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THE

OOSPEL REFLECTOR,

IN WniCH THE

DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

OF

JESUS CHRIST

OP

LATTER-DAY SAINTS

IS SET FORTH, AND SCRIPTURE EVIDENCE ADDUCED TO ESTABLISH IT.

A BRIEF TREATISE UPON THE MOST IMPORTANT PROPHECIES RECORDED IN

THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, WHICH RELATE TO THE GREAT WORK

OF GOD OF THE LATTER-DAYS.

I!f SHORT THE SUBJECTS OF THE GOSPEL OF CHniST, AmSTAST OF THE JEWS AND

GENTILES, nEOBGAlVIZATION OF THE KIXGD03I OF GOD AND RENEWAL OF THE

GOSPEL DISPENSATION, THE APPEARING OF THE BOOK OF MORMON, THE

RESTORATION OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

AND DESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED, MILLENNIUM, &C., &C., ABE

TREATED UPON.

EDITED BY B. WINCHESTER,

Presiding Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,

IN PHILADELPHIA.

" To Uie law amUothe testimony : if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."— isa. viii. 20.

PHILADELPHIA:

BUOWN, BICKING & GUILBERT, PRINTERS, NO. 56 NORTH TffiRD STREET.

• 1841.

CONTENTS

Page^

To the Reader, - • 1

The present condition of both Jews and Gentiles, with regard to rehgion, 4

The present condition of the religious world represented by the similitude of a dream,. . 14

Postscript, 18

Marks of Dishonesty, 18

The present age of the world, 20

Communication from Elder E. Snow, 22

Minutes of a Special conference held in Philadelphia, Dec. 14, A. D. 1840, 23

Of Charity, 25

Spiritualizing the Scriptures, 29

The Divinity of Christ — The object of his Mission — The Kingdom of God or Church

Militant, and the Gospel 32

Anonymous Letter, 42

Answer to the Anonymous Letter, 44

Questions and Answers on the Gospel, 73

Of faith, (from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants,) 77

The renewal of the Gospel Dispensation, 84

The Object of a continuation of Revelation, 89

Introduction to the subject of the Book of Mormon, 98

The Claims of the Book of Mormon established — It also defended, 105

History of the Ancients of America, also of the Book of Mormon, 124

O. Cowdery's letters to W. W. Phelps : —

Letter 1 137

Do. II 140

Do. Ill 146

Do. IV 148

Do. V. 152

Do. VI 156

Do. VII 161

Do. VIII 167

Letter from Joseph Smith to O. Cowdery, 176

The faith once delivered to the Saints Restored, 177

The Lord's ensign and the restoration of the House of Israel, 173

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream, 192

On Priesthood (by Elder E. Snow,) 204

The location of Zion or the New Jerusalem, 213

Zion built and established for the Millennium, 217

The Second Coming of Christ and the Destruction of the Wicked, , . .220

The Resurrection, 244

The Millennium, 246

Procreation in the Millennium, .273

Daniel's vision of the Little Horn, 275

The beauty of the writings of the Prophet Esdras, 284

The apostasy of the Jews and Gentiles, 287

Order of the New Testament Church, 293

Proclamation, (From the Book of Doctrine and Covenants,) 297

The Doctrine and Order of the Church, (From the Book of Doctrine and Covenants,). .301

On Perfection, 311

References, (by L D. Barnes.) 315,

THE

(©^©0^^^ m^l^lj^l^^©

PUBLISHED BY B. WINCHESTER, PASTOR OF THE BRANCH OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS IN PHILADELPHIA.

"WHEN GOD WORKS WHO CAN HINDER?" VOL. I.] PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY 1, 1841. [NO. 1.

The "Gospel Reflector" U published semi-monthly in this city, on an excelUnt quality qf paper, each number containing 24 royal octavo pages. Price — 12i cts. per single number. Persons who wish to purchase a quantity far distribution can have tliem at a reduced price.

TO THE READER.

