The priests and pastors

danfudf Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:38 pm

The priests and pastors of every other class, however at variance amongst themselves, generally took the alarm, and united in exertions against these hated reformers, to paint them in hideoos colours: to impress upon the magistrates and the people, the most unfavourable opinion of the doctrine Beats By Dr Dre and conduct of those men, who, in the face of the whole world, had so widely deviated frcfm the Beats By Dre common conduct of mankind, and broached opinions, in their view, so pernicious.Biassed by prejudice, and blinded by passion, their representations this people transgressed the bounds of candour and of truth. The pulpits, in the solemn hours of divine worship, were converted into vehicles of calumny and fiction. Every ridiculous story was circulated to their disadvantage, and all manner of pains taken to represent them, not what they were, but what their adversaries would have them thought to be. The press, seconding the efforts of the pulpit, spread undeserved reproach widely, and to ages yet unborn. Men of letters, leisure and abilities, warped fay the popular voice, without giving themselves time to consider this people and their doetrines attentively, joined in the common cause against them. This confederacy of enemies could vilify their reputation, abuse their persons, plunder, imprison and grievously persecute them; but could neither overset their confidence in divine support, nor prevent the increase of their numbers, till they became a considerable body; not more remarkable for the singularities of their profession, than for the uniform practice of every Christian virtue, and the iniquity and severity of the sufferings inflicted on them, through three successive revolutions of government. When, at length, obtaining a toleration, they gradually overcame the unfounded prejudices raised against them, in the view of men of candour generally, as has been before related. And they heard a great voice from heaven, saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and in the earthquake were slain of men, seven thousand; and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.The apostle having described the state of pure Christianity in the character of the witnesses down to the same period of time with the two former representations, he then proceeds to exhibit a general Dr Dre Headphones view of their exaltation, and the overthrow of formality and superstition." And they heard a great voice from heaven, saying unto them, Come up hither." Men of liberality, of all persuasions, on examining the principles and practices of this people, who professed the word and spirit to be their leader, have found they were perfectly consistent with the religion and morality pointed out in the scriptures of truth.