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

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: Key to the Science of Theology by Parley P. Pratt
• 2: With their progressive improvements in speed
• 3: Theology its definition historical illustrations
• 4: Thus introducing the art of shipbuilding
• 5: And stupendous wisdom and display in execution
• 6: By this science Moses performed his wonders in Egypt
• 7: By this same power his Apostles
• 8: Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled
• 9: Returning to the Gentile Church
• 10: Be restored to either Jew or Gentile
• 11: Who wrote and prophesied in the western hemisphere
• 12: Took away the keys of Apostleship and of the Gospel
• 13: Terrible wars and bloodshed ensued
• 14: A God who is composed of nonentity
• 15: Their spiritual vagaries or immateriality
• 16: Clothed with a mortal tabernacle
• 17: Than there is in the oneness of Enoch and Elijah
• 18: Its component parts may be analyzed
• 19: It is the attributes of the eternal power and Godhead
• 20: Nonentity is the negative of all existence
• 21: Some of the elements are tangible
• 22: Or mingled into one vast chaos
• 23: And by the laws of procreation
• 24: In his mortal tabernacle he remembers not the scenes
• 25: Immaterial vagaries have no foundation in truth
• 26: His rudimental body must therefore pass away
• 27: Incorruptible and eternal state
• 28: Such an eternal and exceeding weight of glory
• 29: Abraham obtained this Priesthood
• 30: Such embassadors will be the final judges of the persons
• 31: To hold the keys of such Priesthood
• 32: Holy shrines and temples of Zion and Jerusalem
• 33: And government of a renovated world
• 34: And faith in the crucified and risen Messiah
• 35: They held the Urim and Thummim
• 36: And several quorums of seventy
• 37: This stratagem succeeded Nauvoo
• 38: Being met by the entire populace
• 39: Keys of initiation in practical theology
• 40: Suspend the breath in the watery womb
• 41: It is imparted by the contact of two bodies
• 42: Kindred feelings and affections of our nature
• 43: That a miracle had been performed
• 44: Ministered by a legal Priesthood
• 45: And this divine fluid went forth and executed the mandate
• 46: It is that spirit of priestcraft and kingcraft
• 47: To ordain men to the Apostleship
• 48: Will be surrounded with a halo of resplendent glory
• 49: And the keys and gifts of the Holy Apostleship
• 50: Sweet heavenly relic of eternal things
• 51: Their kindred spirits have long since departed
• 52: The outward tabernacle is said to be dead
• 53: The one is peopled by temporal tabernacles
• 54: During his sojourn in the spirit world
• 55: But in the resurrection which now approaches
• 56: Will also be greatly extended and cultivated
• 57: Typified by the stars of the firmament
• 58: Who rebelled against the only begotten Son
• 59: Except those sons of perdition
• 60: These are they who are of the terrestrial
• 61: We saw the glory of the telestial
• 62: He has at his birth less power of locomotion
• 63: Improving in his new mode of locomotion
• 64: This immense velocity of locomotion
• 65: Occupying the very confines of infinitude
• 66: The boundless ocean of knowledge
• 67: Who held the keys of eternal priesthood
• 68: And all unlawful intercourse was strictly prohibited
• 69: And inclinations engendered by parentage
• 70: Fornication and adultery with all their debasing
• 71: Without these eternal ordinances