Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, No. 5

THE BOOK OF MORMON CONFIRMED BY MIRACLES.

1. — In the last number of this series, we showed that in the origin of this work, the Lord confirmed the truth of the Book of Mormon unto many witnesses in such a way, and by such means, that it was impossible for them to have been deceived ; that the testimony of these witnesses stands good until it can be refuted : tiiat no man can be justified in rejecting this testimony until he can show that it is false ; that it can only be proved false in two ways, first, by showing directly that these witnesses did not see and hear as they testify ; second, by showing that there is something connected with the nature of the message of which they testify, that is unreasonable, unscriptural, iniprobable, or contrary to 'some known truth. Now no one has ever attempted to bring any direct negative testimony ; this, indeed, would be impossible, unless the witnesses themselves should deny their former testimony, and this they have not done. And those who have attempted to condemn their testimony from the nature of the message itself, have only exhibited their own weakness and folly. Upwards of twenty years have passed away, and no man has, as yet, been found able to prove the Book of Mormon or the testimony of its witnesses false.

2. — We will now speak of the testimony of miracles. God has wrought many great and glorious miracles by the hands of his servants in confirmation of the Book of Mormon. We humbly speak of these things, not in a boasting spirit, for we can do nothing of ourselves ; but it is the Lord, who has in his infinite mercy, performed many great and mighty works among this generation, through those who have believed on his name. There are two kinds of miracles ; first, those wrought by the power of God ; and, second, those wrought by the power of the devils When Moses was sent with a message to the Egyptians, this Lord wrought miracles by his hand. The magicians also, at the same time, wrought miracles. When Moses cast his rod upon the ground, it became a serpent ; the magicians cast their rods upon the ground and they also became serpents. Moses turned the waters into blood; the magicians did the same. Moses brought frogs in great multitudes ; the magicians performed the same. The miracles performed by Moses were done by the power of God ; those performed by the magicians were done by the power of the devil. Some miracles

Ea-formed by Moses, the magicians were not permitted to perform ; but as far as the ord suffered them to do miracles, they did precisely the same things that Moses did. The witch of Endor performed a great miracle, in bringing up Samuel from the dead, by the request of Saul, king of Israel. If this woman was possessed of an evil spirit then we are forced to admit that the devil has great power ; for she was enabled through the supernatural povper by which she was influenced to detect Saul, notwithstanding he came to her in disguise. That she actually did bring up Samuel is evident from the conversation which passed between Saul and Samuel : moreover, Samuel prophesied to Saul, concerning what should befall him and all Israel ; and the

next day the. prediction was literally fulfilled,* It seems that the prophet Samuel was rather displeased at being disturbed from his quiet resting place ; for after the king of Israel had bowed before him, " Samuel said to Saul, why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up ?"

3. — As a further evidence that the devil can work miracles, Jesus says, " There shall arise false Ohrists, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders ; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."t As another example of the miraculous poWer of the devil, we are informed that the man who possessed a legion, had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces."J The miracle of breaking chains and fetters is equal to the miracle wrought by Samson in breaidng new withs and new ropes § Jesus says, " Many will say to me in that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name ? and in thy name have cast out devils ? and in thy name done many wonderful works ? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you : depart from me, ye that work iniquity." || From the preceding verses, taken in connection with this, we learn, that false prophets and such as should say. Lord, Lord, and do not his will, but work iniquity, were to'perform wonderful works, and make great pretensions, not only before men, but before the Lord. Tha devil, therefore, assists those who work wickedness to perform great signs, and wonderful works. If the present translation of the Bible be true, he has power to show visions, for it is said, that he showed our Saviour " all the kingdoms of the world," and it is also said, that " Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

4. — John predicts that a certain power should arise, that should do " great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth, in the sight of men, and deeeiveth them that dwell on the earth, by the means of those miracles which be had power to do in the sight of the beast." Immediately before the second coming of Christ, there is to be a general gathering of the nations against the Jews at Jerusalem : these nations will gather into the valley of Armageddon near Jerusalem, after which, the Lord will destroy them. This great- movement of all nations against the Jews, will be set in operation by the, means of wicked miracles. John speaks of it thus : " And I saw three unclean spirits, like frogs, come out of tha mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of Grod Almighty. Behold I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth .and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he ga- .thered them together unto a place, called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."** The , reajson the Lord will suffer the devil to work miracles to deceive " the kings of the earth and of the whole world," is because they will previously have rejected " the everlastr- ;ing gospel ;" therefore the devil will deceive them, and lead them on to destruction, cas he did the Egyptians. This same power is prophesied of by Paul, as follows : — " And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming ; even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deoeivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish ; because they re- /;eived not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." tt

5. — If the foregoing quotations be correct, we see that the devil has power to create .serpents and frogs, and turn rivers of water into blood — that he has power to reveal strangers who may come in disguise, and raise up a dead prophet to converse with men here .on the earth — that he has power to break chains and fetters— r-to transform ■himself into an angel of light — to show all the kingdoms of the world unto Christ — ■. to perform great signs and wonders, and call fire down from heaven— and finally, his power is to be so wonderfully manifested, that even " the kings of the earth and

* 1 Sam. xxviii. f Matt. xxiv. 24. J Mart, t. i. § Judges, xvi. 9—12. JJ Matthew, vii. 22, 23. i Key, xiii. 13, 14.

** Key, xvi. 13—16. tf 2 Thess. ii. 8—12.

* the whole world" wUl suffer themselves to be deceived by his miracles, .and be blindly led to the valley of Slaughter, where they will be consumed by the brightness of Christ's coming. All of these things the devil has done, and will do, if the English translation of the Bible be cbrrect.

6. — It may be aiiked, how are we to distinguish between the miracles virought by the power of God, and those wrought by the power of Satan ? We answer in the language of Paul, " he that is spiritual judgeth all things." But as the greater part of the world are not spiritual, we vidll point out other rules by which to distinguish •the two powers. Wherever miracles are virought by the power of God, there will be found a true and righteous doctrine, unmixed with error : wherever miracles ara wrought by the power of the devil, there will be found more or less false doctrine. Wherever miracles are virought by the servants of God, they will do them in the name of Jesus Christ, after having obeyed the ordinances of the gospel : when the servants of the devil do miracles, if they pretend to do them in the name of Christ, it will be found by examination that they have not obeyed the ordinances of Christ, and therefore he suffers the devil to deceive them ; but it is oftsner the case that they do not perform them in the name of Christ, neither in the way that he has appointed, as in the cases of mesmerism, somnambulism, &e. Those who do miracles by the power of God, generally have a message to publish to the people by authority from God. The most of those who do miracles by the power of the devil, pretend to no message whatever ; or if they pretend to have a message to deliver to the people, ft will be found, on inspection, to be mixed with error.

