# Answer to W. A. Cowdery (on the cholera as a judgment, prophets, and the Baptist Register) -- Oliver Cowdery
# Date: September 1834 (Evening and the Morning Star 2:24, Kirtland, September 1834)
# Source: http://www.centerplace.org/history/ems/v2n24.htm | Provenance: Published as 'ANSWER', signed 'Yours truly. OLIVER COWDERY. To W. A. COWDERY'. High confidence. Contains brief inline quotations from the Baptist Register within his own polemic.

DEAR BROTHER,

I have received several communications from you, and of late I can say, that there is an increase of joy on every reflection that the Lord, whose mercies are abundant, has, by his grace, given us the unspeakable consolation of rejoicing in the same faith, the same gospel, the same covenant, and the same hope of eternal life! Paul said to Timothy, that in the last days perilous times should come; for men should be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, and without natural affection. If this prophecy ever was, or ever will, more evidently be illustrated by the acts of one generation, it must be by a race of men more wicked than the antediluvians, and more corrupt than the people of Sodom, or else we have had an existence on earth among a people who were presented before the eyes of this man, by the inspiration of heaven, and declared to be the people of the Lord's curse, on whom his sword should fall in judgment.

I find many who are willing to acknowledge that God is pouring out judgment upon the earth, in our day; but few will admit that he has revealed it to man. This I conclude, is because they deny the possibility of prophets in these last days; for Amos said (3:7) that, "Surely the lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret to his servants the prophets." So, admitting that the cholera is a judgment sent by the Lord to chasten or rebuke the world, which thousands do, they must admit one of two things: Either God has prophets in these last days unto whom he reveals "his secrets," or Amos was no true prophet; but spake lies in the name of the Lord. Because, if this sickness is a judgment, it certainly was once a secret, to men, not yet unfolded for either their instruction or correction.-Now, we cannot find, in all the prophets who were living before the coming of Christ, that any one of them said, that in the year 1834, or previous, a desolating scourge should pass over the earth; neither did the apostles leave us such information. Then here was a secret; and how could the Lord perform this act without revealing it to "his prophets?" and how could he reveal it to his prophets, when he had none.

We are aware that there are various complaints and diseases common to various countries and climates, these, though never considered by the world at large to be special judgments, sent by the hand of the Lord, it may strictly be said are his rod to humble men. But, I will look at this subject as other men: Were I living in some parts of the northen States, and were consumptive, I would locate myself else where, for the recovery of health. Were I residing in the low parts of the State of New York, Ohio, or Michigan, and were afflicted with agues, I would, of course seek a location where water was more pure, and the air less impregnated with the filth which arises from sluggish streams and putrid swamps. When this was effected, according to the common course of things, I might look for a recovery, and as men would say, except these complaints had fastened upon me, I should be certain of health.

Go to the high lands of Vermont and New Hampshire, and you breathe an air which brings no ague:-you drink of the crystal fountain, and the lucid rill, where the hand of our Creator has marked before the eye, health, and without judgments, long life, where the speckled trout plays beneath its surface unmolested, and unconcerned; and where a man is not under the necessity to wrap himself in a cloak, after sun-set, for fear he will, the next day, be seized with a complaint which will either rack his constitution, till he is ever after diseased, or take him from this world.

Go to the other places of which I have mentioned, and you find this to be the case. Visit the far south, and the yellow fever, with other disorders, come periodically, and take from the earth their thousands; but no agues, nor consumptions. Such has been the course pursued by a Maker with his creatures, during our day, and for generations gone-by; but no mention of the cholera. Why not? men were the same, formed of the same materials, and residing in the same climates.

It is said, that this disease first made its appearance at Jessore, about 100 miles south of Calcutta, (India,) in August, 1817. To mark its rapid progress, as it laid desolate villages and cities, would cause one's bosom to be pained for the afflictions of men! We can scarce form an estimate of its ravages in that remote country for 12 or 13 years. Towns were depopulated, and countries laid waste as the angel of death marched forth to execute his commission! till it spread from the gulf of Tartary to the Mediterranean sea! A once favored land, where light and knowledge beamed from the regions of glory to illuminate the path of men, though long since sunk in darkness, once more felt the chastening hand of God.

