Messenger and Advocate/1/6

Messenger and Advocate
1, Number 6

Source document in Mormon Publications: 19th and 20th Centuries online archive: Messenger and Advocate Vol. 1

Note: Some headings and bracketed texts are editorial and not part of the original text.

LATTER DAY SAINTS'
MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE
Volume I. No. 6.]	KIRTLAND, OHIO, MARCH, 1835.	[Whole No. 6.

COMMUNICATIONS.

LETTER No. V.

Liberty Mo. Feb. 6, 1835.

DEAR BROTHER:

Your second letter in the "Messenger and Advocate," of Nov. last, directed to me, I shall now proceed to answer as the Spirit gives me knowledge. The letter is long and I am aware that my littleness in the presence of God, want of perfection in holiness, and narrow limits of learning, will greatly lessen my ability to do it that justice that the subject merits, and the church might naturally expect, but I shall do all I can, and confide in God for an honorable result.—Time is wanting for me to take up many things therein contained, and a personal interview for many important inter[r]ogatories. I will touch a few items to stir up your mind by way of remembrance, and awaken the saints to diligence, and may I hope, call some of the children of men from darkness to light; and then, according to my manner, finish with my hand, writing to the heart.

The first thing that attracts my attention, is, "That God never works in vain. This is not the case with men; but might it not be?" I answer yes,—but, in order, that men work not in vain, they must turn from Satan to God, by repentance, and become that they once were: THE IMAGE OF GOD. Solomon once said: Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. This is true, and no invention tends to drive man farther from God, and make his works more vain, than their new methods of worship, when there is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism. After new inventions, and fame, and wealth, many of the Gentile world have run so far into novelty, daring and danger, that the most of them now are so eager for something new, or something great, or something rich, that millions have forgotten the truth, and all their works are vain.

On looking around the world as it now is, I have to exclaim with the wise man: All is vanity. What is man, that God should notice him? Or, what is life? Surely,

What is life? 'tis to exist

In a world of wealth and woes,

Where the wickedness and death

Makes one shudder as he goes.

'Tis to learn how little that,

Even man on earth has known;

And to watch all other's faults

Then, in weakness, judge his own.

'Tis to come like morning fair;

Rise and rove like ocean wave.

Fall and fade like shooting stars.

Leaving nothing but—a grave!

Without being to minute, your letter goes to show that every generation, and mostly all nations, have been more ready to garnish the sepulchres of the dead prophets, than to obey the words of the living, though God and religion were, are, and always will be the same. Your foundation is so broad, that when you rear up the edifice, few eyes, in sight, will go by without looking at the place where the Lord lay, and thinking what they suffer, who follow him!

But lest I get into your tracks, I will ask a few questions; and such as are already answered in revelation, may act more immediately upon the mind; and those needing answers, will be for your disposal as the Spirit directs.

Has it, or has it not so happened from the beginning till now, that the people most favored of God; they that have last had the true light of heaven, have been first to stone, or put to death the Lord's prophets and saints? And have, or have not the same people, or these in the same situation, rejected the truth, and become two—fold worse than they that have made no profession of religion? Did or did not Cain murder Abel because of righteousness? Did or did not God take Enoch and Zion up to heaven, because the world was too wicked to live with the pure in heart?

In all ages, have or not the various sects, which pretended to be of God, persecuted and put more saints to death, than all the heathens in the world? I mean that sort of people that make a great noise about their religion, wear rich robes, have great meeting houses, and make long prayers. Was or was not Jesus crucified, by the very people that had a knowledge of his coming, and who were actually expecting him? Is it or is it not generally the case, that when the light of heaven happifies the soul of the saint, the darkness of hell mystifies the mind of the wicked?—Was or was it not so before the flood; and has continued so since? Did or did not the undoubted "priests" of old, "the Sons of God," that married all they wanted, reject Noah and the truth of God? Were or were not Pharoah's "priests," (the real "black coats" of Egypt, whose lands were privileged even in a seven years' famine,) the leaders of the great Gentile church in that day, and had doubtless slipped down from Melchisedek's priest—hood to the magicians that were ready to work miracles within one of Moses? And if so, were or were they not as ready to stand behind the scene, while Israel's "tale of brick," was daubed without straw, and laugh at the persecution of the children of God, as their heirs apparent are, to secretly applaud the outrages against the saints who are now suffering persecution and affliction? And is or is not the present Gentile church in the same predicament, as to the second coming of Christ, that the Jews were in at his first coming? I mean, if the Jews, as the green tree, crucified the Lord of glory, what will the Gentiles, as the dry tree, do?

