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To him that overcomes, "saith the Spirit," to him will I give to eat from the Wood of the Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of the Deity." "Whatsoever," says John, "is begotten of the Deity overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world -- our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that

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believeth that Jesus is the Son of the Deity" (1 John 5:5). No other class of persons can gain this victory but such; nevertheless, there were many who professed to believe that "Jesus is the Son of God," who did not overcome the beguiling influence of the world, "which is not of the Father;" but made up of "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). The Nikolaitanes professed to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, in a sense of their own; but their "faith" did not incite them to a contest with the world, nor strengthen them in conflict for its subjugation. Many, however, did overcome the world. The apostles overcame it, and all who adhered to their teaching. Their conquest was evinced by their "denying themselves of all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously, and godly, !greek! in the present course of things; looking for that blessed hope, even the appearance of the glory of our great Deity and Saviour, Jesus Anointed; who gave himself for us, that he might ransom us from all lawlessness, and purify for himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Tit. 2:12-14). They set their mind upon the things which are higher than the things on earth; and no efforts the world could bring to bear against them, could turn them aside from the hope of the calling. They knew in whom they believed; and that "their life was hid with the Anointed in the Deity; and that when the Anointed One, their life, should be manifested, then they also would appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:2-4).

How unlike modern professors of faith in the Divine Sonship of Jesus were these! Instead of such modern professors overcoming the world by faith, the world has overcome them in subjecting them to its lusts. What are called "the churches" are made up of devotees to "the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" from the martext in the pulpit to the sexton at the door. "The Church" has become "World;" and between the two, consequently, there is peace and amity. "Love not the world, neither the things in the world," says John; "for if any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15): for "the friendship of the world is enmity against the Deity; whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4). From these premises it is clear, that the clergy and their "churches" of all their "Names and Denominations," are "the enemies of God." They neither believe his promises, nor obey his will. They are all "miserable sinners" self-confessed; and while they glory in the honor mutually bestowed, they are regardless of the honor that comes "from God only." Therefore they do not, and cannot, believe (John 5:44). Hence, none of the promises of the apocalypse are for them. Their portion is in the

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terrible threatenings of the book; whose judgments are for the destruction of the Kingdom of the Clergy, and the emancipation of christendom" from their superstitions and misrule.