In 1830 the Destroyer began to execute his work in Europe, and the first, it is said, who were doomed to suffer by him, were the inhabitants resident at the mouth of the Volga on the Caspian sea. Soon, you know, desolation marked his course over Europe, and by his hand many, very many, were removed from time. In May, or June, 1832 he set foot upon our shores.-The people of Quebec felt the scourge, and soon a great part of the continent were groaning under the affliction. I have marked its progress these two years with some minuteness. In 1832 it spread from the North to the South; in 1833 it carried thousands to their long homes in the South and West, far West, and in 1834 it comes, like a "strong man armed!" and extends in rapid strides from South to North! What can stay this mighty Destroyer in his course? can the skill of men who have, for their whole life, studied the secrets of disease to render usefulness to their fellow-men? No! the wisdom of the wise falls useless, while the ocean, the fortress, "the high tower," the lofty mountains, streaked with pearling streams, with mighty rivers rolling to seek their equilibrium, are also rendered no place of security!-he flies o'er oceans, he walks o'er countries, he spreads terror and dismay in all ranks and conditions of men, and scatters the "seeds of death" in all climates, to execute his great commission, till, in fact, it is, as the prophet said should be, a vexation only to hear the report!

I have, myself, passed through towns, cities, and villages, as well as sections of our country, where hundreds were, by him, snatched from time to eternity, in an hour. I have seen the effects of his desolating march and witnessed the pale countenances of men who were just touched with his finger, and left as monuments of his power, with fallen cheeks and sunken eyes! I have seen the bereaved husband, the fatherless child, and the disconsolate widow, and others whose faces wore a settled gloom, and when met in the streets, would start as from a revery of death, or a converse with departed friends! Nor do I presume that my eyes have witnessed a beginning of what others have experienced. But I will assure you, that a thinking man's mind will be occupied with no ordinary reflections, to walk in the house of death, and to be surrounded by a power sent from God to chasten the world! In truth, it will awaken every faculty of the soul, and call forth the strictest scrutiny of one's religion, to know whether he is prepared to meet the judgment, if he has not faith to stand. Amid this mighty contagion, or, not properly contagion, but desolation, one will stand with feelings of reverence when he knows that it is a scourge of the Almighty; and as he reflects upon the system on which his hope is based, he will stand with fearless contemplation, and say, This is no less than the power of God to prepare the way for his advent in glory!

But lest I am too lengthy on this item, I will dismiss it, after making a few remarks further. The first season after the Destroyer visited our land, you will recollect to have seen almost all denominations of people professing the religion of heaven, assembling for prayer and fasting to turn away the scourge. The several Governors in whose respective States the afflicting angel came, were very careful to make mention of the same in their messages to the Legislatures; and what is still more interesting here to be observed is, that they acknowledged that it was a judgment, a special judgment.

All, then agree, that it is a providence to chasten men-the great, the small, the religious, as well as those who profess none-from the Governor to the private citizen, and as the scripture would represent, "From the king

that sits upon the throne to the maid behind the mill," bow the head with one general assent and confess "it is a scourge!" If this is the case, I ask, Where has been the fulfillment of the word of Amos, that the Lord reveals his secrets to his prophets? Has this affliction, which has taken its millions, been sent, and the Lord ceased to do by us as he always did by other people? Mark its progress. Since it has commenced it has taken off more than the number living on the continent of America excepting the aborigines! A continent desolated, a vast territory depopulated with one breath from the lips of the Most High, or a touch with the finger of the angel of death! and no one informed of the design, nor warned to prepare, that they might escape! Alas, O foolish generation! a people void of understanding! Acknowledge the scourge came by a special providence of God, and then deny the possibility of his informing people of it that they might escape!-Indeed, this must be ranked among the great "discoveries" of the age; for a "discovery" it must be: the ancients knew nothing of such providences-they believed that God had as much love in their lives and happiness as he had in their afflictions and deaths; consequently, would "reveal his secrets to his prophets." Let them wait, then, a few years longer, and see cities and provinces left without an inhabitant, and perhaps some may be "affrighted and give glory to God."

Before the Lord destroyed Nineveh he sent Jonah to warn them to repent. Were the Ninevites the people of God? Certainly they were not Israel, and yet mercy was shown them to that degree that they were warned of approaching destruction. Are we as righteous as were the people of Nineveh? if so, will not God deal as mercifully with us as he did with them? If he will not, when we are as righteous, will he not be a respecter of persons? Will he not cease to deal with that same unchangeable hand which has characterized all his ways since the days of Adam? It may be said, that we are not as righteous as they were. If so, certainly, we have the greater need of mercy, and of prophets to warn us of the anger of the Lord. But I will now leave this subject for the present.