When the Spirit of God is withdrawn, does or does not that generation suppose itself to be considerably wiser than the past one, and, to show its veneration for the commandments of God, which says thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: thou shalt not kill, &c. garnish the se-

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pulchres of the prophets; raise monuments to departed great men, and build churches in the names of the apostles, but if a prophet comes truly in the name of the Lord, they reject him, or stone him, or kill him, for fear he may deceive somebody, as if God was unable to preserve his sacred law from the vanishing touch of mere mortal man? Has or has it not always been the case, that the farther the church or sects, receded from the truth and the right way, the greater were the pretensions to light and sanctification?

Is or is it not apparent from reason and analogy as drawn from a careful reading of the Scriptures, that God causes the saints, or people that fall away from his church to be cursed in time, with a black skin? Was or was not Cain, being marked, obliged to inherit the curse, he and his children, forever? And if so, as Ham, like other sons of God, might break the rule of God, by marrying out of the church, did or did he not, have a Canaanite wife, whereby some of the black seed was preserved through the flood, and his son, Canaan, after he laughed at his grand father's nakedness, heired three curses: one from Cain for killing Abel; one from Ham for marrying a black wife, and one from Noah for ridiculing what God had respect for? Are or are not the Indians a sample of marking with blackness for rebellion against God's holy word and holy order? And can or can we not observe in the countenances of almost all nations, except the Gentile, a dark, sallow hue, which tells the sons of God, without a line of history, that they have fallen or changed from the original beauty and grace of father Adam?

So many questions for this letter. Now there are other important facts, and doings of God, which might lead all men to repent before judgment, if they were willing to be guided by truth and escape calamity. I mean such facts as would produce conviction in any heart but such as Satan has really case—hardened for a tour in that region where the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever. That God punishes the nations that forget him, and those that do not fear him, is evident from common history, but especially from Scripture.

From Cain's officiating at the altar, I have no doubt but he was a high priest after the holy order of God, and he, for being overcome by Satan, when he had such great light, was marked and sent to a land of out—casts, to live by his own inventions, and the assistance of the evil one, who might have translated him and his city down to more gloomy regions, for all I know, as an honor for being the first convert, in this world, to endless misery and punishment. Why he has a history in the bible remains to be told.

Perhaps all the nations before the flood, except Cain and his posterity, were enlightened by the preaching of the gospel, for they were destroyed by the deluge, and God rarely destroys a people until they are made acquainted with their situation, and they sin beyond law. The Babelites were dispersed throughout the face of the whole world for their presumption and folly. The Egyptians found a watery grave for undertaking to cope with God, when enlightened by his messengers and miracles. Israel was dispersed among all nations for disobeying the commandments: and I greatly fear, that the Gentiles will "wax fat and kick" at the fulness of the gospel, and "fill the measure of their glory" with iniquity, and be turned into hell with all their great prototypes, that have singed the locks of their beauty, with the blaze of their own glory, by denying the gift of the Holy Ghost.

While penning your history you will find the two great spirits by which men escape to heaven, or sink to hell, often so nearly alike that, you can only judge which is which, by the power which the pure in heart have in store to overcome the world with. The evil one is a great counterfeiter. He imitates almost every thing but perfection. Having once been in heaven, he knows nearly all, but telling the truth; and he practices arts, sciences, and virtues, besides cunning and cloaking. Go to the family fireside, and his spirit is there, ready to catch a crumb; go to any meeting where the Holy Ghost is not admitted; and it is there for a morsel; go to the court house where even handed justice is not administered to the beggar as well as the banker, and it is there for a share; go to the legislative hall where all men's rights are not held equal, and it is there for a "pound of flesh;" go to the cabinet of kingdoms, where one man sways the sceptre, and if aught swerves him from the course of moral rectitude, it is there for a few "golden opinions" to rule with; go to the holy alliance of emperors, where more power is sought for, and it is there for another link to the chain that holds its millions; yea, where on earth is it not? go to the lover's chamber and it is there; go to the ball-room and it is there; go to the dramshop and it is there; go to the business places and it is there; go to prison & it is there; go to sea and it is there; go to the banquet of festing and it is there; go to the house of pleasure and it is there; go to the house of mourning and it is there, watching its prey, seeking in every place a soul for destruction, or a body for sport; yea, go to hell, after its course shall have been stayed on earth, and there it will be, making horrid revelry with the damned, where "their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched." On earth it is the essence of trouble and contention, souring happiness and poisoning joy; in hell it is the life of endless venom, unutterable; and if, it is in all these places, and so terrible, blasting the happiness of millions in this world, and eternally tormenting the sons of perdition, in the regions of wo, in the nether world to come, where is it not, and who can escape its dreadful ravages? It is not in the celestial city and the pure in heart are beyond its scathing touch: yea, notwithstanding its great fountain head, Lucifer, has drawn away a third part of heaven; has his millions of the children of this world, and, may be, the worst from worlds, yet, Jesus Christ, the only begotton [begotten] Son of God, by the power of his Spirit, will overcome all the enemies of grace and glory, and even death and happiness, and joy, and perfection, and eternal life will roll on in eternity an undivided one: even as a neverending blessing, before God, to them that have held out faithfully to the end, whether in life or in death: and they are they, the blessed ones. Amen. As ever,

