# The Evening and the Morning Star, v1n10, editorial matter attributed to W. W. Phelps (editor)
# Date: March 1833 (Independence, Missouri)
# Source: http://www.centerplace.org/history/ems/v1n10.htm (centerplace.org transcription). Pieces: THE CHURCH OF CHRIST; REFLECTIONS; THE STAR; PROSPECTS OF THE CHURCH; THE TIMES; CHILDREN; PRAYER; FIRE!-GREAT LOSS OF PROPERTY!. Notes: unsigned editorials in Phelps-edited issue (confidence medium; 'To Man' June 1832 signed W. W. PHELPS = high); revelations, scripture extracts, reprints, hymns, and others' letters excluded; quoted matter and detected unmarked scripture paragraphs stripped; transcriber bracket-corrections removed (original spelling retained).

[THE CHURCH OF CHRIST]

He that is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, even Jesus Christ, is the head of the church, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.-Adam was the first member of the church of Christ on earth, and the first high priest after the order of the Son of God.

In order to show the rise of the church in the first days, we take an extract from the words of Enoch:

And Enoch continued his speech,

For a book of remembrance we have written, among us, according to the pattern given by the finger of God:

And it is given in our own language.

And men have become carnal, sensual and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God.

And he called upon our father Adam, by his own voice, saying, I am God: I made the world, and men before they were.

Thence came the saying abroad among the people, That Christ hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world.

For no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence:

For in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name; and the name of his only Begotten, is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge which shall come.

That, inasmuch as they were born into the world, by the fall which bringeth death, by water and blood and the Spirit, which I have made, and so become of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again of water and the Spirit, and cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine only Begotten into the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; that ye may be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory:

The truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment.

And behold all things has its likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are Spiritual; things which are in the heavens above; and things which are on the earth; and things which are in the earth; and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.

And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him: and thus he was born of the Spirit, and he became quickened in the inner man:

This is the record of the Father, and the Son, from henceforth and forever:

In addition to this, we make a further extract from the words of Enoch, as published in the Star of August last. It shows to what a state of purity the church had arriven in his day, besides being a good example for every disciple to follow, that means to do the will of God, in our day, in order to abide a celestial glory in his presence. It reads thus:-

And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and of one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them:

As before said, Christ is the head of his church, and from him comes every good and perfect gift. And for the perfecting of the saints and so forth, he has bestowed offices and ordinances, with order, for the benefit of the whole church.-The high priest-hood, of which order is he, the Son of God, or this priest-hood being a type of his order, is set forth as follows, by Alma:

And this is the manner after which they were ordained, being called and prepared from the foundation of the world, according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceeding great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with and according to a preparatory redemption for such:

And thus they having been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this, they might had as great privilege as their brethren.

Or in fine: in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren, thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the only begotten Son, which was prepared:

And thus being called with this holy calling, and ordained unto the high-priest hood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest, this high priest-hood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from all eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things. Now they were ordained after this manner: being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end; thus they become high priests forever, after the order of the Son, the only begotten of the Father, which is without beginning of days or end of years, which is full of grace, equity and truth. And thus it is. Amen.

Now as I said concerning the holy order of this high priesthood: there were many which were ordained and became high priests of God; and it was on account of the exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness, rather than to perish; therefore they were called after his holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white, through the blood of the Lamb.

Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin, save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceeding great many, which were made pure, and entered into the rest were many, exceeding great many, which were made pure, and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.

And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one tenth part of all he possessed.

Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order; and this, that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord.

Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abominations; yea, they had all gone astray: they were full of all manner of wickedness; but Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood, according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people.

And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the Prince of Peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father.

Now there were many before him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore of him they have more particularly made mention. Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice.

After the high priesthood comes elders, priests, teachers, and deacons. Now the offices are separate, for the edification and benefit of the whole church, and, though the elders and bishops are appendages to the high priesthood, & the teachers and deacons are appendages to the lesser priesthood, yet these offices are important to their places, and regular in their gradation: from deacon to teacher, from teacher to priest, from priest to elder, from elder to high priest.

As the angels are the ministers of the Almighty, so are these the servants of Christ, and each accountable in his place.

A private member has no authority to preach, neither administer ordinances; nor has a teacher or deacon, authority to baptize, or confer blessings; nor has a priest power to confirm the members, for all things must be done according to the articles and covenants, which are from the Lord.