7. — Although the devil can work great and wonderful miracles, yet there is always something in connexion with them that will enable mankind, if they are sufficiently humble, to discern that they are not of God. If it were impossible to distinguish between' the two powers, then mii'aculous evidence would be no evidence at all in favor of divine revelation : but miracles were considered by our Saviour as evidence ■of his own mission — hence, he says, " I have, greater witness than that of John ; for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent jne. And the Father himself which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me."* .in, Jesus said, " If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not ; but if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works, that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in bim." Elsewhere he said to Philip, " Believe me for the very works' sake." And in another place he said, " If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin."t

8. — From all these sayings, and many others of a similar nature, we learn that mu'acles are considered an evidence in favor of the revealed truths of heaven, and therefore, there must be a wide difference between the manifestations of the two powers : this difference is so great, that no person can be justified in judging wrongfully in the matter : he that imputes a miracle of evil to Goii, or a miracle wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost to the devil, commits a sin that will not be easily forgiven. Isaiah says, " Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil ; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness. "J When the Pharisees accused Jesus of working miracles by Beelzebub, he immediately tells them that the blasphemies against the Holy Ghost should not be forgiven. J If miracles were not intended to convince men of the truth, Jesus never would have upbraided " the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not." But he pronounced a heavy woe upon Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, because they had rejected the mighty works which he had done in them, and said, that it should be more tolerable for Tyre, Sidon, and the land of Sodom, " in the day of judgment than for them."|| All these examples afford ample evidence that the two supernatural powers can be distinguished from each other with the most unerring certainty.

9. — Miracles, when taken alone, are no evidence whatever of the divine mission of any one ; but when taken in connection with a pure, holy, and infallible doctrine, they are evidences of the strongest kind, and, if rejected, will bring the generation among

* John T. 36, 37. 1 Ibid x. 37, 38.— xiv. 11.— xv. 24. J laaiah, y. 20.

§ Mark iii. 22—30. || Matthew xi. 20—24.

whom they are wrought under the greatest oondemnation. Many prophets have he6n sent with a divine revelation to man, who have never wrought any. miracles confirmatory of their mission, and yet the people were condemned for rejecting their testimony. The prophet Noah came prophesying of one of the most universal judgments which ever hefel the human race, and the whole world were condemned for rejecting his prophecy; and yet, we have no account of his performing any miracles. Lot was sent to warn his kinsmen in Sodom of the terrible judgment about to be poured upon the city ; the people were condemned for not listening to him, and yet we do not read that he performed any miracles. Isaiah and Jeremiah came with a divine mission to Israel, but we have no accourit of their performing any miracles until quite a number of years had elapsfed from the beginning of their mission ; yet, Israel were condemned for not receiving their revelations: Ezekiel did not, at first, confirm his mission by miracles. Zechariah, Malachi, and many others, did not, so far as we are acquainted, establish the divine authenticity of their books by miracles. Jonah, when sent to the great city of Nineveh, wrought no miracles, so far as history specifies, that were visible to the people of that city ; yet, they received his message as divine, and repented because of his preaching. One of the greatest prophets that was ever born of a woman did no miracles to prove his divine mission. The Scripture says expressly that « JOHN DID NO MIRACLE ;"* and yet, the Scribes and Pharisees rejected the counsel of God against their own souls in rejecting John's mission.

10. — If God has, from time to time, sent prophets among men without confirming their mission by miracles, and has condemned the people or generation to whom they were sent, because they would not receive their testimony ; how much more will he condemn a people or generation to whom he sends a message, confirmed by miracles ? If Sodom and -G-omorrha were condemned for rejecting a divine message without miracles, how much greater will be the condemnation of that people who reject the still greater testimony of miracles ?

11. — From the foregoing we learn, that a prophet may be a true prophet, and yet perform no miracles : and therefore, those who have the vncked presumption to say that they will not believe in any new revelation, unless God shall confirm it by miracles, are taking a very sinful, dangerous ground; for if such wicked characters had lived at the times when God sent messages, unconfirmed by miracles, they certainly would have rejected them. We are persuaded that no person who has read the scriptures, and who has the fear of God before his eyes, would ever dare to say he would reject everything under the name of new revelation, unless God would estabUsh it by miracles.

12.— The Lord always accompanies his word, when revealed, with sufficient testimony to prove its divine authenticity, though he does not always give the same amount of evidence. He judges man according to the testimonies which he gives; where much is given, much will be required ; where but little is given, but little is required; where nothing is given, nothing is required,

13. — As we have already stated, the Lord, in his great mercy, has condescended to give miraculous evidence to establish the Divine Authenticity of that great and glorious revelation— the Book of Mormon. Therefore the Book of Mormon is established by far greater testimonies than many books of the Bible, which were not confirmed to the generation in which they were revealgd by mh-aculous evidence. It is useless for our enemies to say that there have been no miracles wrought confirmatory of the Book of Mormon, when there are tens of thousands of people who can and do bejtr testimony as eye witnesses to the contrary. We have already related, in the last number of this series, the first miracle that was vsrrought in this Church. Out of the many. thousands that have since beeh performed, we humbly mention the following, as published in the Millennial Star.

14. — A GKEAT MIKACLE : NAERATTVE OP REUBEN BBINKWOETH.

" On the 2d July, 1S39, I entered on board the Terror, Commodore Sir J. Franklin, being then about to set out on a voyage of discovery for a north-west passage to India.

Tlpeia returning to England, we knded at Bermuda on the 1 6th, of July, 1843, and in the afternoon of the same day a terrible thunder-storm occurred, in which I was suddenly deprived of my hearing and speech. At the same time five of my comrades, viz., John Ennis, William Collins, John Rogers, Bichard King, and William Simms were summoned into eternity. I remained insensible fifteen days — perfectly unconscious of all that was passing around me ; but upon the return of reason came the dreadful conviction that I was deprived of two of my faculties. I well remember the period, and shall for ever continue to do so — language cannot describe the awful sensations that pervaded my mind when I became fully sensible of the reality of my condition. I will here remark, that the subject of religion had never troubled my mind; nor did the calamity I was called to suffer awaken any fteling akin to it ; nevertheless I felt a certain feeling of gratitude that I had not met with the same fate as my more unfortunate companions ; yet I must, to my shame, confess that it was not directed to the Great Disposer of all events, who could have taken my hfe as those of my companions, had he willed it. But it was not his design. ' I was spared, and am now a living witness of his loving-kindness to the most abandoned sinners, if they will turn and seek his face. At that time I was about nineteen years old. After remaining at Bermuda for about three weeks, we again set sail for England, and reached Chatham on the 14th December. I remained there only fourteen days, after which I went to London, and, by the kind assistance of some gentlemen, entered the deaf and dumb school in Old Kent Road, where I remained for ten weeks, but not liking the confinement, and being from home, I became dissatisfied and unhappy, and resolved to leave it, and accordingly did so. I then went to George Lock's, Oxford Arms, Silver Street, Reading, with whom I lived eighteen months, supporting myself the whole of that period upon the wages I earned on board the Terror. I afterwards went to Rugby, not to remain there, but on the way to my mother at Stroud, Gloucestershire.

