The Government of God — Reading Companion

(0 User reviews) 1048

In Category - Ethics

Authors: Taylor, John, 1808-1887 Digital Source: Project Gutenberg Gutenberg Release Year: 2014 First Publication Year: Not confirmed

Key Word: Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saints -- Controversial literature; Latter Day Saint churches -- Controversial literature; Latter Day Saints -- Doctrines Target Reader: Readers of public-domain and historical texts

Book Edition: Project Gutenberg digital edition Book Language: en

Edition facts

Words 52,441

Reading time 229 min

Text sections 5

The source record for The Government of God — Reading Companion measures this digital text at 52,441 words, 3 hr 49 min estimated reading time, and 5 detected text sections.

The text analysis averages about 29.4 words per sentence, while the detected sections provide another way to judge how the source is divided.

Project Gutenberg metadata also associates the work with “Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines,” connecting these edition facts with the source record’s subject description.

Source: Project Gutenberg record #44941

John Taylor's 1852 treatise argues that divine government, not human systems, can establish righteousness and peace. Drawing on biblical history, he contrasts Israel's theocratic ideal with flawed human rule, emphasizing direct revelation as the only basis for just governance.

Editorial Edition Score 4.7/5

★★★★★ ★★★★★

Calculated from edition completeness, EPUB availability, text structure and catalogue metadata. Not a user rating.

How this score is calculated

Description quality20 pts
Title & short description10 pts
Source metadata20 pts
Text length15 pts
Chapters / structure15 pts
EPUB file integrity20 pts

Total of 100 points, scaled to a 2.5-5.0 range. Editions with an empty description or a missing EPUB file are not scored.

Edition quality

File: pg44941

Read the Text

Chapter I. The Wisdom, Order, and Harmony of the Government of God.

Chapter II. The Government of Man.

Chapter III. On the Incompetency of the Means Made Use of by Man to Regenerate the World.

Chapter IV. What Is Man? What Is His Destiny and Relationship to God?

Chapter V. The Object of Man's Existence on the Earth; and His Relationship Thereto.

Chapter VI. Man's Accountability to God.

Chapter VII. The Lord's Course in the Moral Government of the World.

Chapter VIII. Whose Right Is It to Govern the World? Who Has Governed It?

Chapter IX. Will Man Always Be Permitted to Usurp Authority Over Men, and Over the Works of God? Will the World Remain for ever Under a Curse, and God's Designs Be Frustrated?

Chapter X. Will God's Kingdom Be a Literal or a Spiritual Kingdom?

Chapter XI. The Establishment of the Kingdom of God upon the Earth

Chapter XII. The Effects of the Establishment of Christ's Kingdom, or the Reign of God upon the Earth.

Preface ------------------

It was Elder Taylor's intention to superintend the publishing of _The Government of God_ in person, previous to his departure for Great Salt Lake City last spring; but the numerous cares attending the French and German Missions, of which he was President; the translation of the Book of Mormon into the French and German languages; the establishment of _L'Etoile du Deseret_ at Paris, and _Zions Panier_ at Hamburg; together with a multitude of other business connected with the welfare of the Kingdom of God, rendered it impossible.

The manuscript was therefore handed to me by Elder Taylor, with a request to superintend the printing of the work, which I have done to the best of my ability.

Considering the disadvantages arising from the Author's absence during the reading of the proofs, I believe it is as correctly rendered, as was possible from a manuscript copy.

The Work is now before the Public, and from one portion at least it will meet with a cordial reception, treating as it does upon the theme most dear to their hearts--the Reign of Righteousness and Peace.

From other portions it will meet with varied reception, but will nevertheless lead the minds of all to contemplate the glory of that time when the Messiah, even Jesus, shall come with all his holy angels, and sit upon the throne of his glory, and govern all nations upon earth.

James Linforth. Liverpool, August, 1852.

Chapter I. ------------------

The Wisdom, Order, and Harmony of the Government of God.

