the King.

Mr 16:18
The commission of Christ's ministers extends to every creature throughout the world, and the declarations
of the gospel contain not only truths, encouragements, and precepts, but also most awful warnings. Observe
what power the apostles should be endued with, for confirming the doctrine they were to preach. These
were miracles to confirm the truth of the gospel, and means of spreading the gospel among nations that had
not heard it.

The 5-fold ministries are elders, called to set the church in order. It is his calling to baptize, ordain other
apostles, priests, teachers, and deacons, and to administer the emblems of the flesh and blood- the bread
and wine- and to confirm those who are baptized into the church by the Spirit laying on of hands for the
baptism of fire through the Word and the Holy Ghost according to scriptures: and to teach, expound, exhort,
baptize, and watch over the church; and to confirm the church by the preaching of the Word unto the giving
of the Holy Ghost, and to take the lead of all meetings. God has placed 70 elders in the church. The elders
are to conduct the meetings as the Holy Ghost according to the commandments and revelations of God
leads them.

The Elders are clothed with authority by the Word, perhaps politically even; they have an understanding
and revelation of the Word that is well respected among the chosen. Moses opened his commission to them
(Ex 3:16), and so shall I open my commission to the elders whom I am sent. They attended Moses on all-
important occasions; and at the giving of the law (Ex 24:1). Seventy also were selected from the whole
number to bear with Moses the burden of the people (Num 11:16-17). All down through the history of the
Jews we find mention made of the elders as exercising authority among the people. They appear as
governors (De 31:28), administering justice (19:12). They were men of extensive influence (1Sa 30:26-31).
In New Testament times they also appear taking an active part in public affairs (Mt 16:21; 21:23; 26:59).
The Jewish eldership was transferred from the old dispensation to the new. "The creation of the office of
elder is nowhere recorded in the New Testament, as in the case of deacons and apostles, because the latter
offices were created to meet new and special emergencies, while the former was transmitted from the
earliest times. In other words, the office of elder was the only permanent essential office of the church
under either dispensation." The "elders" of the New Testament church were the "pastors" (Eph 4:11),
"bishops or overseers" (Ac 20:28), "leaders" and "rulers" (Heb 13:7; 1Th 5:12) of the flock. Everywhere in
the New Testament bishop and presbyter are titles given to one and the same officer of the Christian church.
He who is called presbyter or elder on account of his age or gravity is also called bishop or overseer with
reference to the duty that lay upon him (Tit 1:5-7; Ac 20:17-28; Php 1:1).

The Apostle is a person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive
designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (Heb 3:1; Joh 20:21). It is, however, generally used as
designating the body of disciples to whom he intrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination
of his gospel, "the twelve," as they are called (Mt 10:1-5; Mr 3:14; 6:7; Lu 6:13; 9:1). Our Lord gave them
the "keys of the kingdom," and by the gift of his Spirit fitted them to be the founders and governors of his
church (Joh 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15). To them, as representing his church, he gave the commission
to "preach the gospel to every creature" (Mt 28:18-20). After his ascension he communicated to them,
according to his promise, supernatural gifts to qualify them for the discharge of their duties (Ac 2:4; 1Co
2:16,7,10,13; 2Co 5:20; 1Co 11:2). Judas Iscariot, one of "the twelve," fell by transgression, and Matthias
was substituted in his place by the will of man (Ac 1:21). Instead, by the will of God, Saul of Tarsus was
afterwards added to their number (Ac 9:3-20; 20:4; 26:15-18; 1Ti 1:12; 2:7; 2Ti 1:11).