Let us give one plain figure: The sun does not borrow its light of the moon, neither does the sun shine less bright in her presence, but the moon does: so, also, when ever the lesser officer, in the church, is in the presence of the greater, the greater takes the lead.

The church of Christ is the place for his saints to prepare for the celestial kingdom, and no man can expect to enter into it, except by being born again; for without water and the Spirit, he is not a legal heir, according to the plan of salvation.

The world is full of strange doctrines, and one says, lo, here is Christ, and another says lo, there is Christ; but, O man be not deceived! Truth is not in every man's mouth, nor is the fulness of the gospel taught in every painted chapel.

Our Savior has said, Whatever is highly esteemed among men, is an abomination in the sight of God.

If these plain words are not enough to cause men to beware, let them look or travel abroad among those that pretend to worship in the world, and see if they answer the definition which James gives of religion. He says, Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Lip service and pride are abominable in the sight of the Lord. Every thing that is not good; every thing that is not plain, and tending to virtue, whether in the world, or among those that profess to be christians; or in the church of Christ, is not of God.

The church of Christ, in these last days, was established by the Savior, for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon mount Zion, when he comes in his glory.

The world endeavors to worship the Lord by wisdom, when it is expressly written, that the world by wisdom knows not God; and thousands risk their souls from year to year, on the say-soes, creeds and covenants of men, when it is written, Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Truth, meekness, faith and charity, are the necessary qualifications of the church, and without them, all service, all profession, and all works are vain.

No man can love the world, or the things that are in it, and be a disciple of the blessed Savior.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The church of Christ, of these last days, is the same it was in the first days, or in any days; it required repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost: it required also, an obedience to the commandments of God, in all things.

The disciples of Jesus must love the Lord without disguise; and must love their neighbor as themselves. They must do good in all cases, and shun every appearance of evil.

Faith is an evidence of a saint, for without faith, he can not worship in Spirit and in truth: faith, being the gift of the Holy Ghost, is the assurance of things not seen: the evidence of what is promised from the Lord, by keeping his commandments.

To obtain faith, we must pray; for by prayer we obtain the Spirit, and the Spirit guides to truth, and truth is light, and light comes from God. The propriety of this reasoning can be seen by the daily transactions of the world, as well as among the children of God: for in the world, when men have ceased to call upon the name of the Lord in faith, believing he will answer them, then the Lord, in a measure holds his Spirit from the inhabitants, and they run to evil; and also, when the children of God doubt his promises as they pray, he withholds his blessings.-But when there is confidence in God, by being obedient to his will, and keeping his commandments in all things, his blessings are not withheld: for instance, Moses lifted his rod over the Red Sea, and it parted, and the children of Israel went over on dry ground; or Elijah called down fire from heaven, that the people might know, the Lord is God. And now with these samples from the many recorded in scripture, let the saints that are sick, ask to be healed in the name of Jesus, or let those who are authorized, command evil spirits to depart in the name of Jesus; or ask blessings in the name of Jesus, and it shall be done.

When faith and works have come up before the Lord, and the saint has testimony of the Spirit, that these things are pleasing in his sight, let him remember, that without charity he can not be saved in the kingdom of God. No one can keep all the commandments and do them without charity.

When a saint walks in holiness before the Lord, he will love his neighbor as himself, he will pray for his enemies; he will visit the sick, and comfort them; he will feed the hungry, and clothe the naked as long as he has means to do with;

and when they are exhausted he will pray for more; and while pitying the poor and strengthening the weak, the angels will rejoice over his acts of goodness.

If any man means to do the will of God, he must keep himself unspotted from the world; because he is an agent unto himself and can do good, and pray seasonably unto him for what is necessary in this life, and to fit him for the life to come.

The prayers of the righteous avail much; yea, they ascend up to heaven before God, and the angels rejoice.

Enoch, through grace, obtained a right to pray, (or rather) pray and enquire of the Lord, and the Lord showed him great things.

Without prayer one can not be a member of the church of Christ.

The wicked pray not, or not in faith, and the Lord pours out his wrath upon the nations that forget him.

The bible says men began to call upon the name of the Lord in the days of Cain, and there is a sample in the days of Abraham when he journeyed to Gerar, and the king took his wife:

It is an evidence of godliness, as well as a joyful sound of devotion, to hear the prayers of the saints offered up to God, morning midday and evening: it makes the humble soul think of what John saw in heaven: And the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints.