" I will here relate a circumstance of cruelty of which I was made the sufferer : being thirsty, I stepped into a public house to .get something to drink ; there were gentlemen in the parlour, who, seeing that I was dumb, motioned me to them, and put many questions in vn'iting, which I answered in the same manner. While I was thus being questioned, one of the men went out and brought in a policeman, who hauled me away to the look-up, in which place I was kept all that night, the next day, and following night, and on the morning of the second day, I was taken before a magistrate, who ordered me to be taken to a doctor, where I underwent an operation, namely, having my tongue cut in two places : he became satisfied that I was both deaf and dumb, and then I was discharged. From the treatment I had received I was determined to go to another of the magistrates of that town, to whom I related by writing what had transpired. He said very little to me, more than that he would write to London respecting it, and I have since learned from a gentleman, that themagistrate who examined me has been removed from his office. I then continued my journey to Stroud, which I reached without any other inconvenience, and remained' there two days. I then went to Newport, Monmouthshire, and occupied my time in teaching the deaf and -dumb alphabet for about three years, at the end of which I became acquainted with the Latter-day Saints. At that timfS I was lodging at a public house, kept by James Durbin, sign of the' "Golden Lion," Pentonville. One of the customers of this house became acquainted with me and prevailed upon me to go ■ to live with- him and his brother, who was a member of the Latter-day Saints' Church. There I first became acquainted with the doctrines taught by this people, by reading and by means of the finger alphabet. I continued to investigate them for about three months, when I felt convinced of the truth of those dofctrines which have since become so beneficial to my temporal and eternal welfare. On the 22nd September I had been, by means of the deaf and dumb alphabet, conversing freely with some of the Saints, and had fully determined to be baptized that evening ; therefore I expressed ' my desire to receive the ordinanceof baptism, and was taken to the canal early on the morning of the 23rd, and baptized in the-name of the Father, Son, and Holy Gho9t; and upon my head emerging from the water, I heard the voices of persons upon the towing path, and this was the first sound I had heard since my deprivation upon the Jsland of Bermuda, in 1843. With my hearing came also my speech, and the first

words that I uttered were — ' Thank the Lord, I can speak and hear again as well as any of you.' I scarcely need state my own sm-prise at the moment, but such it was, and it appears marvellous in my own eyes, not that God is possessed of such power, hut that he should manifest it in my behalf. I have much cause to praise him and glorify his holy name, for in obedience to his divine commands, I not only received the remission of my sins, which I esteem above all earthly blessings, but also the removal of my deafness and dumbness ; and now I can hear as distinctly and speak as fluently as I ever did, although I had been deprived of both these faculties for upwards of five years, not being able to hear the loudest noise, nor to use my tongue in speech.

" There .is a mistake in the Merlin of the date of my landing at Bermuda : it should have been 1843 instead of 1840. The same error appeared also in the MlL- UBUNIAL Stae, No. xxii. Vol 10, and which was caused by extracting the account from that paper.

" The following individuals are witnesses to my baptism : —

" Henry Naish,

" John Roberts, [ Members of the Church.

" John Walden, i

" Jane Dunbin,

" Thomas Jones,' [ Non-Members."

" Jacob Naish, J

THE BLIND HEAMID.

"Berrien, Montgomeryshire, North Wales, May 23, 1849.

"I feel it my bounden duty to make thefoUowiug narrative known to the authoritiesof the Church of Jesus Christ, to show that the manifestations of the power of God attend this Church in the last days, as it did the Church of the early Apostles, viz : — My daughter Sophia Matilda, aged eight years, was, in the month of May, 1848, afflicted in her eyes, she soon lost the sight of her left eye, and on applying to medical aid, instead of the sight being restored she immediately lost the other, the surgeon stating that the pupils were closed, and feared she could never be restored to her sight I was advised to try an eminent surgeon in Shrewsbury, in the county of, Salop, where in June, 1848, I sent her and her mother, as she was now quite blind,, and the poor little creature's sufferings were indiscribable, though the Lord enabled her to be patient in her afflictions ; she remained in Shrewsbury a fortnight but found, no benefit, and as the last resource to human aid, I was advised to send her to an eminent occulist in Liverpool (Dr. Neile) under whose treatment she was relieved, and a gradual improvement took place, to our great joy, until the Autumn of the same year. I corresponded with Dr. Neile, who desired me to continue the treatment he had prescribed, but it was all to no purpose, for she relapsed into the same state as before and was in total darkness the whole of the winter suffering acutely, and by February of the present year, 1849, she had wasted to a mere skeleton, when my brother-in-law paid me a visit previous to his embarkation to California, and told me that if I would have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and call for the elders of the Church, he believed she would be healed. I also soon was enabled to believe, and obeyed the command of ' St. James. The Church put up their prayers for us, and I found, thanks to the Giver of all good, some improvement ere the ordinance was performed. On the following Sabbath, elders Dudley and Richards, from Pool Quay, came to my house, performed the ordinance upon my child, the pain soon left her, and she was soon, by the power of God, and the prayers of the faithful, restored to sight and health, and thanks be to Almighty God, she is still in the enjoyment of these great blessings; trusting you will rejoice in the Lord with me for his great mercies manifested to me,

" Henry Pugh."

"London, June 9th, 1849.

" Beloved President Pratt, — Ifot only has the power of healing been manifest, upon One, but I can say, although we have not been organized into a branch one year, many have been healed. I will take the liberty of naming a few cases out of the many : — Sister Emma Spiring met with an accident while frying some meat,: the pan was overturned, and the boiling fat went into her eye and on her face, and from the Friday to the Sunday she could not see with the eye. I, in iha name of the Lord, anointed her with oil, and laid my hands on her, and the moment I took my hands off her head, she, in the presence of a large assembly, said she could see, and all pain was gone.

" Another case was of a man by the name of Grenham, who had lost the sight of one eye. I anointed him, and he received his sight, and has since come into the church, and is a good member of the same.