It was characteristic of the apostles and necessary that they should have seen the Lord, and been able to
testify of him and of his resurrection from personal knowledge (Joh 15:27; Ac 1:21-22; 1Co 9:1; Ac 22:14-
15). Christ must have immediately called them to that office. (Lu 6:13; Gal 1:1). It was essential that they
should be infallibly inspired, and thus secured against all error and mistake in their public teaching,
whether by word or by writing (Joh 14:26; 16:13; 1Th 2:13). Another qualification was the power of
working miracles (Mr 16:20; Ac 2:43; 1Co 12:8-11). They and the 5-fold ministry are the only authoritative
teachers of the Christian doctrines. The office of an apostle ceases with its last holders. In 2Co 8:23 and
Php 2:25 the word "messenger" is the rendering of the same Greek word, elsewhere rendered "apostle."

The Evangelist is a "publisher of glad tidings;" a missionary preacher of the gospel (Eph 4:11). This title is
applied to Philip (Ac 21:8), who appears to have gone from city to city preaching the word (Ac 8:4,40).
They were itinerant preachers, having it as their special function to carry the gospel to places where it was
previously unknown. The writers of the four Gospels are known as the Evangelists.

Prophet - (Heb ‘nabi’, from a root meaning, "to bubble forth, as from a fountain," hence " compelled to
utter", Ps 45:1). We cannot look, however imperfect the man, upon a true prophet, without gaining
something by him. He is the living light fountain, which is good and pleasant to be near. The light which
enlightens, which has enlightened the darkness of the world; and this is not as a kindled lamp only, but
rather as a natural luminary shining by the gift of Heaven; a flowing light fountain, of native original
insight, of manhood and heroic nobleness. The Poet is a heroic figure belonging to all the ages; whom all
ages possess, whom the newest age as the oldest may produce; and will produce always when the Nature of
God pleases, when He would send a hero-soul; in no age is it other than possible that he may be shaped into
a poet. Hero, Prophet, Poet, many different names, in different times and places, do we give to those
manifest of the Great Holy Spirit, who is our Hero, be it Poet, Prophet, King, or Priest, according to the
ages we see Him manifest. The Poet could not sing the Heroic Warrior if he were not at least a Heroic
Warrior too. I fancy there is in him the Politician, the Thinker, Legislator, Philosopher; in one or the other
degree. Yet the Truth Poet is all of these. Poet and Prophet differ greatly in our loose modern notions of
them. In some old languages the titles are synonymous; “Vates” means both Prophet and Poet: and indeed
at all times, Prophet and Poet, well understood, have much kindred meaning. Fundamentally, indeed, they
are still the same; in this most important respect especially, that they have penetrated both of them into the
sacred mystery of the Universe; the open secret; open to all, seen by almost none! That Divine mystery,
which lies everywhere manifest to all Beings who would seek, ‘the Divine Idea of the World,’ that which
lies at the bottom of Appearance; of which all appearance, from the starry sky to the grass of the field, but
especially the appearance of man and his work, us but the vesture, the embodiment that renders it visible.
This Divine mystery is in all times manifest and in all places made known to some degree. In most times
and places it is greatly overlooked; and the Universe definable always in one or the other dialect, as the
realized Thought of God, is considered a trivial, inert, commonplace matter. But now, whoever may forget
this divine mystery, the Vates, whether Prophet or Poet, has penetrated into it; is a man sent hither to make
it more impressively known to us. That always is his message; he is to reveal that to us, that sacred
mystery which he more than others lives ever present with. While others forget it, he knows it; without
consent asked of him, he finds himself living in it, bound to live in it. Once more, here is no Hearsay, but a
direct Insight and Belief; this man too could not help being a sincere man! Whosoever may live in the
shows of things, it is for him a necessity of nature to live in the very fact of things. He is a man in earnest
with the Universe, though all others were but toying with it. He is a Vates, first of all in virtue of being
sincere. So far, Poet and Prophet, participators in the open secret, are one. The one we may call a revealer
of what we are to do, the other of what we are to love. But indeed, these two provinces run into one
another, and cannot be disjoined. The Prophet too has his eye on what we are to love: how else is it he shall
know what it is we are to do? The highest voice ever heard on the earth withal, “Consider the lilies of the
field; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” A
glance that, into the deepest deep of Beauty. “The lilies of the field,” dressed finer than earthly princes,
