,,outlines ,,of ,,ecclesiastical ,,history ,,by ,,elder ,b4 ,h4 ,,roberts ,,author ,,of ,the ,life of ,john ,taylor ,the ,gospel ,new ,witness for ,god ,missouri ,persecutions ,rise and ,fall of ,nauvoo1 etc4 ,,third ,,edition ,,salt ,,lake ,,city1 ,,utah4 #aijb4 ,,dedication ,,to ,,the ,,seventies3 ,,that ,,body ,,of ,,men ,,upon ,,whom--,,under ,,the ,,direction ,,of ,,the ,,twelve ,,apostles-- ,,devolves ,,the ,,responsibility ,,of ,,preaching ,,the ,,gospel1 ,,and ,,defending ,,the ,,truth ,,in ,,all ,,the ,,world1 ,,this ,,work ,,is ,,affectionately ,,dedicated4 ,a ,,word ,,with ,,students ,,and ,,teachers4 ,before you take up the study of ,,outlines ,,of ,,ecclesiastical ,,history1 ,i beg leave to call your attention to the structure of the work1 and the purpose for which it was written4 ,first1 then1 as to its structure4 ,the work is divided into four parts1 each with a distinct idea running through it4 ,part ,i deals with ,,the ,,establishment ,,of ,,the ,,church through the ministry of ,messiah and his apostles2 ,part ,,ii with ,,the ,,apostasy1 brought about through the severe persecution to which the early saints were subjected1 the rise of false teachers1 changing the ordinances of the gospel1 intermingling pagan philosophy with ,christian doctrine1 and a transgression of the laws of ,god2 ,part ,,iii deals with ,,the ,,reformation1 treating it1 however as a revolution instead of a reformation since the so-called reformation by no means re-established primitive ,christianity1 either in its form or essence1 but it did overthrow the power of the ,catholic ,church in the greater part of ,western ,europe1 gave larger liberty to the people1 and thus prepared the way for the great work which followed it--the introduction of the ,dispensation of the ,fullness of ,times2 ,part ,,iv treats of ,,the ,,restoration ,,of ,,the ,,gospel1 in the aforesaid dispensation1 through the revelations which ,god gave to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,the parts above enumerated are separated into sections1 these subdivisions being determined by the several subjects into which the main idea of the respective parts naturally divides4 ,the sections are again separated into topics1 the iv titles of which are printed in bold-face type1 and the paragraphs are numbered4 ,these divisions1 it is believed1 will better enable the student to discern the relation of the respective parts to the main subject1 and at the same time afford a convenient division for the assignment of lessons to classes4 ,ordinarily it will be found that a section will be sufficient for a lesson for either a class or quorum2 but in some instances two of the shorter sections may be taken for a lesson2 but some of the longer sections should be divided into two or more4 ,at the end of each section will be found a collection of notes bearing upon the important points treated in the text of the work1 at which place reference will be found to the note at the end of the section4 ,the author cannot1 in his opinion1 too emphatically urge upon the student the importance of turning to the notes to which he is directed in the text and reading them4 ,they will be found to throw additional light upon the subject treated in the text1 either by giving the statement of a recognized authority1 supplying pointed argument--with which it has been thought best not to burden the body of the work--or giving illustrations to the statement made in the text4 ,another purpose for placing these notes at the end of the sections has been to arouse an interest in the works of the authors quoted2 that the students of this text book may be induced to delve deeper into the study of ,ecclesiastical ,history than a perusal of these pages will enable them to do4 ,and here let the author confess1 while he believes he is presenting a very valuable collection of facts to those who will take up the study of his work--yet if the study of these pages shall result in merely awakening in the minds of the elders and the youth of ,israel an interest in the subject1 he will account the objects of his efforts successfully attained4 ,at the end of each section also will be found ,review ,questions1 covering the main points treated in the text and in the notes4 ,it is hoped that they will be found useful in conducting v class exercises1 and to the private student who wishes to ascertain if he has mastered the subject matter of each section4 ,let him put to himself the questions found in the review at the end of the section1 when completing it1 and if he can give a satisfactory answer to each one1 the author feels assured that the student has mastered the salient points4 ,the purpose of the work is two-fold3 ,first1 it is to sustain the position taken by the church of ,christ in the last days4 ,what that position is may be readily discerned by the very first revelation the ,lord gave to ,joseph ,smith4 ,in answering the young prophet's question--which of all the sects of religion was acknowledged of him as his church and kingdom--the ,lord said they were all wrong2 that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight2 that those professors were all corrupt2 that they drew near to him with their lips1 but their hearts were far from him2 that they taught for doctrine the commandments of men--having a form of godliness1 but denying the power thereof4#a ,it has been to bring together the historical evidences of the truth of this divine announcement that1 in part1 this work has been written2 and therefore prominence has been given to those facts of history which support that announcement4 ,but no fact has been suppressed that has a tendency to support the opposite view4 ,no such fact either of history or prophecy exists4 ,the whole stream of evidence proves that there has been a universal apostasy from the religion taught by ,jesus ,christ and his apostles2 and the existing differences between the present teachings of ,christendom and the doctrines of the scriptures is a proof so palpable that it admits of no contradiction4 ,as this position of the church is one which the seventies and elders will have to maintain against all the world1 it is of first importance that they become familiar with those facts of history and of prophecy that will enable them to maintain that position intelligently and successfully4 ,the second purpose of the work is to teach the principles of the gospel4 ,this1 the author is convinced1 can best be done in connection with their history4 ,relate the historical events which resulted in the introduction and establishment of the gospel and the church of ,christ2 then in all the centuries from the second to the tenth show how the doctrines of ,messiah were departed from1 how the ordinances were changed and the laws of ,god transgressed2 relate the principal events of the sixteenth century revolution--miscalled the ,reformation--and point out how that revolution1 however salutary in bringing to pass an enlargement of popular liberty1 failed to re-establish the gospel of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 or re-organize the church as at first founded by ,messiah2 then relate the events connected with the restoration of the gospel through the revelations given to the great prophet of the ,dispensation of the ,fullness of ,times1 ,joseph ,smith--and in so doing you are not only teaching the interesting facts of ,ecclesiastical ,history to your students1 but at the same time you are making them acquainted with the principles of the gospel4 ,under such a presentation the students1 without being conscious of it1 perhaps1 will examine those principles under a variety of circumstances4 ,they will see them stated in connection with the leading events of the ,messiah's life2 they will see them corrupted by an apostate church2 they will hear them discussed by men during the attempt at ,reformation2 and after witnessing the unavailing efforts of the ,reformers to re-establish the gospel and the church of ,christ1 they will see how the heavens were opened and every principle1 doctrine1 ordinance1 law1 officer and institution known to the church of ,christ1 restored4 ,such a presentation of the principles of the gospel1 we repeat1 must lead to a very comprehensive understanding of them1 and such is one of the purposes of this work1 and one which the author hopes will give it a claim upon the attention of all those desiring information on the subject of the gospel1 as well as to the quorums of seventies and elders to whom we believe it will be of special service4 ,before the work went to press the manuscript was submitted to a committee of brethren appointed by the ,first ,presidency4 ,elders ,john ,nicholson1 ,george ,reynolds and ,james ,e4 ,talmage constituted that committee4 ,the author is very much indebted to them for their patient consideration of his manuscript1 and for the very valuable suggestions and corrections made by them4 ,they reported favorably to the ,first ,presidency on the work1 and it is now presented to the students of ,ecclesiastical ,history--in which the church of ,christ should abound--in the hope that it will be of service to them in their researches in this most interesting department of knowledge4 ,this1 the fifth edition1 is uniform with the previous edition1 in every respect4 ,the ,publishers ,footnotes #a4 ,pearl of ,price1 page #he4 ,,contents ,,dedication ,,introduction ,,part ,i4 ,,establishment ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,part ,,ii4 ,,the ,,apostasy ,,part ,,iii4 ,,the ,,reformation ,,part ,,iv4 ,,the ,,restoration ,,of ,,the ,,gospel ,,index ,,part ,i4 ,,the ,,establishment ,,of ,,the ,,church4 #aa ,,section ,i4 #a4 ,birth of ,messiah4--,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god and ,savior of the world1 was born1 most probably1 in the year of ,rome #gec2 at a period of the year corresponding to our month of ,april 7see notes #a1 #b1 end of section74 ,the place of his birth was ,bethlehem ,beth-le-hem1#a a small town about four miles south of ,jerusalem4 ,the birth-place of ,messiah was foretold by ,micah ,mi-kah1 the prophet1 more than seven hundred years before the event1 in the following prophecy3 ,but thou1 ,bethlehem ,ephratah ,ef-ra-tah1 though thou be little among the thousands of ,judah1 yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in ,israel2 whose goings forth have been from of old1 from everlasting4#b #b4 ,parentage of ,christ4--,messiah was born of the virgin ,mary1 a descendant of ,david1 and the espoused wife of ,joseph1 a carpenter in the little village of ,nazareth ,naz-a-reth1 who1 notwithstanding his humble station in life1 was also a descendant of the royal house of ,david4 ,an angel appeared unto ,mary previous to her conception1 and thus addressed her3 ,hail thou that art highly favored1 the ,lord is with thee3 blessed art thou among women4 ,and when she saw him1 she was troubled at his saying1 and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be4 ,and the angel said unto her1 ,fear not1 ,mary3 for thou hast found favor with ,god4 ,and1 behold1 thou shalt conceive in thy womb1 and bring forth a son1 and shall call his name ,,jesus4 ,he shall be great1 and shalt be called the ,son of the ,highest3 and the ,lord ,god shall give unto him the throne of his father ,david3 and he shall #ab reign over the house of ,jacob forever2 and of his kingdom there shall be no end4 ,then said ,mary unto the angel1 ,how shall this be1 seeing ,i know not a man8 ,and the angel answered and said unto her1 ,the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,highest shall overshadow thee3 therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee1 shall be called the ,son of ,god4 99 99 99 ,and ,mary said3 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord2 be it unto me according to thy word4#c #c4 ,these two1 the mother of ,jesus and her betrothed husband1 had left their home in ,nazareth to enroll their names as members of the house of ,david1 in a census which had been ordered by the ,emperor ,augustus1 and while at ,bethlehem ,mary was delivered of her son4 ,the enrollment ordered by the emperor had called so many strangers into the little town of ,bethlehem that on the arrival of ,joseph and ,mary there was no room at the inn for them1 and they had to take up quarters in the stable adjacent4 ,there1 among the hay and straw spread for the food and rest of the cattle1 ,christ was born4 7,note #b1 end of section47 #d4 ,the ,angelic ,announcement4--,the birth of ,christ was announced to a few shepherds watching their flock by night--about a mile distant from the village of ,bethlehem--by an angel1 surrounded about by the glory of ,god1 who said3 ,fear not3 for1 behold1 ,i bring you good tidings of great joy1 which shall be to all people4 ,for unto you is born this day in the city of ,david a ,savior1 which is ,christ the ,lord4 ,and this shall be a sign unto you2 ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes1 lying in a manger4 ,and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host1 praising ,god1 and saying1 ,glory to ,god in the highest1 and on earth peace1 good will toward men4#d #ac ,a visit to the village confirmed the strange proclamation of the angel--they found the mother and child4 #e4 ,the ,inquiry of the ,magi4--,not alone by voice of angels was the birth of ,messiah announced1 but wise men from the east who had seen his star in the firmament came to ,jerusalem about the time of his birth1 inquiring--,where is he that is born ,king of the ,jews8 for we have seen his star in the east1 and are come to worship him4 #e #f4 ,nor were signs of ,messiah's birth seen alone on the eastern hemisphere2 to the people of the western hemisphere signs were also given2 a new star did appear1 according to the words of the ,nephite prophets1 at ,zarahemla2 the ,nephites saw it and to them1 as well as to the wise men of the east1 a star announced the birth of him who was to be ,king of the ,jews#f and the ,savior of the world4 ,another sign was given to the ,nephites1 which had also been predicted by their prophets2 the night before#g ,jesus was born remained beautifully light on the western hemisphere4 ,this event is thus recorded in the ,book of ,mormon3 ,and it came to pass that the words which came unto ,nephi were fulfilled1 according as they had been spoken2 for behold at the going down of the sun1 there was no darkness2 and the people began to be astonished1 because there was no darkness when the time of night came4 99 99 99 ,there was no darkness in all that night1 but it was light as though it was midday4 ,and it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again1 according to its proper order2 and they the ,nephites knew that it was the day that the ,lord should be born1 because of the sign which had been given4#h #g4 ,the ,alarm of ,king ,herod4--,the inquiry made by the wise men from the east concerning the one who was born ,king of the ,jews1 alarmed the jealousy of ,herod1 and learning from the chief priests and scribes that ,bethlehem was the place #ad where the deliverer of ,israel was to be born1 he sent the wise men there1 strictly charging them to search diligently1 and when they had found the child to bring him word that he too might worship him4 ,on the way to ,bethlehem the star they had seen in the east went before them until it stood over where the child was4 ,they found the babe with ,mary his mother and they worshipped him1 giving him presents of gold and frankincense and myrrh4 ,they were commanded of ,god in a dream1 however1 not to return to ,herod1 so they departed into their own country another way4 #h4 ,joseph1 too1 after the departure of the wise men1 was warned in a dream to flee out of the land1 for ,herod would seek the young child to destroy him4 ,he was commanded to go into ,egypt and remain there until the ,lord should call him to return4 ,in obedience to these divine commandments1 ,joseph took the mother and child and fled in the night into ,egypt4 #i4 ,herod's wrath knew no bounds when he found that the wise men had not obeyed him2 and in order that he might not be baffled in his determination to destroy the one he feared would supplant himself or his posterity in the throne of ,israel1 he sent out an edict commanding that all the children in ,bethlehem two years old and under should be slain4 ,then was fulfilled the prophecy of ,jeremiah3 ,in ,rama ,ra-ma was there a voice heard1 lamentation1 and weeping and great mourning1 ,rachel weeping for her children1 and would not be comforted because they were not4#i 7,see note #c1 end of section47 #aj4 ,death of ,herod4--7note #d end of section74 ,after ,herod's death1 ,joseph was again visited1 in a dream1 by an angel1 who commanded him to return with the child and his mother into the land of ,israel2 for they who had sought the young child's life were dead4 ,then was fulfilled that which was #aespoken by the prophet of the ,lord1 7,hosea71 ,out of ,egypt have ,i called my son4 ,joseph obeyed the commandment1 but as he approached ,judea and learned that ,archelaus ,ar-ke-la-us the son of ,herod reigned in his father's stead1 he was fearful and instead of remaining in ,judea1 he went into ,galilee ,gal-i-lee and dwelt in the little town of ,nazareth--his former home--that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets1 ,he shall be called a ,nazarene #aj ,naz-a-reen4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,year of ,messiah's ,birth4--,the ,birth of ,christ was first made an era1 from which to reckon dates1 says the learned translator of ,dr4 ,mosheim's ,institutes1--,murdock--by ,dionysius ,exiguus1 ,di-o-nish-i-us ,exs-ig-u-us about ,a4 ,d4 #ecb4 ,he supposed ,christ to have been born on the #beth of ,december1 in the year of ,rome #gec1 and this computation has been followed in practice to this day2 notwithstanding the learned are well agreed that it must be incorrect4 ,it will be seen1 however1 from what follows1 from the same author1 that all is uncertainty with the learned in respect to this subject3 ,to ascertain the true time of ,christ's birth1 there are two principal data afforded by the ,evangelists3 ,i4 ,it is clear1 from ,matt4 ii3 #a1 etc41 that ,christ was born before the death of ,herod the ,great1 who died about ,easter1 in the year of ,rome #gdi or #gej4 ,now1 if ,christ was born in the ,december next before ,herod's death1 it must have been in the year of ,rome #gdh or #gdi2 and1 of course1 four1 if not five years anterior to the ,dionysian or ,vulgar era3 ,,ii4 ,it is probable1 from ,luke iii3 #a1 #b1 #bc1 that ,jesus was 'about' thirty years of age in the fifteenth year of the reign of ,tiberius ,caesar4 ,now1 the reign of ,tiberius may be considered as commencing at the time he became sole emperor1 in ,august of the year of ,rome #gfg2 or 7as there is some reason to suppose that ,augustus made him partner in the government two years before he died71 we may begin his reign in the year of ,rome #gfe4 ,the fifteenth year of ,tiberius will therefore be either the year of ,rome #gha or #ggi4 ,from which deduct #cj1 and we have the year of ,rome #gea or #gdi for the year of ,christ's birth2 the former two and the latter four years earlier than the ,dionysian computation4 ,comparing these results with those obtained from the death of ,herod1 it is generally supposed the true time of ,christ's birth was the year of ,rome #gdi1 or four years before the ,vulgar era4 #af ,but the conclusion is not certain1 because there is uncertainty in the data4 7#a47 ,it is not certain that we ought to reckon ,tiberius' reign as beginning two years before the death of ,augustus4 7#b47 ,luke says 'about thirty years of age4' ,this is indefinite and may be understood of twenty-nine1 thirty1 or thirty-one years4 7#c47 ,it is not certain in which of the two years mentioned ,herod died2 nor how long before that event the ,savior was born4 ,respecting the month and day of ,christ's birth1 we are left almost wholly to conjecture4 ,it will be demanded on what authority ,i have gone counter to the conclusions of the learned on this subject by keeping to the ,dionysian date1--so far1 at least1 as the year is concerned4 ,my answer is that in the revelation on ,church government in the ,doctrine and ,covenants 7sec4 xx71 the following in respect to the rise of the ,church is given3 ,the rise of the ,church of ,christ in these last days1 being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ in the flesh1 it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country1 by the will and commandments of ,god1 in the fourth month1 and on the sixth day of the month1 which is called ,april4 ,i believe that this--better than any other authority1 fixes the time of the birth1 or the coming of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ in the flesh2 and that1 as to the year at least1 agrees with the ,dionysian computation4 ,it must be remembered that this revelation in section twenty of the ,doctrine and ,covenants was given before the ,church was organized--at sundry times between the first and the sixth of ,april--and that the prophet was instructed to organize the ,church on the sixth day of ,april1 #ahcj1 hence it was not mere chance that determined the day on which that organization took place1 7,history ,joseph ,smith1 ,millennial ,star ,supplement to vol4 xiv1 p4 #bb7 a fact that is significant in view of the above considerations and those which follow in note #b4--,roberts4 #b4 ,the ,day of ,messiah's ,birth4--,strictly speaking1 if this ,church was organized one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our ,lord and ,savior in the flesh1 then the sixth of ,april must have been the anniversary of the ,savior's birthday4 ,if the organization of the ,church had been before or subsequent to that date1 if only by one or any number of days1 the great event would have been more or less than one thousand eight hundred and thirty years by just so many days4 ,this argument also holds good as to the year of ,christ's birth4 ,options formed by the study of chronological events may or may not be accurate4 ,but we would scarcely think the ,lord would make any mistake about dates4 ,least of all he who was born on that day1 and on that day thirty-three years later was crucified4--,joseph ,f4 ,smith4 ,let us inquire if the day observed by the ,christian world as the #ag day of ,his ,christ's birth--the #beth of ,december--is or is not the real ,christmas day4 ,a great many authors have found out from their researches1 that it is not4 ,i think that there is scarcely an author at the present day that believes that the twenty-fifth of ,december was the day that ,christ was born on 99 99 99 ,it is generally believed and conceded by the learned who have investigated the matter1 that ,christ was born in ,april4 99 99 99 ,it is stated that according to the best of their the learned judgment from the researches they have made1 ,christ was crucified on the sixth of ,april4 ,that is the day on which this ,church was organized4 ,but when these learned men go back from the day of his crucifixion to the day of his birth1 they are at a loss1 having no certain evidence or testimony by which they can determine it4--,orson ,pratt4 ,in support of ,elder ,pratt's contention relative to the uncertainty of ,christian scholars as to the day on which ,jesus was born1 ,i quote the statement of ,rev4 ,charles ,f4 ,deem1 author of ,the ,light of the ,nation1 and president of the ,american ,institute of ,christian ,philosophy4 ,it is annoying to see learned men use the same apparatus of calculation and reach the most diverse results4 ,in a foot note at page #cb1 in ,light of the ,nation1 he refers to fifteen different authors all of whom are writers of note1 who give different years for the birth of ,christ varying from ,b4 ,c4 #a to ,b4 ,c4 #g #c4 ,humble ,nativity of ,messiah4--,in the rude limestone grotto attached to the inn as a stable1 among the hay and straw spread for the food and rest of the cattle1 weary with their day's journey1 far from home1 in the midst of strangers1 in circumstances so devoid of all earthly comfort or splendor that it is impossible to imagine a humbler nativity1 ,christ was born4 ,distant but a few miles1 on the plateau of the abrupt and singular hill now called ,jebel ,fureidis or ,little ,paradise ,mountain1 towered the palace--fortress of the great ,herod4 ,the magnificent houses of his friends and courtiers crowded around its base4 ,the humble wayfarers1 as they passed near it1 might have heard the hired and voluptuous minstrelsy with which its feasts were celebrated1 or the shouting of the rough mercenaries whose arms enforced obedience to its despotic lord4 ,but the true ,king of the ,jews--the rightful ,lord of the universe--was not to be found in palace or fortress4 ,they who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses4 ,the cattle stables of the lowly caravan-serai were a more fitting birthplace for him who came to reveal that the soul of the greatest monarch was no dearer or greater in ,god's sight than the soul of his meanest slave2 for him who had not where to lay his head2 for him who1 from his cross of shame1 was to rule the world6--,canon ,farrar4 #d4 ,character of ,herod4--,now some there are who stand amazed at the diversity of ,herod's nature and purposes2 for when we have respect #ah to his magnificence1 and the benefits which he bestowed on all mankind1 there is no possibility for even those who had the least respect for him1 to deny1 or not openly confess1 that he had a nature vastly beneficent2 but when anyone looks upon the punishment he inflicted and the injuries he did1 not only to his subjects1 but to his nearest relatives1 and takes notice of his severe and unrelenting disposition there1 he will be forced to allow that he was brutish1 and a stranger to all humanity4 99 99 99 ,if anyone was not very obsequious to him in his language1 and would not confess himself to be his slave1 or but seemed to think of any innovation in his government1 he was not able to contain himself1 but prosecuted his very kindred and friends and punished them as if they were enemies2 and this wickedness he undertook out of a desire that he might be himself alone honored4 99 99 99 ,a man he was of great barbarity towards all men equally1 and a slave to his passion2 but above the consideration of what was right4--,josephus4 #e4 ,last ,illness of ,herod4--,but now ,herod's distemper greatly increased upon him after a severe manner1 and this by ,god's judgment upon him for his sins2 for a fire glowed in him slowly1 which did not so much appear to the touch outwardly1 as it augmented his pains inwardly2 for it brought upon him a vehement appetite to eating1 which he could not avoid to supply with one sort of food or other4 ,his entrails were exulcerated1 and the chief violence of his pain lay on his colon2 an aqueous and transparent liquor also had settled itself upon his feet2 99 99 99 and when he sat upright1 he had a difficulty of breathing which was very loathsome1 on account of the stench of his breath1 and the quickness of his returns4 ,he had also convulsions in all parts of his body1 which increased his strength to an unsufferable degree4 ,it was said by those who pretended to divine1 and who were endowed with wisdom to foretell such things1 that ,god inflicted this punishment on the king on account of his great impurity2 yet was he still in hopes of recovering1 though his afflictions seemed greater than anyone could bear4--,josephus4 ,,review4 #a4 ,in what year of ,rome was ,messiah born8 #b4 ,state the reasons for placing the date of ,messiah's birth in the year of ,rome #gec4 7,see notes #a and #b47 #c4 ,give the name of ,messiah's birthplace4 #d4 ,for what is ,ephratah noted8 7,note47 #e4 ,who was the mother of ,jesus8 #f4 ,relate what you can of ,mary1 and the announcement that she should be the mother of the ,son of ,god4 #g4 ,relate the circumstances under which ,christ was born4 #ai #h4 ,give an account of the visitation of the angels to the shepherds4 #i4 ,what is ,canon ,farrar's translation of the title of the angelic song8 #aj4 ,give an account of the magi's visit to ,jerusalem in search of the ,christ4 #aa4 ,what signs were given of ,messiah's birth to the people on the ,western ,hemisphere8 #ab4 ,by what divine providence was ,messiah's life preserved in infancy8 #ac4 ,what was the character of ,herod the ,great8 7,note #d47 #ad4 ,describe ,herod's last illness and death4 7,note #e47 #ae4 ,where did ,joseph settle on his return from ,egypt8 #af4 ,what prophecies were fulfilled by ,messiah being taken into ,egypt and ,nazareth8 #bj ,,section ,,ii4#aa #a4 ,state of the ,religious ,world at ,messiah's ,birth4--,at the time of the birth of the ,son of ,god1 the enfeebled world was tottering on its foundations4 ,the national religions which had satisfied the parents1 no longer proved sufficient for the children4 ,the new generations could not repose contented within the ancient forms4 ,the gods of every nation1 when transported to ,rome--then the dominant political power in the world--there lost their oracles1 as the nations themselves had there lost their liberty4 ,brought face to face in the capital they had destroyed each other1 and their divinity had vanished4 ,a great void was thus occasioned in the religion of the world4 #b4 ,a kind of deism1 destitute alike of spirit and of life1 floated for a time above the abyss in which the vigorous superstitions of antiquity had been engulfed4 ,but like all negative creeds it had no power to reconstruct4 ,all nations were plunged in the grossest superstition4 ,most of them1 indeed all except the ,jews1 supposed that each country and province was subjected to a set of very powerful beings whom they called gods1 and whom the people1 in order to live happily1 must propitiate with various rites and ceremonies4 ,these deities were supposed to differ materially from each other in sex1 power1 nature and offices4 ,some nations went beyond others in impiety of worship1 but all stood chargeable with absurdity1 if not gross stupidity in matters of religion4 7,see note #a1 end of section47 #ba #c4 ,thus every nation had a class of deities peculiar to itself1 among which one was supposed to be pre-eminent over the rest1 and was their king1 though subject himself to the laws of fate1 or to an eternal destiny4 ,the oriental nations had not the same gods as the ,gauls1 the ,germans1 and the other northern nations2 and the ,grecian deities were essentially different from those of the ,egyptians1 who worshipped brute animals1 plants1 and various productions of nature and art4 ,each nation1 likewise1 had its own method of worshiping its gods2 differing widely from the rites of other nations4 ,but1 from their ignorance or from other causes the ,greeks and ,romans maintained that their gods were universally worshipped2 and they therefore gave the names of their own gods to the foreign deities which has caused great confusion and errors in the history of ancient religions even in the works of the learned4 #d4 ,heathen ,toleration--,its ,cause4--,the variety of gods and religions in the pagan nations produced no wars or feuds among them4 ,each nation without concern allowed its neighbors to enjoy their own views of religion1 and to worship their own gods in their own way4 ,nor need this tolerance greatly surprise us4 ,for they who regard the world as divided like a great country into numerous provinces each subject to a distinct order of deities1 cannot despise the gods of other nations nor think of compelling all others to pay worship to their national gods4 ,the ,romans in particular1 though they would not allow the public religions to be changed or multiplied1 yet gave the citizens full liberty to observe foreign religions in private1 and to hold meetings and feasts and to erect temples and groves to these foreign deities1 in whose worship there was nothing inconsistent with the public safety and existing laws4 7,see note #b1 end of section47 #e4 ,character of ,heathen ,gods4--,the greater part of the gods of all nations were ancient heroes1 famous for their achievements and their worthy deeds2 such as kings1 generals #bb and the founders of cities2 and likewise females who were highly distinguished for their deeds and discoveries1 whom a grateful posterity had deified4 ,to these some added the more splendid and useful objects in the natural world1 among which the sun1 moon1 and stars being pre-eminent1 received worship from nearly all1 and some were not ashamed to pay divine honors to mountains1 rivers1 trees1 the earth1 the ocean1 the winds1 and even to diseases1 to virtues and vices1 and to almost every conceivable object1 or1 at least1 to the deities supposed to preside over these objects4 #f4 ,the worship of these deities consisted in numerous ceremonies with sacrifices1 offerings1 and prayers4 ,the ceremonies1 for the most part1 were absurd and ridiculous2 and what was worse yet1 debasing1 obscene and cruel4 ,the whole pagan system had not the least efficacy to excite and cherish virtuous emotions in the soul4 ,for in the first place1 the gods and goddesses to whom the public homage was paid1 instead of being patterns of virtue1 were patterns rather of enormous vices and crimes4 ,they were considered as superior to mortals in power and as exempt from death1 but in all things else as on a level with man4 ,in the next place1 the ministers of this religion1 neither by precept nor by example1 exhorted the people to lead honest and virtuous lives1 but gave them to understand that all the homage required of them by the gods was comprised in the observance of the traditional rites and ceremonies4 ,and lastly1 the doctrines inculcated respecting the rewards of the righteous and the punishments of the wicked in the future world were some of them dubious and uncertain1 and others more adapted to promote vice than virtue4 ,hence the wiser pagans themselves1 about the time of the ,savior's birth1 contemned and ridiculed the whole system4 #g4 ,mysteries of ,paganism4--,it is contended by those who would dignify paganism1 that back of its common worship1 among the orientals and ,greeks at least1 certain recondite #bc and concealed rites called mysteries--containing in them the essence of true religion--existed3 and that back of its idolatry stood and was recognized the true ,god1 of which the images worshiped were but the material representatives4 ,to these mysteries1 however1 very few were admitted4 ,candidates for initiation had first to give satisfactory proof of their good faith and patience1 by various most troublesome ceremonies4 ,when initiated they could not divulge anything they had seen without exposing their lives to imminent danger4 ,hence the interior of these hidden rites is at this day but little known1 and therefore but an imperfect judgment may be formed as to their virtue4 ,but what glimpses are obtained of the rites of these mysteries do not prepossess one in their favor2 for in many of them many things were done which are repugnant to modesty and decency1 and in all of them that are known the discerning may see that the deities there worshipped were more distinguished for their vices than for their virtues4 7,see note #c1 end of section47 #h4 ,paul's ,arraignment of the ,pagan ,world4--,paul1 the great apostle of the ,gentiles1 brings a terrible indictment against the pagan world of his day1 and also against the more ancient pagans1 and avers that there was no excuse for their idolatry or wickedness3 ,for the wrath of ,god is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men1 who hold the truth in unrighteousness2 because that which may be known of ,god is manifest in them2 for ,god hath showed it unto them4 ,for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen1 being understood by the things that are made1 even his eternal power and ,godhead2 so that they are without excuse3 because that1 when they knew ,god1 they glorified him not as ,god1 neither were thankful2 but became vain in their imaginations1 and their foolish heart was darkened4 ,professing themselves to be wise1 they became fools1 and changed the glory of the incorruptible ,god into an image like to corruptible man1 and to birds1 and four-footed beasts and #bd creeping things4 ,wherefore ,god also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts1 to dishonor their own bodies between themselves2 who changed the truth of ,god into a lie and worshiped and served the creature more than the ,creator4 99 99 99 ,for this cause ,god gave them up unto vile affections2 99 99 99 and even as they did not like to retain ,god in their knowledge1 ,god gave them over to a reprobate mind1 to do those things which are not convenient2 being filled with all unrighteousness1 fornication1 wickedness1 covetousness1 maliciousness2 full of envy1 murder1 debate1 deceit1 malignity2 whisperers1 backbiters1 haters of ,god1 despiteful1 proud1 boasters1 inventors of evil things1 disobedient to parents1 without understanding1 covenant-breakers1 without natural affection1 implacable1 unmerciful3 who knowing the judgment of ,god1 that they which commit such things are worthy of death1 not only do the same1 but have pleasure in them that do them4#ab 7,see note #d1 end of section47 #i4 ,political ,state of the ,world at ,messiah's ,birth4--,at the birth of ,jesus ,christ the greater part of the civilized world on the eastern hemisphere was subject to the ,romans4 ,their remoter provinces they either ruled by means of temporary governors and presidents sent from ,rome1 or suffered them to live under their own kings and laws1 subject to the control of the ,roman emperors4 #aj4 ,the senate and people of ,rome1 though they had not lost all the appearance of liberty1 were really under the authority of one man1 ,augustus2 who was clothed with the titles of emperor1 sovereign pontiff1 censor1 tribune of the people1 pro-consul2 in a word1 with every office which conferred general power and pre-eminence in the commonwealth4 #aa4 ,the ,roman government1 if we regard only its form and laws1 was sufficiently mild and equitable4 ,but the injustice and avarice of the nobles and provincial governors1 the ,roman lust of conquest and dominion1 and the rapacity of the publicans who farmed the revenues of the state1 brought many and #be grievous evils upon the people4 ,the magistrates and publicans fleeced them of their property on the one hand1 while1 on the other1 the ,roman lust of dominion required armies to be raised in the provinces--a thing which was very oppressive to them1 and the occasion of almost perpetual insurrection4 ,this1 however1 is true more especially of the days which preceded the reign of ,augustus ,au-gus-tus4 ,the principal conquests of the ,romans were achieved under the republic4 ,it was left for ,augustus to adopt that policy which aimed merely to preserve those dominions which had been acquired by the policy of the senate1 the active emulation of the consuls and the martial enthusiasm of the people4 ,under his reign the ,roman people themselves seem to have relinquished the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth4 7,see note #e1 end of section47 #ab4 ,this widely extended dominion of one people1 or rather1 of one man1 was attended with several advantages3 7#a71 it brought into union a multitude of nations differing in customs and languages2 7#b17 it gave freer access to the remotest nations2 7#c17 it gradually civilized the barbarous nations1 by introducing among them the ,roman laws and customs2 7#d71 it spread literature1 the arts and philosophy in countries where they were not before cultivated1 and guaranteed the protection of its laws to the people even in the remotest provinces4 7,see note #f1 end of section47 #ac4 ,moreover1 at the birth of ,messiah1 the ,roman empire was freer from commotion that it had been for many years4 ,though it cannot be said that the whole world was in profound peace1 yet there can be no doubt that the period when the ,savior was born1 if compared with the preceding times1 was peculiarly peaceful--a condition quite essential to the introduction of the gospel and the extensive preaching of it4 ,nor is it too much to say that the ,lord raised up the great ,roman empire that under its beneficent yet powerful sway1 the glad tidings of great joy1 the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 might be widely preached among men4 #bf #ad4 ,of the state of those nations which lay beyond the boundaries of the ,roman empire we may not learn so much as of ,rome4 ,it is sufficient to know1 however1 that the ,oriental nations were pressed down by a stern despotism1 which their effeminacy of mind and body1 and even their religion1 led them to bear with patience2 while the northern nations enjoyed much greater liberty1 which was protected by the rigor of their climate and the consequent energy of their constitutions1 aided by their mode of life4 #ae4 ,political and ,religious ,state of the ,jews4--,the condition of the ,jewish people among whom the ,savior was born was scarcely any better than that of other nations4 ,herod1 called the ,great1 then governed1 or rather1 oppressed the ,jewish nation1 though only a tributary king under the ,romans4 ,he drew upon himself universal hatred by his cruelties1 jealousies and wars2 and he exhausted the wealth of the unhappy nation by his mad luxury1 his excessive magnificence1 and his immoderate largesses4 ,under his administration ,roman luxury and licentiousness spread over ,palestine4 ,in religion he was professedly a ,jew1 but he copied the manners of those who despise all religion4 #af4 ,the ,romans did not wholly prohibit the ,jews from retaining their national laws1 and the religion established by ,moses4 ,they had their high priests1 council or senate 7,sanhedrim7#ac1 and inflicted lesser punishments4 ,they could apprehend men and bring them before the council2 and if a guard of soldiers was needful1 could be assisted by them upon asking the governor for them2 they could bind men and keep them in custody2 the council could summon witnesses1 take examinations1 and when they had any capital offenders1 carry them before the governor4 ,this governor usually paid a regard to what they offered1 and if they brought evidence of the fact1 pronounced #bg sentence according to their laws4 ,he was the proper judge in all capital causes4#ad #ag4 ,the measure of liberty and comfort allowed to the ,jews by the ,romans was well nigh wholly dissipated1 first by the cruelty and avarice of the governors1 and by the frauds and rapacity of the publicans2 and second1 by the profligacy and crimes of those who pretended to be patriots and guardians of the nation4 ,their principal men1 their high priests1 were abandoned wretches1 who had purchased their places by bribes or by deeds of iniquity1 and who maintained their ill-acquired authority by every species of dishonest acts4 ,the other priests and all who held any considerable office1 were not much better4 ,the multitude1 excited by such examples1 ran headlong into every sort of iniquity1 and by their unceasing robberies and seditions they excited against themselves both the justice of ,god and the vengeance of man4 #ah4 ,religious ,divisions4--,two religions may be said to have flourished in ,palestine at the times of which we write2 viz41 the ,jewish and the ,samaritan2 between the followers of which there was a deadly hatred4 ,the nature of the former is set forth in the ,old ,testament4 ,but in the age of the ,savior it had been corrupted by the traditions of the people1 who were divided into sects filled with bitterness against each other4 ,chief among these sects were the ,pharisees ,fa-ri-sees1 and ,sadducees ,sad-du-seez4 #ai4 ,pharisees and ,sadducees4--,while these two sects agreed as to a number of fundamental principles of the ,jewish religion1 they differed on questions of the highest importance1 and such as related to the salvation of the soul4 ,first1 they disagreed respecting the law which ,god had given them4 ,the ,pharisees superadded to the written law an oral or unwritten law1 handed down by tradition1 which the ,sadducees rejected1 adhering alone to the written law4 ,they differed1 too1 as to #bh the import of the law4 ,the ,pharisees held to a double sense of the scripture1 the one literal1 the other figurative2 while the ,sadducees held only to the literal sense of the ,bible4 ,to these contests concerning the laws were added others on subjects of the highest moment2 particularly in respect to the rewards and punishments announced in the sacred writings4 ,the ,pharisees supposed them to affect both body and spirit--in whose pre-existence and eternal existence they believed--and that punishments and rewards extended beyond the present life4 ,the ,sadducees believed in no future retributions4 ,they were sceptical of the miraculous2 and denied the existence of spiritual beings1 the immortality of the soul1 the resurrection of the body4 ,they were deists1 in fact2 viewing the ,supreme ,being as a quiescent ,providence calmly surveying and ruling the regular working of natural laws4 ,they gave themselves up to ease1 luxury1 self-indulgence1 and were not indisposed to view with indifferent liberality the laxity of heathen morals and the profanity of idol worship4 ,they included in their numbers the leading men of the nation1 were the aristocracy in fact1 while the ,pharisees1 on the other hand1 were the common people2 proud of their unblemished descent from ,abraham1 exclusive1 formal1 self-righteous1 strict observers of external rites and ceremonies1 even beyond the requirements of the law4 #bj4 ,such were the chief sects among the ,jews4 ,there were others but they were of minor importance4 ,both ,sadducees and ,pharisees looked for a deliverer2 not1 however1 such a one as ,god had promised2 but a powerful warrior and a vindicator of their national liberties1 a king1 a ruler4 ,all placed the sum of religion in an observance of the ,mosaic ritual1 and in certain duties toward their countrymen4 ,all excluded the rest of mankind from the hope of salvation1 and1 of course whenever they dared1 treated them with hatred and inhumanity4 ,to these fruitful sources of vice1 must be added the various absurd and superstitious opinions concerning the ,divine ,nature1 #bi genii1 magic1 etc41 which they had imbibed from surrounding nations4 #ba4 ,samaritans4--,the ,samaritans ,sa-mar-i-tans were colonists sent by the king of ,assyria ,as-syr-rya1 ,shalmaneser ,shal-ma-ne-zer1 to people the land after he had carried captive the ,israelites1 in the latter part of the eighth century1 ,b4 ,c4 ,they were a mixed people from various eastern nations1 conquered by this same king--and they brought with them their various forms of national idolatry4 ,a plague breaking out among them1 however1 led them to petition for a priest of the god of the country1 to teach them the old form of worship4 ,he was stationed at ,bethel ,beth-el1 and the ,samaritans endeavored to combine a formal reverence of ,god with the practice of their own idolatrous rites4 ,after the captivity of ,judah1 they sought an alliance with the returned ,jews 7#ecf ,b4 ,c417 with whom they intermarried4 ,on ,ezra enforcing the ,mosaic law against mixed marriages--three-quarters of a century later--,manasses ,ma-nas-ses1 a ,jewish priest1 who had married the daughter of ,sanballat ,san-bal-lat1 chief of the ,samaritans1 headed a secession at ,shechem ,shek-em4 ,the ,samaritans taught the ,mosaic ritual and erected a rival temple to that at ,jerusalem1 on ,mount ,gerizim ,ger-i-zim4 ,this mixed community before the time of the ,savior began to claim descent from the patriarchs and a share in the promises4 ,their religion was less pure than that of the ,jews1 as they adulterated the doctrines of the ,old ,testament with the profane rites of the pagan religion4 #bb4 ,such was the state of the world--such the condition of the ,jews at the time of ,messiah's birth2 and surely that condition justified the pity and also the stern reproofs--nay1 the severe rebukes administered1 as we shall see1 by the ,son of ,god in the course of his ministry4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,state of the ,world at ,messiah's ,birth4--,the world had grown #cj old1 and the dotage of its paganism was marked by hideous excesses4 ,atheism in belief was followed1 as among all nations it has always been1 by degradation of morals1 iniquity seemed to have run its course to the very farthest goal4 ,philosophy had abrogated its boasted functions except for the favored few4 ,crime was universal1 and there was no known remedy for the horror and ruin which it was causing in a thousand hearts4 ,remorse itself seemed to be exhausted1 so that men were past feeling4 ,there was a callosity of heart1 a petrifying of the moral sense1 which even those who suffered from it felt to be abnormal and portentous4 ,even the heathen world felt that the fullness of the time had come4--,canon ,farrar4 #b4 ,policy of ,rome in ,respect to ,religion4--,the policy of the emperors and the senate1 so far as it concerned religion1 was happily seconded by the reflections of the enlightened1 and by the habits of the superstitious part of their subjects4 ,the various modes of worship1 which prevailed in the ,roman world1 were all considered by the people as equally true2 by the philosopher as equally false2 and by the magistrate as equally useful4 ,and this toleration produced not only mutual indulgence1 but even religious concord4 99 99 99 ,avarice and taste very frequently despoiled the vanquished nations of the elegant statues of their gods and the rich ornaments of their temples2 but in the exercise of the religion which they derived from their ancestors1 they uniformly experienced the indulgence1 and even protection of the ,roman conquerors4 ,the province of ,gaul seems1 and indeed only seems1 an exception to this universal toleration4 ,under the specious pretext of abolishing human sacrifices1 the emperors ,tiberius and ,claudius suppressed the dangerous power of the ,druids2 but the priests themselves1 their gods and their altars1 subsisted in peaceful obscurity till the final fall of paganism4 99 99 99 ,rome gradually became the common temple of her subjects2 and the freedom of the city was bestowed on all the gods of mankind4--,gibbon4 #c4 ,mysteries of the ,pagan ,religion4--,it has been maintained that the design of at least some of these mysteries was to inculcate the grand principles of natural religion1 such as the unity of ,god1 the immortality of the soul1 the importance of virtue1 etc41 and to explain the vulgar polytheism as symbolical of these great truths4 ,but this certainly needs better proof4 ,it is more probable that the later pagan philosophers1 who lived after the light of ,christianity had exposed the abominations of polytheism1 were the principal authors of this moral interpretation of the vulgar religion1 which they falsely pretended was taught in the mysteries1 while in reality1 those mysteries were probably mere supplements to the vulgar mythology and worship1 and of the same general character and spirit4--,murdock4 #ca #d4 ,state of ,religion in ,rome4--,a modern writer describing the religious state of ,rome at the time of ,julius ,caesar--it could not have been much changed at the birth of ,messiah1 sixty years later--says3 ,religion1 once the foundation of the laws and rule of personal conduct1 had subsided into opinion4 ,the educated in their hearts disbelieved it4 ,temples were still built with increasing splendor2 the established forms were scrupulously observed4 ,public men spoke conventionally of ,providence1 that they might throw on their opponents the odium of impiety2 but of genuine belief that life had any serious meaning1 there was none remaining beyond the circle of the silent1 patient1 ignorant multitude4 ,the whole spiritual atmosphere was saturated with cant--cant moral1 cant political1 cant religious2 an affectation of high principle which had ceased to touch the conduct1 and flowed on in an increasing volume of insincere and unreal speech4 ,the truest thinkers were those who1 like ,lucretius1 spoke frankly out their real convictions1 declared ,providence was a dream1 and that man and the world he lived in were material phenomena1 generated by natural forces out of cosmic atoms1 and into atoms to be again resolved4--,froude4 #e4 ,policy of ,augustus as to ,conquests4--,inclined to peace by his temper and situation1 it was easy for him to discover that ,rome1 in her present exalted situation1 had much less to hope than to fear from the chance of arms2 and that1 in the prosecution of remote wars1 the undertaking every day became more difficult1 the event more doubtful and the possession more precarious and less beneficial4 ,the experience of ,augustus added weight to these salutary reflections1 and eventually convinced him that by prudent vigor of his counsels1 it would be easy to secure every concession which the safety or the dignity of ,rome might require from the most formidable barbarians 99 99 99 ,on the death of the emperor1 his testament was publicly read in the senate4 ,he bequeathed1 as a valuable legacy to his successors1 the advice of confining the empire within those limits which nature seemed to have placed as its permanent bulwarks and foundations2 on the west the ,atlantic ocean2 the ,rhine and ,danube on the north2 the ,euphrates on the east2 and towards the south the sandy deserts of ,arabia and ,africa4--,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall1 vol4 i1 chap4 #a4 #f4 ,mission and ,character of the ,roman ,empire4--,as the soil must be prepared before the wheat can be sown1 so before the kingdom of heaven could throw up its shoots there was needed a kingdom of this world1 where the nations were neither torn to pieces by violence nor were rushing after false ideals as to governments and spurious ambitions4 ,such a kingdom was the empire of the ,caesars--a kingdom where peaceful men could work1 think and speak as they pleased1 and travel freely among provinces ruled for the most part by ,gallios who #cb protected life and property1 and forbade fanatics to tear each other to pieces for their religious opinions4 ,it is not lawful for us to put a man to death1 was the complaint of the ,jewish priests to the ,roman governor4 ,had ,europe and ,asia been covered with independent nations1 each with a local religion represented in its ruling powers1 ,christianity must have been stifled in its cradle4 ,if ,st4 ,paul had escaped the ,sanhedrim of ,jerusalem1 he would have been torn to pieces by the silversmiths at ,ephesus4 ,the appeal to ,caesar's judgment seat was the shield of his mission1 and alone made possible his success4--,froude4 #g4 ,the ,sanhedrin of the ,jews4--,the council of the ,jewish church and people was a theocratic oligarchy1 which after the return from the captivity 7#ecf ,b4 ,c417 ruled the new settlement1 being in all causes and over all persons1 ecclesiastical and civil1 supreme4 ,it is supposed to be suggested by the old institution of seventy-two ,elders 7six from each tribe17 appointed by ,moses1 at ,jethro's ,jeth-ro suggestion1 to relieve him in the administration of justice 7,ex4 xviii3#ad2 ,num4 xi3#af47 ,having died out in the age succeeding ,joshua1 and being superceded under the monarchy1 it was revived either by ,ezra1 or after the ,macedonian ascendancy4 ,it consisted of an equal number of priests1 scribes and elders all of whom must be married1 above thirty years of age1 well instructed in the law1 and of good report among the people4 ,this constituted the ,supreme ,court of judicature and administrative council1 taking cognizance of false doctrine and teaching1 as well as breaches of the ,mosaic ,law1 and regulating both civil and religious observances peculiar to the ,jewish nation4 ,the power of life and death had been taken from it by the ,roman government which otherwise covenanted to respect its decrees4 ,the council usually met in the hall ,gazith1 within the ,temple precincts1 though special meetings were sometimes held in the house of the high priest1 who was generally 7though not necessarily7 the president4 ,there were also two vice-presidents1 and two scribes--clerks--or heralds1 one registering the votes of acquittal 7or nos71 and the other those of convictions 7or ayes71 and a body of lictors or attendants4 ,the assembly set in the form of a semi-circle1 the president occupying the center of the arc1 the prisoner that of the center of the chord1 while the two heralds sat a little in advance of the president1 on his right and his left4--,oxford ,teacher's ,bible--,addenda4 ,,review4 #a4 ,state the religious condition of the world at ,messiah's birth4 #b4 ,what was the cause of heathen religious toleration8 #c4 ,what was the policy of ,rome in respect to religion8 7,note #b47 #cc #d4 ,what was the nature of the heathen gods8 #e4 ,describe the character of heathen worship4 #f4 ,what can you say of pagan mysteries8 7,note #c47 #g4 ,give the substance of ,paul's arraignment of the pagan world4 #h4 ,what was the political state of the world at ,messiah's birth8 #i4 ,describe the general character of the ,roman government4 #aj4 ,enumerate the advantages the ,roman government gave to the world4 #aa4 ,how did these advantages affect the work of the ,christ8 #ab4 ,what was the state of the nations outside of the ,roman empire8 #ac4 ,who was the king of the ,jews at ,messiah's birth8 #ad4 ,what was the political state of the ,jews at that time8 #ae4 ,what can you say of religion among the ,jews at this period8 #af4 ,what were the religious divisions in ,palestine8 #ag4 ,state the doctrines of the ,pharisees4 ,the ,sadducees4 #ah4 ,what was the character of the ,deliverer expected by both ,pharisees and ,sadducees8 #ai4 ,did ,jesus ,christ answer their expectations8 #bj4 ,tell what you can of the ,samaritans4 #ba4 ,describe the ,sanhedrim of the ,jews4 7,note #g47 #cd ,,section ,,iii4 #a4 ,childhood and ,youth of ,messiah4--,returning from ,egypt in obedience to the commandment of ,god1 ,joseph1 the husband of ,mary1 with the infant ,savior1 went into ,galilee1 and lived at ,nazareth--the most despised village of the most despised province in all ,palestine4 7,note #a1 end of section47 ,of his childhood but little information can be obtained from any authentic source4 ,all that may be learned from the biographies in the ,gospels is that after the settlement in ,nazareth1 the child grew and waxed strong in spirit1 filled with wisdom2 and the grace of ,god was upon him4 #b4 ,luke tells us that when twelve years of age1 ,jesus accompanied his mother and ,joseph to ,jerusalem1 to attend the feast of the ,passover4 7,see note #b1 end of section47 ,when they started on the return to ,nazareth1 ,jesus remained behind at ,jerusalem without their knowledge4 ,they supposed him to be in the company1 but when after a whole day's journey he did not appear1 they made inquiry for him among their kindred1 and not finding him1 returned to ,jerusalem in search of him4 ,after three days' anxious inquiry they found him in the temple1 sitting in the midst of the doctors1 both hearing them and asking questions4 ,answering his mother's gentle reproof for remaining behind1 he said3 ,how is it that ye sought me8 ,wist ye not that ,i must be about my ,father's business8 ,thus early in life1 just emerging from childhood1 it seems that the ,son of ,god had the inspiration of his mission resting upon him4 ,yet in loving obedience he went with them down into ,nazareth1 and was subject unto them4 ,with the #ce return to ,nazareth the authentic history of the childhood and youth of the ,son of ,god ends2 further than we learn from the remark of ,luke that ,jesus increased in wisdom and stature1 and in favor with ,god and man4 ,but what the details of his life and development were for the next eighteen years1 we do not know4 7,see note #c1 end of section47 #c4 ,in the ,new ,testament apocrypha there are wonderful and miraculous stories of his carrying spilt water in his robe2 of his pulling a short board to its requisite length2 of moulding sparrows out of clay and then clapping his hands at which they are made alive and fly away2 how he vexes and shames and silences those who wish to teach him2 how he rebukes ,joseph or turns his playmates into kids2 how he strikes dead with a curse the boys who offend or run against him1 until at last there is a storm of popular indignation1 and his mother fears to have him leave the house#ae--;and a hundred other things equally absurd which mar rather than embellish the childhood and youth of ,jesus1 which the silence of his reliable biographers dignifies and exalts4 #d4 ,john the ,baptist4--,in the fifteenth year of the reign of ,tiberius ,caesar1 there came preaching throughout the wilderness of ,judea ,ju-de-a a strange character1 called ,john the ,baptist4 ,he was the son of ,elizabeth1 who was a descendant of ,aaron1 and a cousin to ,mary1 the mother to ,jesus4 ,his father was a priest of the temple1 named ,zacharias4 ,zacharias and ,elizabeth were both well stricken in years1 when there appeared unto the former1 in the temple1 as he was burning incense upon the altar1 the angel ,gabriel ,ga-bri-el1 who announced to him that his wife should bear him a son1 and that he must call his name ,john4 ,the angel also said that ,john should be great in the eyes of the ,lord2 that he should be filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 even from his mother's womb4 ,he was #cf to have power also to turn unto their ,god many of the children of ,israel1 and to go before the ,lord in the spirit and power of ,elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children1 and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just2 to make ready a people prepared for the ,lord4#af #e4 ,in due time all that the angel promised came to pass4 ,the child was born1 and when eight days old he was circumcised and named ,john4 ,on that occasion his father who had been dumb from the time of the visitation of the angel prophesied that the child should be called the prophet of the ,highest2 that he should go before the face of the ,lord to prepare his ways2 give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins1 through the tender mercy of ,god2 and give light to them that sit in darkness1 and in the shadow of death4#ag #f4 ,that the child grew and waxed strong in spirit1 and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto ,israel2#ah that he had his raiment of camel's hair2 a leathern girdle about his loins2 that his food was locusts and wild honey#ai is all we know of him until the word of the ,lord came to him in the wilderness#bj commanding him to cry repentance1 and proclaim the coming of the kingdom of heaven4 #g4 ,the ,voice from the ,wilderness4--,the burden of ,john's message consisted of three great declarations3 ,repent1 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand2 prepare ye the way of the ,lord1 make his paths straight2 there cometh one after me mightier than ,i am1 whose shoe latchet ,i am unworthy to loose1 he will baptize you with fire and with the ,holy ,ghost4 #h4 ,when the multitude flocked to hear the teaching of ,john the ,pharisees and ,sadducees came also--with guile in their hearts and deceit on their lips1 he rebuked them1 called them a generation of vipers and told them to bring forth fruits meet for repentance1 and not to pride themselves on being the children of ,abraham1 for ,god was able of the very stones about #cg them to raise up children unto ,abraham4 ,he warned them that the ax was laid at the root of every tree1 and that tree which brought not forth good fruit was to be destroyed4 #i4 ,that was a strange voice to the people of that generation1 accustomed as they were to hear only the accents of flattery or subserviency4 ,without a tremor of hesitation he rebuked the tax gatherers for their extortion2 the soldiers for their violence2 the ,sadducees and ,pharisees for their pride and formalism2 and warned the whole people that their cherished privileges were worse than valueless if without repentance they regarded them as a protection against the wrath to come4 #aj4 ,so unusual a teacher as ,john the ,baptist could not fail to attract attention in ,judea where all men were anticipating the coming of a deliverer4 ,hence1 as the ,jews listened to his teachings so inspired with the power of ,god1 they wondered if he were not the ,messiah4 ,this he denied4 ,they asked him then if he were not ,elias4 ,this too he denied 7see note #e1 end of section72 and claimed only to be the voice of one crying in the wilderness3 ,make straight the way of the ,lord4 #ba #aa4 ,the ,baptism of ,jesus4--,when ,john came into the region about ,bethabara ,beth-ab-a-rah1 on the ,jordan1#bb among others who came to be baptized was ,jesus4 ,when ,john saw him he hesitated1 and knowing by the inspiration within him what he was soon to know by a more splendid manifestation of ,god's power1 viz41 that this was the ,son of ,god1 he said3 ,i have need to be baptized of thee1 and comest thou to me8 ,suffer it to be so now1 replied ,jesus1 for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness4 #bc #ab4 ,then ,john baptized him1 and as ,jesus came up out of the water the heavens were opened unto him 7that is1 unto ,john2 see note #f1 end of section71 and he saw the ,spirit of ,god descending like a dove and lighting upon him2 and he heard a voice from heaven saying3 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i #ch am well pleased4 #bd ,this splendid spiritual manifestation was a sign to ,john that this was the ,son of ,god1 the ,one who was to baptize with fire and the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,messiah1 who was to take away the sins of the world4 ,for he who had sent him to baptize with water1 had said to him3 ,upon whom thou shalt see the ,spirit descending1 and remaining on him1 the same is he which baptizeth with the ,holy ,ghost4 #be #ac4 ,the ,martyrdom of ,john4--,having borne witness that ,jesus was the ,son of ,god1 ,john seems to have completed the mission given to him at that time1 and soon after fell a victim to the malice of a wicked woman and a weak prince4 ,herod ,antipas ,anti-pas1 the son of ,herod the ,great1 who was made ,tetrarch of ,galilee on the death of his father1 married the daughter of ,aretas ,ar'-e-ta1 king of ,arabia4 ,but forming also an unholy attachment for ,herodias ,he-ro'-di-as1 his brother ,philip's wife1 he soon became involved in a course of guilt with her4 ,for this he was reproved by ,john1 who told him it was not lawful for him to have her4 ,herod at the instance of ,herodias cast ,john into prison for his temerity in reproving their wicked course1 and would have put him to death1 but he feared the multitude1 who esteemed ,john a prophet4 #ad4 ,the revengeful spirit of ,herodias1 however1 was not satisfied with the bonds and imprisonment of ,john2 she determined to have his life4 ,on ,herod's birthday1 in the midst of the feast1 she sent her daughter to dance for the amusement of the company1 which greatly pleased ,herod1 and he promised her with an oath that he would give her whatsoever she should ask2 and the damsel being instructed of her mother demanded the head of ,john the ,baptist4 ,it was with sorrow that ,herod1 bad as he was1 heard this demand1 yet for his oath's sake1 and ashamed to manifest weakness in the presence of those who sat at meat with him1 he sent and beheaded ,john in the prison1 and had the head brought in and given to the damsel in a charger4 #ci ,thus fell the first martyr in that dispensation4 7,see note #g1 end of section47 ,,notes4 #a4 ,nazareth4--,nazareth was in ,galilee1 a part of ,palestine1 which was held in disesteem for several reasons3 it had a provincial dialect2 lying remote from the capital1 its inhabitants spoke a strange tongue1 which was rough1 harsh1 and uncouth1 having a peculiar combination of words1 and words also peculiar to themselves4 ,its population was impure1 being made up not only of provincial ,jews but also of heathens of several sorts1 ,egyptians1 ,arabians1 ,phoenicians4 ,as ,galilee was a despised part of ,palestine1 so was ,nazareth a despised part of ,galilee1 being a small1 obscure1 if not mean place4 ,accordingly its inhabitants were held in little consideration by other ,galileans1 and1 of course1 by those ,jews who dwelt in ,judea4 ,hence the name of ,nazarene came to bear with it a bad odor and was nearly synonymous with a low1 ignorant and uncultivated1 if not un-,jewish person4--,biblical ,literature1 ,kitto4 #b4 ,the ,passover4--,the ,passover1 like the ,sabbath and other institutions had a two-fold reference--historical and typical4 ,as a commemorative institution1 it was designed to preserve among the ,jews a grateful sense of their redemption from ,egyptian bondage1 and with the protection granted to their first born1 on the night when all the first born of the ,egyptians were destroyed 7,exodus xii3 #bg17 as a typical institute its object was to shadow forth the great facts and consequences of the ,christian sacrifices 7,i4 ,cor4 v3 #g74 ,that the ancient ,jews understood this institution to prefigure the sufferings of the ,christ is evident1 not only from the ,new ,testament1 but from the ,mishna1 where1 among the five things said to be contained in the ,great ,hallel 7a hymn composed of several songs and sung after the ,paschal supper17 one is1 the suffering of ,messiah1 for which they refer to ,psalm cxvi4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,passover also denotes the whole solemnity1 commencing on the fourteenth and ending on the twenty-first day of ,nisan4--,kitto4 #c4 ,the ,youth of ,christ4--,it is written that there was once a pious1 godly bishop who had often earnestly prayed that ,god would manifest unto him what ,jesus had done in his youth4 ,once the bishop had a dream to this effect4 ,he seemed in his sleep to see a carpenter working at his trade1 and beside him a little boy who was gathering up chips4 ,then came in a maiden clothed in green1 who called them both to come to the meal1 and set porridge before them4 ,all #dj this the bishop seemed to see in his dream1 himself standing behind the door that he might not be perceived4 ,then the little boy began and said3 ,why does that man stand there8 ,shall he not also eat with us8 ,and this so frightened the bishop that he awoke4 ,let this be what it may1 a true history or a fable1 ,i none the less believe that ,christ in his childhood and youth looked and acted like other children1 yet without sin2 in fashion like a man4--,martin ,luther4 #d4 ,messiah's ,life for ,thirty ,years4--,what was his manner of life during those thirty years8 ,it is a question which the ,christians cannot help asking in deep reverence1 and with yearning love2 but the words in which the ,gospels answer it are very calm and very few4 99 99 99 99 99 ,his development was a strictly human development4 ,he did not come to the world endowed with infinite knowledge1 but1 as ,st4 ,luke tells us1 he gradually advanced in wisdom4 ,he was not clothed with infinite power1 but experienced the weakness and imperfections of human infancy4 ,he grew as other children grow1 only in a childhood of stainless and sinless beauty--as the flower of roses in the spring of the year and as lilies by the waters4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it was in utter stillness1 in prayerfulness1 in the quiet round of daily duties--like ,moses in the wilderness1 like ,david among the sheep folds1 like ,elijah among the tents of the ,bedouin1 like ,jeremiah in his quiet home at ,anathoth1 like ,amos in the sycamore groves of ,tekoa--that the boy ,jesus prepared himself1 amid a hallowed obscurity1 for his mighty work on earth4 ,his outward life was the life of all those of his age1 and station and place of birth4 ,he lived as lived other children of peasant parents in that quiet town1 and in great measure as they live now4--,canon ,farrar4 #e4 ,was ,john the ,elias8--,art thou ,elias8 said the messengers from ,jesus to ,john4 ,and he saith1 ,i am not 7,john i74 ,afterwards1 as ,jesus1 ,peter1 ,james and ,john were descending the mountain on whose summit they had seen in vision ,moses and ,elias1 the following conversation occurred3 ,,jesus3 ,tell the vision to no man1 until the ,son of man be risen again from the dead4 ,,disciples3 ,why then say the scribes that ,elias must first come8 ,,jesus3 ,elias truly shall first come1 and restore all things2 but ,i say unto you that ,elias is come already1 and they knew him not1 but have done unto him whatsoever they listed4 99 99 99 99 ,then the disciples knew that he spake unto them of ,john the ,baptist4 7,matt4 xvii47 ,from this it appears that ,john denied being ,elias1 while ,jesus declared that he was1 and in consequence much controversy has arisen on this subject4 ,the matter may be easily understood1 however1 when it is known that ,elias is the name of a person1 the name of a prophet who lived1 doubtless1 in the days of ,abraham #da 7,doc4 and ,cov4 sec cx3 #ab71 and who also appeared to ,jesus on the occasion above named2 ,elias is also the name of an office--the office of ,restorer4 ,the spirit of ,elias1 said the ,prophet ,joseph 7,march #aj1 #ahdd7 is to prepare the way for a greater revelation of ,god1 which is the priesthood of ,elias4 99 99 99 99 ,and when ,god sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work holding the keys of the power of ,elias1 it was called the doctrine of ,elias1 even from the early ages of the world4 ,hence any man who came to prepare the way for a greater revelation was an ,elias1 and in this sense ,john the ,baptist was pre-eminently ,elias2 but it is equally true that he was not ,elias1 the prophet who lived in the days of ,abraham1 who appeared unto ,jesus in the mountain and who also appeared to the ,prophet ,joseph and ,oliver ,cowdery in the ,kirtland ,temple4 ,in the revision of the ,new ,testament1 by the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 often improperly called the new translation1 the difficulty in respect to the denial of ,john that he was ,elias is easily understood4 ,we quote the passage3 ,this is the record of ,john1 when the ,jews sent priests and seventies from ,jerusalem1 to ask him3 ,who art thou8 ,and he confessed and denied not that he was ,elias2 but he confessed1 saying1 ,i am not the ,christ4 ,and they asked him1 saying3 ,how art thou then ,elias8 ,and he said1 ,i am not that ,elias who was to restore all things4 ,and they asked him1 saying1 ,art thou that ,prophet8 ,and he answered1 ,no4 7,st4 ,john i3 #bj-bb47 ,from the above it may be plainly seen that while ,john was not the particular ,elias who is to restore all things1 yet he is an ,elias because he restored some things in respect to the gospel4--,roberts4 #f4 ,john the ,only ,witness of the ,descent of the ,holy ,ghost4--,i suppose that ,john the ,baptist was the only one who was a witness of the ,holy ,ghost resting upon ,jesus in the form of a dove4 ,in all the accounts given of this event1 except by ,luke1 the pronoun he1 referring to ,john1 is used4 ,while in ,luke it is not said that anyone else saw it1 but it is merely stated that the ,holy ,ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him4 ,john's own testimony is as follows3 ,i saw the ,spirit descending from heaven like a dove1 and it abode upon him4 ,and ,i knew him not3 but he that sent me to baptize with water1 the same said unto me1 ,upon whom thou shalt see the ,spirit descending and remaining on him1 the same is he which baptizeth with the ,holy ,ghost4--,the ,gospel 7note71 ,roberts4 #g4 ,the ,fate of ,herod ,antipas4--,he was not allowed to enjoy his prosperity long4 ,his nephew ,agrippa having obtained the title of king1 ,herodias urged him to make a journey to ,italy and demand the same honor4 ,he weakly assented to his wife's ambitious representations2 but the project proved fatal to them both4 ,agrippa anticipated their design2 and when they appeared before ,caligula1 they #db were met by accusations of hostility to ,rome1 the truth of which they in vain attempted to disprove4 ,sentence of deposition was accordingly passed upon ,herod1 and both he and his wife ,herodias were sent into banishment and died at ,lyons in ,gaul4--,kitto4 #h4 ,the ,sign of the ,dove4--,the ,holy ,ghost descended in the form of a dove1 or rather in the sign of a dove1 in witness of that administration ,messiah's baptism4 ,the sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world1 a witness for the ,holy ,ghost1 and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is a personage1 and is in the form of a personage4 ,it 7he7 does not confine itself to the form of a dove1 but in the sign of a dove4 ,the ,holy ,ghost cannot be transformed into a dove2 but the sign of a dove was given to ,john to signify the truth of the deed1 as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence4--,joseph ,smith4 ,,review4 #a4 ,state what you can of the childhood of ,christ4 #b4 ,what can you say of ,nazareth8 #c4 ,what happened when ,jesus was twelve years old8 #d4 ,describe the ,passover4 7,note #b47 #e4 ,what can you say of the fabulous stories related of the childhood and youth of ,christ8 #f4 ,at what time did ,john the ,baptist appear as a preacher8 #g4 ,who were the parents of ,john8 ,what their descent8 #h4 ,relate all you can concerning ,john's birth and childhood4 #i4 ,what was the burden of ,john's message8 #aj4 ,how did he treat the deceitful ,pharisees and ,sadducees8 #aa4 ,as whom did some of the ,jews regard ,john8 #ab4 ,what was the extent of his pretensions8 #ac4 ,what can you say of ,elias8 7,note #e47 #ad4 ,relate the baptism of ,jesus4 #ae4 ,tell the story of ,john's martyrdom4 #af4 ,what was the fate of ,herod ,antipas8 7,note #g47 #dc ,,section ,,iv4 #a4 ,the ,temptations of ,jesus4--,after his baptism ,jesus was led by the ,spirit into the wilderness1 where he fasted for forty days and forty nights4 ,then at the moment of his great physical weakness ,lucifer came tempting him1 but all the allurements of the wily foe were thwarted1 from the challenge to turn the stones into bread to the offer of the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them4 ,after his failure to seduce ,jesus to sin1 ,lucifer left him--for a season1 and angels came and administered unto him4 7,see notes #a and #b1 end of section47 #b4 ,commencement of ,christ's ,ministry4--,having in all things resisted the temptations of ,lucifer1 ,jesus returned from the wilderness into ,galilee1 the ,spirit of ,god resting upon him in mighty power4 ,it was then that he began his great ministry among the people1 teaching in their synagogues1 astonishing all with the graciousness of his doctrines1 and his power in healing the sick1 until his fame extended throughout the land and great multitudes of people from ,galilee1 and also from ,decapolis 7,de-kap-o-lis71 ,jerusalem and other parts of ,judea followed him4 #c4 ,the ,doctrines ,christ ,taught4--,the burden of his teaching at this period of his ministry seems to have been3 ,repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand4 #bf ,in addition to this1 he also taught beautiful truths and moral precepts in brief1 emphatic sentences 7see note #c1 end of section71 that were especially comforting to the poor2 such as1 ,blessed are the poor in spirit3 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven4 ,blessed are they that mourn3 for they shall be comforted3 ,blessed are #dd the meek3 for they shall inherit the earth4 ,blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness3 for they shall be filled4 99 99 99 ,blessed are the pure in heart3 for they shall see ,god4 #d4 ,in some things ,his teachings seemed to come in conflict with the traditions of the people2 and1 indeed with the law of ,moses itself1 as witness the following3 ,ye have heard that it was said by them of old time1 ,thou shalt not kill2 and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment3 but ,i say unto you1 ,that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment2 and whosoever shall say to his brother1 ,raca1#bg shall be in danger of the council2 but whosoever shall say ,thou fool1 shall be in danger of hell fire4 ,again3 ,ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time1 ,thou shalt not forswear thyself1 but shall perform unto the ,lord thine oaths3 but ,i say unto you1 ,swear not at all2 99 99 99 but let your communications be ,yea1 yea2 ,nay1 nay4 99 99 99 ,ye have heard that it hath been said1 ,an eye for an eye1 and a tooth for a tooth3 but ,i say unto you1 ,that ye resist not evil4 99 99 99 ,ye have heard that it hath been said1 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor1 and hate thine enemy4 ,but ,i say unto you1 ,love your enemies1 bless them that curse you1 do good to them that hate you1 and pray for them that despitefully use you1 and persecute you4 #e4 ,yet ,jesus claimed that ,he came not to destroy the law nor the prophets1 but to fulfill them1 and declared that though heaven and earth should pass away not one jot nor tittle of the law should pass away but all should be fulfilled4 ,still it cannot be denied that some of his teachings set aside many parts of the law of ,moses1 and seemed to be in conflict with its spirit4 #f4 ,the ,gospel ,supplants the ,law4--,the seeming conflict1 referred to in the last paragraph1 between the law of ,moses and the teachings of ,messiah disappears when it is understood #de that the gospel of ,jesus ,christ was about to supplant the law4 ,the gospel1 under ,moses was offered to ancient ,israel before they received the law of carnal commandments2 but they would not live in accordance with its divine precepts1 but hardened their hearts against it until the gospel1 as also the higher priesthood1 was taken from among them4 ,the lesser priesthood1 which holds the keys of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel1 repentance and baptism1 and the law of carnal commandments 7the spirit of which is an eye for an eye1 a tooth for a tooth7 remained with them1#bh to educate and instruct them1 that they might be prepared eventually for the fullness of the gospel4 ,when ,jesus began his ministry by proclaiming his gospel1 the law of ,moses was about fulfilled1 and many of the carnal commandments and precepts were being pushed aside by the more excellent precepts of the gospel1 even as many of the sacrifices and burnt offerings were to be discontinued after ,messiah should be offered up as a sacrifice1 of which the sacrifices before mentioned were but types and symbols4 7,see note #d1 end of section47 #g4 ,twelve ,apostles ,called4--,from among the disciples which followed him ,jesus selected twelve men whom he called apostles4 ,their names were3 ,simon1 commonly called ,peter2 ,andrew1 brother to ,peter2 ,james1 the son of ,zebedee1 sometimes called ,james the ,elder2 ,john1 brother to ,james above named2 ,philip2 ,bartholomew2 ,thomas2 ,matthew1 the publican1 author of the book of ,matthew in the ,new ,testament2 ,james1 the son of ,alphaeus1 also called ,james the less1 perhaps to distinguish him from ,james the elder1 or because of his small stature2#bi ,lebbaeus usually called by his surname ,thaddaeus2 ,simon1 the ,canaanite2 ,judas ,iscariot1 who betrayed him4 #h4 ,these twelve men ,jesus sent out on a mission to the cities of ,israel1 forbidding them to go into the way of the ,gentiles1 or into the cities of the ,samaritans4 ,their mission was to the #df lost sheep of the house of ,israel4#cj ,they were sent without purse and without scrip1 nor were they to provide themselves with two coats nor take thought as to what they should eat1 or wherewithal they would be clothed2 but they were to trust to the ,lord1 being assured that the laborer is worthy of his hire4 #i4 ,the burden of their message was to be3 ,the kingdom of heaven is at hand4 ,they also received power from their ,master to heal the sick1 cleanse the lepers1 raise the dead1 cast out devils3 and were admonished1 since they had received freely1 to give as freely to others4 ,jesus told them they were going as sheep among wolves2 that they would be brought before governors and kings for his sake2 that they would be delivered up to councils1 and scourged in the synagogues2 that they would be hated of all men for his sake2 but they were also given the comforting assurance that they who would endure to the end should be saved4#ca ,these apostles went forth through the towns of ,judea preaching the gospel and healing the sick4 #aj4 ,seventies ,called4--,the harvest being great and the laborers few1 ,jesus called seventies into the ministry to aid the twelve apostles4 ,he sent them two and two before him into every city and place where he himself expected to go4 ,the commission1 powers and instructions which the seventies received were nearly the same as those given to the twelve apostles4#cb ,these seventies went forth as the apostles had done and returning from their labor bore record that the power of ,god was with them in their ministry and that the very devils were subject to them in the name of ,jesus4#cc #aa4 ,the ,order of ,events4--,it would be difficult if not impossible to relate even the chief events in the life of ,messiah in the order in which they occurred1 since no little confusion exists in respect to the succession of events in the narratives of the ,new ,testament4 7,see note #e1 end of section47 ,nor is it necessary to our purpose to dwell in detail or in sequence #dg upon those matters4 ,it is sufficient for us to know that after the events we have already noted ,messiah's mission was more boldly declared4 ,he proclaimed himself to be the ,son of ,god2 the ,messiah of which the scriptures had borne record2#cd he taught men that ,god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten ,son to redeem it1 that whosoever would believe in him might have everlasting life4#ce ,in addition to this great doctrine we have seen that he taught repentance2 he likewise taught that men must be born 7baptized7 of the water and of the ,spirit before they could enter into the kingdom of ,god2#cf he made and baptized more disciples than ,john2#cg he also taught the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead1 and announced himself as possessing the keys and powers thereof4#ch #ab4 ,the ,divinity of ,messiah's ,mission4--,jesus sustained the divinity of his mission by pointing to the conformity of the facts connected with his career with the predictions of the scriptures2#ci by the testimony which ,john the ,baptist bore2#dj by the works which he did--his wonderful miracles wherein the power of ,god was made manifest2#da and lastly1 and best of all1 the testimony of the ,father himself which was promised unto all those who would do his 7the ,father's7 will4#db ,,notes4 #a4 ,order of the ,temptations4--,the order of the temptations is given differently by ,st4 ,matthew and ,st4 ,luke4 ,st4 ,matthew placing second the scene on the pinnacle of the temple1 and ,st4 ,luke the vision of the kingdoms of the world4 ,both orders cannot be right1 and possibly ,st4 ,luke may have been influenced in his arrangement by the thought that a temptation to spiritual pride and the arbitrary exercise of miraculous power was a subtler and less transparent1 and therefore more powerful one than the temptation to fall down and recognize the power of evil4 99 99 99 ,the consideration that ,st4 #dh ,matthew1 as one of the ,apostles1 is more likely to have heard the narrative immediately from the lips of ,christ--gives greater weight to the order which he adopts4--,canon ,farrar4 #b4 ,more than ,three ,temptations4--,the positive temptations of ,jesus were not confined to that particular point of time when they assailed him with concentrated force4 ,in the wilderness4 99 99 99 ,but still more frequently in after life was he called to endure temptation of another kind--the temptation of suffering1 and this culminated on two occasions1 viz41 in the conflict of ,gethsemane1 and in that moment of agony on the cross when he cried1 ,my ,god1 my ,god6 why hast thou forsaken me8--,ullman4 #c4 ,manner of ,christ's ,teaching4--,next to what our ,savior taught1 may be considered the manner of his teaching1 which was extremely peculiar2 yet1 ,i think1 precisely adapted to the peculiarity of his character and situation4 ,his lessons did not consist of disquisitions2 of anything like moral essays1 or like sermons1 or like set treatises upon several points which he mentioned4 ,when he delivered a precept1 it was seldom that he added any proof or argument1 still more seldom that he accompanied it with1 what all precepts require1 limitations and distinctions4 ,his instructions were conceived in short1 emphatic1 sententious rules1 in occasional reflections or in sound maxims4 ,i do not think this is a natural1 or would it have been a proper method for a philosopher or a moralist or that it is a method which can be successfully imitated by us4 ,but ,i contend that it was suitable to the character which ,christ assumed1 and to the situation in which1 as a teacher1 he was placed4 ,he produced himself as a messenger from ,god4 ,he put the truth of what he taught upon authority4 ,i say unto you1 swear not at all2 ,i say unto you1 resist not evil2 ,i say unto you1 love your enemies4 ,in the choice1 therefore1 of his mode of teaching1 the purpose by him to be consulted was impression2 because conviction1 which forms the principal end of our discourse1 was to arise in the minds of his followers from a different source1 from their respect to his person and authority4 ,now1 for the purpose of impression singly and exclusively1 ,i know nothing which would have so great force1 as strong1 ponderous maxims1 frequently urged and frequently brought back to the thoughts of the hearers4 ,i know nothing that could in this view be said better than1 ,do unto others as ye would that others should do unto you2 ,the first and great commandment is1 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god2 and the second is like unto it1 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself4--,christian ,evidences--,paley4 #d4 ,the ,law ,added to the ,gospel4--,the ,mosaic ,law never was considered1 by those who understood it1 an everlasting covenant4 ,it was given for a special purpose1 and when it had accomplished that purpose1 it was laid aside4 ,we read in ,galatians iii3#h1 that the scripture1 #di foreseeing that ,god would justify the heathen through faith1 preached before the gospel unto ,abraham1 saying1 ,in thee shall all the nations of the earth be blessed4 ,from this it appears that the gospel was preached unto ,abraham4 ,in ,hebrews 7iv3#b71 ,paul speaking of ancient ,israel says3 ,for unto us was the gospel preached1 as well as unto them ancient ,israel3 but the word preached did not profit them1 not being mixed with faith in them that heard it4 ,not only then was the gospel preached unto ,abraham1 but also unto the children of ,israel4 ,now let us go back to the third chapter of ,galatians2 for ,paul having stated that the gospel was preached unto ,abraham1 asks this question 7verse #ai73 ,wherefore then serveth the law8 7if the gospel was preached unto ,abraham74 ,it was added because of transgression1 till the seed 7,christ7 should come to whom the promise was made4 ,added8 ,added to what8 ,added to the gospel1 which before that time had been preached unto ,abraham1 and also to ancient ,israel4 ,but the ,israelites under ,moses were unable to live the perfect law of the gospel4 ,they were not strong enough to overcome evil with good1 as the gospel requires1 so a law of carnal commandments was added to the gospel--a law which breathed of the spirit of an eye for an eye1 a tooth for a tooth--a law which was suited to their capacity4 ,paul1 speaking of this subject in the same chapter of ,galatians 7verses #bc-be71 says3 ,before faith came we were kept under the law1 shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed4 ,wherefore the law the law of ,moses was our school-master to bring us unto ,christ1 that we might be justified by faith4 ,but after that faith has come we are no longer under a school-master4 ,from these passages of scripture we learn this3 ,the gospel was preached unto ,abraham1 and also unto ancient ,israel4 ,the ,israelites were unable to live the law of the gospel1 hence a law of carnal commandments1 known as the law of ,moses was given as a school-master to bring them up to a higher law2 ,christ came and introduced that higher law--the gospel2 explained its principles and pointed out the difference between it and the law of ,moses4 ,the gospel took the place of the law of ,moses1 which was laid aside1 having fulfilled the object for which it was added to the gospel4--,lecture on ,mission of ,joseph ,smith--,roberts4 #e4 ,neglect of ,chronological ,order in ,new ,testament ,narratives4--,the four gospels narrate the principal events connected with our ,lord's abode on earth1 from his birth to his ascension4 ,there must1 therefore1 be a general resemblance between them1 though that of ,john contains little in common with the others1 being apparently supplementary to them4 ,yet there are considerable diversities both in the order in which facts are narrated1 and in the facts themselves4 ,hence the difficulty of weaving the accounts of the four into a continuous and chronological history4 ,it is our decided conviction that #ej all the evangelists have not adhered to chronological arrangement4 ,the question then arises1 have all neglected the order of time8 ,newcome and many others espouse this view4 ,chronological order1 says the writer1 is not precisely observed by any of the evangelists2 ,st4 ,john and ,st4 ,mark observe it most2 and ,st4 ,matthew neglects it most4--,davidson--,biblical ,literature4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what followed the baptism of ,jesus8 #b4 ,what can you say of the order of the temptations8 7,note #a74 #c4 ,what was the commencement of ,christ's ministry8 #d4 ,what was the character of ,christ's doctrine at this period8 #e4 ,state how the gospel supplanted the law of ,moses4 #f4 ,name the ,apostles whom ,jesus called4 #g4 ,what was the first mission of the ,twelve8 #h4 ,what was the nature of the commission given to the ,apostles8 #i4 ,state the calling and commission of the ,seventies4 #aj4 ,what can you say of the order of chronological events in the ,new ,testament8 7,note #e47 #aa4 ,to what several circumstances did ,messiah point as giving evidence of the divinity of his mission8 #ab4 ,quote the passages of scripture cited in the text4 #ea ,,section ,v4 #a4 ,the ,common ,people ,hear ,jesus ,gladly4--,the mission of ,jesus was full of comfort to the poor4 ,as one of the signs that he was the promised ,messiah1 he said to a delegation of ,john's disciples--,the poor have the gospel preached to them4 #dc ,he claimed to be anointed of the ,lord to that work2 and in doing it was fulfilling that which had been predicted by the prophets4#dd ,he often reproved the rich1 not merely because they were rich1 however1 but because of their pride and hypocrisy which led them to oppress the poor4 ,in like manner he reproved the chief elders and scribes and ,pharisees who loved fine clothing1 and loved to receive salutations in the market places2 who coveted the chief seats in the synagogues and the uppermost rooms at the feasts2 who devoured widows' houses1 and for a pretense made long prayers4#de ,this with a free reproof of their other vices and crimes brought upon him the enmity of the wealthy1 and of the rulers of the people2 but the common people heard him gladly4#df 7,see note #a1 end of section47 #b4 ,religious ,jealousy--,political ,fear4--,another thing which embittered the minds of the chief priests and elders against ,jesus was religious jealousy4 ,the numerous evidences of his divine authority1 to be seen in his character and works1 led many of the ,jews to revere him as the ,son of ,god4 ,especially was this the case after he raised ,lazarus from the dead4#dg ,they said3 ,if we let this man alone all men will believe in him2 and the ,romans will come and take away both our place and nation4 ,it was religious jealousy that dictated the first half of the sentence2 and political fear the rest4 ,the ,jews had but a precarious hold upon their political rights2 already it had #eb been intimated that ,jesus was king of the ,jews2 #dh and if the people should under a sudden impulse accept him as king1 the result in their judgment1 must be a loss of those political rights which the ,romans permitted them to exercise4 ,to allow ,jesus1 therefore1 to continue preaching was dangerous to their supposed honors and privileges2 and this consideration was sufficient to induce the leading men among all parties to plot against his life4 #c4 ,the ,charges ,against ,jesus4--,the principal charges which the ,jews brought against ,jesus were3 7#a7 violation of the ,sabbath2 he had healed a man on the ,sabbath day1 and had commanded him to take up his bed and walk3#di 7#b7 blasphemy2 he had said ,god was his ,father1 making himself equal with ,god 7see note #b1 end of section73#ej 7#c7 ,it was said that he was king of the ,jews2 and1 on one occasion1 the people hearing of his coming to ,jerusalem took palm branches and went out to meet him1 shouting ,hosannah3 blessed is the king of ,israel that cometh in the name of the ,lord4#ea ,for this he was said to be an enemy to ,caesar's government and a seditious person4 #d4 ,treason of ,judas4--,for some time the efforts of the chief priests to arrest ,jesus were baffled4 ,they feared to proceed openly against him lest the people should stand in his favor and overthrow them4 ,at last1 however1 ,judas ,iscariot1 one of the twelve1 met with some of the chief rulers and promised to betray him to them in the absence of the multitude4 ,this offer they gladly accepted and agreed to pay him thirty pieces of silver for his treachery4 #e4 ,institution of the ,sacrament4--,the time chosen by ,judas for the betrayal of his ,master was the night of the passover feast4 ,jesus with the twelve ate the feast in an upper room in ,jerusalem4 ,it was on this occasion that he instituted the ,sacrament of the ,lord's supper4 ,he took bread and gave thanks1 broke it and gave it to his disciples1 saying3 ,this is my #ec body which is given for you2 this do in remembrance of me4 ,he also took wine1 gave thanks1 saying as he gave it to them3 ,this cup is the ,new ,testament in my blood1 which is shed for many for the remission of sins4#eb #f4 ,after the supper was over1 having sung a hymn1 ,jesus with the twelve1 excepting ,judas ,iscariot1 went out to the garden of ,gethsemane ,geth-sem-e-na where ,jesus prayed in great agony of spirit so that he sweat great drops of blood4 ,he prayed that the bitter cup of suffering now about to be held to his lips might be removed from him4 ,thrice he so prayed1 but closed each petition to his ,father with--not my will1 but thine1 will be done4 #g4 ,the ,betrayal4--,meantime1 ,judas ,iscariot having stolen out in the midst of the feast1 went to the chief priests and directed a multitude with a company of ,roman soldiers to the garden1 and running to ,jesus cried1 ,hail1 ,master6 and kissed him4 ,that was the sign agreed upon by the traitor and those who came to make the arrest1 that they might know which one to take4 ,and when they had secured him1 they took him first to the house of ,annas ,an-nas1 who1 after questioning him1 sent him bound to ,caiaphas ,kai-ya-fas1 the high priest1 where he was arraigned before the ,sanhedrim ,san-he-drim4 #h4 ,the ,trial4--,the court before which ,jesus was arraigned was not one before which his case was to be investigated1 they had come together with the fixed determination to adjudge him guilty2 hence they sought for witnesses who would testify something against him that would furnish a pretext for putting him to death4 ,many false witnesses testified against him2 but their testimony was unsatisfactory and failed of its purpose4 ,at last the high priest1 evidently losing patience at the silence of the prisoner--for he made no defense against the charges of the false witnesses--adjured him by the living ,god to say if he were the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god4 ,jesus acknowledged that he was1 #ed and told them that hereafter they should see him at the right hand of ,power1 coming in the clouds of heaven4 ,at this the high priest rent his clothes1 saying1 he hath spoken blasphemy1 and claimed that they had no need of further witnesses1 since they themselves had heard his blasphemy 7see note #c1 end of section74 ,the council at once decided him worthy of death4 #i4 ,christ ,before ,pilate and ,herod4--,the ,romans had taken from the ,sanhedrim of the ,jews the power of executing those whom it adjudged guilty of death1 unless the sentence was confirmed by the ,roman governor2 hence after sentence of death was passed upon ,jesus by the ,sanhedrim they took him to ,pilate's judgment hall to have that sentence confirmed4 #aj4 ,learning incidentally that ,jesus was a ,galilean1 and belonged to ,herod's jurisdiction1 ,pilate sent him to ,herod who1 at the time1 was in ,jerusalem4 ,before ,herod ,jesus was silent2 neither the contempt of the murderer of his forerunner1 nor the mockery of the common soldiers could provoke him into breaking his dignified silence4 ,so in ridicule of his claims to kingship--although1 as ,jesus himself said1 his kingdom was not of this world#ec--;,herod clothed him in gorgeous apparel and sent him back to ,pilate4 #aa4 ,satisfied that there was nothing in ,messiah's conduct worthy of death1 ,pilate sought to let him go2 but the ,jews insisted upon his execution4 ,it was the custom among the ,jews to have released to them a prisoner at the feast of the ,passover1 and on that ground ,pilate sought to release ,jesus2 but the ,jews would not listen to it1 and preferred that the robber1 ,barabbas1 a murderer1 should be released4 ,they told ,pilate that whosoever made himself a king was an enemy to ,caesar2 and if he let ,jesus go he was not ,caesar's friend4 ,by such arguments on the part of the chief priests1 and the persistent cry of the people to crucify him1 ,pilate was over-awed1 and at last confirmed the sentence of death4 7,see note #d1 end of section47 #ee #ab4 ,the ,crucifixion4--,from the hall of judgment ,jesus was led into the common hall1 where the soldiers stripped him of his own raiment1 and put upon him a scarlet robe in mockery of his claims to kingship4 ,they also platted a crown of thorns and placed it on his brow1 and for a scepter gave him a reed in his right hand4 ,they bowed the knee before him1 and mockingly cried3 ,hail1 king of the ,jews6 ,they spit upon him1 beat him with their hands and with the reed they had given him for a scepter4 #ac4 ,from the common hall he was led away under a guard of soldiers to a place called ,golgotha ,gol-go-tha1 which1 as well as its ,latin equivalent--,calvaria-,calvary#ed--means 1 the place of a skull4 ,here ,jesus was stripped1 and nailed to the cross1 which was erected between two other crosses1 on each of which was a thief4 ,above the his head in ,latin1 ,greek and ,hebrew was fixed the superscription written by ,pilate--,this is the ,king of the ,jews4 ,as he hung there between the two thieves1 the soldiers mocked him as did also the chief scribes and the ,pharisees1 saying3 ,he saved others1 let him save himself2 if he is ,christ1 the chosen of ,god2 let him come down from the cross and we will believe him2 he trusted in ,god1 let him deliver him now1 if he will have him2 for he said1 ,i am the ,son of ,god4 ,in the midst of his great suffering1 in which his mental agony was greater than his physical pain2 the ,son of ,god cried1 ,father1 forgive them1 they know not what they do4 #ad4 ,at the sixth hour--mid-day--there was a darkness that spread over the whole land1 and continued until the ninth hour 7see note #e1 end of section74 ,about the ninth hour ,jesus said3 ,father1 into thy hands ,i commend my spirit1 then he bowed his head and expired4 ,at the same moment the veil of the ,temple was rent from top to bottom1 an earthquake shook #ef the solid earth and rent the rocks1 all the elements of nature seemed agitated as if anxious to bear witness that a ,god had died6 #ae4 ,the ,convulsions of ,nature on the ,western ,hemisphere4--,on the western hemisphere during the crucifixion of our ,lord1 the elements of nature were more disturbed than on the eastern hemisphere4 ,during the time that ,jesus was upon the cross1 great and terrible tempests accompanied with terrific lightning raged throughout the land4 ,earthquakes shattered cities into confused piles of ruins2 level plains were broken up and left in confused mountainous heaps2 solid rocks were rent in twain2 many cities were swept out of existence by fierce whirl-winds2 others were sunk into the depths of the sea1 others covered with mountain chains thrown up by the convulsions of the trembling earth2 and others still were burned with fire4 ,for the space of about three hours this awful disturbance of the elements continued1 during which the whole face of the land both in ,north and ,south ,america was greatly changed1 and most of the inhabitants destroyed4 ,after the storm and tempest and the quakings of the earth had ceased1 there followed intense darkness which lasted for three days1 the time that ,jesus was lying in the tomb4#ee #af4 ,the ,burial4--,towards evening of the day of the crucifixion1 ,joseph of ,arimathaea ,ar-ra-ma-thee-ya1 a rich man and a disciple of ,jesus1 went to ,pilate1 and begged that the body of the ,lord be given him that he might bury it4 ,pilate granted the request2 and ,joseph took the body1 wrapt in clean linen and put it in his own new tomb4 ,the ,pharisees also went to ,pilate and reminded him how ,jesus had said when living that after three days in the tomb he would rise again1 and asked that the sepulchre wherein he was buried should be placed under guard until the third day should pass1 lest his disciples should come and steal his body by night1 and then spread abroad the rumor #eg that he had arisen from the dead4 ,pilate granted them permission to seal up the sepulchre and set a watch to guard it4 7,see note #f1 end of section47 ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,common ,people ,begin ,reforms4--,the case of the common people hearing ,jesus gladly is not singular2 it may be said to be true in nearly all great movements4 ,it is a truth so generally accepted that a modern writer 7,lew ,wallace7 has said3 ,to begin a reform1 go not into the palaces of the great and rich2 go rather to those whose cups of happiness are empty--to the poor and humble4 #b4 ,jesus' ,defense ,against the ,charge of ,blasphemy4--,the following scene occurred in ,solomon's porch1 at the temple1 where ,jesus was walking4 ,a number of ,jews gathered about him and said3 ,how long dost thou make us to doubt8 ,if thou be the ,christ tell us so plainly4 ,,jesus4--,i told you and ye believed not2 the works that ,i do in my ,father's name1 they bear witness of me 99 99 99 ,i and my ,father are one4 ,then the ,jews took up stones to stone him4 ,,jesus4--,many good works have ,i showed you from my ,father2 for which of those works do you stone me8 ,,jews4--,for a good work we stone thee not2 but for blasphemy2 and because that thou1 being a man1 makest thyself ,god4 ,,jesus4--,is it not written in your law2 ,i said ye are ,gods8 ,if he called them ,gods unto whom the word of ,god come1 and the scripture cannot be broken1 say ye of him whom the ,father hath sanctified1 and sent unto the world1 thou blasphemest2 because ,i said1 ,i am the ,son of ,god8 ,if ,i do not the works of my ,father1 believe me not4 ,then they sought again to take him1 but he escaped out of their hands4 7,john x47 #c4 ,the ,law ,against ,blasphemy4--,the law against blasphemy is to be found in ,leviticus 7xxiv3#ae1 #af7 and is as follows3 ,whosoever curseth his ,god shall bear his sin2 and he that blasphemeth the name of the ,lord1 he shall surely be put to death1 and all the congregation shall certainly stone him2 as well the stranger as he that is born in the land1 when he blasphemeth the name of the ,lord1 shall be put to death4 ,the ,jews claimed that ,jesus was guilty of blasphemy1 because he claimed to be the ,son of ,god1 thus making himself equal with ,god2 when to their eyes he was merely a man4 ,therein consisted his alleged blasphemy4 ,christ's own defense against the charge 7see note above7 is the best answer to the sophistry of the ,jews by #eh which they tried to make it appear that he had broken this law4--,roberts4 #d4 ,character of ,pilate4--,if we now wish to form a judgment of ,pilate's character1 we easily see that he was one of that large class of men who aspire to public offices1 not from a pure and lofty desire of benefitting the public and advancing the good of the world1 but from selfish and personal considerations1 from a love of distinction1 from a love of power1 from a love of self indulgence2 being destitute of any fixed principles1 and having no aim but office and influence1 they act right only by chance and when convenient1 and are wholly incapable of pursuing a consistent course1 or of acting with firmness or self-denial in cases in which the preservation of integrity require the exercise of these qualities4 ,pilate was obviously a man of weak1 and therefore1 with his temptations1 of corrupt character4--,j4 ,r4 ,beard1 ,d4 ,d41 ,member of the ,historical ,theological ,society1 ,leipzig4 #e4 ,the ,three ,hours' ,darkness4--,in the gospel of ,matthew and ,luke1 we read that while ,jesus hung upon the cross1 from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land to the ninth hour4 ,most of the ancient commentators believed that this darkness extended to the whole world4 ,but their arguments are now seldom regarded as satisfactory1 and their proofs even less so4 ,of the latter the strongest is the mention of an eclipse of the sun1 which is referred to this time by ,phlegon ,trallianus1 and1 after him by ,thallus4 ,but even an eclipse of the sun could not be visible to the whole world2 and neither of these writers names the places of the eclipse4 ,some think it was ,rome2 but it is impossible that an eclipse could have happened from the sixth to the ninth hour both at ,rome and ,jerusalem4 99 99 99 ,that the darkness could not have proceeded from an eclipse of the sun is further placed beyond all doubt by the fact that1 it being then the time of the ,passover1 the moon was at the full4 ,this darkness may1 therefore1 be ascribed to an extraordinary and preternatural obscuration of the solar light1 which might precede and accompany the earthquake which took place on the same occasion4 ,for it has been noticed that often before an earthquake such a mist arises from sulphurous vapors as to occasion a darkness almost nocturnal4--,biblical ,literature--,kitto4 #f4 ,fate of the ,chief ,actors in ,christ's ,crucifixion4--,before the dread sacrifice was consummated1 ,judas died in the horrors of a loathsome suicide4 ,caiaphas 7the high priest and president of the ,sanhedrim7 was deposed the year following4 ,herod died in infamy and exile4 ,stripped of his procuratorship very shortly afterwards1 on the very charges he had tried by a wicked concession to avoid4 ,pilate1 wearied out with misfortunes1 died in suicide and banishment1 leaving behind him an execrated name4 ,the house of ,annas was destroyed a generation later by an infuriated mob1 and his son was dragged through #ei the streets and scourged and beaten to his place of murder4 ,some of those who shared in and witnessed the scenes of that day--and thousands of their children--also shared in and witnessed the long horrors of that siege of ,jerusalem1 which stands unparalleled in history for its unutterable fearfulness4--,canon ,farrar4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what class of people heard ,jesus gladly8 #b4 ,what classes of people did ,jesus reprove8 ,why8 #c4 ,what was it that embittered the minds of the chief priests and rulers against ,jesus8 #d4 ,enumerate the charges against ,jesus4 #e4 ,in what manner did ,jesus defend himself against the charge of blasphemy8 7,note #b47 #f4 ,who betrayed ,jesus8 #g4 ,what time was chosen by ,judas to betray ,jesus8 #h4 ,give an account of the institution of the sacrament4 #i4 ,tell the story of the betrayal4 #aj4 ,state the circumstances of the trial of ,jesus before the ,sanhedrim4 #aa4 ,why did the ,jews take ,jesus before ,pilate8 #ab4 ,why did ,pilate send him to ,herod8 #ac4 ,what was ,messiah's treatment at the hands of ,herod8 #ad4 ,what the deportment of ,jesus8 #ae4 ,how did ,pilate look upon ,jesus8 #af4 ,in what manner did the ,roman governor try to save ,jesus8 #ag4 ,what was the character of ,pilate8 7,note #d74 #ah4 ,tell the story of the crucifixion4 #ai4 ,what occurred on the ,western hemisphere at the crucifixion1 and during the time ,jesus was in the tomb8 #bj4 ,tell about the burial of ,jesus4 #ba4 ,what was the fate of those who judged and condemned ,jesus8 7,note #f74 #fj ,,section ,,vi4 #a4 ,the ,resurrection4--,notwithstanding the sealed sepulchre1 the armed watch1 on the third day after his burial1 the ,son of ,god arose from the dead1 as he himself predicted he would4#ef ,a number of women coming to the sepulchre early in the morning1 for the purpose of finishing the work of embalming his body1 found the grave untenanted and the angel present who announced the resurrection of the ,lord2 and commanded them to go and inform his disciples that he was risen from the dead and would go before them into ,galilee1 where he would appear unto them4 #b4 ,according to ,matthew's account of the resurrection an angel from heaven came to the sepulchre wherein ,jesus was laid1 and rolled back the stone from its mouth2 at his presence the soldiers who had been stationed as a guard to prevent the disciples from coming and stealing the body1 became as dead men4 ,recovering from their stupor1 some of the watch made their way to the chief priests and related what had happened4 ,the chief priests and elders immediately assembled in council1 and bribed the soldiers to say that they had fallen asleep1 and during that time the followers of ,christ had come and stolen his body4 ,they agreed also that if the rumor of their falling asleep while on watch--a capital offense for a ,roman soldier--should come to the ears of the governor1 they would persuade him and secure them from punishment4 ,it was in this way that the disappearance of the body of ,jesus was commonly explained by the ,jews who crucified him4#eg #fa #c4 ,the ,appearances of ,jesus ,after ,his ,resurrection4--,there are some slight discrepancies in the writings of ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke and ,john in respect to the order of the appearances of ,messiah after his resurrection1 as indeed there is in respect to the order of the events connected with his trial1 condemnation and death2 but the following because of the fragmentary character of the four gospels may be regarded as being as nearly correct as may be ascertained4 7,see notes #a1 #b1 and #c1 end of section47 #d4 ,first1 he appeared to ,mary ,magdalene1 in the garden where the tomb in which he was laid was located2#eh second1 to the women returning from the sepulchre on their way to deliver the angel's message to the disciples2#ei third1 to two disciples going to ,emmaus2#fj fourth1 to ,peter2#fa fifth1 to ten apostles in an upper room2#fb sixth1 to the eleven apostles1 also in the upper room2#fc seventh1 to seven apostles at the sea of ,tiberias2#fd eighth1 to eleven apostles in a mountain in ,galilee2#fe ninth1 to above five hundred brethren at once2#ff tenth1 to ,james2#fg and finally to ,paul while on his way to ,damascus#fh #e4 ,in all1 ,jesus was with his disciples on the eastern hemisphere for forty days after his resurrection1#fi during which time he taught them all things pertaining to the kingdom of heaven1 and authorized them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost1 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them2 and promised that he would be with them even unto the end of the world4#gj #f4 ,moreover1 he told them that these signs should follow them that believed3 ,in his name they should cast out devils2 they should speak with new tongues1 take up serpents1 and #fb even if they drank any deadly thing he promised that it should not harm them2 they should lay hands on the sick1 and they should recover4#ga #g4 ,the ,ascension4--,having thus taught the gospel to the people of the eastern hemisphere1 organized his church and commissioned his apostles to teach the gospel to all nations1 he prepared to depart from them4 ,it was most probably at ,bethany ,beth-a-ny that this solemn parting occurred4 ,his forerunner1 ,john the ,baptist1 had promised that he who should come after him1 ,jesus ,christ1 would baptize them with the ,holy ,ghost1 and just previous to leaving the apostles he told them that the promise was about to be fulfilled4 ,he therefore commanded them to tarry in ,jerusalem until they were endowed with that power from on high4 ,then he lifted up his hands and blessed them1 after which he was parted from them1 and a cloud received him out of their sight4#gb #h4 ,as they were still looking steadfastly toward heaven1 two men--angels--in white apparel stood by them1 and declared that this same ,jesus whom they had seen go into heaven1 should come in like manner1 that is1 in the clouds of heaven and in great glory4#gc #i4 ,the ,appearing of ,messiah to the ,nephites4--,jesus1 before his crucifixion1 told his disciples at ,jerusalem that he was the good shepherd that would lay down his life for the sheep4 ,he told them plainly1 also1 that he had other sheep which were not of that fold4 ,them also ,i must bring1 said he1 and they must hear my voice2 and there shall be one fold1 and one shepherd4 #gd #aj4 ,this saying1 like many others which he delivered to them1 the apostles did not understand1 because of their unbelief4 ,and because of their unbelief and their stiffneckedness ,jesus was commanded by his ,father to say no more to them #fc about it4#ge ,but it was the ,nephites on the continent of ,america whom ,jesus had in mind when he uttered the saying recorded in ,john's gospel1#gf ,other sheep ,i have1 which are not of this fold1 etc4 #aa4 ,what length of time intervened between ,messiah's departure from his disciples at ,jerusalem and his appearance among the ,nephites is not known4 ,it was not1 however1 until after he had ascended into heaven4#gg ,his appearing to them was in this manner3 #ab4 ,the few people upon the western hemisphere--and they were the more righteous part both of the ,nephites and the ,lamanites--who survived that terrible period of destruction which lasted during the time that ,jesus hung upon the cross1#gh and the three succeeding days of darkness1 were gathered together about the temple in the land ,bountiful4#gi ,and as they were pointing out to each other the changes that had occurred because of the earthquakes and other convulsions of the elements1 while the ,messiah suffered upon the cross1 they heard a voice speaking unto them as if from heaven4 ,they at first did not understand the voice they heard2 but the third time it spoke they understood it1 and it made their hearts burn within them and their whole frame to quake1 and these are the words which the voice spake3 ,behold my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased1 in whom ,i have glorified my name2 hear ye him4 ,and looking up into heaven from whence the voice came1 they saw a man descending clothed in a white robe4 ,the multitude were breathlessly silent1 for they supposed an angel had appeared unto them2 but as soon as ,jesus was in their midst he stretched out his arm and said3 ,behold ,i am ,jesus ,christ1 whom the prophets testified should come into the world4 99 99 99 ,i am the light and life of the world2 and ,i have drunk out of that bitter cup which the ,father hath #fd given me1 and have glorified the ,father in taking upon me the sins of the world4 #ac4 ,at this announcement the people fell prostrate and worshiped him4 ,but he commanded them to arise and come unto him that they might thrust their hands into his side1 and feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet1 that they might know that he was the ,god of ,israel1 and the ,god of the whole earth who had been slain for the sins of the world4#hj 7,see notes #e1 #f1 and #g1 end of section74 ,this the people did1 and then again they worshiped him1 and shouted aloud3 ,hosanna6 blessed be the name of the ,most ,high ,god6 #ad4 ,the ,church ,established in ,america4--,after these things1 ,jesus proceeded to teach them his gospel and establish his church among them4 ,it will be sufficient to say here that the ,messiah taught the people on the western continent the same great moral truths that he taught the ,jews2 that he established the same ordinances for the salvation of the people2 that he chose ,twelve ,apostles to whom he committed power to preach his gospel1 and administer in its ordinances2 that a church was organized which was called the ,church of ,christ2 that ,jesus bore record of the great truth of the resurrection of the dead2 that the ,saints enjoyed the same spiritual graces and powers that the church in ,palestine did1 only more abundantly because of their greater faith2 that two years after the appearance of ,messiah all the people on the continent accepted the gospel and were baptized2 that they had all things common and were a blessed and prosperous people among whom were no strifes or jealousies or contentions1 and every man did deal justly one with another4 #ae4 ,they increased rapidly in numbers and went forth and built up the waste places1 and rebuilded many of the cities which had been ruined by the earthquakes and by fires4 ,they walked no more after the ordinances of the law of ,moses1 but #fe they practiced the principles of the doctrines of the gospel of ,christ1 and thus the first century of the ,christian era passed away4 #af4 ,all the members of the first quorum of the twelve whom ,jesus called on the western hemisphere died within the first century of the ,christian era1 except the three to whom he had granted the privilege1 as he did unto ,john the beloved disciple1#ha of remaining on the earth until he should come in his glory4 ,the places of those who died were filled by ordaining others1 and thus the quorum of apostles was perpetuated4#hb ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,gospels but ,fragmentary ,histories4--,although skeptics have dwelt with disproportioned persistency upon a multitude of discrepancies in the four-fold narrative of ,christ's trial1 condemnation1 death1 and resurrection1 yet these are not of a nature to cause the slightest anxiety to a ,christian scholar2 nor need they awaken the most momentary distrust in anyone who--even if he have no deeper feelings in the matter--approaches the gospels with no preconceived theory1 whether of infallibility or of dishonesty1 to support and merely accept them for that which1 at the lowest1 they claim to be--histories1 honest and faithful1 up to the full knowledge of the writers1 but each1 if taken alone1 confessedly fragmentary and obviously incomplete4 ,after repeated study1 ,i declare1 quite fearlessly1 that though the slight variations are numerous--though the lesser particulars cannot in every instance be rigidly and minutely accurate--though no one of the narratives taken singly would give us an adequate impression--yet1 so far from there being1 in this part of the gospel story1 any irreconcilable contradiction1 it is perfectly possible to discover how one evangelist supplements the details furnished by another1 and perfectly possible to understand the true sequence of the incidents by combining into one whole the separate indications which they furnish4--,canon ,farrar4 #b4 ,the ,bible ,corrupted by the ,gentiles4--,and it came to pass that ,i1 ,nephi1 beheld that they the ,gentiles did prosper in the land #ff ,america and ,i beheld a book the ,bible1 and it was carried forth among them4 ,and the angel said unto me1 ,knowest thou the meaning of the book8 ,and ,i said unto him1 ,i know not4 99 99 99 ,and he said unto me1 ,the book which thou beholdest1 is a record of the ,jews1 which contains the covenants of the ,lord which he hath made unto the house of ,israel4 99 99 99 ,thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a ,jew2 and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of the ,jew1 it contained the plainness of the gospel of the ,lord1 of whom the twelve apostles bear record2 and they bear record according to the truth which is in the ,lamb of ,god2 wherefore these things go forth from the ,jews in purity1 unto the ,gentiles1 according to the truth which is in ,god2 and after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the ,lamb1 from the ,jews unto the ,gentiles1 thou seest the foundation of a great and abominable church1 which is most abominable above all other churches2 for behold1 they have taken away from the gospel of the ,lamb1 many parts which are plain and most precious2 and also many covenants of the ,lord have they taken away2 and all this have they done1 that they might pervert the right ways of the ,lord2 that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men4 99 99 99 ,because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the ,lamb1 an exceeding great many do stumble1 yea1 insomuch that ,satan hath great power over them4--,vision of ,nephi--,i ,nephi xiii4 #c4 ,missing ,parts of the ,scripture4--,no better evidence can be given that the ,jewish scriptures are fragmentary and corrupted than the fact that reference is made in them to books and scriptures which are not now extant--that have been destroyed4 ,the following are a such references taken from the ,new ,testament3 ,scriptures of ,abraham's ,time4--,and the scripture1 foreseeing that ,god would justify the heathen through faith1 preached before the gospel unto ,abraham 7,gal4 iii3#h74 ,the ,christian world says1 ,moses was ,god's first pen1 but it appears from the above quotation that some one wrote scriptures even before ,abraham's days1 and he read them1 learned the gospel from them and also learned that ,god would justify the heathen through faith4 ,prophecy of ,enoch4--,speaking of characters who were like raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame1 ,jude says3 ,and ,enoch also1 the seventh from ,adam prophesied of these1 saying1 ,behold the ,lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints1 to execute judgment upon all1 etc4 7,jude #ad1 #ae74 ,from this it appears that ,enoch had a revelation concerning the glorious coming of the ,son of ,god to judgment4 ,may not the prophecy of ,enoch have been among the scripture with which ,abraham was acquainted8 ,another ,epistle of ,jude4--,when ,i gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation1 it was needful for me to write unto #fg you1 and exhort you that ye should contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the ,saints4 7,jude #c74 ,we have but one epistle of ,jude4 ,would not the epistle on the common salvation be as important as the one and the only one we have from ,jude's pen8 ,another ,epistle to the ,ephesians4--,in ,ephesians iii and #crd1 ,paul alludes to another epistle which he had written to that people1 but of which the world has no knowledge except this reference which is made by its author4 ,this epistle contained a revelation from ,god4 ,an ,epistle to the ,laodiceans4--,when this epistle ,colossians is read among you1 cause that it be read also in the church of the ,laodiceans1 and that ye likewise read the epistle from ,laodicea4 7,col4 iv3 #af47 ,the epistle to the ,laodiceans is among the scripture that is lost4 ,another ,epistle to the ,corinthians4--,in the first letter to the ,corinthians is this statement3 ,i wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators 7,i ,cor4 v3#i74 ,from this it would appear that our so-called first epistle to the ,corinthians1 is really not the first1 since ,paul in it speaks of a former letter he had written1 and which was doubtless as good scripture as the two which have been preserved4 ,the books mentioned in the ,old ,testament1 but which are missing1 are more numerous than those in the ,new ,testament4 ,in the following passages some few of the many lost books are referred to3 ,i ,chronicles xxix3#bi2 ,,ii ,chronicles ix3#bi2 ,,ii ,chronicles xii3#ae2 ,i ,samuel x3#be2 ,i ,kings iv3#cb1 #cc4--,roberts4 #d4 ,traditions of ,aborigines ,respecting ,messiah4--,it is beyond all question that the descendants of the ,nephites and ,lamanites--the ,american ,indians--have kept in their traditions a recollection--though perhaps a distorted one--of the memorable visit of ,messiah to their forefathers4 ,the chief divinity of the ,nahua nations1 says ,bancroft in his ,native ,races1 was ,quetzalcoatl1 the gentle ,god1 ruler of the air1 controller of the sun and rain1 and source of all prosperity4 99 99 99 ,from toward the rising sun ,quetzalcoatl1 had come2 and he was white1 with large eyes and long1 black hair and copious beard4 ,he finally set out for some other country #hc and as he departed from them his last words were that one day bearded white men1 brethren of his1 perhaps he himself1 would come by way of the sea in which the sun rises1 and would enter in and rule the land2 and from that day1 with a fidelity befitting ,hebrews waiting for the coming of ,messiah1 the ,mexican people watched for the fulfillment of this prophecy1 which promised them a gentle rule1 free from bloody sacrifices and oppression4--,roberts4 #fh #e4 ,the ,incarnation ,believed by the ,mexicans4--,how truly surprisingg is it to find that the ,mexicans who seemed to have been unacquainted with the doctrine of the migration of the soul1 should have believed in the incarnation of the only ,son of the supreme ,god6--,humboldt4 #f4 ,crucifixion and ,atonement ,believed in by ,mexicans4--,quetzalcoatl is there 7in a certain plate where that ,god is represented7 painted in the attitude of a person crucified1 with the impression of nails in his hands and feet1 but not actually upon the cross4 99 99 99 ,the seventy-third plate of the ,borgian ,ms4 is the most remarkable of all1 for there ,quetzalcoatl is not only represented as crucified upon a cross of ,greek form1 but his burial and descent into hell are also depicted in a very curious manner4 99 99 99 ,the ,mexicans believe that ,quetzalcoatl took human nature upon him1 partaking of all the infirmities of man1 and was not exempt from sorrow1 pain or death1 which he suffered voluntarily to atone for the sins of man4--,antiquities of ,mexico--,kingsborough4 #g4 ,christ and ,quetzalcoatl4--,the story of the life of the ,mexican divinity1 ,quetzalcoatl1 closely resembles that of the ,savior2 so closely indeed that we can come to no other conclusion than that ,quetzalcoatl and ,christ are the same being4 ,but the history of the former has been handed down to us through an impure ,lamanitish source1 which has sadly disfigured and perverted the original incidents and teachings of the ,savior's life and ministry4--,mediation and ,atonement--,president ,john ,taylor4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what occurred on the third day of ,christ's burial8 #b4 ,state the several prophecies made by ,jesus which were fulfilled in his resurrection8 7note74 #c4 ,relate the account of the resurrection as given by ,matthew4 #d4 ,in respect to what are there slight discrepancies in the writings of ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke and ,john8 #e4 ,what can you say of the fragmentary character of the ,new ,testament ,gospels8 7,notes #a and #b74 #f4 ,state the most probable order in which ,jesus made his several appearances after the resurrection4 #g4 ,how long was ,jesus with his disciples on the eastern hemisphere after his resurrection8 #h4 ,what notable commission did ,jesus give to the apostles before leaving them8 #i4 ,what signs did ,messiah say should follow believers8 #aj4 ,describe the last parting of ,jesus from his disciples4 #fi #aa4 ,what prophecy did ,jesus make to his disciples at ,jerusalem that they did not understand8 #ab4 ,give an account of ,messiah's visit to the ,nephites4 #ac4 ,what did ,jesus do among the ,nephites8 #ad4 ,what was the effect that followed the preaching of the gospel and the organization of the church8 #ae4 ,what course was pursued as to the quorum of the apostles8 #af4 ,relate the several traditions of the ,mexicans respecting the visit of ,messiah to this land4 #gj ,,section ,,vii4 #a4 ,vacancy in the ,quorum of the ,twelve ,filled4--,the first official business which occupied the attention of the authorities of the church after the ascension of the ,lord--according to our ,christian annals--was filling up the quorum of the twelve4 ,judas by his treason had forfeited his apostleship and was dead1 and hence it became necessary to ordain another to fill his place4 ,peter when presenting this matter before the church1 appeared to lay some stress upon the necessity of choosing some one of the brethren who had been with them from the beginning--from the baptism of ,john unto that same day that he 7,christ7 was taken up1 that he might be a witness with the rest of the apostles of the things which ,jesus did and also a witness of his resurrection4 #b4 ,and they appointed nominated two4 ,joseph called ,barsabas1 who was surnamed ,justus1 and ,matthias4 ,and they prayed4 99 99 99 ,thou1 ,lord1 which knowest the hearts of all men1 show whether of these two thou hast chosen4 99 99 99 ,and they gave forth their lots or1 gave their votes2#hd and the lot fell upon ,matthias4 ,from that time he was numbered with the apostles4 7,see note #a1 end of section74 #c4 ,the filling of this vacancy in the quorum of the twelve--the only instance of the kind mentioned in the ,new ,testament--may #ga be taken as a proof that it was clearly the understanding of the apostles that the quorum of the twelve was to be perpetuated4 ,it was so understood in the church on the western hemisphere1 for the fourth ,nephi informs us that as the apostles whom ,jesus had chosen passed away1 others were ordained in their stead2#he and thus the quorum was kept full1 but for how long cannot be ascertained4 #d4 ,the ,holy ,ghost ,given4--,the first time the gospel was preached publicly after the ascension of ,messiah was on the day of ,pentecost1 most probably seven days after the ascension4#hf ,the church had assembled and suddenly the promised baptism of the ,holy ,ghost--promised both by ,john the ,baptist and ,messiah#hg--took place1 for the ,spirit came like the rushing of a mighty wind and filled the house where the saints were assembled2 and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it rested upon them visibly like cloven tongues of fire2 and they began speaking in other tongues1 that is1 in languages before unknown to them1 as the spirit gave them utterance4 #e4 ,the occurrence was soon noised about the city and the multitude came together1 to witness this strange event4 ,in that great concourse of people thus hastily assembled were devout men out of every nation under heaven 7see note #b1 end of section71 and they were confounded with astonishment since every man heard the gospel in his own language4#hh ,are not all these which speak ,galileans1 said they1 and how hear we every man in his own tongue1 wherein we were born8 ,all were amazed1 and some inquired one of another1 ,what meaneth this8 ,others mockingly said1 ,these men are full of new wine4 #gb #f4 ,to this latter remark the apostle ,peter replied that the brethren were not drunken as had been supposed1 and reminded the accusers that it was but the third hour of the day4 ,men were not likely to be drunk so early4 ,the apostle further informed them that his power which they witnessed was the same as that of which ,joel#hi spoke when he said that in the last days the ,spirit of ,god should be poured out upon all flesh1 and make the sons and daughters of men to prophesy1 young men to see visions and old men to dream dreams1 etc4 7,see notes #c and #d1 end of section74 #g4 ,having corrected the slander uttered by those inclined to mock at the power of ,god1 ,peter continued his discourse1 and proved from the scriptures and from the marvelous works of the ,lord ,jesus while among them1 that he was both ,lord and ,christ4 ,then a great multitude was converted1 and cried as with one voice1 ,men and brethren1 what shall we do8 ,to which ,peter answered1 ,repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ for the remission of sins1 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 #ij ,he informed them that this promise of the ,holy ,ghost--and1 of course1 of salvation--was both to them and to their children1 in fact to all whom ,god should call4#ia ,there were added to the church that day1 three thousand souls4 #h4 ,the ,rise of ,opposition4--,being now endowed with power from on high1 the apostles continued to preach in and #gc about ,jerusalem with great success1 the ,lord working with them and confirming their ministry by signs and wonders following the believers4 #i4 ,the chief priests and rulers among the ,jews became alarmed at the boldness of the disciples of ,jesus and the rapidity with which faith in the gospel spread among the people4 ,they were in imminent danger of being adjudged by the people1 guilty of executing an innocent man2 nay1 more1 of putting to death ,messiah6 #aj4 ,they therefore had some of the apostles brought before them and sought to intimidate them with threats not to preach any more in the name of ,jesus4 ,to these threats the apostles made answer3 ,whether it be right in the sight of ,god to hearken unto you more than unto ,god1 judge ye4 #ib ,leaving the presence of the council the apostles preached even more boldly in the name of ,jesus4 ,a second time they were brought before the chief rulers1 to answer for a disregard of the orders of the council which charged them with threats not to teach in the name of ,jesus2 and behold1 said they1 ye have filled ,jerusalem with your doctrine1 and mean to bring this man's blood upon us4 #aa4 ,the answer of ,peter1 who spoke also for the rest of the apostles1 was even bolder than before4 ,we ought to obey ,god rather than men1 said he4 ,the ,god of our fathers raised up ,jesus1 whom ye slew and hanged on a tree4 ,him hath ,god exalted with his right hand to be a ,prince and a ,savior1 for to give repentance to ,israel and forgiveness of sins4 ,and we are witnesses of these things2 and so is also the ,holy ,ghost1 whom ,god hath given to them that obey him4 #ic #ab4 ,the boldness of his answer gave deep offense and led the chief rulers to take counsel how they might slay them4 ,but ,gamaliel ,ga-ma-li-el1 a learned doctor of the law1 advised them against such proceedings4 ,his advice was to let the men alone1 #gd for if the work they had in hand was of men it would come to naught4 ,if it was of ,god1 nothing which they could do would overthrow it2 and they might be found fighting against ,god4#id #ac4 ,the counsel of ,gamaliel prevailed in part at least4 ,the apostles were not killed at that time2 but they were once more forbidden to speak in the name of ,jesus1 beaten and then set free4 ,the apostles rejoiced at being found worthy to suffer shame for the name of ,jesus1 and not heeding the orders of the council continued preaching in the temple and in private houses4 #ad4 ,temporal ,concerns4--,so completely did the apostles and the other disciples give themselves to the work of the ministry1 that complaint was made by the ,grecians because the widows and poor were neglected4 ,whereupon the twelve called the church together and proposed that seven men of good report be chosen and set apart to see to these affairs1 that they themselves might give their attention wholly to the ministry1 as it was not profitable for them to neglect that in order to wait on tables4 ,the plan pleased the church and the seven men were appointed4#ie #ge #ae4 ,all ,things in ,common4--,the effect of the gospel upon the saints of ,jerusalem was very marked4 ,they were of one heart and of one mind2 they had all things in common1 and those who possessed houses or lands sold them and brought the price of the things and laid it at the apostles' feet4 ,distribution was made unto every man as he had need2 and there was none among them that lacked for that which was necessary4#if #af4 ,persecution4--,a great persecution arose against the church at ,jerusalem1 within the first year after ,messiah's ascension1 so that most of the brethren1 except the apostles1 were scattered abroad throughout ,judea and ,samaria4 ,everywhere they went they preached the gospel1 so that great good came out of what was intended to be an evil1 as the gospel was more widely preached4 ,philip1 one of the seven who had been appointed to look after the temporal affairs of the church1 was among the number driven from ,jerusalem by the persecution4 ,he went to the city of ,samaria1 where the people listened to his teachings1 accepted his testimony and were baptized both men and women4 ,the apostles hearing of his success1 sent to ,samaria ,peter and ,john2 and when they came they laid their hands upon those who had been baptized and they received the ,holy ,ghost2#ig and thus the work was established there4 #ag4 ,paul4--,it was during this persecution that ,saul1 of ,tarsus1 afterwards better known as ,paul1 the apostle of the ,gentiles1 manifested his bitterness toward the saints4 ,he witnessed the stoning to death of ,stephen1 one of the seven men appointed to look after the temporal affairs of the church at ,jerusalem4 ,he held the clothes of those who killed him2 and #gf being exceedingly vexed at what he regarded as a superstition1 he followed the saints into distant cities1 breathing out threatenings and slaughter against them4 ,he went to the high priest and obtained letters of authority from him to the rulers of the synagogue at ,damascus1 that if he found any of the saints there he might bring them bound to ,jerusalem4 ,on his way to ,damascus1 however1 the ,lord ,jesus appeared to him1 and ,paul1 blinded by the glory of the vision1 and humbled because he found he had been fighting against ,god1 was led by his companions into the city where a disciple of the name of ,ananias was sent by the ,lord to restore to ,paul his sight and baptize him4 ,he was afterwards made an apostle and became zealous for the truth4#ih 7,see note #d1 end of section74 #ah4 ,the ,gospel ,taken to the ,gentiles4--,the apostles1 being ,jews themselves1 appear to have shared the common prejudices of their race against the ,gentiles2 and treated them as if they had no lot nor part in the gospel of ,christ4 ,it was not the design of the ,lord1 however1 to thus restrict the application of the gospel4 ,jesus1 himself1 while he had said that he was sent but to the lost sheep of the house of ,israel1#ii had also said3 ,and ,i1 if ,i be lifted up from the earth1 will draw all men unto me4 #ajj ,hence when ,cornelius1 of ,caesarea1 a devout man1 one that feared ,god1 though a ,gentile1 sought the ,lord by prayer and good works1 he found him2 for an angel was sent to him who told him his prayers and alms were accepted of ,god1 and that he had come to direct him to send men to ,joppa for ,simon ,peter1 who would be able to tell him what he ought to do4 ,the devout ,gentile immediately started the messengers to find the apostle4 #ai4 ,meantime ,peter himself was prepared by a vision to go with the gospel unto one whom both he and all his race regarded as unclean4 ,in vision he thought he beheld a great net let down from heaven1 filled with all manner of four-footed #gg beasts1 fowls of the air and creeping things4 ,and a voice said to him1 ,rise1 ,peter1 kill1 and eat4 ,not so1 ,lord1 was his reply3 for ,i have never eaten anything that is common or unclean4 ,what ,god hath cleansed1 said the voice that spoke to him1 that call not thou common or unclean4 ,this was done thrice1 and as he was yet pondering what the vision could mean1 the messengers of ,cornelius were at the gates enquiring for him2 and he was commanded by the ,spirit to go with them1 doubting nothing1 for ,god had sent them4 #bj4 ,peter was obedient to the inspired commandment1 and went to the house of ,cornelius1 where he found many of the devout ,gentile's friends and kinsmen gathered together in anticipation of his coming4 ,cornelius having informed the apostle how he came to send for him1 ,peter exclaimed3 ,of a truth ,i perceive that ,god is no respecter of persons3 but in every nation he that feareth him1 and worketh righteousness1 is accepted with him4 ,he then proceeded to preach the gospel to ,cornelius and all present4 ,as he did so the ,holy ,ghost fell upon them to the astonishment of all the ,jews who had accompanied ,peter2 for they heard them speak in new tongues and magnify ,god4 ,cornelius and his friends were baptized and thus the door of the gospel was opened to the ,gentiles4 #aja #ba4 ,rapid ,growth of the ,work4--,the knowledge once established in the minds of the apostles that ,god granted to the ,gentiles repentance unto life1 seemed to unshackle those who were to preach the gospel1 and gave a broader meaning in their #gh minds to their commission to go unto all the world1 and preach the gospel unto every creature4 ,evidently before this they did not comprehend it in its fullest sense4 #bb4 ,the apostles appear to have remained in ,jerusalem a number of years--twelve years1 tradition says--presiding over the church and directing the labors of those preaching the gospel4 ,churches1 or1 more correctly speaking1 branches of the church were built up in ,antioch ,an-ti-ok1 ,damascus ,da-mas-kus and other cities of ,syria ,sir-ia4 ,the work also spread into ,asia ,minor1 ,greece and ,rome2 and everywhere great success attended the preaching of the elders1 until the gospel was firmly established in various parts of the ,gentile world4 ,so extensive was the preaching of the ambassadors of ,christ in those early days of the church1 that we have ,paul saying 7about thirty years after the ascension of ,messiah7 that it had been preached to every creature under heaven4#ajb 7,see note #e1 end of section74 ,,notes4 #a4 ,was ,matthias ,called of ,god8--,in consequence of ,matthias having been chosen by lot1 it may be a question in the minds of some as to his being called of ,god4 ,a careful consideration of all that was done in connection with that circumstance will dispel all doubt in relation to it4 ,it