" 68, Devonshire Lane, Sheffield, July 10, 1849. •'April 20th. — President Dunn and I were requested to attend to the ordinances of annointing with oil and laying on of hands by brother Jackson, who had sore eyes ; he had lost the sight of one eye completely, and the other was dangerously affected, but after we had attended to the ordinance, his sight was restored immediately, and the same hour he walked through the town looking about him. He was afflicted with the same disease before he became a .Latter-day Saint, and was down sixteen weeks, but the last attack he was restored the third day.

" J. V. Long, Presiding Elder."

HEALma OF ONE BORN BLIND.

" Bristol, November 25, 1849. " Dear President Pratt, — As you were so kind as to publish the letter I sent, dated July 9, 1849, containing an account of the miraculous power of God; displayed' in the healing of Elizabeth Ann Bounsell, which made quite a stir amongst the pious christians of this city. I now venture to write to you again, and say that the above circumstance caused many to call at the house to see u it were true. And upon seeing, many rejoiced, others mocked, saying, " She would have got well if the Elders had not laid their hands upon her." Amongst the latter, was one would-be great man, by the name of Charles Smith (who has written & flimsy tract against the Saints,) who said it was not enough to satisfy him. So the mother took another of her daughters, and put her upon his knee, and said, " Sir, is that child blind ?" And after he had examined her eyes, he said, " She is." " Well," said the mother, " She was born blind : and she is now four years old ; and I am going to take her to the elders of our church, for them to anoint her eyes with oil, and lay their hands upon her ; and you can call again, when you have time, and see her with her eyes opened ; for I know the Lord will heal her, and she will see." " Well," said he, " if she does ever see, it will be a great proof." Accordingly, the mother brought the chad to the elders, and Elder John Hackwell anointed her eyes, and laid hands upon her, only once ; and the Lord heard his prayer, so that the child can now see with both of ner eyes, as well as any other person. For which we all feel thankful to our ' heavenly Father, and are willing to bear testimony of it to all the world.

" Yours in the kingdom of God,

" George Halliday." " P. S. We, the father and mother of the child, do here sign our names to the above, as being true.

"William Bounsell, "Elizabeth Bocksell. " No. 12, Bread-street, Bristol."

BONES SET THROUGH FAITH.

" Kumford, May Ist, 1849. "Dear Brother Gibson, — At your request, I now at down to give you a short account of the goodness d power of God, made manifest in my behalf. About two years ago, while working at my trade of coach-builder, while assisting in removing a

railway carriage, I dislocaJ,ed my thigh, and was conveyed home, and my parents not being in the Church, and no elders in the town, (viz. Sterling) medical skill was called in, but from the swelling it could not he set. I was again examined by a Dr. Jeffrey and one Taylor of Glasgow, who said that a kind of jeal had gathered in the hip joint, and before it could be set, this must be removed by cupping ; so I was cupped with twenty-four lances, but it did no good, and I lingered in great pain for three weeks, when it was proposed that I should again be cupped ; but I was determined that it should not be ; and hearing from you, that Elder Samuel W. Richards, from America, was coming to Sterling. I told my friends, that when he came, they would see the power of God, and I should be healed. Accordingly, when he came, he anointed me in the name of the Lord, and the bone went into its place, and I got up in the morning, and went to my work, to the astonishment of doctors and friends. I sun now a. travelling elder, and have a great deal of walking, but experience no inconvenience from it.' I can get a dozen of witnesses to attest to the truth of this cure, both in and out of the Church.

" I remain your brother,

"James S. Low." " Leamington, August 4, 1849. " Dear Brother, — While visiting the different branches in this conference, I find that the power of our God has been displayed in a wonderful manner, and that the Saints have great cause to rejoice. Scores can bear testimony to the truth of the gospel, for signs and wonders follow ihem that believe. The following cases of healing I feel impressed to send to you, and if you should deem them worthy of a place in the Star you can insert them.

" Sister Sarah Gorde, resident of Maxstoke, near Coleshill, on the 25th September, 1839, had a very severe confinement, which left her in a low and afflicted, state, .d for the space of seven years and-a-half was almost in continual pain. Her blood seemed to run cold within her veins, for she was scarcely ever warm. She bad two doctors in regular attendance, and sometimes three, and also applied to others ; but ill g>ite of all theu" exertions she found no relief. She wasted in flesh until she was reduced almost to a skeleton; her joints were dislocated from the time of her confinement ; to go from home was impossible, for she could not ride without great pain, an3 it was with the utmost difficulty that she could get about the house. But finally a small tract fell into her hands belonging to the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints and while reading the account of the visitation of the auerel to our beloved 'prophet, Joseph Smith, herheart was filled with joy ; the spirit of the Uving ,G6d fastened the testimony upon her mind, and she was satisfied that the day of her redemption was nigh a;t hand, and believed firmly that she would walk again. At this time she was ignorant of the doctrines that we preached, but she firmly believed that God had raised up Joseph to be a prophet to this generation.

" After a few days investigation she was baptized by Elder W. Bramall in the month of April, 1847, and when she was confirmed he told her that she should M healed according to her faith. This promise filled her heart with joy, and in three weeks from the day and hour that she was baptized she was able to walk without pain ; her joints, which had been weak for so many years, became strong, and since then she has enjoyed herself,, and been enabled to fulfil the duties that devolve upon a mother with a laie family.

"Also her son, John Gprde, had, when nine years old, the misfortune to dislocate Bis thigh. The medical fraternity were called upon, who endeavored to set it, but in consequence of its being swelled so much they were not able; and thus it remained for the Space of eight years, and so powerful was its effect upon the constitution that it stuped the growth of his body ; his leg hung loose, so that he could turn it any way he pleased. Finally he heard the gospel of Christ, and in one week after the baptism of his mother he was iinnierse4 in the liquid grave, and wonderful to relate he lost his lameness, his body began to grow, and froni that time he has enjoyed good health, and from appearance no one would suppose he had ever been feeble at all. " I remain yours in the gospel of Chi-ist,

"Alfred CoappNi"

" Nantygwith, Georgetown, Merthjr Tjrdfil, September 14, 1850. « Dear President Pratt, — I enclose a testimony of; a miraculous case of healing, which has talen place a few- days ago in Abercansud; I saw the brother in his affliction) and the accompanying testimony he bore at my bouse, more than two miles distant 'from his. I send it to you with permission to do with it as you tbii proper.

"Wm. PHniiPS. " The Teslimony of David Richardi.