After Hannah had vowed to the Lord, and he had answered her petition, she prayed, and said:

My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, my horn is exalted in the Lord:

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.-The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full, have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased:

The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, & bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory; for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.

Here then we find, that when we have prayed, and the Lord has answered our request, it is good to give thanks, in prayer also, that the will of God may be done on earth as in heaven.

When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he spread forth his hands towards heaven:

Repentance, baptism, prayer, humility, meekness, faith, love and charity, make saints for the church of Christ; and when he speaks they know his voice; and when he shall come in the clouds of heaven, they, if they have kept the faith till the end, whether in life or death, will be ready at the sound of the first trump, to rise and meet him, and reign with him in peace, when the wicked will not trouble, and where the weary will find rest.

[REFLECTIONS]

There are but few among those that pretend not to serve the Lord according to his commandments, that have any correct idea how the Lord manifests his power unto the children of men. Some talk of miracles as the only way to establish the Lord's words; and some think if they could converse with angels, they would be satisfied; but when we look back and reflect upon what has taken place since the beginning, we must say, that men have to exercise faith before they can enjoy these privileges.

For, when the flood came, notwithstanding it was a miraculous event to those that lived in that period, who will say that the inhabitants then, except Noah and his family, were saved by it?

Again, when men had conceived the idea of building a tower to get to heaven, and the Lord came down and confounded the language, and dispersed them over the face of the whole earth, it must have been to them somewhat miraculous, but where will we turn to learn, that many were convinced, & turned to God to live?

We might bring all the miracles which Moses wrought before the Egyptians, and ask how many of that nation were converted by them, and what would be the answer? Read the account and the answer is ready.

When the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up; but Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, for not obeying the great command, were cast into the furnace, heated seven times hotter than it was wont to be, and preserved by the power of God, who among all the children of Babylon were converted to pure religion? Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the hand of God in it, but he soon went to crop the grass of the field, as an ox, till seven times passed over him.

When saints know the power of God has been exerted for their salvation, or the destruction of the wicked, they are willing to give God the glory:

It is the duty of the children of the Lord, to thank him for all things that they receive of him; and it is well pleasing unto him, also, for them to sing songs of joy when he has manifested his power or goodness unto them.

The examples of singing, when the Lord had done great things, are many. The Lord asked Job where he was when he laid the foundation of the earth, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.

The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.

When Deborah and Barak had delivered Israel, Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day saying, Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.

The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel.

Thus sang the children of Israel, whenever the Lord performed great things for them. Most of the Psalms were written to praise God for his mercy forever, after he had manifested his power and goodness to his people; yea, even his Anointed; and they were written by the gift of the Holy Ghost, and are full of prophecy for the benefit of the righteous. But enough has been said on this point.

You that love the Lord, prepare for temptation.

You that love the Lord, set your hearts in order that you may endure all things in time of trouble.

You that seek the Lord, trust in him, that you may be contented when you are changed from the common condition of the world, to the lot of a saint, or in other words, while in prosperity prepare for adversity, that as gold seven times tried in the fire, you may shine brighter and brighter as you approach nearer and nearer to God. You that love the Lord, believe in him and he will help you when you need.

You that love the Lord, wait for him, and your reward is certain.

You that love the Lord, prepare your hearts, and humble yourselves in his sight; and fall into his hands, rather than the hands of men, for his mercy is great.

Be not dismayed at the transaction of men, these things must needs be.

Say with the Psalmist, Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his Anointed, saying, let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

I will declare the decree:

[THE STAR]

We take this opportunity to tender our thanks to the public and our friends, for their patronage bestowed upon us, and ask a continuance. For the benefit of ourselves, and subscribers, as many of them live at a distance, we have concluded to consider them subscribers to the second volume, till they order otherwise.-With our present arrangement and intention, we hope to publish more original matter in the second volume, than we have in the first.

Number one of the present volume has run out, and we calculate, as it contained the Articles and Covenants, to republish them in the first number of the second volume.

-> In order to give the progress and prospects of the church, it is necessary that our elders should transmit to us, an account of what they do from time to time. In this way, the spread of the work, and the increase of faith, can be published as one testimony that these things are of the Lord.

* * * Our elders and friends, must recollect, that unless POSTAGE IS PAID on their letters, they have no assurance of being attended to.

[PROSPECTS OF THE CHURCH]

It will be three years the sixth of April next, since the church of Christ was organized, in Manchester, New York, with six members. It has increased steadily in faith and works since; and the work has spread into several states.

