Communications

The following was written or intended as a private letter to Elder Truman Gillett, a resident of this city, but for the richness of its contents it was thought advisable (as also by request, of the friends of truth) to give it a place in the Times and Seasons: we publish it verbatim.

Richland, Oswego co. N. Y. Jan. 11, 1841.

Dearly Beloved Brother:

It is with heart felt satisfaction that we improve a few leisure moments, to answer your letter received on the 18th Dec. with thankfulness and joy, it seemed like the return

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

spake and worlds sprang into being, and rolled forth in beauty and splendor performing their various revolutions in perfect order and harmony through the fields of unlimited space at his command-what a heavenly boon of consolation is the glorious hope of immortality the anchor of the soul while buoying o'er life's tempestuous sea. The light of the everlasting gospel is again spreading its benign rays of the pathway of the just-which shall grow brighter and brighter until the perfect day, O the depth of the riches wisdom and knowledge of God-how unsearchable are his riches and his ways past finding out, may we be rooted and grounded in love that we may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, depth, length, and height, and to know the love of God which passeth knowledge-that we may ultimately be filled with all the communicable fullness of God in his celestial kingdom-which to obtain, may we live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God, observe all his testimonies and keep his commandments that we may ever have his spirit to be with us.

In dwelling on the glorious theme the heart grows warm in gratitude and love, and the kindling glow of the comforter the spirit of truth is felt in the soul. Truly the believer can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, how sublimely pure must a system be, which produces such a glorious result, and a religion that enforces upon mankind this truth, that in order to worship Deity, they must become assimilated into his character. Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will to man, is the glad tidings, the embassy of love, truth and righteousness, sound it aloud dear brother to the world, with my full soul I thank our merciful Creator for the unspeakable inestimable gift of eternal life, in Jesus Christ, demonstrated to the world by his life and resurrection from the dead we rejoice in that we are permitted to live in a day and age of the world in the which the Lord has set his hand again the second time to reconvert the remnant of his people, which shall be left from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Cathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea, and has reared an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth, yea and will establish them in the land that was given to their fathers for an inheritance, restoring their judges as at the first, and their counsellors [counselors] as at the beginning, reorganizing the kingdom that it may be restored unto Israel.

Go on dear brother in the way of truth and righteousness, we bid you God speed, and may the God of heaven protect you and pour his spirit and blessings upon you, and strew his mercies in your path abundantly, may a multiplicity of blessings rest upon you and may the love of God be the monitor of your bosom, to guide you in the path of the just, declare nought [naught] but the pure gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in these last days, the free and impartial grace of God-point out the glorious benefits resulting from the belief of the divine report and the reception of the truth, which maketh free, sound the glad tidings freely and faithfully, and great shall be your reward, and eternal shall be your glory in the mansions of eternal rest and love,-bright robes of infinite perfection, palms of endless victory, songs of ceaseless rejoicing, and a crown of immortal glory, awaits you if faithful until the end, which may God grant through Jesus Christ.

We most cordially thank you for the friendly letter received from you, it inspired us with new zeal in the cause of God, we hope that we may ever conduct ourselves so as to be worthy of your friendship; permit me dear brother to tender unto you the love of the saints in this and the Greenville branch: your letter has been read and read over and over again with much interest: in presenting unto you the compliments of your friends in this section I cannot be particular for it would be a lengthy business, I must write a little concerning the spread of truth in this region since your departure. Even like bread cast upon the waters-the saints generally remain firm in the faith of the gospel, of the son of God in this region and I have had the pleasure of baptizing or introducing some into the church or kingdom of heaven, viz: Mrs. McNett, Mrs. Manwarren, Mrs. Bates, Br. Cranson's two oldest daughters, Mrs. Wiggins, Mr. Abel Marble, Mr. Benj. Cross and his wife Roxy, Matilda Cross and her sister Athlenda Stevens, and ordained Br. Benj. Cross to the ministry. He is a faithful and worthy brother I assure

you. I expect to baptize some more the first time that I visit Greenvill [Greenville]; the cause of God has and will continue to roll forward, and prosper, with a mighty impetus, propelled by the hand of the Lord God of Elijah, until the knowledge of God shall cover the earth as the waters do the great deep.

I would inform you that the sects in the village of Pulaskie [Pulaski] and elsewhere in this region, are holiday meetings of inquiry as they call them. A great meeting has been held in Casnovia by the Unionists, some were for having an organized body while others were for no organization, thus fulfilling the scripture that they should council together and it should come to nought [naught], the sectarians are somewhat troubled and confounded, for turn which way they will the truth stares them in the face, for they see in spite of all their lyings and deceivings the prophecies are fulfilling, truth spreads and reflects light, and knowledge takes the place of gsueso [guesses] and think so, and their crafts are endangered thereby. They are sensible that something must be done and that quickly, for their crafts are in danger of falling, and their abominations and prisestcrafts [priestcrafts] exposed when held up before the mirror of truth. For surely as Isaiah said their bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it, and their covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it, for the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act. They are endeavoring to make a ladder long enough to reach into the kingdom if possible and save themselves the trouble or humiliation of coming in at the door, they are like a vessel afloat upon the ocean without sail cable or anchor-sprang a leak-pump my boys or you sink-what is the use of pumping all our days, that old leaky vessel, go down she will, sink she must, there is no remedy, they must leave her and come aboard of the ship where Christ is commander, she is like an old target bored through and through, the cannon of truth, has perforated their rotten systems of error.

Come down here if possible; there is great need of good faithful and competent laborers in the vineyard in this section of country, but the work is advancing in spite of all the combined powers of darkness error and preistcraft [priestcraft]; but I must draw my communication to a close, give my love to all the saints and acquaintances. I remain yours as ever in the bonds of love and Christian fellowship, farewell peace be with you and yours Amen

LUMAN HEATH.