CHAPTER VII.
A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST AND THE DOCTRINES OF NINETEENTH CENTURY.
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ,
he hath both the Father and the Son."—2 JOHN, 2.
DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.
DOCTRINES OF MEN.
* * *
And these signs shall follow them that believe.
And these signs shall not follow them that believe, for they are done away and no longer needed.
* * *
In my name shall they cast out devils.
In His name they shall not cast out devils.
* * *
They shall speak with new tongues.
The gift of tongues is no longer needed.
* * *
They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
If they take up serpents, they will bite them; if they drink any deadly thing it will kill them. They shall not lay hands on the sick, and if they do they shall not recover; for such things are done away.
* * *
He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.
He that believeth on Christ shall not do any of the miracles and mighty works that He did, for such things have ceased.
* * *
There is nothing secret that shall not be revealed, neither hid that shall not be known.
There is to be no more revelation, for all things necessary are already revealed.
* * *
And He shall send His angels, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, etc.
And there is to be no more ministering of angels, for such things are done away.
* * *
And I saw an angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, etc.
Angels do not appear in this enlightened age, because they are no longer needed.
* * *
And when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; again, "He shall show you things to come."
And inspiration is no longer needed in this age of learning and refinement. Again, it shall not show you things to come: for then you would be a Prophet, and there are to be no Prophets in these days.
* * *
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, in my name, and I will give it you.
It is not so in these days, we must not expect to heal the sick and work miracles, consequently we must not expect to receive what we ask for.
* * *
Father, neither pray I for these alone, but for all them that shall believe on me through their words, that they may all be one, even as we are one.
And we are all good Christians, and we all believe on Him through the
Apostles' words, although divided into several hundred sects.
* * *
One Lord, one faith, and one baptism.
Many Lords, many faiths, and three or four kinds of baptism.
* * *
And by one Spirit are ye all baptized into one body.
And by many spirits are we all torn asunder into different bodies.
* * *
And God gave some Apostles; and some, Prophets; and some, Evangelists; and some, Pastors and Teachers; for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
And there are to be no more Apostles, and no more Prophets. But the work of the ministry, the perfecting of the Saints, and the edifying of the different bodies of Christ, can all be done very well without these gifts of God, only give us money enough to educate and employ the wisdom of men.
* * *
These gifts and offices were to continue until we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
Apostles, miracles and gifts were to continue during the first age of Christianity, and then were to cease, because no longer needed, having accomplished their purpose.
* * *
These gifts and offices were given that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
Tracts, creeds, sermons and commentaries of uninspired men, together with a hireling priesthood, are now necessary in order to keep men from being carried about with every wind of doctrine, etc.
* * *
For no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of
God, as was Aaron.
For no man taketh this honor unto himself, but one who has been educated for the purpose, and commissioned by men.
* * *
But how shall they preach, except they be sent (of God)?
But how shall they preach except they be well educated for the purpose, and sent (by the board of officers)?
* * *
Is any sick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him.
If any are sick among you, do not send for the Elders of the Church; or, if the Elders come, do not let them lay hands on them, neither let them anoint them in the name of the Lord, for this is all "Mormon" delusion, but send for a good physician, and perhaps they may get well.
* * *
Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; for the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Repent and come to the anxious seat (penitent form), every one of you, and cry, "Lord, Lord," and may be you will get forgiveness of sins; and you may be baptized or not; but if you do, you will not get the Holy Ghost as they did anciently, for such things are done away.
* * *
It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; etc.
And in these last days the Lord will not pour out His Spirit so as to cause our sons and daughters to prophesy, our old men to dream dreams, and our young men to see visions; for such things are no longer needed, and it is all a delusion, and none but the ignorant believe such things.
* * *
Covet earnestly the best gifts, but rather that ye prophesy.
Do not covet any of the supernatural gifts, but especially beware of prophesying, for such things are done away.
* * *
Covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Do not prophesy, and it is all a delusion to speak in tongues.
* * *
But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
It matters not what kind of doctrine, or what system, a man embraces, if he is only sincere and worships Jesus Christ.
* * *
I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.
We thank God that He has revealed nothing to any person, wise or simple, for many hundred years, but that our wise and learned men have been able to know God without a revelation, and that we shall never be favored with any more.
* * *
No man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the
Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.
We all know God in this enlightened age, and yet neither the Father nor the Son has revealed any thing to any of us, for we do not believe revelations are necessary now.
* * *
And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.
And we cannot know for ourselves, by any positive manifestation, in these days, but must depend on the wisdom and learning of men.
* * *
I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ, that in everything ye are enriched by Him in all utterance, and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ (the spirit of prophecy) was confirmed in you, so that ye come behind in no good gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We thank the Lord always, in behalf of the Church in these days, that she has no supernatural gifts given unto her, and that she is not enriched by Christ, neither in the gift of utterance, nor in the gift of knowledge; neither has she the testimony of Jesus (the spirit of prophecy) confirmed in her, and she comes behind in all the gifts; nor is she waiting for, or expecting, the coming of the Lord; for He has come once, and never will come again till the great and last day, the end of the earth.
* * *
The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen; yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence.