must be observed that after ,joseph ,barsabas and ,matthias were nominated for the place in the quorum of the ,twelve1 the ,apostles prayed1 saying3 ,thou ,lord1 which knowest the hearts of all men1 show whether of these two thou hast chosen4 ,before his ascension ,jesus had said to these men1 ,if ye abide in me1 and my words abide in you1 ye shall ask what ye will1 and it shall be done unto you4 99 99 99 ,ye have not chosen me1 but ,i have chosen you1 and ordained you2 99 99 99 that whatsoever ye shall ask of the ,father in my name1 he may give it you4 ,therefore when these ,apostles asked which of the two men nominated ,god had chosen1 and they gave their votes and ,matthias was the one selected1 ,god in that way answered their prayer1 and ,matthias was thus called of ,god4 ,again1 to be #gi called by a divinely appointed authority is to be called of ,god4 ,no one can deny that the ,apostles were a divinely appointed authority1 hence to be called by them was to be called of ,god4--,roberts4 #b4 ,pentecost4--,pentecost is the name given in the ,new ,testament to the ,feast of ,weeks1 or of ,ingathering1 celebrated on the fiftieth day from the ,passover4 ,it was a festival of thanks for the harvest4 ,it was also one of the three great yearly festivals1 in which all the males were required to appear before the ,lord at the place of his sanctuary4 ,josephus in three places in his writings1 viz41 in the fourteenth book of ,antiquities1 ch4 xiii1#d2 ,ibid4 xvii1 ch4 x1#b2 and in his second book of the ,wars of the ,jews1 ch4 iii1#b1--speaks of this festival as bringing together great numbers of the ,jews from all parts of the world1 and sustains the statement in ,acts ii1 that there were in ,jerusalem at ,pentecost ,jews1 devout men1 out of every nation under heaven1 who came running together on hearing that the disciples of ,jesus were speaking in unknown tongues4 ,we cannot refrain from remarking that it was a most opportune time for such a demonstration1 since these men would carry the rumor of these things and the substance of the remarkable sermon they heard to the distant lands from which they had come1 and thus the news of the gospel would be spread abroad4--,roberts4 #c4 ,joel's ,prophecy4--,it is very generally supposed among ,christians1 that this outpouring of the ,holy ,ghost on the day of ,pentecost was the fulfillment of ,joel's prophecy1 that is1 its complete fulfillment4 ,a careful examination of the prophecy1 however1 will clearly demonstrate that this is not the case4 ,the prophecy will be found in ,joel ii1#bh-cb1 and the particulars enumerated in it are as follows3 ,the spirit of the ,lord is to be poured out upon all flesh4 ,at ,pentecost it was poured out upon a few of the disciples of ,jesus only2 the sons and daughters of the people were to prophesy2 we have no account of their doing so at ,pentecost2 old men were to dream dreams and young men see visions2 there is no account of this taking place on the occasion in question2 wonders were to be shown in the heavens and in the earth1 blood and fire and pillars of smoke1 the sun is to be turned into darkness1 the moon into blood1 before the great and terrible day of the ,lord come1 yet on ,mount ,zion and in ,jerusalem deliverance was to be found4 ,these things unquestionably point to the glorious coming of the ,son of ,god to judgment 7see ,matt4 xxiv72 and certainly they were not fulfilled on the day of ,pentecost by the outpouring of the ,holy ,ghost on a few of the disciples of ,jesus4 ,still ,peter said1 referring to the ,spirit poured out upon the disciples3 ,this is that which was spoken by the prophet ,joel1 and then quoted the passage4 ,he doubtless meant3 ,this ,spirit which you now see poured out upon these few men1 is that ,spirit which ,joel spoke of1 and which will eventually be poured out upon all flesh1 not only upon #hj men and women1 but upon the brute creation as well1 so that the lion and lamb shall lie down together and a little child shall lead them1 and they shall not hurt nor destroy in all ,god's holy mountain4 ,i have deemed it necessary to make this note1 first1 because of the very general belief among ,christians that the prophecy of ,joel was fulfilled on the day of ,pentecost2 and second1 because the prophecy is one that was quoted by the angel ,moroni on the occasion of his first visit to ,joseph ,smith1 concerning which he said1 it was not yet fulfilled but soon would be 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 page #ij71 hence1 since this heavenly messenger puts its fulfillment in the future1 it could not have been fulfilled on the day of ,pentecost two thousand years ago4--,roberts4 #d4 ,description of ,paul4--,he is about five feet high2 very dark hair1 dark complexion2 dark skin2 large ,roman nose2 sharp face2 small1 black eyes1 penetrating as eternity2 round shoulders2 a whining voice2 except when elevated1 and then it almost resembled the roaring of a lion4 ,he was a good orator1 active and diligent1 always employing himself in doing good to his fellow-man4--,joseph ,smith1 at the organization of a school for instruction1 ,jan4 #eth1 #ahda4 ,paul was small in size1 and his personal appearance did not correspond with the greatness of his soul4 ,he was ugly1 stout1 short1 and stooping1 and his broad shoulders awkwardly sustained a little bald head4 ,his sallow countenance was half hidden in a thick beard2 his nose was aquiline1 his eyes piercing1 and his eye-brows heavy and joined across his forehead4 ,nor was there anything imposing in his speech1 for his timid and embarrassed air gave but a poor idea of his eloquence4 ,he shrewdly1 however1 admitted his exterior defects1 and even drew advantage therefrom4 ,the ,jewish race possesses the peculiarity of at the same time presenting types of the greatest beauty1 and the most thorough ugliness2 but this ,jewish ugliness is something quite apart by itself4 ,some of the strange visages which at first excite a smile1 assume1 when lighted up by emotion1 a sort of deep brilliancy and grandeur4--,renan--,life of the ,apostles1 p4 #afe4 #e4 ,travels of the ,apostles ,uncertain4--,the ambassadors of ,christ on leaving ,jerusalem traveled over a great part of the world1 and in a short time collected numerous religious societies in various countries4 ,of the churches they founded1 not a small number is mentioned in the sacred books1 especially in the ,acts of the ,apostles4 ,besides these1 there can be no doubt they collected many others1 both by their own efforts and by the efforts of their followers4 ,but how far they traveled1 what nations they visited1 or when and where they died1 is exceedingly dubious and uncertain4--,mosheim4 #f4 ,divine ,aid in ,propagation of the ,gospel4--,the causes must have been divine which could enable men destitute of all human aid1 poor #ha and friendless1 neither eloquent nor learned1 fishermen and publicans1 and they too ,jews1 that is1 persons odious to all other nations1 in so short a time to persuade a great part of mankind to abandon the religion of their fathers1 and to embrace a new religion which is opposed to the natural dispositions of men4 ,in the words they uttered there must have been an amazing and a divine power controlling the minds of men4 ,to which may be added miracles1 prophecies1 the detection of men's secret designs1 magnanimity in the midst of perils1 contempt for all the objects of ordinary ambition1 a patient and cheerful endurance of sufferings worse than death1 as well as of death itself1 and finally1 lives of the purest and most unblemished character4 ,that the ambassadors of ,jesus ,christ were in fact thus furnished for their work1 is a truth perfectly clear and obvious4 ,and if we suppose them not to have been so furnished1 no probable reason can be assigned for so rapid a propagation of ,christianity by this small and feeble band4--,mosheim4 #g4 ,the ,rapid ,spread of the ,gospel4--,thus1 then1 under a celestial influence and co-operation1 the doctrine of the ,savior1 like the rays of the sun1 quickly irradiated the whole world4 ,presently1 in accordance with divine prophecy1 the sound of his inspired evangelists and apostles had gone throughout all the earth1 and their words to the ends of the world4 ,throughout every city and village1 like a replenished barn floor1 churches were rapidly abounding and filled with members from every people4 ,those who1 in consequence of the delusions that had descended to them from their ancestors1 had been fettered by the ancient disease of idolatrous superstition1 were now liberated by the power of ,christ1 through the teachings and miracles of his messengers4--,eusebius1 writing of the period between #cg-da ,a4 ,d4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what was the first official business of the authorities of the church after the resurrection8 #b4 ,state the manner of filling the vacancy in the quorum of the twelve4 #c4 ,what of ,mosheim's translation of the phrase3 ,they gave forth their lots8 7,note74 #d4 ,was ,matthias called of ,god8 7,note #a74 #e4 ,what evidence can you refer to in proof that the quorum of ,twelve ,apostles was to be perpetuated8 #f4 ,when was the gospel first publicly preached after the resurrection8 #g4 ,how long between the ascension and ,pentecost8 7,note #b74 #h4 ,describe the events in the church on the day of ,pentecost4 #hb #i4 ,what circumstance is an evidence that the statement of scripture is true that there were devout men from many nations in ,jerusalem at that time8 7,note #b74 #aj4 ,was the outpouring of the ,holy ,ghost on the day of ,pentecost a complete fulfillment of ,joel's prophecy quoted by ,peter8 7,note #c74 #aa4 ,how does the order of principles taught by ,peter on the day of ,pentecost compare with the order of principles taught by ,john the ,baptist and ,messiah8 7,note74 #ab4 ,describe the rise of opposition to the church4 #ac4 ,what answer did ,peter make to the mandates of the rulers not to teach in the name of ,jesus8 #ad4 ,what was the counsel of ,gamaliel to the ,jews8 #ae4 ,to what extent did his counsel prevail8 #af4 ,what arrangements were made in the church in respect to looking after the poor8 #ag4 ,what priesthood did the seven most likely hold8 7,note74 #ah4 ,give an account of the introduction of the gospel among the ,samaritans4 #ai4 ,what was ,paul's course at the first towards the church8 #bj4 ,relate the circumstances of his conversion4 #ba4 ,give a description of ,paul4 7,note #d74 #bb4 ,what were the views entertained by the ,jews toward the ,gentiles8 #bc4 ,relate how the gospel was introduced to the ,gentiles4 #bd4 ,state the exception to the order of the gospel in the case of ,cornelius4 #be4 ,what was the object of the exception8 #bf4 ,what effect on the church did carrying the gospel to the ,gentiles have8 #bg4 ,how long is it supposed that the ,twelve remained at ,jerusalem8 #bh4 ,what can you say of the spread of the work during the first century8 7,notes #e1 #f1 #g74 #hc ,,section ,,viii4 #a4 ,review4--,we have now related the chief events connected with the introduction of the gospel and the establishment of the ,church by the personal labors of ,messiah and those immediately connected with him4 ,we may now review the doctrines that he taught1 which1 taken in the aggregate1 constitute the gospel2 and examine the character of the organization he founded--the ,church4 #b4 ,the ,mission of ,messiah4--,jesus ,christ came into the earth to accomplish three great purposes2 first1 to redeem mankind from the consequences of ,adam's transgression2 second1 to save them from the consequences of their own sins4 ,the first is a general salvation1 which1 without any conditions whatever1 will be applied to all mankind1 irrespective of their obedience or disobedience to ,god1 their righteousness or wickedness1 their belief or unbelief4 ,the redemption will be as universal as the fall4 ,the second may be regarded as a particular salvation1 dependent upon faith in1 and obedience to the gospel of ,christ by the individual4 #c4 ,the ,fall4--,when ,adam and ,eve were placed in the garden of ,eden1 there were certain laws given them by their ,creator1 the penalty of violating which was death and banishment from the presence of ,god4 ,they transgressed the laws and became subject to the penalty4 ,nor was that all2 but by their transgression1 having become mortal1 they bequeathed that mortality to their offspring2 and thus death passed upon all mankind1 and that too1 through no act or fault of theirs4 ,their agency was not exercised in the matter1 and therefore justice would require that they should receive a full and complete #hd redemption from the evil which overtakes them through the actions of others over which they had no control4 #d4 ,general ,salvation4--,such a redemption was wrought out through the atonement of ,jesus ,christ1 and that its benefits are to be universal1 so far as redeeming mankind for the consequences of ,adam's transgression is concerned1 is evident from the fact1 ,first1 ,that the resurrection from the dead is universal1 as the scriptures witness3 ,and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake1 some to everlasting life1 and some to shame and everlasting contempt4#ajc ,for as the ,father hath life in himself2 so hath he given to the ,son to have life in himself4 99 99 99 ,marvel not at this3 for the hour is coming1 in which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice1 and shall come forth2 they that have done good unto the resurrection of life1 and they that have done evil1 unto the resurrection of damnation4#ajd ,or1 as the last two clauses were given to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith by inspiration3 ,they who have done good in the resurrection of the just1 and they who have done evil in the resurrection of the unjust4#aje ,after giving a full account of the resurrection of the righteous and their reign upon the earth for a thousand years1 the writer of the ,apocalypse ,a-poc-a-lypse says3 ,and ,i saw the dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god4 99 99 99 ,and the sea gave up the dead which were in it2 and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them3 and they were judged every man according to his works4#ajf ,second1 ,the scriptures plainly declare that the redemption #he of men from the consequences of ,adam's transgression shall be universal3 ,therefore as by the offense of one ,adam judgment came upon all men to condemnation2 even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to the justification of life4#ajg ,since by man came death1 by man came also the resurrection of the dead4 ,for as in ,adam all die1 even so in ,christ shall all be made alive4 ,but every man in his own order3 ,christ the first fruits2 afterward they that are ,christ's at his coming4 ,then cometh the end1 when he shall have delivered the kingdom to ,god1 even the ,father2 when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power4 ,for he must reign1 till he hath put all enemies under his feet4 ,the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death4#ajh ,behold1 he created ,adam1 and by ,adam came the fall of man4 ,and because of the fall of man1 came ,jesus ,christ even the ,father and the ,son2 and because of ,jesus ,christ came the redemption of man4 ,and because of the redemption of man1 which came by ,jesus ,christ1 they are brought back into the presence of the ,lord2 yea1 this is wherein all men are redeemed1 because the death of ,christ bringeth to pass the resurrection1 which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep1 from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of ,god when the trump shall sound2 and they shall come forth1 both small and great1 and all shall stand before his bar1 being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death1 which death is a temporal death4#aji #e4 ,through the atonement made by ,messiah1 therefore1 a full and complete redemption from the consequences of ,adam's transgression is brought about2 that is1 a victory over the grave is secured1 and that1 too1 through the merits of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and while the law transgressed by ,adam has been vindicated1 the posterity of ,adam who became subject to death through his disobedience1 are redeemed from the grave without anything #hf being required of them4 ,for as their agency was not concerned in bringing about the mischief1 nothing is required of them in order to obtain redemption from it4 ,so far salvation is free and universal4 7,see notes #a1 #b and #c1 end of section47 #f4 ,the ,atonement a ,fact ,proven by ,evidence4--,it is often asked3 ,how is it that through the sacrifice of one who is innocent salvation may be purchased for those under the dominion of death8 ,we observe1 in passing1 that what should most concern man is1 not so much how it is that such is the case2 but is it a fact8 ,is it true that ,god has established such a scheme of redemption8 is what should concern him4 ,to that question the blood sprinkled upon a thousand ,jewish altars1 and the smoke that darkened the heavens for ages from burnt offerings1 answer yes4 ,for those sacrifices1 and that sprinkled blood were but typical of the great sacrifice to be made by the ,messiah4 ,even the mythology of heathen nations retains the idea of an atonement that either has been1 or is to be made for mankind4 ,fantastic1 distorted1 confused1 buried under the rubbish of savage superstition it may be1 but it nevertheless exists4 ,so easily traced1 so distinct is this feature of heathen mythology1 that some writers#aaj have endeavored to prove that the gospel plan of redemption was derived from heathen mythology4 ,whereas the fact is that the gospel was understood and extensively preached in the earliest ages2 men retained in their tradition a knowledge of those principles1 or parts of them1 and however much they may have been distorted1 traces of them may still be found in nearly all the mythologies of the world4 ,the prophets of the ,jewish scriptures answer the question in the affirmative4 ,the writers of the ,new ,testament make ,christ's atonement the principal theme of their discourses and #hg epistles4 ,the ,book of ,mormon1 speaking as the voice of entire nations of people whose prophets and righteous men sought and found ,god1 testify to the same great fact4 ,the revelations of ,god as given through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith are replete with passages confirming this doctrine4 ,the evidence is more than sufficient1 to establish the fact of the atonement beyond the possibility of a doubt2 and if there are some things in it not within the scope of our comprehension1 still there is sufficient foundation for the glorious hope of eternal life through its power4 #g4 ,claims of ,mercy and ,justice ,balance4--,in the atonement there is a nice balancing of the relative claims of justice and mercy4 ,the law given to man having been transgressed1 justice demanded the payment of the penalty1 which was death4 ,and as ,adam had no power to liberate himself from the captivity thereof1 his sleep in the grave must have been eternal2 so also with all his posterity to whom his mortality was bequeathed as an evil legacy1 had not ,mercy put in her claims and prevented ,justice from being cruel4 ,the ,son of ,god having it given to him to have life in himself1#aaa and being capable of making an infinite atonement1 he stood forth as the great friend of man and offered himself as a sacrifice to satisfy the claims of ,justice4 ,that offering was accepted by the great ,law ,giver1 and upon the demands of ,justice being satisfied--the law having no further claim upon him--the captive is set free from the dominion of death4 ,mercy is not permitted to rob ,justice1 but she claims her own4 ,justice is not permitted to be cruel1 but he retains his dignity--his demands are satisfied4 ,as the late ,president ,taylor very beautifully says3 ,is justice dishonored8 ,no2 it is satisfied2 the debt is paid4 ,is righteousness departed from8 ,no2 there is a righteous act4 ,all requirements are met4 ,is judgment violated8 ,no2 its demands are #hh fulfilled4 ,is mercy triumphant8 ,no2 she simply claims her own4 ,justice1 judgment1 mercy and truth all harmonize as the attributes of ,deity4 ,justice and truth have met together1 righteousness and peace have kissed each other4 ,justice and judgment triumph as well as mercy and peace2 all the attributes of ,deity harmonize in this great momentous1 just1 equitable1 merciful and meritorious act4#aab #h4 ,the ,sacrifice of ,messiah ,voluntary4--,unbelievers delight to represent ,god1 the great ,law ,giver1 as unspeakably cruel in demanding such an atonement as ,christ made for the salvation of the children of men4 ,but let it be borne in mind that he who made the atonement did so voluntarily4 ,testifying to his disciples respecting the matter1 he says3 ,therefore doth my father love me1 be cause ,i lay down my life that ,i may take it up again4 ,no man taketh it from me1 but ,i lay it down of myself4 ,i have power to lay it down1 and ,i have power to take it again4 ,this commandment have ,i received of my ,father4#aac ,when his enemies gathered about him--a former friend betraying him with a kiss1--and ,peter prepared to defend him with the sword1 he chided him for his rashness1 commanding him to put up his sword1 and added3 ,thinkest thou that ,i cannot now pray to my ,father1 and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels8 ,but how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled1 that thus it must be8#aad ,thus down to the very last moment1 it appears that ,jesus could have been delivered from the sacrifice had he so willed it4 ,but the principle which was the guiding star of his life--,father1 not my will1 but thy will be done--influenced him in this instance1 and he drank of the cup given him of his ,father1 and wrung out the dregs in agony2 but he did it voluntarily1 and that1 too1 out of his great love for mankind4 #hi #i4 ,the ,love of ,god ,made ,manifest in the ,atonement4--,by this atonement of ,messiah's there is especially one fact thrown out in bold relief1 that is1 the great love of ,god and ,christ for mankind4 ,when one thinks of the unspeakable agony1 of the anguish of heart1 of the pains that racked the body and distressed the mind of the ,savior at the time of his betrayal1 and during his trial and crucifixion1 he may see how great the love of the ,father for mankind must be1 when he would consent for his only begotten ,son to pass through this great humiliation and affliction1 in order to redeem mankind from the bonds of death4 ,on such contemplation increased emphasis will be given to the passage-- ,in this was manifested the love of ,god towards us1 because that ,god sent his only begotten ,son into the world that we might live through him4#aae ,and also to this3 ,for ,god so loved the world1 that he gave his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish1 but have everlasting life4 ,for ,god sent not his ,son into the world to condemn the world1 but that the world through him might be saved4#aaf ,equally great appears the love of the ,son of ,god1 who of his own free will volunteered to take upon himself the task of man's redemption4 #aj4 ,individual ,salvation4--,as before stated1 ,messiah came not only to redeem man from the consequences of the fall1 but to save him also from the consequences of his own personal sins4 ,the redemption from the fall is universal and unconditional1 because the penalties following it were entailed upon the race through no action of theirs1 but through the transgressions of ,adam4 ,the redemption from the consequences of man's personal sins1 however1 is bottomed upon conditions1 because his agency is more completely a factor in the violations of the law4 ,he #ij sins knowingly1 willfully1 and sometimes wantonly4 ,he transgresses the laws of ,god and of nature in spite of the protests of his conscience1 the convictions of his reason1 and the promptings of his judgment4 ,he becomes desperately wicked and so depraved that in some cases he actually seeks evil and loves it4 ,he hugs it to his bosom and cries3 ,evil1 be thou my good2 sin1 be thou my refuge6 #aa4 ,in cases of such violation of the laws of ,god1 justice demands that the outraged laws should be vindicated by the punishment of the transgressor4 ,but here again the principle of mercy is active4 ,by the sacrifice which he made1 ,messiah purchased mankind as an inheritance for himself1 and they came of right under his dominion2 for he not only ransomed them from an endless sleep in the grave1 but he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows4 99 99 99 99 ,he was wounded for our transgressions1 he was bruised for our iniquities1 the chastisement of our peace was upon him2 and by his stripes we are healed4 ,the ,lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all4 #aag 7,see note #d1 end of section47 ,it was these considerations1 doubtless1 which led the ,apostle to say to the saints--,ye are not your own2 for ye are bought with a price4 #aah ,still more plain in relation to the effect that ,messiah's atonement has upon the personal sins of men1 is the word of the ,lord through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith to ,martin ,harris1 warning him to repent lest his sufferings be sore--how sore1 how exquisite1 how hard to bear1 he knew not3 ,for behold1 ,i ,god1 have suffered these things for all1 that they might not suffer if they would repent1 but if they would not repent1 they must suffer even as ,i1 which suffering caused myself1 even ,god1 the greatest of all1 to tremble because of pain1 and to bleed at every pore1 and to suffer both body and spirit2 and would that ,i might not drink the bitter cup1 and shrink--nevertheless1 glory be to the #ia ,father1 ,i partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men4 #aai #ab4 ,conditions of ,salvation4--,messiah having thus ransomed mankind by his own suffering and death1 he becomes the law-giver to our race and of right prescribes the conditions upon which the full benefits of his great atonement shall be applied to individuals4 ,those conditions he has prescribed1 and they constitute the gospel4 ,it was these conditions which he authorized his ,apostles to proclaim to the world1 saying3 ,all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth4 ,go ye therefore1 and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost2 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever ,i have commanded you4 #abj #ac4 ,following the apostles in their fulfillment of this commission1 we have them persuading people to believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ as the ,savior of the world1 as the only one to whom they may look for salvation#aba--the resurrection and the life4 ,men in whose minds this faith was created they commanded to repent and be baptized in the name of ,jesus ,christ for the remission of sins2 and promised them on the condition of their obedience the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4#abb ,by repentance they meant a deep and heart-felt sorrow for sin1 accompanied by a reformation of life2 #abc by baptism they meant immersion in water in the likeness of ,christ's burial and resurrection2#abd and the ,holy ,ghost was imparted by the laying on of hands and prayer4#abe #ad4 ,these things connected with a ,godly walk and conversation after obeying them#abf--;constitute the laws of adoption #ib into the ,church of ,christ4 ,these are the conditions on which man receives the full benefit of the atonement of ,jesus ,christ--a forgiveness of sins and power through the ,holy ,ghost to overcome all evil propensities within himself1 until he becomes pure in heart and every way made ready and worthy of the kingdom of heaven4 ,this is the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 as taught by ,jesus and his apostles4 7,see note #f1 end of section47 #ae4 ,the ,church4--,in order to propagate the gospel1 and teach1 encourage1 instruct1 preserve and finally perfect those who accepted it1 ,messiah organized his church4 ,he bestowed upon its members certain great and precious spiritual gifts and graces1 such as the power to speak in new tongues and interpret them2 to receive revelation1 to prophesy1 to see visions1 receive the visitation of angels1 to possess the gift of wisdom1 knowledge1 faith1 discernment of spirits1 and healing the sick4#abg #af4 ,the description of the ,church organization in the ,new ,testament is extremely imperfect1 owing1 no doubt1 to the fragmentary character of the ,christian annals4 ,while the distinctions between the respective offices in the ,priesthood1 and the definition of the duties of each officer are even less satisfactory2 still there is enough written to enable us to get an outline of the organization4 #ag4 ,messiah1 during his personal ministry1 organized a quorum of twelve apostles1 to whom he gave very great powers and authority1 even to be witnesses of him among the people1 to build up his church by the proclamation of the gospel1 to heal the sick1 open the eyes of the blind1 raise the dead and cast out devils4#abh ,he likewise organized quorums of seventies1 unto whom he gave similar powers to those bestowed upon the apostles4#abi #ic #ah4 ,after his resurrection ,messiah was with his apostles and disciples forty days1 during which time he was teaching them all things concerning the kingdom of ,god4 #acj ,hence we have these men after his ascension organizing branches of the church wherever they found people who received their testimony4 ,in some instances they ordained elders to preside over these branches2#aca and in other instances bishops were appointed4#acb #ai4 ,paul1 in giving a description of the organization of the church says3 ,and ,god hath set some in the church1 first apostles1 secondarily prophets1 thirdly teachers1 after that miracles1 then gifts of healing1 helps1 governments1 diversities of tongues4 ,are all apostles8 are all prophets8 are all teachers8 are all workers of miracles8 have all the gifts of healing8 do all speak with tongues8 do all interpret8#acc ,the implied answer is that all are not apostles1 nor prophets1 nor teachers1 etc41 in the church of ,christ1 but that the whole body1 is fitly joined together and compacted by that which every part and every joint supplieth4#acd #bj4 ,preceding the first quotation we made from ,paul1#ace he compares the church of ,christ to the body of a man1 which1 though it be composed of many members1 yet it is but one body1 and all the members thereof are needful to it4 ,the eye cannot say unto the hand1 ,i have no need of thee2 nor again the head to the feet1 ,i have no need of thee4 ,nay1 much more1 those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary4 ,this is equivalent to saying that the apostle cannot say to the elder1 ,i have no need of thee2 nor the deacon to the bishop1 ,i have no need of thee2 nor the seventy to the priest1 ,i have no need of thee4 ,the argument is that all the offices1 even those which seem the least necessary1 are all needful to the existence of the church of ,christ1 and everyone is forbidden to hold as unnecessary his brother officer4 #id #ba4 ,moreover1 the apostle insists that there should be the same bond of sympathy between the members of the church of ,christ that there is in the members of the human body2 that there should be no schism in it1 and that the members should have a care one for another2 that when one member suffers all the members suffer with it2 or if one member be honored all rejoice with it4 #bb4 ,in another description of the church the same writer after saying again that ,god had given to men some apostles1 and some prophets1 and some evangelists1 and some pastors and teachers--he also enumerates the objects for which this peculiar organization was given3 #a4 ,for the perfecting of the ,saints4 #b4 ,the work of the ministry4 #c4 ,edifying the body of ,christ4 #d4 ,to prevent the saints being carried about by every wind of doctrine1 by the sleight of men1 and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive4 #bc4 ,he very plainly intimates1 too1 that this organization was designed to be perpetuated until the saints all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the ,son of ,god--unto a perfect man1 unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of ,christ4 #acf ,furthermore1 we suggest that it must be obvious1 since the church organization was given to perfect the saints1 to the work of the ministry1 to edify the body of ,christ1 to prevent the saints being carried about by every wind of doctrine or being deceived by cunning men--that so long as there are saints who need perfecting1 so long as there is a necessity for work in the ministry1 so long as the church of ,christ needs edifying1 or the saints need to be guarded from heresy1 or the deceitfulness of false teachers--just so long will this organization of the church with apostles and prophets1 seventies1 and elders1 bishops and teachers and deacons be needed2 and since the kinds of work enumerated in the foregoing will always be necessary1 we reach the conclusion that the ,church organization as established #ie by the apostles was designed to be perpetual4 7,see note #e1 end of section74 #bd4 ,officers of the ,church to be ,divinely ,appointed4--,moreover it is apparent that these officers of the church were called of ,god4 ,concerning the apostles ,jesus said3 ,ye have not chosen me but ,i have chosen you1 and ordained you that ye may bring forth fruit4 #acg ,when seven men were chosen to look after the poor and minister to them they set them before the apostles1 who1 when they had prayed1 laid their hands upon them and ordained them to their calling4#ach #be4 ,so in the case of ,paul4 ,it was not enough that he saw and spoke with ,messiah1 for afterwards when the ,lord would have him engage in the work of preaching the gospel and administering in the ordinances thereof1 the ,holy ,ghost said unto certain prophets at ,antioch1 ,separate me ,barnabas and ,saul for the work whereunto ,i have called them4 ,and when they had fasted and prayed1 and laid their hands on them1 they sent them away4 #aci #bf4 ,furthermore1 as ,paul went about confirming the souls of saints1 he ordained elders in every church4#adj ,he did not suffer men to take the authority on themselves to minister in the things of ,god2 but warned the saints against such characters4 ,take heed unto yourselves1 said he to the elders of ,ephesus1 and to all the flock over which the ,holy ,ghost hath made you overseers1 to feed the flock of ,god 99 99 99 ,for ,i know this1 that after my departing1 shall grievous wolves enter in1 not sparing the flock4 ,and of your own selves shall men arise1 speaking perverse things1 to draw away disciples after them4 #ada #bg4 ,the general law of the church is expressed in the following3 ,every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in #if things pertaining to ,god that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins4 99 99 99 ,and no man taketh this honor unto himself1 but he that is called of ,god as was ,aaron4 #adb ,the manner in which ,aaron was called to the priest's office is recorded in the writings of ,moses as follows3 ,the word of the ,lord came to that prophet saying3 ,take thou unto thee ,aaron thy brother1 and his sons with him from among the children of ,israel that he may minister unto me in the priest's office1 even ,aaron1 ,nadab and ,abihu1 ,eleazer and ,ithamar1 ,aaron's sons4 #adc #bh4 ,it may be objected that this was the law relating to the calling of high priests alone1 but if high priests were to be called in this manner1 is it not reasonable to conclude that all who administer in things pertaining to ,god must be called in the same manner--that is1 of ,god8 ,so far as the scriptures are concerned1 and on subjects of this character their authority is conclusive1 wherever we have an account of men administering in the things pertaining to ,god1 and their administrations are accepted of him1 they have either been called directly by revelation from him1 or through inspiration in those who already had authority from ,god to act in his name2 and to be called by a legitimate1 divinely established authority is to be called of ,god4 7,see note #f1 end of section74 #bi4 ,the ,church on the ,western ,hemisphere4--,the ,book of ,mormon is no more explicit in its description of the church organization than the ,new ,testament4 ,this is owing to the fact that the ,book of ,mormon is but an abridgement of the ,nephite annals1 and we are informed by ,mormon1 who made the abridgement1 that not an hundredth part of the things which ,jesus taught to the ,nephites could be recorded in his abridged record--hence the meagre description of the church organization4#add ,from ,mormon's abridged account of ,messiah's visit and #ig labors among the ,nephites1 however1 it appears that ,jesus chose from among the faithful men who believed on him1 twelve apostles1#ade unto whom he gave power to preach repentance1 baptize for remission of sins1#adf lay on hands for the ,holy ,ghost1#adg and organize the ,church4#adh ,but the details of this work are not given4 ,it is evident1 however1 that the twelve disciples ordained subordinate officers1 since ,moroni informs us of the manner in which they ordained priests and teachers2 #adi and he also refers to the office of elders4#aej #cj4 ,thus in the ,book of ,mormon1 as in the ,new ,testament1 may be seen only the faint outlines of the organization1 the church of ,christ4 ,a full description of it1 together with the callings and authority of the respective officers and persons of which it is composed1 will be reserved for ,part ,,iv of this work4 #ca4 ,the acceptance of the gospel by the ,nephites was followed by the same results as when accepted by the ,jews and ,gentiles of the eastern hemisphere4 ,the sick were healed1 the dead were raised1 the lame walked1 the deaf heard1 and the blind received their sight4 ,peace1 love1 sobriety1 justice and an absence of greed and pride characterized the conduct of the saints of the western hemisphere2 and here1 too1 they had all things common among them1 therefore they were not rich and poor1 bond and free1 but they were all made free1 and partakers of the heavenly gifts4 #aea ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,redemption ,unconditional4--,we believe that through the sufferings1 death and atonement of ,jesus ,christ1 all mankind without one exception1 are to be completely and fully redeemed1 both body and spirit1 from the endless banishment and curse to which they were consigned by ,adam's transgression2 and that this universal salvation and redemption of the whole human family from the #ih endless penalty of the original sin1 is effected without any conditions whatsoever on their part2 that is1 that they are not required to believe or repent1 or be baptized1 or do anything else1 in order to be redeemed from that penalty2 for whether they believe or disbelieve1 whether they repent or remain impenitent1 whether they are baptized or unbaptized1 whether they keep the commandments or break them1 whether they are righteous or unrighteous1 it will make no difference in relation to their redemption1 both soul and body1 from the penalty of ,adam's transgression4 ,the most righteous man that ever lived on the earth1 and the most wicked wretch of the whole human family1 were both placed under the same curse without any transgression or agency of their own1 and they both alike will be redeemed from that curse1 without any agency or conditions on their part4--,remarkable ,visions--,orson ,pratt4 #b4 ,the ,atonement ,universal in its ,application4--,transgression of the law brought death upon all the posterity of ,adam1 the restoration through the atonement restored all the human family to life4 ,for since by man came death1 by man came also the resurrection of the dead4 ,for as in ,adam all die1 even so in ,christ shall all be made alive4 ,so that whatever was lost by ,adam was restored by ,jesus ,christ4 ,the penalty of the transgression of the law was the death of the body4 ,the atonement made by ,jesus ,christ resulted in the resurrection of the human body4 ,its scope embraced all peoples1 nations and tongues4 ,for all my ,lord was crucified1 ,for all1 for all my ,savior died4 --,mediation and ,atonement--,john ,taylor4 #c4 ,the ,atonement a ,mystery4--,as stated elsewhere1 in some mysterious1 incomprehensible way1 ,jesus assumed the responsibility which naturally would have devolved upon ,adam2 but which could only be accomplished through the mediation of himself1 and by taking upon himself their sorrows1 assuming their responsibilities and bearing their transgressions or sins4 ,in a manner incomprehensible and inexplicable1 he bore the weight of the sins of the whole world2 not only of ,adam1 but of his posterity2 and in doing that1 opened the kingdom of heaven1 not only to all believers and all who obeyed the law of ,god1 but to more than one-half of the human family who died before they came to years of maturity1 as well as to the heathen1 who having died without law1 will through his mediation be resurrected without law1 and be judged without law1 and thus participate according to their capacity1 works and worth1 in the blessings of his atonement4--,mediation and ,atonement--,john ,taylor4 #ii #d4 ,the ,means of ,escape from ,penalties of ,personal ,sins4--,after this full1 complete and universal redemption1 restoration1 and salvation of the whole of ,adam's race through the atonement of ,jesus ,christ1 99 99 99 all and every one of them will enjoy eternal life and happiness1 never more to be banished from the presence of ,god if they themselves have committed no sin4 99 99 99 ,we believe that all mankind1 in consequence of the fall1 after they grow up from their infant state and come to the years of understanding1 know good and evil and are capable of obeying or disobeying law1 and that a law is given against doing evil and that the penalty affixed is a second banishment from the presence of ,god1 both body and spirit1 after they have been redeemed from the first banishment and restored into his presence4 99 99 99 ,we believe that all who have done evil1 having a knowledge of the law1 or afterwards in this life coming to the knowledge thereof1 are under its penalty1 which is not inflicted in this world but in the world to come4 99 99 99 ,but1 inquires the sinner1 is there no way of escape8 ,is my case hopeless8 99 99 99 ,the answer is1 if thou canst hide thyself from the all-searching eye of an omnipresent ,god1 that he shall not find thee1 or if thou canst prevail with him to deny justice its claim1 or if thou canst clothe thyself with power1 and contend with the ,almighty and prevent him from executing the sentence of the law1 then thou canst escape4 99 99 99 ,but be assured1 ,o sinner1 that thou canst not devise any way of thine own to escape1 nor do anything which will atone for thy sins4 ,therefore thy case is hopeless1 unless ,god hath devised some way for thy deliverance2 but do not let despair seize upon thee2 99 99 99 for he who gave the law has devised a way for thy deliverance4 ,that same ,jesus1 who hath atoned for the original sin 7,adam's transgression71 and will redeem all mankind from the penalty thereof1 hath also atoned for thy sins1 and offereth salvation and deliverance to thee1 on certain conditions to be complied with on thy part4 99 99 99 ,the first condition to be complied with on the part of sinners is to believe in ,god1 and in the sufferings and death of his son ,jesus ,christ 99 99 99 and in the ,holy ,ghost4 99 99 99 ,that the second condition is to repent4 99 99 99 ,that the third condition is to be baptized for the remission of sins4 99 99 99 ,and that the fourth condition is to receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 99 99 99 ,they are then required to be humble1 to be meek and lowly in heart1 to watch and pray and deal justly4 99 99 99 ,and1 in short1 to continue faithful to the end in all the duties enjoined upon them by the word and ,spirit of ,christ4--,remarkable ,visions--,orson ,pratt4 #e4 ,four ,opinions on ,church ,government4--,how far even wise men and ,christian scholars have gone astray in relation to church government may be judged from the following opinions on the subject3 #ajj ,those who imagine that ,christ himself or the apostles by his direction or authority appointed a certain fixed form of church government are not agreed what that form was4 ,the principal opinions that have been adopted upon this head may be reduced to the four following3 ,first1 is that of the ,roman ,catholics maintain that ,christ's intention and appointment was that his followers should be collected into one sacred empire1 subject to the government of ,st4 ,peter and his successors1 and divided like the kingdoms of this world into several provinces2 that in consequence thereof ,peter fixed the seat of ecclesiastical dominion at ,rome1 but afterwards to alleviate the burden of his office divided the church into three greater provinces according to the division of the world at that time1 and appointed a person to preside in each who was dignified with the title of ,patriarch2 that the ,european ,patriarch resided at ,rome1 the ,asiatic at ,antioch1 and the ,african at ,alexandria2 that the bishops of each province among whom there were various ranks1 were to reverence the authority of their respective patriarchs1 and that both bishops and patriarchs were to be passively subject to the supreme dominion of the ,roman ,pontiff4 ,this romantic account scarcely deserves a serious refutation4 ,the second opinion concerning the government of the church makes no mention of a supreme head or of patriarchs constituted by a divine authority2 but it supposes that the apostles divided the ,roman empire into as many ecclesiastical provinces as there were secular or civil ones2 that the metropolitan bishops1 that is1 the prelate who resides in the capital city of each province1 presides over the clergy of that province1 and that the other bishops were subject to his authority4 ,this opinion has been adopted by some of the most learned of the ,romish church2 and has also been favored by some of the most eminent ,british divines4 ,some ,protestant writers of note have endeavored to prove that it is not supported by sufficient evidence4 ,the third opinion is that of those who acknowledge that when the ,christians began to multiply exceedingly1 metropolitans1 patriarchs and archbishops were indeed created but only by human appointment and authority2 though they confess at the same time that it is consonant to the orders and intentions of ,christ and his apostles that there should be in every ,christian church one person invested with the highest authority and clothed with certain rights and privileges above the other doctors of that assembly4 ,this opinion has been embraced by many ,english divines of the first rank in the learned world2 and also by many in other countries and communions4 ,the fourth1 and last opinion is that of the ,presbyterians who affirm that ,christ's intention was that the ,christian doctors and #aja ministers should all enjoy the same rank and authority without any sort of pre-eminence or subordination or distinction of rights and privileges4--,mosheim1 vol4 #a1 pages #fg1 #fh4 ,note--,murdock4 ,the truth of the matter is1 remarks ,dr4 ,maclaine1 that ,christ by leaving this matter undetermined1 has of consequence1 left ,christian societies a discretionary power of modeling the government of the church in such a manner as the circumstantial reasons of times1 places1 etc41 may require2 and therefore the wisest government of the church is the best and the most divine2 and every ,christian society has a right to make laws for itself2 provided that these laws are consistent with charity and peace and with the fundamental doctrines and principles of ,christianity4 ,of this it is only necessary to say that ,christ did not leave this matter undetermined but established his church government as explained in the text of this work4 ,the wisest form of church government is that which ,god gave2 it is at the same time the best and not only the most divine but the only one that can lay any claim to being so2 and for the church or any branch thereof to establish any other government for itself is an unjustifiable departure from the order of ,god4--,roberts4 #f4 ,authority from ,god ,needful4--,we are informed in the scriptures1 that the ,lord wrought special miracles by the hands of ,paul1 whom he had called to be his servant4 ,the sick were healed1 and evil spirits were cast out of those who were possessed4 ,then certain of the vagabond ,jews1 exorcists1 took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits1 the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 saying1 ,we adjure you1 by ,jesus whom ,paul preacheth4 ,and there were seven sons1 of one ,sceva1 a ,jew1 and chief of the priests1 which did so4 ,and the evil spirit answered and said1 ,jesus ,i know1 and ,paul ,i know1 but who are ye8 ,and the man in whom the evil spirit was1 leaped on them1 and overcame them1 and prevailed against them1 so that they fled out of the house1 naked and wounded4--7,acts xix3 #ac-af74 ,these men presumptuously took it upon themselves to act as those who had authority1 and the result was that not even the devils would respect their administrations1 much less the ,lord4 ,there is a principle of great moment associated with this incident4 ,the question is1 if these men1 when acting without authority from ,god could not drive out an evil spirit1 would their administration be of force1 or have any virtue in it1 had they administered in some other ordinance of the gospel1 say baptism for the remission of sins1 or the laying on of hands for the reception of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,manifestly it would not4 ,hence we come to the conclusion1 so well expressed in one of our articles of faith3 ,a man must be called of ,god by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof4--,the ,gospel--,roberts4 #ajb ,,review4 #a4 ,what two great purposes were contemplated in ,messiah's mission8 #b4 ,relate the fall of man and its consequences4 #c4 ,what is general salvation8 #d4 ,how do you prove that there will be a general salvation8 #e4 ,why is redemption from ,adam's transgression unconditional8 7,notes #a to #d74 #f4 ,how are the claims of justice and mercy balanced in the atonement8 #g4 ,was ,messiah's atonement voluntary8 #h4 ,what can you say of the love of ,god as it appears in the atonement8 #i4 ,what is meant by individual salvation8 #aj4 ,in what does it differ from general salvation8 #aa4 ,by what consideration does mercy mitigate the claims of justice in the plan of redemption8 #ab4 ,what are the conditions of salvation8 7,note #f74 #ac4 ,for what several purposes did ,messiah institute his church8 #ad4 ,why is it that the description of the ,church of ,christ is so imperfect in the ,new ,testament8 #ae4 ,enumerate the powers granted to the ,twelve4 #af4 ,what other officers did ,jesus call to the ministry upon whom he bestowed similar powers8 #ag4 ,what other officers were appointed in the church8 #ah4 ,give ,paul's description of the church4 #ai4 ,state the particular objects to be accomplished by the church organization4 #bj4 ,what reasons can you give for believing that the church as organized by ,messiah is to be perpetuated8 #ba4 ,what are the four leading opinions in respect to church government8 7,note #e74 #bb4 ,what is the truth in respect of church government8 7,note #e74 #bc4 ,is the ,book of ,mormon description of church organization more complete than that of the ,new ,testament8 ,why8 #bd4 ,give an account of the organization of the church on the western hemisphere4 #be4 ,what followed the preaching of the gospel and the organization of the church on the western hemisphere8 ,footnotes #a4 ,it is also called ,ephrath ,ef-rath and ,ephratah ,ef-ra-tah4 ,it was the scene of ,rachel's death and burial1 the native place of ,samuel's father1 the residence of ,boaz and ,ruth1 and the birthplace of ,david2 it was also the last rallying point of the remnant of ,judah after the invasion of ,nebuchadnezzar4 #b4 ,micah v3 #b4 #c4 ,luke #a3bh-ch4 #d4 ,canon ,farrar translates this splendid passage3 ,glory to ,god in the highest1 and on earth peace among men of good will1 maintaining that such is the reading of the best ,mss4 ,dear to us as the reading in ,king ,james' translation of the ,bible is1 if looked upon as announcing the effect of ,christianity in this world--,on earth peace among men of good will1 comes more nearly to the truth than on earth peace1 good will toward men4 #e4 ,matt4 ii3 #b4 #f4 ,,iii ,nephi i3 #ba4 #g4 ,,iii ,nephi i3 #ac4 #h4 ,,iii ,nephi i3 #ae-ai4 #i4 ,matt4 ii3 #ah4 #aj4 ,matt4 ii3 #bc4 #aa4 ,i have condensed much of the matter in the first part of this section from the learned works of ,d',aubigne1 ,dr4 ,mosheim1 ,gibbon and ,josephus1 sometimes using even their phraseology without further acknowledgement than this note4--,the ,author4 #ab4 ,epistle to ,romans i3 #ah-cb4 #ac4 ,see note #g1 end of section4 #ad4 ,dr4 ,lardner4 #ae4 ,see ,the ,first ,gospel of the ,infancy1 ,apocryphal ,new ,testament 7,colley ,rich1 publishers1 ,boston1 #ahia47 #af4 ,luke i4 #ag4 ,matt4 iii4 #ah4 ,luke iii4 #ai4 ,matt4 iii4 #bj4 ,luke iii4 #ba4 ,john i3#ai-bc4 #bb4 ,the location of ,bethabara is uncertain4 #bc4 ,matt4 iii4 #bd4 ,matt4 iii4 #be4 ,john i3#cc4 #bf4 ,matt4 iv4 #bg4 ,that is1 vain fellow4 #bh4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 lxxxiv3#ag-bg4 #bi4 ,biblical ,literature4--,kitto4 #cj4 ,matt4 x4 #ca4 ,matt4 x4 #cb4 ,compare ,luke x with ,matt4 x4 #cc4 ,luke x4 #cd4 ,john v4 #ce4 ,john iii4 #cf4 ,john iii4 #cg4 ,john iv4 #ch4 ,john v3#bd-cj4 #ci4 ,john v3#ci-dg1 vii3#ad-ah4 #dj4 ,john v3#cb-ce4 #da4 ,john v3#cf2 x3#be4 #db4 ,john v3#cg1 #ci4 #dc4 ,mark xi3#e4 #dd4 ,matt4 iv3#af-bd4 #de4 ,matt4 iv3#af-bd4 #df4 ,mark xii4 #dg4 ,john xi4 #dh4 ,matt4 ii4 #di4 ,john v3#a-ah4 #ej4 ,john v3#ag1 #ah4 #ea4 ,john xii4 #eb4 ,luke xxii4 ,matt4 xxvi4 #ec4 ,john xviii3#cf4 #ed4 ,luke alone calls it ,calvary2 ,matthew1 ,mark and ,john call it ,golgotha4 ,they each have reference to the same place1 which was known by the two different names4 #ee4 ,,iii ,nephi viii4 #ef4 ,those predictions are found in the following passages3 ,john ii3#ah-bb2 x3#ag1 #ah2 xiii3#ca-cc4 ,matt4 xii3#chdb2 xvi3#ba-bc2 xvii3#a-i2 ,mark ix3#cj-cb2 x3#cb-cd4 #eg4 ,matt4 xxviii4 #eh4 ,john xx3#ad-ag4 #ei4 ,matt4 xxviii3#i4 #fj4 ,luke xxiv3#ac-ca4 #fa4 ,luke xxiv3#cd and ,i ,cor4 xv3#e4 #fb4 ,john xx3#ai4 #fc4 ,john xx3#bf2 ,mark xvi3#ad4 #fd4 ,john xxi3#a-bd4 #fe4 ,matt4 xxviii3#af4 #ff4 ,i ,cor4 xv3#f4 #fg4 ,i ,cor4 xv3#g4 #fh4 ,i ,cor4 xv3#h4 #fi4 ,acts i4 #gj4 ,matt4 xviii4 #ga4 ,mark xvi3#af4 #gb4 ,luke xxiv3#di1 #ec2 ,acts i4 #gc4 ,acts i2 ,matt4 xvi4 #gd4 ,john x3#af4 #ge4 ,,iii ,nephi xv3#ah4 #gf4 ,,iii ,nephi xv3#ba4 #gg4 ,,iii ,nephi xi3#ab4 #gh4 ,section ,v1 paragraph #ad4 #gi4 ,the land ,bountiful was in the northern part of ,south ,america4 #hj4 ,,iii ,nephi xi3#ad4 #ha4 ,see ,john xxi3#ba-be2 ,,iii ,nephi xxviii4 #hb4 ,let those who would be more minutely informed upon the ministry of ,messiah on the western hemisphere1 study carefully the book of ,,iii ,nephi1 where the history of that important event is recorded1 and which book has been called--a ,fifth ,gospel4 #hc4 ,it must be remembered1 that ,jesus told the ,nephites that he was going to visit the lost tribes whom the ,father had led away4 ,they1 too1 were to have the gospel preached to them 7,,iii ,nephi xv and xvi47 #hd4 ,in his ,comment de ,rebus ,christ1 p4 #gh-hj1 the learned ,dr4 ,mosheim has a note on this passage in which his aim is to prove that the correct translation from the ,greek of the phrase usually rendered they gave forth their lots1 should be they gave their votes4 ,while it is but proper to say that the ,doctor's translation is very generally rejected by the learned1 still there will be no question with those who understand the order of the priesthood and the manner of filling vacancies in its quorums1 that ,dr4 ,mosheim is correct in his interpretation as to the meaning of the passage4 #he4 ,,iv ,nephi i3#ad4 #hf4 ,pentecost came fifty days after the ,passover1 on which day the ,lord ,jesus was crucified4 ,allowing that he lay three days in the tomb and was with his disciples forty days after his resurrection 7,acts i3#c71 forty-three days of the fifty between ,passover and ,pentecost are accounted for1 leaving but seven days between ascension and the day of ,pentecost1 when the promise of the baptism of the spirit was fulfilled4--,the ,gospel1 note p4 #agg4 #hg4 ,luke iii3#af4 ,matt4 iii3#b4 ,acts i3#d1 #e4 #hh4 ,the languages spoken are enumerated by the writer of ,the ,acts ii3#i-aa4 #hi4 ,joel ii3#bh4 #ij4 ,i think it proper here to call the attention of the student to the fact that the principles of the gospel in this discourse of ,peter's are stated in the same order that they were unfolded in the ministry of ,john the ,baptist and ,messiah4 ,first1 ,john came bearing witness of one who should come after him--,christ1 the ,lord4 ,hence1 he taught faith in ,god 7,john i3#ae1 #af1 also verses #ai-cf74 ,after that1 the burden of his message was1 ,repent1 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand2 then followed his baptism in water with a promise that they should receive the ,holy ,ghost4 ,so ,peter first taught the people faith in the ,lord1 proving from the scripture that ,jesus was both ,lord and ,christ2 and when they believed that1 then he taught them repentance and baptism for the remission of sins1 and promised them the ,holy ,ghost4 #ia4 ,acts ii3#ch1 #ci4 #ib4 ,acts iv3#i4 #ic4 ,acts v3#bf-cb4 #id4 ,acts v3#cd-db4 #ie4 ,it is generally supposed by ,biblical scholars1 ,mosheim1 ,neander1 ,kitto1 ,murdock and many others1 that these men were deacons only4 ,there is nothing1 however1 in the ,acts of the ,apostles or other parts of the ,new ,testament which would lead one to believe that such was the case4 ,we have evidence on the other hand that one of them at least held a higher priesthood than the office of deacon4 ,in modern revelation we have it stated that neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize1 administer the sacrament or lay on hands for the ,holy ,ghost 7,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 xx3#eh72 yet we have ,philip1 one of the seven1 going down into ,samaria1 teaching the gospel and baptizing the people 7,acts viii71 hence we may know that he held a higher priesthood than that of deacon4 ,yet when it became necessary to confer the ,holy ,ghost upon these same converts by the laying on of hands1 ,philip1 it would seem1 had not the authority to do it2 but the ,apostles hearing that ,samaria had received the word1 sent ,peter and ,john down and they conferred upon the ,samaritans the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and though ,philip was present he appears to have taken no part in it4 ,it is therefore reasonable to conclude that since ,philip had authority to baptize1 he therefore must have held an office higher than that of deacon1 or even of teacher2 but since he evidently had not authority to lay on hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 his office was something less than that of an ,elder4 ,hence it is most likely that he was a priest--priests have the right to baptize but not to lay on hands for the reception of the ,holy ,ghost 7,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 xx7--as perhaps also were his six associates1 appointed to preside over the temporal affairs of the ,church1 especially to see after the poor4 #if4 ,acts iv3#cb-cg4 #ig4 ,acts viii4 ,the student will observe that the same order of presenting and accepting the gospel is observed in the account given of its introduction into ,samaria as was observed in the teaching of ,john the ,baptist and ,jesus1 and also of ,peter1 on the day of ,pentecost4 #ih4 ,acts ix4 #ii4 ,matt4 xv3#bd4 #ajj4 ,john xii3#cb4 #aja4 ,this case of ,cornelius marks an exception--the only one recorded in the ,new ,testament--to that order in the gospel to which attention has been drawn several times in this section2 that is1 these ,gentiles received the ,holy ,ghost before baptism in water4 ,the object of the deviation from the rule is obvious4 ,it was that the ,jews might have a witness from ,god that the gospel was for the ,gentiles as well as for the house of ,israel4 ,but according to the ,scriptures1 and ,i may say according to the nature and relationship of these several principles and ordinances of the gospel to each other1 the reception of the ,holy ,ghost comes after repentance and baptism1 the one leading up logically to the other1 which follows in beautiful and harmonious sequence4 #ajb4 ,col4 i3#bc4 #ajc4 ,dan4 xii3#b4 #ajd4 ,john v3#bf1 #bh1 #bi4 #aje4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 lxxvi3#ag4 #ajf4 ,rev4 xx3#ab1 #ac4 #ajg4 ,rom4 v3#ah4 ,see whole chapter4 #ajh4 ,cor4 xv3#ba-bf4 #aji4 ,mormon ix3#ab1 #ac4 ,other evidences from the ,nephite scriptures will be found in ,alma xi3#dj-dd4 ,,iii ,nephi xxvii3#ac-ae4 ,,ii ,nephi ii4 ,mosiah xv3#ah-bg4 ,alma xxxiv3#g-ag4 ,alma xiii3#a-bf4 #aaj4 ,see ,the ,world's ,sixteen ,crucified ,saviors1 by ,kersey ,graves4 #aaa4 ,john v3#bf4 #aab4 ,mediation and ,atonement1 xxiv4 #aac4 ,john x3#ag1 #ah4 #aad4 ,matt4 xxvi3#ec1 #ed4 #aae4 ,i ,john iv3#i4 #aaf4 ,john iii3#af1 #ag4 #aag4 ,isaiah liii3#e1 #f4 #aah4 ,i ,cor4 vi3#ai1 #bj4 #aai4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 xix3#af-ah4 ,see also ,mosiah iii3#bj1 #ba4 ,the ,gospel1 ,roberts1 page #bi4 #abj4 ,matt4 xxviii3#ah-bj4 #aba4 ,acts iv3#ab4 #abb4 ,acts ii3#bb-dg4 ,acts viii3#e-be4 #abc4 ,,ii ,cor4 vii3#h-aj4 #abd4 ,rom4 vi3#c-e4 #abe4 ,acts viii3#ad-ah4 #abf4 ,the injunction placed upon those who accept the faith of the gospel is that they add to their faith virtue2 and to virtue1 knowledge2 and to knowledge1 temperance2 and to temperance1 patience2 and to patience1 godliness2 and to godliness1 brotherly kindness2 and to brotherly kindness1 charity4 ,for if these things be in you1 and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 7,,ii ,peter i3#e-h47--,the ,gospel1 page #cg4 #abg4 ,mark xvi4 ,i ,cor4 xii4 #abh4 ,matt4 x4 ,acts i3#d-h4 #abi4 ,compare ,luke x with ,matt4 x4 #acj4 ,acts i3#c4 #aca4 ,acts xiv3#bc4 ,acts xx3#ag1 #bh4 #acb4 ,phil4 i3#a4 ,titus i3#e-g4 #acc4 ,i ,cor4 xii3#bh-cj4 #acd4 ,eph4 iv3#aj4 #ace4 ,i ,cor4 xii4 #acf4 ,eph4 iv4 #acg4 ,john xv3#af4 #ach4 ,acts v3#a-f4 #aci4 ,acts xiii3#a-c4 #adj4 ,acts xiv3#b1 #c4 #ada4 ,acts xx3#bh1 #bi4 #adb4 ,heb4 v3#a1 #e4 #adc4 ,ex4 xxviii3#a4 #add4 ,,iii ,nephi xxvi3#f1 #g4 #ade4 ,,iii ,nephi xii4 #adf4 ,,iii ,nephi xi4 #adg4 ,,iii ,nephi xxvii3#cg2 also ,moroni ii4 #adh4 ,,iii ,nephi xxvii and ,,iv ,nephi i3#a4 #adi4 ,moroni iii4 #aej4 ,moroni vi4 #aea4 ,,iv ,nephi i3#a-g4 #ajc ,,part ,,ii4 ,,the ,,apostasy4 #aje ,,section ,i4 ,in ,part ,i1 our narrative was confined mainly to those propitious circumstances which made for the successful introduction of the gospel and the founding of the church of ,christ4 ,in ,part ,,ii1 we are to deal with those adverse events which led finally to the subversion of the ,christian religion4 ,we commence with the #a4 ,persecution of the ,christians by the ,jews4--,the ,messiah forewarned his disciples that they would be persecuted by the world1 pointed out the reasons for it1 and comforted them by reminding them that the world had hated him before it hated them2 that the servant was not greater than his lord2 and for that matter all the prophets which were before them had been persecuted by the generations in which they lived1 and that1 for the reason that they were not of the world1 therefore the world hated and destroyed them4#a #b4 ,two special reasons may be assigned for the persecution of the saints by the ,jews4 #a4 ,they looked upon ,christianity as a rival religion to ,judaism1 a thing of itself sufficient to engender bitterness1 jealousy1 persecution4 #b4 ,if ,christianity should live and obtain a respectable standing1 the ,jews of that generation must ever be looked upon as not only putting an innocent man to death1 but as rejecting and slaying the ,son of ,god4 ,to crush this rival religion and escape the odium which the successful establishment of it would inevitably fix upon them1 were the incentives which prompted that first general persecution which arose against the church in ,jerusalem1 and that commenced in the very first year after ,messiah's ascension4 #ajf #c4 ,the extent of the persecution or the time of its continuance may not be determined2 but that it was murderous may be learned from the fact that ,stephen was slain1#b as was also ,james1 the son of ,zebedee1#c and ,james1 the ,just1 brother of the ,lord4#d ,the ,apostle ,peter was imprisoned and would doubtless have shared the fate of the other martyrs1 but that he was delivered by an angel4#e #d4 ,nor was this persecution confined alone to ,jerusalem2 on the contrary the hate-blinded high priests and elders of the ,jews in ,palestine conferred with the ,jews throughout the ,roman provinces1 and everywhere incited them to hatred of the ,christians1 exhorting them to have no connection with1 and to do all in their power to destroy the superstition1 as the ,christian religion was then called4 ,nor were they content with what they themselves could do1 but they exhausted their ingenuity in efforts to incite the ,romans against them4 ,to accomplish this they charged that the ,christians had treasonable designs against the ,roman government1 as appeared by their acknowledging as their king one ,jesus1 a malefactor whom ,pilate had most justly put to death4 #f #e4 ,the ,jews themselves1 however1 were in no great favor with the ,romans since their impatience of ,roman restraint led them to be constantly on the eve of rebellion and sedition1 and frequently to break out into deeds of violence against the ,roman authority4 ,this lack of favor rendered the power of the ,jews unequal to their malice against the church of ,christ4 #f4 ,the imperious nation1 too1 whose forefathers had rejected the prophets and at the last had crucified the ,son of ,god with every circumstance of cruelty1 crying out in the streets of their holy city1 crucify him1 and let his blood be upon us and on our children1 #g were about to meet the calamities which their wickedness called down upon them4 ,the ,roman emperor ,vespasian #ajg ,ves-pa-zhe-an1 tired of their repeated seditions1 at last sent an army under ,titus to subjugate them4 ,the ,jews made a stubborn resistance and a terrible war followed4 ,jerusalem1 crowded with people who had come into the city from the surrounding country to attend the ,passover1 was besieged for six months1 during which time more than a million of her wretched inhabitants perished of famine4 ,the city was finally taken1 the walls thereof thrown down and the temple so completely destroyed that not one stone was left upon another4 ,thousands of ,jews were cut to pieces and nearly a hundred thousand of those taken captive were sent into slavery4#h ,all the calamities predicted by the ,messiah#i befell the city and people4 ,jerusalem from that time until now has been trodden down of the ,gentiles2 and will be until the times of the ,gentiles are fulfilled4 #g4 ,according to ,eusebius1 the ,christians escaped these calamities which befell the ,jews2 for the whole body of the church at ,jerusalem1 having been commanded by divine revelation1 given to men of approved piety1 removed from ,jerusalem before the war and dwelt at ,pella1 beyond ,jordan1 where they were secure from the calamities of those times4#aj #h4 ,persecution by the ,romans4--,it is more difficult to understand why the ,romans should persecute the ,christians than it is to see why the ,jews did it4 ,the ,romans were polytheists1 and affected the fullest religious liberty4 ,the author of the ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire claims that this period of ,roman history was the golden age of religious liberty4 ,and such was the multitude of deities collected in ,rome from various nations1 and such the variety of worship to be seen in the great capital of the empire1 that ,gibbon has said3 ,rome gradually became the common temple of her subjects2 and #ajh the freedom of the city was bestowed on all the gods of mankind4#aa ,furthermore1 the same high authority says3 ,the various modes of worship which prevailed in the ,roman world1 were all considered by the people as being equally true2 by the philosophers as all equally false2 and by the magistrates as equally useful4 ,and thus toleration produced not only mutual indulgences1 but even religious concord4 #i4 ,the student who would learn why the mild and beautiful ,christian religion was alone selected to bear the wrath and feel the vengeful power of ,rome1 must look deeper than the reasons usually assigned for the strange circumstance4 ,it is superficial to say that the persecution was caused by the charges of immorality4 ,the ,roman authorities had the best of evidence that the charges were false4 7,see note #a1 end of section74 ,equally absurd is it to assign as a cause the supposed atheism of the ,christians1 for that was the condition of nearly all ,rome2 while the charge that they were traitors to the emperor1 and expected to see the empire supplanted by the kingdom of ,christ--which some assign as the chief cause of ,roman persecution--was treated with contempt by the emperors4 7,see note #b1 end of section74 #aj4 ,the true cause of the persecution was this3 ,satan knew there was no power of salvation in the idolatrous worship of the heathen1 and hence let them live on in peace1 but when ,jesus of ,nazareth and his followers came1 in the authority of ,god1 preaching the gospel1 he recognized in that the principles and power against which he had rebelled in heaven1 and stirred up the hearts of men to rebellion against the truth to overthrow it4 ,this was the real cause of persecution1 though it lurked under a variety of pretexts1 the most of which are named in the above supposed causes4 #aa4 ,the ,first ,roman ,persecution4--,the first emperor #aji to enact laws for the extermination of ,christians was ,nero4 7,see note #c1 end of section74 ,his decrees against them originated rather in an effort to shield himself from popular fury than any desire that he had to protect the religion of the ,state against the advancement of ,christianity4 ,nero1 wishing to witness a great conflagration1 had set fire to the city of ,rome4 ,the flames utterly consumed three of the fourteen wards into which the city was divided1 and spread ruin in seven others4 ,it was in vain that the emperor tried to soothe the indignant and miserable citizens whose all had been consumed by the flames1 and neither the magnificence of the prince1 nor his attempted expiation of the gods could remove from him the infamy of having ordered the conflagration4 #ab4 ,therefore1 writes ,tacitus1 one of the most trustworthy of all historians1 to stop the clamor ,nero falsely accused and subjugated to the most exquisite punishments a people hated for their crimes1 called ,christians4 ,the founder of the sect1 ,christ1 was executed in the reign of ,tiberius1 by the ,procurator ,pontius ,pilate4 ,the pernicious superstition1 repressed for a time1 burst forth again2 not only through ,judea1 the birth-place of the evil1 but at ,rome also1 where everything atrocious and base centers and is in repute4 ,those first seized1 confessed2 then a vast multitude1 detected by their means1 were convicted1 not so much of the crime of burning the city as of hatred of mankind4 ,and insult was added to their torments2 for being clad in skins of wild beasts they were torn to pieces by dogs2 or affixed to crosses to be burned1 were used as lights to dispel the darkness of night1 when the day was gone4 ,nero devoted his garden to the show1 and held circensian sir-sen-shan games1 mixing with the rabble1 or mounting a chariot1 clad like a coachman4 ,hence1 though the guilty and those meriting the severest punishment1 suffered1 yet compassion was excited1 because they were destroyed1 not for the public good1 but to satisfy the cruelty of an individual4#ab #ac4 ,time of the ,persecution4--,the time of this persecution #aaj is fixed by the date of the great conflagration1 which ,tacitus set down as commencing on the #ahth of ,july1 ,a4 ,d4 #fe4 ,it lasted six days2 and soon after that the persecution broke out4 #ad4 ,continuance and ,extent of the ,persecution4--,how long this persecution lasted1 and whether it was confined to the city of ,rome or extended throughout the empire is difficult to determine4 ,from some remarks made by ,tertullian ,ter-tul-li-an1 writing in the next century1 it would seem that the decrees of ,nero against the ,christians of ,rome were general laws1 such as those afterwards passed by ,domitian4 ,but the inferences of his language are generally discredited or accounted the result of ,tertullian's fervid rhetoric2 and ,gibbon's conclusion that the persecution was confined within the walls of ,rome generally accepted4 #ac ,it was in this persecution1 according to the tradition of the early ,christian fathers1 