"These times are doubtless suffered to come upon the earth, to sift the church, to purge it from its dross, to try and purify the people of God and to prepare them for a greater work and a holier state. Oh, merciful God! grant this may be the result of all the conflicts which now surround the dear people, who are pressed down, grieved, discouraged and tempted. Oh! let them once more arise in their strength, put on their beautiful garments, exert their influence and see thy glory as they have in years that are past. "The anxiety I feel for the Christian cause at the present crisis exceeds anything I have felt in years past; and in my feeble state it presses heavily upon my spirit night and day. I know our doctrine, our order and our spirit are right; I know our cause is good, and many have sacrificed their precious lives and labored valiantly to sustain and establish it. It must come up again. It must and will yet live; it must be the general centre to which all sects must approach, when their revolutions and reforms bring them fully into the liberty of the Gospel of Christ. Oh, brethren, stand fast in the liberty of the Gospel, hold fast whereunto you have attained, endure to the end, and salvation is sure. I may not live to see better days upon the earth; but they will come. 'Why art thou cast down, Oh my soul! hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him.' The storms will blow over, the darkness will pass away, and God's true people will come forth like gold seven times tried in the fire. Courage, courage, my brethren. Remember the fate of the fearful and unbelieving. "I suppose it is the design of the great Founder of religion, that all his followers should be placed in a state of trial here, and that Christianity should grapple with the powers of darkness, and overcome all the influences which can be raised against it. We never know our own strength, or the strength of other Christians, until we are placed in a state of trial and affliction; and the strength and virtue of Christ's religion are never fully developed until tested by the sword and the fagot. But in the darkest time its holy light shines, and its virtue is felt and known."