W. W. PHELPS.

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FAITH OF THE CHURCH. No. XII.

Continued from page 71.

After the apostle had described the gift of the Holy Spirit so as not to be misunderstood by his audience, and having set forth its effects so clearly that any person even those of the weakest capacities could not mistake his meaning, he issues forth the promise of God to those who would repent and be baptized that they should receive this gift, yes, this gift and not another.—we have been thus particular, that our readers may see that the promise here made was not made to the apostles themselves, but those who heard and believed their report, and repented according to the commandment of God it was they who were to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; for the apostle had it previous to this, and those persons who would repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins should receive the thing which the apostles had at that time received, for says the apostle in the 33 verse as before quoted speaking of Christ's ascension, and having received the gift of the Holy Spirit he has shed forth that which you see and hear, and then says to the multitude repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, does not the gift of the Holy Spirit in both these places mean the same thing, if so, the promise made to the baptized saints was precisely the thing which the apostles had just that day received. And if it did not mean the same thing the apostle deceived his audience. But the apostle did not stop by making this promise to the audience which were present on that occasion, but says verse 39 that it was to them and their children and ALL that were afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Notice reader, that it was the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit on conditions of repentance and baptism that was here promised their children and to all that were afar off as well as to themselves.

Whatever the gift of the Holy Spirit was, it was to be given not only to the persons who were present on the notable day of pentecost, but it was to be given to their children, and to their children's children, as long as the Lord their God should call men to be his sons; for it was to this gift he was to call them—"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; for the promise is unto you, and unto your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." mark reader: he says you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; for the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off. What promise? Why; the gift of the Holy Spirit—What is the gift of the Holy Spirit? It is the thing which you both see and hear. And what are its effects? it is prophesying, dreaming dreams, seeing visions, and working mighty works; and this is what is promised to you, if you repent and are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins: and not only you, but your children, and not your children only, but all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. These teachings surely correspond with the apostles' commission, which they received after the resurrection of the Savior from the dead. For they were to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: that is, every creature in all the world who believes and is baptized, shall be saved. And Peter says, that the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. This is as extensive as to say, to every creature in all the world. So that the commission, and the apostles' teaching are, in all respects, consistent with each other.

Here we might stop our investigation, and that with great confidence too, because the subject of the work of the Spirit of God, in the salvation of men, is so clearly set forth in the foregoing quotations, and remarks which are made on the quotations, that he that runs may read, and not only read, but understand: for the way is so plain, that a fool need not err therein. But as there is no want of document on this subject, we feel disposed to pursue the apostles a little farther, and hear the account which those who were with them have given about the effects of the Spirit of God as received by the ancients through the ministry of the

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apostles, and see if those promises were verified to those who believed on their word.

