Testimony of Christ's Second Appearing, Exemplified by the Principles and Practice of the True Church of Christ

deur, and warlike power, and behold, the humble Saviour was manifested in the form and likeness of a woman, and assumed the appearance of a handmaid.

22. 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 carnal sense of the wicked, so far is the way of God below all the ways that ever man contrived, by which all the carnal works and inventions of man will be supplanted; and therefore, in the eyes of man, the real work of God will ever appear strange and unaccountable.

23. 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 established in her present order and spirit of government. And in all this time of sixty years, the testimony has been verbal, and those who were faithful in it increased in further light and understanding, and in power and harmony, from time to time, without any written creed, relating to themselves, or any written testimony in defence of their cause, or for the public information of others.

24. Nor is this present publication to be considered as any creed to bind or influence the faith or practice of the Church, to prevent a further increase; but as the first public testimony in writing, containing a true statement of the fundamental principles and reasons of our faith and practice, according to the measure of our present light and understanding.

25. Whatever is written on any subject, must have respect to some foundation or first principles; and, as the living power of God was first ministered, in this latter day, for the purpose of destroying the false foundation and pernicious principles of antichrist; so the work itself appeared like madness and folly to such as stood on that foundation. 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.

26. 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, to that degree of righteousness, peace, and union, which they visibly manifest, every thing has assumed a different apppearance; so that time and circumstances have rendered it proper to state those different operations and degrees of the work in their true nature and character.

27. And, 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 and false ideas, 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 seems necessary, at this time, to give this public testimony of facts, that the truth of things may be established, and every necessary satisfaction be afforded to mankind upon the authority of those who have had a perfect understanding of the work, from its earliest rise, either from their own certain knowledge, or from their most intimate acquaintance and near relation to those who were eye and ear witnesses of all the most important matters from the beginning.

28. The present publication may serve to convey general information to the unprejudiced mind, and enlighten the understanding; 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; nor can any attain that treasure through any other medium than that which is given of God in the order of his grace.

29. Although we do not despise the rules of rhetoric established among the learned, yet we have taken no pains to adapt either our manner or style to the refined taste of the present age. If any choose to 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 carried away with empty speculations of that nature, so long as the matter is clear, and the language such as sufficiently conveys our ideas.

30. As the unlearned cannot comprehend the learning of the learned, unless they are taught by those who are learned; so neither can the learned nor unlearned comprehend the work of God, unless they are taught by those who are in it. Our principal aim has been to open matters so as to be understood, and we believe we have succeeded sufficient to satisfy every candid inquiring mind.

31. The statements set forth in the following works, are confirmed by three kinds of evidence: First, the Holy Scriptures; second, the general consent of ecclesiastical history; and third, the testimony of living witnesses, in the present day. And, as all that took place from the beginning, had respect to the latter day; so it is a matter of the highest importance to know what God has actually accomplished in the present day; and therefore the testimony of living witnesses, is considered of the highest authority, and superior to any written record whatever.

32. We are far from expecting, or even wishing, any of our writing to supersede the necessity of a living testimony, or in

anywise to prevent a further increase of light and understanding in the things of God. As far as the builder is superior to the thing which he builds, so far the living subjects of the work of God, stand forever superior to any thing that they can possibly comprise in letters. The living testimony of God is not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

33. And as it is certain that the work of the latter day, spoken of by all the Prophets, has verily commenced; therefore we are fully persuaded, that the true knowledge of God will increase, from one degree to another, until the full manifestation of his glory. And for this purpose 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 stated, we respectfully refer the candid reader to those who keep the commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ.

LEBANON, Miami Country, State of Ohio, 1st of Dec. 1808.

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DAVID DARROW,
JOHN MEACHAM,
BENJAMIN S. YOUNGS.

Note. DAVID DARROW, now in the 59th year of his age, was 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, and is now in the 39th year of his age. BENJAMIN S. YOUNGS received the testimony in the year 1794, and is now in the 35th year of his age. It is proper to remark, that the two first-named, were co-laborers in forming, and also leading Elders in supporting, the several societies of this community in the Western States, and signed their names not as authors, but as counsellors, and as sanctioning the work.