Cheer up! thou poor disponding saint thou who art sometimes ready to say “My Lord delayeth his coming.” Wait patiently a little longer and he whom thou lovest not having seen, shall suddenly come to his temple and will wipe off thy tears, pour joy and gladness into thy troubled breast and place a crown of everlasting felicity upon thy immortal brow. Did the wise men present gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Saviour? How much more will the redeemed confer honour, immortal honour upon him, and with a unanimous voice exclaim, while casting their honours at his feet; “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessings: And he that sits upon the throne shall proclaim, Behold I make all things new.” Then to the eternal joy of the redeemed, and according to his promise, a new heaven and earth shall be brought into existence by his almighty power. “Then shall the holy city New Jerusalem come down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” This most glorious event shall be hailed by the angelic throng who shall exclaim, “Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Seeing then that we look for these things it behoveth us to give all diligence that we may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless. We have already attained to great things and if we continue faithful only eternity itself can unfold our future blessings but for the present we may be satisfied with the statement of the apostle viz. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Mr. Joseph Smith, Sir,—Though a stranger to you personally, yet the knowledge of your character (given me by others) makes it unnecessary for me to offer any apology for thus troubling you. And I entreat you to believe me, when I say, that it is with a sincere desire to arrive at the truth of things that to me and all others are of the most vital importance.

I am pleased to inform you that Elder , has convinced me of my errors, relative to the divinity of the Bible; not in appealing to my passions or a mere flare up of the imagination, which constitutes the religion of three fourths of its votaries, but my judgment, and understanding, were alone consulted, and the result is, I am almost persuaded to be a Christian, on the principles contained in the Book.

I now concede, God to be a God, of mercy, justice, and truth, instead of a tyranical, lying and treacherous being, that I was forced to consider him, by the character he got by the various sects and theologians of the day, and their interpretations of his word.

I have wished to know the truth and considered myself bound to receive it, come from whence it may, and inasmuch as your explanation of the Bible appears reasonable to me, and showing me at the same time, the science thereof, makes it I might say obligatory in me to know all things (so far as I can appreciate them,) that has any connection therewith.

I feel to thank God (though I am yet a sinner,) that crossed my path. He is giving the sectarian world the heart-burn in this city and the more they cry delusion, humbug and fanatacism the more the people wont believe it, but go and hear for themselves, and the result is that rational men consider him a rational man and the success of his mission in this city is indeed flattering.

I now wish to know through you the laws and regulations of your church—what is required of its members—how much (if a man of property,) must he [p. 731]