springing up there in the humble furrow field; a beautiful eye looking out on you, from the great inner sea
of beauty! At bottom, clearly enough, there is no perfect poet! A vein of poetry exists in the heart of all
men; no man is made altogether of poetry. We are all poets when we read a poem well. His neighbors will
call a man that has so much more of the poetic element developed in him as to have become noticeable,
Poet. A musical thought is one spoken by a mind that has penetrated into the inmost heart of the thing;
detected the inmost mystery of it, namely the melody that lies hidden in it; the inward harmony of
coherence which is its soul, whereby it exists, and has a right to be, here in this world. All inmost things,
we may say, are melodious; naturally utter themselves in Song. The meaning of Song goes deep, a kind of
inarticulate unfathomable speech, which leads us to the edge of the Infinite, and lets us for a moment gaze
into that. All deep things are Song. Poetry therefore, we will call musical Thought. The Poet is he who
thinks in that manner. At bottom it turns still on power of intellect; it is a man’s sincerity and depth of
vision that makes him a poet. See deep enough, and you see musically; the heart of nature being
everywhere music, if you can only reach it. The Vates Poet, with his melodious Apocalypse of Nature,
seems to hold poor rank among us, in comparison with the Vates Prophet; his function and our esteem for
his function, alike slight. His most miraculous word gains from us only recognition that he is a Poet,
beautiful verse maker, man of genius, or suchlike! It looks so; but intrinsically it is not so. Where ever you
find a sentence musically worded, of true rhythm and melody in the words, there is something good and
deep in the meaning too. For body and soul, word and idea, go strangely together here, as everywhere. It
is only when the heart of him is rapt into true passion of melody, and the very tones of him, become
musical by the greatness, depth, and music of his thoughts that we can give him right to rhyme and sing;
that we call him a poet, and listen to him as the Heroic of Speakers, whose speech is Song. Pretenders to
this are many. Precisely as we love the true song, and are charmed by it as by something divine, so shall
we hate the false song, and account it a mere wooden noise, a thing hollow, superfluous, altogether an
insincere and offensive thing. The Poet, wherein the essence and material of the work are themselves
rhythmic, by its depths and rapt passion sincere makes it musical; go deep enough, there is music
everywhere, a true inward symmetry, an architectural harmony that partakes of the character of the music.
It comes deep out of the author’s heart of hearts; and it goes deep through long generations passing into
ours. A Poet has been in hell enough, in long severe sorrow and struggle; Poet Divine is not accomplished
otherwise. Thought, true labor of any kind, highest virtue itself, is it not the daughter of pain? Born as out
of the black whirlwind; true effort, in fact, as of a captive struggling to free himself: that is Thought. In all
ways we are to become perfect through suffering. The work of a Poet is made as if it were once molten, in
the hottest furnace of his soul. It would make him lean for many years while the general whole in his
thought is considered and every compartment of it is worked out, with intense earnestness, into truth, into
clear visuality. Each word answers to the other; each word fits into place, like marble stone accurately
hewn and polished. It is the soul of the poet, the soul of the truth in that age, rendered forever rhythmically
visible there. No light task; a right intense one; but a task that is done. Intensity is the prevailing character
of the Poet genius. Through all objects he pierces as it were down into the heart of Being. Consider how
he paints words. He has great power of vision; seizes the very type of a thing; presents that and nothing
more. His words are a red-hot cone of iron glowing through the dim immensity of gloom; so vivid,
distinct, and visible at once and forever. There is an abrupt precision honed as a razor’s edge. One smiting
word; and then there is nothing more said. His silence is more eloquent than words. It is strange with what
a sharp decisive grace he snatches the true likeness of a matter: cuts into the matter as with a pen of fire.
The very movements of the Poet have something brief; swift, decisive, almost military. It is of the inmost
essence of genius this sort of painting. Find a man whose words paint you a likeness, you have found a
man worth something; mark his manner of doing it, as very characteristic of him. In the first place, he
could not have discerned the object at all, or even seen the vital type of it, unless he had sympathized with
it, had sympathy in him to bestow on objects. He must have been sincere bout it too; sincere and