The object the publisher has in view, in publishing this work, is to further the cause of righteousness, unprejudice the minds of the prejudiced, and set the principles of our Holy Religion before the public in a plain and precise manner, that those who believe the doctrine we promulgate, may know what they believe, and those who deny, may know what they deny, and those who persecute us may know what they persecute us for. There are already several publications on the subject of our faith, but they do not fully answer the purpose, that is, they are not in a convenient shape for so extensive a circulation in this section of country as what this is intended. Again the calls for publications on the subject of our faith having become so numerous, and the number of disciples having greatly in- creased in this section of country, it is believed that a work of this kind for the time being will subserve the cause of righteousness. This is one reason wiiy I have attempted to publish this work, hoping that it will have the desired effect, and render the necessary information, and do much good. Again, as our enemies in this part of the country are engaged in spreading newspapers, pamphlets, and circulars, traducing the doctrine and characters of the above mentioned society, with the intention of stamping them with infamy and disgrace: and so far have accomplished their object, that they have affected to raise a tremendous hue and cry : " away with the Mormons, its delusion, fanaticism, and imposition," &c. &c. ; and have excited almost all classes of the community against us. In Missouri, the spirit of mobocracy has been tolerated, and we have been driven from our homes in the inclemency of the season ; and some were made to seal their testimony with their own blood. The shafts of our adversaries, and the

VOL. I. NO. I. 1

2 TO THE READER.

combined powers of darkness have conjoined, and made an attempt to over- throw the great woriv of God. Indeed, the truth of heaven has been trampled upon with impunity, and the yoke of persecution has been placed upon our necks. This is another reason why I have resolved to issue this work, that I may, through it, help to set the cause of righteousness erect, that it may pursue its course with ancient speed and spread to earth's remotest bounds. Also, to refute the publications that appear against us in the shape of argia- ments, and thus foil our enemies in their attempts.

This work is not designed as a standard periodical for the society, but merely to accommodate the members of the church, and public in general, in this city and the adjoining country.

One reason why I issue this work in the form of a periodical is thai it may have a more general circulation, and I shall take the responsibility upon myself for all the original matter that will be inserted. I shall close the volume when it is thought proper.

1 would here observe to the members of the church in this section of country, that I had it (as is well known) in contemplation last spring to' publish O. Cowdery's letters, giving a history of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and, connected with them, other original matter, such as 1 had written myself, whip h I asked permission or advice of J. Smith who said I was at liberty to publish any thing of the kind that would further the cause of righteousness ; I also asked advice of S. Rigdon, who said he had no objection. I intend to publish, in this work, the above mentioned letters and also a Sew extracts from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, shewing the order of the church — but shall not interfere with any other'publications.

My course while publishing this work will be a careful and straight for- ward one, and nothing will be admitted in it that will offend the honest inquirer after truth, yet simplicity and plainness will be used. Furthermore, being conscious that the elders and members of the church in this section of the country are anxious to be well versed in the scriptures, I shall endeavour to pursue a course that will acquaint them with the leading principles of our doctrine, and the abundance of scripture evidence there is to establish them : and I earnestly solicit the prayers of the saints that I may be directed in righteousness, and that 1 may, through the grace of God, help to roll on the stone that is cut out of the mountain without hands ; which will roll till it fills the whole earth ; that peace may flow like a river to all the people of God ; and Zion become a peaceful home, and Jerusalem a quiet habitation for the saints : and until wickedness be done away — Israel gathered in one, the Messiah come, with power to bless his saints with their promised inheritance. Also, that this work may be an instrument in the hands of God of breaking down prejudice, doing away superstition, and loosing the vulture fangs oi bigotry, that the minds of the people may be set free from such encumbrances, and candidly investigate the subject for themselves.