that ,peter and ,paul suffered martyrdom4 #ae4 ,the ,second ,persecution4--,the second persecution against the ,christian church broke out in the year ,a4 ,d4 #ic or #id1 under the reign of ,domitian4 ,it was during this persecution that the ,apostle ,john was banished to ,patmos4 ,eusebius states that at the same time1 for professing ,christ1 ,flavi ,domitilla1 the niece of ,flavius ,clemens1 one of the consuls of ,rome at the time1 was transported with many others1 by way of punishment1 to the island of ,pontia4 ,the pretext for this persecution is ascribed to the fears of ,domitian that he would lose his empire4 ,a rumor reached him that a person would arise from the relatives of ,messiah who would attempt a revolution2 whereupon the jealous nature of the emperor prompted him to begin this persecution4 ,in it both ,jews and ,christians suffered1 the emperor ordering that the descendants of ,david1 especially1 should be put to death4 ,an investigation of the prospects of a revolution arising from such a quarter caused ,domitian to dismiss #aaa the matter with contempt and order the persecution to cease4#ad 7,see note #b1 end of section74 ,,notes4 #a4 ,pliny's ,testimony to the ,morality of the ,christians4--,the character which this writer gives of the ,christians of that age 7his celebrated letter was written to ,trajan early in the second century71 and which was drawn from a pretty accurate inquiry1 because he considered their moral principles as the point in which the magistrate was interested1 is as follows3 ,he tells the emperor that some of those who had relinquished the society1 or who1 to save themselves pretended that they had relinquished it1 affirmed that they were wont to meet together on a stated day1 before it was light1 and sang among themselves alternately a hymn to ,christ as a ,god2 and to bind themselves by an oath1 not to the commission of any wickedness1 but that they would not be guilty of theft1 or robbery1 or adultery2 that they would never falsify their word1 or deny a pledge committed to them when called upon to return it4 ,this proves that a morality more pure and strict than was ordinary1 prevailed at that time in ,christian societies4--,paley's ,evidences4 #b4 ,interview of ,domitian and the ,relatives of the ,lord4--,there were yet living of the family of our ,lord the grandchildren of ,judas1 called the brother of our ,lord according to the flesh4 ,these were reported as being of the family of ,david1 and were brought to ,domitian by the evocaties4 ,for this emperor was as much alarmed at the appearance of ,christ as ,herod4 ,he put the question whether they were of ,david's race and they confessed that they were4 ,he then asked them what property they had1 or how much money they owned4 ,and both of them answered1 that they had between them only nine thousand denarii1 and this they had not in silver1 but in the value of a piece of land1 containing only thirty-nine acres2 from which they raised their taxes and supported themselves by their own labor4 ,then they also began to show their hands1 exhibiting the hardness of their bodies1 and the callosity formed by incessant labor on their hands1 as evidence of their own labor4 ,when asked also1 respecting ,christ and his kingdom1 what was its nature1 and when and where it was to appear1 they replied that it was not a temporal nor an earthly kingdom1 but celestial and angelic2 that it would appear at the end of the world1 #aab when coming in glory he would judge the quick and the dead1 and give to every one according to his works4 ,upon which ,domitian despising them1 made no reply2 but treating them with contempt1 as simpletons1 commanded them to be dismissed1 and by a decree ordered the persecution to cease4--,hegesippus1 quoted by ,eusebius4 #c4 ,character of ,nero4--,nero was the incarnation of depravity--the very name by which men are accustomed to express the fury of unrestrained malignity4 ,bad as he was1 he was not worse than ,rome4 ,she had but her due4 ,nay1 when he died the rabble and the slaves crowned his statue with garlands and scattered flowers over his grave4 ,and why not8 ,nero never injured the rabble1 never oppressed the slave4 ,he murdered his mother1 his brother1 his wife1 and was the tyrant of the wealthy1 the terror of the successful4 ,he rendered poverty sweet1 for poverty alone was secure2 he rendered slavery tolerable1 for slaves alone or slavish men were promoted to power4 ,the reign of ,nero was the golden reign of the populace1 and the holiday of the bondman4--,bancroft4 ,,review4 #a4 ,of what did ,messiah warn his followers8 #b4 ,what reason may be assigned for the hatred of the world towards the people of ,god8 #c4 ,what special reason can you assign for the persecution of the ,christians by the ,jews8 #d4 ,what can you say of the bitterness and extent of the first great persecution8 #e4 ,what circumstance rendered the ,jewish power to injure the ,christians unequal to the malice8 #f4 ,describe the great conflict between the ,jews and the ,romans4 #g4 ,by what means did the ,christians living at ,jerusalem escape the calamities of those times8 #h4 ,what makes it difficult to understand why the ,romans persecuted the ,christians8 #i4 ,what can you say of the charges of immorality as justifying ,roman persecution8 7,note #a74 #aj4 ,what of the charge of treason8 7,note #b74 #aa4 ,what was the true cause of the persecution8 #ab4 ,who was the first emperor to enact laws against the ,christians8 #ac4 ,what was the character of ,nero8 7,note #c74 #ad4 ,what was the incentive which prompted ,nero to persecute the ,christians8 #aac #ae4 ,what was the duration and extent of the first ,roman persecution8 #af4 ,under whose reign did the second ,roman persecution begin8 #ag4 ,on what was the persecution based8 #aad ,,section ,,ii4 #a4 ,condition of the ,church in the ,second ,century4--,during the second century the church had many seasons of immunity from persecution4 ,the ,roman emperors for the most part were of a mild and equitable character1 and at the beginning of the century there were no laws against the ,christians1 as those enacted both by ,nero and ,domitian had been repealed4 ,the first by the senate1 the second by his successor1 ,nerva4#ae ,still it must not be supposed that the saints were free from persecution4 ,their troubles arose1 however1 rather from the tumults of the rabble at the instigation of the pagan priests than from any desire of the emperors to oppress them4 #b4 ,as the ,christians had no temples1 no altars1 no clouds of incense1 no smoking victims--in short1 as they had none of the pomp and circumstance in their simple religion which attended pagan worship1 they were open to the charge of atheism by the great body of the people of the ,roman empire2 and1 in their judgment1 deserved the severest tortures and death4 ,if the empire had been afflicted by any recent calamity1 remarks ,gibbon1 by a plague1 a famine1 or an unsuccessful war2 if the ,tiber had1 or if the ,nile had not1 risen above its banks2 if the earth had shaken1 or if the temperate order of the seasons had been interrupted1 the superstitious pagans were convinced that the crimes and impurities of the ,christians1 who were spared by the excessive lenity of the government1 had at length1 provoked the divine justice4#af ,and however virtuous the emperors were1 however mild or equitable in character the governors of the provinces1 it is certain #aae they did not hesitate to appease the rage of the people by sacrificing a few obnoxious victims4 #c4 ,the ,persecution ,under ,marcus ,aurelius4--,the strangest fact of all connected with the persecutions of this century is that the saints suffered most under the most virtuous of the emperors--,marcus ,aurelius ,mar-cus ,au-re-li-us1 who allowed the judges to put many of the saints accused of crime to torture4 ,among those of note who fell in this persecution were ,polycarp1 the bishop of ,smyrna 7see note #a1 end of section47 and ,justin ,martyr1 the philosopher4 ,the persecution was most severe in ,gaul 7,france71 the churches of ,lyons and ,vienne being well nigh utterly destroyed4 ,the unparalleled cruelties practiced upon the saints in those cities are related at length by ,eusebius#ag in letters written by those who survived the persecution4 7,see note #b1 end of section47 #d4 ,edicts of ,severus4--,early in the third century a law was enacted by the ,emperor1 ,severus ,se-ver-us1 making it criminal for any reason to abandon the religion of his fathers for that of the ,christians or the ,jews4 ,the object of the law was to stay the propagation of ,christianity which was spreading abroad on every hand2 and while it was not intended to increase the hardships of those already ,christians1 it nevertheless encouraged the governors and judges of some of the provinces--especially those of ,egypt and other parts of ,africa and ,asia--to sorely afflict the saints4 ,many of the poor were put to death--thousands of them if we may credit ,eusebius--and many of the rich intimidated into paying large sums of money to the judges to secure them from torture and death4 ,still this persecution was not long continued1 nor was it general throughout the empire1 and after it subsided there was a long period of peace--pity it is that we have to say that it was more hurtful to the church than the periods of the cruelest persecution4 #aaf #e4 ,persecution ,under ,decius ,trajan4--,in the middle of this century under ,decius ,trajan ,de-ci-us ,tra-jan the severest and most disastrous persecution of all befell the ,christians4 ,the emperor must have been impelled both by his fear of the ,christians and his attachment to the ancient religion of the ,romans to publish his terrible edicts by which he hoped to destroy the ,christian church4 ,the governors of the provinces were ordered1 on pain of forfeiting their own lives1 either to exterminate all ,christians utterly1 or bring them back by pains and tortures to the religion of their fathers4 ,even ,gibbon1 whose constant effort is to belittle the sufferings of the early ,christians1 says of this persecution3 ,the bishops of the most considerable cities were removed by exile or death2 the vigilance of the magistrates prevented the clergy of ,rome during sixteen months from proceeding to a new election and it was the opinion of the ,christians that the emperor would more patiently endure a competitor for the purple than a bishop in the capital4#ah #f4 ,for more than two years the persecution raged with unmitigated fury2 and great multitudes of ,christians1 in all the ,roman provinces1 were butchered in the most inhuman manner4 ,this persecution1 writes ,dr4 ,mosheim1 was more cruel and terrific than any which preceded it2 and immense numbers1 dismayed1 not so much by the fear of death as by the dread of the long continued tortures by which the magistrates endeavored to overcome the constancy of the ,christians1 professed to renounce ,christ1 and procured for themselves safety1 either by sacrificing--i4 e41 offering incense before the idols--or by certificates purchased with money4#ai 7,see note #c1 end of section47 #g4 ,the immediate successors of ,decius continued this persecution1 which with a pestilential disease which prevailed in many of the ,roman provinces1 greatly increased the hardships #aag of the saints2 but the latter part of the century passed away in peace4 #h4 ,the ,diocletian ,persecution4--,in the commencement of the fourth century a peculiar state of affairs existed in the ,roman empire4 ,in #bhd ,a4 ,d41 ,diocletian ,di-o-kle-shan1 a native of ,dalmatia ,dal-ma-shi-a1 whose parents were slaves1 was proclaimed emperor4 ,the year following1 feeling that the extent of the empire was too vast to be managed by a single mind1 he chose a colleague1 one ,maximian ,max-im-i-an1 an unlettered soldier1 with whom he shared the authority of emperor and the title of ,augustus4 ,soon afterwards they each chose a colleague with whom they shared their authority4 ,these were ,constantinus ,con-stan-ti-nus ,chlorus ,klo-rus and ,galerius ,ga-le-ri-us4 ,on their ascension to this honor they each took the title of ,caesar1 and so matters stood at the opening of the fourth century4 #i4 ,the church had peace at the opening of this century1 and at first there were no indications that it would be broken4 ,but early within that period ,diocletian was persuaded to undertake the suppression of the ,christian religion4 ,this he attempted by demanding that the ,christians give up their sacred books2 if they refused they were put to death4 ,the constancy of all the ,christians1 no1 not even that of all their bishops and clergy1 was equal to this trial1 and many voluntarily surrendered the sacred writings in their possession1 to save themselves from punishment and death4 #aj4 ,the royal palace at ,nicomedia being twice set on fire1 soon after the first edict of ,diocletian was published1 the crime was charged to the ,christians1 and led to the issuance of a second edict which caused many ,christians to suffer the penalties inflicted on incendiaries--torture and death4 ,following this came rebellion against ,roman authority in ,nicomedia and ,syria4 ,this too was charged to the intrigue of ,christians 7see notes #d and #e1 end of section71 and was made a pretext for #aah throwing all bishops and ministers into prison4 ,a third edict authorized the employment of torture to compel them to offer sacrifices to the gods of the heathen4 ,it was hoped by ,diocletian that if these leaders of the church could be forced into acts of apostasy the people would follow4 ,a great multitude1 therefore1 of excellent men in all parts of ,christendom--excepting ,gaul--were put to death1 and others condemned to labor in the mines4 #aa4 ,but ,diocletian was disappointed in the effects of these assaults on the leaders of the church4 ,the members thereof remained obdurate in their adherence to the ,christian faith2 whereupon he issued a fourth edict1 directing the magistrates to compel all ,christians to offer sacrifice to the gods and to use tortures for that purpose4 ,as the governors yielded strict obedience to these orders1 the ,christian church was reduced to the last extremity4#bj #ab4 ,with the exception of ,gaul1 says ,schlegel1 streams of ,christian blood flowed in the provinces of the ,roman empire4 ,everywhere the ,christian temples lay in ruins1 and assemblies for worship were all suspended4 ,the major part had forsaken the provinces and taken refuge among the barbarians4 ,such as were unable or unwilling to do this1 kept themselves concealed1 and were afraid for their lives if they appeared in public4 ,the ministers of ,christ were either slain1 or mutilated and sent to the mines1 or banished from the country4 ,the avaricious magistrates had seized upon nearly all their church property and their private possessions4 ,many1 through dread of undergoing torture1 had made away with their own lives and many apostatized from the faith2 and what remained of the ,christian community consisted of weak1 poor1 and timorous persons4 #ba ,truly it would appear from this that the beast unto whom was given power to make war with the saints and overcome them #bb had at last triumphed4 #aai #ac4 ,end of ,pagan ,persecution4--,this1 however1 was to be the last great persecution of the ,christians by the heathens4 ,in #cje ,diocletian1 to the surprise of his own and all succeeding ages1 resigned the empire and compelled his associate1 ,maximian1 to do the same4 ,this left the empire in the hands of the two ,caesars1 who became the emperors4 ,like their predecessors they chose colleagues2 but ,constantius ,chlorus1 dying at ,york1 in ,britain1 his son1 ,constantine ,kon-stan-tin1 afterwards called the ,great1 was proclaimed emperor by the army4 ,the associate of his father1 ,galerius1 and the two ,caesars refused to ratify the election1 and civil war ensued which lasted for eighteen years4 ,finally1 however1 ,constantine prevailed over all his rivals and became sole emperor1 ,a4 ,d41 #cbc4 ,being1 like his father1 favorably disposed towards ,christianity1 his accession to the throne brought universal peace to the church4 #ad4 ,the ,luminous ,cross ,seen by ,constantine4--,it was during the above-mentioned civil war1 while marching against the forces of ,maxentius ,max-en-ti-us1 one of the rebellious ,caesars1 that ,constantine and his army are said to have seen near midday1 in the heavens1 a luminous cross bearing this inscription in ,greek3 ,by ,this ,conquer4 ,the same night ,christ appeared to him in a dream accompanied with the same sign and instructed him to make a standard bearing the cross as a protection against his enemies4 ,the circumstance is related at great length in the life of ,constantine by ,eusebius1 on whose sole authority the story rests4 ,it is regarded as suspicious that he makes no reference to the matter in ,ecclesiastical ,history1 written only twelve years after the event4 7,see note #g1 end of section47 ,the story is altogether rejected by some writers as the cunning invention of interested priests seeking to make the cross an object of veneration2 and even ,christian writers of high standing--among them ,mosheim--consider the story to be doubtful4 #ae4 ,constantine and his ,friendliness to ,christianity4--,with #abj the accession of ,constantine to the imperial throne1 as before remarked1 the peace of the church was assured4 ,his father had favored the ,christians1 and in the cruel persecution under ,diocletian1 he kept the provinces of ,gaul free from the effusion of ,christian blood2 and his son seems to have fallen heir to his father's friendliness for the ,christian faith4 #af4 ,it is difficult to determine the motives of ,constantine for favoring the ,christian cause and resolving upon the destruction of the pagan religion4 ,whether it was the appearance of the miraculous cross in the heavens1 as some aver1 the influence of ,helena1 his mother1#bc as ,theodoret claims1 or through the arguments of an ,egyptian priest who promised him absolution for the crime of murder if he would accept ,christianity4#bd ,but let the motive be what it may1 benevolence1 policy1 conviction or remorse1 coupled with a hope of forgiveness1 ,constantine from the time of his accession to the throne became the avowed protector of the ,christian church2 and at length by his powerful influence made ,christianity the reigning religion of the ,roman empire4#be ,the exiles were recalled2 those condemned to labor in the mines were released2 those who had been robbed of their property were reinstated in their possessions1 and the demolished ,christian temples were ordered to be rebuilt and enlarged4 ,the church militant after the emperor's edicts of toleration became the church tranquil1 so far as external opposition was concerned4 ,her ministers were welcomed to the court of the emperor1 admitted to the imperial table1 and even accompanied the monarch in his expeditions4 ,wealth1 honor and imperial patronage were bestowed almost without measure on the ,christian church4 ,from the position of a despised1 persecuted religion1 ,christianity was suddenly exalted to #aba the very throne of the ,roman world4 ,yet these things which are usually accounted among the good fortunes of the church1 were1 as we shall yet see1 disastrous to the purity of the ,christian religion4 #ag4 ,progress of the ,church ,under the ,patronage of ,constantine4--,the court of ,constantine was converted1 of course2 but it is to be feared that it was the hope of wealth and honor1 the example of the emperor1 his exhortations1 his irresistible smile1 rather than the truths of ,christianity which wrought a change in the hearts of the obsequious crowd that filled the palace4 ,a number of cities manifested a forward zeal in a voluntary destruction of their temples and idols1 but it is more than likely that the municipal distinctions and popular donations which were held out as a reward for such conduct1 rather than belief in the ,christian faith are what inspired the iconoclasts4 ,twelve thousand men and a proportionate number of women and children were baptized in a single year in ,rome2 but how far did the twenty pieces of gold and a white garment promised to each convert by the emperor influence the conversion of this great number8 ,nor was the influence of ,constantine in respect to the ,christian religion confined within the provinces of the empire4 ,it extended to the barbarous peoples outside2 who1 while they had held in disdain a despised and proscribed sect1 soon learned to esteem a religion which had been so lately embraced by the greatest monarch1 and the most civilized nation of the globe4#bf #ah4 ,the ,character of ,constantine4--,it is as difficult to come to a right conclusion as to the real character of ,constantine as it is to decide the motives which led him to accept the ,christian religion2 for in the former as in the latter case the authorities are conflicting4 ,the ,christians who were favored by his actions extol him for his virtues2 while the pagans who were despoiled by him1 execrate him for his crimes4 ,it is #abb certain1 however1 that he put to death his own son ,crispus1 and his wife ,fausta1 on a suspicion that was at least precarious4 ,he cut off his brother-in-law ,licinius1 and his offending son1 contrary to his plighted word2 and1 according to ,schlegel and ,gibbon1 he was much addicted to pride and voluptuousness3 ,he pursued the great objects of his ambition through the dark and bloody paths of war and policy1 and after the victory1 abandoned himself without moderation to the abuse of his good fortune4 ,as he advanced in years he seems to have declined in the practice of virtue1 blighting in his old age1 when a convert to the ,christian faith1 and famed as the protector of the ,christian church1 the fair promises he gave in his youth1 and while a pagan1 of being a truly virtuous prince4 ,it is not likely that the patronage of such an emperor would contribute to the real progress of religion or assist in the establishment of the church of ,christ4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,martyrdom of ,polycarp4--,presently the instruments prepared for the funeral pile were applied to him4 ,as they were on the point of securing him with spikes1 he said3 ,let me be thus1 for he that gives me strength to bear the fire1 will also give me power1 without being secured by you with these spikes1 to remain unmoved on the pile4 ,they therefore did not nail him1 but merely bound him to the stake4 ,but he1 closing his hands behind him1 and bound to the stake as a noble victim selected from the great flock an acceptable sacrifice to ,almighty ,god1 said3 ,father of thy well-beloved and blessed ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 through whom we have received the knowledge of thee1 the ,god of angels and power and all creation1 and of all the family of the righteous1 that live before thee1 ,i bless thee that thou hast thought me worthy of the present day and hour to have a share in the number of the martyrs and in the cup of ,christ1 unto the resurrection of eternal life1 both of the soul and body1 in the incorruptible felicity of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,among whom may ,i be received in thy sight this day as a rich and acceptable sacrifice1 as thou the faithful and true ,god hast prepared1 hast revealed and fulfilled4 ,wherefore on this account1 and for all things ,i praise thee1 ,i bless thee2 ,i glorify thee through the eternal ,high ,priest1 ,jesus ,christ1 thy well beloved ,son4 #abc ,through whom be glory to thee with ,him in the ,holy ,ghost1 both now and forever4 ,amen4 ,after he had repeated ,amen1 and had finished his prayer1 the executioners kindled the fire4--,eusebius4 #b4 ,a ,second ,century ,persecution4--,would the reader know what a persecution in those days was1 ,i would refer him to a circular letter written by the church at ,smyrna soon after the death of ,polycarp1 who it will be remembered had lived with ,st4 ,john2 and which letter is entitled a relation of that ,bishop's martyrdom4 ,the sufferings1 say they1 of all the other martyrs were blessed and generous which they underwent according to the will of ,god4 ,for so it becomes us1 who are more religious than others1 to ascribe the power and ordering of all things unto him4 ,and indeed who can choose but admire the greatness of their minds1 and that admirable patience and love of their ,master1 which then appeared in them8 ,who when they were so flayed with whipping1 that the frame and structure of their bodies were laid open to their very inward veins and arteries1 nevertheless endured it4 ,in like manner1 those who were condemned to the beasts and kept a long time in prison1 underwent many cruel torments1 being forced to lie upon sharp spikes laid under their bodies1 and tormented with divers other sorts of punishments2 that so1 if it were possible1 the tyrants by the length of their sufferings might have brought them to deny ,christ4--,paley4 #c4 ,the ,persecution ,under ,decius ,trajan4--,this persecution was more terrible than any preceding one1 because it extended over the whole empire1 and because its object was to worry the ,christians into apostasy by extreme and persevering torture4--,the certificated or libellatici1 are supposed to be such as purchased certificates from the corrupt magistrates1 in which it was declared that they were pagans and had complied with the demands of the law1 when neither of these was fact4 ,to purchase such a certificate was not only to be partaker in the fraudulent transaction1 but it was to prevaricate before the public in regard to ,christianity1 and was inconsistent with that open confession of ,christ before men1 which ,he ,himself requires4--,murdock4 7,note in ,mosheim1 vol4 ,i41 cent4 iii41 p4 #a1 ch4 ii47 #d4 ,the ,insurrection of ,syria and ,nicomedia4--,some degree of probability could be attached to the charge against the ,christians of causing the insurrection from the fact that their inconsiderate zeal sometimes led them to deeds which had an aspect of rebellion4 ,at the commencement of this persecution1 for example1 a very respectable ,christian tore down the imperial edict against the ,christians which was set up in a public place4--,schlegel4 #e4 ,unwise ,zeal of the ,christians4--,several examples have been preserved of a zeal impatient of those restraints which the emperors had provided for the security of the church4 ,the ,christians sometimes supplied by their voluntary declaration the want of an accuser1 rudely #abd disturbed the public service of paganism1 and rushing in crowds round the tribunal of the magistrates1 called upon them to pronounce and to inflict the sentence of the law4 ,the behavior of the ,christians was too remarkable to escape the notice of the ancient philosophers2 but they seemed to have considered it with much less admiration than astonishment4 ,incapable of conceiving the motives which sometimes transported the fortitude of believers beyond the bounds of prudence or reason1 they treated such an eagerness to die as the strange result of obstinate despair1 of stupid insensibility or of suspicious frenzy4--,gibbon4 #f4 ,spirit of the ,christian ,martyrs4--,the spirit of the ,christian martyrs1 at least of the first three centuries1 may be learned from the epistle of ,ignatius of ,antioch1 who1 early in the second century was taken from ,syria to ,rome1 where he suffered martyrdom by being thrown to the wild beasts4 ,on his journey to ,rome1 under sentence of death1 he wrote an epistle to the ,roman saints from which the following passage is taken3 ,i write to the churches and ,i declare to all1 that willingly ,i die for ,god1 if it be that you hinder me not4 ,i beg of you1 do not become to me an unseasonable love4 ,let me be of the beasts1 by whose means ,i am enabled to obtain ,god4 ,i am ,god's wheat1 and by the teeth of the beasts am ,i ground1 that ,i may be found ,god's pure bread4 ,rather entreat kindly the beasts that they may be a grave for me and may leave nothing of my body2 that not even when ,i am fallen asleep1 ,i may be a burden upon any man4 ,then ,i shall be in truth a disciple of ,jesus ,christ1 when the world seeth not even my body4 ,supplicate our ,lord for me1 that by these instruments ,i may be found a sacrifice to ,god4 ,i am not commanding you like ,peter and ,paul2 they were apostles1 ,i am a condemned convict2 they were free1 ,i am hitherto a slave4 ,but if ,i suffer ,i am a free man of ,jesus ,christ1 and ,i shall rise from the dead1 in him a free man4 ,and now since ,i am in bonds1 ,i learn to desire nothing4 ,from ,syria to ,rome ,i am cast among beasts by sea and by land1 by night and by day2 since ,i am bound between ten leopards1 who get worse when ,i do good to them4 ,but by their ill-treatment ,i am furthered in my apprenticeship2 still by that ,i am not justified4 ,may ,i have to rejoice of the beasts prepared for me6 and ,i pray that they may be found ready for me1 and ,i will kindly entreat them quickly to devour me1 and not as they have done to some1 being afraid of them1 to keep from touching me4 ,and should they not be willing1 ,i will force them4--,ignatius' ,epistle to the ,romans4 #g4 ,constantine's ,luminous ,cross4--,now if this narrative by ,eusebius is all true1 and if two connected miracles were actually wrought as here stated1 how happens it that no writer of that age1 except ,eusebius1 says one word about the luminous cross in the heavens8 ,how came it that ,eusebius himself said nothing about it in his ,ecclesiastical #abe ,history1 which was written twelve years after the event1 and about the same length of time before his life of ,constantine8 ,why does he rely solely on the testimony of the emperor and not even intimate that he even heard of it from others2 whereas1 if true1 many thousands must have been eye-witnesses of the fact4 ,what mean his suggestions1 that some may question the truth of the story2 and his caution not to state anything as a matter of public notoriety1 but to confine himself simply to the emperor's private representation to himself4 99 99 99 ,but how came the whole story of the luminous cross to be unknown to the ,christian world1 for more than twenty-five years1 and then to transpire only through a private conversation between ,eusebius and ,constantine8--,murdock4 ,,review4 #a4 ,from what source did the persecution of the church come during the #bnd century8 #b4 ,what charge did pagan priests bring against the ,christians8 #c4 ,what in the estimation of the ignorant pagans gave the color of truth to their charge8 #d4 ,to what circumstance were the calamities which befell the empire usually attributed8 #e4 ,what strange fact meets us in connection with the persecution of the #bnd century8 #f4 ,what two noted martyrs were put to death in the reign of ,marcus ,aurelius8 #g4 ,describe the martyrdom of ,polycarp4 #h4 ,what was the nature of some of the tortures inflicted on the ,christians8 7,note #b74 #i4 ,what was the nature and purpose of the edicts of ,severus8 #aj4 ,what was the effect of this persecution and the period of peace which followed it8 #aa4 ,what can you say of the persecution under ,trajan8 #ab4 ,what does ,gibbon say of it8 #ac4 ,how long did it continue8 #ad4 ,what means of avoiding the severe tortures were offered the ,christians8 #ae4 ,what was the effect of this persecution8 #af4 ,what other circumstance added to the afflictions of the ,christians8 #ag4 ,what changes in respect to the ,roman government took place early in the #dth century8 #ah4 ,what method did ,diocletian adopt for the suppression of the ,christian religion8 #abf #ai4 ,what special crimes were charged to the ,christians in the reign of ,diocletian8 #bj4 ,what can you say of the zeal of the ,christians8 7,note #d and #e74 #ba4 ,what effect did these persecutions have on the church8 #bb4 ,what event put a stop to the pagan persecutions8 #bc4 ,relate the circumstances which led to ,constantine becoming emperor of ,rome4 #bd4 ,what effect did his accession to the throne have upon the ,christian church8 #be4 ,by what circumstance is ,constantine said to have been converted to the ,christian religion8 #bf4 ,what evidences exist against the probability of this story8 #bg4 ,what good service did the father of ,constantine do the ,christians in the ,diocletian persecution8 #bh4 ,what are the several motives assigned for ,constantine's friendliness to the ,christian church8 #bi4 ,what can you say of the emperor's treatment of the ,christians8 #cj4 ,what considerations very likely influenced converts when ,constantine extended his patronage to the church8 #ca4 ,what was the character of ,constantine8 #abg ,,section ,,iii4 #a4 ,the ,accusations of the ,pagans4--,the simplicity of the ,christian religion was made a reproach to the church of ,christ by the pagan priests4 ,the saints were accused of atheism1 an accusation which found support in the fact that the primitive church had no temples1 no incense1 no sacrifice1 no incantations1 pomp or ceremony in its worship4 ,the ,christians have no temples1 therefore they have no gods1 was an argument sufficiently convincing to the heathen4 ,it was but natural1 perhaps1 that the ,christians should seek to cast off this reproach2 but the desire to do so led to the introduction of many ceremonies quite at variance with the religion of ,jesus ,christ1 and eventually subverted it altogether4 #b4 ,outward ,ordinances of the ,christian ,religion4--,the outward ordinances of the gospel consisted of baptism1 the laying on of hands for the imparting of the ,holy ,ghost1 and the ,lord's ,supper4 ,the laying on of hands was also employed in ordaining men to the ,priesthood and in administering to the sick4 ,in the latter case it was accompanied by anointing with oil4 #c4 ,while it does not appear that there was any specific law commanding or regulating fasts1 the ancient saints occasionally joined abstinence from their food with their prayers1 and especially when engaged in great undertakings4 ,but the frequency of his fasts and the time of their continuance were left to each man's judgment4 #d4 ,they met on the first day of the week--,sunday--for worship 7see note #a1 end of section7 the meetings1 during the first century1 being held in most instances in private houses4 ,the #abh ceremonies were of the simplest character4 ,they consisted of reading the scriptures1 the exhortation of the president of the assembly--neither eloquent nor long1 but full of warmth and love2 the testimony of such as felt moved upon by the ,holy ,ghost to bear testimony1 exhort or prophesy2 the singing of hymns2 the administration of the ,sacrament and prayers4#bg 7,see note #b1 end of section47 #e4 ,baptism4--,baptism was administered by immersing the candidate in water4 ,the only pre-requisites were faith in ,jesus ,christ and repentance4 ,as soon as the candidate professed these he was admitted into the church by baptism4#bh ,in a short time1 however1 the simplicity of this ordinance was corrupted and burdened with useless ceremonies4 ,in the second century the newly baptized converts1 since by baptism they had been born again1 were taught to exhibit in their conduct the innocence of little infants4 ,milk and honey1 the common food of infants1 were administered to them1 after their baptism1 to remind them of their infancy in the church4 ,moreover1 since by baptism they were released from being servants of the devil1 and became ,god's free men1 certain forms borrowed from the ,roman ceremony of manumission of slaves were employed in baptism4 ,as by baptism also they were supposed to be made ,god's soldiers1 like newly enlisted soldiers in the ,roman army1 they were sworn to obey their commander1 etc4 #f4 ,further ,additions of ,ceremonies to ,baptism4--,a century later 7the third7 further ceremonies were added4 ,it was supposed that some evil spirit was resident in all vicious persons and impelled them to sin4 ,therefore1 before entering the sacred font for baptism1 an exorcist by a solemn1 menacing formula declared them free from the bondage of ,satan1 and hailed them servants of ,christ4#bi ,after baptism the new converts #abi returned home1 decorated with a crown and a white robe1 the first being indicative of their victory over the world and their lusts1 the latter of their acquired innocence4 #cj #g4 ,we have already noted the fact that baptism was administered in the days of the apostles as soon as profession of faith and repentance were declared1 but in the second and third century baptism was only administered twice a year1 and then only to such candidates as had gone through a long preparation and trial4#ca ,the times chosen for the administration of the ordinance were on the vigils of ,easter and ,whitsuntide2#cb and in the fourth century it had become the custom to accompany the ceremony with lighted wax candles1 to put salt--an emblem of purity and wisdom--in the mouth of the baptized1 and everywhere a double anointing was administered to the candidates1 the one before1 the other after1 baptism4#cc #h4 ,the ,form of ,baptism ,changed4--,it must have been early in the third century that the form of baptism began to be changed4 ,up to this time it had been performed only by immersion of the whole body4 ,but in the first half of the third century1 ,cyprian1 bishop of ,carthage1 during a controversy respecting the re-baptism of those who in times of persecution had denied the faith1 decided that those whose weak state of health did not permit them to be immersed1 were sufficiently baptized by being sprinkled4#cd ,the first case of this kind of #acj baptism is related by ,eusebius4 ,the person to whom it was so administered was ,novatus ,no-va-tus1 a desperate heretic1 who created a schism in the church and became the founder of a sect4 ,he was among the number of so-called ,christians who put off baptism as long as he dared2 in order to enjoy a life of sin and then through baptism1 just before death1 obtain forgiveness for them--a custom very prevalent in those times4 ,novatus being attacked with an obstinate disease1 and supposed to be at the point of death1 was baptized by having water sprinkled upon him as he lay in bed2 if indeed1 says ,eusebius1 it be proper to say one like him did receive baptism4 #ce #i4 ,this innovation continued to spread until now the general rule among so-called ,christian sects is to baptize by sprinkling or pouring4 ,for this change there is no warrant of revelation4 ,it destroys the symbol there is in baptism as taught by ,messiah and his apostles--that of a burial and resurrection--of a death and a birth--a death unto sin1 a birth unto sin1 a birth unto righteousness4 7,see notes #c and #d1 end of section47 ,it is one of those innovations which changed an ordinance of the everlasting covenant4 #aj4 ,baptism ,misapplied4--,about the time that the form of administering baptism was changed it began to be misapplied1 that is1 it was administered to infants4 ,just when this custom came into vogue may not be determined1 but clearly it has no warrant for its existence either in the doctrines or practice of the apostles or any ,new ,testament writer4 7,see note #e1 end of section47 ,no truth is more plainly taught by the apostles than that baptism is for the remission of sins1 and must be preceded by faith and repentance2 and as infants are incapable of sin1 or of exercising faith1 or of repenting1 evidently they are not fit subjects for baptism4 #aa4 ,still it became the custom in the latter part of the second century or early in the third to baptize infants4 ,in the year #bec ,a4 ,d41 a council of sixty bishops1 in ,africa--at which #aca ,cyprian1 bishop of ,carthage1 presided1 took under consideration the question whether infants should be baptized within two or three days after birth1 or whether it should be deferred until the eighth day1 as was the custom of the ,jews in respect to circumcision4 ,the council decided that they should be baptized at once1 that is within a day or two after birth4#cf ,it will be observed that the question was not as to whether infants should be baptized or not1 but when they should be baptized1 within a day or two after birth or not until they were eight days old4 ,the matter was treated in the council as if infant baptism was a custom of long standing4 ,this proves1 not that infant baptism is a correct doctrine1 or that it was derived from the teachings and examples of the apostles--as some aver#cg--;but that in a century or so after the introduction of the gospel1 men began to pervert it by changing and misapplying its ordinances4 ,the false doctrine of infant baptism is now practiced by nearly all so-called ,christian churches1 ,catholic and ,protestant4 #ab4 ,the ,sacrament4--,much as the simple rite of baptism was burdened with useless ceremonies1 changed in its form and misapplied1 it was not more distorted than was the sacrament of the ,lord's supper4 ,the nature of the sacrament--usually called the eucharist--and the purposes for which it was instituted are so plain that he who runs may read4 #ac4 ,from ,paul's description of the ordinance1 it is clear that the broken bread was an emblem of ,messiah's broken body2 the wine an emblem of his blood1 shed for sinful man2 and his disciples were to eat the one and drink the other in remembrance of him until he should return2 and by this ceremony show forth the ,lord's death4#ch #acb #ad4 ,it was designed as a memorial of ,messiah's great atonement for mankind1 a token and witness unto the ,father that the ,son was always remembered4 ,it was to be a sign that those partaking of it were willing to take upon them the name of ,christ1 to always remember him1 and keep his commandments4 ,in consideration of these things being observed1 the saints were always to have the ,spirit of the ,lord to be with them4#ci ,in this spirit and without great ceremony 7see note #g1 end of section7 the sacrament was administered for some time4 #ae4 ,administration of the ,sacrament ,corrupted4--,in the third century there were longer prayers and more ceremony connected with the administration of the sacrament than in the century preceding4 ,disputations arose as to the proper time to administer it4 ,some considered the morning1 others the afternoon1 and some the evening the most suitable time4 ,all were not agreed either as to how often the ordinance should be celebrated4 ,gold and silver vessels were used1 and neither those doing penance1 nor those unbaptized1 though believers1 were #acc permitted to be present at the celebration of the ordinance2 which practice1 it is well known1 was derived from the pagan mysteries4 #dj ,very much of mystery began to be associated with it even at an early date4 ,the bread and the wine through the prayer of consecration were considered to undergo a mystic change by which they were converted into and became the very body and the very blood of ,jesus ,christ2 so that they were no longer regarded as emblems of ,messiah's body and blood1 but the body and blood itself4#da ,this is the doctrine of transubstantiation4 #af4 ,the dogma established1 it was but a short step to the elevation of the host2 that is1 the elevation of the bread and wine before they were distributed1 so that they might be viewed with reverence by the people4 ,thus came the adoration of the symbols4 #ag4 ,institution of the ,mass4--,hence came also the mass1 or the idea of a sacrifice being connected with the celebration #acd of the eucharist4 ,it was held that as ,jesus was truly present in the bread and wine he could be offered up1 and was truly offered up as an oblation to his ,eternal ,father4 ,the death of the victim was not supposed to occur in reality but mystically1 in such a way1 however1 as to constitute a true sacrifice1 commemorative of that of the cross1 and not different from it in essence4 ,the same victim was present1 and offered up by ,christ through his minister1 the priest4 ,the sacrifice at the cross was offered with real suffering2 true shedding of blood1 and real death of the victim2 in the mass it was taught there was a mystical shedding of blood and a mystical death of the same victim4 #ah4 ,into such absurdities was the simple sacrament of the ,lord's supper distorted6 ,when attended with all the pomp and ceremony of splendid altars1 lighted tapers1 processions1 elevations and chantings3 offered up by priests and bishops clad in splendid vestments and in the midst of clouds of incense1 accompanied by mystic movements and genuflections of bishops and priests1 the church could congratulate itself on having removed the reproach at the first fastened upon the ,christians for not having altars and sacrifice4 ,the mass took away the reproach2 and the new converts to ,christianity were accustomed to see the same rites and ceremonies employed in this mystical sacrifice of the ,son of ,god as they had seen employed in offering up of sacrifice to their pagan deities4 7,see notes #h and #i1 end of section47 #ai4 ,suppression of ,half the ,sacrament4--,in time the idea became prevalent that as the body and blood of ,messiah were equally and entirely present under each species--that is1 equally and entirely present in the bread and in the wine--it was equally and entirely given to the faithful whichever they received4 ,this idea1 of course1 rendered it unnecessary to partake of both bread and wine--hence the practice of communion in one kind4 ,that is1 the sacrament was administered by giving #ace bread alone to the communicant4 ,to remark that this was changing the ordinance of the sacrament as instituted by ,messiah--suppressing half of it in fact--can scarcely be necessary since it is so well known that ,jesus administered both bread and wine when instituting the sacred ordinance4#db ,,notes4 #a4 ,reasons ,why the ,ancient ,saints ,worshiped on ,sunday4--,but ,sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly1 because it is the first day on which ,god1 when he changed the darkness and matter1 made the world2 and ,jesus ,christ our ,savior on the same day rose from the dead2 for the day before that of ,saturn he was crucified1 and on the day after it1 which is ,sunday1 he appeared to his apostles and disciples and taught them these things which we have given to you also for your consideration4--,justin ,martyr4 #b4 ,description of ,christian ,public ,worship in the ,second ,century4--,on the day which is called ,sunday there is an assembly in the same of all who live in cities or in country districts2 and the records of the apostles1 or the writings of the prophets1 are read as long as we have time4 ,then the reader concludes1 and the president verbally instructs and exhorts us to the imitation of these excellent things4 ,then we all rise together and offer up our prayers4 ,and1 as ,i said before1 when we have concluded our prayer1 bread is brought1 and wine and water1 and the president in like manner offers up prayers and thanksgivings with all his strength1 and the people give their assent by saying ,amen2 and there is a distribution and a partaking by every one of the eucharistic elements the sacrament1 and to those who are not present they are sent by the hands of the deacons4 ,and such as are in prosperous circumstances1 and wish to do so1 give what they will1 each according to his choice2 and what is collected is placed in the hands of the president1 who assists the orphans and widows1 and such as through sickness or any other cause are in want2 and to those who are in bonds1 and to strangers from afar1 and1 in a word1 to all who are in need1 he is a protector4--,justin ,martyr4 #c4 ,baptism a ,symbol of ,burial and ,resurrection4--,in writing to the saints of ,rome1 ,paul says3 ,know ye not1 that so many of us as were baptized into ,jesus ,christ were baptized into his death8 ,therefore #acf we are buried with him by baptism into death2 that like as ,christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the ,father1 even so we also should walk in newness of life4 ,for if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death1 we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection4 7,rom4 vi3#c-e47 ,in writing to the saints of ,colosse1 the same apostle reminds them that they had been ,buried with him ,christ in baptism1 wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of ,god who hath raised him from the dead4 7,col4 ii3 #ab47 ,in these passages the terms buried and planted are in plain allusion to the manner in which the saints had received the ordinance of baptism1 which could not have been by sprinkling or pouring1 as there is no burial or planting in the likeness of ,christ's death1 or being raised in likeness of his resurrection in that2 but in immersion there is4--,the ,gospel--,roberts1 page #agc4 #d4 ,the ,manner of ,baptism ,instituted ,among the ,nephites4--,verily ,i say unto you1 that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words1 and desireth to be baptized in my name1 on this wise shall ye baptize them3 ,behold1 ye shall go down and stand in the water1 and in my name shall ye baptize them4 ,and now behold1 these are the words which ye shall say1 calling them by name1 saying1 ,having authority given me of ,jesus ,christ1 ,i baptize you in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,amen4 ,and then shall ye immerse them in the water and come forth again out of the water4 ,and after this manner shall ye baptize in my name4--,jesus to the ,nephites4 #e4 ,infant ,baptism not ,ordained of ,christ or the ,apostles4--,as faith and baptism are constantly so closely connected together in the ,new ,testament1 an opinion was likely to arise that where there could be no faith there could be no baptism4 ,it is certain that ,christ did not ordain infant baptism4 99 99 ,we cannot prove that the apostles ordained infant baptism2 from those places where the baptism of a whole family is mentioned 7,acts xvi3#cc2 ,i ,cor4 i3 #af71 we can draw no such conclusions1 because the inquiry is still to be made whether there were any children in those families of such an age that they were not capable of any intelligent reception of ,christianity2 for this is the only point on which the case turns4--,neander ,church ,history1 vol4 ,i41 page #cfj4 #f4 ,infant ,baptism ,forbidden ,among the ,nephites4--,the word of the ,lord came to me by the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 saying3 99 99 99 ,behold1 ,i came into the world not to call the righteous1 but sinners unto repentance2 the whole need no physician1 but they that are sick2 wherefore little children are whole for they are incapable of committing sin2 wherefore the curse of ,adam is taken from them in me1 that #acg it hath no power over them2 and the law of circumcision is done away in me4 99 99 99 ,wherefore1 my beloved son1 ,i know that it is solemn mockery before ,god that ye should baptize little children4 99 99 99 ,awful is the wickedness to suppose that ,god saveth one child because of baptism1 and the other must perish because he hath no baptism4 ,wo be unto him that shall pervert the ways of the ,lord after this manner1 for they shall perish1 except they repent4--,mormon to ,moroni 7,book of ,moroni1 chapter viii47 #g4 ,manner of ,administering the ,sacrament--,second ,century4--,when the ,christians celebrated the ,lord's supper which they were accustomed to do chiefly on ,sundays1 they consecrated a part of the bread and wine of the oblations1 by certain prayers pronounced by the president1 the bishop of the congregation4 ,the wine was mixed with water1 and the bread was divided into small pieces4 ,portions of the consecrated bread and wine were commonly sent to the absent and the sick1 in testimony of fraternal affection towards them4 ,there is much evidence that this most holy rite was regarded as very necessary to the attainment of salvation4--,mosheim4 #h4 ,pagan ,rites ,introduced into the ,christian ,worship--,fourth ,century4--,the ,christian bishops introduced1 with but slight alterations1 into the ,christian worship1 those rites and institutions by which formerly the ,greeks and ,romans1 and other nations had manifested their piety and reverence towards their imaginary deities2 supposing that the people would more readily embrace ,christianity1 if they saw that the rites handed down to them from their fathers still existed unchanged among the ,christians1 and perceived that ,christ and the martyrs were worshiped in the same manner as formerly their gods were4 ,there was1 of course1 little difference in these times1 between the public worship of the ,christians and that of the ,greeks and ,romans4 ,in both alike there were splendid robes1 mitres1 tiaras1 wax tapers1 crosiers1 processions1 illustrations1 images1 golden and silver vases1 and numberless other things4--,mosheim4 #i4 ,superstitious ,observances ,connected with the ,eucharist--,eighth ,century4--,as evidence of the superstition which was associated with the eucharist1 note the following3 ,if any one through negligence1 shall destroy the eucharist1 i4 e4 the sacrifice1 let him do penance one year4 99 99 99 ,if he lets it fall on the ground1 carelessly1 he must sing fifty ,psalms4 ,whoever neglects to take care of the sacrifice1 so that worms get into it1 or it lose its color or taste1 must do penance thirty or twenty days2 and the sacrifice must be burned in the fire4 ,whoever turns up the cup at the close of the solemnity of the mass must do penance forty days4 ,if a drop from the cup should fall on the altar1 the minister must suck up the drop and do penance three days2 and the linen cloth which the drop touched1 must be washed three times1 #ach over the cup1 and the water in which it was washed be cast into the fire4--,decisions of ,pope ,gregory ,,iii4 7,harduin's ,concilia47 ,,review4 #a4 ,what reproach did the simplicity of the ,christian religion lead to8 #b4 ,what effect did the endeavor to get rid of that reproach have on the ,christian religion8 #c4 ,enumerate the outward ordinances of the gospel4 #d4 ,what can you say of ,christian fasts8 #e4 ,on what day did the ,christians meet for worship8 #f4 ,what reasons do the early church fathers give for holding public worship on that day8 7,note #a74 #g4 ,describe the meetings of the early ,christians4 7,note #b47 #h4 ,how was baptism administered in the early church8 #i4 ,what does baptism represent8 7,note #c74 #aj4 ,tell how the simplicity of this ordinance was changed4 #aa4 ,what additions were made to the ceremony of baptism in the third century8 #ab4 ,when was the form of baptism changed8 #ac4 ,relate the first known case of baptism by sprinkling4 #ad4 ,in what way was the ordinance of baptism misapplied8 #ae4 ,was infant baptism ordained of the apostles8 7,note #e74 #af4 ,about when was infant baptism introduced into the church8 #ag4 ,does the antiquity of infant baptism prove it to be a correct doctrine8 #ah4 ,what does it prove8 #ai4 ,what was said to the ,nephites about infant baptism8 7,note #f74 #bj4 ,for what was the sacrament of the ,lord's supper instituted8 #ba4 ,give ,paul's description of the introduction of the sacrament4 7,note74 #bb4 ,about what time was the manner of administering the sacrament changed8 #bc4 ,what was the nature of those changes8 #bd4 ,what custom crept into the practice of the ,christian church that was forbidden by ,jesus among the ,nephites8 7,note74 #be4 ,what can you say of the antiquity of the doctrine of transubstantiation8 #bf4 ,what is the mass8 #bg4 ,what reproach did the institution of the mass remove from the ,christians8 #bh4 ,at what cost was the reproach removed8 #bi4 ,who introduced pagan rites into ,christian worship8 #cj4 ,why was it done8 7,note #h47 #ca4 ,what reason is given for suppressing half the sacrament8 #aci ,,section ,,iv4 #a4 ,early ,church ,organization ,not ,perpetuated4--,we have already stated in ,part ,i of this work that the church organization established by ,messiah--consisting of apostles1 prophets1 seventies1 bishops1 etc4--was designed to be perpetual4 ,it is a singular fact1 however1 that aside from filling up the vacancy in the quorum of the twelve--occasioned by the fall of ,judas ,iscariot--there is no account in any of the writings of the apostles or fathers of the first centuries--on the eastern hemisphere#dc--of any attempt to perpetuate the quorum of the twelve by filling up the vacancies occasioned by the death of the original apostles4 ,the same may also be said of the quorum of the seventies4 #b4 ,the reason for this will doubtless be found in the fact that in the very days of the apostles the great apostasy which was to end eventually in the subversion of the ,christian religion1 had begun4 7,see note #b1 end of section47 ,and since the mystery of iniquity had already begun its work in the days of the apostles1 and men were rapidly proving themselves unworthy of the church of ,christ1 the ,lord did not permit his servants to perpetuate these quorums of the higher ,priesthood4 #c4 ,establishment of the ,church by the ,apostles4--,whenever in their travels the apostles converted any considerable number of persons1 in a city or district1 they organized them into a church1 or1 speaking more precisely1 into a branch of #adj the great universal church of ,christ1 and appointed either a bishop or an elder to preside over them4 ,as long as the apostles lived they were regarded as the presiding authority of the universal church1 and were looked to for counsel and instruction in all difficult matters that arose concerning doctrine or discipline4 ,their decisions were accepted as final1 and well might it be so1 since these men were guided in their counsels by revelation#dd as well as by the wisdom which their large experience in company with ,jesus ,christ had given them4 #d4 ,but when the apostles died1 and no one succeeded to their authority1 the branches of the church were left separate and independent organizations1 united1 it is true1 in faith and charity1 but the visible1 general presidency recognized in the apostles and cheerfully submitted to by all sections of the church1 ceased when the apostles passed away1 and each branch was left an independent organization of itself4#de ,there is no evidence that there was such a thing as subordination among the churches when so left1 or rank among the bishops4 ,each church was a sort of independent commonwealth1 of which the bishop was president and a vassal to no other bishop4#df #e4 ,manner of ,electing ,bishops4--,the manner in which bishops were first elected was for the apostles to nominate them1 and then for the whole church over which they were to preside to sustain them by their vote4 ,after the apostles had passed away then other men of repute made the nominations #ada and the people sustained them as at first4#dg ,the duties and powers of the bishops in the first and in the greater part of the second century were limited to conducting the public worship1 administering the ordinances of the gospel1 settling difficulties which arose between brethren1 attending in person the sick and the poor4 ,they also were made the custodians and managers of the public fund4 ,in all these duties they were assisted by the elders presbyters and the deacons of the church4 ,yet neither the bishops nor the elders1 nor both of them together1 seem to have had power to ordain or determine anything without the approbation and consent of the members of the church4 ,the principle of common consent was closely adhered to in the primitive church4 7,see note #c1 end of section47 #f4 ,equality ,among ,bishops ,changed4--,this equality of rank among the bishops1 together with the simple form of church government1 described above1 was soon changed4 ,the bishops who lived in cities either by their own labors or those of the elders associated with them1 raised up new churches in the adjacent villages and hamlets4 ,the bishops of these rural districts being nominated and ordained by the bishops presiding in the city1 very naturally1 perhaps1 felt themselves under the protection and dependent upon the city bishops4 ,this idea continued to grow until these bishops of the suburbs and the fields1 were looked upon as a distinct order of officers1 possessing a dignity and authority above the elders1 and yet subordinate #adb to the bishops of the cities1 who soon came to be designated as archbishops4 #g4 ,the ,origin of ,metropolitans4--,gradually and almost imperceptibly the church in its government began to follow the civil divisions of the ,roman empire4 ,the bishops of the metropolis of a civil province1 in time1 came to be regarded as having a general supervision of all the churches in that province1 over the archbishops and indirectly over the suburban bishops or suffragans1 as they began to be called1 and finally1 bishops merely4 ,the bishops of these provinces were soon designated as metropolitans4 #h4 ,the ,rise and ,influence of ,councils4--,concurrent with these changes arose the custom1 first derived from the ,greeks1 of holding provincial councils4 ,the bishops living in a single province met in council to confer upon matters of common interest to the churches of the province4 ,these provincial councils met at stated times of the year1 usually in the spring and autumn4 ,at the first the attending bishops looked upon themselves as merely the representatives of their respective churches1 without jurisdiction further than to discuss and come to agreement on matters of common concern4 ,but gradually they usurped the power to order by decree where at first they were accustomed to advise or entreat--so easy is it to change the language of exhortation to that of command6 ,nor was it long ere the decrees of these provincial councils were forced upon the respective churches as laws to be implicitly obeyed4 ,there was some resistance to this at first from the lower orders of the clergy2 but that resistance was quickly overcome by the activity and ambition of the bishops1 who were only too glad to escape from the restraints which the doctrine of common consent--a doctrine which made it necessary for the bishops to submit any matter of importance to their respective churches for the approbation of the people--imposed upon them4 7,see note #d1 end of section47 #adc #i4 ,conduct of ,lower ,clergy4--,as many changes occurred among the lower orders of the clergy as among the bishops4 ,the elders and deacons became too proud to attend to the humble duties of their offices and hence a number of other officers were added to the church1 while the elders and deacons spent much of their time in indolence and pleasure4 #aj4 ,corruption of ,church ,officials4--,to the evils of contention for power and place1 which had its origin in arrogance and ambition--unbecoming those who profess to be followers and servants of ,jesus ,christ--must be added the vices of dissipation and voluptuousness4 ,many bishops1 in the third century1 affected the state of princes1 especially those who had charge of the more populous and wealthy congregations2 for they sat on thrones1 surrounded by their ministers and other signs of their power1 and dazzled the eyes and the minds of the populace with their splendid attire4#dh #aa4 ,church ,government ,modeled on the ,plan of the ,civil ,government4--,it was reserved for the fourth century to see the church government more completely modeled on the plan of the civil government of the ,roman empire1 to witness more pride and arrogance in its rulers1 and an increase of vices both in clergy and people4 ,early in this century1 it will be remembered1 ,constantine1 the emperor of ,rome1 avowed his conversion to ,christianity1 and as might have been expected that fact produced great changes in the fortunes of the church4 ,it not only put an end to its persecutions but loaded its bishops with new honors and enlarged powers4 #ab4 ,in saying that the church government was modeled upon the plan of the civil government we would not be understood as saying that the first was a fac simile of the second2 there were some differences between them1 but the civil divisions of the empire suggested the ecclesiastical divisions4 #add #ac4 ,under ,constantine the ,roman empire was divided into four prefectures1 containing thirteen dioceses1 embracing one hundred and sixteen provinces4 ,officers called praetorian prefects presided over the four prefectures--exarchs over the dioceses and governors over the provinces4 ,the ,bishops of ,rome1 ,constantinople1 ,antioch and ,alexandria having gained a pre-eminence over all other metropolitans were made to correspond with the four prefectures by ,constantine1 and assumed1 before the close of the century1 the title of patriarchs4 ,next to the patriarchs stood the bishops1 whose jurisdiction extended over several provinces1 corresponding to the civil exarchs1#di though the bishops of this dignity did not equal in number the civil exarchs4 ,next came the metropolitan bishops1 whose jurisdiction was limited to a single province4 ,they corresponded to the civil governors of the provinces1 whose authority was limited in like manner4 ,after the metropolitans came the arch-bishops1#ej and then the bishops4 ,some of the latter were exempt from the jurisdiction of both metropolitans and arch-bishops1 and hence were called independent bishops4 #ad4 ,pre-,eminence of the ,bishops of ,rome4--,the distinctions of rank among the bishops of the ,christian church first arose largely through the opulence and civil importance of the respective cities and provinces over which they presided--the membership of the church and its wealth usually bearing a just proportion to the size and civil importance of the city in #ade which it was located4 ,it is not surprisingg1 therefore1 that the metropolitans and patriarchs also struggled for pre-eminence upon the same basis4 ,that basis gave the bishop of ,rome great advantage2 for1 as stated by ,gibbon1 the ,roman church was the greatest1 the most numerous1 and1 in regard to the west1 the most ancient of all the ,christian establishments1 many of which had received their religion from the pious labors of here missionaries4 ,the fact1 too1 that for so many ages ,rome had been the capital of the great empire led men naturally to give pre-eminence to the church established there4 #ae4 ,another thing which went far to establish the supremacy of the bishop of ,rome was the tradition that ,peter1 the chief or prince of the apostles1 had founded that church2 that he became its first bishop2 that the bishops succeeding him succeeded to his apostleship and to whatever of pre-eminence he held over his fellow apostles2 and that pre-eminence1 it is claimed1 amounted to the right of presidency over the universal church4 #af4 ,objections to the ,claims of the ,bishop of ,rome4--,that ,peter1 aided by ,paul1 did found the church at ,rome there is little cause to doubt4 ,it is also true that ,peter was the chief or president of the apostles2 that to him had been given the keys of the kingdom of heaven4#ea ,but that he became the bishop of ,rome1 or that the bishops of ,rome succeeded to the apostleship and to that power which made him the president of the universal church of ,christ1 we cannot allow4 #ag4 ,our first reason for saying that ,peter was not bishop of ,rome is that the office of apostle and bishop are not identical4 ,if ,peter presided at all over the church at ,rome he did so by virtue of his apostleship1 not by becoming its bishop2 but as his apostleship would give him the right to act in minor offices of the church--on the principle that the greater authority includes #adf the lesser--he may have presided for a time over the church at ,rome4 #ah4 ,our second reason is that according to the very best authority on the subject1 one ,linus and not ,peter was the first bishop of ,rome4 ,irenaeus writing in the second century1 says3 ,the blessed apostles ,peter and ,paul then1 upon founding and erecting the church at ,rome1 committed the office of administering the church to ,linus4 ,of this ,linus1 ,paul speaks in the epistle to ,timothy4 ,to him succeeded ,anacletus ,an-a-cle-tus1 and after him in the third place from the apostles1 ,clement received the bishopric4 #eb ,from this it plainly appears that ,peter and ,paul organized a church at ,rome1 and as in other cities they appointed a bishop to preside over it4 ,peter no more became the bishop of ,rome than he did of the church at ,jerusalem1 or ,paul of ,antioch1 ,ephesus1 or ,corinth4 #ai4 ,the bishop of ,rome did not succeed to the apostleship of ,peter1 much less to the pre-eminence which he held among the apostles2 and that for the very good reason that the office of bishop and that of apostle1 as remarked above1 are not identical4 ,it would require an apostle to succeed an apostle1 and as there is no account of an apostle being ordained to succeed to ,peter's office1 we conclude he had no successor4 ,here we might let the matter rest1 but it will be proper to notice the arguments which are made by those who contend that the bishops of ,rome are the true successors to the office and mission of the ,apostle ,peter4 #bj4 ,scripture ,basis of the ,claims of the ,bishop of ,rome to ,pre-,eminence4--,on one occasion ,jesus said to his disciples1 ,whom say ye that ,i am8 ,and ,simon ,peter answered1 99 99 99 ,thou art the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god4 ,to this ,jesus said3 ,blessed art thou1 ,simon ,barjona2 for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee1 but my ,father which #adg is in heaven4 ,and ,i say unto thee1 ,that thou art ,peter1 and upon this rock ,i will build my church2 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it4 #ec ,he then gave to ,peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven--power to bind and loose on earth and in heaven4 ,the argument is that since ,peter1 some time before this1 had been given the name ,cephas1 which means a stone1#ed therefore when ,jesus said1 ,thou art ,peter1 and upon this rock ,i will build my church1 it is claimed that he meant than on ,peter he would build his church4#ee #ba4 ,that this is a clear misconception of the scripture is apparent4 ,if ,messiah had meant to found the church on ,peter1 how unfortunate that he did not say1 ,thou art ,cephas1 a stone1 and upon thee will ,i build my church6 etc4 ,but he did not4 ,he first assured ,peter that the knowledge he had received that ,jesus was the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god1 was received by revelation from ,god--,and ,i say unto thee1 ,that thou art ,peter1 and upon this rock principle will ,i build my church1 etc42 i4e41 upon the principle of ,god revealing to men that ,jesus was the ,christ#ef--on the principle of revelation4 #bb4 ,another passage quoted in support of the theory that the apostles had successors in the bishops of ,rome is found in the following3 ,jesus after his resurrection said to his apostles3 ,all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth4 ,go ye therefore and teach all nations2 99 99 99 and lo ,i am with you always even unto the end of the world4 #eg ,this is the argument-- ,the apostles themselves were only to live the ordinary term of #adh man's life3 therefore the commission of preaching and ministering1 together with the promise of divine assistance1 regards the successors of the apostles1 no less than the apostles themselves4 ,this proves that there must have been an uninterrupted series of successors of the apostles1 in every age since their time2 that is to say1 successors to their doctrine1 to their jurisdiction1 to their orders1 and to their mission4 #eh ,against this argument we put that of the late ,apostle ,orson ,pratt3 ,we do not admit that the promise--,lo1 ,i am with you always1 even unto the end of the world1 had any reference to any persons whatever only the eleven disciples mentioned4 99 99 99 99 ,they were the only persons whom he ,jesus addressed and to whom he made this great promise4 ,but1 says ,dr4 ,milner1 they were only to live the ordinary term of man's life1 and consequently he draws the conclusion that the promise could not be fulfilled to them without successors4 ,according to this curious inference of the learned bishop1 the ,lord must have forsaken the eleven disciples as soon as they died2 for if he admit that ,jesus continued with them after the period of the death of their mortal bodies1 and that he will continue with them even unto the end of the world1 then what need would there be for successors in order that the promise might be fulfilled8 ,prove that ,jesus has not been with the eleven apostles from the time of their death until the present time1 and that he will not be with them even unto the end of the world1 and after you have proved this1 you will prove that ,jesus has falsified his word2 for to be with the successors of the apostles is not to be with them4 ,but whether the apostles have successors or not1 ,jesus will always be with them1 and will bring them with him when he shall appear in his glory1 and they shall sit upon thrones and judge the house of ,israel during the great ,millennium1 while ,jesus will not only be with them1 but will reign with them even unto the end of the world4#ei #bc4 ,those who believe that the church was founded on ,peter2 #adithat he became the bishop of ,rome2 that those who succeeded to that bishopric became the heir to his apostleship and right of presidency over the universal church1 are as weak in their arguments as they are wrong in their conceptions of the foundation