I am informed by some of your previous communications, that the church in your place and vicinity numbered over sixty. This is pleasing intelligence to us: we are not, as Paul said some would be in the last days, "unthankful;" but on every remembrance of his mercy, (and we desire not to be unmindful,) we give thanks. And when we experience unbounded opposition in endeavoring to set light and truth before the world, we are led to glorify God that many are embracing it in various parts of our country.-Truth, you know, has a power, and when it once finds a place in an honest heart, like the good seed, grows up and brings forth fruit.

Some length of time since I received the "Baptist Register," published at Utica, N. Y. containing certain affidavits over the signatures of several persons residing in Susquehanna Co., Pa. From letters accompanying the same, written by yourself, I learned that you forwarded the paper for my information, requesting, at the same time something from me relative to, not only the characters of those individuals, but a statement, according to my own knowledge, of their assertions. I have previously written you short on the subject, which, as yet, I have not found a space. After some reflection, I have concluded, that any information which might benefit one might also benefit many, and at a future period, if providence permit, I shall give the subject a review, and make it as public, no doubt, as the authors of those affidavits will wish. However, some persons, you know, have an itching "to see their names in print." This may be the case with them, and I may render them a kindness, perhaps, which they little expected at the time they gave their assent, or properly speaking, prevailed upon the "little man" of the "Susquehanna Register" to place them in the hands of his mountain readers!

About the same time, or soon after, I received a number of the same paper, ("Baptist Register,") which had previously been mailed, according to the direction on the margin, to Ellery N. Y. Who had the kindness to forward me this paper from Ellery, N. Y. the Lord knows-I know not. But so it was, and I received it as a kindness; for the grave Editor, Beebee, in the greatness of his liberality, sent no "exchange," after noticing the Star, which, among all ranks of professed gentlemen Editors, is called a crime little inferior to that of sacrilege! Why I have said "liberality," is because, if a man may calculate that there is any meaning in language, when I read the motto of his paper, I conclude Mr. Beebee to be a man of the greatest liberality! Not only is he to declare the wonders of God among the people of N. Y. but among all people, even the heathen. Hear him!-"Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people."-Ps 96:3. But, it is to be remembered, that these are the words of a man, said to be after God's own heart, who lived more then 2,800 years since, who "spake, moved by the Holy Ghost"-whose soul was illuminated with the light of truth, and whose heart was a rich treasury of wisdom and understanding: who saw the great offering of God for a guilty world, extended to satisfy the demands of justice, that men might live, and who also saw the time when the righteous are gathered and the Mighty One comes to judge the world with righteousness! Of course he believed in revelations. Mr. Beebee does also, but not in this day, and for this reason is under the necessity of garbling something from the writings of a man, who would have looked down upon him with as little respect as any other heathen who denied the living and the true God by saying that he had ceased to speak to his creatures! Mr. Beebee has no doubt but David is saved, and also "hopes he has a hope" that he shall be saved with him by-and-by. I suppose, in his heaven, the description of which he has hatched up in his brain, which exists some where beyond the regions of space, as far from the fixed stars as the fixed stars are from this earth-a place he never saw, neither does he expect to have a view of it till he has flitted as many millions beyond the stars as he is now from them! There "he hopes he has a hope" that he will find admittance into a glorious city where this man (David) now dwells. But query: Will he be delighted with his company? David was a prophet: he believed in revelations, for he received them; but this man neither receives revelations, nor does he believe it to be possible for any man to receive them in his day. Can the prophet David and Mr. Beebee be one? if they are not, can they both inhabit the same place?

Mr. Beebee tells us the secret however, in few words, and informs the world where the great trouble lies. Hear him:-"Had we not fallen in with one of the followers of Smith, within eighty miles of Utica, and found their papers cerculating even in Oneida co." "we should hardly have given so much space in our paper to the following statement." Poor man! what trouble and perplexity surround him! Astonishing! within eighty miles of Utica one of the servants of God! (Not of Joseph Smith Jr. as this man would gladly represent to excite contempt and ridicule.) The people are in danger, and ought to be warned, so he gives a large space in his paper to put them on the watch. How dare a man go so near? within eighty miles! Truly, then, it was because they did not know that Mr. Beebee lived there, and edited a large sheet printed on a Napier press! But there is a further trouble: He found the Star circulating even in Oneida county! This, he says, is "jumbled up with the scriptures to obtain attention, and the misapplication of them, though glaring to the eye of most readers, may not at all times be discovered by those but partially acquainted with their bibles. Here is the danger." A "danger" indeed, and Mr.-Beebee can inform the public of it; but for fear the publishers of the Star would call on him to do something he could not,-show the contradiction, if any, or where it was "jumbled" by "misapplications," he was very careful to forward no exchange. I received it however, but from whom I cannot say: I shall forward this No. to the P .M. at Ellery, and hope, if he is acquainted with the individual who forwarded me the "Register," he will present him this No. as I take this opportunity to present him my compliments and warmest wishes for his welfare, for his kindness.

