| 647 In taking a view of the enemy's forces drawn up in order of battle we behold the old lady upon the scarlet-coloured beast, surrounded with all the splendor of her court, and on her right her eldest daughter, the Protestant Establishment of England, arrayed in royal splendor, and clad in robes of state. Wealth, honor and luxury alure [allure] her votaries, and numberless clergy follow in her train. On her left, a long line of Methodists, of various ranks and orders, reformed, and re-reformed, and scarcely less formidable than their venerable mother and grandmother. Next follows the Calvinists, Unitarians, Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Campbellites, Irwinites, and Socialists; while the extreme rear is composed of drunkards, gamblers, profane swearers, thieves, and robbers. However these several troops may differ in other points among themselves, they are all united in unholy alliance, and combined against the saints, and one spirit seems to pervade them all.
On the other hand, we behold a handful of men, or rather of stripling youths, presenting a small but formidable front. They are clad in robes of simplicity-covered with a mantle of charity-their loins are girded with truth-while in their right hand is a two-edged sword,* and in their left the shield of faith. A bright and glittering gem of joy sparkles on their brow, and hope and confidence animate their bosoms; while far on high their standard is unfurled to the breeze-an ensign of LIGHT to the nations-and the golden letters of KNOWLEDGE are inscribed on its folds.
Such is the view which the two armies present at the present time. Even now we behold them rush to the battle. See! the air is darkened-it is a shower of arrows from the hosts of the enemy. They are hurled with a strong arm, nerved up with hatred and envy, they are pointed with prejudice, & dipped in the poison of slander, falsehood, and reproach. But see! they fall harmless at the feet of the saints, being warded off by the shield of faith. Now and then an arrow of TRUTH is hurled back upon the enemy: it pierces their hearts, and their ranks are thinned and deserted. A shout is heard through the hosts of Israel: truth will prevail-the day is ours-and so goes the battle.
Since the departure of our brethren of the Twelve for America, which was on the 21st of April, we continue to receive cheering accounts from London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, and various other places, giving very interesting news of the success of the Saints. Scores and hundreds are being baptized unto repentance, and are enjoying the holy spirit according to promise. Several are added to the Church here in Manchester almost daily."
*The Word of God.
VOICE OF WARNING.
By the politeness of Elder J. Fielding, we have before us a copy of the first English edition of the "Voice of Warning," and feeling assured that it would be interesting to our readers, we cheerfully insert the preface to that edition.
"PREFACE TO THE EUROPEAN EDITION
When the following work was first published in 1837, it was but little known, and seemed to meet with little or no encouragement. Months passed away and very few copies were sold or read. But to the astonishment of the author it worked itself into notice more and more, by the blessing of God, and by virtue of its own real merits; till in two years the first edition consisting of three thousand copies were all sold and many more called for. A new edition was published in 1839, consisting of two thousand five hundred copies. These are not disposed of, and the demand is still increasing both in America and Europe.
It has already found its way into most of the American States and into the provinces of the Canadas, as well as many parts of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. It has visited the cottages of the humble, and the parlours [parlors] of the great; and from the best information we have on the subject, very few have risen from
(page 647) |