of the church and the right of succession in the priesthood4 #bd4 ,primacy of the ,bishops of ,rome ,allowed by the ,fathers4--,it cannot be denied that the early fathers of the ,christian church conceded to the bishops of ,rome a certain primacy of order and association2 but they did not concede to them any such authority as the popes wielded from the fifth and sixth centuries onward4 ,the assumption of autocratic powers was resisted in the third century by ,cyprian1 bishop of ,carthage1 who contended for the equality and independence of all bishops4 7,see note #e1 end of section47 #be4 ,opposition of the ,bishops of ,constantinople4--,after ,cyprian the ,roman pontiffs found their chief opponents in the bishops of ,constantinople4 ,that city was made the capital of the empire early in the fourth century2 and became a ,new ,rome4 ,the importance given to the city by this act1 and the lavish embellishments and increase of population which followed it1 conferred great dignity on the patriarch appointed to preside there2 and the council of ,constantinople held ,a4 ,d4 #cha1 conferred upon him the second place among the great bishops of the world--the bishop of ,rome being first4 ,the council of ,chalcedon1 held in the next century ,a4 ,d4 #dea1 decreed that the bishop of ,new ,rome ought to be equal in power and authority with the bishop of ,rome1 assigning as a reason that the cities where they resided were equal in rank and dignity4 #bf4 ,it would appear that second place ill-suited the ambitious prelates of ,new ,rome1 and in this century began that struggle for supremacy between the bishops of the ancient and the new capital of the empire which ended finally in the division of the church4 ,the strife raged with varying fortunes2 but in the main #aej the ,roman pontiffs were most successful4 ,still in the last half of the sixth century the bishop of ,constantinople1 ,john1 called the ,faster--on account of the austerity of his life--assumed the title of universal bishop and continued to hold it in spite of all the efforts and threats of the ,roman prelates4 ,early in the seventh century the emperor1 ,phocas1 being displeased with ,cyriacus1 the bishop of ,constantinople1 he divested him of the title of universal bishop and conferred it upon the ,roman pontiff1 ,boniface ,,iii4 ,after ,phocas' death the prelate of the east re-assumed the title4 ,the two bishops each preserved it1 and with equal ambition strove for the pre-eminence4 #fj ,instead of dwelling together as brethren and working for the spread of truth1 they spent their time in vain disputes about the extent of their respective jurisdictions and wasted their revenues and strength in conquests and reprisals of each other's ecclesiastical provinces4 #bg4 ,the ,ascendency of the ,roman ,pontiffs4--,gradually1 however1 the ,roman pontiffs surpassed their eastern competitors in the struggle for power4 ,the first reason for this will be found in the superior activity and that restless energy of the western people4 ,while the east was at a standstill in its missionary enterprises1 at this period1 the west was using its best endeavors to extend the faith among the barbarous peoples of ,germany and ,briton2 and everywhere they went they taught submission to the decrees of the ,roman pontiff4 ,not only did ,rome send missionaries to the barbarians1 but the barbarians came to ,rome4 ,they came with arms in their hands1 and as conquerors1 it is true1 and in the closing years of the fifth century obtained an easy victory over the western division of imperial ,rome4 ,but if imperial ,rome was vanquished1 there rose above its ruins and above the kingdoms founded upon them by the all-conquering barbarians1 papal ,rome1 in majesty no #aea less splendid than imperial ,rome in her palmiest days2 and in the course of time1 the victorious barbarians bowed in as humble submission to the wand of the popes as their ancestors had to the eagle-mounted standards of the emperors4 #bh4 ,another reason why the ,roman pontiff outstripped his eastern rival in the struggle for supremacy will be found in the superstitious reverence in which the barbarous nations that fell under the influence of ,roman missionaries were accustomed to hold their priests4 ,in the days of paganism in ,gaul 7,france7 and ,germany the priests reigned over both people and magistrates1 controlling absolutely the jurisdiction of the latter4 ,the proselytes to the ,christian faith among them1 readily transferred that devout obedience which they had given to pagan priests1 to the ,christian bishops4 ,the latter were not slow in appropriating to themselves all the honors the rude barbarians had before paid to their pagan priests1 while the extraordinary reverence--which amounted to worship1 according to some authorities--they bestowed upon their chief priest1 was readily transferred to the pope4 7,see note #f1 end of section47 #bi4 ,the ,great ,division of the ,church in the ,ninth ,century4--,the jealousy of the bishops of ,rome and ,constantinople finally ended in a division of the church1 which remains to this day4 ,it occurred in this manner3 ,about the middle of the ninth century the emperor of the east--,michael--removed ,ignatius ,ig-na-shi-us1 bishop of ,constantinople--whom he accused of treason--and set up one ,photius ,fo-shi-us in his place4 ,ignatius appealed to the bishop of ,rome1 ,nicolaus ,i4 ,nicolaus ,nik-o-lus called a council1 which decided that the election of ,photius was irregular and unlawful1 and pronounced that he1 with all his adherents1 was unworthy of ,christian communion4 ,instead of being humbled by this decree1 and much less frightened at it1 ,photius convened a council1 and in turn excommunicated the bishop of ,rome4 #cj4 ,to follow the controversies in respect to religion which #aeb followed this action1 and the contests which arose about the jurisdiction over certain ecclesiastical provinces1 to note the criminations and recriminations1 the excommunications and counter excommunications would be not only a dreary task but one which the limits of this work preclude4 ,let it be sufficient to say that the breach made in the church in the middle of the ninth century1 and which had its origin in the mutual jealousies of the bishops of ,rome and ,constantinople1 rather than in the wrong done to the deposed ,ignatius1 or doctrinal difference which afterwards arose--continued to widen and has proven to be a chasm which up to the present it has been impossible to bridge4 #ca4 ,means by ,which ,roman ,pontiffs ,gained ,ascendency4--,the popes of ,rome1 however1 easily outstripped the prelates of ,constantinople in wealth1 in pride1 in power1 in the magnificence of their courts1 in the veneration paid them by their subjects1 in the extent of territory they brought under their jurisdiction1 in the influence wielded in the affairs of the world4 ,for by encouraging appeals to themselves2 by assuming the care of all the churches1 as if it were a part of their official duty2 by appointing vicars in churches1 over which they had no claims to jurisdiction2 by assuming to be judges where they should have only been mediators2 by requiring accounts to be sent to them of the affairs of foreign churches2 by imposing the rites and usages of their own church upon all others1 as being of apostolic origin2 by insisting that their elevation was due to the pre-eminence of the ,apostle ,peter--whose successor they claimed to be2 by maintaining that their fancied prerogatives belonged to them by divine right2 by threatening with excommunication all who would not submit to their decrees2 #fa by accepting the homage which the barbarians anciently bestowed upon their pagan priests2 #fb by assuming #aec the temporal power of princes1 and obtaining large grants of lands from kings and emperors #fc 7see note #g1 end of section7--by these means was that splendid though corrupt power established1 before which monarchs trembled1 and which for ages ruled the destinies of ,europe4 #cb4 ,rise of the ,temporal ,power of the ,pope4--,the ,roman pontiffs1 not satisfied with claiming to hold the keys of heaven1 determined through the prestige which this claim gave them to rule the earth4 #cc4 ,the popes were at first dependent for their election upon the suffrages of the clergy and people of ,rome4 ,the election after the days of ,constantine had also to receive the approval of the emperor4 ,but in course of time all this was changed4 ,the popes succeeded at last in conferring the privilege of electing a successor to the chair of ,st4 ,peter upon the clergy alone2 and finally lodged that power in the college of cardinals4#fd ,the next step was to render the election independent of the sanction of the emperors4 ,this1 too1 was finally accomplished4 ,but no sooner was the church thus made independent of kings and emperors than the former began to dominate the latter1 whose power was weakness in comparison with that of the popes4 #cd4 ,they assumed the right not only to excommunicate and anathematize kings1 but to free their subjects from their allegiance1 and thus encourage rebellions and regicides4 ,they assumed the power to inflict temporal punishments for violations of ,god's laws2 and then claimed the power to remit those punishments #aed for a consideration paid into the sacred treasury4#fe ,claiming to be the true successors of the humble fisherman of ,galilee--,st4 ,peter--and the vicars of the still more humble ,nazarene1 their crowns1 and thrones and courts as far outshone in splendid worldly grandeur those of kings and emperors1 as their pride and arrogance surpassed the pomp and vain glory of the princes of this world2 until1 at last1 the pope exalted himself above all that is called ,god1 or that is worshiped2 so that he as ,god sitteth in the temple of ,god1 showing himself that he is ,god4 #ff 7,see notes #i and #aj1 end of section47 ,,notes4 #a4 ,apostasy in the ,days of the ,apostles4--,the great apostasy of the ,christian church commenced in the first century1 while there were yet inspired apostles and prophets in their midst2 hence ,paul1 just previous to his martyrdom1 enumerates a great number who had made shipwreck of their faith1 and turned aside unto vain jangling2 teaching that the resurrection was already past2 giving heed to fables and endless genealogies1 doubting about questions and strifes of words whereof came envyings1 railings1 evil surmisings1 perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds1 and destitute of the truth1 supposing the gain is godliness4 ,this apostasy had become so general that ,paul declares to ,timothy1 that all they which are in ,asia be turned away from me2 and again he says at my first answer1 no man stood with me1 but all men forsook me2 he further says #aee that there are many unruly1 and vain talkers1 deceivers1 teaching things which they ought not1 for filthy lucre's sake4 ,these apostates1 no doubt1 pretended to be very righteous2 for1 says the apostle1 they profess that they know ,god2 but in works they deny him1 being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate4--,orson ,pratt4 #b4 ,early ,decline of the ,church4--,about the year of our ,lord sixty1 he ,james wrote his ,catholic epistle4 99 99 99 ,by the practical turn of his doctrine1 by his discanting on the vices of the tongue1 of partiality to the rich1 and of contemptuous treatment of the poor in ,christian assemblies1 and by his direction against vain swearing1 it is but too evident that the church had considerably declined from its original purity and simplicity2 and that the craft of ,satan1 aided ever by human depravity1 was wearing out apace the precious fruits of that effusion of the ,spirit1 which has been described alluding to the effusion on the day of ,pentecost4--,milner1 ,vol4 ,i1 page #cd4 #c4 ,powers and ,duties of ,bishops--,first and ,second ,century4--,we may define in a few words the narrow limits of their the bishops original jurisdiction1 which was chiefly of a spiritual1 though in some instances of a temporal nature4 ,it consisted in the administration of the sacraments and discipline of the church1 the superintendency of religious ceremonies which imperceptibly increase in number and variety1 the consecration of ecclesiastical ministers to whom the bishops assigned their respective functions1 the management of the public fund1 and the determination of all such differences as the faithful were unwilling to expose before the tribunal of an idolatrous judge4 ,these powers1 during a short period1 were exercised according to the advice of the presbyteral college the ,elders of the church1 and with the consent and approbation of the assembly of ,christians4 ,the primitive bishops were considered only as the first of their equals1 and the honorable servants of a free people4 ,whenever the ,episcopal chair became vacant by death1 a new president was chosen among the presbyters elders by the suffrage of the whole congregation1 every member of which supposed himself invested with a sacred and sacerdotal character4--,gibbon 7,decline and ,fall1 ch4 xv74 #d4 ,usurpation of ,provincial ,councils4--,as the legislative authority of the particular churches was insensibly superseded by the use of councils1 the bishops obtained by their alliance a much larger share of executive and arbitrary power2 and as soon as they were connected by a sense of their common interest1 they were enabled to attack1 with united vigor1 the original rights of their clergy the elders and deacons and people4 ,the prelates of the third century imperceptibly changed the language of exhortation into that of command1 scattered the seeds of future usurpations1 and supplied1 by scripture allegories #aef and declamatory rhetoric1 their deficiency of force and reason4 ,they exalted the unity and power of the church as it was represented in the episcopal office1 of which every bishop enjoyed an equal and undivided portion4--,gibbon 7,decline and ,fall1 ch4 xv74 #e4 ,cyprian's ,opposition to the ,bishop of ,rome4--,rome experienced from the nations of ,asia and ,africa a more vigorous resistance to her spiritual than she had formerly done to her temporal dominion4 ,the patriotic ,cyprian1 who ruled with the most absolute sway the church of ,carthage and the provincial synods1 opposed with resolution and success the ambition of the ,roman pontiff1 artfully connected his own cause with that of the eastern bishops1 and1 like ,hannibal1 sought out new allies in the heart of ,asia4 ,if this punic war was carried on without any effusion of blood1 it was owing much less to the moderation than to the weakness of the contending prelates4 ,invectives and excommunication were then the only weapons2 and these1 during the progress of the whole controversy1 they hurled against each other with equal fury and devotion4--,gibbon 7,decline and ,fall1 ,vol4 ,i1 ch4 xv74 #f4 ,reverence of the ,barbarians for the ,popes4--,that these pagan nations had been accustomed to treat their idolatrous priests with extraordinary reverence is a fact well known4 ,when they became ,christians they supposed they must show the same reverence to the ,christian priests4 ,of course they honored their bishops and clergy1 as they had before honored their druids2 and this reverence disposed them to bear patiently their vices4 ,every druid was accounted a very great character1 and was feared by every one2 but the chief druid was actually worshiped4 ,when these people became ,christians1 they supposed that the bishop of ,rome was such a chief druid2 and that the must be honored accordingly4 ,and this was one cause why the ,roman pontiff obtained in process of time such an ascendency in the western countries4 ,the patriarch of ,constantinople rose indeed to a great elevation2 but he never attained the high rank and authority of the ,roman patriarch4 ,the reason was that the people of the east had not the same ideas of the dignity of a chief priest as the people of the west had4--,schlegel4 #g4 ,grant of the ,roman ,dukedom to the ,popes4--,charles ,charlemagne1 being made emperor and sovereign of ,rome and its territory1 reserved indeed to himself1 the supreme power1 and the prerogatives of sovereignty2 but the beneficial dominion1 as it is called1 and subordinate authority over the city and its territory1 he seems to have conferred on the ,romish church4 ,this plan was undoubtedly suggested to him by the ,roman pontiff2 who persuaded the emperor1 perhaps by showing him some ancient though forged papers and documents1 that ,constantine the ,great 7to whose place and authority #aeg ,charles now succeeded7 when he removed the seat of empire to ,constantinople1 committed the old seat of empire1 ,rome and the adjacent territories or ,roman dukedom1 to the possession and government of the church1 reserving1 however1 his imperial prerogatives over it2 and that1 from this arrangement and ordinance of ,constantine1 ,charles could not depart1 without incurring the wrath of ,god and ,st4 ,peter4--,mosheim4 #h4 ,copy of an ,indulgence4--,may our ,lord ,jesus ,christ have mercy on thee1 ,n4 ,n41 and absolve thee by the merits of his passion6 ,and ,i in virtue of the apostolic power that has been confided in me1 absolve thee from all ecclesiastical censures1 judgments1 and penalties which thou mayst have incurred2 moreover1 from all excesses1 sins and crimes that thou mayst have committed1 however great and enormous they may be1 and from whatsoever cause1 were they even reserved for our most holy father the pope and for the apostolic see4 ,i blot out all the stains of inability and all marks of infamy that thou mayst have drawn upon thyself on this occasion4 ,i remit the penalties that thou shouldst have endured in purgatory4 ,i restore thee anew to participation in the sacraments of the church4 ,i incorporate thee afresh in the communion of saints1 and re-establish thee in the purity and innocence which thou hadst at thy baptism4 ,so that in the hour of death1 the gate by which sinners enter the place of torments and punishments will be closed against thee1 and1 on the contrary1 the gate leading to the paradise of joy shall be open4 ,and if thou shouldst not die for long years1 this grace shall remain unalterable until thy last hour shall arrive4 ,in the name of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4 ,amen4 7,friar ,john ,tetzel1 ,commissary1 has signed this with his own hand7--,d',aubugne's ,hist4 ,ref41 book ,,iii1 ch4 i4 #i4 ,the ,absolute ,power of the ,popes 7#acth century74--,all who had any share in the government of the church1 were alike sovereign lords2 at least in their feelings and dispositions they stiffly maintained with violence and threats1 with both wiles and weapons1 those fundamental principles of the popish canon law1 that the ,roman pontiff is the sovereign lord of the whole world1 and that all other rulers in church and state have so much power and authority as he sees fit to allow them to have4 ,resting on this eternal principle as they conceive it to be1 the pontiffs arrogate to themselves the absolute power1 not only of conferring sacred offices or benefices as they are called1 but also of giving away empires1 and of divesting kings and princes of their crowns and authority4 ,the more intelligent indeed1 for the most part considered general councils as superior to the pontiffs2 and such of the kings as were not blinded by superstition1 restrained the pontiffs from intermeddling with worldly or civil affairs1 bid them be contented with the regulation of things sacred1 maintained #aeh their power to the utmost of their ability and even claimed for themselves supremacy over the church in their respective territories4 ,but they had to do these things cautiously1 if they would not learn by experience that the pontiffs had very long arms4--,mosheim4 #aj4 ,character of ,language ,employed by the ,popes ,against ,kings 7#hth century74--,as a sample of the arrogant language employed by the popes toward kings and emperors1 we present the following taken from an epistle of ,pope ,gregory ,,iii1 addressed to the eastern emperor ,leo ,,iii4 ,leo at the time was opposing with commendable zeal the use of images in divine worship3 ,because you are unlearned and ignorant1 we are obliged to write to you rude discourses1 but full of sense and the word of ,god4 ,we conjure you to quit your pride1 and hear us with humility4 ,you say that we adore stones1 walls and boards4 ,it is not so1 my lord2 but those symbols make us recollect the persons whose names they bear1 and exalt our grovelling minds4 ,we do not look upon them as gods2 but if it be the image of ,jesus1 we say1 ',lord help us4' ,if it be his mother1 we say1 'pray to your ,son to save us4' ,if it be a martyr1 we say1 ',st4 ,stephen1 pray for us4' ,we might as having the power of ,st4 ,peter1 pronounce punishments against you1 but as you have pronounced the curse upon yourself1 let it stick to you4 ,you write to us to assemble a general council2 of which there is no need4 ,do you cease to persecute images1 and all will be quiet4 ,we fear not your threats2 for if we go a league from ,rome toward ,campania1 we are secure4--,certainly this is the language of anti-,christ supporting idolatry by pretenses to infallibility1 and despising both civil magistrates and ecclesiastical councils4--,milner 7,church ,history1 ,vol4 ,,iii1 ,page #aei74 ,,review4 #a4 ,was the early church organization perpetuated8 #b4 ,what reasons can you assign for the failure to do so8 #c4 ,what can you say of the early apostasy in the church8 7,notes #a1 #b74 #d4 ,what course was pursued by the apostles in respect to organizing churches8 #e4 ,in what light were the apostles regarded by the saints8 #f4 ,in what condition were the churches left at the death of the apostles8 #g4 ,was there such a thing as subordination among the churches1 or rank among the bishops8 #h4 ,what was the manner of electing bishops8 #aei #i4 ,what was the nature of the bishop's duties in the early churches8 7,note #c74 #aj4 ,describe the growth of iniquity among the bishops4 #aa4 ,give an account of the origin of metropolitan bishops4 #ab4 ,describe the rise and influence of councils4 7,note #d74 #ac4 ,what was the conduct of the lower officials in the church8 #ad4 ,what was the moral status of the church officials in the #bnd and #crd centuries8 #ae4 ,tell what important change was made in the form of church government in the #dth century8 #af4 ,describe the outlines of ,roman government under ,constantine4 #ag4 ,tell how the church government was made somewhat to correspond with it4 #ah4 ,what circumstances led to the pre-eminence of the bishop of ,rome8 #ai4 ,what reasons can be urged against the idea that the bishop of ,rome succeeded to the apostleship of ,peter and the presidency of the universal church8 #bj4 ,what is the scriptural basis of the claims of the bishops of ,rome to pre-eminence8 #ba4 ,refute the idea that ,jesus built his church upon ,peter4 #bb4 ,refute the argument that the bishops of ,rome must have succeeded to the apostleship of ,peter1 because ,jesus promised to be with the apostles unto the end of the world4 #bc4 ,to what extent did the early ,christian fathers admit a primacy to the bishops of ,rome8 #bd4 ,state the controversy which arose between the bishop of ,rome and the bishop of ,constantinople4 #be4 ,through what cause did the ,roman pontiffs finally force an acknowledgment of their independency8 7,note #f74 #bf4 ,what led to the great division of the church in the #ith century8 #bg4 ,by what means did the ,roman pontiffs outstrip their eastern rivals8 7,note #g74 #bh4 ,what of the sale of indulgences8 7,note74 #bi4 ,what was the climax of papal power8 #afj ,,section ,v4 #a4 ,simplicity of ,public ,worship ,changed4--,the public worship of the primitive ,christians1 as we have seen1#fg was very simple1 but its simplicity was soon corrupted4 ,the bishops and other public teachers in the third century1 framed their discourses and exhortations according to the rules of ,grecian eloquence2 and were better adapted1 says a learned writer1#fh to call forth the admiration of the rude multitude who love display1 than to amend the heart4 ,and that no folly and no senseless custom might be omitted in their public assemblies1 the people were allowed to applaud their orators1 as had been practiced in the forums and theaters2 nay1 they were instructed to applaud the preachers4 #b4 ,this was a wide departure from that spirit of meekness and humility enjoined by ,messiah upon his ministers4 ,and when to these customs was added the splendid vestments of the clergy1 the magnificence of the temples1 with all the pageantry of altars1 surrounded with burning tapers1 clouds of incense1 beautiful images1 the chanting of choirs1 processions and other mummeries without number--one sees but little left of that simple worship instituted by the ,messiah and his apostles4 7,see note #a1 end of section74 #c4 ,about the third century incense began to be used4 ,the ,christians of the first and second centuries abhorred the use of incense in public worship1 as being a part of the worship of idols4#fi ,it first became a custom to use it at funerals1 against offensive smells2 then in public worship1 to disguise the bad air #afa of crowded assemblies2 then at the consecration of bishops and magistrates1 and by these steps at last degenerated into a superstitious rite4 #d4 ,in the fourth century matters became still worse4 ,the public supplications by which the pagans were accustomed to appease their gods1 were borrowed from them1 and were celebrated in many places with great pomp4 ,to the temples1 to water consecrated in due form1 and the images of holy men1 the same efficacy was ascribed to the pagan temples1 statues and lustrations before the advent of ,christ4 #gj #e4 ,the ,worship of ,martyrs4--,in the third century also arose the worship of martyrs4 ,it is true that worship or adoration was relative1 and a distinction was made between the worship of martyrs and the worship paid to ,god2 but by degrees the worship of the martyrs was made to conform with that which the pagans had in former times paid to their gods4#ga ,this was done out of indiscreet eagerness to allure the pagans to embrace ,christianity4#gb 7,see note #b1 end of section74 #f4 ,decline of ,spiritual ,gifts4--,while pagan ceremonies and rites were increasing in the church1 the gifts and graces characteristic of apostolic times1 seemed to have gradually departed from it4 ,protestant writers insist that the age of miracles closed with the fourth or fifth century1 and that after that the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost must not be looked for4 ,catholic writers1 on the other hand1 insist that the power to perform miracles has always continued in the church2 yet those spiritual manifestations which they describe after the fourth and fifth centuries savor of invention on the part of the priests and childish credulity on the part of the people2 or else what is claimed to be miraculous falls far short of the power and dignity of those spiritual manifestations which the primitive church was wont to witness4 #afb #g4 ,the virtues and prodigies ascribed to the bones and other relics of the martyrs and saints are puerile in comparison with the healings1 by the anointing with oil and the laying on of hands1 speaking in tongues1 interpretations1 prophecies1 revelations1 casting out devils in the name of ,jesus ,christ2 to say nothing of the gifts of faith1 wisdom1 knowledge1 discernment of spirits1 etc41--common in the church in the days of the days of the apostles4#gc #h4 ,nor is there anything in the scriptures or in reason that would lead one to believe that they were to be discontinued4 ,still this plea is made by modern ,christians--explaining the absence of these spiritual powers among them--that the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost were only intended to accompany the proclamation of the gospel during the first few centuries until the church was able to make its way without them1 and then they were to be done away4 ,it is sufficient to remark upon this that it is assumption pure and simple1 and stands without warrant either of scripture or right reason2 and proves that men had so far changed the religion of ,jesus ,christ that it became a form of godliness without the power thereof4 7,see notes #c and #d1 end of section74 #i4 ,causes and ,manner of ,excommunications4--,it appears to have been the custom of the apostles in the case of members of the church grievously transgressing the moral law of the gospel to require repentance and confession before the church2 and in the event of a stubborn adherence to sin the offender was excommunicated1 that is1 he was excluded from the communion of the church and the fellowship of the saints4 ,for the crimes of murder1 idolatry and adultery1 some of the churches excommunicated those guilty of them forever2 in other churches they were received back1 but only after long and painful probation4 #aj4 ,the manner in which excommunication was performed #afc in apostolic times is not clear1 but there is every reason to believe the process was very simple4 ,in the course of time1 however1 this simple order of excommunication was changed1 by being burdened with many rites and ceremonies borrowed from pagan sources4#gd ,it was not enough that the fellowship of the saints be withdrawn from the offender and he left to the mercy of ,god1 or the buffetings of ,satan1 according as he was worthy of the one or the other2 but the church must load him down with anathemas too terrible to contemplate4 ,the power of excommunication1 too1 eventually1 passed from the body of the church into the hands of the bishops1 and finally into those of the pope4 ,at first excommunication meant the loss of the fellowship of the saints1 and such other punishments as ,god himself might see fit to inflict2 the church leaving the ,lord to be the minister of his own vengeance4 ,but gradually it came to mean in some instances banishment from home and country1 the confiscation of property1 the loss not only of religious fellowship with the saints1 but the loss of civil rights2 and the rights of ,christian burial4 ,in the case of a monarch excommunication absolved his subjects from their allegiance2 and in the case of a subject1 it robbed him of the protection of his sovereign4 ,no anathema was so terrible but it was pronounced against the excommunicated1 until the sweet mercies of ,god were overshadowed by the black pall of man's inhumanity4 #aa4 ,admixture of ,pagan ,philosophy with the ,christian ,religion4--,the thing which contributed most to the subversion of the ,christian religion was the employment of pagan philosophy to explain ,christian doctrine4 ,this brought about an admixture of these two discordant elements that #afd while it failed to purge pagan philosophy of its errors1 corrupted the doctrines of ,christ and laid the foundations for those false notions in respect of ,god which obtain in the so-called ,christian world unto this day4 #ab4 ,christian ,doctrine ,respecting ,god4--,the scriptural doctrine in regard to ,god--and of course1 that is the true ,christian doctrine--is this3 ,there is a being of infinite goodness and power1 in form like man--for man was created in his image#ge--who1 with his ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 constitute the great creative1 and governing power or grand ,presidency of the heavens and the earth4 ,as persons1 the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost are separate and distinct1 yet one in attributes1 one in purpose2 the mind of one being the mind of the others4 #ac4 ,that they are distinct and separate as persons was plainly manifested at the baptism of ,jesus4 ,on that occasion1 as ,jesus came up out of the water1 ,john saw the ,holy ,ghost descend upon him1 and at the same time the voice of the ,father was heard speaking from heaven1 saying3 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4 #gf ,here we have the persons of the ,godhead present but distinct from each other4 ,stephen1 the martyr1 in the presence of the angry crowd which took his life1 saw the heavens open and ,jesus standing on the right hand of ,god4 #gg ,here1 too1 the ,father and ,son are seen and1 according to the testimony of the holy man1 they are distinct personalities4 #ad4 ,yet ,jesus said to the ,jews3 ,i and my ,father are one4 99 99 99 ,believe that the ,father is in me and ,i in him4 #gh ,but this oneness cannot have reference to the persons of the ,father and of the ,son1 which we have seen are distinct4 ,their oneness1 therefore1 must consist in a unity of attributes1 #afe purposes1 glory1 power4 ,jesus in his great prayer just previous to his betrayal1 said1 in praying for his disciples3 ,holy ,father1 keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me1 that they may be one4 99 99 99 ,that they all may be one2 as thou1 ,father1 art in me1 and ,i in thee1 that they also may be one in us4 #gi ,clearly it is not the uniting of the persons of his disciples into one person or body that ,jesus prayed for2 but he would have them of one mind and one spirit1 as he and the ,father are one4 ,so also he had no wish that the person of one of his disciples should be crowded into that of another1 and so on until they all became one person or body--but as thou1 ,father1 art in me1 and ,i in thee4 ,that is1 while remaining distinct as persons1 ,messiah would have the mind or ,spirit of ,god in his disciples as it was in him1 and as his was in the ,father1 that ,god might be all in all--the ,father to be honored as the head and worshiped in the name of the ,son2 and the ,holy ,ghost to be revered as the witness and messenger of both the ,father and the ,son#hj--the bond of union between ,god and men1 as it is between the ,father and the ,son2 in one word to be ,god in man4 #ae4 ,each of these persons in scripture is called ,god2 and taken together they are ,god1 or constitute the grand ,presidency of heaven and earth1 and as such are one1 as well as in attributes4 7,see note #e1 end of section74 #af4 ,the spirit of the ,son had an existence with the ,father before he was born in the flesh2 #ha and indeed it was by him1 and through him--under the direction of the ,father--that the worlds were made2 #hb and without him was not anything made that was made4 #hc #ag4 ,such is the simple doctrine of the ,godhead taught to the primitive ,saints by the apostles4 ,it was implicitly believed as ,god's revelation to them upon the subject1 and they were #aff content to allow the revelation to excite their reverence without arousing their curiosity to the point where men of finite minds attempt to grasp the infinite1 or circumscribe ,god in their understandings4 ,in a short time1 however1 a change came1 and men sought to explain the revelation that ,god had given of himself by the vain babblings of pagan science2 and that led not only to much contention within the church1 but to the adoption in the ,christian creed of erroneous ideas in respect of ,deity4 #ah4 ,gnostic and ,new ,platonic ,philosophy4--,in order to give a clear explanation of this matter1 it will be necessary to invite the attention of the student to ,gnosticism and the ,eclectic or ,new ,platonic philosophy which arose in the early ,christian centuries4 ,first1 then1 as to ,gnosticism4 ,the ,gnostics taught there existed from eternity a ,being that embodied within himself all the virtues2 a ,being who is the purest light and is diffused throughout boundless space1 which they called ,pleroma4 ,this ,being1 after dwelling alone and in absolute repose for an infinite period1 by an operation purely mental1 or by acting upon himself1 produced two spirits#hd of different sexes4 ,by the marriage of these two spirits others of similar nature were produced1 who1 in their turn1 produced others4 ,thus a celestial family was formed in the pleroma4 ,these emanations from ,deity1 whether directly or from those spirits first begotten by ,deity acting upon himself1 were called ,aeons1 a term which was doubtless employed to signify their eternal duration1 and perhaps the mode of their production4 #ai4 ,beyond this pleroma where ,god and his family dwelt1 existed a rude and unformed mass of matter1 heaving itself continually in wild commotion4#he ,this mass of the ,aeons1 wandering beyond the pleroma1 discovered and reduced to order #afg and beauty and then peopled it with human beings and with animals of different species4 ,this builder of the world the ,gnostics called the ,demiurge ,dem-i-urge4#hf ,though possessed of many shining qualities1 the ,demiurge was by nature arrogant and domineering1 hence he claims absolute authority over the new world to the exclusion altogether of the authority of the supreme ,god1 and requires mankind to pay divine honors exclusively to him4 #bj4 ,man1 according to the ,gnostic philosophy1 is composed of a terrestial1 and therefore a vicious body2 and of a celestial spirit1 which in some sense is a particle of the ,deity himself4 ,the spirit is oppressed by the body1 which is supposed to be the seat of all the lusts and other evils that flesh is heir to1 and by the spirit of man is drawn away from the knowledge and worship of the true ,god1 and led to pay reverence to the ,demiurge and his associates4 ,from this wretched bondage of evil ,god labors to rescue his offspring4 ,but the ,demiurge and his associates1 eager to retain their power1 resist the divine purpose and labor to efface all knowledge of the supreme ,deity4 ,the philosophy maintained1 however1 that ,god would ultimately prevail2 and having restored to liberty most of the spirits now imprisoned in bodies1 he will dissolve the fabric of the world4 ,then the primitive tranquility will return1 and ,god will reign with the redeemed spirits in perfect happiness to all eternity4#hg #ba4 ,when the followers of this philosophy became converted to ,christianity1 they looked upon ,jesus ,christ and the ,holy ,ghost as the latest ,aeons or emanations from the ,deity1 sent forth to emancipate men from the tyranny of matter by #afh revealing to them the true ,god2 to fit them1 though perfect knowledge to enter the sacred pleroma4 ,in connection with this1 however1 some of these ,christian ,gnostics held that ,jesus had no body at all1 but was an unsubstantial phantom that constantly deceived the senses of those who thought they associated with him4 ,others of them said there doubtless was a man called ,jesus born of human parents1 upon whom one of the ,aeons1 called ,christ1 descended at his baptism1 having quitted the pleroma for that purpose2 but who1 previous to the crucifixion of the man ,jesus1 withdrew from him and returned to the ,deity4 ,see note #g1 end of section4 #bb4 ,the ,two ,modes of ,life to which ,gnosticism led4--,the ,gnostic philosophy led to two widely different methods of life2 one extremely ascetic and the other as extremely profligate4 ,gnostics believed matter to be utterly malignant1 the source of all evil1 therefore it was recommended by one party that the body should be weakened by fastings and the practice of other austerities1 that the spirit might enjoy the greater liberty and be better able to contemplate heavenly things4 ,the other party1 on the contrary1 maintained that men could safely indulge all their appetites and lustful desires1 and that there was no moral difference in human actions4 ,one leader of this persuasion--,carpocrates of ,alexandria1 who flourished in the second century--not only gave his disciples license to sin1 but imposed on them the necessity of sinning1 by teaching them the way to eternal salvation was open to those souls only which committed all kinds of enormity and wickedness4 ,such were the errors that grew out of ,gnosticism1 and which contributed to the corruption of the gospel soon after it was founded by the preaching of the apostles4 #bc4 ,the ,new ,platonic ,philosophy4--,the ,eclectic or ,new ,platonic philosophy which came into existence in the early ,christian centuries1 was compounded from all the systems which had preceded it1 though following ,plato more closely than #afi any other teacher1 for which reason its disciples assumed the name of ,new ,platonics4 ,the founders of this philosophy professed simply to follow truth1 gathering up whatever was accordant with it1 regardless of its source1 or in what school it was taught--hence the name eclectic4 ,still the teachings of ,plato formed the basis of their doctrines1 and they embraced most of his dogmas concerning ,god1 the human soul and the universe4 ,we shall therefore learn the fundamental principles of the ,eclectics by considering what the ,athenian sage taught on these subjects4 #bd4 ,plato held that ,god and matter existed from all eternity--that they were co-eternal4 ,before the creation of the world matter had in itself a principle of motion1 but without end or laws4 ,this principle of motion ,plato called the immortal soul of the universe4 ,god wished to give form to this mass of eternal matter1 regulate its motion1 subject it to some end and to certain laws4 ,everything which exists in heaven or in earth1 except ,deity and unorganized matter1 according to ,plato's philosophy1 had a beginning--there was a time when it did not exist2 but there never was a time when the idea1 that is1 the form or plan of the thing1 did not exist in the mind of ,deity4 ,this idea or intelligence existing with ,god from all eternity1 is what ,plato called the ,logos--the word or intelligence of ,deity4 ,many in the age of which we write saw in these doctrines a threefold expression of the divine nature--viz41 the ,first ,cause1 the ,reason or ,logos1 and the ,spirit of the ,universe2 while others saw in these three principles three ,gods1 united with each other by a mysterious and ineffable generation2 in which the ,logos is regarded in the character of the ,son of an ,eternal ,father1 and the creator and governor of the work4#hh #be4 ,plato's ,logos1 ,john's ,word ,considered ,identical4--,in the introduction of ,st4 ,john's gospel1 commencing--,in #agj the beginning was the ,word1 and the ,word was with ,god1 and the ,word was ,god--in this ,word1 which the ,apostle in another verse of his opening chapter declares was made flesh and dwelt among men1--plainly alluding to the pre-existence and birth of ,messiah--the ,new ,platonics saw the incarnation of the ,logos of ,plato1 and according to the fashion of the times attempted to harmonize the revelations of ,god with the philosophy of men4 7,see note #h1 end of section74 #bf4 ,the ,rank of the ,logos in the ,trinity4--,it was trying to harmonize the revelations of ,god with these systems of philosophy which created the agitation in respect to the rank of the ,logos1 or ,son of ,god1 in the divine trinity2 and the nature of the ,trinity itself--that is1 whether the three persons1 the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost are distinct and separate though of the same substance1 or merely the same substance under different aspects4 #bg4 ,the ,orthodox ,view4--,the view held to be orthodox was that in ,god there are three persons1 ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,spirit2 each really distinct yet so united as to constitute but one personal ,god--of the same substance1 and equal as to their eternity1 power1 and glory and all other perfections4 #bh4 ,sabellian ,theory4--,on one side of this orthodox theory stood the doctrine of ,sabellius ,sa-bel-i-us1 who held that there was but one divine person in the ,godhead1 and that the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,spirit were but different aspects of the same ,god1 and that the ,trinity was one of names1 merely1 not of distinct persons4#hi ,the ,logos1 in hi theory1 is an attribute #aga of ,deity rather than a person2 and its incarnation is reduced to an energy or inspiration of the ,divine wisdom which filled the soul and directed all the actions of the man ,jesus4 #bi4 ,the ,arian ,theory4--,on the other side of the orthodox line stood the theory of ,arius ,a-ri-us1 who while he maintained a real distinction in the persons of the ,divine ,trinity1 taught that the ,son was created out of nothing by the will of the ,father2 and though the longest astronomical periods would not measure the time of his duration1 yet there had been a time when he was not4 ,upon the ,son thus created the ,father bestowed great glory1 yet he shone only by a reflected light1 and governed the universe only in obedience to the will of the ,father2 in other words1 the ,son was subordinate to the ,father1 unequal as to eternity1 power and glory4 #cj4 ,the ,nicene ,council4--,it was to still the rising commotion which arose in the church through the violent discussion of these several theories that the ,emperor ,constantine assembled the ,council of ,nice ,nes4 ,a4 ,d4 #cbe4 ,in that council the theories of ,arius were condemned and the orthodox creed stated thus3 ,we believe in one ,god1 the ,father1 ,almighty1 the maker of all things visible and invisible2 and in one ,lord1 ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 begotten of the ,father1 only begotten1 7that is7 of the substance of the ,father2 ,god of ,god1 ,light of ,light2 ,very ,god of ,very ,god2 begotten not made2 of the same substance with the ,father1 by whom all things were made1 that are in heaven and that are in earth3 who for us men1 and for our salvation1 descended and was incarnate1 and became man2 suffered and rose again the third day1 ascended into the heavens and will come to judge the living and the dead1 and in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,but those who say there was a time when he the #agb ,son was not1 and that he was not before he was begotten1 and that he was made out of nothing1 or affirm that he is of any other substance or essence1 of that the ,son of ,god was created1 and mutable1 or changeable1 the ,catholic ,church doth pronounce accursed4#ij #ca4 ,athanasius ,ath-a-na-shi-us1 who was the most active opponent of ,arius1 thus explains the ,nicene doctrine1 in what is commonly known as the creed of ,athanasius4#ia ,we worship one ,god in ,trinity1 and ,trinity and ,unity1 neither confounding the persons1 nor dividing the substance4 ,for there is one person of the ,father1 another of the ,son1 and another of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,but the ,godhead of the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost is all one3 the glory equal1 the majesty co-eternal4 ,such as the ,father is1 such is the ,son2 and such is the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the ,father uncreate1 the ,son uncreate2 and the ,holy ,ghost uncreate4 ,the ,father incomprehensible1 the ,son incomprehensible1 and the ,holy ,ghost incomprehensible4 ,the ,father eternal the ,son eternal1 and the ,holy ,ghost eternal4 ,and yet these are not three eternals2 but one eternal4 ,as also there are not three incomprehensibles1 nor three uncreated2 but one uncreated and one incomprehensible4 ,so likewise the ,father is ,almighty1 the ,son ,almighty1 and the ,holy ,ghost ,almighty2 and yet they are not three ,almighties1 but one ,almighty4 ,so the ,father is ,god1 the ,son is ,god1 and the ,holy ,ghost is ,god1 and yet they are not three ,gods but one ,god4 #ib 7,see note #g1 end of section47 #agc #cb4 ,immateriality of ,god4--,the evil which grew out of these contentions in respect to ,deity is found in the conclusion arrived at that ,god is an incorporeal1 that is to say1 an immaterial being2 without body1 without parts1 without passions4 ,the following is the ,roman ,catholic belief in respect to ,god3 ,there is but one ,god1 the creator of heaven and earth1 the supreme1 incorporeal1 uncreated being1 who exists of himself1 and is infinite in all his attributes1 etc4#ic ,the ,church of ,england teaches in her articles of faith3 ,there is but one living and true ,god1 everlasting1 without body1 parts or passions2 of infinite power1 wisdom and goodness1#id etc4 ,this plainly teaches the great error of the immateriality of ,god2 and1 indeed1 that is the orthodox notion in respect to ,deity1 notwithstanding it finds so many express contradictions in the scriptures4 #cc4 ,in the work of creation1 ,god proposed to make man in his own image and likeness1 and the proposition was executed4#ie ,moreover1 ,jesus is said to be the brightness of ,god's glory1 and the express image of his person4 #if ,again it is said1 that ,jesus being in the form of ,god1 thought it not robbery to be equal with ,god4 #ig ,all this teaches that ,god has a form similar to that of man's2 that he has organs1 dimensions1 proportions2 that he occupies space and has relation to other objects in space2 that he moves from place to place2 and that so far as his actual person is concerned he cannot be in two places at one and the same instant4 ,the question here arises as to those passages of scripture which declare the omnipresence of ,god1 a thing which is impossible--speaking of his person--if what is #agd here contended for be true4 ,but ,god may be and is omnipresent by his influence1 by his power1 if not in his person4 ,while his person is confined to one place at a time1 as other substances are1 his influence extends throughout the universe1 as does also his power1 and through this means he is omnipotent and omnipresent4 #cd4 ,to assert the immateriality of ,god is not only to deny his personality1 but his very existence2 for an immaterial substance cannot exist4 ,it can have no relation to time or space1 no form1 no extension1 no parts4 ,an immaterial substance is simply no substance at all2 it is a contradiction of terms to say a substance is immaterial--it is the description of an infinite vacuum2 and the difference between the atheist and the orthodox ,christian is one of terms1 not of fact2 the former says1 ,there is no ,god2 the latter in his creed says1 ,god is nothing4 #ih 7,see note #aj1 end of section47 #ce4 ,such were the absurdities into which the vain philosophies of the pagan led the ,christian even in the early centuries of the ,christian era2 so that through these errors they even denied the ,lord who bought them4#ii #age ,,notes4 #a4 ,christian ,worship in the ,fifth ,century4--,public worship everywhere assumed a form more calculated for show and for the gratification of the eye4 ,various ornaments were added to the sacerdotal garments in order to increase the veneration of the people for the clerical order4 ,the new forms of hymns1 prayers and public fasts1 are not easily enumerated4 99 99 99 ,in some places it was appointed1 that the praises of ,god should be sung perpetually1 day and night1 the singers succeeding each other without interruption2 as if the ,supreme ,being took pleasure in clamor and noise1 and in the flatteries of men4 ,the magnificence of the temples had no bounds4 ,splendid images were placed in them2 and among these 99 99 99 the image of the ,virgin ,mary1 holding her infant in her arms1 occupied the most conspicuous place4 ,altars and repositories for relics1 made of solid silver if possible1 were procured in various places2 from which may easily be conjectured1 what must have been the splendor and the expense of the other sacred utensils4--,mosheim4 #b4 ,martyr ,worship 7#crd century74--,when ,gregory surnamed ,thaumaturgus on account of the numerous miracles he is said to have wrought--born in ,pontus1 in the second decade of the third century perceived that the ignorant and simple multitude persisted in their idolatry1 on account of the sensitive pleasures and delights it afforded1 he allowed them in celebrating the memory of the holy martyrs1 to indulge themselves1 and give a loose to pleasure1 7i4e41 as the thing itself1 and both what precedes and what follows1 place beyond all controversy1 he allowed them at the sepulchres of the martyrs on their fast days1 to dance1 to use sports1 to indulge in conviviality1 and do all things that the worshipers of idols were accustomed to do in their temples1 on their festival days71 hoping that in process of time1 they would spontaneously come over to a more becoming and more correct manner of life4--,nyssen's ,life of ,gregory ,thaumaturgus4 #c4 ,on the ,continuance of ,spiritual ,gifts4--,the affliction of devils1 the confusion of tongues1 deadly poisons and sickness all of which were to be overcome by the extraordinary gifts of the ,spirit are all curses which have been introduced into the world by the wickedness of man4 ,the blessings of the gospel are bestowed to counteract these curses4 ,therefore1 as long as these curses exist1 the promised signs ,mark xvi3 #ag1 #ah are needed to counteract their evil consequences4 ,if ,jesus had not intended that the blessings should be as extensive and unlimited in point of time as the curses1 he would have intimated something to that effect in his word4 ,but when he makes a universal promise of certain powers1 to enable every believer in the gospel throughout the world to overcome certain curses1 entailed #agf upon man1 because of wickedness1 it would be the rankest kind of infidelity not to believe the promised blessing necessary1 as long as the curses abound among men4--,orson ,pratt4 #d4 ,when and ,why the ,spiritual ,gifts ,ceased in the ,church4--,it does not appear that these extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,spirit speaking of ,i ,cor4 xii were common in the church for more than two or three centuries4 ,we seldom hear of them after that fatal period when the ,emperor ,constantine called himself a ,christian2 and from a vain imagination of promoting the ,christian cause thereby heaped riches1 and power1 and honor upon ,christians in general1 but in particular upon the ,christian clergy4 ,from this time they the spiritual gifts almost totally ceased2 very few instances of the kind were found4 ,the cause of this was not 7as has been supposed7 because there was no more occasion for them1 because all the world was become ,christians4 ,this is a miserable mistake2 not a twentieth part of it was then nominally ,christian4 ,the real cause of it was the love of many1 almost all ,christians1 so-called1 was waxed cold4 ,the ,christians had no more of the ,spirit of ,christ than the other heathens4 ,the ,son of ,man when he came to examine his church1 could hardly find faith upon the earth4 ,this was the real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost were no longer to be found in the ,christian ,church--because the ,christians were turned heathens again and only had a dead form left4--,john ,wesley 7,wesley's ,works1 ,vol4 vii4 ,sermon #hi1 ,pages #bf1 #bg47 #e4 ,illustration of the ,oneness of the ,godhead4--,the ,godhead may be further illustrated by a council1 composed of three men--all possessing equal wisdom1 knowledge and truth1 together with equal qualifications in every respect4 ,each person would be a separate1 distinct person or substance from the other two1 and yet the three would form but one council4 ,each alone possesses1 by supposition1 the same wisdom and truth that the three united or the one council possesses4 ,the union of the three men in one council would not increase the knowledge of wisdom of either4 ,each man would be one part of the council when reference is made to his person2 but the wisdom and truth of each man would be the whole wisdom and truth of the council1 and not a part4 ,if it were possible to divide truth1 and other qualities of a similar nature into fractions1 so that the ,father should have the third part of truth1 the third part of wisdom1 the third part of knowledge1 the third part of love1 while the ,son and the ,holy ,spirit possessed the other two-thirds of these qualities or affections1 then neither of these persons could make one ,god1 but only a part of a ,god4 ,but because the divisibility of wisdom1 truth or love is impossible1 the whole of these qualities dwell in the ,father--the whole dwells in the ,son--the whole is possessed by the #agg ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is one part of the ,godhead in essence2 but the whole of ,god in wisdom1 truth1 and other similar qualities4 ,if a truth could become three truths1 distinct from each other1 by dwelling in three substances1 then there would be three ,gods instead of one4 ,but as it is1 the trinity is three in essence1 but one in truth and other similar principles4 ,the oneness of the ,godhead1 as described in the scriptures1 never was intended to apply to the essence1 but only to the perfections and other attributes4--,orson ,pratt4 #f4 ,messiah the ,author of the ,gospel and ,creator of the ,world4--,christ is the author of this gospel1 of this earth1 of men and women1 of all the posterity of ,adam and ,eve1 and of every living creature that lives upon the face of the earth1 that flies in the heavens1 that swims in the waters1 or dwells in the field4 ,christ is the author of salvation to all this creation1 to all things pertaining to this terrestial globe we occupy4--,brigham ,young 7,discourse1 ,august #h1 #aheb74 #g4 ,the ,phantom ,theory of the ,gnostics4--,while the blood of ,christ yet smoked on ,mount ,calvary1 the ,docetus the name given to the ,gnostic ,christians invented the impious and extravagant hypothesis1 that1 instead of issuing from the womb of the virgin1 he had descended on the banks of the ,jordan in the form of perfect manhood2 that he had imposed on the senses of his enemies1 and of his disciples2 and that the ministers of ,pilate had wasted their impotent rage on an airy phantom1 who seemed to expire on the cross1 and1 after three days1 to rise from the dead4--,gibbon4 #h4 ,the ,fashion of ,uniting ,discordant ,elements in ,philosophy and ,religion4--,when we come to consider the state of philosophy at that time the early ,christian centuries1 and the fashion which prevailed of catching at anything new1 and of uniting discordant elements into fanciful systems1 we shall not be surprised to find the doctrines of the gospel disguised and altered1 and that1 according to the language of that age1 many new heresies were formed4--,burton's ,brampton ,lectures4 #i4 ,the ,mysteries of ,religion ,deepened ,through ,attempted ,explanation4--,that devout and reverential simplicity of the first ages of the church1 which taught men to believe when ,god speaks1 and obey when ,god commands1 appeared to most of the doctors of this age the fifth century to be unphilosophical and becoming only in the vulgar4 ,many of those1 however1 who attempted to explain and illustrate these doctrines1 opened the way rather to disputation than for a rational faith and a holy life2 for they did not so much explain1 as involve in greater obscurity1 and darken with ambiguous terms and incomprehensible distinctions the deep mysteries of revealed religion4 ,and hence arose abundant matter for difficulties1 contentions and animosities which flowed down to succeeding ages1 and which #agh can scarcely be removed by the efforts of human power4 ,it hardly need be remarked1 that some1 while pressing their adversaries1 incautiously fell into errors of an opposite character which were no less dangerous4--,mosheim4 #aj4 ,immaterialists are ,atheists4--,there are two classes of atheists in the world4 ,one class denies the existence of ,god in the most positive language2 the other denies his existence in duration or space4 ,one says1 ,there is no ,god2 the other says ,god is not here or there1 any more than he exists now and then4 ,the infidel says1 ,there is no such a substance as ,god4 ,the immaterialist says1 ,there is such a substance as ,god1 but it is 'without parts4' ,the atheist says1 ,there is no such substance as spirit4 ,the immaterialist says1 ,a spirit1 though he lives and acts1 occupies no room and fills no space1 in the same way and after the same manner as matter not even so much as does the minutest grain of sand4 ,the atheist does not seek to hide his infidelity2 but the immaterialist1 whose declared belief amounts to the same thing as the atheist's endeavors to hide his infidelity under the shallow covering of a few words4--,orson ,pratt 7,absurdities of ,immaterialism1 page #aa74 ,,review4 #a4 ,describe the simplicity of public worship in early ,christian times4 7,note #b1 end of section ,,iii47 #b4 ,what changes in the public worship were gradually introduced8 7,note #a74 #c4 ,what was the object in introducing these changes8 #d4 ,in what manner was incense introduced into public worship8 #e4 ,what especially obnoxious practice became prevalent in the #dth century8 #f4 ,what can you say of the worship of martyrs8 7,note #b74 #g4 ,give an account of the decline of spiritual gifts in the church4 #h4 ,on this point what difference exists between ,catholics and ,protestants8 #i4 ,what can you say of ,protestant excuses for the absence of the spiritual gifts of the gospel8 7,notes #c and #d74 #aj4 ,what does the absence of spiritual gifts prove8 #aa4 ,in what way were grievous offenses punished by the church8 #ab4 ,what ceremonies finally became associated with excommunication8 #ac4 ,what temporal punishments were sometimes associated with excommunication8 #agi #ad4 ,what can you say of the mingling of pagan philosophy with the ,christian religion8 #ae4 ,give the scriptural doctrine respecting ,god4 #af4 ,give an instance from scripture where the personages of the ,godhead are seen to be distinct4 #ag4 ,in what does the oneness of the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost consist8 7,note #e47 #ah4 ,how did the early ,christians regard the scriptural doctrine of the ,godhead8 #ai4 ,by what means did men at last try to explain the revelation8 #bj4 ,give the ,gnostic idea respecting ,god4 #ba4 ,how did the ,gnostics account for the creation of the world8 #bb4 ,in what way did the ,gnostics avoid making ,god the author of evil8 #bc4 ,what is the nature of man according to the ,gnostic philosophy8 #bd4 ,what did the ,gnostic philosophy look to as the culmination between the struggle of man with evil8 #be4 ,in what light did the ,gnostics look upon ,jesus ,christ8 #bf4 ,what fanciful theory did some of them hold respecting him8 7,note #g74 #bg4 ,to what two modes of life did the ,gnostic philosophy lead8 #bh4 ,what was the new ,platonic philosophy8 #bi4 ,what was ,plato's idea of ,god8 #cj4 ,in what way was there an attempt to harmonize the philosophy of ,plato with the writings of ,st ,john8 #ca4 ,state the orthodox doctrine respecting ,deity in those times4 #cb4 ,state the ,sabellian theory4 #cc4 ,give an illustration of it4 #cd4 ,state the ,arian theory4 #ce4 ,in what way did the ,nicene ,council decide the trinity controversy8 #cf4 ,what confession did ,athanasius make as to his inability to comprehend the ,nicene creed8 #cg4 ,what great error resulted from the controversy on the nature of ,deity8 #ch4 ,what passages of scripture refute the orthodox ,christian notion that ,god is immaterial8 #ci4 ,how from reason would you refute the notion that ,god is an immaterial ,being8 #ahj ,,section ,,vi4 #a4 ,departure from ,moral ,precepts of the ,gospel4--,there was as wide a departure from the moral precepts of the gospel among the ,christians as there was from the doctrines1 ordinances and government of the church4 ,from the nature of the reproofs1 the admonitions and warnings to be found in the epistles of the apostles to the churches1 one may see that while they yet lived the saints were prone to wickedness1 and great errors in regard to moral conduct crept into the churches4 ,the writings of the early fathers of the church who succeeded the apostles also bear witness to the continuance and increase of these errors4 #b4 ,double ,rule of ,life4--,as early as the second century the idea became prevalent that messiah had prescribed a twofold rule of moral conduct2 the one ordinary1 the other extraordinary2 one for those engaged in ordinary affairs of life1 the other for persons of leisure and such as desired a higher glory in the future life4 ,this led the early ,christian doctors to divide whatsoever had been taught by the apostles in respect to ,christian life and morals1 into precepts and counsels4 ,the precepts were those laws which were equally binding on all men the counsels were binding only on those who aspired to a closer union with ,god4 #c4 ,of course there soon appeared a class of persons who sought to attain to this closer union2 and they adopted the method of life practiced among the pagan philosophers who wished to excel in virtue4 ,they considered many things forbidden to them which were proper for ordinary ,christians to #aha indulge in2 such as wine1 flesh1 matrimony1 and secular business4 ,they thought the holiness of life they aspired to could sooner be attained by emaciating the body by fastings1 watchings1 excessive toil1 hunger1 insufficient and coarse raiment4 ,in short1 they thought to merit heaven by making earth a hell4 ,those who engaged in this kind of life soom came to distinguish themselves by their dress as well as by the austerity of their lives4 ,they soon began to withdraw themselves from association with their fellow ,christians and the world and retire to the deserts and the wilderness1 where by severe meditation they sought to abstract their minds from external objects and those things which minister to sensual delights4 ,they sometimes lived alone but oftener in association with those devoted to the same manner of life4 #d4 ,when peace was assured to the ,christian church1 early in the fourth century1 the number of those who became ambitious for this austere righteousness greatly increased1 until vast multitudes of monk and sacred virgins spread with remarkable rapidity throughout ,christendom4 ,about the year #cje1 ,a4 ,d41 the practice of collecting these people into associated communities and regulating their mode of living by fixed rules was introduced4 ,st ,anthony of ,egypt was the prime mover in this work4 ,thus monasteries and nunneries were established2 and in a short time the east1 especially1 swarmed with persons who abandoned the conveniences1 associations and business of ordinary life1 to pine away in these institutions and hardships and sufferings1 in order to attain a closer communion with ,god and a more excellent salvation4 #e4 ,origin of the ,false ,idea of ,moral ,life4--,the ,christian church would have remained free from these numerous tortures of the mond and body1 remarks ,dr4 ,mosheim1 had not that great and fascinating doctrine of the ancient philosophy gained credence among ,christians that to attain to happiness and communion with ,god1 the soul must be freed from the influence #ahb of the body1 and for this purpose the body must be subdued4 #ajj #f4 ,as a further evidence that these false notions of life and virtue came from the pagan philosophy rather than from the ,christian religion1 we quote again from ,mosheim3 ,the causes of this institution austere method of life are at hand4 ,first1 the ,christians did not like to appear inferior to the ,greeks1 the ,romans1 and the other people2 among whom were many philosophers and sages1 who were distinguished from the vulgar by their dress and their whole mode of life1 and who were held in high honor4 ,now among these philosopher 7as is well known71 none better pleased the ,christians than the ,platonists and ,pythagoreans ,pyth-a-go-re-ans2 who are known to have recommended two modes of living1 the one for philosophers who wished to excel in virtue1 and the other for the people engaged in the common affairs of life4#aja ,the ,platonists prescribed the following rules for philosophers3 ,the mind of a wise man must be withdrawn1 as far as possible1 from the contagious influence of the body1 and as the oppressive load of the body and social intercourse are most adverse to this design1 therefore all sensual gratifications are to be avoided2 the body is to be sustained or rather mortified1 with coarse and slender fare2 solitude is to be sought for2 and the mind is to be self-collected1 and absorbed in contemplation1 so as to be detached as much as possible from the body4 ,whoever lives in this manner1 shall in the present life have converse with ,god2 and when freed from the load of the body1 shall ascend without delay to the celestial mansions and shall not need1 like the souls of other men1 to undergo purgation4#ajb #g4 ,it will be remembered that the ,christians adopted the pagan philosophy--of which the teachings of ,plato were the basis--and employed it to explain the ,christian religion4 ,it is #ahc not surprising1 therefore1 that they adopted its moral precepts1 and by so doing corrupted that reasonable and healthy moral life enjoined upon all alike in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 #h4 ,celibacy of the ,clergy4--,from the same source came the celibacy of the clergy4 ,it was considered that those who lived in wedlock were more subject to the assaults of evil spirits than those who lived in celibacy2 hence those who were appointed to teach and govern others were supposed to be all the better qualified for their work if they had nothing to do with conjugal life4 ,it was a matter1 however1 which during the first centuries was not strictly enjoined by any formal regulations of the church2 it was left for ,pope ,gregory ,,vii in the eleventh century to bind such a wicked regulation upon the clergy by express law4 ,in the third century the most shameful abuses arose out of this doctrine2 for men sought to fulfill its requirements with the least violence to their inclinations1 and many of those who had taken upon themselves vows of chastity1 took to their houses and even to their beds some one of those holy females under like vows of chastity1 yet maintained that there was no improper relations between them4 ,it is but just to say that many bishops condemned this shameful practice but it was some time before the church was rid of it1 and the scandal it created1 and even when such practices did cease openly it may well be doubted if it really ceased among those forced into such unnatural conditions4 #i4 ,deceiving and ,lying ,accounted ,virtues4--,another evil which went far toward corrupting the church was the idea that to deceive and lie are virtues when religion can be promoted by them4 ,this pernicious doctrine was accepted early in the first centuries and it accounts for the existence and circulation of that great mass of childish fable and falsehood respecting the infancy and youth of ,messiah and the miraculous1 wonder-working power of the relics of the saints and martyrs1 from which the cause of the ,christian religion has suffered so #ahd much4 ,if some inquisitive person were to examine the conduct and the writings of the greatest and most pious teachers of this century the fourth1 writes ,dr4 ,mosheim1 ,i fear he would find about all of them infected with this leprosy4 ,i cannot except ,ambrose1 nor ,hilary1 nor ,augustine1 nor ,gregory ,nazianzen nor ,jerome4 #ajc #aj4 ,immoral ,condition of the ,church in ,general4--,the wickedness of the clergy in the last centuries1 the ambition of the bishops and their imitating in their lives the voluptuousness of princes1 we have already noted in section four of part ,,ii1 and therefore little need be said here further than to remark that those vices very rapidly increased4 ,as time rolled on worldly prosperity seemed to relax the nerves of discipline4 ,fraud1 envy and malice prevailed in every congregation4 ,the presbyters aspired to the episcopal office1 which every day became an object more worthy their ambition4 ,the bishops who contended with each other for ecclesiastical pre-eminence1 appeared by their conduct to claim a secular and tyrannical power in the church2 and the lively faith which still distinguished the ,christians from the ,gentiles was shown much less in their lives than in their controversial writings4 #ajd #aa4 ,sometimes these struggles for place and power resulted in war and bloodshed4 ,such was the case in the fourth century when a new pope was to be elected to succeed ,liberius ,li-be-ri-us4 ,one party in ,rome was for one ,damasus ,dam-a-sus1 and another party for ,ursicinus ,ur-si-ci-nus4 ,the contest resulted in a bloody conflict1 houses were burned and many lost their lives4 ,in one church alone one morning after the conflict there were found one hundred and thirty-seven corpses to bear witness to the violence of the struggle for what was claimed to be the office of viceregent of ,god on earth4 #ab4 ,moral ,condition of the ,church in the ,fourth #ahe ,century4--,in the fourth century--,if we look at the lives and morals of the ,christians--we shal find1 as heretofore1 that good men were commingled with bad1 yet the number of the bad began gradually to increase1 so that the truly pious and godly appeared more rare4 when there was no more to fear from enemies from without2 when the character of most bishops was tarnished with arrogance1 luxury1 effeminacy1 animosity1 resentments1 and other defects2 when the lower clergy neglected their proper duties1 and were more attentive to controversies1 than to the promotion of piety and the instruction of the people2 when vast numbers were induced not by a rational conviction1 but by the fear of punishment and the hope of worldly advantage to enroll themselves as ,christians1 how can it surprise us1 that on all sides the vicious appeared a host1 and the pious a little band almost overpowered by them4 ,against the flagitious and those guilty of heinous offenses1 the same rules for