As this is the first number of the " Gospel Reflector," it will not be amiss to give a few outlines of some of the leading principles of our faith, which will all bo treated upon in their proper time, and scripture and reason be adduced to authenticate them. First, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Pay Saints, believe that the scriptures contain the words of God, and that they are true and faithful. Second, the Godhead, i. e., The Fatlier, Son and

TO THE READER. 3

Holy Spirit. The Father bcinj; a personage of spirit, glory and power: possessing all perfection and I'lilness: The Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, personage of tabernacle, made, or fashioned like unto man, or, rather, man was framed after his likeness, and in his image : — he also possesses all the fulness of the Father, or, the same fulness with th? Father, possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son, these three are one, or in other words, these three constitute the godhead. Third, that the name of Jesus Christ is the only name given under heaven, whereby man can be saved. Fourth, that the Gospel of Christ, which is glad tidings of good things, is the only plan of salvation. Its principles as follows : First, faith in God and his commandments ; second, inasmuch as all have sinned it is necessary that all should repent of their sins, and forsake them ; third, be baptized for the remission of sins, and adoption into the kingdom of God ; (see Acts ii. 38) fourth, the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost ; (see Acts viii. chap., do. xi.x. chap.) ; fifth, in having the Church of Christ organized according to the New Testament pattern; with apostles, prophets, and evangelists, &c., and earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, — and the promised spiritual gifts ; (see I. Cor. xii. chap., do. xiv. chap., Eph. iv. chap., Mark xvi. chap.) sixth, that the majority of the Christian world have apostatized from God, and rejected much of the fore- going order of the gospel, and instead of contending for the gifts of the gospel, such as the spirit of prophecy, laying on of hands for the healing of the sick, revelations, administration of angels, inspiration, and visions, they contend against them, and say these things are done away, and no longer needed, thus fulfilling the words of the prophet: " They have transgressed the law, changed the ordinance, and broken the everlasting covenant." For this reason the Lord has spoken from on high, and caused light once more to dawn upon the benighted world, and hath restored the ancient order of the church, and hath set the honest in heart contending for the faith, once delivered to the saints ; and is clothing his servants with authority to proclaim the fulness of his gospel to the inhabitants of the earth, as a witness of the second coming of Christ, whom we believe will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory — being accompanied by His Holy angels and saints to take vengeance on the wicked, and destroy them, and set up his kingdom, and together with his saints, reign a thousand years, which is called the Millennium ; seventh, that the Lord hath by his power brought forth the Book of Mormon, which is a record of the ancient inha- bitants of America, who were a branch of the House of Israel ; and that this book agrees in testimony and doctrine with the Bible, and contains much plainness as to the Gospel of Christ, and .the gathering of the House of Israel, from their long dispersion back upon their own land ; which will be done ere long. Also, the Book of Mormon reveals the fact that the aborigines of this continent are a branch of the House of Israel, and that they eventually will receive the Gospel and lay down their weapons of war, and become the people of the Lord in very-deed. But more of this in its proper place.

THE PRESENT CONDITION OF

THE PRESENT CONDITION OF BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES WITH RE- GARD TO RELIGION.

In order to understand the precise condition of both Jews and Gen- tiles with regard to religion, it will be necessary to take a retrospective view of both in past ages of the world. We will commence with the Jews.

The history of the descendants of Abraham is somewhat peculiar; part of it is taken up in recording their prosperity, and their triumphs over their enemies, and they seemingly under tiie fostering care of Omnipotence, who showered his blessings upon them. In other parts are recorded the awful calamities that came upon them in consequence of disobedience, and they being at times forced to pay tribute to other nations, and sometimes subjected to the most cruel bondage, and driven from their land, and placed in the most dejected condition of slavery, as though the great God had cast them off for ever, and they were to linger out a miserable existence in wretchedness and servitude. For instance, the ten tribes that revolted in the days of Rehoboam, and chose Jeroboam son of Nebat to be their king, and thus formed a separate government by themselves, and remained so until they be- came wicked ; and the consequence was, they were led off of their lands by Shalmaneser, king of Asyria, (see II Kings, xviii. chap.) and have never returned to possess the land of Palestine since. Some have supposed that they returned after the Babylonish captivity, but it cannot be proved that they did.

The tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and some scattering individuals from other tribes were left to possess the land of Canaan. They at length became wicked, and were taken as captives to Babylon, where they remained seventy years, and then returned and rebuilt the tem- ple, and repaired the waste places of Jerusalem. For a short time, it is probable they were failhful to their God, but at length in the midst of their prosperity they became proud, and the Lord sent pro- phets to reprove them of their sins. Some of thent they stoned ; some they put to death ; others they shut in prison. Previous to the coming of Christ they were troubled with false prophets, and false christs, who drew many from the principles of righteousness, and caused them to be divided into sects and parties, which by the help of priest- craft, opinions of their scribes, and doctors of the law, and foolish tra- ditions, fully prepared them to reject their Messiah when he came.

In the due time of the Lord our blessed master made his appear- ance among them, and commenced his divine mission; chose twelve disciples and sent them before him into all the cities of Israel, with this proclamation, " the kingdom of God is at hand." The Pharisees and Sadducees ever tenacious for their religion, were alarmed at this, and sought immediately to destroy him. He boldly reproved them for

JEWS AND GENTILES. »

their wickedness, and taught them the pure principles of righteousness and virtue. They professed to believe the law and the prophets; but it is evident their faith was nominal; "If ye would believe Moses and the prophets ye would believe me, for they wrote of me." They professed to worship according to the law, but Jesus accused them of making void the law through the tradition of their elders : " ye have omitted the more weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith." He offered them pardon on condition they would receive his testimony, and obey his commands, but they would not. He mourn- ed over them and said, " 0 Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! thou that stonest the prophets, and killest them that I sent unto you, how oft would I have gathered you, but ye would not." He foresaw that ihey would as a nation reject him and those that he sent unto them ; he therefore uttered the awful denunciations that their city should be thrown down, and not one stone should be left upon another, and it should be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled ; aijd they should be led captive into all nations. He declared to them plainly that the kingdom of God should be taken from them, and given to, or conferred upon, a nation bringing forth, or who should bear the fruits thereof, having reference no doubt to the transmitting of the gospel with all the blessings that appertained to it, from the Jews, and conferring it upon the Gentiles. After Christ had declared these things to them, it with other things exasperated the/n against him, and they took and crucified him, and were ready to persecute the few fol- lowers he had obtained. After the resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples, and commissioned and commanded them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature ; with this injunction, they were to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. This was done on the day of pentecost, when three thousand believed and were baptised. The apostles then being pre- pared to preach the fulness of the gospel, and the Lord determined that that nation should be kept without an excuse, sent them throughout the cities and country of the Jews to warn them to repent once more. This mission lasted the apostles, according to historians, about eight years, during which time the Jews were faithfully warned, and many were obedient to the faith ; yet they were like a drop to a bucket in comparison to the vast multitude of the nation. The apostles disco- vering that they as a nation, after a fair warning had rejected Christ, said, " seeing ye count yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo we turn to the Gentiles." Thus, the Jews as a nation openly disavowed and rejected their Messiah and his gospel. They also persecuted many of the followers of Christ, even unto death. And no sooner was the kingdom taken from the Jews, and the gospel preached to the Gentiles, than their national power began rapidly to decline. At length the day of visitation came for them to be visited with the wrath which they had treasured up unto themselves by their wickedness ; the city of Jerusalem in fulfilment of the Saviour's prophecy was destroyed,

0 THE PRESENT CONDITION OF

and nearly one million and a half of Jews in Jerusalem and other places, and at other times during the war perished, and a remnant of only a few thousand were left, and they were dispersed, to different parts of the earth. Since that time Jerusalem has been in the hands of their enemies, and they in some centuries have been subjected to the worst of bondage and cruelty. Indeed they have been like Noah's dove, having no place to rest. These things have come upon them in fulfilment of prophecy, (see Deut., xxviii. chap.) Indeed, the scriptures are so full of predictions to this effect, and it is so well known that they have been fulfilled to the very letter, that it is not necessary to refer to them. At present, notwithstanding their former troubles, the cloud of affliction seems to have in part blown over, yet they are in a scattered condition. The other tribes of Israel are also scattered, and no one knows where they are except it is by revelation. However, the prophet speaking of their return in the latter days, says " they shall come from the land of the north," (see Jer. xvi. 15.) Thus, we see the dealings of God with his ancient covenant people. When they observed to keep the commandments of the Lord they were blessed with many blessings; but when they transgressed the law of the Lord, they were brought into bondage by their enemies ; and when they committed more aggravating crimes they were driven from the land of Canaan. And thus, the children of Israel as a nation or nations have transgressed ; and thus they have been driven and put under the control of their enemies. It is true the Lord promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that they should have the land of Canaan for themselves, and their posterity for an everlasting inheritance ; but he never promised that they should perpetually dwell on it if they become wicksd. There

