pearing of Christ was at hand; and that the church was rising in her full and transcendent glory, which would effect the final downfall of Antichrist. They affirmed that the work of the great day of God was then commencing, and would increase until every promise of God should be fulfilled. Sometimes, after sitting awhile in silent meditation, they were seized with a mighty trembling, under which they would often express the indignation of God against all sin. At other times they were exercised with singing, shouting and leaping for joy at the near prospect of salvation. They were often exercised with great agitations of body and limbs, running and walking the floor, with a variety of signs and operations, and swiftly passing and repassing each other, like clouds agitated with a mighty wind. No human power could imitate the wonderful operations with which they were affected while under the influence of these spiritual signs. From these exercises, so strange in the eyes of mankind, they received the appellation of Shakers, which has been the most common name of distinction ever since. These various and extraordinary operations, together with the singularity of their lives, and their powerful testimony against the wickedness of the world around them, naturally exposed them to much persecution. Their houses were often beset by mobs, their windows broken, and their persons shamefully abused. But they bore these things patiently, and fearlessly continued their assemblies and their testimony. Their meetings, which first began at Bolton, near Manchester, were afterwards held alternately at Bolton and Manchester; and occasionally at Cheshire, Mayortown, and other places in the vicinity of Manchester. They continued to increase in light and power, with occasional additions to their number, till about the year 1770, when by a special manifestation of Divine light, the present testimony of salvation and eternal life was fully revealed to Ann Lee, and by her to the society. As this extraordinary woman, concerning whom so much has been reported and published abroad in the world, was the distinguished personage to whom Christ revealed himself in his true character, in this day of his second appearing, it will be necessary, in proceeding with this work, to give some account of her life, character and ministry. CHAPTER II. Sketches of the life of Mother Ann Lee: her birth and parentage: her connexion with the society of James and Jane Wardley: her religious exercises and sufferings: her revelation and testimony: persecutions in England: voyage to America. ANN LEE was the daughter of John Lee, of Manchester, in according to the requirements of the season? Can he obtain a crop by continual plowing, without sowing or planting? Does he not act more consistently in keeping pace with the course of the season, and varying his work according to the season? By pursuing this course, he may reasonably expect to gather a crop in its season; but if he should continue to plow all the year round, and never plant nor sow, nor tend his crops while in the progress of vegetation, he could never expect any harvest, nor would he deserve any. The first leaders of the Society may be compared to people going into a new country, and settling in the wilderness, where the first object is to cut and clear the land, and burn the rubbish, before the ground can be suitably prepared for cultivation. In this operation, the axe and the fire are used with no sparing hand; and the falling of trees and the crackling of burning brush and useless rubbish occasion much noise and bustle, and great confusion, especially among the wild beasts and noxious vermin that infest the land. These are now obliged to flee for their lives, into some other part of the wilderness, or the fire will consume them. But when the land is sufficiently cleared, and the rubbish consumed, and the wild vermin have all retreated, and the careful husbandman has securely fenced his field, he can then go on to prepare and cultivate his ground in peace; and if he is faithful to manage his business as he ought, he will continue to improve his premises, from year to year; so that in a few years, this once dreary wilderness will be seen to "blossom as the rose." Such has been the progress of the United Society, and such is the nature of the changes which it has passed through. Doubtless many of the sentiments contained in the following pages, will be treated with contempt and ridicule by those professors of the christian name who are still bound in the chains of antichristian bigotry and superstition. Nor need it be a matter of surprize to any one if they should meet with opposition from such characters: for who can expect people of this description to throw off their chains, and divest themselves of prejudice, without a severer struggle than they are generally willing to make. Such people usually feel too much of "the pride of life," to acknowledge truths which must necessarily require a sacrifice of that pride. The Scribes and Pharisees of old had too much of this sort of pride, and too lofty an idea of that Messiah whom their ancient prophets described in such glowing figures, to be willing to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was