penance were prescribed1 as before the reign of ,constantine4 ,but as the times continually waxed worse and worse1 the more honorable and powerful could sin with impunity1 and only the poor and the unfortunate felt the severity of the laws4 #aje #ac4 ,moral ,condition of the ,church in the ,fifth ,century4--,about the middle of the fifth century we have ,salvian ,sal-vi-an saying3 ,the very church which should be the body to appease the anger of ,god1 alas6 what reigns there but disorders calculated to incense the ,most ,high8 ,it is more common to meet with ,christians who are guilty of the greatest abominations than with those who are wholly exempt from crime4 ,so that today it is a sort of sanctity among us to be less vicious than the generality of ,christians4 ,we insult the majesty of the ,most ,high at the foot of his altars4 ,men1 the most steeped in crime enter the holy places without respect for them4 ,true all men ought to pay their vows to ,god1 but why should they seek his temples to propitiate him1 only to go forth to provoke him8 #ahf ,why enter the church to deplore their former sins1 and upon going forth--what do ,i say8--in those very courts the commit fresh sins1 their mouths and their hearts contradict one another4 ,their prayers are criminal meditations rather than vows of expiation4 ,scarcely is the service ended before each returns to his old practices4 ,some go to their wine1 others to their impurities1 still others to robbing and brigandage1 so that we cannot doubt that these things had been occupying them while they were in the church4 ,nor is it the lowest of the people who are thus guilty4 ,there is no rank whatever in the church which does not commit all sorts of crimes4 #ad4 ,it may be urged that we are at heart better than the barbarians who oppose us4 ,suppose this to be granted2 we ought to be better than they4 ,but as a matter of fact1 they are more virtuous than we4 ,the mass of ,christians are below the barbarians in probity4 ,true1 all kinds of sins are found among them but what one is not found among us8 ,the several nations have their peculiar sin2 the ,saxons are cruel2 the ,franks perfidious2 the ,gepidae inhuman2 the ,huns lewd4 ,but we1 having the law of ,god to restrain us1 are given over to all these offenses4 ,then to confine ourselves to the single sin of swearing1 can many be found among the faithful who have not the name of ,jesus ,christ constantly upon their lips in support of their perjuries8 ,this practice coming down from the higher to the lower classes1 has so prevailed that ,christians might be deemed pagans4 ,this1 although the law of ,god expressly forbids to take his name in vain4 ,we read this law but we do not practice it2 as a consequence the pagans taunt us that we boast ourselves the sole possessors of ,god's law1 and of the rules of truth and of what that law enjoins4 ,christians1 indeed1 to the shame of ,jesus ,christ6 say they4#ajf #ae4 ,in book ,,vi on ,the ,providence of ,god1 ,salvian continues his arraignment3 ,we rush from the churches to the theatres1 even in the midst of our perils4 ,in ,carthage the theatres were thronged while the enemy #ahg were before the walls1 and the cries of those perishing outside under the sword mingled with the shouts of the spectators in the circus4 ,nor are we better here in ,gaul 7,france74 ,treves ,trevz has been taken four times1 and has only increased in wickedness under her misfortunes4 ,the same state of things exists in ,cologne ,ko-lon--deplorable wickedness among young and old1 low and high4 ,the smaller cities have been blind and insensible to the dangers threatening1 until they have overwhelmed them4 ,it seems to be the destiny of the ,roman empire to perish rather than reform2 they must cease to be1 in order to cease to be vicious4 ,a part of the inhabitants of ,treves1 having escaped from the ruins1 petitions the emperor for--what8 ,a theatre1 spectacles1 public shows6 ,a city which thrice overthrown could not correct itself1 well deserved to suffer a fourth destruction4 99 99 99 ,would that my voice might be heard by all ,romans6 ,i would cry3 ,let us all blush that today the only cities where impurity does not reign are those which have submitted to the barbarians4 ,think not1 then1 that they conquer and we yield by the simple force of nature4 ,rather let us admit that we succumb through the dissoluteness of our morals of which our calamities are the just punishment4#ajg #af4 ,state of ,morals in ,centuries ,subsequent to the ,fifth4--,such was the condition of the ,christian church as to morals in the fifth century4 ,it was no better in the sixth or the seventh or the eighth4 ,indeed the concurrent testimony of all authorities is to the effect that matters moral and spiritual grew gradually worse in these centuries until darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the people4 ,of the ninth century ,mosheim says3 ,the ungodly lives of most of those intrusted with the care and government of the church are a subject of complaint with all the ingenuous and honest writers of this age4 ,in the east1 sinister designs1 rancor1 contentions and strife were everywhere predominant4 99 99 99 ,in the west1 the bishops hung round the courts of princes and indulged #ahh themselves in every species of voluptuousness2 while the inferior clergy and the monks were sensual1 and by the grossest vices corrupted the people whom they were set to reform4#ajh #ag4 ,state of ,morals in ,tenth ,century4--,of the tenth century ,dr4 ,milner1 who wrote his great history for the purpose of maintaining that there had been a succession of pious men since the founding of the church by ,messiah1 and to trace the goodness of ,god taking care of his church in every age by his providence1 #aji says3 ,the famous annalist of the ,roman ,church1#aaj whose partiality to the see of ,rome is notorious1 has1 however1 the candor to own that this the tenth century was an iron age1 barren of all goodness2 a leaden age1 abounding in all wickedness2 and a dark age1 remarkable above all other things for the scarcity of writers and men of learning4 ,christ was then1 as it appears1 in a very deep sleep1 when the ship was covered with waves2 and what seemed worse1 when the ,lord was thus asleep there were no disciples1 who by their cries1 might wake him1 being themselves all fast asleep4 99 99 99 ,under an allusion by no means incongruous with the oriental abd scriptural taste1 this writer ,baronius represents the divine head of the church as having given up the church for its wickedness1 to a judicial impenitency1 which continued the longer1 because there was scarcely any zealous spirits who had the charity to pray for the cause of ,god upon earth4 99 99 99 ,infidel ,malice has with pleasure recorded the vices and the crimes of the popes of this century4 ,nor is it my intention to attempt to palliate the account of their wickedness4 ,it was as deep #ahi and atrocious as language can paint2 nor can a reasonable man desire more authentic evidence of history than that which the records both of civil and ecclesiastical history afford concerning the corruption of the whole church4#aaa #ah4 ,the ,church ,destroyed4--,beyond this century it is not necessary to go4 ,the church of ,christ no longer existed in the earth4 ,the persecution of the ,jews and the ,romans1 coupled with the internal dissensions in the church2 the rise of false teachers1 who brought in damnable heresies2 the changing of the character and spirit of the church government2 the addition of pagan rites and ceremonies to the doctrines and ordinances of the gospel2 the admixture of pagan philosophy with ,christian theology2 and1 finally1 the universal departure of the church from that moral life enjoined upon mankind by the precepts of the ,christian religion--utterly subverted the religion of ,jesus ,christ1 and destroyed the church which he founded4 ,the apostasy of men from that religion and church was complete2 and since they did not like to retain ,god in their hearts1 ,god also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts4 ,see notes #a to #f1 end of section4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,admission of the ,great ,apostasy by ,christian ,writers4--,the church of ,england in its ,homily on the ,perils of ,idolatry1 says3 ,laity and clergy1 learned and unlearned1 all ages1 sects and degrees have been drowned in abominable idolatry most detested by ,god and damnable to man for eight hundred years and more4 #b4 ,in ,smith's ,dictionary of the ,bible 7page #afc7--the work is endorsed by sixty-three learned divines and ,bible scholars--the following #aij occurs3 ,we must not expect to see the church of ,christ existing in its perfection on the earth4 ,it is not to be found thus perfect1 either in the collected fragments of ,christendom1 or still less in any one of those fragments4 #c4 ,john ,wesley said that the reason why the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost were no longer to be found in the church in the dark ages was because the love of many waxed cold1 the ,christians had turned heathens again and only had a dead form left4--7,wesley's ,works1 ,vol4 vii1 sermon #hi1 pages #bf1 #bg74 #d4 ,dr4 ,adam ,clark commenting on the fourth chapter of ,ephsians--treating church officers and the gifts bestowed upon them--says3 ,all these officers and the and graces conferred upon them were adjudged necessary by the great head of the church for its full instruction in the important doctrines of ,christianity4 ,the same officers and gifts are still necessary1 and ,god gives them1 but they do not know their places4 #e4 ,roger ,williams 7,picturesque ,america1 page #ejb7 refused to continue as pastor over the oldest ,baptist church in ,america on the ground that there was no regularly constituted church on earth1 nor any person qualified to administer any church ordinance2 nor can there be until new apostles are sent by the great head of the church1 for whose coming ,i am seeking4 #e4 ,alexander ,campbell1 founder of the sect of the ,disciples1 says3 ,the meaning of this institution the kingdom of heaven has been buried under the rubbish of human tradition for hundreds of years4 ,it was lost in the dark ages and has never1 until recently1 been disinterred4--7,christianity ,restored1 page #ahd74 ,,review4 #a4 ,what may be learned from the reproofs and admonitions in the writings of the apostles and early ,christian fathers8 #b4 ,about what time did the notion arise in respect to a double rule of life8 #c4 ,what great evil grew out of this erroneous idea8 #d4 ,from whence did ,christians derive their ideas which demanded the austerities they practiced8 #e4 ,give an account of the origin of monasteries and nunneries4 #f4 ,how did the celibacy of the clergy originate8 #g4 ,when did it become an express law of the church8 #h4 ,what shameful scandal arose from this doctrine in the #crd century8 #i4 ,under what circumstances were lying and deceiving accounted virtues8 #aia #aj4 ,what evil grew out of this wicked notion8 #aa4 ,what can you say of the general moral condition of the church in the early ,christian centuries8 #ab4 ,state the moral condition of the church in the #dth century4 ,in the #eth4 #ac4 ,what of the moral state of the church subsequent to the #eth8 #ad4 ,give the substance of ,dr4 ,milner's admission concerning the moral state of the church in the #ajth century4 #ae4 ,state what several circumstances led to the destruction of the church of ,christ4 #af4 ,recount the admissions which noted ,christian writers make concerning the apostasy from the ,christian religion4 7,notes end of section74 #aib ,,section ,,vii4 ,we have considered those events that occurred in the church by which its form and spirit of government were altered1 its doctrines corrupted1 its ordinances changed1 and its truths and powers subverted4 ,we now turn to the scriptures to show that all these things were predicted by the apostles and prophets of ,god1 being foreseen by the spirit of revelation4 #a4 ,false ,teachers to ,arise in the ,church4--,on the occasion of ,paul's last visit to ,ephesus1 he had the elders assembled1 and in the course of his address to them said3 ,i have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of ,god4 ,taken heed1 therefore1 unto yourselves1 and to all the flock1 over which the ,holy ,ghost hath made you overseers1 to feed the church of ,god which he hath purchased with his own blood4 ,for ,i know this1 that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you1 not sparing the flock4 ,also of your own selves shall men arise1 speaking perverse things to lead away disciples after them4#aab #b4 ,in his second letter to ,timothy the same apostle again prophesies of the coming of these false teachers3 ,i charge thee1 therfore1 said he1 before ,god1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom2 preach the word2 be instant in season1 out of season2 reprove1 rebuke with all long suffering and doctrine4 ,for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine2 but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears2 and they the false teachers shall turn their ears from the truth1 and shall be turned unto fables4#aac #c4 ,peter also prophesied the rise of false teachers in the #aic church4 ,in his second epistle1 addressed1 to them that have obtained like precious faith1 with himself--that is1 to the saints2 after saying that prophecy in olden time came by men speaking as they were moved upon by the ,holy ,ghost2#aad he then remarks3 ,but there were false prophets also among the people that is1 among the ancient saints1 even as there shall be false teachers among you1 who privily shall bring in damnable heresies1 even denying the ,lord that bought them1 and bring upon themselves swift destruction4 ,and many shall follow their pernicious ways2 by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of4 ,and through covetousness with feigned words make merchandise of you2 whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not1 and their damnation slumbereth not4#aae #d4 ,hypocrisy and ,austerity ,predicted4--,paul also appears to have foreseen the hypocrisy that would creep into the church1 together with that useless austerity of life with which men and women would become infatuated1 and which1 became the fountain of so much corruption4 ,he thus speaks of it3 ,now the ,spirit speaketh expressly1 that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith1 giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils2 speaking lies in hypocrisy1 having their conscience seared with a hot iron2 forbidding to marry1 and commanding to abstain from meats4#aaf #e4 ,the ,rise of ,anti-,christ ,foretold4--,moreover1 the ,prophet ,paul foretold the rise of anti-,christ before the glorious coming of ,messiah to judgment4 ,he plainly foresaw the falling away--the long night of spiritual darkness and apostasy that would brood over the world before the coming of the ,son of ,god in the glory of his ,father1 to reward the righteous1 to condemn the wicked4 ,he said of this apostasy3 ,now we beseech you1 brethren1 by the coming of our ,lord ,jesus #aid ,christ and by our gathering together unto him2 that ye be not soon shaken in mind1 or be troubled1 neither by spirit nor by word1 nor by letter as from us1 as that the day of ,christ is at hand4#aag ,let no man deceive you by any means1 for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first1 and that man of sin be revealed1 the son of perdition2 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called ,god1 or that is worshiped2 so that he as ,god sitteth in the temple of ,god1 showing himself that he is ,god4 ,remember ye not that when ,i was yet with you ,i told you these things8 ,and now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his own time4 ,for the mystery of iniquity doth already work3 only he who now letteth hindereth will let will hinder#aah until he be taken out of the way4 ,and then shall that ,wicked be revealed1 whom the ,lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth1 and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming2 even him whose coming is after the working of ,satan1 with all power and signs and lying wonders1 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish2 because they received not the love of the truth1 that they might be saved4 ,and for this cause ,god shall send them strong delusions1 that they should believe a lie2 that they all might be damned who believe not the truth1 but had pleasure in unrighteousness4 #aai #f4 ,isaiah's ,great ,prophecy of the ,apostasy4--,isaiah also prophesied of the universal apostasy from the gospel of ,christ4 ,after describing the earth as mourning and fading away1 together with its haughty people1 he said3 ,the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof2 because they have transgressed the laws1 changed the ordinance1 broken the everlasting covenant4 ,therefore hath the curse devoured the earth1 and they that dwell therein are desolate3 therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned1 and few men left4 #abj #g4 ,it is sometimes claimed that this prophecy refers to the ,mosaic law1 and the ,mosaic covenant1 instead of the gospel of ,christ4 ,the answer to such claim is that the prophecy has reference to an everlasting covenant that is to be broken2 and the ,mosaic law or covenant1 never was intended to be an everlasting covenant1 while the gospel of ,christ is such a covenant4 ,paul said3 ,the scripture1 foreseeing that ,god would justify the heathen through faith1 preached before the gospel to ,abraham4 99 99 99 ,wherefore then serveth the law that is1 if the gospel was preached unto ,abraham1 of what use is the law of ,moses--the law of carnal commandments--how came it into existence8 ,it was added because of transgression1 till the seed ,christ should come1 to whom the promise was made4 99 99 99 ,wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto ,christ1 that we might be justified by faith4 ,but after that faith is come1 we are no longer under a schoolmaster4 #aba #h4 ,from this it appears that the gospel was preached in very ancient times2 that afterwards1 because of transgression--doubtless apostasy--the law of ,moses was added1 or given in the place of the gospel1 that it might act as a schoolmaster to bring the people to ,christ1 that is1 prepare them for the gospel4 ,therefore1 when the gospel was introduced by the personal ministry of ,messiah1 the law of ,moses--the carnal law--having served its purpose1 was set aside1 and the gospel was reinstated4 ,it will be seen1 therefore1 that the ,mosaic law was not an everlasting covenant1 but a temporary law1 given for a specific purpose1 having accomplished which it is supplanted by a more excellent law and covenant4 ,it is clear that ,isaiah's great prophecy had no reference to the law of ,moses1 but to an everlasting covenant which was to be broken1 its ordinance changed1 its laws transgressed4 ,that covenant is the gospel of #aif ,jesus ,christ1 whose blood is spoken of as the blood of the everlasting covenant4 #abb #i4 ,moreover the prophecy ends by saying that in consequence of the transgression of the law1 the changing of the ordinance1 the breaking of the covenant1 the inhabitants of the earth are burned1 and few men left4 ,this predicted calamity did not overtake the people for breaking the ,mosaic law4 ,it has not yet taken place4 ,it is a judgment still hanging over mankind for their great apostasy from the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 #aj4 ,john's ,vision ,foreshadowing the ,apostasy4--,among the many revelations given to the ,apostle ,john while a prisoner on the ,isle of ,patmos was one in which he saw an angel fly in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth1 and to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 saying with a loud voice1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him2 for the hour of his judgment is come3 and worship him that made heaven1 and earth1 and the sea1 and the fountains of waters4 #abc ,from this it is learned that in the hour of ,god's judgment the gospel will be brought to the earth by an angel1 and thence proclaimed to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 a very good evidence that in the hour of ,god's judgment all the world would be without the gospel1 or why this restoration at that time and its universal proclamation if the nations at the time indicated already possessed it8 #aa4 ,thus through revelation the ancient prophets foresaw the great apostasy from the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,we who live now after the great event has occurred1 in the light of historical facts1 see it no more plainly than did these ancient servants of ,god through the gift of prophecy4 ,they read the history of it by the light of revelation1 we by the light of history1 and the former is a light no less certain than the latter4 #aig ,,review4 #a4 ,by what means were the apostles and still more ancient prophets made acquainted with the great apostasy from the ,christian religion8 #b4 ,repeat the several prophecies concerning the rise of false teachers in the church4 #c4 ,give the passage which predicts the rise of hypocrisy and austerity of life4 #d4 ,in what passage of ,paul's writings is the rise of anti-,christ predicted8 #e4 ,what does letteth and let in this passage mean8 ,give proof4 #f4 ,state in what way ,paul's great prophecy has been fulfilled4 #g4 ,state ,isaiah's great prophecy respecting the apostasy4 #h4 ,what objection may be urged to our application of this prophecy8 #i4 ,how would you meet the objection8 #aj4 ,what great judgment is still pending over the world because of their wicked apostasy8 #aa4 ,what vision given to ,st4 ,john on ,patmos foreshadowed a universal apostasy8 #ab4 ,if the gospel from the time it was established on the earth by ,messiah's personal ministry had continued with men until now1 would there be any necessity for restoring it to the earth in the hour of ,god's judgment8 #ac4 ,was the fact of the apostasy read by the light of the spirit of prophecy less clear than when by the light of historical facts8 #aih ,,section ,,viii4 #a4 ,the ,nephite ,christian ,church4--,for nearly two centuries the ,nephite ,christian church flourished in great prosperity4 ,for that length of time the truth seems to have been preserved in its fullness1 and the church in its unity4 ,with the third century1 however1 began that apostasy which eventually terminated by a complete subversion of the church of ,christ on the ,western hemisphere4 #b4 ,pride of ,wealth and ,class ,distinctions4--,the peace and righteousness of two centuries brought great prosperity and wealth to the ,nephite ,christians--to the entire western hemisphere2 but the commencement of the third century began to develop the fact that pride was pressing fast upon the heels of that prosperity4 ,up to the commencement of the third century the ,nephite ,christians had all things common2 but early in the third century that order of things was broken up4 ,class distinctions arose1 men began to pride themselves on their fine apparel and jewels4 ,they began to build churches to get gain1 and to deny the true church of ,christ4 ,others1 professing to be ,christians1 denied much of that which ,messiah taught1 and administered that which was sacred to those to whom it had been forbidden1 because of unworthiness4 #c4 ,the ,anti-,christian ,church ,persecutions4--,there also arose an anti-,christian church1 which persecuted the true church1 despising the members thereof because of their humility1 and hating them because of the power of ,god which was with them4 ,among the twelve apostles whom ,jesus selected from the ,nephites three desired that they might remain upon the earth until ,messiah should come in his glory4 #aii ,this request was granted them1 and their bodies were changed that they were not subject to death4 ,they had remained with the church up to the time of which we write1 and against them the anti-,christian church was especially embittered4 ,the apostates sought to kill them as the ,jews at ,jerusalem tried to kill ,jesus2 they cast them into prison and into dens of wild beasts2 but the ,lord delivered them from prisons1 murders and the wild beasts1 and that by the manifestations of his power4 ,yet the miracles did not convert their ungodly persecutors1 and the wicked increased rapidly in numbers4 #d4 ,revival of ,old ,distinctions4--,soon the ancient distinctions between ,nephites and ,lamanites which for two centuries had been buried in oblivion1 began to be employed to designate the two peoples which gradually began to be formed4 ,the true ,christians were called ,nephites1 and their enemies ,lamanite4 ,all the old bitterness which attached to the names in former times was revived4 #e4 ,it was but a few years after the apostasy began before the wicked outnumbered the righteous4 ,for a while the name ,nephites designated the true followers of ,messiah1 but soon they became as proud and as wicked as the ,lamanites1 and righteousness was subverted4 #f4 ,revival of ,secret ,organizations4--,the old secret societies were revived for robbery and plunder4 ,early in the fourth century 7#cbj ,a4 ,d47 ,ammoran1 who had charge of the ,nephite records1 hid them up1 revealing the place of their concealment only to ,mormon1 a lad then ten years of age1 giving him a charge to go1 when he was twenty-four years old1 and take the plates of ,nephi and record on them the things he had witnessed among the people4 ,about the same time the three ,nephite apostles disappeared from among the people2 the church no longer being worthy of their administrations1 the ,lord took them away4 ,all miracles1 healings1 and other spiritual manifestations ceased4 ,mormon1 a historian and a #bjj righteous man1 remained with them1 but he was forbidden to preach to them4 ,a black pall of spiritual darkness settled over the land and the minds of the people4 #g4 ,an ,attempt to ,reorganize the ,church4--,forty years later1 after a series of disastrous wars1 by which one might reasonably expect the ,nephites would be humbled and brought to seek the ,lord1 an attempt to re-establish the church was made4 ,mormon received a commandment to preach repentance and baptism to the people1 a commandment which he willingly obeyed2 but all to no purpose4 ,the people would not repent4 ,they hardened their hearts against ,god and made themselves fit only for destruction4 #h4 ,utter ,destruction of the ,nephites4--,that destruction was not very remote4 ,towards the close of that century which witnessed the climax of their wickedness saw their destruction4 ,by permission of the ,lamanites the ,nephites assembled about the hill called by them ,cumorah and prepared for the last great struggle4 ,it took place in the year #che ,a4 ,d41 and resulted in the entire destruction of the ,nephite people1 except1 perhaps1 a few who fled southward4 ,mormon was slain1 and his son1 the last of the ,nephites1 was preserved to record the destruction and the desolation which followed it1 and hid up the records of the great race which had founded kingdoms and republics upon the western hemisphere that would vie with those of ,persia1 ,macedonia or ,greece2 and cities that in extent and grandeur must have equalled those of ,antioch1 ,alexandria1 ,tyre or ,sidon4 #i4 ,the ,reign of ,anarchy4--,that civilization was destroyed1 the empires and republics were overthrown1 government was destroyed1 anarchy reigned4 ,the people1 chiefly ,lamanites1 who survived the terrible conflict about ,cumorah1 broke up into tribes1 each fiercely contending with the other4 ,cities were laid waste to crumble into shapeless heaps of ruin1 with here and there a monument that defied the ravages of time and #bja proudly stood a silent witness of the greatness of the departed race which reared it4 ,such was the apostasy on the western hemisphere1 and such the result which followed it4 ,,review4 #a4 ,for how long did the ,nephite ,christian church keep the faith8 #b4 ,in the third century what occurred8 #c4 ,on what were their class distinctions based8 #d4 ,state what you can of the rise and course of the anti-,christian church4 #e4 ,what of the rise of old distinctions8 #f4 ,what old organizations were revived in the fourth century8 #g4 ,what attempt was made to reorganize the church8 #h4 ,where were the ,nephites destroyed8 #i4 ,what followed the destruction of the ,nephites8 ,footnotes #a4 ,these statements are sustained in the following scriptures4 ,matt4 x3#af-dj2 ,luke vi3#bb-bf2 ,john xv3#ah-bb4 #b4 ,acts vii3 #ee-fj4 #c4 ,acts xii3 #a1 #b4 #d4 ,eusebius ,bk4 ,,ii1 ch4 xxiii4 #e4 ,acts xii4 #f4 ,mosheim ,part ,i1 ch4 v4 #g4 ,matt4 xxvii3 #bb-be4 #h4 ,josephus' ,wars of the ,jews1 ,bk4 vi1 ch4 ix4 #i4 ,luke xxi3 #e-i1 #bj-bd4 #aj4 ,eusebius ,bk4 ,,iii1 ch4 v4 ,the ,saints were also warned to flee from ,jerusalem by ,messiah himself when they should see armies begin to encompass it4--,see ,luke xxi3 #bj-bd4 #aa4 ,decline and ,fall ,vol4 ,i1 ch4 #a4 #ab4 ,annals lib4 xv1 ch4 #dd4 #ac4 ,decline and ,fall ,i1 ch4 xvi4 ,see also ,guizot's note on same page4 #ad4 ,this is according to the testimony of ,eusebius1 quoting ,hagesippus and ,tertullian4 7,eusebius ,book ,,iii1 ch4 xx74 ,but other authorities claim that ,domitian's edicts against the ,christians were not revoked until after his death4 #ae4 ,mosheim's ,eccl4 ,hist4 ,i4 ,second ,cent4 ch4 ii4 #af4 ,decline and ,fall1 vol4 ,i1 ch4 xvi4 #ag4 ,eusebius ,eccle4 ,hist4 ,bk4 v1 ch4 i and ii4 #ah4 ,decline and ,fall1 vol4 ,i1 ch4 xvi4 #ai4 ,mosheim's ,eccl4 ,his4 vol4 ,i1 cent4 iii1 ch4 ii4 #bj4 ,mosheim's ,eccl4 ,hist4 vol4 ,i1 cent4 iv1 ch4 i4 #ba4 ,quoted by ,murdock in ,mosheim4--,see note--,mosheim ,eccl4 ,hist4 vol4 ,i1 p4 #baj4 #bb4 ,revelation ch4 xiii3 #a-g4 #bc4 ,according to ,eusebius1 however1 ,helena was converted to ,christianity by her son4--,de ,veta ,constantine ,i1 iii1 ch3 #dg4 #bd4 ,constantine had caused to be put to death1 through jealousy and on what1 to say the least1 was very slight and very suspicious testimony1 his son ,crispus1 his wife ,fausta1 and his brother-in-law ,licinius4 #be4 ,decline and ,fall1 vol4 ,i1 ch4 xvi4 #bf4 ,decline and ,fall vol4 ,i1 ch4 xvi4 #bg4 ,mosheim vol4 ,i1 ,book i1 part ii1 ch4 iv4 #bh4 ,acts ii3 #da4 ,acts viii3 #ab1 #ce-dj4 #bi4 ,that exorcism was not annexed to baptism till some time in the third century1 and after the admission of the ,platonic philosophy into the church1 may almost be demonstrated4 ,the ceremonies used at baptism in the second century are described by ,justin ,martyr in his second apology1 and by ,tertullian in his book de ,corono ,militas4 ,but neither makes mention of exorcism4 ,this is a cogent argument to prove that it was admitted by ,christians after the times of these fathers1 and of course in the third century4 ,egypt perhaps first received it4 ,murdock's ,mosheim vol4 ,i1 p4 #aij4--7,note47 #cj4 ,mosheim vol4 ,i1 book i1 part ii1 ch4 iv4 #ca4 ,according to ,schlegel1 the so-called apostolic constitution 7b4 viii1 ch4 #cb7 enjoined a three years' course of preparation2 yet with allowance of some exceptions4 #cb4 ,that is1 the evening preceding the day on which ,messiah is supposed to have arisen from the dead1 and the evening preceding the seventh ,sunday after ,easter1 the anniversary of ,pentecost when the ,holy ,ghost was poured out upon the ,apostles in a remarkable manner 7,acts ii47 #cc4 ,mosheim vol4 ,i1 book ii1 part ii4 ch4 iv4 #cd4 ,cyprian's ,epistles1 letter #gf4 #ce4 ,eusebius ,eccl4 ,hist4 b4 vi1 ch4 #dc4 #cf4 ,milner's ,church ,hist4 vol4 ,i pp4 #dbi1 #dcj4 #cg4 ,such is the opinion of ,milner--,church ,hist4 vol4 ,i4 p4 #dcj4 #ch4 ,the ,lord ,jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread3 and when he had given thanks1 he brake it1 and said1 ,take1 eat2 this is my body which is broken for you2 this do in remembrance of me4 ,after the same manner also he took the cup1 when he had supped1 saying3 ,this cup is the new testament in my blood2 this do ye1 as oft as ye drink it1 in remembrance of me4 ,for as often as ye eat this bread1 and drink this cup1 ye do show the ,lord's death till he come4--,paul to the ,corinthians4 7,i ,cor4 xi3 #bc-bf47 #ci4 ,these facts are clearly taught by ,messiah when he established the sacrament among the ,nephites2 and of course it was established among the ,jews for the same purpose that it was among the ,nephites4 ,after having broken the bread and blessed it1 and passed it to the multitude1 ,messiah said3 ,this shall ye do in remembrance of my body1 which ,i have shown unto you4 ,and it shall be a testimony unto the ,father that ye do always remember me4 ,and if you do always remember me1 ye shall have my ,spirit to be with you4 ,so when he had administered the wine3 ,blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done2 99 99 99 this doth witness unto the ,father that ye are willing to do that which ,i have commanded you2 and this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name2 and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood which ,i have shed for you1 that ye may witness unto the ,father that ye do always remember me4 ,and if ye do always remember me1 ye shall have my ,spirit to be with you4--,,iii ,nephi1 xviii4 ,see also ,moroni1 iv and v1 where the prayer of consecration is given4 #dj4 ,mosheim's ,ecclesiastical ,history1 vol4 ,i1 book i1 cent4 iii1 part #b1 chapter iv4 ,the banishment of unbaptized people from sacrament meetings was forbidden among the ,nephites by ,messiah4 ,,iii ,nephi xviii3 #bb-bc4 #da4 ,protestants combating the ,catholic idea of the real presence of the flesh and blood in the eucharist--transubstantiation--have endeavored to prove that this doctrine was not of earlier origin than the eighth century4 ,in this1 however1 the evidence is against them4 ,ignatius1 bishop of ,antioch1 writing early in the second century says of certain supposed heretics3 ,they do not admit of eucharists and oblations1 because they do not believe the eucharist to be the flesh of our ,savior ,jesus ,christ1 who suffered for our sins4 7,epistles of ,ignatius to the ,smyrneans47 ,so ,justin ,martyr1 also writing in the first half of the second century3--,we do not receive them the bread and the win as ordinary food or ordinary drink2 but as by the word of ,god ,jesus ,christ1 our ,savior1 was made flesh and took upon him both flesh and blood for our salvation1 so also the food which was blessed by the prayer of the word which proceeded from him1 and from which our flesh and blood1 by transmutation1 receive nourishment1 is1 we are taught1 both the flesh and blood of that ,jesus who was made flesh4 7,justin's ,apology to ,emperor ,antonius47 ,after ,justin's time the testimony of the fathers is abundant4 ,there can be no doubt as to the antiquity of the idea of the real presence of the body and blood of ,jesus in the eucharist2 but that proves--as we said of infant baptism--not that the doctrine is true1 but that soon after the apostles had passed away1 the simplicity of the gospel was corrupted or else entirely departed from4 #db4 ,luke xxii4 ,matt4 xxvi4 ,,iii ,nephi xviii4 #dc4 ,it will be remembered that the quorum of the twelve was perpetuated on the western hemisphere by filling up vacancies as fast as they occurred 7,,iv ,nephi3 #ad71 but for how long a period is uncertain4 #dd4 ,acts xv3 #a-cj4 ,rev4 i-iv4 #de4 ,during a greater part of this century 7the second7 all the churches continued to be1 as at the first1 independent of each other4 99 99 99 ,each church was a kind of small republic1 governing itself by its own laws1 enacted or at least sanctioned by the people4--,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,mosheim ,vol4 ,i1 book ii1 cent4 ii1 part ii1 ch4 ii4 #df4 ,as might be expected1 however1 there was a peculiar respect paid to the churches founded by the apostles--the church at ,jerusalem1 ,antioch1 ,ephesus1 ,corinth1 ,rome4 ,those churches were appealed to in controversies on points of doctrine1 as most likely to know what the apostles taught1 but the appeal had no other significance than that4 #dg4 ,clement1 the third bishop of ,rome1 is my authority for the above statement4 ,it appears that the ,corinthians had deposed some of their bishops1 and ,clement in an epistle which he wrote to them said3 ,our apostles knew through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ that there would be strife over the name of the bishop's office4 ,for this cause therefore1 having received complete foreknowledge1 they appointed the aforesaid persons the bishops1 and afterward they provided a continuance i4e41 gave instructions that if these should fall asleep1 other approved men should succeed to their ministration4 ,those therefore who were appointed by other men of repute with the consent of the whole church1 and have ministered unblamably 99 99 99 these men we consider to be unjustly thrust out of their ministration4--,see also ,gibbon's ,decline and ,fall1 vol4 ,i1 ch4 xv4 #dh4 ,eccl4 ,hist4 7,mosheim7 vol4 ,i1 bk4 i1 cent4 iii1 part ii1 ch4 ii4 #di4 ,dr4 ,mosheim in his ,institutes of ,ecclesiastical ,history states that next to the patriarchs were bishops called exarchs2 but this his translator 7,murdock7 denies4 ,certain it is1 however1 that there were bishops who presided over several provinces1 just as the civil exarchs did4 ,these ,mosheim may have considered as corresponding to the civil exarchs2 while his translator insists that they were merely the first metropolitans of the civil dioceses4 ,the difference seems to be one of terms rather than of facts2 but there is this to say in favor of the translator1 that the bishops exercising jurisdiction over several provinces did not correspond to the number of civil exarchs4 ,there was not an exarch bishop over each civil diocese1 and perhaps this is the reason the learned translator objects to the term of ecclesiastical exarch4 #ej4 ,in course of time the terms arch-bishop and metropolitan came to be used interchangeably4 #ea4 ,matt4 xvi3#ai4 #eb4 ,irenaeus against ,heresy1 bk4 ,,iii1 ch4 iii3 #b1 #c4 #ec4 ,matt4 xvi3#ae-ah4 #ed4 ,st4 ,john i3#db4 #ee4 ,the words of ,christ to ,peter1 spoken in the vulgar language of the ,jews1 which our ,lord made use of1 were the same as if he had said in ,english3 ,thou art a rock1 and upon this rock ,i will build my church4 ,so that by the plain course of the words ,peter is here declared to be the rock upon which the church was to be built4--,footnote in ,douay ,bible on these passages4 #ef4 ,as if it read3 ,flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee1 but my ,father which is in heaven2 and ,i say unto thee1 ,peter1 upon this principle ,i will build my church4 #eg4 ,matt4 xxviii3#ah-bj4 #eh4 ,milner's ,end of ,religious ,controversy--,letter xxviii4 #ei4 ,orson ,pratt's ,works1 ,divine ,authenticity1 ,no4#c4 #fj4 ,milner's ,church ,hist4 ,vol4 ,,iii1 pp4 #ec1 #fi--note4 #fa4 ,see ,bossuet's ,universal ,history1 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #eeh4 ,j4 ,andrew ,cramer1 ,german translation4 #fb4 ,see ,eccl4 ,hist4 7,mosheim7 bk4 ,,iii1 part ii1 ch4 ii3#f4 #fc4 ,eccl4 ,hist4 7,mosheim7 bk4 ,,iii1 part ii1 ch4 ii3#aa4 #fd4 ,the cardinals are senators of the church and counselors of the successors of ,st4 ,peter4 ,there are now three orders of cardinals1 viz41 bishops1 priests and deacons2 six of these are bishops1 fifty are priests and fourteen deacons4 ,sixtus ,v4 between ,a4 ,d4 #aehe and #aeij fixed the number of cardinals at seventy in order to imitate the ancient ,sanhedrin of the ,jews which was composed of seventy elders1 and it is this assembly which is now called the ,sacred ,college4--,history of all religions 7,burder7 p4 #ccf4 #fe4 ,apologists of the popes may say what they will about purchased indulgences not being intended to remit sins1 or a grant of permission to commit sin2 and claim that they are only a remission of the whole or part of the temporal punishment due to sin4 ,but if indulgences remit the temporal penalties of sins1 what is that but the remission of sin or at least of its effects1 which1 for all practical purposes1 would be the same as remission of sin8 ,and if penalties attached to sins are set aside in advance of the commission of the sins1 what is that but a license to commit sin8 ,come1 said ,tetzel1 in selling indulgences in ,germany early in the #afth century1 come and ,i will give you letters all properly sealed1 by which even the sins that you intend to commit may be pardoned4 99 99 99 ,there is no sin so great but that an indulgence cannot remit4--,hist4 ,reformation1 ,d',aubigne's1 bk4 ,,iii1 ch4 i4 ,tetzel defends this doctrine in his ,antithesis #ii1 #ajj1 #aja4 ,see note #h1 end of section4 #ff4 ,,ii ,thess4 ii3#d4 #fg4 ,page #abg4 #fh4 ,mosheim4 #fi4 ,tertullian's ,apology1 ch4 xlii4 #gj4 ,mosheim's ,eccl4 ,hist4 vol4 ,i1 bk1 ii1 part ii1 ch4 #d4 #ga4 ,historie de ,manicheism1 tom ii1 page #fdb4 #gb4 ,eccl4 ,hist4 7,mosheim7 vol4 ,i1 bk4 ii1 part ii4 #gc4 ,i ,cor4 xii3 #h-aj4 #gd4 ,that it was proper for the ,christian bishops to increase the restraints upon the licentiousness of transgression1 will be readily granted by all who consider the circumstances of those times4 ,but whether it was for the advantage of ,christianity1 to borrow rules for this salutary ordinance from the enemies of truth1 and thus to consecrate1 as it were1 a part of the pagan superstition1 many persons very justly call in question4--,eccl4 ,hist4 7,mosheim7 book ,i1 cent4 #b1 part ii1 ch4 iii4 #ge4 ,gen4 i3#bf1 #bg4 ,jesus ,christ was in the form of man1 yet he is said to be the express image of ,god's person--,heb4 i3 #a-b4 #gf4 ,matt4 iii3 #af1 #ag4 #gg4 ,acts vii3 #ee1 #ef4 #gh4 ,john x3 #cj1 and ,john xiv3 #h-aa4 #gi4 ,john xvii3 #aa1 #ba4 #hj4 ,john xiv3 #bf4 ,john xv3 #bf4 ,john xvi3 #ac-ae4 #ha4 ,john xvii3 #d1 #e4 #hb4 ,heb4 iv3 #b4 #hc4 ,john i3#c4 ,see note #f1 end of section4 #hd4 ,some authorities say seven pairs were introduced in this manner4 #he4 ,the statement is condensed from ,mosheim2 ,dr4 ,benton1 for years professor of divinity at ,oxford1 in his ,brampton lectures states that the matter was inert and powerless though co-eternal with the supreme ,god1 and1 like ,him1 without beginning4 #hf4 ,the ,gnostics desired to avoid making ,god the author of evil1 hence it is a leading principle in their philosophy that all evil has its origin in matter1 and as matter was created by one of the ,aeons1 not by ,god1 the ,lord in the ,gnostic system is relieved from the responsibility of being the author of evil4 #hg4 ,the statement of the ,gnostic philosophy ,i have condensed from ,mosheim and ,dr4 ,benton1 than whom there can be no higher authority on this subject4 #hh4 ,gibbon's ,decline and ,fall1 vol4 ii1 ch4 xxii4 #hi4 ,the subject is difficult of illustration2 but the following will perhaps aid the student to grasp the ,sabellian doctrine4 ,we see the ocean is a liquid2 let us next imagine it frozen into solid ice2 next as entirely dissolved into vapor4 ,here we have the same substance in three different aspects1 but whether we speak of it as the liquid ocean1 the frozen ocean or the ocean dissolved into vapor1 it is always the same ocean1 the same substance1 but under different aspects4 ,whether he appeared as the ,father1 the ,son or the ,holy ,ghost1 he was always the same ,god4 ,such was the ,sabellian theory in respect to ,deity4 ,mosheim represents ,sabellius as teaching that the divine nature was divided into portions1 that one portion became separate1 was called the ,son1 and was joined to the man ,jesus4 ,the ,holy ,ghost was a similar portion or part of the ,eternal ,father4 ,the weight of authority is against the learned ,doctor in this matter1 however1 and in favor of the statement of ,sabellius' views in the text of this work4 #ij4 ,this is the ,nicene ,creed as it was formulated by that celebrated council4 ,the so-called ,nicene ,creed used in the ,catholic1 ,lutheran and ,english ,churches is this creed as modified by the ,council of ,constantinople1 ,a4 ,d41 #cha4 ,there is no material difference in them4 #ia4 ,mosheim1 ,gibbon1 ,montfaucon and others insist that ,athanasius is not the author of this creed1 and this may be true1 but ,i have not yet heard of its being rejected as an explanation of the ,nicene ,creed4 ,indeed1 notwithstanding its authenticity has long been suspected1 it still stands in the ,english prayer book and is recited in the church of ,england service upon the most notable feasts1 ,christmas1 ,epiphany etc4 #ib4 ,church of ,england ,book of ,common ,prayer1 p4 #di ,athanasius is credited with having confessed that whenever he forced his understanding to meditate on the divinity of the ,logos1 his toilsome and unavailing efforts recoiled on themselves2 that the more he thought1 the less he comprehended2 and the more he wrote1 the less capable was he of expressing his thoughts4 7,decline and ,fall1 vol4 ,,ii1 ch4 xxi47 ,we would naturally think that whoever the author of the ,athanasian ,creed may be1 that such would be his mental condition4 ,nor are we very much surprised when we hear ,gennadius1 patriarch of ,constantinople1 frankly pronouncing it the work of a drunken man4 #ic4 ,catholic ,belief 7,bruno7 p4 #a4 ,this work is endorsed by ,his eminence ,cardinal ,manning4 #id4 ,church of ,england ,book of ,common ,prayer1 p4 #caa4 #ie4 ,gen4 i3 #bf1 #bg4 #if4 ,heb4 i3 #c4 #ig4 ,phil4 ii3 #e1 #f4 #ih4 ,it is remarkable how clearly men will reason upon the absurdity of immaterialism in everything except in respect to ,god4 ,as an example1 take the reasoning of ,rev4 ,john ,wesley in regard to the supposed immateriality of the fire in hell3 ,but it has been questioned by some whether there be any fire in hell2 that is1 any material fire4 ,nay1 if there be any fire it is unquestionably material4 ,for what is immaterial fire8 ,the same as immaterial water or earth6 ,both the one and the other is absolute nonsense1 a contradiction in terms4 ,either1 therefore1 we must affirm it to be material1 or we deny its existence4 ,now apply that correct reasoning to the immaterial ,god of the orthodox ,christian and what is the result8 ,let us try the experiment by substituting the word ,god1 for the word fire in the quotation3--,but it is questioned by some whether there be any ,god1 that is1 any material ,god4 ,nay1 if there be any ,god1 he is unquestionably material4 ,for what is an immaterial ,god8 ,the same as immaterial water or earth6 both the one and the other that is1 both immaterial ,god and immaterial earth is absolute nonsense1 a contradiction in terms4 ,either1 therefore1 we must affirm him to be material1 or we deny his existence4 #ii4 ,,ii ,peter ii3 ,i4 #ajj4 ,mosheim1 book ,,ii1 cent4 iv1 part ii1 ch4 iii4 #aja4 ,the phraseology of the philosophers was1 living according to nature1 and living above nature4 ,the former was the rule for all men1 the latter for the philosophers who aimed at perfect virtue4 #ajb4 ,mosheim's ,eccl4 ,hist41 book ,i1 cent4 i1 part ii1 ch4 iii4 #ajc4 ,mosheim1 book ,,ii1 cent4 iv1 part ii1 ch4 ii4 #ajd4 ,decline and ,fall 7,gibbon7 vol4 #a1 ch4 xvi4 #aje4 ,mosheim1 book ,,ii1 cent4 iv1 part ii1 ch4 iii4 #ajf4 ,the above quotation is taken from the third and fourth books on ,the ,providence of ,god by ,salvian1 who flourished in the #eth century1 a priest of ,marseilles1 and one who knew whereof he wrote1 as he was dealing with affairs of which he was a witness4 #ajg4 ,book ,,vi and ,,vii of ,the ,providence of ,god4--,salvian4 #ajh4 ,mosheim1 book ,,iii1 cent4 ix1 part ii1 chap4 ii4 #aji4 ,see ,milner's introduction to the first volume of his ,church ,history4 ,it will also be seen in that introduction that ,milner wrote his history to counteract the influence that he feared the great work of the too candid ,mosheim might exert1 viz41 to create the impression ,that real religion appears scarcely to have had any existence4 ,hence the admissions of ,dr4 ,milner to the sad condition of the church in the tenth century have a peculiar significance since he would not admit its corruption unless compelled to by the facts4 #aaj4 ,this is ,caesar ,baronius1 a ,catholic historian of the #afth century4 ,his ,annales ,ecclesiastical comprise twelve volumes and were published in ,rome1 #aehh-afjg4 ,he was a candidate for the papacy in #afje1 but failed to secure the election4 #aaa4 ,milner's ,ch4 ,hist41 vol4 iii1 cent4 x1 ch4 i4 ,the only thing which seems to console the learned doctor in respect to this terrible condition of the church is that the scripture predicted this awful state1 and the truth of scripture was vindicated by events of all others the most disagreeable to a pious mind4--,ibid4 #aab4 ,acts xx3 #bg-cj4 #aac4 ,,ii ,tim4 iv3 #a-d4 #aad4 ,,ii ,peter i3 #ba4 #aae4 ,,ii ,peter ii3 #a-c4 #aaf4 ,tim4 iv3 #a1 #b4 #aag4 ,that is1 that the day of ,messiah's glorious coming is at hand4 #aah4 ,letteth and let are the old ,english equivalents of hindereth and hinder4 ,the student will remember that ,shakespeare makes ,hamlet say to those who seek to prevent him following the ghost of his father when beckoned to private interview--,still am ,i called4 ,unhand me1 gentlemen4 ,by heaven ,i'll make a ghost of him that lets me--i4e4 that hinders me4 #aai4 ,,ii ,thes4 ii3 #a-ab4 #abj4 ,isaiah xxiv3 #d-f4 #aba4 ,gal4 iii4 #h1 #ai1 #bd1 #be4 #abb4 ,heb4 xiii3 #bj4 #abc4 ,rev4 xiv3 #f1 #g4 #bjc ,,part ,,iii4 ,,the ,,reformation #bje ,,section #a4 ,the ,age of ,darkness4--,we have not found it necessary to our purpose to dwell upon the particular events of ecclesiastical history from the tenth to the sixteenth centuries4 ,those were the days of spiritual darkness of this earth4 ,the papal power was supreme1 and with an iron hand it ruled the nations4 ,some idea of its arrogance and power may be conjectured from the fact that in the eleventh century#a ,henry ,,iv1 of ,germany1 the greatest temporal monarch in the world1 in that age1 stood for three days together in mid-winter1 bare headed1 and bare footed1 and meanly clad1 at ,canossa 7a town in ,italy where the pope was temporarily residing71 professing himself a penitent in order to obtain absolution from the ,roman pontiff1 ,gregory ,,vii4 ,his offense was persisting to sell ecclesiastical offices in his empire contrary to the edicts of the pope4 ,see note #a1 end of section4 #b #b4 ,the ,revival of ,learning4--,in the latter part of the fifteenth century occurred that event called by historians the ,revival of ,learning4 ,the intellectual stupor of ,europe had been as profound as spiritual darkness had been dense4 ,but with the close of the fifteenth century1 literature1 science and art seemed to spring into active life4 ,the invention of gun-powder#c had completely revolutionized the modes of warfare2 the employment of the mariner's compass made ocean navigation #bjf less dangerous2 the discovery of a new passage to ,india by the ,cape of ,good ,hope1 by ,vasco de ,gama ,vas-ko-da-ga-ma1 and the discovery of ,america by ,columbus1 greatly enlarged the commerce of ,europe and increased the comforts of life4 ,painting in oil came into vogue about this time and filled ,europe with masterpieces of art2 engraving on copper1 invented early in the century1 multiplied and diffused them4 ,paper made of linen also came into common use2 and1 finally1 between #adcf and #adeb ,a4 ,d4 printing was invented1 which gave to the modern world the intellectual riches of the ancients4 #c4 ,in the middle of this century--the fifteenth--,constantinople was taken by the ,turks1 and with that event the eastern division of the ,roman empire fell4 ,the fall of the great capital drove many of the ,greeks into ,italy4 ,they took with them a greater knowledge of antiquity than that possessed by the western nations1 together with numerous manuscripts2 and literature from that time may be said to have commenced its splendid career4 ,see note #b1 end of section4 ,intellectual pursuits became not only a pleasure1 but a passion2 and it may be regarded as a maxim1 that wherever the progress of intelligence is a true pleasure1 a desire for liberty is soon felt1 nor is it long in passing from the public mind to the state4 #d ,it was so in ,europe2 for the ,revival of ,learning preceded1 and there can be no doubt that it did much to produce1 that struggle for enlarged liberty which convulsed ,europe in the following century4 #d4 ,release of the ,masses from ,serfdom4--,the masses1 moreover1 began to be released1 to some extent1 from the serfdom of former times1 and to be given some share of civil and political freedom4 ,this change was largely due to the breaking up of the old feudal system of land tenure and service4 #bjg ,according to feudal principles1 all the land of a country belonged to the king1 not as representing the community1 but as sovereign feudal lord4 ,out of this land the king granted portions to his subjects1 on condition of their paying him homage and fealty1 and rendering him active military service a certain number of days in every year4 ,the estates the king granted to his more immediate and distinguished followers1 whom he called his barons1 were styled baronies1 and were of large extent2 the barons in their turn made undergrants to their own retainers1 on similar conditions to those imposed upon themselves by the king4 ,the relation between landlord and tenant1 though at first merely lifelong1 soon came to be regarded as hereditary1 the heir becoming entitled on the death of the tenant to occupy his land upon the same terms4 #e #e4 ,this order of things established a powerful landed aristocracy on the one hand1 and a peasant tenantry on the other1 whose vassalage was but little removed from absolute slavery4 ,the crusades and the development of a commercial class1 living chiefly in the cities1 in time wrought the destruction of feudalism4 #f4 ,the ,crusades1 their ,influence on ,feudalism and ,liberty--,the crusades were religious wars carried on in the eleventh1 twelfth and thirteenth centuries1 between the ,christian nations of the ,west and the ,mohammedans of the ,east4 ,it had for ages been looked upon as an act of piety to make a pilgrimage to ,palestine and visit the various places hallowed by the presence of ,messiah during his earthly career1 especially his sepulchre at ,jerusalem4 ,these ,christian pilgrims had been respected by the ,saracens for centuries2 but when the ,seljuk ,turks captured ,jerusalem1 towards the close of the eleventh century1 the ,christians met with insult and cruelty4 ,the western nations1 under the fervent preaching of ,peter the #bjh ,hermit1 a native of ,france1 who had witnessed the atrocities practiced upon ,christians in the ,holy ,land1 were lashed into a fury of resentment against the ,turks4 ,pope ,urban ,,ii took up the cause1 and advocated wresting the ,holy ,land from the dominion of the infidels4 ,europe responded1 ,god wills it1 and preparations were made for the holy war4 #g4 ,to raise the money necessary to equip and transport their soldiers to the distant ,east1 the barons had to sell their lands1 which had the effect of breaking down to a very great extent the feudal system of land tenure1 and with it the obligations that it imposed4 ,the direct result of this was to enlarge the liberties of the people4 ,for the same purpose--to raise money for carrying on the holy wars in the ,east--kings granted to the towns political privileges1 a circumstance which also contributed vastly to the progress of popular liberty4 ,thus the way was prepared for that religious revolution of the sixteenth century known in history as the ,reformation4 #h4 ,martin ,luther4--,the ,reformation is usually considered to have begun with the fearless preaching of ,martin ,luther against the sale of indulgences1 ,a4 ,d41 #aeag4 ,luther was born at ,eisleben ,is-la-ben1 ,germany1 ,a4 ,d41 #adhc4 ,his father was a miner of ,mansfield in the same country4 ,after attending the school of ,magdeburg ,mag-de-boorg and ,eisenach ,is-sen-ak he was sent to study philosophy and jurisprudence at ,erfurt ,er-foort4 ,much against the will of his father1 he abandoned the pursuit of these studies1 and joined himself to the ,augustine ,eremites1 a rigid order of mendicant monks4 ,his good temper1 industry and abilities won for him the good opinions of his superiors4 ,in #aejh he was sent by his vicar-general to be professor of philosophy at ,wittemburg4 ,while here he applied himself to ,biblical theology and soon discovered a wide discrepancy between the religion of the scriptures and that of the church4 ,two years after becoming a professor at ,wittemburg1 he made a journey to ,rome on some business connected #bji with the ,augustine order of monks2 and was not a little shocked at the corruption and depravity of the ,italian clergy4 ,that visit to ,rome did much to dispel the veneration in which he had held the ,holy ,see1 and armed him for his subsequent conflict with it4 #i4 ,indulgences and their ,origin4--,the thing which provoked ,luther's opposition to the church of ,rome was the reckless sale of indulgences by the agents of the pope in ,germany4 ,the origin of indulgences1 according to the learned ,schlegel1 must be sought in the earliest history of the church4 ,in the first centuries of the ,christian era1 such ,christians as were excluded from the communion of the church on account of their apostasy in the times of persecutions1 or on account of other heinous sins1 had to seek a restoration to fellowship by a public penance1 in which they entreated the brethren to forgive them1 frequently standing before the door of the church clothed in the garb of mourning4 ,this punishment was regarded as a sort of satisfaction made to the community of saints1 and was called by that name4 ,in the case of aged or infirm ,christians this satisfaction was sometimes omitted1 and this omission was called indulgence4 ,originally1 therefore1 indulgences were merely the remission of ecclesiastical punishments imposed on grave offenders against church laws4#f #aj4 ,it is maintained1 however1 in the decretal of ,pope ,clement ,,vi1 that one drop of ,christ's blood being sufficient to redeem the whole human race1 the remaining quantity that was shed in the garden and upon the cross1 was left as a legacy to the church1 to be a treasure from whence indulgences were to be drawn and administered by the ,roman pontiffs4 #g ,the doctrine was held that ,messiah had atoned for the eternal punishment of sins1 but not for its temporary punishment4 ,the temporary #baj punishment the ,catholic ,church divided into that of the present life and that of the future life1 or of purgatory4 ,it was held that every man who attained salvation1 must suffer the temporary punishment of his sins1 either in the present world or in the flames of purgatory4 ,it was also held that the priest to whom a man confessed his sins1 had the power to adjudge and impose the necessary punishment4 #aa4 ,the punishment usually consisted of fastings1 pilgrimages1 whippings1 etc42 but people of distinction and wealth were permitted to employ substitutes to receive this punishment2 and there were monks ever ready to endure the punishment of the transgressor for a consideration paid in money4 ,this penance was finally changed to paying to the church the money instead of employing monks to endure the punishment4 ,whoever1 for instance1 was bound to whip himself with so many stripes each day for several weeks might pay to the church or to the monastery a certain sum of money1 or give it a piece of land and then be released from the penance4 ,as the popes perceived that something might be gained in this way1 they assumed to themselves the right of commuting penances for pecuniary satisfactions1 which every bishop had before exercised in his own diocese4 ,at first they released only from the punishments of sin in the present world2 but in the fourteenth century they extended this release also to the punishment in purgatory4 #ab4 ,the ,traffic in ,indulgences4--,when such indulgences were to be published1 the disposal of them was commonly farmed out4 ,the papal court could not always wait to have the money conveyed from every country of ,europe2 and there were rich merchants at ,genoa1 ,milan1 ,venice1 and ,augsburg1 who purchased the indulgences for a particular province and paid to the papal treasury handsome sums for them4 ,thus both parties were benefited4 ,the pope came at once into possession of large sums of money2 and the farmers did not fail of #baa a good bargain4 ,they were careful to employ skillful hawkers of the indulgences1 persons whose boldness and impudence bore due proportion to the eloquence with which they imposed upon the simple people4 ,yet that this traffic might have a religious aspect1 the pope appointed the archbishops of the several provinces to be his commissioners1 who in his name published that indulgences were to be sold1 and usually selected the persons to hawk them1 and for this service shared the profits with the merchants who farmed them4#h ,see notes #c and #d1 end of section4 #ac4 ,in the beginning of the sixteenth century the sale of indulgences was pushed vigorously and became most offensive4 ,the reason for resorting to this mode of raising revenue was justified by the pope on the plea of completing the church of ,st4 ,peter1 at ,rome1 which had been commenced by ,julius ,,ii4 #ad4 ,john ,tetzel4--,the hawker of indulgences who traveled through ,germany1 where ,luther was living1 was ,john ,tetzel1 a ,dominical monk1 at once one of the boldest1 most eloquent and the most profligate of men4 ,see note #f1 end of section4 ,his reckless preaching of these papal wares aroused the indignation of ,luther1 who published ninety-five propositions against the sale of indulgences1 in which he even gently censured the pope for permitting the people to be diverted from ,christ4 #ae4 ,the ,indifference of ,leo ,x to the ,agitation in ,germany4--,the dispute which arose between ,luther and ,tetzel was looked upon at ,rome as the wrangle between two monks--,luther was an ,augustine monk1 ,tetzel a ,dominican2 and it was supposed that the former was jealous because the ,dominicans had been preferred for this work of selling indulgences4 ,in addition to assailing ,tetzel1 ,luther wrote a protest to #bab ,albert1 ,archbishop of ,mentz and ,magdeburg1 and was as surprised as he was indignant to learn that the archbishop received of the profits arising from this wretched traffic4 ,his assault upon ,tetzel provoked a protracted controversy1 a war of pamphlets between himself and ,tetzel and his friends1 among whom was ,john ,eckius1 a theologian of ,ingolstadt4 ,the dispute on both sides was more noted for its warmth than for its ,christian character4 #af4 ,at last ,leo ,x was aroused from his indifference to the controversy that had arisen in ,germany1 by the emperor1 ,maximilian ,i informing him that the agitation was serious1 and that ,germany was taking sides in respect to it4 ,he therefore appointed ,cardinal ,thomas ,cajetan1 then at the diet of ,augsburg1 to hear the cause of ,luther4 ,the cardinal summoned the monk before him at ,augsburg1 in ,october1 #aeah4 ,they had three interviews1 but nothing was accomplished towards reconciliation1 as the cardinal treated ,luther imperiously1 and peremptorily ordered him to submit his judgment to the authority of the pope4 ,this the reformer refused to do until he was convinced of his error1 and appealed from the pope ill-informed to the pope better-informed4 ,this took the matter out of the hands of the cardinal4 #ag4 ,an ,appeal to a ,general ,council4--,there was a difference between the ,reformer and the cardinal in their views in respect to authorities appealed to4 ,the latter sought to convince the former of his errors by appealing to the canon law1#i and the authority of ,lombard2 #aj but ,luther refused to admit of any proof except that of the holy scripture1 and as the cardinal seems not to have been able to make good his censure of the ,reformer's doctrines by proofs from the scriptures1 #bac ,luther appealed to the pope better informed4 ,but ,leo ,x1 the month following 7,nov4 #ith71 issued an edict requiring the church to believe in his power to forgive sins4 ,learning of this1 ,luther promptly appealed from the pope to a future council of the whole church4#aa #ah4 ,discussion on ,free ,will4--,meantime the points of disagreement between the ,reformer and the church of ,rome increased4 ,in #aeai ,john ,eckius ,eck-ius challenged ,andrew ,carlstadt ,karl-stat1 a friend and colleague of ,luther's1 to a discussion on the subject of ,free ,will1 about which there was a disagreement between the ,reformer and those who thought with him--among whom was ,carlstadt--and the adherents of the church of ,rome4 ,in this dispute ,carlstadt maintained--and of course his were ,luther's views--that since the fall1 the natural freedom of man is not strong enough to move him to that which is morally good1 or to do the will of ,god4 ,eckius on the contrary insisted that the free will of man produces good works1 and not merely the grace of ,god2 that our free will co-operates with divine grace in the production of good works1 and that it depends on man's free power1 whether he will give place to the operations of grace or will resist them4 #ai4 ,luther and ,eckius4--,after this dispute with ,carlstadt1 ,eckius drew ,luther--who had been present at the discussion on ,free ,will--into a public debate on the foundation of the authority of the pope4 ,eckius maintained the orthodox #bad view that the supremacy of the pope was founded on divine right1 that he was the successor of ,st4 ,peter and the vicar of ,christ4 ,luther allowed the superiority of the pope over other bishops1 but based that superiority on other grounds4 ,he could not deny that the pontiffs had possessed a decided pre-eminence from age to age1 and therefore he conceived it as his duty not to resist the powers that be4 ,unless it had been the will of ,god1 he went on to say1 the pope could never have attained so great and durable a dominion4 ,the whole body of the ,christians own themselves to be under the ,roman pontiff4 ,this universal consent is a consideration of the greatest weight2 the unity of the church should be preserved in everything that is not directly contrary to the word of ,god4 #ab #bj4 ,in all these admissions1 however1 it will be observed that the ,reformer placed the supremacy of the pontiffs on human1 not divine right4 ,it was based upon tradition1 upon human arrangement4 ,to the contention of ,eckius that the expressions--,thou art ,peter1 and upon this rock ,i will build my church1 ,and ,i will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom--evinced the supremacy of ,peter and his successors2 that this was the explanation given by the holy fathers1 etc41 ,luther replied3 ,that even if all the fathers1 without exception1 had understood the passages in that sense1 he would confute them by the authority of ,st4 ,paul1 and by ,st4 ,peter himself1 who said that ,jesus ,christ is the only foundation and corner-stone of the church4 ,and further1 if the words ,thou art ,peter1 etc41 be construed strictly then they must be confined to the person of ,peter and therefore the authority conveyed by them ceased when that apostle died4#ac #ba4 ,the dispute amounted to nothing except that it widened the breach between the ,see of ,rome and the ,reformer4 ,the latter1 while preparing for his discussion with ,eckius1 had his #bae suspicions aroused that the pope was the very anti-,christ of the ,new ,testament4 ,at the conclusion of the debate1 ,george1 ,duke of ,saxony1 said to the disputants1 privately1 ,whether the pope exists by divine or by human right1 he is1 however1 the pope2 and that remark doubtless expressed the sentiments of the papist party4 #bb4 ,luther ,condemned and ,excommunicated4--,eckius hastened to ,rome after the discussion at ,leipsic ,lip-sik1 where1 with the assistance of other enemies of ,luther1 among them ,cardinal ,cajetan1 he urged ,leo ,x to condemn him and his works4 ,this ,leo did by issuing a bull1 in which forty-one of his tenets were pronounced heretical2 his writings condemned to the flames1 and he himself commanded to confess his faults within sixty days1 beg the forgiveness of the pope or be excommunicated from the church4 #bc4 ,this bull of condemnation ,luther burned2 together with a copy of the pontifical canon law1 in the presence of a vast multitude4 7,see note #f1 end of section47 ,by this act he meant to withdraw from the church of ,rome1 that the excommunication which was expected to follow might be robbed of its force4 ,about a month later--#dth of ,january1 #aeba--the second bull of ,leo was issued in which the ,reformer was expelled from the ,catholic church for his heresies and for violating the majesty of the pontiff4 7,see note #g1 end of section47 #bd4 ,luther ,before the ,diet at ,worms4--,after issuing his bull of excommunication1 ,leo ,x called upon the emperor of ,germany1 ,charles ,v1 to vindicate his title to ,advocate and ,defender of the ,church1 by inflicting due punishment on that rebellious member1 ,martin ,luther4 ,charles1 however1 was under deep obligations to ,frederic1 the ,wise1 ,elector of ,saxony1 for his election by the states of ,germany to the imperial dignity2 and ,frederic1 being a warm friend of ,luther's and favorable in the main to his doctrines1 advised the emperor #baf to take no action against the ,reformer until he had given him a hearing4 ,this course ,charles resolved to follow1 and therefore summoned ,luther to appear before the diet which assembled at ,worms in #aeba4ad #be4 ,before this august body the ,reformer appeared to make answer to the two questions3 ,first1 if the books which he had written1 the titles of which were read to him1 were his2 second1 if he was prepared to retract those books and their contents1 or if he persisted in the opinions he had advanced in them4 ,he acknowledged the books to be his1 and in a speech of some length he explained his motives in writing his books1 and refused to retract them4 ,he thus concluded his speech3 #bf4 ,i cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the council1 because it is as clear as the day that they have frequently erred and contradicted each other4 ,unless1 therefore1 ,i am convinced by the testimony of scripture1 or by the clearest reasoning--unless ,i am persuaded by means of the passages ,i have quoted1--and unless they thus render my conscience bound1 by the word of ,god1 ,i can not and will not retract1 for it is unsafe for a ,christian to speak against his conscience4 ,,here ,i ,,stand1 ,i ,,can ,,do ,,no ,,other1 ,,may ,,god ,,help ,,me6 ,,amen6 #bg4 ,luther was protected by a safe conduct from the emperor--a written guarantee pledging the faith and honor of the empire for his safety for a limited length of time--or doubtless he would have been burned at the stake for his adherence to his doctrines and his defiance of the pope4 ,indeed1 some members of the diet advised the violation of the safe conduct1 as the word of honor given to an heretic1 according to the morals of the age1 was not binding4 ,charles ,v1 however1 #bag would not listen to such perfidy4 ,he dismissed ,luther to return to ,wittenberg in accordance with the terms of his safe conduct2 at the same time condemning him as an heretic misled by his own folly4 ,he forbade him on his return to ,wittenberg to cause the least disorder among the people1 and then promised the representatives of the pope that he would proceed against him and his adherents as contumacious heretics1 by excommunication1 by interdict and by every means calculated to destroy them4 #bh4 ,luther's ,confinement at ,wartburg4--,prince ,frederic1 the ,wise1 fearing that ,luther would fall a prey to his enemies1 in the storm which he saw gathering about him1 had him intercepted on his way back to ,wittenberg1 by persons in disguise1 who carried him to the castle of ,wartburg ,wart-berg1 where he was concealed ten months4 ,the extremes into which some of his followers went1 both in doctrine and in opposition to the ,catholics1 at last called him from his place of retirement1 in order to restrain them and correct the abuses to which some of his doctrines gave birth4 #bi4 ,death of ,leo ,x--,demands for a ,general ,council4--,the year following the diet at ,worms1 ,leo ,x died and was succeeded by ,hadrian ,,vi4 ,this pontiff1 while renewing the demand that the edict of the diet of ,worms against ,luther and his adherents should be executed1 acknowledged the church to be in a lamentable condition1 and promised a general reformation4 ,the assembled princes at the diet of ,nuremberg1 before which the demands of ,hadrian were presented1 thought the time propitious--the emperor ,charles was absent in ,spain--to insist upon a free council to be held in ,germany1 to deliberate in the ancient manner on a general reformation of the church4 ,this ,hadrian promised to grant1 but before it could be assembled he died1 having occupied the papal chair but two years and eight months4 ,he was succeeded by ,clement ,,vii1 who reproved the ,german princes for #bah neglecting to proceed against ,luther and his adherents4 ,the emperor seconded the demands of the pope1 and a number of the princes1 awed by the united demands of the pope and the emperor1 promised to enforce the edict to the extent of their power4 #cj4 ,death of ,frederic--,distinct ,church ,founded4--,in #aebe1 ,prince ,frederic1 the ,wise1 ,elector of ,saxony1 and friend of ,luther1 died4 ,he was succeeded by his brother ,john4 ,frederic had ever been an ardent admirer of ,luther1 but was extremely cautions in giving him any direct assistance4 ,john was of a different temperament4 ,he believed the principles which the ,reformer taught1 but saw quite clearly that they must either be abandoned or the authority of the pope discarded4 ,he resolved upon the latter2 and taking matters in his own hands1 determined to organize a church altogether distinct from that of ,rome4 ,to accomplish this he called upon ,luther and ,philip ,melancthon ,me-lanc-thon to draw up a formula for public worship1 and draft a form of church government in harmony with their principles1 fixing the salaries of the clergy1 defining their official duties1 etc4 ,this the ,reformers gladly undertook1 and shortly afterwards had the pleasure of seeing other ,german princes pursue the same course that ,john had taken1 and adopt the system of worship they had formulated4 #ca4 ,the ,rupture ,between the ,pope and the ,emperor4--,this bold step threatened for a time to disrupt the ,german empire2 for the princes who remained true to the old religion openly consulted together upon the advisability of taking up arms against the ,lutherans2 and the princes favoring the ,reformers met to consider the necessity of forming an alliance to resist their enemies4 ,in the midst of these threatening prospects an event happened which was of great advantage to the ,lutheran cause1 and prevented for the moment any action against them4 ,the ,emperor ,charles ,v and ,pope #bai ,clement ,,vii became open enemies4 ,the pontiff1 fearing the increasing power of ,charles1 had formed an alliance with ,francis ,i1 king of ,france1 against him4 ,this so incensed ,charles that he abolished the authority of the pope in ,spain1 made war upon him in ,italy1 captured the cities of ,rome1 besieged the pontiff in his castle of ,st4 ,angelo1 and subjected him to great indignities4 #cb4 ,the ,diet at ,spire--#aebi4--,the difficulties between ,charles and the pope were finally settled1 however1 and a diet was called at ,spire in #aebi1 in which a majority voted to deprive the princes of ,germany of the right to regulate religious matters within their respective territories--a right which a diet held three years before at ,spire had granted4 ,that is1 such power was granted pending the settlement of religious difficulties by a free general council4#ae ,the diet also declared all changes made in the public religion unlawful4 ,this action was considered a hardship by those princes who had made such changes1 and they protested against the action of the diet and appealed to the emperor4#af ,it was this protest which gave to the dissenting princes1 and the followers of ,luther generally1 the name ,protestants4 #cc4 ,the envoys of the dissenting princes sent to inform ,charles of the stand they had taken in relation to the religious controversy in ,germany were imprisoned by him1 a circumstance which threatened hostility1 and the ,protestant princes at once took counsel for their safety and sought to form closer alliances with each other for mutual defense4 ,unfortunately1 however1 the would-be reformers of religion were not united in #bbj doctrine1 and the efforts of the princes at union were rendered vain by the disputes of the theologians4 #cd4 ,diet at ,augsburg--,protestant ,confession of ,faith4--,the emperor finally determined to settle this religious controversy within his empire1 and appointed a diet to be assembled at ,augsburg for that purpose4 ,in order that the faith of the ,protestants might be clearly set forth1 together with their reasons for separation from the ,roman church1 ,luther and ,melancthon1 at the instance of the princes who favored their doctrines1 drew up a confession of faith1 known as the ,augsburg ,confession4 ,it consisted of twenty-eight articles1 twenty-one of which stated the doctrines of the ,reformers1 and the other seven stated their reason for withdrawing from the ,roman church4 ,these in brief were--communion in one kind2 by which the sacramental cup was denied the laity2 imposing celibacy on the clergy2 private masses2 auricular confession2 legendary traditions2 monastic vows2 and lastly1 the excessive power of the church4 ,in respect to this last abuse1 as these several above things are called1 they discriminate between civil and ecclesiastical power1 and insist that neither should infringe upon the domain of the other4 #ce4 ,the diet of ,augsburg assembled on the #bjth of ,june1 #aecj2 and after the ,confession of ,faith was read to the emperor1 it was signed by ,john1 ,elector of ,saxony1 four princes of the empire1 and the representatives of two imperial cities1 ,nuremberg ,nu-rem-berg and ,reutlingen ,roit-ling-en4#ag #cf4 ,the friends of the pope at the diet presented a confutation of the ,protestant confession1 and thereupon the emperor commanded the ,protestants to abandon their whole cause of controversy4 ,in reply they protested they were not satisfied #bba with the confutation1 and asked that a copy of it might be given them that they might make answer to it4 ,this the emperor would not grant1 nor would he permit an answer to be read before the diet which ,philip ,melanchthon had written out from memory4 ,a number of conferences were held between the leaders of the contending parties with a view to reach an honorable compromise1 but they had drifted too far apart1 and all hope of reconciliation was lost4 ,at last the emperor issued a decree commanding back to their allegiance to the pontiff the princes and cities that had become alienated from the holy ,see of ,rome1 on pain of incurring the vengeance of the emperor4 ,the religious changes made in some of the principalities were censured and the edict of ,worms against ,luther and his adherents received new force4 #cg4 ,the ,league of ,smalcald4--,nothing daunted by the unfavorable decree of the emperor1 the ,protestant princes assembled at ,smalcald1 and entered into a league among themselves1 and made every effort to induce the kings of ,england1 ,france1 ,denmark and other princes to join their confederacy4 ,this movement seriously embarrassed ,charles1 for he was just on the eve of a war with the ,turks1 and needed the entire strength of his empire4 ,he therefore entered into negotiations with the ,protestant princes1 and finally agreed to annual the edict of ,worms and of ,augsburg1 allow the ,protestants to regulate religious matters to please themselves until either a council of the church or a diet of the empire should determine what religious principles should be approved and obeyed--the council to be called within six months4 ,such were the concessions of the emperor4 ,on their part1 the ,protestant princes were to contribute money for the ,turkish war1 and acknowledge ,ferdinand1 brother of the emperor1 king of the ,romans4#ah #ch4 ,the ,truce of ,nuremberg4--,this treaty of peace #bbb being drawn up and accepted in the city of ,nuremberg ,nu-rem-berg1 was known as the ,truce of ,nuremberg1 and under it the ,protestant cause was materially strengthened2 for every day men and cities threw off their allegiance to the pope and rejoiced in their new-found freedom4 #ci4 ,difficulty in ,locating the ,council4--,the emperor urged the pontiff to call the long-talked-of council which was to settle these unhappy difficulties4 ,but this ,clement ,,vii seemed not anxious to do4 ,when he did propose a council it was at places in ,italy1 and to this the ,germans would not consent1 as a council held there would be under the influence of the pope2 besides1 the controversy had arisen in ,germany1 and there it should be settled4 ,the ,protestants also insisted that the decision should be founded solely on the scriptures1 a point which required the church of ,rome to set aside all the former decisions of her great councils--a thing her pontiffs were in no temper to do1 as they considered themselves in the position of a parent having absolute jurisdiction1 dealing with a refractory child4 ,finally1 the successor of ,clement ,,vii--,paul ,,iii--with the approval of the emperor1 called a council to meet at ,trent1 in ,austria 7in the ,austrian ,tyrol74 ,but this was not satisfactory to the ,protestants1 and ,charles ,x despairing of settling the difficulties by peaceful methods and being urged to it by ,pope ,paul ,,iii prepared to settle them by resorting to force4 ,while the ,catholics and ,protestants were preparing for this conflict ,luther1 whose preaching had begun this agitation1 died at ,eisleben1 his native town4 ,see note #h1 end of section4 #dj4 ,reverses of the ,protestants4--,in the war which followed the ,protestants met with severe reverses and were forced by the emperor to consent to refer the religious controversy to the council of ,trent1 but it being reported that the plague had broken out in that city1 the council was broken up1 nor could ,charles induce the pope to call another immediately #bbc 7see note #i1 end of section72 hence it became necessary to formulate a treaty which should bind both parties in respect to religion1 pending the convening of a council4 ,this treaty was called ,the ,interim1 and was of course most favorable to the victorious party--the ,catholics--and went far towards establishing the old methods of worship4 #da4 ,victory of ,protestants--,religious ,liberty ,secured4--,at last the emperor persuaded the pope to re-assemble the ,council of ,trent1 and gave notice to the ,protestants to attend1 promising to use his best endeavor to have everything done in a ,christian manner and without passion4 ,but before this council could assemble the ,protestant princes revolted1 took the emperor by surprise1 and forced him into signing a treaty at ,paussau1 in #aeeb1 which guaranteed religious liberty to the ,protestants4 ,this treaty was re-confirmed by the emperor in the diet at ,augsburg1 #aeee4 ,by that treaty all who had accepted the ,confession of ,augsburg were declared free from all jurisdiction of the ,roman pontiff1 and his bishops4 ,they were to be permitted to live in peace and the quiet enjoyment of religious liberty4 ,men were to be left free to join either the ,reformed or the ,catholic ,church1 and any person making war upon others1 or molesting them because of their religion was to be accounted the public enemy of ,germany4 #db4 ,such was the fruit of the great revolution of the sixteenth century in ,germany--religious liberty4 ,to that end all the struggles tended1 and its result was indeed glorious1 worth all the tears and blood it had cost to gain it4 ,but it was not a reformation1 if by that is meant the bringing back of primitive ,christianity4 ,that the ,reformers did not do4 ,indeed they left more truth in the ,catholic church than they brought out with them1 or found in their speculations after leaving that church1 as will be seen by a careful consideration of ,protestant doctrines treated in subsequent sections4 #bbd ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,humiliation of ,henry ,,iv4--,it was the fourth day on which he had borne the humiliating garb of an affected penitent1 and in that sordid raiment he drew near on his bare feet to the more than imperial majesty of the church1 and prostrated himself in more than servile deference before the diminutive and emaciated old man1 from the terrible glance of whose countenance1 we are told1 the eyes of every beholder recoiled as from the lightning4 ,hunger1 cold and nakedness1 and shame1 had for the moment crushed the gallant spirit of the sufferer4 ,he wept and cried for mercy1 again and again renewing his entreaties until he had reached the lowest level of abasement to which his own enfeebled heart or the haughtiness of his great antagonist could depress him4 ,then1 and not till then did the pope condescend to revoke the anathema of the vatican4--,sir ,j4 ,stephen's ,essays ,on ,ecclesiastical ,biography4 #b4 ,influence of ,greek ,literature on the ,fifteenth ,century4--,the classical school of that period 7#aeth century7 inspired its disciples with admiration1 not only for the writings of ,virgil and ,homer1 but for the entire frame of ancient society2 for its institutions1 its opinions1 its philosophy1 as well as its literature4 ,antiquity1 it must be allowed1 whether as regards politics1 philosophy1 or literature1 was greatly superior to the ,europe of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries4 ,it is not surprisingg1 therefore1 that it should have exercised so great an influence2 that lofty1 vigorous1 elegant and fastidious minds should have been disgusted with the coarse manners1 the confused ideas1 the barbarous modes of their own time1 and should have devoted themselves with enthusiasm1 and almost with veneration1 to the study of a state of society at once more regular and more perfect than their own4 ,thus was formed that school of bold thinkers1 which appeared at the commencement of the fifteenth century1 and in which prelates1 priests and men of learning were united by common sentiment and common pursuits4--,guizot's ,hist4 ,civilization4 #c4 ,luther on ,indulgences4--,i was compelled in my conscience to expose the scandalous sale of indulgences4 ,i saw some seduced by them into mischievous errors1 others tempted into an audacious profaneness4 ,in a word1 the proclaiming and selling of pardons proceeded to such an unbounded licentiousness that the holy church and its authorities became subjects of open derision in the public taverns4 ,there was no occasion to excite the hatred of mankind against priests to a greater degree4 ,the avarice and profligacy of the clergy had for many years past kindled the indignation of the laity4 ,alas6 they have not a particle of respect or honor for the priesthood1 except what solely arises from fear of punishment4--,luther4 #bbe #d4 ,duke ,george of ,saxony on the ,corruption in the ,church4--,duke ,george is regarded as a bigoted papist1 esteemed by the ,roman ,catholics as a most sincere and active defender of the faith of his day4 ,his testimony1 therefore1 to the sale and evils of indulgences1 and the corruption of the clergy1 is the more valuable4 ,he entirely approved of ,luther's condemnation4 ,indulgences which ought to be obtained by prayer1 fastings1 benevolence towards our neighbor1 and other good works1 said the duke1 are sold for money4 ,their value is extolled beyond all decency4 ,the sole object is to gain a deal of money4 ,hence the preachers who are bound to set forth truth1 teach men nothing but lies and frauds4 ,they are not only suffered to go on thus1 but they are well paid for their fraudulent harangues4 ,the reason is the more conviction they can produce among their hearers1 the more money flows into the chest4 ,rivers of scandalous proceedings arise from this corrupt fountain4 ,the officials of the bishops are equally attentive to scrape money together4 ,they vex the poor with their censures for great crimes1 as whoredom1 adultery1 blasphemy2 but they spare the rich4 ,the clergy commit the very same crimes1 and nobody censures them4 ,faults which ought to be expiated by prayers and fastings are atoned for by money1 in order that the officials may pay large sums to their respective bishops1 and retain a portion of the gain for themselves4 ,neither when a fine is inflicted is it done in a way to stop the commission of the same fault in the future1 but rather so that the delinquent understands he may soon do that very thing again1 provided he be but ready to pay4 ,hence all the sacraments are sold for money2 and where that is not to be had1 they are absolutely neglected4--,duke ,george1 quoted by ,milner1 ,church ,hist4 vol4 iv1 p4 #efh4 #e4 ,character of ,tetzel4--,he was a profligate wretch1 who had once fallen into the hands of the ,inquisition in consequence of his adulteries1 and whom the elector of ,saxony rescued by his intercession4 ,he now cried up his merchandise in a manner so offensive1 so contrary to all ,christian principles1 and so acceptably to the inconsiderate1 that all upright men were disgusted with him4 99 99 99 ,he claimed to have power to absolve1 not only from all church censure1 but likewise from all sins1 transgressions1 and enormities1 however horrid they might be1 and even from those of which only the pope can take cognizance4 ,he released from all the punishments of purgatory1 gave permission to come to the sacraments1 and promised to those who purchased their indulgences1 that the gates of hell should be closed1 and the gates of paradise and of bliss open to them4--,schlegel4 #f4 ,luther ,burning the ,pope's ,bull4--,on the #ajth of ,december1 a #bbf placard was posted on the walls of the university of ,wittemberg1 inviting the professors and students to be present at nine o'clock in the morning1 at the eastern gate near the ,holy ,cross4 ,a great number of doctors and students assembled1 and ,luther walking at their head1 conducted the procession to the appointed place4 ,how many burning piles has ,rome erected during the course of ages6 ,luther resolves to make a better application of the great ,roman principle4 ,it is only a few old papers that are to be destroyed2 and fire1 thinks he1 is intended for that purpose4 ,a scaffold had been prepared4 ,one of the oldest masters of arts set fire to it4 ,as the flames rose high into the air1 the formidable ,augustine1 wearing his frock1 approached the pile1 carrying the ,canon ,law1 the ,decretals1 the ,clementines1 the papal ,extravagants1 some writings by ,eckius and ,emser1 and the pope's bull4 ,luther held up the bull and said3 ,since thou hast vexed the ,holy ,one of the ,lord1 may everlasting fire vex and consume thee4 ,he then flung it into the flames4 ,never had war been declared with greater energy and resolution4 ,after this ,luther calmly returned to the city1 and the crowd of doctors1 professors and students testifying their approval by loud cheers1 re-entered ,wittemberg with him4--,d',aubigne's ,hist4 of the ,reformation4 #g4 ,excommunication of ,luther4--,the excommunication bull was an attack upon the rights of the ,german churches4 ,for ,luther had appealed to an ecclesiastical council2 and in consequence of this appeal the pope could no longer have jurisdiction of the case4 ,hence the number of ,luther's friends increased the more after the publication of this bull4--,schlegel4 #h4 ,the ,character of ,luther4--,seckendorf 99 99 99 defies all the adversaries of ,luther to fix any just censure on his character except what may be ranked under two heads1 viz41 a disposition to anger1 and an indulgence in jesting4 ,beyond all doubt the ,saxon reformer was of a choleric temper1 and he too often gave way to this constitutional evil1 as he himself laments4 ,neither is it to be denied that he also too much encouraged his natural propensity to facetiousness4 ,the monks of his time were in general guilty of the like fault1 and often to so great a degree as very improperly to mix scurrilities with sacred subjects4 ,moreover1 the vices and follies of those whom ,luther opposed1 afforded a strong temptation both to the spirit of anger and of ridicule4 ,for however severe he may be thought in many of his invectives1 we are compelled by unquestionable evidence to confess that his keenest satirical pieces never reached the demerits of those who ruled the church in that age4 ,but after all that can be said in mitigation1 it must be owned that a reformer ought to have considered not so much what they deserved #bbg as what became the character he had to support2 viz41 that of a serious ,christian1 zealous for the honor of his ,god1 displeased with the vices of his clerical brethren1 and grieved on account of the pitiable ignorance of the people1 yet more desirous of curing the prevailing evils than of exposing them4--,milner4 #i4 ,the ,pestilence and the ,council of ,trent4--,the report of a pestilence was a mere pretense4 ,the ,pope ,paul ,,iii was equally zealous of the council which had not been disposed in all respects to govern itself by his prescription1 and of the governing power of the emperor1 which he did not wish to see farther increased by the council4 ,he indeed hated the ,protestants1 but he did not wish to see the emperor1 under color of enforcing the decrees of the council1 acquire a more absolute authority over ,germany4 ,he had already withdrawn his troops from the imperial army2 and he now wished to see the council dispersed4 ,the ,spanish members opposed him2 but he found means to prevail4--,schlegel4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what centuries may be considered as the age of moral and spiritual darkness8 #b4 ,what power was supreme in those ages8 #c4 ,give an instance illustrating the pride and insolence of the popes4 7,note #a47 #d4 ,what was ,henry ,,iv's offense8 #e4 ,from what period do historians date the revival of learning8 #f4 ,what several inventions and circumstances contributed to the intellectual awakening of ,europe8 #g4 ,what effect did the fall of the eastern division of the ,roman empire have on the west8 #h4 ,what was the influence of ancient literature on the west8 7,note #b47 #i4 ,what circumstances led to the enlargement of the liberty of the masses8 #aj4 ,describe land tenure under the feudal system4 #aa4 ,what were the ,crusades8 #ab4 ,who aroused the nations of western ,europe to undertake the ,crusades8 #ac4 ,what effect did the ,crusades have on the feudal system of land tenure and liberty8 #bbh #ad4 ,what did this enlarged liberty prepare the people for8 #ae4 ,what event is usually considered the beginning of the ,reformation8 #af4 ,give an account of the birth and parentage of ,martin ,luther4 #ag4 ,what schools did he attend and with what result8 #ah4 ,what effect was produced by his visit to ,rome8 #ai4 ,state the origin of indulgences4 #bj4 ,what doctrine respecting the efficacy of ,christ's blood was advanced by ,pope ,clement ,,vi8 #ba4 ,what doctrine is held by the ,roman ,catholic church about the atonement of ,christ for sin8 #bb4 ,of what did the temporary punishments for sin usually consist--that is1 in early times8 #bc4 ,what changes were made later8 #bd4 ,describe the traffic in indulgences4 #be4 ,what excuse was made by the pope for the vigorous sale of indulgences in the #afth century8 #bf4 ,who hawked indulgences in the part of ,germany where ,luther lived8 #bg4 ,what was the character of ,tetzel8 7,note #e47 #bh4 ,in what spirit was ,luther's controversy with ,tetzel regarded at ,rome8 #bi4 ,what aroused the pope from his indifference8 #cj4 ,in what way did meet the difficulty8 #ca4 ,what course was pursued by ,cardinal ,cajetan and what was the result8 #cb4 ,what difference in respect to authority to be appealed to in the settlement of controversy existed between ,luther and the cardinal8 #cc4 ,what act of ,leo ,x led ,luther to appeal to a general council8 #cd4 ,state what two parties existed in the ,roman ,catholic church and what their difference4 #ce4 ,describe how the controversy on free will arose4 #cf4 ,state the respective positions of ,eckius and ,carolstadt in the controversy4 #cg4 ,what discussion arose between ,luther and ,eckius after the debate on free will8 #ch4 ,what position did ,eckius take in relation to the supremacy of the pope8 #ci4 ,what was ,luther's position8 #dj4 ,what was the effect of the discussion8 #da4 ,relate the circumstance of ,luther's excommunication4 #db4 ,how did ,luther treat the bull of excommunication8 7,notes #f and #g47 #dc4 ,state how ,luther came to be summoned before the diet at ,worms4 #bbi #dd4 ,what two questions confronted ,luther at the diet8 #de4 ,how did he answer them8 #df4 ,by what means was ,luther protected from the vengeance of the pope8 #dg4 ,what at last called him from his retirement8 #dh4 ,who succeeded ,leo ,x8 #di4 ,what demand was made upon ,pope ,hadrian by the ,german princes8 #ej4 ,what event prevented the assembling of the council8 #ea4 ,what course did ,pope ,clement ,,vii follow8 #eb4 ,how did the death of ,frederic1 the ,wise1 and the succession of ,john1 his brother1 affect the ,reformation8 #ec4 ,what did ,john's course threaten to produce8 #ed4 ,what circumstance prevented it8 #ee4 ,relate what transpired at the diet at ,spire4 #ef4 ,by what means did the ,german emperor decide to settle the religious controversy in his realm8 #eg4 ,state what you can of the ,augsburg confession of faith4 #eh4 ,what unreasonable demand did the emperor make of the ,protestants8 #ei4 ,what compromise was effected8 #fj4 ,what difficulty arose concerning convening the council8 #fa4 ,what reverses did the ,protestants sustain in the conflict of arms8 #fb4 ,what finally resulted from all this agitation8 #fc4 ,give the character of ,luther8 7,note #h47 #bcj ,,section ,,ii4 #a4 ,controversy on the ,question of ,grace4--,it is now for us to consider the principles at issue in the ,reformation4 ,luther at the first began his opposition to the pope by denouncing indulgences1 and there can be no question but he and every other honest ,christian had just cause of complaint and indignation against this infamous traffic1 and against the church for permitting it4 ,yet it cannot be denied that there was a wide difference between the doctrine of the ,catholic church respecting indulgences see note #a1 end of section and the things taught by the infamous ,john ,tetzel4 ,this is evident from the fact that ,tetzel with other agents of the pope were censured for their over zeal and excesses in dealing in indulgences4#ai ,miltitz1 whom the pope had appointed to treat with ,luther to bring about his reconciliation with the church1 meeting with ,tetzel at ,leipsic1 twice rebuked him with the greatest severity before the bishops of his province1 on account of his iniquitous proceedings in the sale of indulgences1 and he finally died neglected and alone--deserted by all the world4 ,see note #b1 end of section4 #b4 ,these abuses in the sale of indulgences and the other corruptions which had crept into the church formed a just cause of complaint2 but they were not the true point at issue in the controversy4 ,some time before he opposed indulgences1 ,luther--if we may believe ,d',aubigne ,do-benya--had imbibed #bca ideas in respect to the part which the grace of ,god takes in the salvation of man that would have led him to oppose the church of ,rome1 if the abuses in the matter of indulgences had never existed4 ,in order that the student may grasp this subject in its fullness1 and the better understand this controversy between ,luther and the ,catholic church1 we shall make a careful statement of the facts which enter into the question of ,god's grace and the free will of man4 #a4 ,power of ,deliberation--,the mind is conscious of a power of deliberation1 before the intellect passes the different motives of action1 interests1 passions1 opinions1 etc4 ,the intellect considers1 compares1 estimates1 and finally judges them4 ,this is a preparatory work which precedes the act of will4 #b4 ,liberty1 ,free ,agency or ,will4--,when deliberation has taken place--when man has taken full cognizance of the motives which present themselves to him1 he takes a resolution1 of which he looks upon himself as the author1 which arises because he wishes it1 and which would not arise unless he did wish it--here the fact of agency is shown2 it resides complete in the resolution which man makes after deliberation2 it is the resolution which is the proper act of man1 which subsists by him alone2 a simple fact independent of all the facts which precede it or surround it4 #c4 ,free ,will1 or ,agency ,modified--,at the same time that man feels himself free1 he recognizes the fact that his freedom is not arbitrary1 that it is placed under the dominion of a law which will preside over it and influence it4 ,what that law is will depend upon the education of each individual1 upon his surroundings1 etc4 ,to act in harmony with that law is what man recognizes as his duty2 it will be the task of his liberty4 ,he will soon see1 however1 that he never fully acquits himself of his task1 never acts in full harmony with his moral law4 ,morally capable of conforming himself to his law1 he falls short of doing it4 ,he does not accomplish all that he ought1 nor all #bcb that he can4 ,this fact is evident1 one of which all may give witness2 and it often happens that the best men1 that is1 those who have best conformed their will to reason1 have often been the most struck with their insufficience4 #d4 ,necessity of ,external ,assistance--,this weakness in man leads him to feel the necessity of an external support to operate as a fulcrum for the human will1 a power that may be added to its present power and sustain it at need4 ,man seeks this fulcrum on all sides2 he demands it in the encouragement of friends1 in the councils of the wise2 but as the visible world1 the human society1 do not always answer to his desires1 the soul goes beyond the visible world1 above human relations1 to seek this fulcrum of which it has need4 ,hence the religious sentiment develops itself3 man addresses himself to ,god1 and invokes his aid through prayer4 #e4 ,man ,finds the ,help he ,seeks--,such is the nature of man that when he sincerely asks this support he obtains it2 that is1 seeking it is almost sufficient to secure it4 ,whosoever feeling his will weak invokes the encouragement of a friend1 the influence of wise councils1 the support of public opinion1 or who addresses himself to ,god by prayer1 soon feels his will fortified in a certain measure and for a certain time4 #f4 ,influence of ,spiritual ,world on ,liberty--,there are spiritual influences at work on man--the empire of the spiritual world upon liberty4 ,there are certain changes1 certain moral events which manifest themselves in man without his being able to refer their origin to an act of his will1 or being able to recognize the author4 ,certain facts occur in the interior of the human soul which it does not refer to itself1 which it does not recognize as the work of its own will4 ,there are certain days1 certain moments in which it finds itself in a different moral state from that which it was last conscious of under the operations of its own will4 ,in other words1 the moral man does not wholly create himself2 he is conscious that causes1 that powers #bcc external to himself act upon and modify him imperceptibly#bj--this fact has been called the grace of ,god which helps the will of man1 while others see in it the evidences of predestination4 #c4 ,the ,pelagian ,view4--,from these facts men arrive at different conclusions4 ,some regarding only the power of man to deliberate on any proposed course of conduct1 and his ability to decide for himself what course he will pursue1 ignoring the spiritual influences which operate on him1 and taking no account of the aid which comes to man through prayer--believe that man's conduct depends entirely upon his will4 ,tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus1 say they2 and hence reject the fact of the grace of ,god and the influence it exerts on human conduct4 ,such was the conclusion arrived at by ,pelagius who flourished early in the fifth century4 ,he asserted that human nature is not fallen--that there is no hereditary corruption1 and that man having the power to do good has only to will in order to perform4 ,his doctrine has been revised several times1 and has drawn to it not a few believers4 #d4 ,catholic ,view4--,others regarding all the facts elsewhere enumerated--man's power to deliberate1 his ability to decide upon his course1 his failure to do all that his reason teaches him it is his duty to do1 his need of help from a source external to himself1 the assistance he can and does obtain through prayer and1 lastly1 the influence of spiritual forces upon man--leads them to the conclusion that it is through a union of the grace of ,god and the free will of man that men arrive at last at righteousness4 ,such was the teaching of the ,roman ,catholic church4 #e4 ,protestant ,view4--,others still1 looking only upon the influence of the spiritual world on man1 and noting how very far short he comes of doing all his reason teaches him it is his #bcd duty to do1 conclude that man has no power whatsoever to do good of himself1 that he can exercise no will to work righteousness until after the grace of ,god makes him righteous1 and that it is that grace altogether which causes him both to will and to do good works4 #f4 ,luther's ,fundamental ,doctrine4--,luther belonged to this last-named class4 ,long before he came to an open rupture with the pope1 he taught the doctrine of predestination1 and of salvation through faith alone3--,the excellent1 infallible1 and sole preparation for grace is the eternal election and predestination of ,god4 ,on the side of man there is nothing that goes before grace1 unless it be impotency and even rebellion4 ,we do not become righteous by doing what is righteous2 but having become righteous we do what is righteous4 #ba ,since the fall of man1 free will is but an idle word2 and if man does all he can he still sins mortally4 ,a man who imagines to arrive at grace by doing all that he is able to do adds sin to sin and is doubly guilty4 ,that man is not justified who performs many works2 but he who1 without works1 has much faith in ,christ4 #bb ,what gives peace to our consciences is this--by faith our sins are no longer ours1 but ,christ's on whom ,god has laid them all2 and1 on the other hand1 all ,christ's righteousness belongs to us1 to whom ,god has given it4 #bc ,thus taught ,luther1 and this became the first1 the main theological question of the reformation4 ,the point which the ,reformer had most at heart in all his labors1 contests and dangers1 says a respectable authority1 was the doctrine of justification by faith alone4 #bd ,note #c1 end of section4 #g4 ,it is but just to the ,reformer however1 that it should be known that he did not himself reject good works1 but on the contrary exhorted men to practice them2 but he condemns #bce those who did them with an idea that by them they would be justified1 or that they were necessary to salvation4 ,he held also that in order to do good works men must first be justified1 and that good works done before justification were even sinful4#be #h4 ,the ,mischief of ,luther's ,doctrine4--,though ,luther did not reject good works1 and though he held that justifying faith would produce them1 yet his doctrine has been the source of much mischief in the world4 ,when it was charged by his vicar general1 ,staupitius1 that his doctrines were the delight of debauches1 and that many scandalous practices were the consequences of some of his publications1 he could not deny the charge1 but contented himself by saying1 ,i am neither afraid of such censorious representations1 nor surprised to hear them4 #bf ,luther's doctrine of salvation by faith alone1 as stated by ,melanchthon1 with his approval1 stands thus3 ,man's justification before ,god proceeds from faith alone4 ,this faith enters man's heart by the grace of ,god alone4 #bg ,this leaves man a passive creature in relation to his salvation4 ,he is helpless to procure it2 he can do nothing to hasten it2 he is helpless2 he must wait the divine workings of the grace of ,god4 ,as all things which happen1 says ,melanchthon1 happen necessarily1 according to the divine predestination1 there is no such thing as liberty in our wills4 #bh ,note #d1 end of section4 ,other followers of ,luther1 among them one ,nicholas ,amsdorf1 went so far as to maintain that good works were a hindrance to salvation4#bi #i4 ,by denying the existence of human liberty1 and maintaining #bcf that all things happen necessarily1 the reformers1 with ,luther at their head1 laid themselves open to the charges made by the partisans of the church of ,rome1 viz43 ,their doctrine threw open a door to the most unbounded licentiousness since it furnished men with this defense for the crimes they committed--,we could do no other1 our fate did not permit us to do otherwise4 ,by saying that good works were not necessary to salvation1 and assisted in no way to procure it1 the ,reformers took away the chief incentive to good works1 and removed the principal restraint to the doing of evil4 #aj4 ,moreover1 their doctrine rendered void the ordinances and works required by the gospel2 neither repentance nor baptism1 nor any other act of obedience to ,god is essential if salvation is by faith alone4 ,to say that it is a doctrine adverse to the whole tenor of scripture1 notwithstanding a few isolated passages depended upon by the ,reformers and their successors to support it1 is not necessary here4 ,it is sufficient to remark that it is a doctrine which would render the commandments of ,god incompatible with the powers and capacity of his creatures2 a doctrine which destroys at once the consistency of ,god and the moral responsibility of man2 and therefore a doctrine most pernicious and dangerous to entertain4 ,see note #e1 end of section4 #aa4 ,luther on the ,danger of his ,doctrine4--,it proved to be so even during the lifetime of ,luther2 for it led some of his followers to believe that ,christ had abolished the moral law2 and that ,christians1 therefore1 were not obliged to observe it4#cj ,luther himself saw the danger of his doctrine and thus spoke of it3 ,if faith be preached1 as of necessity it must be1 the greater part of mankind will interpret the doctrine in a carnal way1 and so understand spiritual liberty as to allow indulgences of the flesh4 ,this we #bcg may see in all the ranks of life4 ,all profess themselves to be evangelical2 all boast of their ,christian liberty2 and yet give way to their lusts and passions1 for example to covetousness1 pride1 envy1 pleasures1 and such like4 ,who discharges his duty faithfully8 ,who serves his brother in a true spirit of charity8 ,the disgrace which such conduct brings on the profession of the gospel puts me sometimes so out of temper that ,i could wish these swine1 that tread precious pearls under their feet were still under the tyranny of the pope2 for it is impossible that a people so much resembling those of ,gomorrah1 should be kept in due subjection by the mild maxims of the gospel of peace4#ca #ab4 ,it counts for nothing that ,luther denounced this corrupt state of morals among his followers2 it was the legitimate outgrowth of his fundamental doctrine--the doctrine of nearly all ,protestants--of justification by faith alone1 a faith which man had no part in generating1 but which came through the grace of ,god alone4 ,the tree of his planting produced bitter fruit2 it was vain for him to proclaim against the fruit so long as he insisted that it was a good tree on which it grew4 #ac4 ,teaching of the ,church of ,rome on ,justification4--,the ,catholic ,church at the time1 whatever errors in respect to other doctrines it entertained1 held that salvation1 justification before ,god1 resulted through the exertion of man's free will1 aided by the grace of ,god4 ,it came through a union of faith and works on the part of man1 and the rich outpouring of grace on the part of ,deity2 a doctrine which man is conscious of as operating upon and influencing human conduct1 and at once in harmony with the whole tenor of revelation1 and consonant with the great facts underlying the free will of man which have been already stated in this section4 #ad4 ,unfortunately for the ,catholic ,church1 she did not stop here1 but attached too great importance to external marks of #bch repentance1 to works of penance--to tears1 fastings1 mortifications of the flesh1 and pilgrimages4 ,men were required to go barefooted1 to wear coarse raiment next their bodies1 to become exiles from their homes or to renounce the world and embrace a monastic life4 ,finally in the eleventh century voluntary whippings were added to these other punishments see note #f1 end of section2 and men learned to look upon these works of penance as purchasing a forgiveness of sins1 and paid little attention to the inward regeneration of the heart4 ,as confession and penance are easier than the extirpation of sin and the abandonment of vice1 many ceased contending against the lusts of the flesh1 and preferred gratifying them at the expense of a few mortifications4 #cb ,especially did this become the case when the doctrine was promulgated that substitutes could be hired to receive the punishment originally inflicted upon the offender1 and monks and priests could be found willing to undergo it for a consideration4 #ae4 ,the church trusted too much in the works of penance1 and did not insist stoutly enough upon repentance--a godly sorrow which worketh a reformation of life4 ,if the reformers went to one extreme in attributing man's justification wholly to the act of faith and the grace of ,god1 the ,catholic church went to the other in assigning too much value to works of penance and performances of human invention for the forgiveness of sins4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,indulgences to be ,accompanied by ,amendment of ,life4--,the doctrine and the sale of indulgences were powerful incentives to evil among an ignorant people4 ,true1 according to the church1 indulgences #bci could benefit those only who promised to amend their lives1 and who kept their word4 ,but what could be expected from a tenet invented solely with a view to the profit that might be derived from it8 ,the vendors of indulgences were naturally tempted for the better sale of their merchandise to present their wares to the people in the most attractive and seducing aspect4 ,the learned themselves did not fully understand the doctrine4 ,all the multitude saw in them was that they permitted men to sin2 and the merchants were not over eager to dissipate an error so favorable to their sale4--,d',aubigne4 #b4 ,death of ,tetzel4--,while the proper nuncio 7,miltitz7 was negotiating a reconciliation in ,germany1 ,tetzel1 the wretched subaltern1 whose scandalous conduct had so disgraced his employers1 met with the reward which frequently awaits the ministers of iniquity4 ,he found himself deserted by all the world4 ,miltitz in particular had treated him so roughly that this daring and boisterous instrument of papal avarice and extortion actually fell sick1 wasted away1 and at last died of a broken heart4 ,a dreadful lesson6 ,this unhappy man left the world1 as far as appears1 destitute of comfort in his own soul1 after he had ministered a false peace to thousands4--,milner4 #c4 ,luther on ,justification by ,faith4--,i observe that the devil is continually attacking this fundamental article by means of his doctors1 and that in this respect he can never cease or take any repose4 ,well1 then1 ,i1 ,doctor ,martin ,luther1 unworthy herald of the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 confess this article1 that faith alone without works justifies before ,gods2 and ,i declare that it shall stand and remain forever in spite of the emperor of the ,romans1 the emperor of the ,turks1 the emperor of the ,tartars1 the emperor of the ,persians--in spite of the pope and all the cardinals1 with the bishops1 priests1 monks and nuns--in spite of kings1 princes and nobles1 and in spite of all the world and of the devils themselves2 and that if they endeavor to fight against this truth they will draw the fires of hell upon their heads4 ,this is the true and holy gospel1 and the declaration of me1 ,doctor ,luther1 according to the teaching of the ,holy ,ghost4--,d',aubigne 7,hist4 ,ref41 vol ,i1 p4 #gj47 #d4 ,effects of ,predestination on the ,mind4--,to what purpose shall ,i labor in the service of ,god8 ,if ,i am predestinated to death that is1 spiritual death ,i shall never escape from it2 and if ,i am predestined to life that is1 to salvation even though ,i do wickedly1 ,i shall1 no doubt1 arrive at eternal rest4--,raban1 ,quoted by ,guizot4 #e4 ,evil ,results of the ,doctrine of ,justification by ,faith ,alone4--,the serious evil involved in ,luther's doctrine of justification by faith without works is perhaps best seen in a quotation from ,fletcher1 of ,madeley1 the most able disciple of ,john ,wesley and his successor #bdj ,fletcher accuses one ,richard ,hill1 ,esq4--who accepted in its widest sense the doctrine of justification by faith alone--with saying3 ,even adultery and murder do not hurt the pleasant children1 but rather work for their good4 ,god sees no sin in believers1 whatever sin they may commit4 ,my sins might displease ,god3 my person is always acceptable to him 99 99 99 ,it is a most pernicious error of the schoolmen to distinguish sins according to the fact1 and not according to the persons4 ,though ,i blame those who say1 let us sin that grace may abound1 yet adultery1 incest and murder shall1 upon the whole1 make me holier on earth and merrier in heaven4--,end of ,religious ,controversy1 p4 #ij4 #f4 ,the ,works in which ,catholics ,trusted4--,in the eleventh century voluntary flagellations were superadded to these practices fastings1 pilgrimages1 etc42 somewhat later they became quite a mania in ,italy1 which was then in a very disturbed state4 ,nobles and peasants1 old and young1 even children of five years of age1 whose only covering was a cloth tied round the middle1 went in pairs by hundreds1 thousands and tens of thousands1 through the towns and villages1 visiting the churches in the depth of winter4 ,armed with scourges1 they flogged each other without pity1 and the streets resounded with cries and groans that drew tears from all who heard them4--,d',aubigne4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what difference existed between the teachings of the ,catholic church and the conduct of its agents in the matter of indulgences8 7,note #a47 #b4 ,was the sale of indulgences the chief cause of ,luther's revolt from ,rome8 #c4 ,what doctrines did ,luther entertain which would at last have led him to oppose the ,catholic church8 #d4 ,what is the power of deliberation8 #e4 ,explain what liberty or free agency is4 #f4 ,in what way is man's will or free agency modified8 #g4 ,what is it that convinces man of the necessity of external help to aid his will8 #h4 ,what does man's experience teach him when he seeks external help8 #i4 ,what influence is man conscious of as operating upon him in moral and spiritual affairs8 #bda #aj4 ,state the ,pelagian view on the subject of grace and free will4 #aa4 ,state the ,roman ,catholic view4 #ab4 ,state the ,protestant view4 #ac4 ,what was ,luther's fundamental doctrine8 #ad4 ,in what light did ,luther hold good works8 #ae4 ,what mischief arose out of ,luther's doctrine8 #af4 ,what did ,luther himself say respecting the danger of his doctrine8 #ag4 ,what were the teachings of the ,roman church on justification8 #ah4 ,to what extreme did the church of ,rome go in the matter of good works8 #ai4 ,what was the nature of the works in which ,roman ,catholics trusted too much8 7,note #f47 #bj4 ,what influence on morals did the doctrine have that substitutes could be employed to receive punishment for sins8 #bdb ,,section ,,iii4 #a4 ,the ,growth of ,luther's ,rebellion4--,the thing most important1 the one which drew with it the gravest consequences1 and which led to the greatest good produced by the ,reformation1 was the rebellion of ,luther against the authority of the pope4 ,he did not come out in open rebellion at the first1 but arrived at that state by gradual and imperceptible steps4 ,when his opposition to the sale of indulgences met with reproof from the pontiff1 he appealed from the pope ill-informed to the pope better-informed4 ,when that pope better-informed still held him to be in error and refractory1 he appealed to a general1 free council of the whole church2 but when no heed was taken of this appeal1 and ,leo1 pressed by ,eckius1 ,cajetan and others1 excommunicated him1 he then answered by burning the pope's bull of excommunication1 and stood in open rebellion to the authority of the pontiff4 ,when the pope appealed to ,emperor ,charles to make the excommunication of some force by the power of the secular authority vested in him1 the emperor1 contrary to the protests of the pope's legates1 resolved to give the ,reformer a hearing before proceeding against him4 ,accordingly ,luther was summoned before the diet at ,worms1 where he not only insisted upon having a hearing before a free1 general council of the church1 but a council that would accept the ,bible as the final authority upon the questions at issue between himself and the pontiff4 #b4 ,the ,catholic ,rule of ,faith4--,this was demanding more than the pope could grant2 for the ,catholics have never exalted the ,bible above the church1 but have always held that #bdc the scriptures must be accepted as construed by the church1 and in the days of ,luther the pope was the church4 ,the ,catholic rule of faith in respect to the laws by which the church is to be governed is3 ,the word of ,god1 at large1 whether written in the ,bible or handed down from the apostles by tradition1 and as it is understood and explained by the ,catholic church4 #cc ,besides their rule of faith1 which is scripture and tradition1 ,catholics acknowledge an unerring judge of controversy1 or sure guide in all matters relating to salvation--viz41 the church4 #cd #c4 ,this rule employed to interpret the ,bible and to settle controversies that might arise1 ,luther rejected4 ,writing in defense of his conduct in burning the papal bull of excommunication and the decretals of the popes1 he said3 ,let no man's good sense be so far seduced as to reverence the volumes ,i have burnt1 on account of their great antiquity or their high titles4 ,let every one first hear and see what the pope teaches in his own books1 and what abominable1 poisonous doctrines are to be found among the sacred1 spiritual laws2 and then let him freely judge1 whether ,i have done right or not in burning such writings4 #d4 ,among the teachings in the decretals which ,luther held up for special condemnation were the following3 7#a7 ,the pope has the power to interpret scripture1 and to teach as he pleases2 and no person is allowed to interpret in a different way4 7#b7 ,the pope does not derive from the scripture but the scripture derives from the pope1 authority1 power and dignity4 ,he then affirms that comparing together the different parts of the canon law1 its language amounts to this3 ,that the pope is ,god on earth2 above all that is earthly or heavenly1 temporal or spiritual2 that all things belong to the pope2 and that no one must venture to say1 what doest thou8#ce #bdd;,it was against this arbitrary authority that ,luther rebelled4 #e4 ,attempted ,settlement by a ,general ,council4--,at last when through the influence of the emperor the pope consented to appoint a council1 a difficulty arose as to where it should be held4 ,the pope on his part seemed determined to have it assemble in ,italy1 or in some country where his influence would predominate2 the ,reformers were equally determined to submit their cause to no council outside of ,germany4 ,the difficulty had arisen in ,germany2 they insisted it should be settled by a council in ,germany1 or by a diet of the empire4 ,the cause was never fairly tried by a council of the whole church2 the revolt against the authority of the pope was sustained by an appeal to arms1 as related in section ,i1 ,part ,,iii1 of this work4 #f4 ,revolution1 not ,rebellion4--,had that revolt against the ,catholic church been a revolt against legitimate authority it would have been rebellion3 but as it was against a usurped and hence an illegitimate authority1 it was a justifiable revolution4 ,for in ecclesiastical government1 no less than in civil government1 if a long train of abuses renders it odious1 and those who execute it are tyrannical and usurp authority which the law of ,god does not sanction1 by which unrighteous dominion is exercised over the minds of men1 it is the right of the people to resist such authority3 and refuse to sustain those who exercise that unrighteous dominion to please their vanity or gratify their ambition4 #g4 ,true ,position1 but a ,corrupt ,church4--,the position that the church1 officered by inspired prophets and apostles--men having by virtue of their priesthood and official position a right to the inspiration and revelations of ,god--the position that the church of ,christ so officered1 has the right to decide upon all controversies and to determine the meaning of scripture1 is1 beyond all questioning1 a true position4 ,but the difficulty with the ,roman ,catholic church was that it was no #bde longer the church of ,christ1 as already proven in ,part ,,ii of this work4 ,it had no prophets or apostles1 no men who had a right to the revelations of ,god4 ,the popes and bishops of the church taught that revelation had ceased1 and they depended on scripture and tradition alone1 interpreted by themselves1 for their guide4 ,the power the church possessed was usurped power merely1 the growth of ages4 ,it had become both arrogant and insolent1 and at last intolerable1 and when a man was found possessing the courage to resent its presumption and defy it1 he found plenty to applaud and sanction his act4 #h4 ,true ,cause of the ,reformation4--,we cannot ascribe the ,reformation to accidents and mischances1 such for instance as the jealousy of ,luther because the sale of indulgences was entrusted to the ,dominican monks instead of to the order of ,augustine monks1 to which he belonged#cf--we cannot assign the cause of the ,reformation to this1 neither can we go to the other extreme and say that the great revolution of the sixteenth century resulted solely from a pure desire to reform the abuses that had arisen in the church or bring back ,christianity to its primitive purity4 ,not a few of the princes that favored ,luther in his revolt against the pope did so from other motives than those prompted by a desire to reform the church4 #i4 ,many of the temporal monarchs and princes were jealous of the power exercised within their dominions by the ,roman pontiffs1 as it lowered the dignity of their own position4 ,they were tired1 moreover1 of the assumed right of the pope to enter their dominions1 and1 under one pretext or another1 tax their subjects and thus not only impoverish the people1 but reduce the revenue of the temporal ruler4 ,it will be found1 #bdf therefore1 that the jealousy1 ambition and interest of these princes1 and not a desire to establish pure religion1 made them factors in the great revolution4 7,see note #a1 end of section47 #aj4 ,the people also were tired of the dominion asserted over their minds by the papal authority1 and were only too glad to escape from that thraldom under any pretext whatsoever4 ,the preceding century had brought a great intellectual awakening to ,europe1 and men were no longer content to have questions of fact and belief decided by the authority of the church4 7,see note #b1 end of section47 ,they insisted that human reason and individual judgment had a right to investigate and to be satisfied on these questions2 and the securing of that freedom was not only the leading principle of the sixteenth century revolution1 but its greatest achievement4 7,see note #c1 end of section47 #aa4 ,revolution1 not ,reformation4--,it is absurd to say that the revolution of the sixteenth century was a reformation1 if by that it is meant that it re-established the primitive doctrines of ,christianity1 purified the morals of the people1 or gave birth to a better ecclesiastical government4 ,it did no such thing4 ,the ,reformers declaimed against some of the abuses of the ,catholic church1 such as denying the sacramental cup to the laity1 the celibacy of the clergy1 the absurdities of the mass1 fasts and ceremonies of human invention1 the whole system of monkery1 and the great usurpation of authority by the church2 and consequently did not include any of these abuses--except perhaps the last--in the system of religion they founded4 ,still their doctrines led them into serious errors and great disorders4 #ab4 ,private ,interpretation of the ,bible and its ,effects4--,the evils that arose from the doctrine of justification by faith alone1 we have already noticed4#cg ,the disorders that grew out of the doctrine of private interpretation of scripture is yet to be considered4 ,when ,luther refused to longer recognize the authority of the church in matters of doctrine1 he still was aware that men would need some authority to decide controversies that would arise1 consequently he held up the ,bible as the final arbiter of all questions touching faith and morals4 ,but the ,bible had to be construed1 its meaning made plain1 and as each one was left to explain it in his own way1 the utmost confusion prevailed4 ,on the great fundamental principle of the ,protestants--justification by faith alone--,osiander1 a ,lutheran1 says3 ,there are twenty several opinions1 all drawn from scriptures1 and held by different members of the ,augsburg1 or ,lutheran ,confession4#ch ,when the ,reformers from the several parts of ,germany consulted together1 and with them the ,reformers from other states met with a view to come to some understanding in respect to religion and modes of worship1 it was soon apparent that they were hopelessly divided1 not only upon matters unimportant1 but also upon fundamental principles4 ,luther had rejected the authority of the church and set up the tribunal of private interpretation of scripture in its stead4 ,a number of his disciples proceeding on the same principle1 rejected some of his doctrines and undertook to prove from the scripture that he was in error and that the ,reformation needed reforming4 #ac4 ,carolstadt1 says the author of the ,end of ,religious ,controversy ,zuinglius1 ,okolampadius1 ,muncer and a hundred more of his followers1 wrote and preached against him and against each other with the utmost virulence1 whilst each of them still professed to ground his doctrine and conduct on the written word of ,god alone4 ,in vain did ,luther denounce hell fire against them2 in vain did he threaten to return back to the ,catholic religion2 he had put the #bdh ,bible into each man's hand to explain it for himself1 and this his followers continued to do in open defiance of him1 till their mutual contradictions and discords became so numerous and scandalous as to overwhelm the thinking part of them with grief and confusion4 #ci 7,see note #d1 end of section47 #ad4 ,the ,multiplication of ,sects4--,the division of the ,reformers into numerous sects has ever been a reproach to ,protestants and likewise an evidence of the weakness of their position4 ,men of different capacities and dispositions examined the ,bible2 they found it no systematic treatise upon religion and morals1 but a miscellaneous collection of inspired writings1 dealing with historical events1 connected1 in the main1 with the people of ,god2 prophecies1 dreams1 revelations1 doctrines1 and morals2 written at different times1 to different peoples1 and under a great variety of circumstances4 ,in addition to all this1 many plain and precious parts have been taken away from it2#dj other parts have doubtless been purposely changed by designing men2#da which1 with the imperfections arising from its translation from the original languages in which it was written1 has made it an uncertain guide1 taken alone1 for the church or for individuals2 and as ,protestants insisted upon the right of private judgment in the interpretation of the ,bible1 it is not surprisingg that a great variety of opinions were entertained1 or that numerous sects were founded upon them4 ,it was a great evil2 much confusion and disorder arose out of it2 but it was an evil that could not be avoided4 ,it was one of those periods of time when liberty was a cause of disorder1 but the attainment of liberty through that disorder more than outweighed the evils that arose from it4 #ae4 ,the ,error of the ,reformers4--,the great error which the ,reformers made was in not giving full application to their principle of the right of private judgment in matters of #bdi religion4 ,they claimed the right to revolt from the ,catholic church1 to interpret the ,bible for themselves1 and to found their mode of worship upon their own conceptions of what was required by the revelations of ,god2 but when others differed from them1 and desired to exercise the same liberty1 the ,reformers were themselves intolerant1 and attempted to compel men by force to accept their religious faith and modes of worship4 ,it is this intolerance which is the chief reproach applied to the ,reformation by its enemies1 and it must be admitted that it somewhat sullies the glory of its achievements4 7,see note #e1 end of section47 ,,notes4 #a4 ,motives ,back of the ,reformation4--,the ,protestant historian1 ,mosheim1 with whom ,hume agrees1 admits that several of the principal agents in this revolution were actuated more by the impulse of passion and views of interest than by a zeal for true religion4 7,maclaine's ,mosheim1 vol4 iv4 p4 #ace47 ,he had before acknowledged that ,king ,gustavus introduced ,lutheranism into ,sweden in opposition to the clergy and bishops1 not only as agreeable to the genius and spirit of the gospel1 but also as favorable to the temporal state and political constitution of the ,swedish dominions4 ,he adds that ,christiern1 who introduced the ,reformation into ,denmark1 was animated by no other motives than those of ambition and avarice4 ,grotius1 another ,protestant1 testifies that it was sedition and violence which gave birth to the ,reformation in his own country--,holland4 ,the same was the case in ,france1 ,geneva and ,scotland4 ,it is to be observed1 that in all these countries the ,reformers1 as soon as they got the upper hand1 became violent persecutors of the ,catholics4 ,bergier defies ,protestants to name so much as a town or village in which1 when they became masters of it1 they tolerated a single ,catholic4--,end of ,religious ,controversy1 note1 p4 #aje4 #b4 ,desire for ,freedom the ,moving ,cause in ,reformation4--,the strength of the ,protestant party had been derived1 both in ,germany and ,england1 far less from their superiority in argument1 however decisive #bej this might be1 than from that desire which all classes1 and especially the higher1 had long experienced to emancipate themselves from the thraldom of ecclesiastical jurisdiction4--,hallam's ,const4 ,hist4 of ,eng4 #c4 ,the ,cause and ,leading ,principle of the ,reformation4--,in my opinion the ,reformation neither was an accident1 the result of some casual circumstance1 or some personal interests1 nor arose from unmingled views of religious improvement1 the fruit of ,utopian humanity and truth4 ,it had a more powerful cause than all these2 a general cause to which all the others are subordinate4 ,it was a vast effort made by the human mind to achieve its freedom2 it was a new-born desire which it felt to think and judge1 freely and independently1 of facts and opinions which1 till then1 ,europe received or was considered bound to receive from the hands of authority4 ,it was a great endeavor to emancipate human reason1 and to call things by their right names2 it was an insurrection of the human mind against the absolute power of spiritual order4 ,such1 in my opinion1 was the true character and leading principle of the ,reformation4 99 99 99 ,not only was this the result of the ,reformation1 but it was content with this result4 ,whenever this was obtained no other was sought for2 so entirely was it the very foundation of the event1 its primitive and fundamental character6 99 99 99 ,i repeat it2 whenever the ,reformation attained this object1 it accommodated itself to every form of government and to every situation4--,guizot4 #d4 ,unhappy ,divisions ,among ,reformers4--,capito1 minister of ,strasburg1 writing to ,forel1 pastor of ,geneva1 thus complains to him3 ,god has given me to understand the mischief we have done by our precipitancy in breaking with the pope4 ,the people say ,i know enough of the gospel4 ,i can read it for myself4 ,i have no need of you4 ,in the same tone ,dudith writes to his friend ,beza3 ,our people are carried away with every wind of doctrine4 ,if you know what their religion is today1 you cannot tell what it will be tomorrow4 ,in what single point are those churches which have declared war against the pope agreed amongst themselves8 ,there is not one point which is not held by some of them as an article of faith1 and by others as an impiety6 ,in the same sentiment1 ,calvin1 writing to ,melanchthon1 says3 ,it is of great importance that the divisions which subsist among us should not be known to future ages3 for nothing can be more ridiculous than that we who have broken off from the whole world1 should have agreed so ill among ourselves from the very beginning of the ,reformation4--,end of ,religious ,controversy1 ,page #aja4 #e4 ,the ,reproach of the ,reformation4--,what were the reproaches constantly applied to the ,reformation by its enemies8 ,which of its results are thrown in its face1 as it were1 unanswerable8 ,the two principal reproaches are1 first1 the multiplicity of sects1 the excessive license of thought1 the destruction of all spiritual authority1 and the entire dissolution of religious society2 secondly1 tyranny and persecution4 ,you provoke licentiousness1 it has been said to the ,reformers3 you produce it2 and1 after being the cause of it1 you wish to restrain and repress it4 ,and how do you repress it8 ,by the most harsh and violent means4 ,you take upon yourselves1 too1 to punish heresy1 and that by virtue of an illegitimate authority4--,guizot4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what was the matter of chief importance in the ,reformation8 #b4 ,describe the growth of ,luther's conflict with the pope4 #c4 ,describe the ,catholic rule of faith4 #d4 ,what demands contrary to that rule did ,luther make8 #e4 ,what difficulty arose in respect to settling the controversy by an appeal to a general council8 #f4 ,what can you say of the revolt of ,luther to the ,catholic church authority8 #g4 ,what can you say of the right of the true ,church of ,christ to settle controversies and determine the meaning of scripture8 #h4 ,why was the ,catholic church unqualified to render decisions on such matters8 #i4 ,what several causes are assigned for the ,reformation by ,catholics and ,protestants respectively8 7,note47 #aj4 ,what was the true cause8 #aa4 ,what several considerations aided the ,reformation8 #ab4 ,was the religious movement of the #afth century a reformation or a revolution8 #ac4 ,what can you say of the evils which arose from the private interpretation of the ,bible8 #ad4 ,what caused the multiplication of sects among the ,protestants8 #ae4 ,what makes the ,bible an insufficient guide in matters of faith and worship8 #af4 ,what was the great error of the ,reformers8 #beb ,,section ,,iv4 #a4 ,the ,reformation in ,switzerland4--,so far we have considered this sixteenth century revolution as it affected the ,german empire alone4 ,it was not confined1 however1 to that country4 ,as a matter of fact1 the so-called ,reformation began in ,switzerland before it did in ,germany4 ,ulrich ,zwingle1 born in ,wildhausen1 ,canton of ,st4 ,gall1 ,switzerland #adhd1 attacked many of the errors of the ,catholic ,church1 before ,luther began his opposition4 #b4 ,in #aeaf1 ,zwingle openly declaimed against many ,catholic abuses1 such as monastic vows1 pilgrimages1 worship of relics1 and indulgences4 ,he also taught that the ,bible was the only standard of religious truth4 ,in #aeah1 one ,samson came into ,switzerland to sell indulgences4 ,the year following ,zwingle opposed him and drove him from ,zurich4 ,four years later the ,swiss ,reformer was accused of heresy by adherents of the ,roman pontiff1 and brought before the council of ,zurich4 ,he presented sixty-seven doctrinal propositions before the council which he agreed to defend by the scriptures against all opposers4 ,the council before which his cause was tried decided that the controversy must be settled by an appeal to the ,bible1 and ,zwingle triumphed4 ,at the conclusion of the hearing the council decreed that the ,reformer should be allowed to teach as he had formerly done unmolested2 and that no preacher in the canton should teach any doctrine he could not prove by the ,bible4 ,the year following--#aebd--the council reformed the public worship1 that is1 they adopted the principles and methods of worship proposed by ,zwingle4 #bec #c4 ,in #aeca1 the ,catholics in the surrounding cantons attacked ,zurich1 and early in the battle1 ,zwingle1 while leading the ,protestant forces1 was slain1 his body hacked to pieces and afterwards burned4 ,see note #a1 end of section4 #d4 ,john ,calvin4--,zwingle was succeeded in the leadership of the ,swiss ,reformers by ,john ,calvin1 a talented but austere man1 a native of ,noyon1 ,france4 ,see note #b1 end of section4 ,he more than any other man--,luther excepted--influenced the character of the ,protestant churches4 ,he held many views that were at variance with those of ,zwingle4 ,the latter taught that civil rulers possessed absolute power in religious matters1 and subjected the ministers altogether to their authority4 ,calvin held that the church should be free and independent of the state2 that it should govern itself by its own officers whom the church and not the state should appoint2 he limited the power of the state over the church to giving it external protection4 ,zwingle recognized a gradation of officers in the ,christian church2 ,calvin held that all were equal4 ,suitable persons appointed and ordained with the consent of the members of the church1 constituted1 in his theory of church government1 a legitimate ministry to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments4 ,but for the government of the church a number of men were chosen by the people from among the most venerable and respectable of the congregation4 ,these men were called presbyters or elders4 ,they were all equal in authority1 and even the preaching minister was in no sense superior to them in office4 #e4 ,the elders of a single church or congregation convened in council constituted the church session2 councils composed of representatives from the several churches in a province1 constituted synods or consistories2 while a general council composed of elders from all the churches was known as the general assembly4 ,the elders in these several councils were all regarded #bed as equal in authority and had full power to enact laws relating to religious matters and to establish the discipline of the church4 ,such is the order of church government founded by ,calvin1 and known as ,presbyterianism4 #f4 ,difference of ,opinion on the ,eucharist4--,as already stated in a previous section1 the ,catholics maintained that in the eucharist the bread and the wine1 were converted by consecration into the very body and blood of ,messiah4 ,zwingle maintained that the bread and wine were symbols merely of ,christ's flesh and blood1 employed to call to mind his death1 and the blessings procured to man by that death4 ,calvin stood between these two extremes1 as also did ,luther1 and while they disagreed with ,catholics1 and would not concede that the bread and wine were changed to the very body and blood of ,christ1 neither would they concede that the bread and wine were merely symbols1 but insisted upon a sort of spiritual presence4 ,that is1 they held that the saints in the exercise of faith in partaking of the sacrament1 do become united in a certain mystic way with ,christ1 and from this union received an increase of spiritual life4 #g4 ,predestination4--,another thing in which ,calvin differed from ,zwingle was in relation to the celebrated doctrine of an absolute decree of ,god respecting the salvation of men4 ,calvin emphasized the doctrines of ,luther and ,melanchthon in regard to the part which the grace of ,god takes in the salvation of men2 and perhaps carried it further than they would have done1 certainly further than ,zwingle did4 ,on this point ,calvin taught that ,god had elected some persons from all eternity to everlasting life2 and had appointed others to everlasting punishments2 and that for this he had no other ground except his own pleasure1 or his most free and sovereign will4 ,this is the doctrine of predestination4 #h4 ,the ,spread of ,calvin's ,doctrines4--,it was some time before the ,swiss could be brought to accept these doctrines #bee so at variance with or not found in the teachings of ,zwingle4 ,yet by the perseverance and the high reputation for learning and piety of ,calvin they were very generally accepted in ,switzerland2 and after him1 such was the success of his pupils1 that large bodies of ,protestants in other nations accepted his doctrines4 ,especially was this the case in ,france1 ,england1 ,scotland1 and even in ,germany4 #i4 ,the ,reformation in ,france4--,in ,france1 though in the main her people adhered to the ,catholic church1 the ,reformation found its most faithful adherents1 and there they suffered the most violent persecutions4 ,the ,protestants were opprobriously called ,huguenots ,hu-ge-nots the origin of the appellation is uncertain4 ,among these ,french ,protestants were men of high character1 and not a few bishops of the church4 ,the king and the magistrates1 however1 protected the ancient