/ is time enough yet for the Lord to fulfil that promise when they are sufficiently punished for their crimes ; and he has positively declared by the mouth of his prophets that he will gather the children of Israel from their long dispersion, and bring them back upon their own land. Christ says that Jerusalem shall be in the hands of their enemies, until

.^ the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. How soon that will be I shall not attempt to say at present. The religious state of the Jews is so well known, that it is hardly necessary to trouble the reader with any remarks on the subject. Their views are still the same, that they ?ver have been since their dispersion with the exception of a few v^ho have embraced Christianity. They believe Christ to have been an impos- tor, and that the true Messiah is yet to come. They pretend to worship God according to the Mosaic law, although they have adulterated it much. They generally have correct views of the fulfilment of pro- phecy, which they say is to be fulfilled in its most literal sense. Con- sequently, they look for their Messiah to come with power and great glory, and restore the kingdom again to Israel, and gather them, and succor them, that they wjjl no more be oppressed by their enemies. Some of them are constantly looking for him to come, others say he will come in this generation.

JEWS AND GENTILES. 7

Now it is evident that the grounds upon which the Jews rejected Christ are as follows : they were blinded by the traditions of their elders, and opinions of their learned men, who had long taught them that when the Messiah should come, he would come in great pomp and splendor, and act the part of an earthly prince, and subdue their enemies, restore the kingdom again to Israel, and gather them (that is the dispersed tribes,) from all parts where they were scattered, and place them once more upon the land of Canaan. With this exalted idea of triumphing over their enemies when their Messiah came, they could not stoop to such humility as to receive a meek and hum- ble Jesus, who was cradled in a manger, and who associated with publicans and sinners, and chose illiterate fishermen for his disciples. Indeed, they disdained the idea of his being the true Messiah, there- fore, they circulated unpopular reports concerning him, and prejudiced the minds of the Jews at large against him, and taught their children, and made them believe that he was the worst of impostors : and thus it has been handed down to the present age as a matter of tradition, from father to son, that Christ was an impostor. In a word, the Jews were blinded with regard to his first coming, and mistook what we conceive to be his second advent, for his first; which is yet to come. Having thus, in a brief manner, traced the dealings of God with the Jews down to the present age of the world, and specified their pre- sent condition, we will now take a retrospective glance at the history of the Gentiles with regard to Christianity, and the dealings of God with them in ages past, and so trace them to the present age.

A long time before the coming of Christ, the Gentile part of the world, by turning from the Lord to worshiping idols, gods of their own make, and committirig many other atrocious crimes, rendered themselves unworthy of the oracles of God. Consequently he took his oracles from them, and conferred them upon a people (Israel,) whom he raised up for that purpose, also to perpetuate his holy name. Thus the Gentiles were left in darkness, and remained so until the appearance of Christ. At this time the Jews had broken the covenant which the Lord made with them on mount Sinai, and were divided into sects, and at last rejected Christ, after they had a fair opportunity of receiving him. Hence said Christ, as we have before stated, " the kingdom of God shall be taken from you." The apostles, after having finished their mission to the Jews, were com- manded to publish the gospel to the Gentiles, which they did with much success. Branches of the Church of Christ were established in many places among the Gentile nations, and as Christ said they should bring forth or produce the fruits of his kingdom — it is evident from the apostles' writings that they did.

