The course which the popular clergy pursue at this time in relation to the Divine economy looks to me as though they would say, ‘O Lord, we will worship Thee with all our hearts, serve Thee with all our souls, and be very pious and holy; we will even gather Israel, convert the heathen, and bring in the millennium, IF Thou wilt only let us alone that we may do it in our own way, and according to our own will; BUT if Thou speakest from heaven to interfere with our plan, or cause any to see visions or dreams, or prophesy, whereby we are disturbed or interrupted in our worship, we will exert all our strength and skill to deny what Thou sayest, and charge it home upon the devil or some wild, fanatic spirit, as being its author.

That which was looked upon by the ancient saints as among the greatest favors and blessings, viz., revelation from God and communion with Him by dream and by visions, is now looked upon by the religious world as the height of presumption and folly. The ancient saints considered their condition more deplorable when Jehovah would not speak to them; but the most orthodox religionist of this age deem it quite heterodox to even admit the probability that He ever will speak again.

Oh My Soul! Language fails to paint the absurdity and abomination of such heaven-opposing and truth-excluding dogmas!