| 76 were healed, the blind received their sight, the lame leaped as an hart, and the poor had the gospel preached to them; sectarianism trembled, and bigotry stood ashamed, hypocrisy was unscathed and narrow prejudice stood forth in all its native deformity; while truth stalked triumphantly and intelligence spread like the rays of the sun.
The spirit of God rested upon the people, on the day of Pentecost, "like cloven tongues as of fire;" men began to prophesy, to dream dreams, and to see visions. Paul was caught up unto the third heavens, and heard things that were not lawful to utter. John on the isle of Patmos had the heavens opened to him; while prophesies and revelations were poured forth upon the church, which led John to exclaim "Behold what manner of love the Father had bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not. Beloved now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is." How did they get in possession of this intelligence, but through the medium of this sonship, and the revelation and intelligence communicated thereby? What have we had from that time to this, but forms and theories;-the systems and dogmas of men, without certainty, prophesy, or revelation? It is true that many have sincerely desiring to do the will of God; but they could only become his servants; because as the gospel has long since become corrupt and departed, it has not been in their power to become the "the sons of God," however desirous they might be to avail themselves of the privilege. It was not until our Savior made his appearance among men, that the Jews had "power to become the sons of God," and it was not till the Lord revealed himself from the heavens, restored the priesthood and the gospel in these last days, that men had power to become his sons; but as the kingdom of heaven is now preached all men may rush into it, and avail themselves of those glorious privileges which have long been forfeited in consequence of the transgression and apostacy [apostasy] of the church.
Cornelius was a servant of God; he feared God together with all his his house: he fasted, and prayed, and gave alms, and his prayers, and his offerings were accepted before God; and an angel was sent to tell him of it; he was as good, as virtuous, as moral, as sincere and devout, as any man could be at the present day; but he was not a son of God, he was only a servant; and it was necessary after all his piety, and virtue, and religion, that he should send for Peter, to tell him "words whereby he and his house could be saved," and so at the present day it will be found that however devout, and sincere the children of men may have been; that it is necessary that they should come to the standard that God has set up, for the salvation of the human family in these last days; repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and have hands laid on them for the gift of the Holy Ghost, by those whom God has ordained, before they can receive the adoption of sons, participate in the glories of the gospel, and receive an inheritance in the celestial kingdom of God.
From the Millennial Star, June 1, 1842.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
This conference was held in the New Corn Exchange, Manchester, on Whit-Sunday, the 15th of May, and, by adjournment on the two following days, in the large room adjoining Hayward's Hotel, Bridge Street.
Never before has it fallen to our lot to attend a meeting of the Saints, in the British Isles, so distinguished for its numbers for the importance of the principles taught, and for the unity of feeling, affection, and sympathy that seemed to influence every heart. It was indeed, a time of refreshing; while, from the testimony borne [born] by the elders of the different branches, the teachings of the spirit appear to have been simultaneous in preparing the minds of the servants of God for those measures that are necessary to carry into effect his great purposes in the building up of Zion, and in gathering together the Saints in obedience to the command of heaven.
The meeting being called to order, elder P. P. Pratt was unanimously chosen to preside.
Elder Ward being then chosen to act as clerk of the conference, the meeting was then opened by singing, "Go, ye messengers of glory."
Elder G. D. Watt, from Edinburgh, then engaged in prayer, when a few verses being sung, Elder Pratt proceeded to address the conference, and expressed his great satisfaction at the contemplation of the vast assemblage before him, and also at the condition of the church. He looked back at what he knew of the work of the Lord, and he beheld, in the year 1830, the church rising in obscurity in the western wilderness, and consisting only of six members: he looked again only five years ago, and this island had not heard the fulness [fullness] of the gospel as it had been renewed by the visions of heaven. A certain few in weakness visited these shores, trusting in the power and blessing of God; but
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