For behold the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation {150} of Great Britain, as it is called," etc., (_Doc. and Cov., Sec. lxxxvii_). The whole adult population of the United States are witnesses of the fulfillment of this prophecy. For many years it remained unfulfilled, and the Elders who proclaimed it met with scorn and sneers; but, at length, arrived the terrible havoc and storm of war. There had been many rebellions within the territory of the United States. In Virginia had occurred Bacon's rebellion; in Maryland, Clayborne's rebellion; in New England, the insurrection, controlled by the Hartford convention, of 1814; in Western Pennsylvania, the State of Franklin, had, at one time, held a political existence for nearly two years. Then, by what human sagacity was it predicted that the war must commence in South Carolina? Let the skeptic read and ponder. {151} CHAPTER X. INFIDEL OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED. ARROGANCE OF INFIDELS--THEIR IGNORANCE--SUN'S HEAT--SATURN'S RINGS--A SCIENTIST'S THEORY OF THE DELUGE--DENSITY OF COMETS--THE MILKY WAY--UNKNOWN FORCES OF THE UNIVERSE--ANTIQUITY OF THE EARTH--TEACHINGS OF ANCIENT PROPHETS--TEACHINGS OF PRIMITIVE CHURCH--MODERN SCIENTISTS. The grand error of infidel theories in regard to creation lies in the arrogant assumption on which every one of them must be founded. They assume that the theorist is acquainted with all substances and all forces in the universe, and with all the modes of their operation. This knowledge must apply, not merely to the present age, but to all past epochs; not merely to this world, but, likewise, to others in widely different and utterly unknown situations and conditions. Otherwise, that unknown force must have had its influence in framing the world. For instance, a theory of creation which would neglect the attraction of gravitation would be manifestly false. But there are other laws, the power of repulsion, for instance, whose omission would be equally fatal. Skeptics {152} are aware of this fact, and have sought to simplify matters, by reducing all substances to a few simple elements, and all forces to the form of one universal law. Instead of this, chemistry, every year, reveals new substances and increases our knowledge of nature's variety. At one time, it was boasted that astronomy would enable us to account for all the operations of the universe; but, instead of this, it has revealed substances and forces, whose nature and combinations are entirely unknown.