| 679 of a long absent friend; it gave us no small degree of consolation we assure you to hear of your safe arrival at Nauvoo and the good health enjoyed by you and family; it filled our hearts with gratitude love and thanksgiving, to the Author of all good, for the preservation of your lives, and the continuation of the blessings of heaven unto you; it inspired us with new zeal in the way of peace and righteousness, we were cheered with the gladsome intelligence of the prosperity and increase of the kingdom of God in that part of the moral vineyard, may it continue its mighty revolutions until the knowledge of God covers the earth as the waters do the mighty deep, and peace love and union reign universal-how grateful ought we to be to our heavenly father in that we are permitted to live in a day and age of the world in the which the fulness [fullness] of the everlasting gospel is ushered into the world, amid the glad acclamations of the hosts of heaven in all its beauty excellency and glory; dispelling the mental clouds of darkness, the sable covering and veil, that has long enshrouded the nations; severing the iron chains of religious superstition, bigotry, tradition and tyranny; to the astonishment, confusion, consternation, chagrin and utter dismay, of hireling priests the votaries of absurdity and error; while old Babylon is falling to rise no more forever; and her merchants stand aghast crying alas alas to see their crafts driven to the four winds of heaven by the light of truth divine, while their broken systems are blown to the skies, they howl with rage for many will buy their merchandise no more forever. Alas for old mystery Babylon the mother of harlots, the abomination of the whole earth-peace be to her shades we wish her a long and lasting repose-arise dear brother let your light shine, sound the gospel trump both long and loud, let its deep melodious tones roll through the vallies [valleys] and o'er the mountains until every ear is saluted with its sonorious [sonorous] harmonious and joyous sound-gird on your armor, stand firm to your post, spare not, wield the sword of the spirit in mighty power let the blows fall thick and fast around you-fear not, and you shall gain the victory, you have our ardent prayers for your success in the ministry of reconciliation, long may you prove invulnerable to the shafts of disease and death, and may you receive many souls as seals of your ministry, as crowns of rejoicing in that day when the Lord makes up his jewels-go on dear brother in the cause of God, and may the consolations of hope dwell richly in your bosom,-thrust in the sickle with your might and you shall return with your sheaves rejoicing, for the harvest is great and the laborers are few, may the spirit of the Lord attend you and crown your labors with success. With joy we remember the time when the light of the fulness [fullness] of the gospel shone into our understandings filling our hearts with joy and gladness. We feel thankful that we were ever permitted to enjoy your society, your company we should be happy to enjoy, the saints and friends would all be glad to see you again and hear you proclaim the fulness [fullness] of the gospel of life and salvation in this place. Many has been the time since your departure that we have desired to see and converse with you; we often reflect upon the happy seasons enjoyed in your company and their memory is delightsome, and sometimes we indulge the fond hope that we shall before long see you again, but how soon time alone will determine. We feel determined to confide and centre [center] our hopes in infinite goodness, and lean upon his omnipotent arm, and by his assisting grace to be faithful until the end of our lives. We can now feel sensible of the value of existence, having the gladsome assurance, of a glorious immortality, beyond the confines of the tomb, Oh blessed hope, the prelibation of endless joy and delight, although called to pass through tribulation deep, we will fear no evil, but count all things as loss and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ whom we receive as our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, how replete with consolation is the glorious gospel revealed through the medium of the son of God! while we contemplate the purposes of redeeming grace and love our bosoms swell with transport as also while we view with admiration and wonder the excellency of the character of our heavenly benefactor, he who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God the author and finisher of our faith, how perfect the system of salvation devised by him who holds the destiny of all intelligences in his omnipotent hand. He who formed the grand system of the universe-who
(page 679) |
