Key to the Science of Theology.

by Parley P. Pratt.

PREFACE.

The present is an age of progress, of change, of rapid advance, and of wonderful revolutions.

The very foundations of society--social, political, commercial, moral and religious, seem to be shaken as with a mighty earthquake, from centre to circ.u.mference. All things tremble; creation groans; the world is in travail, and pains to be delivered.

A new era has dawned upon our planet, and is advancing with accelerated force--with giant strides.

The rail-roads and the steam-boats, with their progressive improvements in speed, safety and convenience, are extending and multiplying the means of travel, of trade, of a.s.sociation, and intercommunication between countries whose inhabitants have been comparatively unknown to, or estranged from, each other.

But, as if even these means were too slow for the G.o.d-like aspirations, the mighty throes of human thought, and its struggles for light and expansion, man seizes the lightning, tames and subdues it, and makes it the bearer of his thoughts and despatches. While these things are in progress by one portion of mankind, another learns to seize and control a sunbeam, in a manner subservient to the progress of the fine arts: and by which means a man performs in a minute, the work which a short time since would have employed the most active years of a lifetime.

While every science, every art is being developed; while the mind is awakened to new thought; while the windows of heaven are opened, as it were, and the profound depths of human intellect are stirred--moved from the foundation on all other subjects, religious knowledge seems at a stand still.

The _creeds_ of the Fathers seem to have been cast in the mould of other ages, to be adapted to a more narrow sphere of intellectual development, and to be composed of material too much resembling cast iron; or, at least, not sufficiently elastic to expand with the expansion of mind, to grow with the growth, and advance with the progressive principles of the age.

For these reasons, perhaps more than any other, the master spirits of the age are breaking loose from the old moorings, and withdrawing from established and venerated systems, by which means society is distracted, divided, broken up, thrown, as it were, into a chaos of confused, disorganized individualization, without a standard or rallying point, without a nucleus by which to concentrate or re-organise this chaotic ma.s.s, these atoms of thought.

One thing is certain--according to ancient prophecy, and agreeable to the general expectation of this and other ages, the day approaches which will flood the earth with the pure principles of religious knowledge; a day when none will have to teach his neighbour, saying, Know ye the Lord; for all persons shall know Him, from the least to the greatest.

It should be a matter of serious thought and investigation--without respect to party, sect, or creed, whether there should not, in the very nature of present circ.u.mstances, and future Millennial hopes, be an entire remodelling, or re-organization of religious society, upon the broad basis of revealed knowledge, tangible fact, and philosophical, scientific and spiritual Truth--a universal "_standard_," of immutable Truth, instead of numberless systems founded on uncertainty, opinion, mere human impression, or conjecture.

Can anything short of such a standard unite society, enlighten the world, establish real peace, brotherhood and fellowship, and put a final end to all religious ignorance, superst.i.tion, jargon, or discord? Is not a difference of opinion, or a disagreement on any given subject, a proof positive of existing ignorance, or want of light or information, on the part of the parties disagreeing? If so, the present age is certainly in the dark, or, in a great measure, ignorant on religious subjects. A knowledge of the Truth can alone bring the desired union, and bid discord cease. If the Scriptures be true, it is not religious _opinion_ which will cover the earth, and universally pervade every bosom, but it is, a KNOWLEDGE, "The knowledge of G.o.d." "_G.o.d is Truth_." To _know_ Him, is to know the Truth.

The present Volume aims to embody, in a concise and somewhat original manner and style, a general view of the Science of Theology, as gathered from revelation, history, prophecy, reason and a.n.a.logy.

If the Work proves an introductory key to some of the first principles of the divine science of which it treats; if it serves to open the eyes of any of his fellowmen, on the facts of the past, the present, and the future; if it leads to investigation and inquiry, and calls public attention to the greater and more particular truths which have been, or are about to be, revealed as a standard by which to unite the people of all nations and of all religions upon the rock, the sure foundation of divine, eternal, uncreated, infinite and exhaustless Truth, it will have accomplished the end aimed at by

THE AUTHOR.

Key to Theology.

CHAPTER I.

THEOLOGY--ITS DEFINITION--HISTORICAL ILl.u.s.tRATIONS.

Eternal Science! who would fathom thee Must launch his bark upon a sh.o.r.eless sea.

Thy knowledge yet shall overwhelm the earth, Thy truth to immortality to give birth; Thy dawn shall kindle to eternal day, And man, immortal, still shall own thy sway.

