The Untoward Generation

The Burning Fire Shut-Up In My Bones (Jeremiah 20:9)

I apologize to any faithful readers that I have made wait so long for this post.  One thing you should know about me is that I am lazy.  I have felt promptings to write many times since my last post, but have avoided those promptings due to that laziness.
I don't want to be lazy right now, so I have decided to repent and attempt to write down some of the thoughts that have been like fire in my bones for some time.

One thing that might seem odd to some readers in this post is my use of market-place/economic terms to describe or define religious or philosophical principles.  This is not an attempt to denigrate anyone persons belief or to cause unbelief, but rather to just facilitate in getting across the point that often times due to our cultural background things gain a unique insight in a economic/market-place sense.

The Reverse Definition: Insanity

Most people have heard the common adage that the definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results each time or over time.  A notion that is implicit if this is accepted is that if you do things different than was done before, you can not or will not get the same results.

As a society we have changed the way we function in comparison to former societies, generations, cultures.  The basic way of life and superstitions of previous societies have been neglected and replaced by a more modern and intellectual process.  We call this progress and pat ourselves on the back for what we define as forward movement because a change of scenery has taken place.

Yet declaring forward momentum or progress occurs simply because scenery changed is a poor use of logic and if not ceased, inevitably dangerous.

But Why, And How...?

Many consider evolution to be a relatively new principle or theory.  When in actuality it is very old.  I am not going to cite sources because my laziness is kicking in, but the information I give you is well worth your time to study and understand for yourself.

Nobody actually knows when and where the propounding of the principle of evolution had a start.
 If you ask who is Darwin, then Alex Trebek is going to deduct 1000 points from todays Daily Double!  It had been taught in the ancient mystery schools from at least the time of Pythagoras, but I suspect that it had been adopted by them from earlier mystic teachings.  It does have true application.

Micro-Evolution (e.g. small changes in the beak size of a finch, or the length of a lizard, etc.) has never been very much disputed.  I'm not saying that it hasn't had it's detractors or critics, but the solid evidence for its presence can be and has been shown to occur in a process of time that can be monitored.

Macro-Evolution (organisms developing wholly unique cells with a variety of interdependent and yet completely different functions), however is where the hang up begins.  This is not because of a lack of evidence, but rather the haphazard acceptance of what constitutes evidence and more divisively the philosophy that lies behind the How-and-Why of Evolution.

The God Argument

Critics of evolution have largely allowed themselves to be herded into one camp, and that camp is defined by those who claim to posses beliefs about God and man which they claim are threatened/offended by the philosophy of evolution.

Often times those folks are opposed by an equally vocal opponent that has corralled the opposition into an agnostic or atheist origin of thought.  These two groups hurl insults back and forth despite the lack of hard evidence or even good reasoning from either side.

As a result there are many in the independent camp who can be for/or against a belief in God and who are for/or against evolution, but never vocalize their viewpoints out of fear of being caricatured by something that they do not believe or stand-for.


All of this, however is a detour from the real crux of the argument.

The Purpose Of Life And Man

Long before Darwin, evolution was a philosophy.  It was a principle used to show that mankind is forever progressing forward.  The idea was immortalized in allegorical principle, and became married to the idea that man would one day evolve to a perfect state.  These allegorical understandings were perpetuated in the secret societies that became prominent in Europe.

The Aristocracy of Europe became enamored by these secret societies because they truly believed that they were better than the common-man.  Evolution, for them, meant that the more base-men needed to be "weeded out" or at least could be treated with impunity and the stronger, more intelligent (read: them, the rich dudes who owned land and had power of one source or another) of our species put forward and defended.  

The principles of this type of thinking can be seen in stories or even teachings, common to that era.
 The fairy tale of Rumplestiltskin taught the idea of a secret knowledge that made possible the turning of straw into gold.  This was based off the idea that had been rumored for millenia that there was a gnosis/science which could turn base elements/metals into the most prized element, gold.

We know this as alchemy and many mock it as foolish, simpleton wishings but at one time it represented the edge of scientific exploration.  The principle of al-CHEM-y is even the root of the form of learning that we call CHEM-istry.  (As an aside, recently in the field of nano-research, we have found that gold is a compound of elements made up of nano-strings that are composed of a wide ranging set of varying things found in nearly everything else.  So we still are looking for a way to turn base elements into gold.)