•• Merthyr Tydfil, September 10, 1850. Oh Friday, August the 23rd, 1850, at about eleven o'olock, while I was workmg among the coal, a stone fell upon me about 2 cwt. I was carried home, and the doctor who was present said he could do nothing for me, and told those around me to wrajp me up in a sheet that I might dig. There was a lump on my back as big as a child's head. The doctor afterwards told one of my relations, about six oclock in the evenings that I could not recover. Elder Phillips called to see me, and attended to the ordinance of the Church for the sick, and while commanding the bones in the name of Jesus, th came together, making a noise like the crushing <jf !an old basket; my strength returned,, and liow I am able to go some miles to bear my testimony tcTthis great miracle. The doctor called to see me and was astonished, and said in the hearing of witnesses that my 'backbone was broken ; but thkt it now was whole, and that I was now recovering as well as any man he ever saw. , ISny of our greatest enemies confessed that I was healed by the power of Qbd, and. while coming here to-day, many who heard of my accident were struck ■With ,the greatest amazement. But I thank my heavenly FatW for his kindness towards me, hoping I shall live to serve him more mthfully henceforth than <iver.

"D. Richards.

« Morgan Mills, « John Thpmas, ) -aru.. »

"Thomas. Bees, "Henry Evans,} **i™e«ses.

liEPROST HEALED. "No. 9, Guardian Street, Springfield Lane, Salford, May 19, 1849. " Last iwint, a young woman addressed me in the Carpenter's HaU, the daughter of a fustiab cutter, named Lea, residing in Cook-street, Salford, and said, hei: parents were desirous that I should go and seelier brother who was very bad with a leprosy. Ifweat incempany with one or two of iffy brethren.. I think I never saw any thing so (bad as I the boy<was (the small pox excepted); the whole of the lower part of his face and under ihis chin as well asthe backs of his hands and wrists, were one entire ijiass of scabs ; indeed, you coidd not have inserted a needle's point, they were so thick. He was ieiitt and a haM'. years of age and had been afflicted since he was six months old ; they bad him at the Manchester infirmary and the Salfordi Dispensary, and are at this time paying the surgeon's bill who attended him as a private patient. The surgeon tjoldi'Ws iparente he could do nothing for him, as the disease was too virulent for medicine te reach it.. His parents told me they did not know what it was to get a regulacj(%hfc's rest with hun, and that it frequently took three hours to wash him. Thftfirst jUight we went, thej were not disturbed, duringthe nighty, and in three weeks h# was entirely free, and his flesh was renewed like Ihat of a young child.

"John Watts."

" fioril»nd,i£'ifeBhire, Scotland. « To all whom it may concern. This is to certify, that I was seized with a disease like the leprosy, in the year 1837, and tried all that I could to get a cure, but I could notand all tm doctors that I applied to could do me no good ; and it continued with me over all my body till the month of September, 1843, when I went and was bap. tizd intqsthe,Church of Jus Ghrist of Latter-day Saints, by William M'Farland, «l,d*ro,thesaid,chiirch,onthe 1st of Septemlter, 4« and ihat same night, the lepsogy-leftme. "Jenkt Bidd.

"Witpesses, «WitiiA« MTaelamd,

"iJaiiesCsksxal, « Aj-eianbee Bidd."

"Derby, September 17, 1849.

" Another remarkable case is that of a sL«ter in this town, named Cumberland, who was severly afflicted inwardly, for eleven years, during which time she received medi cal attendance from the most eminent men of that profession ; such as Doctor Heigate of Derby ; Doctor Bobinson, of Northampton ; also under the care of the Infirmary Surgeon of Loughborough, but all to other pm-pose ; she still got worse. Some said it was the liver complaint, others said it was a decline. She was also outwardly afflicted with a disease in her skin, and her body full of sores from head to foot, for many years. Nothing seemed to do her any good, and only death was considered could put an end to her sufferings, but to her great joy, the latter part of last year she heard the Latter-day Saints preaching the gospel, and she believed and obeyed the same, and was soon made whole, and has, from that time to this, enjoyed a goodly portion of health and strength. She is now bearing testimony of the power of God bestowed upon her, both in word and person to all around. Numbers, both in and out of the Church, are witnesses of the same ; and even the unbelievers in the gospel cannot help but acknowledge that it is a great miracle. I might write for hours of such like cases, but forbear at present. Concluding with the words of Paul, ' Our gospel is not in word' only but in power and much assurance.'

," As a witness of the same, I subscribe myself, yours, truly,

" JoHS Wheeler."

" Shropshire, Shemington, near Market Drayton, Sep. 9, 1849. " Dear President Pratt, — In June, 1848, 1 was called upon by sister Walsh, to administer to her daughter, whose head was in one mass of sores, so that she could not turn it without turning her whole body. I attended to the ordinances, and in a few days she was restored, and is now a member of the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints.

" Yours in the Gospel,

" William Hetwood."

ruptures healfd.

" Clackmanan, May 29, 1849. " In the beginning of the year 1848, in Clackmanan Branch, a boy of about six years of age, a son of Brother John and Sister Margaret Hunter, who had been given up by all the medical men as incurable, and whose disease they could not understand, and who was reduced in consequence thereof almost to skin and bone, and confined to bed, was administered unto by Elder John Sharp, now gone to America, and Elder John KuSsell, who is still here, who anointed him with oil in the name of the Lord Jesus, and next day he was running about in good health, and has continued well ever since.

" Witnesses to the above

" John Hunter, "- John Russell, " Margaret Hunter."

" In the month of March, this year,' 1849, a young boy, son of Sister Ann Hunter, in Clackmanan, who was sorely afflicted with rupture, was anointed for the same by Elder John Bussell, and next day he was quite whole, and still continues so, he was rather more than three years of age, and was bom ruptured.

" Witnesses to the above

" John Bussell, « David Russell, *' Ann Hunter." " ■Wolverhampton, January 29, I86O1. " Sister Mai7 Bolland, aged 2B, and residing in Pool Street, Wolverhampton, had suffered severely from a rupture ever since her confinement in the autumn of 184T,' until her baptism by Elder Richard Ramsell, on the 7th of December, 1849. She had, up to the time of Ker baptism, been accustomed to wear a truss, or some such instrument, whereby she was enabled to get about with safety, but tUs she took oft

before she entered the water, and has ever since dispensed with it entirely, having been perfectly healed in the act of baptism ; in testimony of this the undersigned witnesses subscribe their names, at the same time expressing their gratitude to Almighty God for this and the many other manifestations of His goodness which we all from time to time experience.

" James Bell. "Witnesses, " Makt Bollakd.

" Sakah Hutchemce. , " Olivia Sateks."

