| 42 that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." Isaiah XXIV, 5 and 6, and again, "And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2nd Thess. 1; 7 and 8, and also Paslms XXXVII, 8, 9 10 and 11 verses, "cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.- For evil doers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt dilligently [diligently] consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Let these passages of scripture suffice for the present on the subject of the Millenium.
Eighteen hundred forty has arrived, and we wish mankind generally, but more particularly our friends, patrons, a year of happiness; but of this we have no assurances to offer them. We will not pretend to predict, what lies in the bosom of futurity, to be unfolded the present year, further than that we have no doubt, but what there will be many births, many marriages, and many deaths. Many, no doubt will be called to lay down this tenement of clay, who will not have made that preparation before hand, for which they, when near their departure, will wish they had done: and probably they will raise their warning voice, entreating others not to be so foolish as they have been; which warning will, no doubt soon be forgotten by the heedless and unreflecting.
We have no doubt, but what wickedness will continue to increase in the land; and the times grow more and more perilous; for Paul has given us to understand, "that in the last days perilous times shall come," and then he gives his reasons why they will be so. 2nd. Tim. III, 5 first verses.
And if we have not arrived at the verge of the last days, we think from the signs of the times, that we are very fast progressing towards them: and yet, notwithstanding the clearness which the sacred writers have pointed them out; we have every reason to fear that they will roll on unawares, and unperceived by the great mass of the people as did the flood in the days of Noah, until they will call to the rocks, and the mountains, to fall upon them, and hide them from the face of him who sitteth upon the throne; and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand: Rev. VI, 16 and 17.
We feel to continue to warn our fellow travellers [travelers] to eternity generally, especially our brethren, to shun the paths of vice, and cleave to the rod of iron, which is the word of God; and pursue the path of righteousness, progressing in holiness from day to day, that we may become perfected in Christ Jesus, and prepared for every good word and work. Then let come what will, prosperity or adversity, peace or persecution, liberty or bonds, life or death, all will be well with us, for we shall have a conscience void of offence [offense], which will enable us to meet any or all of these things with composure, and resignation; and even with rejoicing, being buoyed up in every time of need, with the spirit of the living God; which will soothe our woes, soften our afflictions, and cause us to rejoice in the times of our greatest calamity and deepest distress.
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We have received a copy of the history of the late persecution in Missouri, written by P. P. Pratt, while imprisoned in that State; published at Detroit, Michigan. It contains 84 pages written in a concise and comprehensive manner; beginning with the outrages of Jackson county, he exhibits the most conspicuous characters' in their unhallowed conduct from that time, until the whole society of the saints were driven from the State. It contains an account of his miraculous escape from prison, also the escape of Elder Morris Phelps, at the same time. We could say much in favor of the
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