Back to my point however, the principle of alchemy was based on the once mystic teaching of the evolution of man.  The process by which the people of this world would evolve to one day arrive at a state of perfection.  This idea has had a recent shot in the arm, by the budding trans-humanist movement.

Ray Kurzweil: Prophet of The Coming
TransHumanist
Singularity

The devil is always in the details and the path to perfection has always been multi-faceted due to the differing opinions of how it was to be accomplished.  Some believed that it only required "weeding-out" (read:slaughtering) the more base people.  Others believed that they needn't be eliminated just managed (read: turned into slaves.)

Others still, believed that it would be impossible to eliminate all of the "undesirables" and instead they could be processed.  Each of these examples are not comprehensive of the number of teachings that exist or have existed and propounded.  But they in themselves have evolved to the circumstances of the society in which they are taught, and tailored to meet the needs of the aristocracy of that given group.

Forward March!

You can see how this type of thinking would be both alluring (to those who were being told that they were the great ones) and offensive (to those who would be told that they were undesirable and at best worthy only to be a slave and at worse worthy of death.)  For this reason it remained repressed and taught only to those few who would become initiates in the mystical schools of thought that propounded these things.

Frequently the different schools of thought would clash with one another regarding who were the great ones and who were the undesirables.  Priest against priest and convert against convert, they would wage war.  When bloody war became impractical then psychological war would be engaged.  This presented itself by the adherents of a given school of thought bringing out proof to the public for their proof of progress.  Always these theories would be presented in the form of the buzz word, "progress" instead of evolution.  This so that the "sacred" teaching of ones own ideas of evolution wouldn't have to be brought out into the eyes of the masses-to-be-slaughtered, thus circumventing their ire.

So everyone would be shouting about the "progress" that their camp had demonstrated and brought to society at large to gain support if not straight out converts.  Always with flattering words to the unsuspecting masses who would align themselves to a school-of-thought-idol that issued decrees about progress with which they would feel secure despite their terrible situation.  (Side-Note: being a convert did not guarantee ones position as a "desirable."  In fact many of the ancient mystery religions maintained that lower orders of initiates were to be used as pawns and nothing more.  They could straight out be lied to and fed all sorts of nonsense because they were nothing more than meat bags in this strategic game of chess.  Read Albert Pike's works for more evidence of this.)

"Tell a lie long enough and loud enough and eventually people will believe you."  (attributed to Adolf Hitler, somewhere in Mein Kampf...I don't know if he really said it and I'm too lazy to Google it

For the most part, people didn't believe this progress propaganda.  It's too hard to believe a philosophy about how everything is getting better when travel and trade are made nearly impossible due to the dangerous circumstances that lurk around every corner.  When your superiors have power over your life and don't value it very highly it's hard to believe that the world is getting to be a better place.  When one out of three children are dying from diseases it is hard to have faith that we are smarter now than before.

However, the common-man had not yet realized his potential.  He was accepting of his futile state.  So attempts were made to recruit those who had the power of government (read: kings, nobles, etc.) for endorsement purposes of the thought-product which was being sold to others who held positions of power.

On the mid-levels this worked splendidly, but in the upper echelons of power, this didn't go so well.  Because tyrannical kings have no need to believe a story about how things are getting better; and don't really care to admit such because doing so implies that there use to be room for improvement and therefore probably still is.

So inasmuch as it might help them, they tolerated it, but all too often the infighting among the priests of the schools of thought created a polarizing position for a King that couldn't be risked.  After a variety of unsuccessful attempts were made the schools of thought abandoned these attempts and took another route.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."  - Someone who hated someone else and figured out that two are greater than one

So instead the priests turned on the governmental powers and subterfuge became the name of the game.  This was first enacted through the empowering principles that began in the reformation.  Overwhelmingly many of the reformers, playwrights, artists, doctors and philosophers were members of or at least affiliated with secret societies such as the Free Masons, Rosicrucians and the Priory of Sion to name a few.  These became the heralds of the renaissance and the later revolutions that changed the face of Europe from a feudalist society to...well to the convoluted mess that it later became.