The account which we have noticed above took place at Jerusalem. According to Luke's testimony they were to begin at Jerusalem, when they should first commence to execute their commission, and says the Savior You shall preach repentance and remissions of sins in my name, among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47, from thence they were to go to Samaria, and from thence to the utmost parts of the earth. Acts of the apostles 1:8, we shall now follow the apostles to Samaria and see what effects the Holy Spirit had on the Samaritans, as the messengers of the Lord Jesus proceeded in the execusion [execution] of their commission. Some time after the success of the gospel (which was very great) there arose a great persecution against the saints which, was so severe that they were all scattered abroad, and the enemies stoned Stephen to death.—The account of which we have in the 6, 7 and 8 chapters of the Acts of the apostles. In consequence of the great persecution, the saints fled in every direction, and they went every where preaching the gospel, and Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached the gospel unto them; and when they believed Philip's preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of the Lord Jesus, they were baptized both men and women. After the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of the Lord, they sent down Peter and John, who when they were come, laid their hands upon them and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8 chapter. So that here the promise was verified, that all others as well as those at Jerusalem should receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, if they would repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, for the remission of sins, as we have before shown what the gift of the Holy Spirit was, which was promised, for the gift of the Holy Spirit, which the Savior promised to give to his saints was not a vain imagination, but an eternal reality; a something of consequence to man; a something by which he should be greatly profited, and without which he could not be saved. But leaving Samaria, we will follow the apostles in their journeyings as they went to the utmost parts of the earth.

The next place noticed by Luke in his history of the apostles, is Peter went to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurian [centurion] of the band called the Italian band. The account of the whole transaction will be found in the 10 chapter of the Acts of the apostles. Let the reader turn and read it, for his satisfaction so that he may have the subject clearly before him.

After Peter went there he preached Jesus unto them, the Holy Spirit sat on them as it did on the Jews at the beginning, and the same effect followed; for the Jews that went with Peter were astonished, because that on the Gentiles was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit; for they heard them speak with other tongues and magnify God. So that in this instance the promise was also fulfilled and they of the house of Cornelius received the Holy Spirit according to promise. But we will now go and hear another messenger proclaim the gospel, who was called at a different time from that of Peter, but who had received a dispensation of the gospel as well as the other apostles who were called before him. we mean Paul: an account of his travels Luke gives us in the Acts of the apostles; for part of the time Luke travelled with him as appears from his account. In the 19 chapter of the Acts of the apostles we have an account of Paul's visiting Ephesus, and finding certain disciples there who knew nothing but the baptism of John but when Paul taught them they were baptized, and then he laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit and spake with tongues and prophesied.

MILLENIUM. No. XIII.

Continued from page 68.

The sacred writers abound in descriptions of Christ's reign on the earth, for a thousand years—scarcely one of the ancient prophets but either directly or indirectly notices it, and out of the many allusions to it, in the Scriptures, I shall quote a few, in addition to those already quoted. In the prophecy of Isaiah, 4th chap. 2,3,4,5,6, the prophet thus describes that day, (the day of Christ's reign: for one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.) "In that

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day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely, for them that are escaped of Israel.—And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem; when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and rain." All this is necessary to observe here, as this quotation is, that what the prophet here describes is to take place when the tabernacle of God is with men; and we have already seen that the tabernacle of God is to be with men when Christ reigns on earth a thousand years, or one day with the Lord.

Ezekiel, in the 24th chapter of his prophecy, gives the following account of this day, or thousand years: 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31. "Therefore I will save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey, and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David, he shall feed them; and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beast to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessings. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bonds of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hands of those that served themselves of them. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them: but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I, the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God. And in the 37th chapter of this same prophecy, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 verses, the prophet thus describes the glory of Christ's reign on the earth. "And say unto them, thus saith the Lord God; behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and I will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with other detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them. So shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers dwelt, and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children forever.—Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for ever more." These quotations need no comment. They speak for themselves.

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Every reader with the least degree of intelligence, knows that what is here said has yet to take place, and he also knows, that it will take place when the Lord restores the kingdom to Israel, and not till then, and that will take place when he comes to reign on the earth.

The prophet Hosea gives us a similar account in his prophecy, 14th chap. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9th verses. "I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive—tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein." The prophet Joel says of the coming of the Lord, and of his reign on the earth, 3d chapter, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21st verses, "The Lord shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion my holy mountain:—then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall be no strangers pass through her any more. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, & all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. Egypt shall be a desolation; and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall dwell forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion."

The prophet Amos says in the 9th chapter of his prophecy, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15th verses: "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old; That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God."

The above quotations, with a great many others which might be brought, set forth that order of society which will exist when the Savior reigns, that day, or the thousand years. We have a most splendid description of it given in the Psalms, beginning with the one hundred and forty fourth, to the end of the book; but we deem it unnecessary to quote any more, as the candid reader will be enabled, when the subject is laid before him so plain as is done in the above quotations, to see and understand for himself, so as to deliver his mind from darkness on this point, when reading the prophecies. Who cannot easily discover, that the order of things set forth in the above quotations, from the prophets, has never yet been on the earth, neither indeed can be, until the Lord comes? For it is at that time that Jerusalem is to be built and never to be thrown down, and it is at that time that the earth is to bring forth in her strength, and when the mountains are to drop down new wine, and all nature to rejoice before the Lord; for he comes to judge the earth in righteousness. It is also at that time, that the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed. And it is at that time, that the tabernacle of David shall be built, and Israel become the praise and glory of the whole earth.

