the servants of God, always remained to be published by their successors, or those who enjoyed the fruits of their labours for no testament is of force while the testator liveth.

Christ Jesus, while engaged in the work of his ministry, strictly charged his disciples to tell no man that he was the Christ. And many things were said and done, which were known only to his disciples, and kept closely concealed from the vain speculations of the world. He well knew the inveterate malice of his enemies, who were continually watching for something whereby they might condemn him; and even until the last, they accused and condemned him as a blasphemer, and worthy of death, for the least intimation that he was sent of God, although his works plainly declared it.

It is also evident that the testimony of the apostles was verbal for many years, and nothing was written for the information of those who were unacquainted with the work of Christ, or at a distance from where the first scene was transacted, until the work of that day was fully established: and even then, their writings and sayings were far from being common, but were kept close, and spread no farther than the operation of the spirit of God had prepared the way for them to be received by faith. Therefore it need not seem strange, if the circumstances preceding the public opening of Christ's second appearing, should be similar to those of his first appearing.

The second appearing of Christ, commonly called the MILLENNIUM, or Latter day of glory, has ever been consid>ered as a period of the greatest importance to mankind uni,versally, inasmuch as all the prophecies of the holy scrip

tures were then to have their certain accomplishment; every threatning of God to be fully executed upon the ungodly and sinners, in the final overthrow of their unjust and oppressive governments, their false and pernicious superstitions, and all their unrighteous works. On the other hand,

all the promises of God to his people, were then to be fulfilled, in their final redemption from all the sorrowful éffects of the fall; in building them up in holiness, righteousness and everlasting peace and true felicity; and enriching them with all the fulness of temporal and eternal goodness.

But it never was intended, nor could it be expected, upon any principle of reason or truth, that all those things should be accomplished at once; but according to the usual manner of God's working, they must gradually proceed from small beginnings, and continue to operate, in a progressive manner, from one degree to another, as a small seed planted in its proper season, springs up, and grows into a tree. The beginning of this great event we have stated, according to the degree and measure of what has already taken place. And although it may appear to some as a day of small things, we are, nevertheless, persuaded beyond a doubt, that the same who hath begun the good work, will carry it on until the whole be accomplished.

It is reasonable to suppose that mankind, so long imposed upon by false systems, said to be of divine authority, must be very cautious, at this day, of receiving any thing that bears such an appearance. And therefore, through the tenderness and mercy of God, the truth and revelation of Christ is opened answerable to the weak and prejudiced state of the world, for the edification of the candid, and not for their destruction.

And as it is the most special call of God to all who are seeking for eternal life, to free themselves of those pernicious superstitions, and false doctrines of Antichrist, in order to their receiving the everlasting gospel of Christ's kingdom, therefore it is, that so great a part of the following pages is taken up in exposing the works of Antichrist, during his dark and deplorable reign of twelve hundred and sixty years, in order that souls, who are groaning under bondage, may

discover the cause and be released. And truly, when the whole depth of that antichristian delusion is exposed, that s saying will be fully verified: And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

This subject might have been comprised in much less room than it now occupies, were it not that mankind have been so long deceived and led astray by a false influence, instead of being guided by the light of truth. A particular account of the transactions of Antichrist, during his reign, must be sought for in the history of those, who, sometime after the days of Christ and his apostles, took the dominion in the affairs of the Church, and established a false religion, under the pretence of being their successors. Therefore, in order fully to expose the dark reign of that power, which has so long triumphed in disguise under the sacred name of Jeaus Christ, it appeared necessary to make large extracts, from some of the most noted ecclesiastical writers, that when facts are established by the testimony of these writers, in their own words, they need not be disputed.

In treating on this dark period, we have extracted some of the most interesting facts from MOSHEIM's Ecclesiastical History, ROBINSON's Ecclesiastical Researches, and from The Works of LARDNER. And on various occasions, we have used quotations from Newton, Robertson, Edwards, Boston, Sewell, Wesley, and others. Most of the historical writers whom we have quoted, are well known, and highly esteemed; nor have we any knowledge that their veracity was ever › called in question by the learned.

*The largest extracts are made from the three first mentioned writers, whose works are supported from the best authorities of ancient and modern history. John Lawrence Mo shewn was a Lutheran priest, and Chancellor of the University of Gottingen, in Germany, the sest of the Reformation. His Ecclesiastical History was translated from the original Latin by Archibald Maclaine, D. D. The extracts are from the Philadelphia Edition, printed in 1797, in six octavo volumes. Those from Rebinson's Ecclesiastical Researches, are from a European Edition, printed at Cambridge in 1792, a very valuable production of one quarto volume. The writings of Dr. Lardner are held in high estimation by modern historians in general; the extracts are from the London Edition of his Works, printed in 1788, in cleven octavo volumes.

The work which God purposed to do in the latter days, was not to be according to the systems of human invention known and understood among.men; but was to be a strange work; and the act which he intended to bring to pass, was to be a strange act, even a marvellous work and a wonder. Neither was Christ to come in order to establish any of those systems of man's building that should be found on earth at his appearing; but in the progress of his strange work, he will most certainly consume them all. Therefore said the prophet, "Be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.” And hence the warning of the apostle: "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you."

In the time of Christ's first appearing, the Jews, who called themselves God's chosen people, were looking for a Saviour to appear in royal splendor, surpassing all temporal monarchs; but behold, he appeared in a man, and took on him the form of a servant. Again, those who called themselves Christians, expected him to appear in the form of a man, far surpassing all earthly beings, in pomp and grandeur, and warlike power; and behold, the humble Saviour was manifested in the form and likeness of a woman, and assum、 ed the appearance of an handmaid.

Thus, as the heavens are high above the earth, so are the thoughts and imaginations of man above all that is called God; and as far as virtue is below vice in the eyes of the wicked, so far is the way of God below all the ways that ever man con trived, by which all the works and inventions of man must be supplanted; and therefore, in the eyes of man, the real work of God must appear strange and unaccountable.

Sixty years have now passed, since the beginning of this work in England-Twenty-eight years since it began in

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America-Twenty years since the gathering of the Churchand sixteen years since the Church was established in her present order and spirit of government. And in all this time of sixty years, the testimony has been verbal, and those who were faithful in it, have increased in further light and understanding, and in power and harmony from time to time, without any written creed, or form of government relating to themselves, or any written testimony in defence of their cause, or for the public information of others.

Nor is this present publication to be considered as any creed or form of government, to influence the faith or practice of the Church; but as the first public testimony in writing, containing a true statement of the fundamental principles and reasons of our faith and practice, given through the order and appointment of God, by the joint union of the body, according to the measure of our present light and understanding.

Whatever is written on any subject, must have respect to some foundation or first principles; and as the living power of God was first ministred, in this latter day, for the purpose of destroying the false foundation and pernicious principles of Antichrist; so the work itself appeared like madness and folly to such as stood on that foundation. And in no better light, would any written account of it have appeared, nor in truth, could any thing satisfactory be written, until this necessary work of preparation was accomplished, and the substance of what was to follow had come to a sufficient degree of maturity.

But since the subjects of the work have been broken off from their false foundation, and built upon the foundation of the present revelation of Christ, and are raised up in the order of a spiritual house, to that degree of righteousness, peace and union, which they visibly manifest, every thing hath assumed a different appearance: so that time and cir

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