| 409 From the "Gospel Reflector."
The present condition of the religious world represented by the similitude of a dream.
As I was reposing one day in a beautiful grove, and meditating upon the present condition of the world, my mind became lost as to the things that were around me, and I fell into a deep sleep and dreamed a dream; and behold I was carried away and set down in a great field, and it was filled with a numerous concourse of people who seemed to be in great confusion, and they did not appear to agree with each other, but walked in different directions.-When I saw this I marveled greatly, and when I viewed them more closely, I discovered they were people of all ranks and grades of society; and what still more astonished me, was, they were people from all the nations of the earth. I also discovered that they were engaged in several different exercises. I enquired [inquired] of one that stood by what this meant, he told me that it was their several exercises in religious worship. While beholding the heathen part of this company I was much pained to see the awful cruelties that they inflicted upon themselves during their ceremonies;-I exclaimed, O ignorance! thou foul monster, why has thou so much degraded this people?
I then turned my attention to that part of the multitude that professed Christianity. As I drew near and entered into the midst of the company, I was asked if I enjoyed religion, and belonged to any society; I answered and made known my condition, hoping to receive such instructions as would relieve my mind, and remove the burden from it. I entered into conversation with several and found them to have opposite opinions. Some manifested a warm zeal for their cause and strenuously opposed others; and others were more candid. At this warring about creeds, and clashing of opinions, I was astonished, for they all pretended to prove their sentiments true by the bible. I was mush disgusted and was about to turn from the scene in despair; but several gathered around me who tried to persuade me to embrace their several creeds. Some said this difference of opinion was of minor consequence. I soon turned from the scene of contention about creeds and listened to hear some of them give their descriptions of the glory, majesty and beauty of heaven: also the advantage of being a Christian. On the other hand some attempted to describe the woes and pains of hell what will be inflicted upon those who disobey the commands of God. This produced much contention among them; some said there was a hell, others said there was none. I was also displeased at this, and was bout to turn away and have nothing more to do with religion or its votaries: but being urged by all parties to read the scriptures and satisfy myself,-which I resolved to do; but when I thoroughly examined them for myself I found that the mass of the christian part of this company were professing one thing, and living by another. In order to reconcile my mind to this I was cited to learned men to get an explanation of the scriptures. I called on them, and truly they made much exertion to explain the scriptures to my satisfaction, and at the same time to suit their creeds. With their fine speeches, and the rehearsing of popular traditions, and through the means of the modern spiritualizing system I was in part converted to their opinions. Therefore, I resolved to embrace some popular doctrine, and float with the current of popularity. I then forsook candid investigation, and commenced to support a party and abide by the teaching of men. But before I was so deeply involved in party spirit that I could not be prevailed upon to investigate for myself, the scene was changed, and I was rescued: before bigotry and superstition had fastened their serpent fangs upon me, I was aroused to see my situation.
Suddenly there appeared a cloud which hovered over the multitude, having a singular appearance, being accompanied with a terrible noise. The bustle and noise of the multitude was soon hushed, and a profound silence reigned in its stead, whilst every eye looked upon this singular phenomenon with wonder and astonishment. And behold, there appeared a personage in sight that was descending through the ethereal sky, and bending his course towards the field that contained the
(page 409) |