(In a former part of this treatise, I noticed the change which was to be wrought upon the beast at that day, or

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thousand years; but not only the beast but the vegetable kingdom is also to be greatly changed—the trees and the vines—the one is to bring forth their fruit in abundance, the other to load itself to such a degree that the mountains will literally drop down new wine. So that a great change is to be wrought on all the lower creation—the very earth is to become more fruitful than ever it has been since it was cursed; and the Spirit of God is to be poured out on all flesh, and his power to be exalted in changing all things, so as to make them conduce to the happiness of men in the highest degree their nature is capable of. This is the Millenium, and this only. If the power of God is not exerted on both man and beast, as well as on all other parts of the lower creation, the idea of Millenium is worse than folly. All the above quotations, taken from the prophets, must be fulfilled, with a multitude of others which might be quoted, all to the same effect. The fulfillment of these prophecies will make a Millenium, and nothing else will; for these are the things which God has promised to do for the world, and which he has said will take place.—Whatever power therefore is necessary to change the nature of the lion, the leopard, the bear, the ass, the cockatrice, together with all other animals, which hurt and destroy, is necessary to be exerted to bring about the Millenium, and nothing else will do it. And not only the power necessary to effect this, but also to change the earth so as to make it more fruitful, and the seasons so that the ploughman can overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; for our present seasons will not admit such a thing—so that a great change must be wrought on all things, miracle or no miracle. If all this can be done without miracle, so be it, and if not, the days of miracles are not past, or else the idea of the Millenium is worse than folly.

GOSPEL. No. VI.

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 74.)

Inasmuch then, as the gospel was preached to Abraham, would it be tho't hazarding much to say that baptism was preached to him for the remission of sins, or could the gospel be preached to Abraham and this not be preached? Perhaps some might say, that it was told to Abraham that in his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed, & that was all, could it be said that the gospel was preached to Abraham. And yet it was not preached to him, or was Abraham left to guess the rest and find out what was meant by being in his seed. But let us go back and look a little at this subject. Paul as before quoted, has told us that it was a fixed principle in the economy of God and that before the foundation of the world, that men were to be saved by being in Christ. And he also tells us that Christ was Abraham's seed. Is this testimony correct? If it is, ever since man was in existence there has been but one way of being saved; for God, according to the apostle's statement, had fixed it by an irrevocable decree and that before the world was, that men should be saved in this way and none other. The question now arises, was this scheme of things kept hid from the early ages of the world, so that they did not understand it, and were saved by it? If so, there never was any need of understanding it from that day to this; for if they could be saved by it without understanding it, so could we and so could all others, and Paul's assertions to the Ephesians be worse than vain. "That by grace are ye saved through faith," and for when there was no understanding there could be no faith. And there is nothing more certain, than this, that if the ancients were not made acquainted with the scheme of life, they must have been saved without it, or else they were destroyed for want of knowing it. The latter cannot be admitted, and it is very hard to admit the former, that is, that any people were ever saved without understanding how it was done, that they were saved, or that any persons could be washed from all sins by the Lamb, and yet know nothing of Jesus, the Lamb of God, and be taken into heaven by a scheme of things of which they had no knowledge? We are told that without faith it is impossible to please God, and where could faith be in all this matter; or had the ancients the happy faculty of believing on him of whom they had not heard, and of hearing, without a preacher? Mark, reader, that Paul has fixed this matter forever; that it is in Christ Jesus that men were to be saved, since the foundation

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of the world, and in no other way; so that the ancients must either have known that they were in Christ, (we mean those among them who were saved,) or else they did not: if they did not they were saved in ignorance; and the old maxim with them holds good, that ignorance is the mother of devotion. But on this point there can be no difference of opinion among the candid; for to admit that any portion of the human family, were saved, at any time, or in any period of the world, without knowing how they were saved or by what means they were made partakers of the grace of life, is to suppose an improbability: that is, it is to suppose that they were saved, and were not saved at the same time; for the revelation of the plan of salvation was essential to the salvation of any of the human family. It mattered not how good the scheme of it was, which was devised in eternity, nor how well suited to the situation of man; nor how well calculated to save men; nor yet, how competent it was to save, still it would never have saved one individual since the world began, unless it had been revealed to him. Let it have remained secreted in the bosom of eternity, without its being made known to man, and the world would have been nothing the better of it; but would all have gone to destruction together.

