Chapter 35
God said: Whoever lives with Jehovih is free from Jehovih. These need no man’s government; for they practice righteousness, peace, love, industry and wisdom, with due regard to one another.
Such is the Father’s kingdom on earth. In which, there shall be no laws made by man; neither shall there be leaders nor rulers.
The progress of man is toward this; the progress of the governments of man should shape toward such a consummation.
The time was, when laws were required for all things, even to the manner of a man coming in and going out of a house; and to every occupation that man followed; with licenses and taxes regulating them; a time of apprenticeship to a barber, a weaver, lawyer, preacher, physician, smith, and to all other trades and occupations, with examinations and passports (diplomas, licenses) to practice within the king’s dominions; with rates for fees; and rights and privileges.
But these laws and governments were for the past eras; they were righteous in the first place, for they shaped man’s judgment toward perfecting himself.
But, behold, a new time is in the world; as a result of the acquisition of knowledge, a new liberty has been born into the world. And it cries out on every side: Throw open the doors to all trades and occupations; behold, the multitude are sufficiently wise to judge for themselves as to whom they shall patronize.
Judgment is rendered against the laws and governments of man in all cases where they prevent the liberty and choice of man as to his vocation and knowledge.
It is not sufficient for you to say: Behold, the public will be taken advantage of by ignorant pretenders. You have no right to say what the public will suffer, and thus base a law on prospective damage.
When the public have suffered, and when they, themselves, demand protection by such laws, then such laws shall be made. To make such laws beforehand, is to sin against Jehovih.
It was said of old: You shall keep the Sabbath day holy. And it was defined what a man should not do on that day.
Judgment is rendered against that law; nevertheless, I do not put aside the practice.
But the time has now come when man shall himself judge as to whether he will or will not keep any day sacred.
Moreover, from this time forward, man shall not be held accountable as to whether he keeps, or does not keep, any day as a sacred day. Yet this accountability shall be upon all men: whether they fulfill in wisdom and righteousness to the utmost of their capacities.
There was a law of circumcision; but I render judgment against that law also, for it has fulfilled its time. This law, I put aside in practice. But I give permission to the adult to have himself circumcised, according to his own judgment.
Judgment is also rendered against infant baptism; and I put aside this law also, and I make it an abomination before Jehovih.
Nevertheless, when a child has reached fourteen years of age, and it chooses of its own accord to be sprinkled with water, to conform to the rites and ceremonies, then that child shall be thus baptized in the name of Jehovih, but not in the name of God, nor any Lord, Savior or angel.
This is wisdom, O man: To have no law or government between man and wife.
This is ignorance: To have a law between man and wife.
Yet, because there are bad men and bad women, who do marry, it has been found necessary to have a law between man and wife, regarding their duties.
But consider how wrong it is to have a law between a good man and good wife, regarding their duties. It is better for them to be thrown upon their own love and judgment.
I gave governments and laws to all peoples in the following manner: To the bad and evil- minded, rigid laws, with many details; but to the wise and good, I come now as an emancipator, saying: Go, and without laws and government, fulfill your destinies according to your own judgment, so that you may be an honor and glory to Jehovih.
In kosmon, man shall no longer be driven in yoke and harness, he shall stand upright before Jehovih, practicing his highest light with rejoicing, being a free man, and a brother to his God!
Behold, the Uzians have a custom of eating bread, and drinking wine, saying, like the worshippers of Baugh-ghan-ghad, of old: Eat of this, for it is my flesh; and, drink of this, for it is my blood, signifying, that this which they do, was commanded by me, God of heaven and earth.
Judgment is rendered against this custom, with abhorrence; moreover, from now on, it shall be known as blasphemy against Jehovih.
Your God has never commanded man to eat flesh and blood, nor pretended that bread and wine were flesh and blood, nor commanded them to be eaten in remembrance of the flesh and blood of any man born of woman.
They also have a custom of decorating and draping themselves in black crepe, and characterizing the same as a sign of mourning for the dead.
Judgment is rendered against such a custom, but without prohibition.
Jehovih creates alive, and Jehovih takes life away, for all things are His.
Remember your Creator with wisdom; and neither in your dress nor habit shall you censure Him for what has been.
Neither curb the full sorrow of your heart and your soul, because your brother or sister, son or daughter, or father or mother, has passed away.
But remember, Jehovih is over all His works, and provides wisely for the living and the dead.
Jehovih has said: To man I gave an earthly body so he could learn earthly things; but death I gave to man so he could rise to the inheritance of My heavenly kingdoms.
He appoints a time to all; to some an hour, to some a year, and to some a hundred years; every one fulfills to result in wisdom and happiness, and for the glory of the Almighty.