Now the apostles preached the gospel of Christ in its purity, and administered the ordinance of baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost, to all who believed and repented of their sins. These also were the initiatory

8 THE FRESENT CONDITION OF

ordinances into the kingdom of God, or church militant. (See John iii. 5, Mark xvi. 16, Acts ii. 38, Acts viil. chap., Acts x. chap.) The apostles, also, were delegated with an extraordinary power or au- thority to administer the above mentioned ordinances, and adopt souls into the kingdom of God ; which authority they received by the im- position of hands, and which Peter denominates the holy priesthood. (See 1st Peter ii. 5-9, Acts xiii. 3, John xv. 16.) After this (not before,) authority was conferred upon the apostles' they fully organized the kingdom of God, and all \vho believed entered into it. And this kingdom being taken from the Jews, was organized according to the apostles' testimony among the Gen'iles, and they produced the fruits of the same as follows : — " Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church: first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that miracles; then gifts of healings, helps, governments, deversities of tongues." I Cor. xii. 28. In the former part of this chapter the apostle mentions several of the spiritual gifts, and in the first chapter of this epistle, he thanks God that the Corinthian brethren come behind in no gift. In the 4th chap, of Eph. the apostle says, "Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. * * * And he gave some, apostles; and some, pro- phets; 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 ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God." From the foregoing quotations the reader will readily discover that the Church of Christ was anciently organized, having in it apostles and prophets, &c. ; and the gifts or fruits of the kingdom of God were revelations, administration of angels, visions, the spirit of prophecy, the gift of speaking in other tongues, the laying on of hands, for the healing of the sick, &c., &c. (See Eph. i, 17, I Cor. ii, 10, II Cor. xii, ch., Heb. xiii, 2, I Cor. xiv. ch.) Christ said, these signs shall follow them that believe, '• in my name shall they cast out devils," &c. But says the objector, these offices of the church,'and the various gifts above mentioned, were only to last during the establishment of Chris- tianity; which was done in the days of the apostles. I reply that the Scriptures say no such thing ; but to the contrary, they were to con- tinue till all come to the unity of the faith. Also, apostles and pro- phets were placed in the church for the work of the ministry, and for the perfecting of the saints. No one will pretend to say that the Christian world is united at present ; and but what the work of the ministry is necessary now-a-days. In a word, God placed the above .- mentioned officers in his church, and blessed his saints with spiritual

y gifts ; and now I ask who has the authority to change this order of things? The answer is ; God alone has the authority to do it. Has he ever said that he would change it ? Answer ; it is no where said

^^^ in the scriptures that he would do it. The apostle says that they

JEWS AND GENTILES. ' 9

Were to continue till we all come to the unity of the faith. James says, i. ch. 25 verse : " But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." This per- fect law of liberty here alluded to, evidently is the gospel, and from the above, the apostle certainly considered it perfect. And everyone knows that if it is perfect, it will not admit of any change for the better : consequently, if changed at all, it will be for the worse. Now the gospel being the law of liberty, or of the kingdom of God, re- quires that all the above mentioned officers, and spiritual gifts should be in the kingdom, and the gifts enjoyed by the subjects of the king- . dom of God. But says one where are they now 1 Ah ! that's the trouble ! Have they not ceased from being among the Gentiles'? I reply they have. What is the cause 1 I answer, the Gentile churches have corrupted themselves ; — they have done wickedly, and divided them- selves into sects and parties, and broken the covenant the Lord made with their fathers when he took the kingdom from the Jews: which I will prove by the predictions of the apostles, and prophets.

From what has already been said, it will be seen the precise manner in which the kingdom of God was organized in the apostolic age of the world, and we can look upon it in no other age of the world as being any more perfect, and what it was then, the same it ought to be now. But to proceed.

