-ding to the degree and measure of what hath already taken place: And although it may appear to some as a day of small things, we are, nevertheless, fully persuaded, beyond a doubt, that the same who hath begun the good work will carry it on until the whole be accomplished. VIII. It is reasonable to suppose, that mankind, so long imposed upon by false systems said to be of divine authority must be very cautious at this day of receiving any thing that bears such an appearance: and therefore through the tenderness and mercy of God, the truth and revelation of Christ is opened answerable to the weak and prejudiced -state of the world, for the edification of the candid, and not for their destruction. And as it is the most special call of God to all who are Iseeking for eternal life, to free themselves of those pernicious superstitions and false doctrines of Antichrist, in order to their receiving the everlasting gospel of Christ's king„dom, therefore it is, that so great a part of the following -pages is taken up in exposing false religion, that souls who are groaning under bondage may discover the cause and be released.And truly, when the whole depth of that antichristian delusion is exposed, that saying will be fully verified, and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, when they behold the beast that was, und is not, and yet 1is. * IX. The work which God purposed to do in the latter days, was not to be according to the systems of human invention known and understood among men, but was to be a strange work, and the act which he intended to bring to pass was to be à strange act; even a marvellous work and a wonder: Neither was Christ to come, in order to establish any of those systems of man's building that should be found on earth at his appearing, but in the progress of his strange work will most certainly consume them all. There fore said the prophet, Be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong; for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption even determined, upon the whole earth. And hence the warning of the apostle, Behold ye dispisers and wonder and perish ; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. X. When Christ first came, the world looked for him to appear in some splendid form, surpassing that of an angel or any temporal monarch; but behold he appeared in a man, and took on him the form of a servant. Again they expected him to appear in the form of a man, far surpassing all earthly beings in pomp and grandeur and warlike power; and behold the humble saviour was manifested in the the form and likeness of a woman, and assumed the appear ance of an handmaid. Thus as the heavens are high above the earth, so are the thoughts and imaginations of man above all that is called God; and as far as virtue is below vice in the eyes of the wicked, so far is the way of God below all the ways that ever man contrived, by which all the works and invention! of man must be supplanted; and therefore in the eyes of man, the real work of God must appear strange, and unac countable. XI. Sixty years have now passed, since the beginning of this work in England-Twenty-eight years since it began in America-Twenty years since the gathering of the Church and sixteen years since the Church was establi shed in her present order and spirit of government. And in all this time of sixty years, the testimony hath been verbal, and those who were faithful in it have increased in further light and understanding and in power and harmony from time to time, without any written creed or form of government relating to themselves, or any written testimony in defence of their cause, or for the public information of others. Neither is this present publication to be considered as any creed or form of government, to influence the faith or practice of the Church; but as the first public testimony in writing, containing true statement of the foundation principles. and reason of our faith and practice, given through the order and appointment of God, by the joint union of the body. according to the measure of our present light and understanding XII. Whatever is written on any subject, must have respect to some foundation or first principles; and as the living power of God, was first ministred, in this latter day, for the purpose of destroying the false foundation and pernicious principles of Antichrist, to such as stood on that foundation, the work itself appeared like madness and folly, and in no better light, would any written account of it have appeared, nor in truth, could any thing satisfactory be written, until this necessary work of preparation was accomplished and the substance of what was to follow had come to a sufficient degree of maturity. But since the subjects of the work have been broken off from their false foundation, and built upon the foundation of the present revelation of Christ, and are raised up in the order of a spiritual house, from that righteousness, peace and union which they visibly manifest, every thing hath assumed a different appearance: so that time and circumstances have rendered it proper to state those different operations operations and degrees of the work in their true nature. And moreover, as those first operations of the power of God in destroying the foundation of error and vice, exhibited many outward appearances which looked like confusion and wild disorder, owing to the mixture of human depravity, both in the subjects of the work and in spectators, and gave occasion to innumerable false conjectures and groundless reports which may have obtained some degree of credit at a distance: it therefore seemed necessary, at this time, to give this public testimony of facts, that the truth of things may be established, and every necessary satisfaction given, by those who have had a perfect understanding of the work, from its earliest rise, either upon their own certain knowledge, or from the most intimate acquaintance and near relation with those who were eye and ear witnesses of all the most important matters, from the beginning. The present publication may serve to convey a general information to the unprejudiced mind, yet certain it is, that the true knowledge and internal power by which we are saved from the torrent of human depravity, cannot be conveyed by letters so as to be comprehended by the wisdom of man; neither can any attain that treasure, through any other medium than as it is given of God in the order of his grace. XIII. Although we do not despise the rules of rhetoric stablished among the learned, yet we have taken no pains o follow them, nor studied to adapt either our manner or style to the refined taste of the present age. If any chuse criticise or find fault on this account, they are at liberty, we intend neither vindication nor defence on this ground: nor do we suppose that any but vain cavillers will be car ied away with empty speculations of that nature, so long is the subject matter is clear, and the language such as ufficiently conveys our ideas. The unlearned cannot comrehend the learning of the learned, unless they are taught by those who are learned ; so neither can the learned or inlearned comprehend the work of God unless they are taught by those who are in it. Our principal aim hath been to open matters so as to be understood, and we think this sufficient to satisfy every candid enquiring mind. XIV. The matters of fact which we have stated are con⚫ irmed by three kinds of evidence ;-First the holy scripares; second the general consent of ecclesiastical history, and third, the testimony of living witnesses, in the present Jay. And as all that took place from the beginning had espect to the latter da it is a matter of the highest importance, to know wh. God hath actually accomplished, תן n the present day; and therefore the testimony of living, XV. We are far from expecting, or even wishing any And as it is certain that the work of the latter day, spoken of by all the prophets, hath verily commenced therefore we have not the least doubt but that the true knowledge of God will increase from one degree to another until the full manifestation of his glory; and that God will continue to raise up chosen witnesses to give the knowledge of salvation to those who sit in darkness, until the whole of his work be accomplished; therefore, for the more clear and perfect understanding of many things which are here but briefly hinted at, we refer the candid Note. DAVID DARROW, NOW in the 59th year of his age, wan among the first in America who received the testimony of the gospel, in the year 1780.-JoHN MEACHAM (being then a youth, under the care of his father JOSEPH MEACHAM in union with the family) received the testimony, the same year 1780; & is now in the 39th year of his age-BENJAMIN S. YOUNGS, re ceived the testimony, in the year 1794, and is now in the 35th CONTENTS |