W3VEKS EEBUKED. " Wood Mill Street, Dunfermline, Fifesbire, Scotland. " To all whom it may concern. This is to certify, that I was in Borland on the 8tb of January, 1849, and there was a girl by the name of Catherine Kidd, laying very bad with a fever, and was at the point of death, and there was part of her dead clothes made, waiting everyoment when the breath would leave her ; so 1 was called to see her, and I went ; and they asked me if I would attend to the ordinance of the Church with her, and I said that I would : so in company with Elder M'Frland, I anointed her with oil, and laid hands on her, in the name of Jesus Christ j and when I had done, I told them that she would get better, and the people that were in the house, said if shfe did, that it would be a miracle ; so from that hour she did get better, and the dead clothes were laid aside. Now for this, to our Lord and Sav tour Jesus Christ, be all the honour and glory, both now and for ever. Amen.

"William Atholb Macmaster. "Witnesses, "William M'Farland,

« Mrs. M'Farland." " Sheffield, June 28, 1849. " Under date of May 2, 1847.- Was sent for by Mrs. Rodger, to lay hands on her daughter, who had been given up by the Doctors. The complaint was the-typhus fever, she was reduced to a complete skeleton, her bones were ready to come through the skin, and her body had many large sores upon it ; I never aaw such an object of pity before. Before administering in the ordinance, I preached the gospel to them, for they were out of the church. I called on them all to kneel down, then gave her some oil internally and laid hands on her in the name of the Lord and rebuked the disease ; and while I had my hands on her head I saw her well, and walking about as one of the most healthy and blooming girls in that pl-ice. She commenced to amend immediately,' she slept safely and soundly that night, and in the morning wanted her breakfast. It came to pass as I saw it. Her mother came into the Church, but her father remains an enemy to this work to this day.

" With due respect, I am yours,

, "Hezekiah Mitchell."

"68, Devonshire Lane, Sheffield, May 18th, 1849. " A little girl, the daughter of brother and sister Bolyn, Pinstone Street, wa« seized with the scarlet fever ; the mother was afraid, and fetched the doctor, who prepared a decoction for the child to take, but when the father came home, he put the medicine away, and procured some olive oil which was consecrated by Elders Dunn, Burgess, and myself, and was then administered by the father, and the disease left her that same hour ; their little boy was then seized with the same kind of fever ; when the doctor came in to see the little girl he saw her playing about with the children, and said, " why, she is better !" " Yes, sir," said the mother, " and now the Uttle boy's begun." " Have you given the little girl all the medicine ?" "No, sir," "O well, continue to give the boy the same medicine, and he will soon be better." They attended to the ordinance of healing, instituted by our Saviour, and the boy was restored the same day ; another of the family was then seized, and they administered the same medicine, (olive oil), which produceid an instantaneous cure.

Yours in the true covenant,

J. V. LoztG, Presiding Elder.

" Cheltenham, August, 6, 1849.

" Dear Brother Pratt,I write to inform jou of two remarkable cases of hfealiog which took 'plaee in the village of Barrow, in the county of Gloucester.

" First, — A young female, by the name of Mary Baliss, was very violently seized with the black fever, so that she was not expected to live. Brother and sister Bayliss sent for a servant of God from a neighbouring village, called by the name of George Curtis, who came, and prayed for, and laid hands upon her in the name of Jesus, and she was healed, and the next day she was up, to the astonishment of the people. This occurred on the 17th June, 1848.

" Second, — A young man, riot a member of our church, was taken ill with the black fever so violently, that all human skill was of no avail. The doctor informed his friends that he would die before morning. His mother, who is in our church, sent for brother Curtis, who laid hands upon him in the name of the Lord, and prayed for him. He immediately began to recover-, and the next morning he was walking about the house, to the astonishment of his friends and neighbours. In three days he was able to go to work in the fields, rejoicing in the goodness of God. He has since joined the church of the Saints, and beairs a faitMul testimony to the healing power of the gospel. Believe me to be, dear brother, yours sincerely in the cause of truth,

" John Aldeb."

" St. Heliers, August 6. " Sent for to visit brother Feron's child. Found her raving in a strong fever, Administered to her. The fever left, and her senses returned five minutes after. Next morning she was running about the doors.

"Witnesses, "John FEKOlir,

"Theresa Fbeon."

a case of mibaculous healing.

" Dundqe, Feb. 8, 1830. " Dear Brother Pratt, — If you deem the following worthy pf a place in the columns of the Millennial Star, it is at your disposal. I have a girl, aged three years, who had for eighteen months been severly afflicted with: convulsive fits, to the loss of- all the powers of body, and even the mind seemed in the thraldom of some great power. I had tried the wisdom of the faculty but without effect, until the child was fearful to behold, almost in continual convulsions by night and day. On the 25th of December last, )5lder Hugh Findlay called and anointed her with oil in the name of thg Lord, and prayed over her, amd from thatday until now she has never had a fit, but has increased daily in strength of body and mind. These facts are known to many i>of beloinging, to our church, and for the truth of which, witness our hands,

" Jambs Davidson.

" Mama Davidson,

" Hugh Findlay."

cholera healed.

" Macclesfield, September 28, 1850.

" Dear Brother Pratt. — I am happy to inform you that I enjoy excellent health and good spirits, and roice in the work of the Lord whereunto I am called to administer. Many are dying in this town of the oholeia. Many of the Saints have been Seized with the destroying pestilence, but all have been restored to health and strength by the power of. the priesthood. I vidsh to forwstrd you some remarkable instances of healing. Sister Jane Batty was seized with. Asiatic Cholera, in the month of August. When I was Called to administer to her, she was taken with cramp,' which was followed With great pain. I laid hands on her, and by the ailthofrity of the holy priesthood rebuked the disease ih the naime of Jesiis Christ ; the cramp and pain immediately left her, and shei was restored to health and strength.

" The next was brother <jl-eorge Galley: hehaida violent attack of the same disease. Elder James Galley and myself laid hands dn him and administered oil, and he was immediately testoted. The next is sister Caroline Parker, who was attacked violently

with the same disease of Asiatic Cholera. Some of the neighbours went for the doctor, who pronounced it a desperate case, and gave some vice, after which her father. Elder Boyle, and Elder James Thirt, laid their hands on her and rebuked the disease, to the great astonishment of the doctor and the neighbours ; for when he came the next morning, he was surprised that she was alive. He wished her to send to his surgery for some medicine, but she told him she could walk there, therefore needed none.

_ " Sister Ann Markland was next attacked by the same disease. I laid hands on her in the name of Jesus Christ, and rebuked the disease, and she was immediately restored. Her mother Margaret was next taken with the disorder. I administered to her in the usual way, and she was immediately restored. The next was sister Ann Stubbs, who was violently taken with the same complaint on the 17th of September. Elder Francis Sherratt and myself administered to her, and she is restored to health and strength. These are but a few cases where the power of God has been manifested in this conference, for there are many others that are equally signalised by the divine power and blessing of God.

