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