Even after the New World became populated, the war continued albeit from afar.  The ancient schools of thought that had dominated intellectualism for millennia, at first missed their cue at the prominence of this new world.  This despite one of the leading proponents alluding that this New World could become the final pedestal to put on display the practice of true Alchemy: turning man into God.

Although an early opportunity had been missed, after independence was gained in the New World everyone in the old schools saw the potency that such a fresh, untainted landscape-of-the-mind could hold in reshaping the balance of power between them.  Like wolves to a carcass, the zealous adherents -that had been trained in the potential danger of the lack of presence in this new world- each made a claim.  The failure to take possession of a substantial piece-of-the-market could spell out doom by way of a lack of relevancy and practitioners to espouse and defend your ideology.

Fights ensued and mortal blows were inflicted.  Some claims of powers that at one time held sway in the Old World diminished.  Other powers that had newly grown in the fertile soil of the New World took hold and grew on their own.  Each continued to declare that their form of progress was the real progress that the whole world needed.

What Is Progress?

Having examined this short history we should ask ourselves.  Which (if any) of all these forms or schools of thought are right?
In the midst of this war of ideas, many people who were not sure began to ask themselves that very question.  This was a danger because in this New World, the common man had actual power.  Whereas previously one only needed to win over the feudal lords that controlled a populace this could possibly lead to an over-saturation of the market place for Schools with ideas.

Consolidation needed to be made.  This could only happen through compromise.  Adherents of certain schools of thought that were similar gathered together under the banner of a new school: Science.  Science was unregulated and untested.  Anything in Science could be called progress because hardly any efforts in that realm had practically been applied to real understanding.  All things could be reorganized under the progress of Science because science means knowledge and that through observation.  This meant no more faith in unseen things that could previously only be hoped for.  In Science, progress would be applied only to things that could be observed, quantified and qualified.

This had REAL application because instead of trying to convince the masses that their lives were improving, Science could be used to point to things that everyone could see had changed.  The change couldn't be disputed and when the change was proclaimed to be progress, who could dispute?  But the struggle for "Progress" was an old battle.  A new word that Science could apply that didn't rely on the power or training derived from old institutions was needed.  This Science, after all was a merger of multiple schools of thought to become one.  So all things needed to become new...even the buzz words used to excite the masses.  

A Revolution of Evolution!

Evolution, once seen as too dangerous to be taught to the masses became unfeared provided it were taught abstractly.  The newly merged, powerhouse school of thought (Science) could receive the law of three witnesses by pointing to Micro-Evolution, inferring Macro-Evolution and pointing to the change that came with the Industrial rEvolution; and by these take the position of benefactor to all mankind!

Scatter a lot of flattering words coupled with patriotic sentiments and some Manifest Destiny and voilà: All of the other schools of thought that didn't join in with the new power house Science, got demoted to second or third position in the market place of thought.  This point was so dramatic because of the lack of real assistance that those who got demoted had previously exercised in the average persons life.

While reviewing this competitive jockeying it needs to be seen that those in power of any form often only benefit/bless a few select-group of people, and this out of necessity.  If any person falls out of the line of exigency then they generally don't receive the real world benefits that are reserved for a select few.  This works until the power of the powerful few is outweighed by the power of the neglected many who no longer care to uphold that institution because they are on the outside looking in.

Who is paying this guy's salary?
Who do you think he is paying attention too?
This is not to denigrate family or religion, just a reality of concern.

You might recognize that by a large majority many religious entities were/are appalled by the new power house school of thought.  There wasn't just one reason for this.  Some were repulsed due to ideological principles.  Others were repulsed because of strategic placement of sworn enemies now aligned within the camp of Science.  Thus was adopted the old principle: if you can't or won't join 'em, then you gonna have to beat 'em.

A war has been waged ever since.  I believe that many would declare the fight to be over if not in name only.  Many of those who were once on the side of the anti-Science camp switched sides, when they felt that it wasn't a battle they could afford to lose.

A good measure to the power of Science has been due to the technological advances that came with the industrial revolution.  Technology is now one of the biggest buzz words to fill in the place of progress.  Yet despite the awe inspiring technological advances that have been made, the question that many still are asking: Is this progress?