The apostle Paul says, in Rom. xi ch., " I say then, have they (the Jews) stumbled that they should fall ? God forbid, but rather through their unbelief salvation is come unto the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy." The apostle here evidently has an allusion to the kingdom being taken from the Jews, and conferred upon the Gentiles; hence he says : " Well, because of unbelief they (the Jews) were broken ofT, and thou (the Gentiles,) standest by faith. But be not high minded, but fear : for if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest he spare not thee." " Behold the goodness and severity of God on them which fell, severity ; but toward thee goodness, if thou continue in his goodness, otherwise thou (the Gentiles,) also shall be cut off." Now I ask how the Gentiles were to be cut off; was it not from the blessings of the gospel of peace, such as the spiritual gifts? Indeed, the apostle forewarned them saying : ■' take heed for thou standest by faith," and also says, goodness toward them if they should continue in the good- ness of the Lord, otherwise they should be cut off like the Jews were, i. e. for their wickedness. Paul says in another place : " Let no man deceive you by any means : for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition," — 2 Thes. ii. 3. From this prediction, we learn that prior to the second coming of Christ, there was to be a falling away from the true principles of righteousness. How long after the death of the apostles before this falling away took place is uncertain, but it is quite probable that it was soon, from the fact the apostle says : " the

VOL. I. NO. I. — 2

/

\

10 THE PRESENT CONDITION OF

mystery of iniquity doth already work among you, — " 2 Thes. ii, 7, Again,'Paul said to the Ephesians : " For I know this, that after my departing shall grevious wolves, enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them, — " Acts, xx, 29, 30. From this prediction we are led to believe, that this apostacy commenced in an early age. Indeed, after the disease of the apostles, men began to dissent, and introduce new doctrines, and draw disciples after them ; although, persecution raged so violently in that early age, that the man of sin, or the falling away was not so visible until the time of Constantine the Great : when the death blow was struck to the spirit of humility. That which was said to be the gospel, was then propa- gated by the authority of the Roman Empire ; kings, governors, pro- consuls, magistrates, the noble, the proud, the philosopher, the learned, and the wise began to embrace Christianity ; and whereas the apostles preached Christ and him crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, and had the finger of scorn pointed at them: these things which were so mysterious to the Jews and Greeks, were now no longer considered a mystery; dissenters after dissenters arose, heresy after heresy was introduced ; creeds, confessions of faith, and opinions of men, and at length to crown the climax, church and state were united : and just in proportion as these things made their appear- ance, truth, righteousness, and the spiritual gifts receded, and the s[)irit of Anti-Christ took their place. The learned historian Mr. Jones, makes the following remarks concerning the situation of the Christian faith in the days of Constantine : " Now they began to new-model the Christian church, the government of which was as far as possible, arranged conformably to the government of the state. The emperor himself assumed the title of bishop — and claimed the power of regu- lating its external affairs ; and he and his successors convened coun- cils, in which they presided, and determined all matters of discipline. The bishops corresponded to those magistrates whose jurisdiction was confined to single cities; the metropolitans to the pro-consuls or pre- sidents of provinces ; the primates to the emperor's vicars, each of whom governed one of the imperial provinces. Canons and preben- daries of cathedral chuiches took their rise from the societies of ecclesiastics, which Eusebius, bishop of Verceil, and after him Au- gustine, formed in their houses, and in which these prelates were styled their fathers and masters."

This constitution of things was an entire departure from the order of worship established under divine direction by the apostles of Christ in the prirhitive churches. In fact, scarcely any two things could be more dissimilar than the simplicity of the gospel dispensation from the hierarchy established under Constantine the Great. " Let none," says Dr. Mosheim, alluding to the first and second centuries, " con- found the bishops of this primitive and golden period of the church with those of whom we read in the following ages. For though

JEWS AND GENTILES. 11

they were both designated by the same name, yet they diflered ex- tremely in many respects. The scriptures were now no longer the. standard of the christian faith. What was orthodox, and what hete- rodox, was, from henceforward, to be determined by the decisions of fathers and councils."