sympathetic; a man without worth cannot give you the likeness of any object; he dwells in vague
outwardness, fallacy and trivial hearsay about all objects. The gifted man is he who sees the essential
point, and leaves all the rest aside as surplus: it is his faculty too, the man of business’ faculty, that he
discern the true likeness, not the superficial one, of the thing he has got to work in. No most gifted eye can
exhaust the significance of any object. There is not in the world affection equal to that of Poet. It is
tenderness, a trembling, and longing, pitying love: like the wail of Aeolean harps, soft; soft like a child’s
young heart. The intense Poet is intense in all things; he has got into the essence of all. His intellectual
insight as an ink painter and man of reason is but the result of all sorts of intensity. For rigor, earnestness,
and depth, he is not to be paralleled in the modern world; to seek his parallel we must trace our way to men
likened unto Enoch. The Poet stands atop the mountain of purification, an emblem of the noblest
conception of this age. If sin is so fatal, and hell is and must be so rigorous, awful, yet in repentance too is
man purified; repentance is the grand Christian act. That trembling of the ocean waves under the first pure
gleam of morning, dawning afar on the wandering two, is the type of an altered mood. Hope has now
dawned; never dying hope, if in company still with heavy sorrow. The obscure sojourn of demons and
reprobate is underfoot; a soft breathing of penitence mounts higher and higher, to the Throne of Mercy
itself. They toil painfully up that winding steep, bent down like corbels of a building, crushed together so
for sin of pride; yet nevertheless has come the fulness of years, passed the ages and aeons, and they have
reached the top, even heaven’s gate, and by mercy shall be admitted in. The joy too of all, when one has
prevailed; the whole mountain shakes with joy, and a psalm of praise rises, when one soul has perfected
repentance and got its sin misery left behind! I call all this a noble embodiment of a true noble thought, the
fulness of redemption begun its end. Full repentance, a thing forever memorable, forever true in the
essence of it unto all men. It is delineated in no human soul with such depth and veracity as that of the
Poets, a man sent not only to declare, but to sing it, to bring it once and for all to every creature. Very
notable with what brief simplicity he passes out of every day reality into the Invisible one, the more real.
To the Poet it is but the threshold to an infinitely higher fact of a world, that it is all visible. He believes it
and sees it and is the Poet of it in virtue of that. The work is a sublime embodiment, the sublimest of the
soul of Christianity. It expresses, as in huge worldwide architectural emblems how the Poet felt Good and
Evil to be the two polar elements of this creation, on which it all turns; that these two differ not by
preferability of one to the other, but by incompatibility absolute and infinite; that the one is excellent and
high as light and Heaven, the other black and hideous as the pit of hell. Everlasting Justice, yet with
repentance; with everlasting pity, yet final judgment; having entire truth of purpose to some become awful
facts, nature everywhere confirming them. So, from all the centuries and millennia does the Poet find a
voice, and His is the finishing of it. The craftsman there at the end of the ages, the wordsmith with that
metal of his, with these tools, with these cunning methods, how little of all he does is properly his work!
All past inventive men work there with him; as indeed with all of us in all things. The Poet is the
spokesman of the ages, the messenger of the gods, and to the gods; the Thought they live by stands in the
everlasting music of His Song. The sublime ideas of his, terrible and beautiful, are the fruit of the Christian
meditation of all good men who had gone before him; precious they, but also is not he precious? Much,
had he not spoken, would have been dumb; not dead, yet living voiceless. On the whole, is it not an
utterance, this mystic song, at once one of the greatest human souls, and of the highest thing that Earth has
hitherto realized for itself? The noblest idea made real hitherto among men, and emblemed forth abidingly,
by one of the noblest men – “All power, and honor, and glory be unto God this story told, It’s Author and
Producer, the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The Poet speaks to the noble, the pure and great, in all times and places.
He burns as a pure star, fixed there in the firmament, at which the great and high of all ages kindle
themselves: he is the possession of all the chosen of the world for uncounted time. Let us honor the great
empire of silence once more! The boundless treasure that we do not jingle in our pockets, or count up and
present before men! In these loud times, it would be perhaps the most useful thing to do…

