12:1 And thus we can behold how false, and also the
unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea,
we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness
doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him. |
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12:2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he
doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their
fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in
silver, and in all manner of precious things of every
kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them
out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts
of their enemies that they should not declare wars
against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the
welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the
time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the
Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy
One--yea, and this because of their ease, and their
exceedingly great prosperity. |
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12:3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth
chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he
doth visit them with death and with terror, and with
famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not
remember him. |
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12:4 O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and
devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to
do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to
hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their
hearts upon the vain things of the world! |
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12:5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea,
how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is
iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord
their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how
slow to walk in wisdom's paths! |
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12:6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their
God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over
them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy
towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and
they will not that he should be their guide. |
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12:7 O how great is the nothingness of the children
of men; yea, even they are less than the dust of the
earth. |
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12:8 For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither
and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of
our great and everlasting God. |
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12:9 Yea, behold at his voice do the hills and the
mountains tremble and quake. |
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12:10 And by the power of his voice they are broken
up, and become smooth, yea, even like unto a valley. |
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12:11 Yea, by the power of his voice doth the whole
earth shake; |
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12:12 Yea, by the power of his voice, do the
foundations rock, even to the very center. |
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12:13 Yea, and if he say unto the earth--Move--it is
moved. |
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12:14 Yea, if he say unto the earth--Thou shalt go
back, that it lengthen out the day for many hours--it is
done; |
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12:15 And thus, according to his word the earth goeth
back, and it appeareth unto man that the sun standeth
still; yea, and behold, this is so; for surely it is the
earth that moveth and not the sun. |
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12:16 And behold, also, if he say unto the waters of
the great deep--Be thou dried up--it is done. |
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12:17 Behold, if he say unto this mountain--Be thou
raised up, and come over and fall upon that city, that it
be buried up--behold it is done. |
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12:18 And behold, if a man hide up a treasure in the
earth, and the Lord shall say--Let it be accursed,
because of the iniquity of him who hath hid it
up--behold, it shall be accursed. |
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12:19 And if the Lord shall say--Be thou accursed,
that no man shall find thee from this time henceforth and
forever--behold, no man getteth it henceforth and
forever. |
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12:20 And behold, if the Lord shall say unto a
man--Because of thine iniquities, thou shalt be accursed
forever--it shall be done. |
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12:21 And if the Lord shall say--Because of thine
iniquities thou shalt be cut off from my presence--he
will cause that it shall be so. |
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12:22 And wo unto him to whom he shall say this, for
it shall be unto him that will do iniquity, and he cannot
be saved; therefore, for this cause, that men might be
saved, hath repentance been declared. |
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12:23 Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and
hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these
are they that shall be saved. |
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12:24 And may God grant, in his great fulness, that
men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that
they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to
their works. |
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12:25 And I would that all men might be saved. But we
read that in the great and last day there are some who
shall be cast out, yea, who shall be cast off from the
presence of the Lord; |
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12:26 Yea, who shall be consigned to a state of
endless misery, fulfilling the words which say: They that
have done good shall have everlasting life; and they that
have done evil shall have everlasting damnation. And thus
it is. Amen. |
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