The opposition to this church, a circumstance that has always been experienced by the church of Christ, from the world, because the world loves its own, has been unceasing in one place or another; yet from its six, it has increased to hundreds, that are happy to rejoice in the new covenant, which makes them heirs of the promises of the Holy One of Israel.

This church was established in these last days, by the will and commandments of the Lord, to bring to pass the gathering of his elect, even the righteous, preparatory to his second coming: and the place of gathering, as has been before published, is in the western boundaries of the state of Missouri.

To this place about a thousand persons have emigrated since the gathering commenced. About half of this number are disciples: perhaps more, as five hundred and thirty four disciples have covenanted to keep the commandments of the Lord and walk in his statutes blameless with thanksgiving forever.

As has ever been the case in the church of Christ, some have fallen away, and some have been cut off for transgressions.

As it is our intention, in a future number to give the particulars of the rise and progress of the church, we omit some things of interest.

It will be seen in another column, that this church is built upon the plan of salvation, which embraces truth, meekness, faith and charity, as necessary qualifications for its members, and relies upon all things that the Lord has commanded and spoken by the mouths of his prophets.

Many false statements have gone abroad, relative to this church; all of which will from time to time, be corrected if possible.

There are many branches of this church abroad, as has been heretofore published, viz: in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and Canada; and many of them will come up this season, if the Lord will.

The feeling that is manifested by the world, towards the members of this church is strange, as it does not seem to arise, because the members of the church have done wrong to their neighbors, or intend evil to any one: it is, therefore, to be regretted, that men should be persecuted for opinion's sake, or the sake of religion, when the constitution of our country allows all to worship according to the dictates of their own consciences.

The freedom of speech, the liberty of conscience, and the liberty of the press, are among the first principles of a republican government, and we hope they will be held sacred by every friend of his country.

The religion of Christ is the only source of lasting happiness, and men disagree, but when a society labor for good, according to the revealed will of God, to make men better, they ought to be respected, because no man can be too good.

In the days of the apostles, when persecution against the church of Christ, was carried to an extraordinary degree, Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men: for before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him:

If men were as anxiously engaged to do good, as they are to take the advantage of their fellow beings, every man we meet would be a FRIEND.

The gospel as preached by the disciples of the church of Christ, has been believed by many, and they have great reason to rejoice that the word of the Lord has been thus much respected.

The only way to overcome evil, is with good. He, then, that is a saint, will suffer wrong rather than do wrong. When persecuted, he will pray for his enemies, for their souls are as precious as his.

When men misuse, or abuse, he will forgive, for this is god-like.

The fulness of the gospel as taught by this church, is according to the word of the Lord in the book of Mormon. It is eternal truth, and we bear record of it, that our garments may be found spotless at the bar of God.

The elders of the church are to teach the scriptures which are in the bible and the book of Mormon, and invite all to come to Christ, and repent and be baptized, that they may be gathered with the people of the Lord, and be saved by keeping all his commandments.

The word of the Lord never fails, we, therefore, give a few words from one of the commandments, to show his will concerning things which will hereafter come to pass.

And he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

Remember this which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart and receive that which shall follow.

And also, that a feast of fat things, might be prepared for the poor:

[THE TIMES]

We are sorry to see the United States so soon troubled, for the eyes of the world are upon this government, as an asylum of the oppressed. We hope the people of this enlightened land, in this unhappy crisis which presents itself to their view, will be calm, and in the language of Habakkuk: In wrath remember mercy.

A correspondent from Washington to the New-York Courier and Enquirer, over

the signature of thus wrote on the 20th of January:-

This is a melancholy picture for a republican government. If it is really as above stated, it augurs the near approach of that day, that will try men's hearts:

No one can be mistaken, if he looks at the signs of the times as they are: The harvest is nearly ripe. The hour of the Lord is nigh, even at the doors, and who are ready? not the rebellious, for they are not the blood of Ephraim. The meek only shall inherit the earth. It was said by Isaiah: Behold, the Lord will come with fire and with chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.

The Lord has begun to plead with all flesh, that some in these last days may have part in the first resurrection, and he will not slack his hand: No, he will continue to plead by the mouths of his servants; and by the voice of calamities, and by the voice of the thunder of heaven; and by the fierce vivid lightning, and by earthquakes till all that are alive shall know him, and serve him from the least even to the greatest. Truly, this is a day of warning and not a day of many words, among them that mean to do the will of their Lord and Master.