Indeed, the history of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh cen- turies is only a record of one perpetual scene of controversies, heresies, and dissentions. Among the most noted controversies of these ages was the Arian. As for sects, parties, and contrary opinions, they were almost without number. At the commencement of the seventh century the dominion of popes was established. The power of other sects then began to decline ; and the popes began to exercise their lordly authority over them, and in many instances compelled them to comply with their requisitions, till the church power, or authority was ■more or less concentrated in the popes. Several have laboured to trace an unbroken succession of authority from the apostles to the present age ; without having been connected with popery in any age, but they iiave been unsuccessful in their attempts. In the seventh and eighth centuries popery had great power over the Christian world. In the ninth century the Greek church separated from the Roman. In the twelfth century the societies of Waldenses and Albigenses made their appearance, who were most cruelly persecuted by the mother church. In the sixteenth century the far famed reformation commenced.

In this century Martin Luther, John Calvin, Henry the VIII, and many others dissented from the Roman Church : and from that time to the present there has been a constant breaking off from the Pro- testants that call themselv«s orthodox, and establishing new societies, until the Protestants are divided and subdivided, and have imbibed hundreds of different opinions concerning the plain and pure principles of the gospel. Indeed, the countless tomes of controversy, the schisms in the churches, disputations, envy, rancour, pride, and haughtiness that have corrupted the Gentile churches, are enough to make the heart of a true saint sicken at the thought.

Now I ask, where did the Protestants get their authoi'ity to establish churches and administer ordinances? It cannot be that they got it immediately from heaven, for they deny all immediate revelation fronn God. I know we hear the clergy telling about their calls to preach; but I conclude their calls are quite different from those of the apostles: for they were called by direct revelation. But says one, we have the commission that was given to the apostles, and that is sufficient for us. I reply, General Washington had a commission to act as commander in chief of the United States forces, and after that as pre- sident; but he is dead and his body is in the silent tomb, and his commission is of no use to any other person. Paul says, " No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God as wtis Aaron." Heb. v. 4. Aaron was called by direct I'evelation, and con-

12 THE PRESENT CONDITION OF

secrated to the office of a priest by the imposition of Moses' hands,' If the Protestants have any authority, it came from the Mother Church j but how can it be that they have any legal authority from the Mother (Church when they were condemned as heretics, and excommunicated ? Those who have power to confer authority, have power to take it away. The Protestants have universally protested against the Roman- Church and called her the Mother of Harlots.

Now if the Catholic Church is corrupt her authority is not good J then as the most of the Protestants are branches that sprung from them, of course their authority, or church power, is not pure. " A corrupt fountain cannot send forth pure watei\" What authority had Luther, Calvin, Henry the VIII, and many others to establish churches. I answer, they denied immediate revelation, consequently they were not commissioned at all ; and none of them had any more authority to ad- minister ordinances, than I have to sit upon the French throne, and act in the capacity of a king. Indeed, if God had called these Re- formers, they would have preached the pure gospel, and contended for the faith once delivered to the saints : also for the spiritual gifts, y^" Surely," says the prophet Amos, iii. 7, " the Lord God will do no- thing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." From this scripture we learn that the Lord will do no great work without revealing it to his servants : therefore, the fact that these reformers received no revelations, proves beyond successful contradiction that God never authorized them to build up churches, or administer or- dinances. It is true they done good by moralizing the world, but the doctrines they taught were contrary to the Holy Scriptures, which 16 already proved from what has been said concerning the New Tes- tament order of the church, and the gifts of the spirit.

These Reformers had no such organization and received no such gifts as before mentioned. But it is useless to dwell any longer upon this part of the subject, for it is known to every one who is acquainted with the history of the church, that, as a general thing, all the authori- ties of the Protestants can be traced back to the Roman Catholic Church only. Therefore, considering the apostacy of the Roman Church, we are irresistably led to the conclusion that the Protestant denominations, who got their authority from them, are in a similar situation as the Jews, living under a broken covenant: and if the scriptures be true both Catholics and Protestants are in a state of apostacy ; as I shall proceed to prove.

It has already been stated that there was to be a falling away prior to the second coming of Christ. Isaiah says, " The earth also is de- filed under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. There- fore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate : therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." Isa. xxiv. 5, 6. This prophecy certainly alludes to the Gentiles, and the completion of its fulfilment is of as late a date as

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the nineteenth century, for no destruction by fire so universal has ever come upon any