There is not any shortage of defenders of "The Real Progress" from the branches of this new school of thought that is Science.  A large portion of advertising that we receive in the United States of America comes in the form of a defense of the progress that technology provides to mankind.  Beyond that, even in church I can be serenaded with testimonies about technology being a proof that God loves me (which must mean that He didn't really like anyone that lived pre-1800, at least not as much as He loves me.)

Isis Comes Walking In

"And then you sense a change, nothing feels the same, all your dreams are strange: 
Love comes walking in.
Some kind of alien waits for the opening, then simply pulls a string and love comes walking in." 
-Van Halen: Love Walks In


For this post I want you to swap the word Love with Isis in the above partially quoted song.  Not the Egyptian godess Isis but the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.  Because at this point in our discussion ISIS comes walking in.  The short history lesson that I gave above was given so that you could understand the precarious position that our world is in right now.

Earlier I declared that many would believe that what has become the battle between religion and science is over.  However, for many who are a silent majority, Science (and by association the Western World) has not brought us progress.  Heretofore this silent majority has been divided by their own divisions amidst the different schools of thought to which they belonged.  Yet separately they are grew dissatisfied with the "progress" that the Western World has offered and promised.

Typically this restlessness was not a major disruption.  That is changing.  One of the major contributing factors to the success of the group known as ISIS/ISIL/DAESH is their ability to find support all over the world.  Typically with most religious organizations it's hard to attract anyone outside of the circle of influence of that specific culture.  Proselytizing can enlarge this circle of influence but proselyting for people who have no attachment to that culture, to sign up to wage war against civilians as well as armies is something that nobody could or would have ever have thought possible.

DAESH has proven this notion wrong.  With success that would be described as amazing if it wasn't so terrifying, DAESH has drawn people from all over the world to come and either wage war or support the war that they wage.  And not just video game addicted, nihilist, matrix watching young males who have no real idea of the terror of war, but even women are signing up.  These people lose the prospects of the progress that they have always been promised and instead head out to support a militant, religiously fanatic and hard-nosed group of unwavering warriors.

When I look at the level of acceptance that many of these people have to make in order to "join" I am nothing but flabbergasted.  Think about it for a second.  Think of all that these folks give up and ask yourself what it would take for you to do the same thing.  Then realize that these folks are not that different from you as far as what it would take...the difference is that that requirement has been filled for them.

This makes sense when you look at the profiles.  All of these folks are from the minority, outcast segments of society that are fed up with the empty promise of progress.  Their faces have been ground down by the rich, the wise and the learned of the world.  They have no hope in that world.  So they cling to the next hope of promise that lends it hand their way.

In With The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss

This occurred on a much smaller level with the election of President Barack Obama in the United States.  The masses had grown sick of the promises of the old powers and overwhelmingly united behind an icon that had never been given the chance to wield power in recent memory.  This icon brought a campaign built on change (i.e. Progress) that YOU could believe in.  Yet on the shaky foundation upon which our world rests, the new progress was exposed to be nothing more than the same old change of scenery slapped with the silly label: progress.

The masses are not easily fooled anymore.  At least not by the same old methods that have been in practice over the last 100 years.  The sales job that is going to work to seal the deal needs to be TOTALLY revolutionary from anything that any who live now, have ever experienced.  DAESH is just that type of revolution.

The problem is that a lot of you, in fact the majority of you don't really believe that DAESH can gain any type of traction because their ideology is not persuasive to you.  You need to see though that it isn't always about the numbers but the passion.  No Fear clothing brand slickly marketed to those who were least likely to be defined by the proverb, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog that matters."  The same proverb is true here.

People who have full stomachs won't fight.  They have too much to lose.  They may bitch and moan but they won't rebel.  Those of us in the advanced world deal with such trivial issues that its a joke.  We struggle with the softness of our toilet paper.  When those from areas in the world that have to deal with daily murders, extortion and overall corruption come and visit us, they find it hard to not hate us.

This because they see what a joke our 'progress' is.  We have to be medicated just to tolerate each
other.  So with a heart full of passion they hate us and insist on fighting us.  In the pride of our hearts we insist that we are better than they, and that they need to subordinate themselves to our superiority before they receive anything from us.

