If our Prophet is brought into bondage, and his life is sought after, let us ‘consider,’ it is just the same thing that has taken place with the prophets of the Lord in all ages, and what our Savior prophesied of, saying, ‘if ye will live godly in Christ Jesus ye shall suffer persecution.’ Stephen had to ask the pious Jews this question, ‘which of the prophets have not your fathers killed, which testified before of the coming of the just one of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers?’ Fortunately for this generation, their fathers had no prophets to kill, but they shew a disposition to tread in the footsteps of the Jewish nation, and to manifest their religion by seeking to destroy from off the face of the earth those whom God hath sent. Our Savior said of the Jews, ‘ye are of your father the devil, because his works ye will do,’—and if trampling under foot law—setting at nought justice and equity, and breaking the most solemn obligations; if hypocricy, lying, deception, and seeking the overthrow, and the lives of the innocent, be the works of the devil, we shall not have much difficulty in finding out the parantage of many of this generation.

Concerning the present state of the Prophet, some of our enemies are ready to say, if he be the prophet of the Lord, why is it that he has to flee from the hand of oppression? Why does not his God deliver him? To this we would answer, that he has delivered him hitherto—but if being delivered out of every difficulty, be a sign of a true prophet, then indeed shall we find them very scarce in the scriptures of eternal truth. Moses had to flee from the land of Egypt, and be a stranger in the land of Midian. Job had to suffer the loss of his camels, his oxen, his asses, his flocks and herds, his children, his property and friends. Abraham, at the command of God had to flee from the hand of persecution and go to a land that the Lord would shew him of. Jacob had to flee, fearing the wrath of his brother, and absent himself fourteen years. Elijah had to hide himself three years and a half from the presence of the king, who sought diligently for him in all the nations around to take away his life. Obadiah had to hide the prophets by fifties in a cave, to save them from the hand of persecution. Elisha, David, Jeremiah, Zachariah, and all the prophets more or less had to share the same fate. Paul tells us ‘that they were tempted, they were tried, they were sawn assunder; that they had to wander about in sheep skins and goat skins, and to HIDE THEMSELVES in deserts, and dens, and caves of the earth.’ Such is the universal testimony of scripture in regard to the prophets of the Lord, and instead of this being an argument against it, it is one, that goes to establish the truth of the prophets calling and profession. Our Savior in speaking of these things says—‘if they have persecuted you, they will persecute me, if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call him of this household’—and he has given it as his counsel to flee in time of danger, saying, ‘but when they persecute you in one city, flee ye to another.’ We find then, that not only the conduct of your prophet, but that of his persecutors also, has been strictly in accordance with the treatment and proceeding of prophets, and that of their enemies also, in every age of the world.

In the day of ‘adversity, consider,’ says Solomon, consider the situation of your prophet, and let your prayers ascend to the God of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob, and of Joseph; that he may speedily be delivered, and that his enemies may be confounded. Reflect also upon the duties that you owe to your families, to the of the living God, and to the saints in general. Slack not your duties in your families, but call upon God for his blessings upon you, and your families—upon your flocks, and herds, and all that pertains to you—that you may have peace and prospertity—and while you are doing this, ‘pray for the peace of Zion, for they shall prosper that love her.’ Think of your duties to the , and the , and both by precept and example help to build those houses. Consider the state of the afflicted and try to alleviate their sufferings; let your bread feed the hungry, and your clothing cover the naked; let your liberality dry up the tear of the orphan, and cheer the disconsolate widow; let your prayers, and presence, and kindness, alleviate the pains of the distressed, and your liberality contribute to their necessities; do good unto all men, especially unto the household of faith, that you may be harmless and blameless, the sons of God without rebuke. Keep the commandments of God—all that he has given, does give, or will give, and an halo of glory will shine around your path; the poor will rise up and call you blessed; you will be honored and respected by all good men; and your path will be that of the just, which shineth brighter and brigher until the perfect day.—Ed. [p. 952]