Another thing which would appear very strange, is that there should be an Abel, an Enoch, and others, who had great power with God, who got many revelations from God, and had great faith, so as to obtain testimony that they were accepted of him, and that they pleased him; and yet with all that they knew, they did not know, nor understand the scheme of things, by which they had this power with God, and through which they obtained it.—Enoch prophesied of the coming of the Lord with ten thousand of his saints to judge the world; Jude 14th verse;—which judgment came by reason of the atonement of the anointed Savior, and it would be very strange indeed if Enoch should not have known any thing of the sacrifice of the Savior, and yet knew of his coming to judge the world, because they rejected the salvation which was offered to them by reason of that atonement, and not only knew of the sacrifice of the Savior; but of the way by which the world of mankind was made partakers of the benefits of that atonement; that is by being put into Christ Jesus, and that work of putting in by baptism, in watter [water], according to what Paul has said, "That as many of you as have been baptised into Christ, have put on Christ;" and I may add, that none others, but those who were baptised into Christ did put him on, or could put him on; for there was no other way of putting on Christ.

Who can doubt but that man who had faith sufficient to get revelations, and to obtain knowledge of the great day of judgment, when the Lord should come with ten thousand of his saints, who walked with him three hundred years, and had faith sufficient to be translated, who can doubt I say? but this man was acquainted with the whole scheme of life and salvation, or the gospel. No person can doubt it, but one who is incapable of judging any matters.

But the Scriptures are pointed on this subject, and so clear that a cavaler has no room left, only to show his unfairness and want of candor. Paul says to Timothy, in his second epistle, 1:9, 10, "Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; but is now made manifest by the offering of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light, through the gospel." If this statement be correct, life and immortality came to light by the gospel, the same as to say, that unless the gospel had come, life and immortality would not have come to light. Let us ask, when did life and immortality come to light? Before answering this question, let me ask, what is meant by life and immortality? I answer, the knowledge of a future existence, or an existence after the present state, in a state of superior glory; and this is the knowledge which came to light by the gospel. When did it come to light? Enoch had knowledge of life and immortality, or else he would not have had faith to have been translated; for could he have faith about a thing of which he never heard? And Paul says that this knowledge came to light by the gospel. If so, Enoch had knowledge of the gospel, and if he had knowledge of the gospel,

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he knew that men must be in Christ Jesus, or else they could not be blessed, and he must have known that men were put in Christ by baptism, or else there was another gospel, for this was the one which Paul preached, and which he said was before the foundation of the world, and by which we had grace in Christ, before the world was, and it was through this gospel that life and immortality came to light, and Enoch must have been put into Christ, according to the law of this gospel, or else he would not have walked with God three hundred years; for no man can walk with God unless he has obeyed the gospel; and Enoch must have been baptised for the remission of sins, and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, by the laying on of the hands of some one who had authority from God so to do, or else he would not have known of life and immortality.

This matter will appear exceedingly plain, if we attend a little to the promises made to those who believe and obey the gospel. They were to those who were baptised for the remission of sins, that they should receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and through this gift they should see visions, dream dreams and prophesy, see Acts of the Apostles, 2d chap. Let us look at Enoch then, and see what great knowledge he had of things of God, and ask him, how did you come to have this knowledge? The answer: By seeing visions. And how did you obtain power with God to see visions? The answer would be, I obeyed the gospel, received the Holy Spirit, and thereby saw visions, and through this means I obtained all my knowledge.

Cincinnati, O. Feb. 13, 1835.

BROTHER O. COWDERY.