that exalted personage. His character and birth, as well as the low character and callings of his disciples, appeared too mean and contemptible, and their number too small, and their connexions too well known to admit even a moment's belief, in their minds, that he was the promised MESSIAH. And why should we expect the Scribes and Pharisees of the present day to act more out of character than those of old did? They are no more willing to submit to the cross, and have their pride stained, than their predecessors were. They view a small Society of illiterate and contemptible Shakers, (as they sometimes call them) in the same light that their ancestors did the ancient disciples and primitive christians; and like them, they have the unbelieving world on their side. And will they forego the friendship of the world, and sacrifice their spiritual pride, and the honors of their dignified station, with all they hold dear on earth, and yield their assent to a testimony so much beneath the calculations of all their learned theology, and all their towering ideas of the millennium? It is too much to expect of them. The small number of the Society, in comparison with those of other denominations, may be considered by some, as an argument against the truth of the testimony, that this is the second appearing of Christ; and it may also produce a belief in the minds of some, that the Society can never become numerous, especially as a life of continency is so opposite to the natural propensities of human nature, that few will be found willing to embrace it. These reasons will doubtless appear plausible and natural to people in a natural state; but God is able to accomplish his own work, not only by small means and instruments, but by small beginnings, as he always has done, in all ages of the world. The little stone spoken of in Daniel, which was cut out of the mountain without hands, and which smote the great image, "became a great mountain and filled the whole earth." This significant figure shows in a very striking light, what the hand of God can effect by small means, and what the real work of God, tho small in its commencement, will finally amount to. The smallness of the work is no discouragement to us, nor any disparagement to its first founders. It is indeed a work of too much purity to find a rapid increase among the inhabitants of a sinful world, who are so far lost and sunk in their carnal corruptions. We shall make no apologies for what we have written, as to the matter or manner. It has been our aim to state the plain truth, without covering or disguise, according to the best of our understanding and abilities; and also to comprise the different subjects in as small a compass as could conveniently be done, and convey a clear understanding to the reader. To comprise much matter in a little space, and give a full and comprehensive view of many important subjects in a small compass, is not a small task. How far we have effected the object, remains to be seen and judged of by the candid and judicious reader. Plainness, clearness and simplicity have been objects at which we have aimed in our manner and style of writing; and we trust the matter will be found intelligible to every class of readers. With respect to the subjects upon which we have written, our object has been to give a summary view of the rise, progress and present state of the Society, together with a plain illustration of its faith and principles: a few other subjects might have been added with propriety; but we have aimed at brevity, and we think we have noticed those of the most importance, and such as may give satisfaction to candid inquirers after truth. But as the light of Divine truth is progressive in the Church, and as the preparatory work of salvation and redemption increases on earth; so the solemn and important truths of the gospel will continue, from time to time, to be more clearly manifested to mankind. As to the real substance of the gospel of salvation, it was fully revealed to the first witnesses of Christ's second appearing; but as the work of salvation advances, the light becomes more clear, and truth appears more plain; and while those who receive and obey it find increasing peace and justification; so those who see and reject it, will find their condemnation to increase with the increasing light of truth. CALVIN GREEN, SETH Y. WELLS. New-Lebanon, May 12, 1823. CONTENTS. PART I. Rise and progress of the United Society, including some account of the first Witnesses. CHAP. V. A short account of the life and character of Elder William Lee, Supplementary Article, concerning Elder John Hocknell, . PART II. PAGE. The established order and religious practice of the United Society. СНАР. I. Formation of the Society into a united Body, possessing a consecrated Interest, PAGE. II. The established Order and Government of the Church, IV. Progress and present state of the United Society, V. Remarks on the Worship of God: the origin, practice and reasonableness of Dancing, as an act of Divine Worship, PART III. The Nature of God and his Works of Creation. CHAP. IV. The established order of times and seasons in the natural cre- man, 51 58 63 68 77 PAGE. 92 103 116 120 |