Project Gutenberg's Key to the Science of Theology, by Parley P. Pratt

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Title: Key to the Science of Theology

Author: Parley P. Pratt

Release Date: March 3, 2011 [EBook #35470]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KEY TO THE SCIENCE OF THEOLOGY ***

Produced by the Mormon Texts Project, http://bencrowder.net/books/mtp. Volunteers: Benjamin Bytheway, Hilton Campbell, Ben Crowder, Meridith Crowder, Cameron Dixon, Tod Robbins, David Van Leeuwen.

Frontispiece.

  Fly—fly—these thoughts on the lightning car,
  With the speed of light to the realms afar!
  Mount—mount the car with the horse of fire;
  Outstrip the wind, he will never tire,
  Let the wild bird scream as he lags behind,
  And the hurricane a champion find.
  Search the darkest spot where mortals dwell:
  With a voice of thunder the tidings tell,
  Proclaim the dawn of a brighter day,
  When the King of kings shall his sceptre sway.
  Bid pain, and anguish, and sorrow cease,
  And open the way for the Prince of Peace.
  He will conquer death, bid mourning flee,
  And give to the nations a Jubilee.

KEY TO THE SCIENCE OF THEOLOGY:

DESIGNED AS

An Introduction

TO THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHY; RELIGION; LAW AND GOVERNMENT; AS DELIVERED BY THE ANCIENTS, AND AS RESTORED IN THIS AGE, FOR THE FINAL DEVELOPMENT OF UNIVERSAL PEACE, TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE.

BY PARLEY P. PRATT.

    O Truth divine! what treasures unrevealed,
    In thine exhaustless fountains are concealed!
    Words multiplied; how powerless to tell,
    The infinitude with which our bosoms swell.

Liverpool:
F. D. RICHARDS, 15, WILTON STREET.

London:
L.D SAINTS' BOOK DEPOT, 35, JEWIN ST., CITY,
AND ALL BOOKSELLERS.

1855.

ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL.

J. Sadler, Printer, 1, Moorfields, Liverpool.

CONTENTS.

Preface

CHAPTER I.

Theology—its definition—historical illustrations

CHAPTER II.

Decline and loss of this science among the Jews

CHAPTER III.

Progress, decline and final loss of the science of Theology among the Gentiles—foreshadowings of its restoration for the ushering in of the Millennium

CHAPTER IV.

  Rise, progress, decline and loss of the science of Theology on the
  Western Hemisphere, as brought to light by the late discovery of
  Ancient American Records

CHAPTER V.

Keys of the mysteries of the Godhead

CHAPTER VI.

Origin of the Universe

CHAPTER VII.

Destiny of the Universe

CHAPTER VIII.

Key of Knowledge, Power and Government

CHAPTER IX.

Revival, or restoration of the science of Theology, in the present age

CHAPTER X.

Keys of initiation in practical Theology

CHAPTER XI.

Philosophy of Miracles

CHAPTER XII.

Angels and Spirits

CHAPTER XIII.

Dreams

CHAPTER XIV.

The world of Spirits

CHAPTER XV.

Resurrection, its times and degrees—first, second and third heavens; or, the Telestial, Terrestrial and Celestial kingdoms

CHAPTER XVI.

Further remarks on man's physical and intellectual progress—Philosophy of will, as originating, directing and controlling all voluntary animal motion—astounding facts, in relation to the speed, or velocity of motion, as attainable by physical man—intercommunication of the inhabitants of different and distant planets

CHAPTER XVII.

Laws of marriage and procreation

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 circumference. 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 association, 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 God-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 mass, these atoms of thought.

One thing is certain—according