I have had the opportunity of perusing, from time to time, your interesting paper, as I have been travelling from church to church, from country to country, and from State to State, holding forth the words of eternal life—the glorious light of heaven among a people who sit in darkness and in the dominion of death, and it is with great satisfaction that I read of the success of my brethren in the ministry, in spreading light and truth, notwithstanding the opposition which they have to encounter: for notwithstanding the earth has been veiled with a thick veil of darkness for centuries and error has spread much divided "and operated unspent," till nations and kingdoms have been inundated by its overwhelming influence, yet the days have come when a light has broken forth in darkness; truth again is beginning to shine, and they who are honest in heart will behold its heavenly light and rejoice; yea, many have beheld it, and not only beheld, but embraced, and are greatly rejoicing that God is unchangeable, that his Spirit is the same to day as yesterday and forever, and that the voice of inspiration is again heard in the land as in olden times. Who could have supposed five years ago that truth would have spread so rapid? for whether we look to the east, or to the west, to the north or to the south, we perceive its mighty progress, upheld by the hand of Omnipotence—it moves in majesty and power, and continues its steady course, pulling down the strong holds of Babylon, and leaving her mighty towers, exposing the creeds, systems and inventions of men, exhibiting the extreme ignorance, follies and errors of all sects, which causes their priests to rage and their mighty ones to tremble.

I left Clay co. Mo. the last of Aug. Since that time I have preached to many congregations, mostly in villages; however I have baptized but few—I was unable to travel and preach for several weeks last fall in consequence of sickness.

I baptized three at Sugar Creek Ia.—the church in that place numbers nineteen. Two in the village of Terrehaut Ia. and seven in Campbell co. Kentucky, eight miles from Cincinnati: the church in that place now numbers eighteen.

Give my respects to all enquiring brethren and especially to my aged parents, if they are living in that place.

I remain your brother in the gospel.

O. PRATT

P .S. March 4th.

Since writing the above we have preached three times in Cincinnati, three times in Fulton, and three times in the village of Commingsville, 6 miles from the city. We have had large congregations and many are astonished at the doctrine—some believe, many disbelieve, and others obey.—We have this day baptized two who reside in Cincinnati.

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There are now 22 or 23 members of this church in Fulton and Cincinnati. We expect to leave this place soon for the village of Batavia about 20 miles distant.

Brother Barns and myself preached twice in the court house at Brookville, Indiana—we were kindly received by the people of that village, and were solicited to tarry longer, but we could not conveniently: it was the first time the people in that place had heard concerning the principles of our faith, and it was somewhat marvellous to them, perhaps rendered more so in consequence of a short debate which lasted about three or four hours, principally upon the second coming of Christ.

The debate of which I speak was between myself and a preacher of the Universalist order, (Mr. St. Johns,) the people were very well satisfied and were desirous to know more concerning the doctrine. We obtained one subscriber for the Advocate and left the Appeal of our brethren with the Editors of Brookville Inquirer, who said they would print it—since we have been in Cincinnati we have received the above named paper and also a short letter from its Editors, requesting me to return and give them another hearing, but as it will be out of my power or at least very inconvenient for me to visit that place for some length of time, if ever, I will insert their letter in this and you may publish it in the Advocate if you please that if it should happen that any of the elders of this church were passing through that village, they might call and preach—and no doubt they would be kindly received.

"Brookville Feb. 1, 1835.

Mr. Orson Pratt—

Sir: there is a general wish through this country, that you would call and give us another hearing when opportunity will permit—send us a letter and we will give public notice when you will attend; and we have no hesitation in saying, that you will be heard by the largest congregation ever assembled in this county. Your expenses during your stay, will be defrayed."

Yours respectfully.

(Signed) "Edit's. of BROOKVILLE INQUIRER."

"Kirtland, March 8th, 1835.

BRO. O. COWDERY:

A council being called this evening to take into consideration the many pressing requests from the eastern churches, for conferences to be held among them during the present year: it was unanimously resolved that conferences should be held in the following places to be attended by the travelling Elders from Kirtland, viz: In Westfield, Chautauque Co. N. Y. May 9th, 1835. In Freedom, Cateraugus Co. N. Y. May 22d; In Lyonstown, Wayne Co. N. Y. June 5th; At Pillow Point, Jefferson Co. N. Y. June 19th; In West Loborough, near Kingston, Upper Canada, June 29th; In Johnsbury, Vt. July 17th; In Bradford, Mass. August 7th; In Dover, N. H. Sept. 4th; In Saco, Maine, Sept. 18th; and in Farmington, Maine, Oct. 2d, 1835, &c. &c.

The brethren in various churches and places mentioned above, may expect public preaching on the two days following each conference, and they are requested to see that the appointments are made at the most convenient houses. This we leave for them to do for their own convenience. All the Elders within reasonable bounds of these conferences are requested to attend them, and it will be their duty so to do.

ORSON HYDE, }

W. E. McLELLIN, } Clerks