To the Chief Musician of my Song, the Lily of the Valley, a Song of loves. My heart is producing a literary
work of a good matter: I speak of the things that have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a
ready writer. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath
blessed thee forever. Gird thy pen upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in
thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall
teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall
under thee. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou
lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of
gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces,
whereby they have made thee glad. Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right
hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget
also thine own people, and thy father's house; so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord;
and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people
shall intreat thy favour. The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall
be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be
brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. I will make thy
name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

This Hebrew word is the first and the most generally used for a prophet. In the time of Samuel another
word, ro'eh, "seer", began to be used (1Sa 9:9). It occurs seven times in reference to Samuel. Afterwards
another word, hozeh, "seer" (2Sa 24:11), was employed. In 1Ch 29:29 all these three words are used:
"Samuel the seer (ro'eh), Nathan the prophet (nabi'), Gad the seer" (hozeh). In Jos 13:22 Balaam is called
(Heb) a kosem "diviner," a word used only of a false prophet. The "prophet" proclaimed the message given
to him, as the "seer" beheld the vision of God. (See Num 12:6,8.) Thus a prophet was a spokesman for God;
he spake in God's name and by his authority (Ex 7:1). He is the mouth by which God speaks to men (Jer
1:9; Isa 51:16), and hence what the prophet says is not of man but of God (2Pe 1:20-21; comp. Heb 3:7; Ac
4:25; 28:25). Prophets were the immediate organs of God for the communication of his mind and will to
men (De 18:18-19). The whole Word of God may in this general sense be spoken of as prophetic, inasmuch
as it was written by men who received the revelation they communicated from God, no matter what its
nature might be. The foretelling of future events was not a necessary but only an incidental part of the
prophetic office. The great task assigned to the prophets whom God raised up among the people was "to
correct moral and religious abuses, to proclaim the great moral and religious truths which are connected
with the character of God, and which lie at the foundation of his government." Any one being a spokesman
for God to man might thus be called a prophet. Thus Enoch, Abraham, and the patriarchs, as bearers of
God's message (Gen 20:7; Ex 7:1; Ps 105:15), as also Moses (De 18:15; 34:10; Ho 12:13), are ranked
among the prophets. The seventy elders of Israel (Num 11:16-29), "when the spirit rested upon them,
prophesied;" Asaph and Jeduthun "prophesied with a harp" (1Ch 25:3). Miriam and Deborah were
prophetesses (Ex 15:20; Jg 4:4). The title thus has a general application to all who have messages from God
to men.

In New Testament times the prophetical office was continued. Our Lord is frequently spoken of as a
prophet (Lu 13:33; 24:19). He was and is the great Prophet of the Church. There was also in the Church a
distinct order of prophets (1Co 12:28; Eph 2:20; 3:5), who made new revelations from God. They differed
from the "teacher," whose office it was to impart truths already revealed.

The Bishop is an overseer. In apostolic times, it is quite manifest that there was no difference as to order
between bishops and elders or presbyters (Ac 20:17-28; 1Pe 5:1-2; Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:1-16). The term bishop is
never once used to denote a different office from that of elder or presbyter. These different names are
simply titles of the same office, "bishop" designating the function, namely, that of oversight, and
"presbyter" the dignity appertaining to the office. Christ is figuratively called "the bishop [episcopos] of
souls" (1Pe 2:25).