First. THEOLOGY is the science of communication, or of correspondence, between G.o.d, angels, spirits, and men, by means of visions, dreams, interpretations, conversations, inspirations, or the spirit of prophecy and revelation.

Second. It is the science by which worlds are organized, sustained, and directed, and the elements controlled.

Third. It is the science of knowledge, and the key and power thereof, by which the heavens are opened, and lawful access is obtained to the treasures of wisdom and intelligence--inexhaustible, infinite, embracing the past, the present, and the future.

Fourth. It is the science of life--endless and eternal, by which the living are changed or translated, and the dead raised.

Fifth. It is the science of _faith_, reformation, and remission of sins, whereby a fallen race of mortals may be justified, cleansed, and restored to the communion and fellowship of that Holy Spirit which is the light of the world, and of every intelligence therein.

Sixth. It is the science of spiritual gifts, by which the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the sick are healed, and demons are expelled from the human system.

Seventh. It is the science of all other sciences and useful arts, being in fact the very fountain from which they emanate. It includes philosophy, astronomy, history, mathematics, geography, languages, the science of letters; and blends the knowledge of all matters of fact, in every branch of art, or of research. It includes, also, all the scientific discoveries and inventions--agriculture, the mechanical arts, architecture, shipbuilding, the properties and applications of the mariner's compa.s.s, navigation, and music. All that is useful, great, and good; all that is calculated to sustain, comfort, instruct, edify, purify, refine, or exalt intelligences; originated by this science, and this science alone, all other sciences being but branches growing out of _this--root_.

Some of the facts stated in the foregoing, are beautifully ill.u.s.trated in Theological history, of which the following is an imperfect summary--

G.o.d spake, and the worlds were framed by His word.

He spake, darkness dispersed, and light prevailed.

He commanded, and the elements--water and earth, separated, and a.s.sumed their proper bounds.

He commanded, and the earth brought forth vegetable and animal life in countless variety.

He commanded, and man, male and female, took upon them a tabernacle of flesh, and prepared to multiply and perpetuate their species in the new creation.

"The Lord G.o.d planted a garden," and thus introduced agriculture.

"He made coats of skins," hence the tailor's art.

The Lord G.o.d commanded and gave pattern for Noah's Ark, thus introducing the art of shipbuilding.

He revealed the patterns for the Tabernacle in the wilderness, with all its arrangements and furniture; and afterwards developed the entire plan and all the designs of that most stupendous of all works of art--the great Temple of Solomon, with all its furniture; thus developing and improving the art of architecture.

The Lord G.o.d wrote with His own finger on the "tables of stone," on Mount Sinai; thus showing that the science of letters was cultivated and used by the highest Intelligence of the eternal heavens.

The Lord G.o.d has revealed by Ezekiel the Prophet, a plan for the survey and division of Palestine to the Twelve Tribes of Israel, on their return to the land of their fathers; also for laying out the new city of Jerusalem, with its squares, blocks, public grounds, and suburbs, and its temple.

Thus Theology includes the surveyor's art, and the planning of cities, as well as temples, and shows that these arts are cultivated in heaven, and that the very highest Intelligence of the Heaven of heavens, stoops, or condescends, to grace these arts by His own particular attention and example.

In the Revelation of John the Apostle, on the Isle of Patmos, we have a specimen, a masterpiece, a climax of all that is great and grand in design, and splendid and glorious in execution, in cities, thrones, palaces, streets, pavements, outgrounds, gates, walks, squares, fountains, rivulets, gardens, fruits, groves, specimens of dress, poetry, song, music, marriage, bridal dress, feasting, books, literature, public worship, prophesying, prayer, and praise, as existing in and around the palaces of the New Jerusalem, the capital of heaven, the seat of government of the Eternal King.

The very gates of the city are numbered and named, together with the particular names of the precious stones forming the foundations thereof; the gold which composed the pavement of the streets--all are portrayed in the description.

And what is still more marvellous, all this surpa.s.sing grandeur of design, and stupendous wisdom and display in execution, were explored, comprehended, and described by a poor, illiterate fisherman, by the aid of the science and arts of Theology.

Having reviewed some of the works of the great Head--the President or First Teacher in the school of Theology, we will still continue the historic ill.u.s.trations of this wonderful science, as developed and exemplified by the most eminent students and professors of the same.

By this science Adam obtained from his Father, the promise of the eternal dominion over the planet on which he was placed.