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Show A Parable. <br><br> Then shall the kingdom of Satan be likened to a grain of mustard seed; which, thought exceedingly small, being cast into the ground grow, and become a great plant and spread its leaves rank and foul[?], so the huge and vile worms found a habitation thereon. And it came to pass in the course of time that the sons of men looked upon it and thought it beautiful to look upon, to make lads look big and manly. They put forth their hands and did choose thereof, and some it made sick, and other to vomit most filthily. And it further came to pass that those who chewed it became weak and unmanly, and said we are enslaved, and can't cease chewing it. And the mouths of all that were enslaved became foul, and they were seized with a violent spitting, and they did spit even in the ladies parlors and the house of the Lord of Hosts. And the saints of the Most High were greatly plagued thereby. And in the course of time it came also to pass that others snuffed it, and they were taken with fits, and they did sneeze with a great and mighty sneeze, insomuch that their eyes were filled with tears, and they did look exceeding silly. <br><br> And yet others cunningly wrought the leaves into rolls, and did set fire to one end thereof and did suck most vehemently at the other end thereof, and did look very grave and calf-like; and the smoke of their torment ascended up forever and ever. And the cultivation thereof became a great and mighty business on the earth; and the merchant men waxed rich by the commerce thereof. And it came to pass that the saints of the Most High defiled themselves therewith; even the poor who could not buy shoes, nor bread, nor books for their little ones, spent money for it. <br><br> And the Lord was greatly displeased therewith, and said, wherefore this waste; and why do these little ones lack shoes and books and bread? Turn now your fields into corn and wheat, and put this evil thing far from you, and be separate, and defile not yourselves any more; and I will bless you and cause my face to shine upon you. But with one accord they all exclaimed. "We cannot cease from chewing, snuffing and puffing-we are slaves!" --??? |