« Joseph Clements, President of the Macclesfield Conference,

"'James Galley, Secretary."

" THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVB." — Mark Xvi.

" 10, Henry Street, Park, Sheffield, September 9, 1850.

" Dear Brother Pratt, — While reading over my journal, I have felt impressed to make a few extracts and forward the same to you, that if you think them worthy you may insert them in the Millennial Star, that the faith of the Paints may be strengthened, and the inquirers after truth satisfied that the power of God is enjoyed by latter as much as it was by the/ormei" day Saints.

" August 14, 1849. — I was called out to see sister Fowler, who was severely afflicted with the apparent symtoms of cholera ; the attack was so severe that she was incapable of being removed from the couch on which she lay, her speech was gone, a kind of whisper was the only medium through which her ideas could be obtained. At her request Elder Hardy and I attended to the ordinance of laying on of hands, and by the prayer of faith, we rebuked the destroyer in the name of Jesus Christ, and the disease disappeared. She rose up, her speech returned, and we conversed cheerfully together on the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, to the Gentile fii'st, and then to the Jew.

" Sep. 4, 1849. — Brother William Lamb came to my residence, afflicted with rheumatics, from which he had suffered for three years, and having just joined the church, and got to understand the promises, he felt sm'e the Lord would heal him through my administration, although he was sixty-two years of age ; I therefore called upon Elder Hardy to assist in the ordinance of laying on of hands, and immediately after our hand were taken from his head, he rose up, and bore testimony to the manifesto- . tion of the power of God on his behalf, declaring that all pain had left him, and he frequently made it a part of his testimony, (before he went to Zion) to tell the people how miraculously he had been healed, at a time of life when such a change could not be expected, except through the power of God.

" Oct. 27, 1849. — I was taken ill with hoarseness and inflamation of the lungs; I continued to get worse until Friday, November the 2nd, when the Erysipelas broke out of my face and head ; my head and face were swelled to an enormous size, my appetite was gone, and my suffering hourly increased. I took a little herb tea, as directed in Dr. Coffin's Guide to Health, but I continued to get worse ; on the 3rd my suffering became indiscribable, during the night in particular ; I had the most excruciating pains in the head and bowels ; on Sunday morning, the 4th, my throat was almost stopped up ; many of my friends then gave me up to die, but my faith was unshaken in the promises of the Almighty ; I therefore sent for Elders Dunn, Hardy, and Roper, and while Elder Dunn was anointing my head and face, all inflamation disappeared ; I felt the pain leave as fast as his hand passed over my head, for the power of God drove all pain and disease from me, and in two hours the old skin shelled off my face, and I have been well ever since ; and I hereby bear my testimony

-that immediately, on olive oil being applied to my head in the name of Jesus Christ, the pain left, all inflamation ceased, my speech was restored, in fact, my system, lungs in particular, seemed to be renewed, for I have preached five times more since than I did before, and have enjoyed much better health.

" Yours faithfully, in the new covenant, .

« To President Pratt." « J. V. Long.

" Kirkhall Lane, September 22nd, 1849.

" Dear Brother Pratt, — I wish to inform you of what I consider an incontrovertable proof of the power of God. On Sunday the 9th inst., sister Hart, of Bickershaw, was sick, and had the usual symptoms of cholera. Brothers Afflick and HUl laid hands on her, and anointed her in the name of the Lord, when she was immediately restored, got out of bed, and joined in the fellowship meeting, and bore a faithfid testimony to the power of God. On Tuesday, the 11th inst., brother James Hart came for me to go and administer to his two children who were very sick. I went with him, and found them suffering from sickness, vomiting, cramp, and all the usual symptoms of cholera. The eldest three years old, and the youngest fourteen months ; they were screeching in agony. I anointed them and rebuked the disease in the name of -the Lord, when the eldest got up, and before we were aware of what she was about, ran to her grandmother, without shoes or stockings, to tell her that she was well. They then confessed that children could not deceive, but that it was the power of God. Of these things numbers can testify, and I trust you will make it public to the world. Praying that the blessing of God may rest upon you, and all the church of Christ."

" I remain, yours in the bonds of the covenant,

" Richard Booth, President of the Leigh branch.

"P.S. These are only two out of the numerous cases in this branch. E. B."

Derby, September 17th, 1849. " Beloved Brother Pratt, — On Sunday morning, September 2nd, I was called upon to go and administer to brother Thomas Parks, a young man of this town, who was suffering under a dreadful attack of the cholera. When I first entered the room, which was about ten o'clock, he appeared as though every breath would be his last, having suffered much in cramps, purging, and vomiting, from about four that morning. Shortly after I arrived, elders Duce and Beed came, with priest Fisher. Ws consecrated some oil, and administered to him in the name of the Lord, and as soon as we had fciken our hands off his head, he was enabled to speak, testifying that the pain had all left him, and began to praise God, the giver of all good, that the priesthood was t;ivan to his servants by which they could effectually administer to the children of men. In a few moments he was able to get up and put on his clothes ; we left him and went to meeting. We went again to see him at night, we found him fi'ee from pain but rather weak ; we administered to him again, and asked for God's blessings to attend it, and on Wednesday night Ibllowing, we found him at meeting, strong and well, bearing testimony of the power of God and rejoicing in the same. Henry Duce, Thomas Reed, and Georgp Fisher, ivith the young man's parents are witnesses of the .same, and truly rejoice in the blessings of Israel's God.

" John Wheeler."

15. — The few cases of miracles which are here inserted, are mentioned that the reader may understand that the faith of this Church is not founded upon human testimony alone, but upon the power of God. The Latter-day Saints know that Joseph Smith is a true projht-t, and that the Book of Mormon is a divine revelation, because God has conlii-med the same unto them by the miraculous manifestations of his power. There are novv about six hundred branches of the Church of Christ in the British Island, consisting of upwards of thu-ty thousand believers, and between three and four thousand elders and priests. Now, there is scarcely a branch of the Saints among this nation but have been blessed, more or less, with the miraculous signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit, by which they have been confirmed, and Imow, of a surety, that this is the Church of Christ. They know that the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, tha dumb speak, that lepers are cleansed, that bones are set, that the Cholera is rebuked

, and that the most vh-ulent diseases give way, through faith in the name of Jesu8_ Christ, and the power of his gospel. These are not some isolated cases that occasionally take place, or that are rather doubtfW in their nature, or that have transpu-ed a long time ago, or in some distant country ; but they are taking place at the present period ; every week furnishing scores of instances in all pails of this land : many of the sick out of the Church have, through the laying on of the hands of the servants of God, been healed. It is not something done in a corner, but openly, and tens of thousands are witnesses.