The Kingdom of God is the government of God, on the earth, or in the heavens. The earth, and all the planetary systems, are governed by the Lord; they are upheld by his power, and are sustained, directed, and controlled by his will. We are told, that "by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist."[A] Collos. i. 16, 17. If all things, visible and invisible, are made by and for him, he governs and sustains all worlds to us known, together with the earth on which we live. If he governs them, they are under his dominion, subject to his laws, and controlled by his will and power.

[Footnote A: I wish here to be understood, that at present I am writing to believers in the Bible. I may hereafter give my reasons for this faith; at the present I refer to the Scriptures without this.]

If the planets move beautifully, and harmoniously in their several spheres, that beauty and harmony are the result of the intelligence and wisdom that exist in his mind. If on this earth we have day and night, summer and winter, seed time and harvest, with the various changes of the seasons; this regularity, beauty, order, and harmony, are the effects of the wisdom of God.

There are two kinds of rule on the earth; one with which man has nothing directly to do, another in which he is intimately concerned. The first of these applies to the works of God alone, and His government and control of those works; the second, to the moral government, wherein man is made an agent. There is a very striking difference between the two, and the comparison is certainly not creditable to man; and however he may feel disposed to vaunt himself of his intelligence, when he reflects he will feel like Job did when he said, (xlii. 6.) "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Continue Reading →

John Taylor, an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, published The Government of God in 1852 while overseeing missions in France and Germany. The preface, written by James Linforth, notes that Taylor was too occupied with translating the Book of Mormon and establishing periodicals to proofread the work himself. The book opens by equating the kingdom of God with God's government on earth and in heaven, immediately framing political order as a theological question.

Biblical Kings as Divine Representatives

The excerpt focuses on David and Solomon as models of rulers who sought God's direction. Taylor emphasizes that David “took no step without enquiring of the Lord,” citing multiple scriptural passages. Solomon's prayer at the temple dedication is quoted at length, including God's conditional promise to establish his throne “for ever” if he remains faithful. Taylor interprets these narratives as evidence that righteous kings acted as “representatives on the earth,” anointed by prophets and accountable to God. He notes that even the Israelite monarchy was not God's ideal but arose from the people's rebellion. This section relies heavily on scriptural citation rather than contemporary political examples.

The Contrast with Human Government

Chapter titles such as “The Government of Man” and “On the Incompetency of the Means Made Use of by Man to Regenerate the World” signal Taylor's critique of human political systems. The catalog subjects list the work under Latter Day Saint doctrines and controversial literature, and the text indeed positions divine government as the only remedy for human failure. Taylor argues that human rulers, unlike David and Solomon, lack direct revelation and therefore cannot produce lasting peace. The preface anticipates that the book will be warmly received by some and met with “varied reception” by others, acknowledging its polemical nature.

Structure and Rhetorical Strategy

The table of contents reveals a systematic argument: after defining God's government, Taylor examines human government, man's nature and destiny, accountability, and the eventual establishment of Christ's kingdom. The twelve chapters move from theological premises to eschatological conclusion. The writing style is homiletic, blending scriptural exegesis with doctrinal exposition. Taylor frequently uses rhetorical questions—for example, “Will the World Remain for ever Under a Curse?”—to engage readers. The excerpts show no engagement with non-biblical sources or contemporary political events, grounding the argument entirely in scripture and Latter-day Saint theology.

Readers should note that the text is a product of its time—an 1852 Latter-day Saint polemic written during a period of missionary expansion and doctrinal consolidation. Taylor's argument assumes the Bible's authority and the necessity of modern revelation. The book does not engage with secular political theory or non-Christian traditions. Those interested in nineteenth-century religious thought or Latter-day Saint political theology will find it a focused example of how scriptural interpretation was used to critique human governance.

John Taylor’s vision of a government rooted in direct revelation felt less like a political theory and more like a quiet ache for something unbroken. That ache carried me back to an old obsession with how thought itself might be governed by divine light. There’s a strange comfort in tracing that same longing through earlier centuries. Democritus Platonissans — Inside the Classic lingered with me the same way, a hushed, persistent echo.