Peacemaker continued 5
Hence it is termed in scripture the government of the beast. But according to the law of Christ there is but one supreme governor only; who is bound by Christ to govern according to law; and who has power thereby, if his subjects rebel to banish them from his dominions, and at the same time absolve them from their allegiance.

And then to supply his government with other subjects, that it may be a house of order and peace. The former is a kind of mongrel imitation of the latter; that amounts to a solemn absurdity and confusion. It establishes a positive ground of contention unlawfully between the parties; (as among the beasts, ) to determine which shall be master.

As two oxen will not work peaceably together in the yoke until this point is settled: so in the marriage yoke, there is no peace, uinti1 this matter is determined; which often remains a continual jar, and confusion through life; begetting coldness and contempt for each other, and sowing seeds of ruin in the family. Because the strong arm of the law is the only thing that can peaceably settle this matter. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Isaiah 24: 5

That is the ordinance and covenant of marriage; spoken of in the singular number and definite manner: because there is no other everlasting ordinance that man ever had the power to change. The everlasting covenant of the gospel found first in Genesis 3: 15 is ordered in all things and sure.

It is the covenant of life beyond the grave. That found in the next verse is the ordinance that regulates the introduction of man into this life, and provides for his childhood. This we have changed, on which account sorrow and affliction prevails on the earth. All the laws of our country, and decisions of courts upon this subject, have a direct tendency to establish the weaker vessel as the lead, and head of the family. Many men of the best talents that this generation affords, remain bachelors, or are totally ruined; and in their course are the ruin of many females; for the better the intellect the less willing, is he to be a slave: and especially under the tyranny of an unnatural yoke of bondage.

But the law of God settles this matter at once, and declares that the head of the woman is the man, and the head of the man, is Christ. And fixes the governing power accordingly.

In ninety-nine instances out of an hundred no doubt, where the woman is naturally of a mild and submissive make, families live in peace. And where it is otherwise it is reason that the law should enforce peace; so great and important object should be effected. If the law of God was established, and faithfully executed in this is the law in this important matter, it is manifest that peace in all families of the nation would be the inevitable result: and the marriage state would become a paradise. And this would be the greatest blessing in its effects and consequences ever yet conferred upon any people.

And as we have already shown the law of Christ, who is the proper head of man, has power effectually to correct any disposition in the present wicked generation of men, to act the tyrant. The practice of courts and legislative bodies in granting bills of divorcement, is an assumption of power and tyranny in its nature; not authorized by the scriptures, the only true authority upon this subject: and in imitation of the Pope of Rome, who formajly assumed all power, and from whom this wicked and unlawful assumption of power has manifestly been derived.

And it was first effected, when the beast made war with the saints and overcame them; and power was given him over all nations.   Revelation 13: 7

Then did the dreadful divorcement take place, called the apostacy,  in consequence of which we have gone astray, and run into disorder and confusion, wretchedness, ignorance, misery, bloodshed, wars, and cruelties: which have prevailed even among Christians ever since.

And we have lived in continual fornication and adultery, in every  sense of those words. Hence the prophets and apostles, speaking by the spirit, and when referring prophetically to these days; continually use such language.

No doubt many persons in reading the prophets have passed over this kind of language lightly; considering it indelicate in them; and supposing the reason why they used such language so much, was because of the unpolished age in which they lived: and in fact, have thought it strange that they could not find better figures to express their ideas, supposing it all to be fugurative.

But they spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and we now discover my beloved brethren and sisters, that the eyes of those holy men of old were upon us, upon the Christian nations since the apostacy; and upon the latter days: and they have foretold in the only language that could fortell our real situation.

Hence old Rome is styled correctly Mystery Babylon, the mother of harlots, and the abominations of the earth. And she has made all nations drink of the wine, of the wrath of her fornication. And hence the confused state of our minds, as inebriated with wine. And this wine is the poison of the dragon, and the cruel venom of the asp, see Deuteronomy 32: 33

Sin is the transgression of the law. But we transgress the law of God,  by law. This is a national abomination, and from this great evil, by its very nature, a nation must be recovered and born at once; (if recovered at all) as the Prophet Isaiah more than two thousand years ago, hath foretold.

Isaiah 66: 7-8. Before she travailed, (that is before Zion travailed) she brought forth: before her pain came she was delivered of a man child (even the author of this book). Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such a thing? shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her children. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her: that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.

For behold, I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple; even the messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in: Behold, he shall come saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiners fire, and like fuller's soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver; that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:1-3

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near unto you in judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers. and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and turn aside the stranger from his right; and hear not me saith the Lord of Hosts.

Again, there is another law of God respecting sexual intercourse worthy of our respectful attention,

Leviticus 10: 20 If a man lie carnally with a bond woman married or betrothed, which would be adultery and punishable with death to both parties, if she was free. But yet, because she is not free, but a bond woman; she only shall be scourged, and the man must make a sin offering, and he is forgiven.

Thus does God in his law not only recognize the right of holding our fellow creatures as property; and in bondage but frames his laws in all cases agreeably thereto. And what we would particularly notice in this matter, lowering down the penalty from death, to a trifling sin offering: while the woman, not the man suffers corporeal punishment, but certainly not severe.

For although the law does command scourging in some cases as the only proper penalty or corrective, yet in no case more than forty stripes. How certain is it that God has never made all men equal, neither has he intended to make them equal in this world, nor in that which is to come. But he will reward every man according to his works. O ye miserable fanatics of New England, who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Teaching an endless torment of some of your fellow men; while you strain at the idea of negro slaves not being made equal with the chosen people of God.

You must be rebuked into obedience to the law of God, or you yourselves be made slaves everlastingly. Abolitionists like other fanatics, pretend to quote scripture in support of their unlawful doctrine.   In noticing the absurdities of this generation, we have in no instance been struck with more profound astonishment, than when we hear abolitionists quote the following in support of their creed. Therefore whatsoever you would that men should do unto you, do ye even the same to them also.
Matthew 7: 2

Thus they reason. If I was a slave, I should wish my master to set me free. Therefore it is my duty to set my servant free: for whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them. But the whole text reads thus: Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

Hence Christ teaches us that we are to understand this saying agreeable to the law and the prophets, not in direct opposition there-to. A few examples according to the manner in which abolitionists inculcate this saying of our Lord, will shew their absurdity.

If a father desire in his heart, that his children should obey him, and observe his instructions; then he must obey them and observe their instructions, for whatsoever you would that others should do unto you, do ye even the same to them also. Again, if a preceptor desire his pupils to obey his rules and authority; the preceptor must obey the rules and authority of his scholars: for whatsoever you would desire others to do unto you, do ye the same to them also. Again, if a slave or servant, would that his master should set him free, his price or value being five hundred dollars: then the slave must pay his master five hundred dollars, and remain his slave still, for whatsoever you would that others should do unto you; do ye the same to them also.

Again, if a man desire a woman to commit lewdness with him; then he must commit lewdness with her; for whatsoever ye would desire others to do unto you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets!   

But thou fool, dost thou not know that Jesus Christ never gave any instructions, contrary to the law of God, and the prophets, and that in this particular instance he hath referred you to the law as an infallible guide to the understanding of his precepts, and that no person has any right to desire any thing of another, contrary to the law, and the order thereby established in society: for it is written thou shalt not covet.

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                     Every word you are reading is Joseph Smith's written in 1842