B. Good morning, friend M. I have long been very anxious to see you, that I might get some information in relation to the principles of the people called Shakers. I am credibly informed that you have openly embraced their views, and have become the fearless advocate of their sentiments.

M. You have taken a very commendable course, friend B; for undoubtedly all the knowledge you have heretofore received has come to you through the medium of misrepresentation. The prejudice that rankles in the bosom of thousands owes its origin, in a great measure, to the false statements of those, who have proved themselves unworthy of the confidence and fellowship of the faithful and true. It is a fact beyond dispute, that most of the charges preferred against these people are those, of which the propagators themselves were guilty, and consequently lost the union and fellowship of the order.

B. It is true, the most of my information in relation to the principles and practices of the Shakers, has been received through newspaper paragraphs and observations of those, who have turned away from the order and consequently forfeited the union of the body in general; and therefore the information derived from such sources, cannot be relied on as correct. But still I am far from feeling the least inclination to adopt sentiments, which I imagine to be directly repugnant to scripture testimony and to the dictates of enlightened reason.

M. You doubtless speak truly in saying you imagine that both scripture and reason oppose our views; but imagination and proof are often very different in their results. You have frequently avowed in my hearing your readiness to receive light, let it come from what quarter it might. This disposition is characteristic of an ingenuous mind, and those who possess it, seldom remain stationary. Not being satisfied with present attainment, they joyfully improve every privilege calculated to increase their knowledge. But the blind bigot will "neither go into the kingdom of heaven himself, nor suffer those who are entering to go in." He zealously opposes every theory that wears the appearance of novelty. He is the creature of a blind education, and is invariably far in the rear of the light of the age, in which he lives. When such persons receive their birth in Rome, they are zealous Catholics. If Constantinople be the place of their nativity, we find them devoted Musselmen. In Hindostan, such fall before the car of Juggernaut, or in Egypt they sincerely prostrate themselves before the image of a calf! Had all been of this character when the gospel was first propagated, the trumpet of salvation would have sounded in vain. Immolated victims would have still been offered on the altar of superstition, and worse than Egyptian darkness

would have covered the mental firmament of the vast family of man. Consistent with the divine economy, God has progressively revealed the truth to the world of mankind, and in every age and dispensation there have been more or less who have lived up to the light of their day. From Adam to Moses, there were those, who "walked with God." From Moses to Christ, many prophets and wise men were divinely illuminated and gladly looked through the gloom of types and figures, to the brightness of that everlasting gospel, through which life and immortality are brought to light. Both Christ and his apostles prophecied of another dispensation, whose glory should eclipse all that had preceded it.

B. I know that the scriptures of the old and New Testament speak of the latter day of glory, when Christ shall make his second appearance, and the knowledge of God shall cover the earth as the waters cover the I may not live to participate in the joys of that glorious period, nevertheless I believe it will be accomplished in God's time.

sea.

M. You, with thousands of others, labor under a mistaken view of what is meant by the "coming of Christ." In consequence of this misapprehension, the nation of the Jews rejected him in his first appearing, and as a necessary effect of their unbelief, excluded themselves from a participation in the joys of his kingdom. They firmly believed that the Messiah would come, as their prophets had uniformly declared it; but they looked for him to originate from some illustrious family. They supposed he would be surrounded with the paraphanalia of an earthly prince; that he would sway an earthly sceptre, and make Jerusalem the seat of a flourishing empire; that he would not only deliver their nation from their vassalage to the Romans, but also subdue the surrounding kingdoms. But contrary to all these exalted notions, the Saviour originated from an obscure family, and exhibited nothing in his manner calculated to attract the attention of the great and noble of this world.

It is not strange that the greater part of mankind are equally benighted in relation to the testimony of Christ's second appearing. Being altogether led by the letter of scripture testimony, they indulge the delusive expectation, that at some future day, Christ will appear in propria persona, surrounded with a retinue of angels, and exhibit in all its fulness the insignia of human greatness!

B. But do we not read in Revelation, " Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him ?" "That he shall descend from heaven with a mighty shout?" I suppose that this will be literally accomplished. I see no reason or propriety in spiritualizing such plain declarations.

