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

its perusal without a deep and settled conviction of the truth of its principles.

The author has now in possession the testimony of hundreds of people from different States and Nations, all bearing witness that this work has been a means in the hands of God of saving them from infidelity-and from Sectarian error and delusion, and guiding them into the light of truth.

All these considerations, and an intense desire to impart the truth to mankind as widely as possible, have induced the author to send forth this new edition; which he greatly desires may prove a blessing to thousands who are yet grovelling [groveling] in darkness and superstition, and lead them to the true fold of God.

If there be any thing to admire, or any thing praiseworthy in this work, the author has no claim to the honour [honor], or the praise; it is justly due to HIM who is the source and fountain of all Truth. The author was an husbandman, inured to the plough [plow]-unpolished by education, untaught in the schools of modern Sectarianism, (falsely called "Divinity")-reared in the wilds of America, with a mind independent, untramelled [untrammeled], and free. He drank of the pure fountain of truth, unsullied and unmixed, as it unfolded in majesty of light and splendour [splendor] from the opening heavens in all the simplicity of its nature. As such it has flown from his pen in the following volume,-not veiled in mystery-not dressed in the pomp of high sounding names, and titles, and learned terms-not adorned in the gay attire of eloquence flowing from the imagination and the passions; but standing forth in the undress of its own native modesty, as if conscious of the purity and innocence of its nature.

He is indebted not only to the Spirit of truth for the principles contained in this work, but also to several men who have been made the instruments in the hands of God to reveal the knowledge of God to this generation, and to be the founders and leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Among the foremost of these he would make honorable mention of Presidents Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, by whose instrumentality most of these glorious truths (so well known to the ancients) have been restored to the knowledge of the world-and whose zeal, labours [labors], and sufferings will stand forth as a bright memorial to all succeeding ages; and be celebrated by happy millions yet unborn. With an assurance that the principles of this work will yet prevail over the whole earth, this new edition of the Voice of Warning is now sent forth, and should the author be called to sacrifice his life for the cause of truth, yet he will have the consolation that it will be said of him as it was said of Abel: viz. "He, being dead, yet speaketh." PARLEY P. PRATT.

Manchester, England, Sept. 1st, 1841.