There is no danger of deception if persons are acquainted with their bibles, it would appear from Mr. Beebee's remarks. What a pitty that other people are not as wise! A man capable of penetrating into the depths of that wisdom which moved the Psalmest David to unlock the treasures of heaven, and unfold to his people the divine mind concerning future generations, and all this without inspiration in this day! No fear of deception here!-The people of N. Y. must think they have a wise man to watch over their spiritual condition: One who can seize the words of an ancient prophet, and without the least authority from God, make it a common plunder and send it forth to the world as a harbinger before HE comes in flaming fire!-Indeed, he is the very man from whom we could expect to be accused of "jumbling and misrepresenting" truth-panic struck to see one Super Royal sheet circulating within his knowledge. It must be that he is apprehensive that his craft is in danger, and that some may compare his principles with those contained in the paper which has given him this fright! Because, every man professing to believe the bible, and at the same time denying the possibility of more revelations in the last days, that moment shows that his foundation is sand, and that his heart is void of all understanding or he himself is an imposture.

I must return to your letter, as I have already occupied a large space, for the present, in noticing Mr. Beebee and his paper, but I trust I shall escape censure on your part, and also on the part of the subscribers of the Star, as every man is entitled to notice according to his greatness; not to say any thing of the worth of a man professing the share of liberality with which this man is endowed.

Some items in yours, if space and opportunity were granted, might call forth some lengthy essays; but on these, for the present, I must be very concise, as my letter is already more prolix than I had designed it to be when I commenced.

There are certain reflections on all systems of religion which should be taken into consideration. Every people professing religion, (and when closely examined, few can be found without some kind,) are, more or less sanguine that they are right. The Israelites were called out of Egypt, and but few were willing to acknowledge that they had a more perfect system than they, (the Egyptians,) because of the peculiar prejudice of their former education. But did this prove that they were correct? When the Jews, as a nation, had departed from the true way, they were as zealous as their fathers ever were-they could enlarge the borders of their garments; they could tithe mint, and rue, and annis, and cummin; they could reject the preaching of John, and slay the Lord Jesus; they could persecute the saints, and put to death the innocent; they could make long prayers, and were long faces, and say they were right, the people of God, and a chosen generation, and yet they were in darkness, the children of the devil, aud fast

ripening for the damnation of hell! They did not disbelieve in more revelations being given; but they believed that when they were given they would be given to themselves, and also precisely according to their former whims and prejudices. I leave you to judge, which principle is least exceptionable in the sight of heaven, one that denies the possibility of more revelations, or admits it to be possible, though that people admitting the last are as corrupt as were the Jews.

You say that, "thousands say we are deluded and deceived." Bare assertions, on this point, avail nothing, because men are always bound to believe that system supported by the highest degree of evidence. Christ said, "I am the Son of God:" the Jews said, "you are not the Son of God."-From what evidence, or by what authority did they say this? They said it because they disbelieved it. But were they justified in their unbelief?-by no means. Why? Because they were a people professing to hold the keys of the kingdom of God, which, if they did, and judged before they unlocked its archives and obtained HIS voice, they were condemned: they judged without evidence; they passed decision without authority! If they did not hold this power with God, (to obtain revelations,)neither profess to, by what authority did they condemn the Lord, and say that he was an imposture? To say that they were in possession of this power, and then judge a matter coming immediately under its jurisdiction, (it being a matter of religion,) without first obtaining evidence from a source where darkness and uncertainty have no power to deceive or swerve the mind from truth, showed a wicked, hypocritical, and corrupt heart! To make this pretence possessing no such power, nor professing to, shows a heart equally as wicked, hypocritical, and corrupt, and an additional folly which will cause a man of common sense to blush, and turn aside with feelings of contempt!

I will, however, defer further remarks till a future period, meanwhile wishing you favor and peace, with the church in your place, forever.

Yours truly. OLIVER COWDERY.