M. Your conclusion and mine are entirely at variance in this respect. Both "reason" and "propriety" are directly opposed to the common notions entertained by professed Christians in general, on this subject. The supposition that Christ will literally descend, enveloped in literal clouds, and that every eye shall see him, is as groundless a chimera as ever was palmed upon mankind. It is universally admitted by those who have but a limited knowledge of astronomy, that the earth turns upon its axis once in twenty-four hours, and that whilst its inhabitants are beholding the visible heavens on one side; the other are contemplating them in an entire opposite direction. They consequently must fail of beholding the descent of so splendid a retinue! Besides such a pompous parade would be entirely incompatible with the unassuming manner Christ exhibited in his first appearing.

B. I acknowledge there is a propriety in your remarks; but still I am at a loss to understand those passages, unless the views I entertain of them are correct.

M. But my dear friend, does not the apostle speak of himself and his associates being surrounded by a great "cloud of witnesses ?" It was therefore in a cloud of witnesses the Saviour was to make his second appearance. This will appear still more clear when you are informed that Christou in Greek signifies anointed. All the Christ that ever was known or ever will be known, is the "anointing power" which appeared upwards of eighteen hundred years ago, and which has now appeared the second time in the true witnesses. The day, for which you have so long prayed, has already arrived, and you are called upon freely to partake of the rich blessings it presents.

B. I perceive then that one tenet of your order, is, that Christ has already appeared" without sin unto salvation." This is an idea entirely new to me. I should like to hear your arguments upon it.

M. As I never had the least reason to doubt your friendship, or to suspect your want of candor, I the more cheerfully endeavor to gratify your wish in this respect. The Saviour undoubtedly first appeared at the time appointed by the great first Cause of all things.

B. I have no doubt but what the time of Christ's first appearing was according to the divine purpose of Him, "who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." The time, manner and object of his crucifixion are clearly predicted by the prophets of Israel.

M. In this you are perfectly correct. Indeed, how could the prophets foretell an event but in accordance with the purpose of God? And the exact fulfillment of their predictions corroborates the truth of their testimony. This fact, however, does not infringe on the freedom of volition or action; nor should it be urged in such a manner as to strike at the foundation of man's accountability. Though the Jews were instrumental in accomplishing the purpose of God, by putting to death the Prophet of the Highest; yet in so doing, they brought upon themselves the just maledictions of Heaven.

B. I cannot see how man can be justly punished for acting in accordance with the divine determination.

M. The children of men do not act in reference to this. The Jews were entirely ignorant of it, according to the declaration of Peter; "Him being delivered according to the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, have ye taken, and with wicked hands have crucified and slain." It is the motive that renders an action righteous or wicked, holy or unholy. Should we admit the existence of an infinite evil, the character of God could not be defended on the ground which we have assumed; and it is in vain for those who adopt such a chimerical idea, to offer their Causa Dei in justification of the divine Being. That the greatest possible good to mankind will result from the Saviour's passion will not admit of the shadow of a doubt. That the Jews were destined to receive condign punishment for the part they took in that tragical scene, is a truth no one will attempt to dispute.

B. I acknowledge your views to me are wholly new, and I see no reason in disputing them; they appear to be founded in scripture and

reason.

M. This is but the beginning of a train of concessions you will be under the necessity of making as we pass along. There is no danger of being bewildered if we enter fully into the field of gospel truth. The person who is guided by this celestial light, will not be betrayed into error. Although "humanum est errare," will apply to poor lost man; yet it is because he turns from that infallible directory that leads into all truth. Whilst we walk by the river of life, and the candle of the Lord shines round about us, we need not be apprehensive of being lost in the vortex of inconsistencies. I wish now to pass to the consideration of some particulars connected, though indirectly, with the main point, under discussion. This is a weighty subject, and we cannot be too particular in its investigation. We have been speaking of the first appearing of Christ. In this, we shall perceive as we pass along, many similarities applicable to his second appearing. There were many external circumstances which combined to favor so important an event. The Romans, from small beginnings, had increased in power to such an astonishing degree, that in the reign of Augustus Cesar, their conquests had extended over the habitable globe. The land of Judea had become a province of the Roman Empire, and a general peace was proclaimed throughout the world. The wise and discerning looked upon this event as presaging the interposition of the energy of divine power, in emancipating the human mind from the thraldom of ignorance, superstition and death. It was at this era of civil history, that the Prince of Peace proclaimed liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison doors to them that were bound. Physical, generally precedes moral improvement, or else they go hand in hand. Without moral improvement, liberty is but a name, and peace in its real essence, can be experienced by none but such as obtain it by virtue of the cross of Christ.

