p. 3 | Untitled article by Geo. E. Price

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 19, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 12.

HESPERIA, OR THE LAND OF THE WEST.—NO. 2.

By Geo. E. Price

An Allegory.

(Continued from last week.)

So Justus and his men strengthened themselves and encouraged one another, and became very strong. But when they attempted to make the people of the land obey them in the name of the Great King, the people would not hear them, but drove them out. So Justus and his men arose and fled across the seas to the land of the West, and dwelt there, as the Great King had commanded them; for Justus was subject to the Great King in all things, howbeit he erred in the matter of the kingdom.

Now Justus and his men waxed old, and were gathered unto their fathers. And another generation arose who had not passed through the trials of their fathers, nor had felt the oppressions of Prince Diabolus; and they waxed exceeding rich, and had houses, and cattle, and lands, and everything that their soul lusted after. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing that they should have horses, and cattle, and servants, to work for them, that they even laid hold on the elements of nature, the water, the fire, and the lightnings of the clouds, and made them come and go at their bidding. Such power did the Great King grant them. But they gave not Him the glory.

But when the people of the East, who lived under Prince Diabolus, had heard of what Justus and his men had done in the Land of Hesperia, they even arose with their wives and their children and came to this new land; for they said, "Behold, we be here looking at one another's misery, and waiting for death. Let us arise and flee to the West, where there is room enough and to spare, and there will we build every man his house and plant every man his vineyard, and we and our little ones shall live and not die."

So the people of Hesperia multiplied and waxed great above all that were before them. And all the people of the world knew that they prospered thus because they allowed every man to worship freely as he chose, and because the people obeyed the laws of the Great King, giving no heed to Prince Diabolus.

But when many years had passed, and the Great King or the Prince Imperial had not yet appeared to take possession of the country, the people again did what was not right; for they passed many laws which were contrary to the old laws. And all the people began to say that the Prince Imperial was not to come in person, but would only rule the world through the governments and the sons of the prophets. Also very many who had become engaged in the study of the things of nature, became so vain of their success that they said they were independent of the Great King, and that the land would get along very well without Him. Some even denied His existence. "Who has ever seen Him?" they said. Others said that if He existed, He certainly cared not what was done in the land of the West, nor would He ever disturb the established order of things.

So the people of Hesperia gave themselves up to every device of their own hearts, and forgot the Great King and His laws, and began to imitate the laws and customs of the prince of Babylon. And Prince Diabolus sent messengers to the people of the West, saying, "Let us not be any longer at enmity one with another, for we are brothers. Let my servants, I pray you, dwell in the Land of Hesperia, and get wealth, and I shall give them command that they observe the laws of the land." For very many of the prince's people had come from the East to Hesperia.

Now certain people dwelling in the isles in the Land of the Sunrising were subjects of the Prince Diabolus. And they rebelled against the governors whom the prince had appointed over them, because they used them very cruelly. Then certain people in the Land of Hesperia said one to another, "We do not well. Behold, these people are fighting for their liberties, and should we stand by and give them no aid?" So they sent officers and men and a great fleet to assist the people of the Sunrising, and they appointed John Ambitus as officer over them all. And when he was come into the land, he drove out the governors of Prince Diabolus, and claimed all the land in the name of the people of the West, for he even made it subject to the Land of Hesperia.

Now when Diabolus heard thereof he was sore displeased. Nevertheless he sent messengers to the people of the West to congratulate them on their victory, saying, "Behold the might and the wisdom of the people of the West! What my governors could not do in long years, behold ye have accomplished in a single day."

Moreover the other peoples of the East, when they heard thereof, said, "What new wonder is this? Hath the creature crawled out of his shell? Have they even crossed the seas and subdued the Land of the Sunrising? Take heed to yourselves, ye princes of the East, and stand to your arms." So the princes of the East made a covenant with Hesperia that day that there should be peace between them.

Then John Ambitus returned when he had marched through all the Land of the Sunrising, and had subdued it. And the people of Hesperia made him a great man, and a prince; for they even made him ruler over them all, for before that the judges had ruled the land. So the people rejoiced, saying one to another, "Now have we a king like all the nations."

But John Ambitus said within himself, "Whom shall I have for my priest, seeing I have become the head of this great people? For no king ever yet ruled a great people as this is without the assistance of his priest." So he sought for a priest to minister before him.

Now there was a certain man of the sons of the prophets named Eleazar Capito. And he was a very learned man; for he had studied all the wisdom of the East as well as the new learning concerning the hidden things of nature, and he was a leader of those who taught that the Great King would never interfere with the established order of nature. He was, moreover, in great favor with the people; for they said, "Who can prophesy like Eleazar? Who is so learned and so great as he is?" Therefore was his name called Capito, which is, being interpreted, large-headed.

And John Ambitus sent unto him, saying, "Wilt thou be my priest?" and he answered, "Yea." So John Ambitus consecrated him priest before him that day; and again the people rejoiced, saying, "It is well."

But it sore displeased the priests of Diabolus who were in Hesperia; and they sent unto their master, saying, "Behold, John Ambitus hath chosen that youth, even Eleazar Capito, to minister before him, and to be the high priest of Hesperia. Why did he not choose one of us, who have had experience in affairs of state these many years?"

But Diabolus answered them saying, "Are ye so foolish? Do ye not yet see neither know that this Eleazar Capito is our brother? Has he not written books in our name, saying that the Great Book is mostly not authentic, that the old laws are even passed away altogether, and are quite unsuited to these more enlightened times, and that our laws should be adopted instead? Can we not bide our time?"

So they were forced to hold their peace, and they went their way.