A Common Tale

The ending to this story shouldn't be a surprise.  It has been played out time and time again in the history of this world.  What should be more surprising is that we are going to re-live it.  Even more so because the ending has been told us long ago (See 2nd Nephi 18:7-9; 20:1-6.)  But we refuse to pay attention.  We refuse to believe (See Alma 9:4).  We look around and see that we prosper and count it as proof of God's acceptance, blessing and protection of us (see Mosiah 12:15).  We see our mighty military and trust in the arm of flesh that has brought us our technological progress (See 2nd Nephi 28: 31)  .  We have no care for the ease in which our military technological advances would be and could be brought down.

We receive calls of repentance from a loving God but instead we insist on trusting in our own arm (See 2nd Nephi 33:9.)  What was knocked down by God, we say we will rebuild with greater strength (See 2nd Nephi 19:9-10.)  We mock the loving words that He not only so diligently declared but lived and loved us with (see 3rd Nephi 12.)  We cast out His servants preferring our own leaders who soothe us with flattery of our greatness and assure us of our victory if we just follow them (see 2nd Nephi 28:4-6.)

We trust that if there is a God, surely He is with us.  We believe that we can with impunity break His laws, neglect His people, and seek after the lusts of the flesh with impunity because surely He will justify in committing these sins.  If not, then surely He will castigate us to some small degree and then after a while embrace us again as if it were all some running joke (See 2nd Nephi 28:8-9.)

We declare that we live in the last days but we look not with fear and trembling for the salvation that must be sought by those who desire not to perish (See Phillipians 2:12; Mormon 9:27.)

All the while the unpleasantness felt in the hearts of those who have suffered under the hand of pride grows and grows.  They are witness to murder, rape, extortion and corruption from childhood.  They know not the ways of mercy because they have never been shown mercy by their 'brothers'; therefore those who will seek mercy at their hands will at once see the burden that they could have lifted and would not (See 2nd Nephi 23:11-18.)

In The Mouth Of Two Or Three

Perhaps you think me wrong.  Perhaps after considering these things you believe that if this was how the story was going to unfold then surely God would reveal His secrets to those who lead you (see 2nd Nephi 28:14.)

Recently I was reading in the Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith, pgs 47-49, and I came across this section which I found to be relevant.  I am going to quote it mingled with a few of my own changes (emphasis, underlinings, grammatical/punctuation corrections and all) and it is lengthy.  I do so because I find it to be a highly valuable juxtaposition between those who truly know Christ and those who pretend to such:

"Consider for a moment, brethren, the fulfillment of the words of the prophet.  For we behold that darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the inhabitants thereof.  That crimes of every description are increasing among men.  Vices of great enormity are practiced.  

The rising generation growing up in the fullness of pride and arrogance.  The aged losing every sense of conviction, and seemingly banishing every thought of a day of retribution.  Intemperance, immorality, extravagance, pride, blindness of heart, idolatry, the loss of natural affection; the love of this world, and indifference toward the things of eternity increasing among those who profess a belief in the religion of heaven, and infidelity spreading itself in consequence of the same-men giving themselves up to commit the acts of the foulest kind, and deeds of the blackest dye.

Blaspheming, defrauding, blasting the reputation of neighbors, stealing, robbing, murdering; advocating error and opposing the truth, forsaking the covenant of heaven, and denying the faith of Jesus.  

And in the midst of all this, the day of the Lord fast approaching when none except those who have won the wedding garment will be permitted to eat and drink in the presence of the Bridegroom, the Prince of Peace!

The First Type Of People:

Impressed with the truth of these facts what can be the feelings of Those who have been partakers of the Heavenly Gift and have tasted that good word of God, and the powers of the world TO COME?  Who but those that can see the awful precipice upon which the world of mankind stands in this generation can labor in the vineyard of the Lord without feeling a sense of the World's deplorable situation?  

Who but those who have duly considered the condescension of the Father of our spirits, in providing a sacrifice for His creatures, a plan of redemption, a power of atonement, a scheme of salvation, having as its great objects, the bringing of men back into the presence of the King of Heaven, crowning them in the celestial glory, and making them heirs with the Son to that inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and which fadeth not away-who but such can realize the importance of a perfect walk before all men, and a diligence in calling upon all men to partake of these blessings?

