<​December 16 Joseph’s Letter in .​> the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and became again entangled and overcome— their latter end is worse than the first— But it has happened unto them according to the word of the Savior “the dog has returned to his vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire”. Again if we sin wilfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for, of judgment and fiery indignation to come which shall devour these adversaries. For he who despiseth Moses’ law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses, of how much more severe punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath sold his brother, and denied the new and everlasting Covenant by which he was sanctified, calling it an unholy thing and doing despite to the spirit of grace— And again we say unto you, that inasmuch as there be virtue in us, and the holy Priesthood hath been conferred upon us, and the keys of the kingdom hath not been taken from us, for verily thus saith the Lord, be of good cheer, for the keys that I gave unto you are yet with you” Therefore we say unto you Dear Brethren in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we deliver these characters unto the buffetings of Satan, until the day of redemption, that they may be dealt with according to their works, and from henceforth their works shall be made manifest. And now Dear and Well beloved Brethren and when we say brethren, we mean those who have continued Faithful in Christ, Men, Women, and Children, we feel to exhort you in the name of the Lord Jesus, to be [HC 3:232] strong in the faith in the new and everlasting Covenant, and nothing frightened at your enemies. For what has happened unto us is an evident token to them of damnation, but unto us, of Salvation and that of God. Therefore hold on, even unto death for he that seeks to save his life shall lose it, but he that loseth his life for my sake, and the gospel’s, shall find it, sayeth Jesus Christ.