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PERTINACITY OF OUR APOSTLES.

297

seemed impossible to their creed, but strangely real in their exasperating experience. Still, there was tenacity of expect ation. They appeared to act on the principle, all in good time the crisis must be mature before the interposition to meet it will suit the way of heaven. Nec deus intersit, nisi nodus vindice dignus—it is not worth while for divinity to interfere till a difficulty occurs that warrants and vindicates a solution so sublime! But here was the nodus only, and they stared at it; especially the chief speaker, as having more faith in fooleries, possibly, than his astute and reserved colleague. I never saw such assurance enacted and maintained so palpably against invincible fact. It was as the faith of a lunatic striking his head against rock because he believed it was only cloud. Hence they were reluctant to go, or bring the convention to an end. They only cast about to see what they were to do next, sure of the result, and set incorrigibly and religiously in their heaven-shown way.

On the other hand, if I may be permitted to aver it, as no other witness can, I maintained a calm and a courteous manner, as I was resolved from the first to do, and thus became imperturbably and most provokingly good-natured. Still, I was firm as well as calm; and reiterating, as it were a matter of course, as well as a thing of reason, THE DEMAND For EVIDENCE IN ORDER TO FAITH, the position just there, in limine, where I kept it, became to them a bore impracticable, and an obstacle tremendous, of which, as almost new and strange, they appeared never to have anticipated or thought. When, however, their self-induced dilernma was felt to be real and serious, its formidable weight increasing its pressure every moment, they became irritable and impudent. They vented their anger in sallies of warnings, prophecies, denunciations, abusive epithets, and Mormon hobgoblins. All this I survived and tranquilly endured, through several fits and repetitions-till at last it seemed meet, in a peremptory way, to prorogue the parliament by a brief speech in person, as mon

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THE TRUTH EVER THE SAME.

arch of my own study. This, too, seemed to take them all aback. They were reluctant to go, and still determined to succeed in their mission. My manner, however, was resolute and mandatory that they should quit the premises; and hence, at last, with awkwardness and confused faith in things impossible, they complied. The inverview lasted considerably more than half an hour, and no conceivable advantage could be apprehended from protracting it. Besides, I was fatigued the heat was wilting, and they were at the time boisterous, both at once, or alternating incessantly, with their invectives. In the whole scene, they gave the strophe and the antistrophe with zeal interminable; and as for the epode, properly my own part, it was like singing love-songs to the spirit of the storm-it was either precluded, or utterly lost in the uproar of the elements.

On the whole, I have little to regret in the retrospect— taken as I was on the sudden, with a fanatical onslaught, the like of which I never saw or experienced, in its entire and extensive momentum, before or since. Yet I have subsequently heard of several instances of the general sort, not of Mormon sympathy alone, but all of serene imposture and religious abomination, enacting dreadful impiety for some temporal and sinister ends, in the name of the eternal God! My general motive for inserting this narrative, is to place all readers properly on their guard against such devices of the adversary; or, in contact with his emissaries, to assist possibly their proper wisdom in counteracting their treacherous assaults, in penetrating their deceitful arrogance, and, finally, in rebuking their desperate iniquity. Let us believe the truth of THE GOSPEL, AND THAT ONLY, whatever others believe! since THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL shall yet be the creed of nations and the glory of eternity; as all other creeds and all other glories shall perish forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; but THE

THE GOSPEL AND ITS AUTHOR UNCHANGING.

299 WORD OF THE LORD ENDURETH FOREVER. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you—with no addition, or subtraction, or multiplication allowed in this, the last time; as solemnly and immutably sealed till the second coming and THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF THE great God AND SAVIOR OF US, JESUS CHRIST. Compare the original of Tit. 2 13, 14; and Rev. 22: 18, 19, Amen! come, Lord Jesus.

Even so,

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be

with you all. Amen.

INTERVIEW

WITH A

FASHIONABLE LADY OF DISTINCTION

AT CALAIS, FRANCE.

And they that use this world as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away.-1 Cor. 7: 31.

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.-1 Tim. 5: 6.

Such being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.-Eph. 2: 12.

Fis anus, et tamen

Vis formosa videri,

Ludisque et bibis impudens.-Hor.

Quam rarum, quam difficile, ut homo muliere natus, se ipsum cognoscat.-Mod.

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