The Second Type Of People

Some may (and certainly do) PRETEND to say that (uttered with a high head and pontificating voice, at least in my mind): the world in this age is fast increasing in righteousness!  That the dark ages of superstition and blindness have passed, when the faith of Christ was known and held only by a few.  When ecclesiastical power had an almost universal control over Christendom, and the consciences of men were bound by the strong chains of priestly power.  

But now, the gloomy cloud is burst, and the Gospel is shining with all the resplendent glory of an apostolic day!  And that the kingdom of the Messiah is greatly spreading, that the Gospel of our Lord is carried to divers nations of the earth, the Scriptures translating into different tongues.  The ministers of truth crossing the vast deep to proclaim to men in darkness a risen Savior, and to erect the standard of Emmanuel where light has never shone; and that the idol is destroyed.

The temple of images forsaken; and those who, but a short time previous, followed the traditions of their fathers and sacrificed their own flesh to appease the wrath of some imaginary god, are now raising their voices in the worship of the Most High, and are lifting their thoughts up to Him with the full expectation that one day THEY will meet with a joyful reception in His everlasting kingdom!

But a moment's candid reflection upon the principles of these systems, the manner in which they are conducted, the individuals employed, the apparent object held out as an inducement to cause them to act, we think, is sufficient for every candid man to draw a conclusion in his own mind whether this is the order of heaven or not...We shall present the points as we consider they were really designed by the great Giver to be understood, and the happy results arising from a performance of the requirements of heaven as revealed to every one who obeys them; and the consequence attending a false construction, a misrepresentation, or a forced meaning that was NEVER designed in the mind of the Lord when He condescended to speak from the heavens to men for their salvation.

Did You Catch That?

I want you to ask yourself: are you part of that first group of people or second?  Which group do you think Joseph was/is in?  Does/did he view the world as increasing (progressing) in righteousness?  Did he see the millennial day as the result of the gradual, progressive effort that mankind gives to one day sluff off the dross from among us?

Why is he characterizing the evidence of progress typified by the gospel going forth and scriptures being translated into many tongues as the evidence for pretenders?  Why does he prioritize the views and perceptions of those who have actually transcended the veil and give testimony of what they witnessed upon receiving of the Powers in the world to come?  What does it mean to duly consider the condescension of the Father of our spirits?  How does one duly consider such a thing?  Is this all just conjecture or is Joseph speaking from experience?  Can one duly consider the condescension of the Father of our spirits by thinking really hard about it, or does being in the presence of the Bridegroom come into play with such a thing?

What is progress/evolution?

Another Witness

Nephi saw our day.  He was worried about and for us.  He was shown the tools of progress that would be in our hands and weighed them against what he knew was real progress.  He labored countless hours etching on metal plates words of Isaiah that he knew we would already have.  Why the redundancy?  To show off his skills of etching?  Because he really really liked the words of Isaiah and thought that just telling us to read Isaiah's words just wouldn't get that point across?

He told us of a group that he called 'Assyrians.'  He warned us of them.  He said that they would be the instrument that God would use to punish a 'hypocritical nation.'  He told us that they would not have mercy upon ANY!  He told us that there would be some few that God would take from under the ruling hand of the Assyrian to establish Zion.  (Meaning that they first fall under the hand of the Assyrian.)  These were termed a 'Remnant.'  (Remaining from what?  Why just a Remnant?)  This remnant is told to be patient in their suffering.  This because the Assyrian will have power over them for some time as the Egyptians enslaved ancient Israel.  Yet the remnant is promised that God will remember them and deliver them from under the hand of the Assyrian, even as He did by Gideon at the Slaughter at the Rock of Oreb.

Conclusion

Let us repent!  Let us repent lest God smites us all by the rod of His mouth.  By His wrath, and by His anger, and our sufferings be sore.  How sore we do not yet know.  How exquisite we do not yet know.  Yea, how hard to bare we do not yet know.  

A situation taught in the Book of Luke regarding the message of repentance given by John the Baptist can be very helpful here:

4 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

 7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned YOU to flee from the wrath to come?

 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit (True Progress?) is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

 10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

It all kind of sounds a lot like the principles taught later in the Sermon on the mount, right?  Must be a coincidence...