16. — All mankind can prove for themselves that the Book of Mormon is a divine revelation by obeying its principles ; for, if they will do so, they have the promise of certain miraculous signs ; and when they themselves receive the signs, they will know for themselves, and no longer be dependent on the testimony of others. The testimony of others is intended to produce faith in the hearer, and not a knowledge ; but ■the signs which a believer receives after obedience, gives knowledge : this knowledge viiualifies him, in his turn, to bear testimony ; and thus the witnesses multiply in all parts of the earth where this message is received. If Catholics, Protestants, Infidels. Mahometans, Jews, or Heathens, will obey the Book of Mormon, miraculous signs shall follow them, ari§, by this, they shall all know that it is true. If the Book of Mormon be false, God would not confirm it unto any man by gi-anting unto him th« signs, therefore all men would know, if they did not receive the signs, after having complied with its requisitions, that it was false.

17. — The Book of Mormon has now been published upwards of twenty years, during which time many scores of thousands have believed and obeyed it. Now, if .they had not received the promised signs, would they have continued to believe the work year after year ? If they had failed to receive the promise, would they not have pronounced it an imposition long ago ? Yes : we will venture to say, that if the believers in the Book of Mormon had not received the promised signs, there would not have been found in five years after it was prmted, one solitary soul who would have continued to believe in its Divine Authenticity : but the very fact, that tens of thousands do remain steadfast in their belief, shows most conclusively that they have found by actual experiment, that the promised signs do follow; and therefore, that the Book of Mormon is of divine origin.

18. — There is no way that an impostor could more effectually destroy his own imposition than to promise miraculous signs to those who would believe in it ; for when the promise was not verified, it would be known that he was an impostor. We here quote an extract from a revelation given the 22nd and 23rd of September, 1832, through Joseph the prophet unto the Apostles in this Church : " Go ye into all the world, and whatsoever place ye cannot go into ye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into all the world unto every creature. And as I said unto mine Apostles, even so I say unto you, for you are mine apostles, even God's high priests ; ye are they whom my Father hath given me — ye are my friends ; therefore, as I said unto mine apostles, I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost ; and these signs shall follow them that believe."

" In my name they shall do many wonderful works ; in my name they shall cast out devils ; in my name they shall heal the sick; in my name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf; and the tongue of the dumb shall speak; . and if any man shall administer poison unto them, it shall not hurt them ; and the , poison of a serpent shall not have power to harm them." * * " Verily, verily, I say unto you, they who believe not pn your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be dWned, and shall not come into my Father's kingdom, where my Father and I am. And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the world."*

If Joseph Smith had been an impostor, he never would have given utterance to th« above promise, unless he were determined to immediately overthrow his own testimony in relation to the Book of Mormon ; an impostor could make such a promise,

* Doc. and Cot., section iv., paragraphs 10, 11, 12.

but, he could never fulfil it. _ .Since this promise was made, tens of thousands have placed themselves in a position to put he promise to a test, they have found it, to their great joy, verified.

19. — Let us next inquire how many evidences we have of the miracles done- in the days of the apostles. The New Testament was written by eight men, six of whom, namely, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, and Peteri testifyjas eye-witnesses to the mstrvdlous works wrought in their day. We believe that the miraculous power of God was manifested eighteen hundred years ago, because' six eye witnesses in tl»e church have thus testified in their writings. Have we thp !same amount of testimony in the church of the Latter-day Saints ? If so, then the Book of Mormon has just as good claims on our faith as the New Testament. We have already given the testimony of many witnesses ; and there are tens of thousands of others now living, that bear a similar testimony. Therefore, this generation have thousands of eye- witnessesin favor of the miraculous gifts and powers of the gospel, confirmatoi-y of the Book of Mormon, to where they have one confirmatory of the apostolic mission in ancient times. The six writers of the New Testament tell us of many that were healed, hut none of the persons healed have handed down their written testimony to that effect. But this generation have the testimony of thousands whb'Bave been healed of every variety of sickness and disease. If we had the testimony "of the deaf and dumb, and blind and lame, that were healed in ancient times, it would greatly strengthen the testimony of the six writers who have related such marvellous occurrences. What evidence have this generation that the lame man, who sat at the beautiful gate of the temple, was healed ? They have the testimony of one witness, and one only, namely, the writer of the Acts. What evidence have we that the apostles spoke in tongues, on the day of Pentecost ? The writer of the Acts has said so, and we believe it on his testimony alone. Luke who is supposed to be the writer of the Acts, has told us that Philip wrought great miracles in Samaria, — that twelve men at Ephesus, after their baptism and confirmation, spoke with tongues and prophesied — that Peter saw a vision — that Cornelius saw an angel — that Annanias and Sapphira fell dead — that devils were cast out — that the sick were healed by handkerchiefs and aprons, being taken tothem from the body of Paul — and that the shadow of Peter healed many : but all these things are believed, merely on the testimony of one man — the writer of the Acts.

20. — Many hundreds of the servants of God among the Latter-day Saints keep journals of their travels, and of the miracles which pass under their observation. Hence the Acts of the Apostles of the nineteenth century are recorded as well as the Acts of those in the first century ; and the miracles recorded in the Latter-day Acts are just as worthy of being believed as the miracles recorded in the Former-day Acts. If the testimony of Luke can be depended upon, when he testifies of miracles, why should not the testimony of William Gibson, J. V. Long, Joseph Clements, and hundreds of others, be depended upon, when they also testify of miracles ?

21. — Christendom believe in former-day miracles, because it is popular ; they disbelieve in latter-day miracles because it is unpopular. Popularity is, among the most of men, the grand test by which all doctrines are tried, received, or rejected. They never once think of examining the evidence on which a doctrine is founded ; but the great enquiry is, have our great and learned divines believed in it ? If not, it is at once rejected. It is popular to believe in ancient christian miracles, though only testified of by six writers of the New Testament ; but it is unpopular to believe in modern christian miracles, though testified of by tens of thousands of living eye-witnesses. So it was among the Jews, dead prophets were very much venerated and honoured, and their sepulchres garnished, while living prophets were persecuted and put to death. It is very popular among Christendom to believe in the New Testament ; but it is exceedingly unpopular to believe in the Book of Mormon, though it isproved to them, by a thousand times more evidence than the former.

16, Wilton Street, Liverpool, Jan. 1, 1861.

E, JAMES, FBINTSB, 39, SOUTH CASTIE STBEET, IIVEBPOOL.