However diversified the opinions of mankind may be as to the divinity of Christ, none will dispute but what the theory he inculcated, as to morals, was by far the best the world ever saw. But such were the predilections of the people of his day for established usages and ancient customs, that had it not been for the miracles he wrought, by which he demonstrated his Messiahship, the opposition to his doctrine would have been so general, as that but few, if any, would have received the benefit of his mission. Instead of this, the province of Judea did not bound his labors of love. His apostles were commanded to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature-and being faithful to their divine Master, they proclaimed the truth to distant lands, and were eminently successful in establishing the church of Christ on the broad basis of impartial love and boundless charity. The learned world could not resist the testimony of truth when accompanied by the energy of divine power. Clad with this heavenly panoply, the fishermen of Gallilee, when commissioned from above, could successfully encounter the champions of self-styled orthodoxy, and fearlessly expose the hypocrisy of these sanctified impostors.

The Polytheists of that day were constrained by the force of conviction to renounce their idolatrous worship, and in less than three centuries, Christianity became the established religion of the Roman Empire. It is admitted, however, by all ecclesiastical writers, that it had lost most of its original power. When it became patronized by the nobility of this world, they found it for their interest to incorporate with it many of their idolatrous notions. The original simplicity of the gospel would illy ac

cord with the pageantry of earthly Princes, it therefore became necessary that it should be glossed over with the graces of human philosophy. The church was known by the name of Christ, but his Spirit had wholly departed from it. It became popular, but it was characterized by pride and vanity. A tissue of the grossest absurdities under the name of Mystery, were advanced by the pretended sanction of the scriptures. The Ministers of religion, instead of being the servants of the people, had become haughty and dictatorial. The Emperor of Rome became a convert to the Christian faith. Constantine saw, or pretended he saw, the image of the cross suspended in the heavens, and upon it inscribed in glowing characters the latin phrase," In hoc signo vincit." From this he took the hint of making a wooden cross the standard of his army. In short, this was the only cross that was known in the Christian church for a number of centuries. The government of Church and State became incorporated, and ecclesiastical councils assumed the Jure Divino of establishing articles of religious belief. Pretended Christians, instead of being persecuted, availed themselves of the secular authority, and be came the most bloody persecutors. Their grand object appears to have been to establish a uniformity in religious sentiment, not by sound reasoning or mild persuasion, but by the terror of the sword. Formidable armies under the "banner of the cross," invaded the different kingdoms of Europe, and under the most frivolous pretences, spread devastation far and wide. These nations generally adopted the religion of their conquerors. The church gloried in the rapid advancement of her power, and congratulated herself in the supposed fulfillment of ancient prediction, a nation shall be born to God in a day."

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B. Would you insinuate that at this period there was a general declension, that Christ had not a true church upon the earth?

M. No doubt at this time there was a total apostacy from the original power and simplicity of the gospel. It was a day of darkness. One horendous gloom rested on the mental firmament of all. It was a long night, to be sure, but it was destined to pass away before the light of the Sun of righteousness. The same anointing power that appeared in Jesus of Nazareth, appeared again for the completion of man's redemption, at a time and in a manner calculated to confound the wisdom of the wise, and to demonstrate the truth of scripture prophecy beyond the shadow of a doubt.

DIALOGUE II.

B. I have been led to meditate on the subject of our last conversation, and have come to the conclusion that the church, though it passed under the name of Christian, was wholly destitute of the spirit of its Divine Founder, and consequently might be termed with more propriety, Anti-Christian.

M. If it is a fact that a tree is know by its fruit, we have no evidence that the condition of human nature was materially improved at the