The Lord has said to his disciples, let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds, and they have every reason to do so: or if the elders go to preach to the north, or to the south, or to the east, or to the west, they can not go amiss, for the Lord has some precious souls, among every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

Though nations shall break the links that hold governments together; though kingdoms shall dissolve, and though the friendship of many shall cease, still the kingdom of Jesus Christ will continue to increase and flourish, until the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, shall have filled the whole earth.

In view of this glorious day, notwithstanding the wicked shall be cut off, and the kingdoms of this world dissolved by the arm of the Almighty, the saints shall grow in love to one another, and to their Savior, and shall increase in faith till the curtain of heaven shall be unfolded as a scroll when it is rolled together, and they shall see the face of God.

The Lord is full of mercy, and he will call upon all men every where, to repent. There is no eye that shall not see; nor ear that shall not hear, and no heart that shall not be penetrated; when the people are so hardened in sin, that they refuse to hear the men that the Lord chooses to warn them, then he sends, plagues and pestilence, as seemeth him good, and he will continue to do so until the righteous are gathered, and the wicked destroyed.

The continent of America is a choice land above all others, and, ever since men have dwelt upon it, if they were virtuous, and walked uprightly before the Lord, they have been blessed: When they have not done so, they have been visited with calamities.

Perhaps few are aware, that the situation of the country, is still the same, for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The following words of Alma, on the subject, are conclusive:

The day of vengeance is at hand, when men must suffer the wrath of God in this world, and the world to come, unless they repent.

The saint can look upon the world and say, farewell: My God and my salvation are my all, for I want to inherit eternal life.

But the man of the world, when he looks upon the world, with all its allurements, exclaims: Let me become rich, for I want to live at ease, and enjoy the good of my life. But alas! the times change, and with them the condition of many change also; & where man looks for happiness he often finds misery, so that men might rather say: This world is hardly worth possessing, without a hope in the world to come, through the merits of Jesus Christ.

One of the great men of the earth once said:

The voice of the angel to the shepherds when the Savior was born was, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.-And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

What a happy time it will be, when all that are left alive on the earth, can shout and sing likewise! when the nations will learn war no more! when the man will not seek an opportunity to take the advantage of his fellow man!

There will be none to molest or make afraid then: for there will be peace on earth and good will to men.

The language of the Savior, is, The Spirit and the bride say, Come: and let him that heareth say, Come: for the hour of redemption is nigh.

[CHILDREN]

Our Savior said, while on earth in the flesh, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven; and, in these last days, he has given a law for the benefit of children, that they may be baptized at eight years old.

It is as follows: And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance; faith in Christ the Son of the living God; and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old:

If it were necessary then, to teach these things DILIGENTLY unto the children, it is so now, that they may grow up without sin, and be able to abide the presence of the Lord when he comes in his glory.

It will be a joyful task to teach the children of Zion, the printed commandments, and all things which may tend to eternal life.

Teach them also to wash themselves: to comb their hair; to be mannerly, and obedient: to be industrious; to be meek and charitable; and above all, to pray vocally and in secret.

Before they are old enough to think words for themselves, let them learn the Lord's prayer, in the book of Mormon, and repeat it when they rise in the morning and when they go to bed at night: (namely:)

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.-And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Again: how sweet it would sound, to hear a child say:

I must love the Lord, and trust in him, and pray to him always.

I must love my father and mother and obey them.

I must not lie; I must not steal; I must not swear, but I must be good, and the Lord will bless me.

[PRAYER]

Prayer, if in faith, is acceptable to God at all times. In order to keep our thoughts from roving upon unlawful objects, we can follow the advice of one of the apostles of old, and pray without ceasing in our hearts. The Lord says in these last days, call upon me while I am near. The prayer of the righteous avail much:

We regret to learn that the Typus fever is prevalent both at Quebec and Montreal. The number of sick at both places in the hospitals is unusually great, and several cases exist at private lodgings. The mortality has not hitherto been severe.

[FIRE!-GREAT LOSS OF PROPERTY!]

This morning, just as our paper was going to press, an alarm of fire was given. We hastened to the spot and beheld a most awful sight-two steam boats in flames! one of them the Cotton Plant, just arrived from Bayou Sarah, having on board 15 hundred and twenty four bales of cotton, besides other freight-the other the Saratoga. We have not time to give further particulars, but will merely add that the fire is supposed to have originated on board the Cotton Plant.