The wisdom of men, and the learning of men, are better than the inspiration of the Almighty, for that is not needed any longer; for you see your calling, brethren, how that the wise and learned, and noble, and mighty are called in these days; for we have chosen such to confound the foolish, the unlearned, and the ignorant; yea, to confound the base things of the world which are despised, that flesh might glory in His presence.
* * *
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God; for I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
And we, brethren, when we came unto you, came with excellency of speech, and with the wisdom and learning of man; and our speech and our preaching were with enticing words of man's wisdom, not in demonstration of the Spirit and power, for that is done away; that your faith should not stand in the power of God, but in the wisdom of man.
* * *
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory; which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But we speak the wisdom of man in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which none but the learned knew; for had others known it, they would never have been under the necessity of employing us to tell it to them.
* * *
But God hath revealed them unto us, by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
But God hath revealed nothing unto us by His Spirit; for the wisdom and learning of man search all things; yea, all the deep things which are necessary for us to know.
* * *
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man, which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man by the Spirit of God in these days, for it is done away, or it reveals nothing.
* * *
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God: that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Now we have not received the Spirit of God, but the spirit of the world, that we might not know for a certainty, but that we might guess at, or give our opinion of, the things of God.
* * *
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth: comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, but which man's wisdom teacheth; for the inspiration of the Holy Ghost is done away.
* * *
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But the learned man may receive and understand the things of God by his own wisdom, without the inspiration of the Spirit; for who will be so foolish as to believe in visions and revelations in this religious age?
* * *
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in the things of God, let him get the wisdom of men, that he may be wise.
* * *
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore, let no man glory in men.
For the wisdom of God is foolishness with the world, for it is written, Let us educate young men for the ministry; and again, Let no man preach who has not been educated for the purpose; and especially, receive no man who professes to be inspired.
* * *
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
Now, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, we would have you entirely ignorant, for they are not needed at all in this generation.
* * *
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to no man to profit at all.
* * *
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.
But to one is given, by the learning of men, the word of wisdom; and to another, the word of knowledge by human learning.
* * *
To another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit.
And to another, faith, by the same Spirit; but to none the gift of healing by the same Spirit.
* * *
To another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, discerning of spirits; to another, divers kinds of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues.
And to none the working of miracles, and to none to prophesy; and to none discerning of spirits; and to none to speak with divers kinds of tongues, and to none to interpret tongues.
* * *
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
For as the body is composed of many sects and parties who are opposed to each other, and have no gifts, and being many sects, are but one body, so also is Antichrist.
* * *
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For by many spirits are we all baptized into many bodies, whether we be Catholics or Protestants, Presbyterians or Methodists, but have all drunk into one spirit, even the spirit of the world.
* * *
For the body is not one member, but many.
For the body is not one sect, but many.
* * *
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.
But now hath the God (of this world) set the sects and parties in the body (of Antichrist) as it hath pleased him.
* * *
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
And if they were all one sect, where were the body?
* * *
But now are they many members, but one body.
But now are they many sects, yet but one body (even Babylon).
* * *
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Now ye are the body of Antichrist, and members in particular.
* * *
And God hath set some in the Church: first, Apostles; secondly, Prophets; thirdly, Teachers; after that, miracles; then, gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
And man hath set some in the church, first, a hireling priest; secondly, a board of officers; thirdly, tracts; then commentaries, creeds, and diversities of opinions; hence, societies and wondrous helps.
* * *
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake: rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you.
Woe unto you, when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for Christ's sake. Lament ye, and be exceedingly sorrowful in that hour, for little is your reward among men, for so persecute they the Latter-day Saints.
* * *
Give to him that asketh thee; and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away.
Give to him that asketh of thee, if he be able to make thee a similar present; and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away, if he be able to pay thee again with good interest.
* * *
Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
Do not think to be perfect, for it is impossible to live without sin.
* * *
Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in heaven.
Take heed that you do your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise, you have no reward nor praise from the children of men.
* * *
Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, publish it in the Missionary
Herald, or some other paper, that you may get praise of the world.
Verily I say unto you, You shall have your reward.
* * *
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.
And when thou prayest, be like the hypocrites in days of old; go before the public and cry mightily, not expecting to be heard and answered, for that would be miraculous, and miracles have ceased.
* * *
Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Moreover, when ye fast, be like the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, that ye may appear unto men to fast; so that you may get your reward.
* * *
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Lay up for yourselves abundance of treasures on the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; for if your heart is only in heaven, it is no matter how rich you are in this world; for now it is come to pass that ye can serve God and mammon.
* * *
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the Prophets.
Therefore all things whatsoever men do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the practice.
* * *
Enter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.
Enter ye in at the wide gate, where the multitude go: for it cannot be that all our great and learned men are wrong, and nobody right but a few obscure individuals.
* * *
Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
For the narrow way is not altogether too straight, but only a very few travel in it.
* * *
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Beware of Prophets who come to you with the Word of God; you may know at once they are false, without hearing them or examining their fruits; popular opinion is against them; whereas, if they were men of God, the people would speak well of them.
* * *
Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
If we are only sure that we have experienced religion, and we pray often, we shall be saved, whether we do the Lord's will or not; for it mattereth not what system we embrace, whether it be right or wrong, if we are only sincere.
* * *
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
And it came to pass, when men had ended these sayings, the people were pleased with their doctrines, for they taught them not as men having authority, but as the scribes.