religion by the sword1 by penal inflictions2 and a large number of pious and good people were put to death1 among them not a few of the nobility4 ,see notes #c and #d1 end of section4 #aj4 ,the ,reformation in ,sweden4--,in ,sweden the ,reformation made rapid headway4 ,its doctrines were introduced into that country by ,olaus ,peri1 whose zeal for the cause was warmly seconded by the king1 ,gustavus ,vasa1 who while an exile in ,lubec1 during the revolution of #aebc1 learned something of the reformed religion4 ,for some time before #aebc ,sweden had been ruled by ,danish kings2 but in that year1 in consequence of the tyranny practiced by ,christiern ,,ii of ,denmark1 a revolution was inaugurated by ,gustavus ,vasa1 which ended in ,christiern being driven from ,sweden4 ,gustavus was chosen king in his stead4 ,while prejudiced in favor of the reformed religion1 he acted with great moderation4 ,he invited learned ,protestants from ,germany whom he directed to instruct his people in the ,bible and the ,protestant faith4 ,the ,bible translated by ,olaus ,petri he caused to be published and disseminated4 ,in #aebf1 a great discussion on religion was #bef held at ,upsal at the instance of the king1 between ,olaus ,petri and ,peter ,gallius1 a ,roman ,catholic4 ,gallius seems to have been so far defeated1 even in his own estimation1 that in the year following1 in the assembly of the states at ,westeras1 he recommended the reformed religion of ,luther to the representatives of the nation4 ,after a long discussion1 and much opposition from the bishops1 it was finally harmoniously decreed that the reformed religion should be introduced4 ,from that time until now the power of the pope in ,sweden has been prostrated4 ,see note #e1 end of section4 #aa4 ,denmark4--,in ,denmark the reformation was not accomplished so happily4 ,christiern1 whose authority1 as we have seen1 was overthrown in ,sweden1 sought to establish the reformed religion in ,denmark1 but more from a desire to deprive the bishops of their power1 and confiscate their property1 than from a right zeal for true religion4 ,in #aebj he invited ,martin ,reynhard1 a disciple of ,carlstadt1 to ,denmark1 and made him professor of theology at ,copenhagen4 ,reynhard stayed about a year4 ,when he left1 the king sent for ,carlstadt4 ,he remained but a short time2 and then the king invited ,luther himself to come1 but the reformer would not accept the invitation4 ,all these failing him1 the king set about the work of reformation himself1 but as he was a tyrant1 his people conspired against him1 and banished him from the kingdom1 in #aebc4 ,he was succeeded by his uncle1 ,frederic1 ,duke of ,holstein and ,sleswick4 #ab4 ,frederic was as anxious as ,christiern had been to see the reformed religion established in ,denmark1 but he was more prudent than his nephew4 ,he permitted the leaders among the ,protestants to teach publicly the doctrines of ,luther1 and in time these raised up a strong following4 ,in #aebg the king procured a decree from the senate1 at the diet of ,odensee1 giving religious liberty to the people4 ,by this decree the ,danes were left free to embrace the new religion1 or continue #beg members of the ,catholic ,church1 as they saw proper4 ,the successor of ,frederic--,christian ,,iii--went further than this1 however1 in the interest of the ,reformation4 ,he stripped the bishops of their odious power1 confiscated the church property1 much of which1 however1 he restored to the original owners1 from whom it had been obtained1 it is alleged1 by base arts4 ,he called ,john ,bugenhagius from ,wittemburg1 and with his assistance regulated the religious affairs of his realm by making the reformed the established religion of his kingdom4 ,the action of ,christian ,,iii seems harsh1 but a circumstance which mitigates if it does not destroy the harshness of his measures1 was the insufferable arrogance1 pride and power of the bishops1 which was a constant menace to the power of the monarch1 and did much to eclipse his glory4 ,see note #f1 end of section4 #ac4 ,holland4--,perhaps from being contiguous to ,germany1 the ,netherlands--,belgium and ,holland--soon partook of the spirit of the ,reformation--the desire to be free4 ,the writings of ,luther were early received and widely read by the ,netherlanders4 ,this alarmed the ,catholics who1 in #aeeb1 established the ,inquisition there and persecuted with great vigor all who accepted the doctrines of the reformers4 ,it is estimated that in those provinces which1 taken together1 constitute the ,netherlands1 in the reign of ,charles ,v alone--from #aeai to #aeeb--not less than #ej1jjj persons lost their lives in consequence of their defection from the church of ,rome4 ,but notwithstanding this severe persecution1 adherents to the ,protestant faith increased4 ,the tyranny of their oppressors seemed to increase the boldness of the people in clamoring for the rights of conscience2 and towards the close of the sixteenth century seven of the provinces successfully revolted against the ,duke of ,alva1 ,viceroy of the ,catholic monarch1 ,phillip ,,ii of ,spain4 ,these revolting provinces formed the ,dutch ,republic1 and in a short time became the most formidable maritime #beh power in the world4 ,they suffered the most and wrought the most in behalf of the liberty of conscience1 the freedom of commerce1 and the liberty of the state4 ,it is said by one historian that ,in freedom of conscience they were the light of the world4 #db ,it is well known that for many years their land was the asylum for the oppressed1 especially for those persecuted for their religion4 #ad4 ,england4--,the ,reformation in ,england took on a different aspect to what it did in the other countries4 ,when ,luther began his assault upon the church of ,rome1 the ,english monarch1 ,henry ,,viii1 appeared as a champion on the side of the ,roman pontiffs4 ,he wrote a book against ,luther in defense of the seven sacraments of the ,catholic ,church1 which met with such favor in the eyes of the pope that he conferred upon ,henry the title of ,defender of the ,faith4 ,henry's book appeared in #aebb4 ,soon after this the king began to question the legality of his marriage with ,catherine of ,aragon4 #ae4 ,catherine had been the wife of the king's deceased brother1 ,arthur2 and a marriage with a deceased brother's widow was regarded as contrary to the law of ,god4#dc ,henry therefore applied to the pope for the annulment of his marriage1 since his conscience would not permit him to cohabit longer with his deceased brother's wife4 ,the conduct of the king1 however1 was such as to give strong ground to the belief that it was his love for ,ann ,boleyn1 an ,english lady of high birth1 and not conscientious scruples as to the lawfulness of his marriage with ,catherine4 ,the queen's beauty had faded and some disease1 it is said1 had rendered her person less agreeable4 ,still1 to do ,henry justice1 it must not be concealed that his father had scrupled the legitimacy of the marriage2 a foreign #bei court had made it an objection to intermarriage with his children by his wife2 and the people of ,england very generally entertained fears respecting the succession to his crown1 and these political considerations doubtless had their influence4#dd ,still it will not be denied that after the king had fallen in love with ,ann ,boleyn1 his love for her and not political considerations1 or religious scruples1 was the incentive that prompted him to seek a divorce4 #af4 ,the ,rupture with the ,pope4--,the pope1 ,clement ,,vii1 evaded a direct answer to ,henry's appeal4 ,catherine was the aunt of ,charles ,v1 and perhaps ,clement feared that he would offend that monarch--to whom he looked to suppress the ,reformation in ,germany--if he granted the divorce4 ,henry1 impatient of these enforced delays1 consulted the universities of ,europe1 and as most of them pronounced marriage with a deceased brother's wife unlawful1 he divorced ,catherine without the consent of the pope4 ,a quarrel ensued between the king and the pontiff1 which resulted in the former casting off the authority of the latter1 and the pope excommunicated the king4 ,in #aecc ,henry was declared head of the ,british church and ,defender of the ,faith1 by the ,english parliament4 ,he thereupon ejected the monks from their possessions1 disposed of their property at his own good pleasure1 and abolished in toto the authority of the pope in ,england4 #ag4 ,no other country in all ,europe was so well prepared for the ,sixteenth ,century revolution as ,england4 ,a century and a half before either ,luther or ,zwingle were heard of1 ,john ,wycliffe proclaimed against the corruption and abuses of the ,catholic church1 denounced the pope as anti-,christ1#de and preached against the doctrine of transubstantiation4 ,he also #bfj translated the ,scriptures and circulated them among the common people4 ,two years before his death1 however1 he was summoned before a church council by which1 notwithstanding he defended himself with great ability1 many of his doctrines were condemned1 and he himself was restricted in his ministry to the parish of ,lutterworth1 in ,leicestershire1 where he died4 ,see note #g1 end of section4 ,his teachings1 however1 had made a deep impression upon his countrymen1 and he left many followers1 who were called by their opponents ,lollards4 ,the ,lollards were a proscribed sect in ,england1 and as they avoided persecution1 but little was heard of them4 ,still they cherished the doctrines of their leader1 and transmitted them to their children1 so that when ,luther and the other continental reformers began their work1 there were many in ,england who sympathized with them2 and when ,henry ,,viii considered it to his interests to revolt against the authority of the pope1 he found large numbers of his people not only ready to support him in casting off that authority1 but anxious to go much farther in that revolt than the king desired4 ,see note #f1 end of section4 ,they had viewed the rupture between the king and the pope with deep satisfaction2 but they were soon to learn that the defection of the monarch was not to bring religious liberty to ,england1 or establish there the doctrines of ,wycliffe or ,luther4 ,it was but a change of masters that had taken place1 and the king was as despotic as the pope4 ,see note #i1 end of section4 ,although ,henry had thrown off the authority of the pontiff1 he would tolerate but few changes in the forms and ceremonies of religion4 ,more changes were introduced in the reign of ,edward ,,vi1 the son of ,henry ,,viii by ,jane ,seymore2 and still more in the reign of ,elizabeth1 his daughter by ,anne ,boleyn4 #ah4 ,the ,puritans4--,but these changes came far short of satisfying the ,english ,protestants1 who were called ,puritans4 ,they demanded almost a complete abolition of the rites and #bfa ceremonies of the ,roman ,church1 which they denounced as idolatrous4 ,the most of them favored the ,presbyterian form of church government1 or a still simpler method which would recognize each congregation as a complete church within itself4 ,those who contended for this more simple form of church government were called ,independents4 ,the puritans were frequently rude and clamorous in their demands for further reformation2 and on their part the adherents of the established religion were intolerant1 and persecuted to imprisonment1 exile or death the ,puritans4 ,see note #aj1 end of section4 #ai4 ,the ,reformation in ,scotland4--,all things considered1 the ,reformation in ,scotland--that is the overthrow of the authority of the pope--was accomplished with as little trouble as it was in ,england2 and accompanied by less injustice to ,catholics4 ,in ,scotland1 as in ,england1 the doctrines of ,wycliffe had many silent adherents1 and such was the frame of the popular mind that only the leadership of bold men was needed to make a successful revolt against the authority of the pope4 ,that leadership was found in ,john ,knox4#df ,knox was thirty-eight years of age when he openly declared himself a ,protestant1 and began his work of reform4 ,about three years later ,cardinal ,beaton1 a proud1 arrogant man1 and of course the head of the ,catholic church in ,scotland1 was assassinated4 ,his castle--,st4 ,andrews--was taken possession of by the band of nobles and others who had murdered him1 and it became for a time the stronghold of ,protestantism4 ,to this place ,knox repaired1 and there in the parish church of ,st4 ,andrews1 first became famous as a preacher4 ,in a short time1 however1 the fortress was surrendered1 and ,knox was sent to the ,french galleys a prisoner4 ,after two years he was set at liberty1 and allowed to depart for ,england1 where he lived for years1 on terms of intimacy with ,cranmer and other ,english reformers4 #bfb ,on the accession of ,queen ,mary1#dg ,knox retired to ,germany and ,switzerland1 residing chiefly in the latter place1 where he learned and became attached to both the doctrines and form of church government taught by ,calvin4 #bj4 ,in #aee1 political necessity compelled the government in ,scotland to become more lenient towards the nobles favoring the ,reformation1 and ,knox returned to ,scotland1 where his impassioned denunciations of the idolatry of the mass and of image-worship aroused the pent-up enthusiasm of the people4 ,indeed the people went far beyond what ,knox intended2 riots ensued1 churches and monasteries were destroyed1 and the whole country1 already suffering the evils of civil war1 was plunged into greater disorder4 ,at last1 through the assistance of ,queen ,elizabeth1 of ,england1 a truce was proclaimed1 and a parliament chosen to settle the troubles4 ,the parliament met in #aefj1 and its deliberations resulted in the overthrow of the old religion1 and the establishment of the ,reformed church1 based on the doctrines and church polity of ,calvin4 ,in the midst of the harshness which attended the overthrow of the old religion there was a singular instance of moderation which will be looked for in vain in other countries where the reformation succeeded4 ,according to ,hallam1 it was agreed in the settlement made by the parliament of #aefj1 that the ,roman ,catholic prelates1 including the regulars1 should enjoy two-thirds of their revenues as well as their rank and seats in parliament2 the remaining third being given to the crown1 out of which stipends should be allotted to the protestant clergy4 #dh ,whatever violence may be imputed to the authors of the ,scots reformation1 continues ,mr4 ,hallam1 this arrangement seems to display a moderation which we would vainly seek in our own #di--the ,english reformation4 #ba4 ,unfortunately1 as in ,england1 after the authority and #bfc religion of the pope were overthrown in ,scotland1 the religious difficulties were far from settled4 ,a controversy arose between the church and the crown on the subject of authority4 ,it will be remembered that ,calvin insisted that the church should be independent of the state1#ej and nowhere was it so strenuously insisted upon as in ,scotland2 not only did it demand of the secular authority freedom from interference1 but assumed the right to reprove the king and his court1 and that1 too1 in no guarded language4 ,in #ahed1 ,andrew ,melville was summoned before the king's council1 to give an account of some seditious language employed by him in the pulpit against the court4 ,he declined the jurisdiction of the council on the ground that he was responsible only to the church for such language2 and the king could not judge of the matter without violating the immunities of the church4#ea #bb4 ,the king and council1 however1 did not hesitate to declare the supremacy of the secular power1 and thus was begun a controversy which1 united with the attempts on the part of the sovereigns and parliament to restore the ,episcopal form of church government1 led to violent persecutions on the part of the secular authority1 and to heroic resistance on the part of the people of ,scotland4 ,in that protracted struggle1 persecuted by both parties with varying fortunes1 the people were at last successful2 though their victory was not secured for them until the ,stuart line of monarchs were driven out of ,scotland and ,england by the revolution of #afhh1 which dethroned ,james ,,ii of ,england and ,,vii of ,scotland1 and placed ,william1 ,prince of ,orange1 and ,mary1 his wife1 on the ,british throne4 #bc4 ,the ,discovery of ,america--,its ,influence on ,liberty4--,it is significant that about the time of the ,revival of ,learning in ,europe1 ,america was discovered by ,columbus1 #bfd led hither by the inspiration of ,god4 ,note #aa1 end of section4 ,between this struggle for liberty in the ,old ,world and the discovery of the ,new there was doubtless a providential connection4 ,god knew there could be but a stunted growth of the tree of liberty in the ,old ,world1 hence he opened the way for it to be planted in a land more congenial to its growth4 ,the whole continent of ,america is a land consecrated by the decrees of ,almighty ,god to liberty1 and the people who inhabit it are assured by that same decree of their freedom4#eb ,hence when a fullness of liberty was denied the ,puritans in ,england1 they fled to ,america1 and here found room for the planting of colonies where they could enjoy the liberty denied them in the ,old ,world1 and the founding of the ,new ,england colonies 7now the ,new ,england ,states7 was the result4 #bd4 ,catholics ,seek ,liberty in ,america--,nor were the ,puritans the only ones who sought liberty in the ,new ,world4 ,even the ,catholics came2 for they1 no less than the ,puritans1 were persecuted in ,england4 ,sir ,george ,calvert1 whose title was ,lord ,baltimore1 a ,roman ,catholic1 desiring to establish a colony in ,america that would be a place of refuge for persecuted ,catholics1 obtained a charter for that territory comprised within the boundary lines of the state of ,maryland4 ,before the charter was signed1 ,sir ,george died2 but it was made out to his son ,cecil1 who carried out his father's designs4 ,the charter granted to ,lord ,baltimore was unlike any which had hitherto passed the royal seal1 in that it secured to all who should settle in the colony1 religious liberty4 ,that is1 ,christianity was the recognized religion1 made so by the law of the land1 but no preference was given to any sect or party4 #be4 ,puritan ,intolerance4--,unfortunately all the colonies were not founded in the same liberal spirit as ,maryland4 ,the ,puritans themselves seemed not to have learned toleration by the persecutions they had suffered2 but1 on the contrary1 #bfe when they found themselves possessed of power1 they forgot right and persecuted all those not of their own way of thinking4 ,this led to the founding of other colonies where greater religious liberty was granted2 such as ,pennsylvania1 settled by the ,quakers2 ,rhode ,island1 by ,roger ,williams1 a ,baptist1 driven by ,puritan intolerance from ,massachusetts4 #bf4 ,common dangers1 however1 taught these colonists toleration4 ,they were surrounded by hordes of savages1 against whom they were compelled frequently to combine4 ,the wars between the ,french and the ,english extended to their respective settlements in ,america1 and this circumstance drove the ,english colonists together and taught them toleration4 ,they were driven into a still closer union by the oppression of ,england1 and forgot their religious differences in the presence of the great danger of losing all their freedom1 civil as well as religious4 ,when they had achieved their independence1 and necessity and experience taught them that a national government--an indissoluble union of the colonies--must be formed1 wisdom clearly suggested that the chief cornerstone of the new temple of liberty must be religious freedom4 ,hence in the constitution which they adopted1 freedom to worship ,god according to the dictates of conscience is guaranteed4 ,see note #ab1 end of section4 #bg4 ,the ,hand of ,god ,manifested4--,if in the rise of the great ,roman ,empire we see the hand of ,god preparing the way for the introduction of the gospel under the personal administration of the ,son of ,god1 that under the protection of that great government the apostles of ,messiah might visit every land and deliver the glad tidings of great joy--if in this the hand of ,god is visible1 it is equally clear that the meaning of this sixteenth century revolution which we have been considering1 together with the subsequent founding of a great republic in the ,new ,world1 pledged to the maintenance of religious liberty--it is clearly the meaning of all this that ,god #bff was preparing the day for a restoration of the gospel--the ushering in of the ,dispensation of the ,fullness of ,times4 ,see note #ac1 end of section4 ,that revolution of the sixteenth century was the first glimmerings of the dawn which heralded the approaching day2 the light became clearer in ,america on the establishment of religious liberty under the ,constitution of the ,united ,states2 the sun rose when the ,lord introduced the ,,dispensation ,,of ,,the ,,fullness ,,of ,,times by revealing himself and his ,son ,jesus ,christ to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,zwingle4--,zwingle discovered the corruptions of the church of ,rome1 at an earlier period than ,luther4 ,both opened their eyes gradually1 and altogether without any concert2 and without aid from each other4 ,but ,zwingle was always in advance of ,luther in his views and opinions2 and he finally carried the reformation somewhat farther than what ,luther did4 ,but he proceeded with more gentleness and caution1 not to run before the prejudices of the people2 and the circumstances in which he was placed did not call him so early to open combat with the powers of the hierarchy2 ,luther1 therefore1 has the honor of being the first to declare open war with the pope1 and to be exposed to persecution4 ,he also acted in a much wider sphere4 ,all ,germany1 and even all ,europe1 was the theatre of his operations4 ,zwingle moved only in the narrow circle of a single canton of ,switzerland4 ,he also died young1 and when but just commencing his career of usefulness4 ,and these circumstances have raised ,luther's fame so high that ,zwingle has almost been overlooked4--,murdock4 #b4 ,calvin4--,john ,calvin was born in the year #aeji2 and in his studies connected law with theology1 studying the former at the command of his father1 and the latter from his own choice2 and from ,melchoir ,valmar1 a ,german and professor of ,greek at ,bourges1 he acquired a knowledge of the evangelican reformed doctrines4 ,after the death of his father1 he devoted himself wholly to theology1 and publicly professed the reformed doctrine1 which he spread in ,france with all diligence4 ,his name soon became known in ,switzerland as well as in ,france2 and ,farell and ,viret two ,swiss reformers besought him1 as he was traveling through ,geneva1 to remain #bfg there and aid them in setting up the new church4 ,but in the year #aech1 great dissension arose in ,geneva2 and ,calvin and his assistant1 ,farell1 severely inveighed from the pulpit against the conduct of the council1 which resolved to introduce the ceremonies agreed on at ,bern1 in the ordinances of baptism and the ,lord's supper1 and to reject those which these ministers wished to have adopted3 and the consequence was1 that ,calvin and ,farell were banished from the republic4 99 99 99 ,but in the year #aeda1 at the pressing and repeated invitation of the ,genevans1 he returned to them again1 and there officiated with great perseverance1 zeal1 prudence and disinterestedness1 till his death in #aefd4 ,his great talents and virtues were shaded by the love of control1 by a want of tenderness1 and by a passionate vigor against the erring4--,schlegel4 #c4 ,the ,reformation ,in ,france4--,france was the first country where the reformation that commenced in ,germany and ,switzerland1 very soon and under the severest oppressions1 found many adherents4 ,no country seems to have been so long and so well prepared for it as this2 and yet here it met the most violent opposition2 and nowhere was it later1 before it obtained legal toleration4 ,nowhere did it occasion such streams of blood to flow2 nowhere give birth to such dreadful and deadly civil wars4 ,and nowhere have state policy1 court intrigue1 political parties and the ambition of greatness had so powerful an influence on the progress and fortunes of the reformation1 as in ,france4--,schroeckh4 #d4 ,massacre on ,st4 ,bartholomew's ,eve4--,during the civil wars which desolated ,france from the year #aefj up to the edict of ,nantes--which secured religious toleration from the ,protestants1 #aeih--occurred the massacre of ,st4 ,bartholomew's eve4 ,a peace was concluded in #aegj1 by which toleration was granted the ,protestants4 ,the terms of the treaty were enforced with much apparent zeal by the ,french court1 for the purpose1 as ,protestant writers claim1 of lulling the ,protestants into security preparatory to their assassination by order of the king4 ,the bloody scene began at midnight of the #bbnd of ,august1 #aegb4 ,the signal for the beginning of the massacre was the tolling of the great bell of the palace4 ,the scene of blood and murder continued for three days4 ,during which time five hundred noblemen and about six thousand other ,protestants were butchered in ,paris alone4 ,orders were dispatched to all parts of the empire for a similar massacre everywhere4 ,more than thirty thousand--some say seventy thousand--perished by the hands of the royal assassins2 and the pope ordered a jubilee throughout ,christendom4--,murdock4 #e4 ,the ,decision to ,introduce the ,reformed ,religion into ,sweden4--,this decision was the effect specially of the firmness and resolution #bfh of the king ,gustavus ,vasa1 who declared publicly that he would rather resign his crown and retire from the kingdom1 than rule over a people subjected to the laws and authority of the ,roman pontiff1 and more obedient to their bishops than to their king4--,mosheim4 #f4 ,the ,danish and ,swedish ,bishops ,stripped of ,power4--,violent measures were adopted1 and the bishops1 against their wills and their efforts to the contrary1 were deprived of their honors1 their prerogatives and their possessions4 ,yet this reformation 787 of the clergy in both those northern kingdoms1 was not a religious1 but a mere civil and secular transaction2 and it was so necessary that it must have been undertaken if no ,luther had arisen4 ,for the bishops had by corrupt artifices got possession of so much wealth1 so many cattle1 such revenues and so great authority1 that they were far more powerful than the kings1 and were able to govern the whole realm at their pleasure2 indeed they had appropriated to themselves a large portion of the patrimony of the kings and of the public revenues4 ,such therefore was the state both of the ,danish and the ,swedish commonwealths in the time of ,luther1 that either the bishops who shamefully abused their riches1 their prerogatives and their honors must be divested of the high rank they held in the state1 and be deprived of their ill-gotten wealth1 or the ruin of those kingdoms1 the irreparable detriment of the public safety and tranquility1 and the sinking of their kings into contempt1 with an utter inability to protect the people1 must be anticipated4--,mosheim4 #g4 ,wycliffe4--,john ,wycliffe1 the greatest of all the ,reformers before the ,reformation1 was born in #acbd1 and is supposed to have been a native of the parish of ,wycliffe1 near the town of ,richmond1 ,yorkshire4 ,he studied at ,oxford1 but little is known of his university career4 ,wycliffe appears to have been a man of simple faith and of earnest and manly courage4 ,he made a strong impression upon his age2 an impression that was not effaced at the time of the ,reformation4 ,the ,lollards1 as his disciples were called1 were to be found1 not only among the poor1 but in the church1 the castle and even the throne4 ,wycliffe died in the year #achd4 #h4 ,england ,prepared for the ,reformation4--,no revolution has been more gradually prepared than that which separated one half of ,europe from the communion of the ,roman see2 nor were ,luther and ,zwingle any more than occasional instruments of that change which1 had they never existed1 would at no great distance of time been effected under the names of some other reformers4 ,at the beginning of the sixteenth century1 the learned1 doubtfully and with caution1 the ignorant with zeal and eagerness1 were tending to depart from the faith and rites which authority prescribed4 ,but probably not even ,germany was so far advanced on this course as ,england4 #bfi ,almost a hundred and fifty years before ,luther1 nearly the same doctrines as he taught had been maintained by ,wycliffe1 whose disciples usually called ,lollards1 lasted as a numerous though obscure and proscribed sect1 till aided by the confluence of foreign streams1 they swelled into the ,protestant church of ,england4 ,we hear1 indeed1 little of them during some parts of the fifteenth century1 for they generally shunned persecution2 and it is chiefly through records of persecution that we learn of the existence of heretics4 ,but immediately before the name of ,luther was known1 they seem to have become more numerous1 or to have attracted more attention2 since several persons were burned for heresy1 and others abjured their errors in the first years of ,henry ,,viii's reign4 ,some of these1 as usual among ignorant men1 engaging in religious speculation1 are charged with very absurd notions2 but it is not so material to observe their peculiar tenets as the general fact that an inquisitive and sectarian spirit had begun to prevail4--,hallam's ,const4 ,hist4 ,england4 #i4 ,henry ,,viii and his ,revolt ,against ,rome4--,soon after ,henry was declared by ,parliament the only supreme head on earth of the church of ,england1 the authority of the pope was finally abolished1 and all tributes paid to him were declared illegal4 ,but although the king thus separated from the church of ,rome1 he professed to maintain the ,catholic doctrine in its purity1 and persecuted the reformers most violently2 so that while many were burned as heretics for denying the doctrines of ,catholicism1 others were executed for maintaining the supremacy of the pope4 ,as therefore the earnest adherents of both religions were equally persecuted and equally encouraged1 both parties were induced to court the favor of the king1 who was thus enabled to assume an absolute authority over the nation1 and to impose upon it his own doctrines as those of the only true church4 99 99 99 ,when news of these proceedings reached ,rome1 the most terrible fulminations were hurled by the pope against the king of ,england1 whose soul was delivered over to the devil1 and his dominions to the first invader2 all leagues with ,catholic princes were declared to be dissolved--his subjects were freed from their oaths of allegiance1 and the nobility were commanded to take up arms against him4 ,but these missives1 which half a century before would have hurled the monarch from his throne and made him a despised outcast among his people1 were now utterly harmless4 ,the papal supremacy was forever lost in ,england4--,wilson1 ,hist4 ,u4 ,s41 ,appendix to ,voyage and ,discoveries1 p4 #aec4 #aj4 ,the ,puritans4--,the ,puritan party professing to derive their doctrines directly from the scriptures1 were wholly dissatisfied with the old church system1 which they denounced as rotten1 depraved and defiled by human inventions1 and they wished it to undergo a thorough #bgj reform1 to abandon everything of man's device1 and adopt nothing1 either in doctrine or discipline1 which was not directly authorized by the word of ,god4 ,exceedingly ardent in their feelings1 zealous in their principles1 abhorring all formalism as destructive of the very elements of piety1 and rejecting the regal as well as papal supremacy1 they demanded in place of the liturgical service1 an effective preaching of the gospel1 more of the substance of religion1 instead of what they denominated its shadows2 and so convinced were they of the justness of their views and the reasonableness of their demands1 that they would listen to no considerations which pleaded for compromise or delay4--,wilson1 ,hist4 ,u4 ,s4 ,appendix ,voyage and ,discoveries1 p4 #aeg4 #aa4 ,columbus ,inspired of ,god4--,and it came to pass that ,i looked and beheld many waters2 and they divided the ,gentiles from the seed of my brethren4 ,and it came to pass that the angel said unto me1 ,behold the wrath of ,god is upon the seed of thy brethren4 ,and ,i looked and beheld a man among the ,gentiles who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters2 and ,i beheld the ,spirit of ,god1 that it came down and wrought upon the man2 and he went forth upon the many waters1 even unto the seed of my brethren who were in the promised land4 ,and it came to pass that ,i beheld the ,spirit of ,god1 that it wrought upon other ,gentiles2 and they went forth out of captivity upon the many waters3 99 99 99 and ,i beheld many multitudes of the ,gentiles upon the land of promise4--,nephi's ,vision1 ,book of ,mormon1 ch4 xiii3#aj-ad4 #ab4 ,religious ,liberty in the ,constitution4--,the parts of the ,united ,states ,constitution which secure religious freedom are the clause in article vi1 which says3 ,no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the ,united ,states2 and the first ,amendment which says3 ,congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibit the free exercise thereof4 ,respecting these two clauses in the ,constitution1 ,judge ,story remarks3 ,we are not to attribute this prohibition of a national religious establishment to an indifference to religion in general1 and especially to ,christianity1 7which none could hold in more reverence than the framers of the ,constitution71 but to a dread by the people of the influence of ecclesiastical power in matters of government2 a dread which their ancestors brought with them from the parent country1 and which unhappily for human infirmity1 their own conduct1 after the emigration1 had not1 in any just degree1 tended to diminish4 ,it was also obvious1 from the numerous and powerful sects existing in the ,united ,states1 that there would be perpetual temptations to struggles for ascendency in the national councils1 if any one might thereby hope to found a permanent and exclusive national establishment of its own2 and religious persecutions #bga might thus be introduced1 to an extent utterly subversive of the true interests and good order of the ,republic4 ,the most effectual mode of suppressing the evil1 in the view of the people1 was to strike down the temptations to its introduction4 #ac4 ,hand of the ,lord in the ,establishment of the ,united ,states ,government4--,that the hand of ,almighty ,god was in the work of founding the ,government of the ,united ,states is plainly declared in one of the revelations to ,joseph ,smith3 ,it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another4 ,and for this purpose have ,i established the constitution of this land1 by the hands of wise men whom ,i raised up unto this very purpose1 and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 ci3 #gi1 #hj47 ,nor are thoughtful historians blind to the fact that the hand of ,god has had much to do with those revolutions which finally produced the great republic of the ,new ,world4 ,commenting on the war of the ,american ,revolution1 ,marcus ,wilson says3 ,the expense of blood and treasure which this war cost ,england was enormous2 nor1 indeed1 did her ,european antagonists suffer much less severely4 ,the ,united ,states was the only country that could look to any beneficial results from the war1 and these were obtained by a strong union of opposing motives and principles1 unequalled in the annals of history4 ,france and ,spain1 the arbitrary despots of the ,old ,world1 had stood forth as the protectors of an infant republic1 and had combined1 contrary to all the principles of their political faith1 to establish the rising liberties of ,america4 ,they seemed but as blind instruments in the hands of ,providence1 employed to aid in the founding of a nation which should cultivate those ,republican virtues that were destined yet to regenerate the world upon the principles of universal intelligence1 and eventually to overthrow the time-worn system of tyrannical usurpation of the few over the many4 ,,review4 #a4 ,was the ,reformation confined to ,germany8 #b4 ,when did the ,reformation first begin8 #c4 ,who was the leader of the movement in ,switzerland8 #d4 ,state what you can of the ,reformation in ,switzerland under ,zwingle4 #e4 ,what fate befell the young ,reformer8 #f4 ,state the chief difference in methods of work between ,luther and ,zwingle4 7,note ,i47 #g4 ,who succeeded in the leadership of the ,reformation in ,switzerland8 #h4 ,where and when was ,calvin born8 #i4 ,state the points of difference in the views of ,calvin and ,zwingle4 #bgb #aj4 ,describe the ,presbyterian system of church government4 #aa4 ,give a sketch of the life and character of ,calvin4 7note #b47 #ab4 ,state the several views of the ,reformers in respect to the eucharist4 #ac4 ,what difference existed between ,calvin and ,zwingle on the subject of predestination8 #ad4 ,what can you say of the spread of ,calvin's doctrine8 #ae4 ,describe the ,reformation in ,france4 #af4 ,what can you say of the persecution of the ,protestants in ,france8 7,note #c47 #ag4 ,give a description of the massacre of ,st4 ,bartholomew's eve4 #ah4 ,state what you can of the ,reformation in ,sweden4 #ai4 ,tell how the ,reformation in ,sweden was accomplished4 #bj4 ,on what ground can the king of ,sweden and ,denmark be justified in stripping the ,catholic bishops of their power and wealth8 7,note #e47 #ba4 ,give an account of the ,reformation in ,holland4 #bb4 ,what was the attitude of ,henry ,,viii of ,england at the beginning of the ,reformation in ,germany8 #bc4 ,what title did his defense of the ,roman ,catholic sacraments secure for him8 #bd4 ,what circumstance was it that afterwards estranged ,henry from the pope8 #be4 ,what was the conduct of ,pope ,clement ,,vii in this controversy8 #bf4 ,what course did ,henry adopt8 #bg4 ,what resulted from the king's conduct8 #bh4 ,how did the friends of the ,reformation in ,england receive the rupture of the king and pope8 #bi4 ,did the rupture between king and pope help the ,reformation in ,england8 #cj4 ,what were the ,reformers in ,england called8 #ca4 ,what were the demands of the ,puritans in respect to religion8 7,note #h47 #cb4 ,when denied religious liberty in ,england to what country did the ,puritans go8 #cc4 ,what influence on liberty did the discovery of ,america have8 #cd4 ,what can you say of the inspiration of ,christopher ,columbus8 7,note #i47 #ce4 ,what people besides ,puritans sought religious liberty in the new world8 #cf4 ,give an account of the settlement of ,maryland4 #cg4 ,what can you say of ,puritan intolerance8 #ch4 ,what circumstances taught them1 at least1 partial toleration8 #ci4 ,what power was working in all those changes which brought freedom to man8 7,note #aa47 #dj4 ,what was the object of enlarging the liberties of mankind8 ,footnotes #a4 ,february1 #ajgj1 ,a4 ,d4 #b4 ,subsequently ,henry ,,iv made war upon ,gregory1 drove him from the papal chair into exile1 and placed ,guibert1 archbishop of ,ravenna1 upon the papal throne4 ,guibert took the name of ,innocent ,,iii1 at his consecration1 #ajhd1 ,a4 ,d4 #c4 ,it was invented by ,schwartz in #acbj4 #d4 ,guizot ,hist4 ,civilization4 #e4 ,smith's ,eng4 ,inst41 pages #h1i4 #f4 ,it is only fair to ,catholics to say that such is their explanation of indulgences now4 #g4 ,maclain's note in ,mosheim1 vol4 ,,ii1 ,ch4 ii4 #h4 ,the account here given of the rise and character of indulgences is condensed chiefly from ,schlegel1 quoted by ,murdock in the latter's translation of ,mosheim1 vol4 ,,iii1 book iv1 cent4 xvi1 ch4 i4 #i4 ,the canon law consists of the enactments of the councils and decrees of the popes4 #aj4 ,peter ,lombard1 who in the #abth century collected and arranged systematically the theological opinions and decisions of the ,latin fathers4 #aa4 ,in the church of ,rome it may be said there were two parties1 one of which held that the pope's power was supreme--superior to all other authority in the church2 the other maintained that the pope's authority was subordinate to that of a general council of the whole church4 ,the latter party was quite strong in ,germany1 so that a great many sustained ,luther in his appeal to a general council4 ,even ,duke ,george of ,saxony favored the calling of such a council4 ,said he3--,the scandalous conduct of the clergy is a very fruitful source of the destruction of poor souls4 ,there must be a universal reformation2 and this cannot be better effected than by a general council4 ,it is therefore the most earnest wish of us all1 that such a measure be adopted4--,milner's ,church ,hist4 vol4 iv1 ch4 v1 7,note47 #ab4 ,milner's ,church ,hist41 vol4 ,,iv1 p4 #dje4 #ac4 ,milner's ,church ,hist41 vol4 ,,iv1 ch4 iv4 #ad4 ,the diet was a great council of the ,german empire1 consisting of the princes1 provincial rulers and the chief dignitaries of the church4 ,the diet from the #ajth century had assumed the right of electing the emperor of ,germany1 subject to confirmation by the pope1 by whom alone he could be crowned4 ,the diet was also usually assembled for the consideration of very important matters pertaining to the empire4 #ae4 ,mosheim 7,murdock7 vol4 iii1 bk4 iv1 cent4 xvi1 sec4 i1 ch4 ii4 #af4 ,the ,emperor was not present at this second diet at ,spire4 ,he was absent in ,spain4 ,they appealed to the emperor1 to a future council of the ,german nation1 and lastly to every impartial judge4 ,for they believed that a majority of votes in a diet could decide a secular question1 but not a spiritual or religious question2 they appealed to the emperor1 not as recognizing him as their judge in a matter of religion1 but merely that he might allow their appeal to a council to be valid4--,schlegel4 #ag4 ,before the diet rose the cities ,kempten1 ,heilbronn ,windsheim1 and ,weisenburg also subscribed2 and afterwards many more4 ,it was immediately printed and soon spread all over ,europe1 and was translated into various languages4 ,it thus became of great service to the ,protestant cause2 for it was a very able document and was drawn up in a most judicious manner4--,murdock4 #ah4 ,the ,protestant princes had held that the election of ,ferdinand to be king of the ,romans was contrary to the laws of the empire4 #ai4 ,luther himself testifies to this4 ,in the ,latin preface to the first volume of his works1 the ,reformer says3 ,in the year #aeag1 when ,i was a young preacher1 and dissuaded the people from purchasing indulgences4 99 99 99 ,i felt assured ,i should have the pope on my side3 for he himself1 in his public decrees had condemned the excesses of his agents in this business4 #bj4 ,the foregoing six statements of fact ,i have summarized from ,m4 ,guizot's excellent work on the ,civilization of ,europe4 #ba4 ,d',aubigne's ,hist4 ,ref41 vol4 ,i1 pages #hb1 #hc4 #bb4 ,d',aubigne's ,hist4 ,ref41 vol4 ,i2 book ,,iii1 page #aai4 #bc4 ,ibid1 page #abb4 #bd4 ,milner's ,ch4 ,hist41 vol4 ,,iv2 page #ead4 #be4 ,men desire to do good works before their sins are forgiven1 whilst it is necessary for sin to be forgiven before men can perform good works4 ,it is not the works that expel sin2 but the sin being expelled good works follow4 ,for good works must be performed with a joyful heart1 with a good conscience towards ,god1 that is1 with remission of sins4--,d',aubigne's ,hist4 ,ref41 vol4 #a1 page #aag4 ,the works of the righteous themselves would be mortal sins1 unless being filled with holy reverence for the ,lord1 they feared that their works might in truth be mortal sins4--,ibid1 page #aai4 #bf4 ,milner's ,ch4 ,hist41 vol4 ,,iv41 page #cgi4 #bg4 ,d',aubigne's ,hist4 ,ref41 vol4 ,,iii1 page #cdj4 #bh4 ,ibid4 #bi4 ,mosheim's ,eccl4 ,hist4 7,murdock17 vol4 ,,iii41 page #adg 7second edition47 #cj4 ,this doctrine was called ,antinomianism2 many believed it and followed it to its very extremes4 #ca4 ,from ,luther's ,commentary on the ,epistle to the ,galatians1 quoted by ,milner1 vol4 ,,iv41 page #ebj4 #cb4 ,d',aubigne's ,hist4 ,ref41 vol4 ,i41 page #ae4 #cc4 ,end of ,religious ,controversy1 p4 #hj4 #cd4 ,ibid4 #ce4 ,milner's ,church ,hist41 vol4 iv1 page #ejj4 #cf4 ,such is the cause assigned for the ,reformation by ,catholics3 ,john ,milner1 the noted ,catholic divine1 author of ,the ,end of ,religious ,controversy1 p4 #aje1 says3 ,as to ,martin ,luther1 he testifies1 and calls ,god to witness the truth of his testimony that it was not willingly 7that is1 not from a previous discovery of the falsehood of his religion17 but from accident1 7namely1 a quarrel with the ,dominican friars1 and afterwards with the pope7 that he fell into his broils about religion4 #cg4 ,see preceding section4 #ch4 ,archdeacon ,blackburn's ,confessional1 p4 #af4 #ci4 ,end of ,religious ,controversy1 p4 #ajj4 #dj4 ,i ,nephi xiii3 #bf1 #bh1 #cb4 ,see also ,part ,i1 ,section ,,vi1 note #c4 #da4 ,ibid4 #db4 ,bancroft4 #dc4 ,it must appear remarkable that such an idea could become prevalent since it is provided in the law of ,god to ancient ,israel that the brother should marry the deceased brother's widow4--,deut4 xxv3#e1 #f1 #i1 #aj4 #dd4 ,hume's ,hist4 of ,england vol4 iii1 ch4 xxx4 #de4 ,on one occasion he declared the pope to be ,the proud1 worldly priest1 ,rome1 the most cursed of clippers and purse-kervers 7cut-purses74 #df4 ,knox was born in the year #aeje1 near ,haddington1 ,scotland4 ,died at ,edinburgh1 #aegb4 #dg4 ,daughter of ,henry ,,viii1 and ,catherine of ,aragon4 ,she was a bigoted ,catholic2 married ,philip of ,spain1 also a ,catholic4 #dh4 ,hallam's ,const4 ,hist4 ,england1 p4 #hab4 #di4 ,ibid4 #ej4 ,page #bec4 #ea4 ,precedents for such an immunity it would not have been difficult to find2 but they must have been sought in the archives of the enemy4 ,it was rather early for the new republic to emulate the despotism she had overthrown4--,hallam1 ,hist4 of ,england4 #eb4 ,book of ,mormon1 ,ether1 ch4 #aa3g-ac4 #bgc ,,part ,,iv4 ,,the ,,restoration ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 #bge ,,section ,i4 #a4 ,the ,dispensation of the ,fullness of ,times4--,by a dispensation1 in connection with the work of ,god1 we mean the opening of the heavens to men1 the bestowing of the ,holy ,priesthood with all its powers upon them1 and the organization and building up of the church of ,christ upon the earth1 for the salvation of all who will obey the gospel4 #a ,by the ,dispensation of the ,fullness of ,times we mean the last dispensation1 the one in which all things1 in ,christ1 whether in heaven or in earth1 shall be gathered together in one2 #b a dispensation which will include all other dispensations--one which will encompass all truth4 ,as the rivers of the earth all eventually find their way to the ocean and empty into it1 so all former dispensations will run into and become part of the ,dispensation of the ,fullness of ,times1 in which the work of ,god1 in respect to the salvation of man and the redemption of the earth1 will be consummated4 ,see note #a1 end of section #b4 ,birth and ,parentage of ,joseph ,smith4--,joseph ,smith1 the man whom ,god appointed to stand at the head of the ,dispensation of the ,fullness of ,times1 and be the great ,prophet1 ,seer1 ,revelator and ,president thereof was born in the year of our ,lord #ahje1 on the #bcrd of ,december1 in ,sharon1 ,windsor ,winsor ,county1 ,state of ,vermont4 ,his father's name was ,joseph#c ,smith1 and his mother's maiden name ,lucy ,mack4 ,joseph and ,lucy ,smith had nine children1 six sons and #bgf three daughters4 ,the sons in the order of their age were ,alvin1 ,hyrum1 ,joseph1 ,samuel ,harrison1 ,william1 ,don ,carlos2 the daughters1 ,sophronia1 ,catherine1 ,lucy4 #c4 ,the parents of the prophet were of humble origin1 and poor1 having to labor with their hands1 hiring out by day's work1 and otherwise to obtain a livelihood for their large family4 ,in consequence of their poverty1 they could give their children but very limited opportunities for attending school2 yet ,joseph learned to read1 to write1 and had some knowledge of the rudimentary principles of arithmetic4 #d4 ,when ,joseph was ten years of age1 his father moved from the ,state of ,vermont to that of ,new ,york1 settling in ,palmyra1 ,ontario ,county4#d ,four years later the family moved from ,palmyra to ,manchester1 in the same county4 #e4 ,religious ,agitations4--,while the ,smith family lived in ,manchester1 when ,joseph was in his fifteenth year1 there was an unusual excitement on the subject of religion4 ,it began with the ,methodists1 but soon became general among all the sects1 and union revival meetings1 in which all sects1 took part were held in the vicinity of ,manchester4 ,the ,smith family1 being by nature religiously inclined became interested in these meetings1 and several of them1 viz41 ,joseph's mother1 his brothers ,hyrum and ,samuel ,harrison1 and his sisters ,lucy and ,sophronia1 were converted to the ,presbyterian faith4 ,joseph's own mind was much wrought up by this religious agitation1 and at one time he became somewhat partial to the ,methodist persuasion4 #f4 ,he was greatly perplexed1 however1 by the strife among the sects1 and the divisions which existed4 ,the ,presbyterians were opposed to the ,methodists and ,baptists2 and these last named sects1 though not agreeing with each other1 were equally opposed to the ,presbyterians4 ,why should the church of #bgg ,christ be split up into fractions8 ,is ,god the author of confusion8 ,would he teach one society to worship one way1 and administer one set of ordinances2 and then teach another society quite a different system of worship1 and another set of principles and ordinances different from those taught the first8 ,such were the questions ,joseph ,smith frequently asked himself when he reflected upon the confusion he witnessed4 #g4 ,in the midst of the war of words and tumult of opinion that accompanied this agitation1 ,joseph would often say to himself1 ,what is to be done8 ,who of all these parties are right8 #h4 ,joseph ,smith's ,first ,prayer and ,vision4--,while floundering in the midst of these difficulties he came to the following passage in the first chapter of the ,epistle of ,james3 ,if any of you lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1 that giveth to all men liberally1 and upbraideth not2 and it shall be given him4 ,this passage impressed him with great force4 ,it was the voice of ,god to him4 ,if any man lacked wisdom he did2 and here was counsel given directly how to obtain it1 with a promise that he should receive it and not be unbraided for asking4 ,he at last decided to follow the divine injunction4 #i4 ,it was in the morning of a beautiful1 clear day1 early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty1 that ,joseph put his resolution into effect4 ,he selected a place in a grove near his father's house for that purpose4 ,it was his first attempt to pray vocally1 and he was somewhat timid2 but finding himself alone he knelt down and began to offer up the desires of his heart to the ,lord4 ,he had scarcely began to pray when he was seized by some power which threw him violently to the ground1 and it seemed for a time that he was doomed to a sudden destruction4 ,it was no imaginary power but some actual being from the unseen world4 ,his tongue for a time was bound that he could not speak2 darkness gathered about him2 but exerting all his powers he called upon ,god to deliver #bgh him out of the hands of his enemy1 and at the very moment he was ready to give up in despair and abandon himself to destruction1 he beheld a pillar of light immediately over his head descending towards him4 ,its brightness was above that of the sun at noon-day1 and no sooner did it appear than he was freed from the enemy which had held him bound4 #aj4 ,when the light rested upon him he beheld within it two personages standing above him in the air1 whose brightness and glory defy all description1 but they exactly resembled each other in form and features4 ,one of them1 pointing to the other said3 ,,joseph1 ,,this ,,is ,,my ,,beloved ,,son1 ,,hear ,,him4 #aa4 ,joseph's purpose in calling upon the ,lord was to learn which of the sects was right1 that he might know which to join4 ,as soon1 therefore1 as he gained his self-possession1 he addressed these questions to the personage to whom he was directed4 ,to his astonishment he was told that none of the sects were right1 and that he must join none of them4 ,he was further told by the person who addressed him1 that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight2 that those professors were all corrupt2 that they drew near to him with their lips1 but their hearts were far from him2 that they taught for doctrine the commandments of men2 that they had a form of godliness1 but denied the power of ,god4 ,and he was commanded the second time to join none of them4 #ab4 ,there were many other things which ,jesus said to ,joseph on this occasion1 but the prophet never recorded them further than to say that he received a promise that the fullness of the gospel would at some future time be made known to him4 #ac4 ,the ,importance of the ,vision4--,this splendid revelation is of vast importance3 ,first1 it dispels the vagaries that men had conjured up in respect to the person of ,deity4 ,instead of being a personage without body1 parts or passions1 it revealed the fact that he had both body and parts1 that he was in the form of man1 or rather1 that man had been made in his #bgi image4#e ,second3 ,it clearly proves that the ,father and ,son are distinct persons1 and not one person as the ,christian world believes4 ,the oneness of the ,godhead1 so frequently spoken of in scripture1 must therefore relate to oneness of sentiment and agreement in purpose4 ,third3 ,it swept away the rubbish of human dogma and tradition that had accumulated in all the ages since ,messiah's personal ministry on earth1 by announcing that ,god did not acknowledge any of the sects of ,christendom as his church1 nor their creeds as his gospel4 ,thus the ground was cleared for the planting of the truth4 ,fourth3 it showed how mistaken the ,christian world was in claiming that all revelation had ceased--that ,god would no more reveal himself to man4 ,fifth3 the vision created a witness for ,god on the earth3 a man lived who could say to some purpose that ,god lived and that ,jesus was the ,christ1 for he had seen and talked with them4 ,thus was laid the foundation for faith4 ,we shall see anon1 how the foundation was broadened4 #ad4 ,the ,interval of ,three ,years4--,for three years after this first vision1 ,joseph received no other visitation or revelation2 and as he had been forbidden to join any of the religious sects then existing he stood alone4 ,it was a period of severe trial4 ,a few days after his first vision1 he related the circumstance to a ,methodist minister who had been active in the religious agitation before mentioned4 ,to the lad's surprise he #bhj treated his story with the utmost contempt2 and declared it to be from the devil1 as the ,lord gave no revelations in these days1 those things having ceased with the apostles4 ,making his vision public brought upon him the ridicule and indignation of the whole neighborhood1 especially of the ministers4 ,in this trying period of three years1 according to his own statement1 he was guilty of some youthful follies2 but he was true to ,god1 and continued in the face of all opposition to maintain that he had received a revelation from him4 #ae4 ,the ,first ,visit of ,moroni4--,on the #bast of ,september1 #ahbc1 having retired for the night1 he betook himself to prayer to obtain the forgiveness of his sins1 and a manifestation that would enable him to know his standing before the ,lord4 ,while thus engaged1 the room began to be filled with light1 and presently a personage appeared by his bedside1 standing in the air4 ,see note #c1 end of section4 ,he said that he was a messenger sent from the presence of ,god1 and that his name was ,moroni4 ,he announced to ,joseph ,smith that the ,lord had a work for him to do2 and that his name would be had for good and evil among all nations4 #af4 ,the ,book of ,mormon4--,the angel informed ,joseph of the existence of the ,book of ,mormon1 a record engraven upon golden plates1 giving an account of the ancient inhabitants of the ,american continent and their origin4 ,he said1 also1 that it contained the everlasting gospel as taught by the ,savior to the ancient inhabitants of this ,western hemisphere4 ,deposited with the record was a ,urim and ,thummim1 consisting of two stones fastened in silver bows1 attached to a breast-plate4 ,the ,lord had prepared this instrument for the purpose of translating the record4 ,a vision of the hill where the sacred plates were hidden was given to the prophet4 #ag4 ,ancient ,prophecies ,quoted by ,moroni4--,after relating these things1 the angel began quoting from the prophecies of the ,old ,testament4 ,he first quoted part of the third #bha chapter of ,malachi2 #f and then the fourth chapter4 ,the first verse of the fourth chapter he quoted as follows3 ,for1 behold1 the day cometh that shall burn as an oven1 and all the proud1 yea1 and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble2 for they that come shall burn them1 saith the ,lord of hosts2 that it shall leave them neither root nor branch4 ,the fifth and sixth verses he quoted3 ,behold1 ,i will reveal unto you the priesthood by the hand of ,elijah1 the prophet1 before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the ,lord4 ,and he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promise made to the fathers1 and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers2 if it were not so1 the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming4#g #ah4 ,moroni also quoted the eleventh chapter of ,isaiah1 and said the predictions in it were about to be fulfilled4 ,they relate to the glorious restoration of the house of ,israel from their long dispersion1 and the reign of peace and righteousness on the earth4 ,he quoted also the twenty-second and twenty-third verses of the third chapter of ,acts3 ,for ,moses truly said unto the fathers1 a prophet shall the ,lord your ,god raise up unto you of your brethren1 like unto me2 him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you4 ,and it shall come to pass1 that every soul which will not hear that prophet1 shall be destroyed from among the people4 ,moroni explained that the prophet here spoken of was ,jesus ,christ2 but the day when they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people had not yet come1 but it would soon come4 #ai4;b ,the angel quoted from the twenty-eighth verse to the end of the second chapter of ,joel2 and said that it was soon to be fulfilled4 ,it predicts the outpouring of ,god's ,spirit upon all #bhb flesh2 the signs in the heavens and the earth which are to precede the glorious coming of ,messiah2 and foretells the safety which shall be found in ,mount ,zion and ,jerusalem in those troublous times4 #bj4 ,the ,warnings of ,moroni4--,after making these and other explanations the light within the room seemed to condense about the person of the angel and he departed4 ,shortly1 however1 he returned and repeated what he had said on his first appearance1 and again withdrew4 ,to ,joseph's astonishment he appeared the third time and again repeated his message4 #ba4 ,in his first appearance that eventful night the angel told ,joseph that when he obtained the plates containing the record of the ancient inhabitants of ,america1 together with the breast-plate and the ,urim and ,thummim--the full time for them to be given to him had not then arrived--he was to show them to no person except those to whom he would be commanded to show them4 ,he was told that if he violated his commandment he would be destroyed4 ,at his third appearing that same night the angel cautioned ,joseph1 saying that ,satan would try to tempt him1 in consequence of the poverty of his father's family1 to obtain the plates for the purpose of getting rich4 ,this he forbade him1 saying that he must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify ,god1 and must be influenced by no other motive than that of building up his kingdom4 #bb4 ,the ,fourth ,appearance of ,moroni4--,the whole night was consumed in these interviews with the angel4 ,in the morning of the day following1 ,joseph went to his usual labors1 but was so exhausted and faint that he found himself unable to pursue them4 ,his father1 who was laboring with him1 observing that he was ailing1 directed him to go home4 ,in attempting to climb the fence out of the field where he was working1 his strength entirely failed him and he fell unconscious to the ground4 ,when he became conscious1 the angel who had visited him the night before was standing by him calling his name4 ,he #bhc repeated again the things of the night before1 and commanded ,joseph to go and tell his father of them4 ,this he did1 and his father testified that they were of ,god1 and counseled his son to be obedient to the heavenly vision4 #bc4 ,cumorah and its ,treasures4--,joseph went immediately to the hill ,cumorah#h where the ancient record was hidden4 ,so vivid had been his vision of the place the night before that he had no difficulty in recognizing it4 ,see note #d1 end of section4 #bd4 ,on the west side of the hill ,cumorah1 not far from the top1 under a stone of considerable size1 lay the plates1 deposited in a stone box4 ,removing the soil from around the edges of the stone box1 with the aid of a lever1 he raised it up and to his joy beheld the plates1 the ,urim and ,thummim and breast-plate1 just as described by the angel4 ,he was about to take these treasures from the box when the messenger of the previous night again stood before him1 and told him again that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived1 and would not until four years from that date4 ,the angel instructed him to come to that place in just one year from that time and he would meet with him1 and that he would continue to do so until the time for obtaining the plates for translation had come4 ,accordingly at the end of each year ,joseph went to the place appointed1 and every time met the same heavenly messenger1 who gave him instruction and intelligence in respect to the work of the ,lord1 and how the ,christ's kingdom was to be conducted in these last days4 #be4 ,translation and ,publication of the ,book of ,mormon4--,on the #bbnd of ,september1 #ahbg1 the plates1 together with the ,urim and ,thummim and breast-plate1 were given into the hands of ,joseph ,smith by the angel ,moroni1 with a strict charge to keep them safe1 saying that he ,joseph would be held responsible for them2 that if he should carelessly1 #bhd or through any neglect of his1 let them go1 he would be cut off2 but if he would use his best endeavors to preserve them1 they should be protected4 ,he soon learned the necessity of the strict charge given to him by ,moroni1 for no sooner was it learned that he had the plates than every kind of device1 not even omitting that of violence1 was employed to wrest them from him4 ,he guarded them safely however1 and in the midst of much persecution and many difficulties1 succeeded by the help of the ,lord and the assistance of ,martin ,harris1 a well-to-to farmer1 ,oliver ,cowdery1 a young school teacher1 who acted as his scribe in much of the work of translation1 and the ,whitmer family--with this assistance he succeeded in completing the translation and publishing the work in the year #ahcj4 #bf4 ,the ,witness4--,in the course of the work of translation1 ,joseph and those assisting him1 learned from the record itself that it would be hidden from the eyes of the world1 that the eyes of none might behold it except three witnesses that should see it by the power of ,god--besides him to whom the record would be given to translate--and a few others who should view it that they might bear witness of the work of ,god to the children of men4#i #bg4 ,oliver ,cowdery1 ,david ,whitmer1 and ,martin ,harris desired to become the three witness named1 and obtained that privilege from the ,lord4 ,some time in ,june1 #ahbi1 the promise that they should have a view of the plates1 the ,urim and ,thummim and breast-plate was fulfilled4 ,the angel ,moroni appeared unto them1 exhibited to them those sacred things1 and commanded them to bear witness of their existence to the world4 ,this they did1 and their testimony is published in all copies of the ,book of ,mormon4 #bh4 ,the plates were exhibited by ,joseph ,smith to eight other witnesses whose testimony and names are also published in all copies of the ,book of ,mormon4 #bhe ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,fullness of ,times4--,now the thing to be known is1 what the fullness of times means1 or the extent and authority thereof4 ,it means this1 that the dispensation of the fullness of times is made up of all the dispensations that have ever been given since the world began1 until this time4 ,unto ,adam first was given a dispensation4 ,it is well to know that ,god spoke to him with his own voice in the garden1 and gave him the promise of the ,messiah4 ,and unto ,noah also was a dispensation given4 99 99 99 ,and from ,noah to ,abraham1 and from ,abraham to ,moses1 and from ,moses to ,elias1 and from ,elias to ,john the ,baptist1 and from them to ,jesus ,christ1 and from ,jesus ,christ to ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 the apostles all having received their dispensation by revelation from ,god to accomplish the great scheme of restitution1 spoken by all the holy prophets since the world began1 the end of which is1 the dispensation of the fullness of times in which all things shall be fulfilled that have been spoken of since the earth was made4--,joseph ,smith1 ,mill4 ,star1 vol4 ,,xvi1 p4 #bbj4 #b4 ,the ,name of ,joseph ,foretold4--,the ,book of ,mormon contains a remarkable prophecy by ,joseph1 the favorite son of ,jacob1 by which the name of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 and of his father were foretold4 ,the ,prophet ,lehi1 who1 it will be remembered1 left ,jerusalem six hundred years ,b4 ,c41 and who was acquainted with the ,jewish scriptures1 says1 in blessing his son ,joseph3 ,for ,joseph 7the one sold into ,egypt by his brother7 truly testified saying3 ,a seer shall the ,lord my ,god raise up1 who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins4 99 99 99 ,behold that seer will the ,lord bless2 and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded4 99 99 99 ,and his name shall be called after me ,joseph2 and it shall be after the name of his father4 ,and he shall be like unto me2 for the thing which the ,lord shall bring forth by his hand by the power of the ,lord shall bring my people unto salvation4--,,ii ,nephi1 ch4 iii4 #c4 ,description of ,moroni4--,he had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness4 ,it was a whiteness beyond anything earthly ,i had ever seen2 nor do ,i believe any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant2 his hands were naked1 and his arms also1 a little above the wrist2 so also1 were his feet naked1 as were his legs a little above the ankles4 ,his head and neck were also bare4 ,i could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe1 as it was open1 so that ,i could see into his bosom4 ,not only was his robe exceedingly white1 but his whole person was glorious beyond description1 #bhf and his countenance truly like lightning4--,joseph ,smith1 ,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #hi1 #d4 ,description of ,cumorah4--,as you pass on the mailroad from ,palmyra1 ,wayne ,county1 to ,canandaigua1 ,ontario ,county1 ,new ,york1 before arriving at the little village of ,palmyra1 you pass a large hill on the east side of the road4 ,why ,i say large1 is because it is as large1 perhaps1 as any in that country4 ,the north end rises quite suddenly until it assumes a level with the more southerly extremity1 and ,i think ,i may say1 an elevation higher than at the south1 a short distance1 say half or three-fourth of a mile4 ,as you pass towards ,canandaigua it lessens gradually1 until the surface assumes its common level1 or is broken by other smaller hills or ridges1 water-courses and ravines4 ,i think ,i am justified in saying that this is the highest hill for some distance round1 and ,i am certain that its appearance1 as it rises suddenly from a plain on the north1 must attract the notice of the traveler as he passes by4 ,the north end1 7which has been described as rising suddenly from the plain7 forms a promontory without timber1 but covered with grass4 ,as you pass to the south you soon come to scattering timber1 the surface having been cleared by art or wind2 and a short distance further left1 you are surrounded with the common forest of the country4 ,it is necessary to observe that even the part cleared1 was only occupied for pasturage2 its steep ascent and narrow summit not admitting the plough of the husbandman with any degree of ease or profit4 ,it was at the second mentioned place1 where the record was found to be deposited1 on the west side of the hill1 not far from the top down its side2 and when myself visited the place in the year #ahcj1 there were several trees standing--enough to cause a shade in summer1 but not so much as to prevent the surface being covered with grass1 which was also the case when the record was found4--,oliver ,cowdery4 #e4 ,analysis of the ,book of ,mormon4-- #a4 ,the ,construction of the ,record4--,the ,book of ,mormon is an abridgment made from more extensive records kept by the ancient civilized people of ,america--chiefly by the people known in the ,book of ,mormon as ,nephites4 ,the abridgment1 for the most part1 is made by one ,mormon1 a ,nephite prophet1 who was born #caa ,a4 ,d41 and slain by his enemies in the year #djj ,a4 ,d4 ,the parts which are not his abridgment are the first #aeg pages 7,n4 ,e471 which bring us to the ,words of ,mormon1 page #aeh2 and from page #efc ,n4 ,e4 to the end of the volume--sixty pages4 ,this latter part of the record was made by ,moroni1 the son of ,mormon1 who was also the one who hid up the plates containing his father's and his own abridgment1 in the year #dba ,a4 ,d42 and who1 having been raised from the dead1 revealed the existence of these plates to ,joseph ,smith4 #bhg ,the first #aeg pages are a verbatim translation from what are known as the smaller plates of ,nephi--we will explain3 ,the first ,nephi1 who left ,jerusalem with a small company of colonists led out from that city by his father1 ,lehi1 #fjj ,b4 ,c41 and who afterwards became their leader1 prophet1 and their first king--made two sets of plates1 on which he proposed engraving the history of his people4 ,on the larger of these two sets he engraved an account of his father's life1 travels1 prophecies1 etc41 together with his genealogy2 and upon them also he recorded a full history of the wars and contentions of his people1 as also their travels1 and an account of the cities they founded and colonies they established4 ,these larger plates were preserved in the care of succeeding kings1 or judges of the republic when the kingdom was transformed into one2 and1 in a word1 upon them was written a full history of the rise and fall of the nations which existed in ,america1 from the landing of this colony from ,jerusalem to #djj ,a4 ,d41 a period of nearly one thousand years4 ,it is quite evident that as these plates were transmitted from king to king1 or from one ruling judge of the republic to another1 or given into the possession of a prophet1 that each recorded the historical events of his own day1 and gave to such account his own name--hence ,mormon found in these larger plates of ,nephi1 ,the ,book of ,mosiah1 the ,book of ,alma1 the ,book of ,helaman1 etc4 ,furthermore1 it happened that there were colonies from time to time that drifted off into distant parts of the land and became lost for a season to the main body of the people2 and there were missionary expeditions formed for the conversion of the ,lamanites2 and these parties1 whether missionary or colonial1 generally kept records2 and when these colonists or missionary parties were found1 or returned to the main body of the people1 their records were incorporated within the main record1 being kept by the historian--hence there was1 sometimes1 a book within a book1 and the current of events was interrupted to record the history of these detached portions of the people1 or some important missionary expedition4 ,mormon1 when abridging these plates of ,nephi1 gave to each particular division of his abridgment the name of the book from which he had taken his account of the events recorded--hence the ,books of ,mosiah1 ,alma1 ,helaman and ,,iii and ,,iv ,nephi in his abridgment4 ,he also1 in some instances1 at least1 followed the sub-divisions we have alluded to1 hence we have the ,record of ,zeniff within the ,book of ,mosiah 7page #aha1 ,n4 ,e472 the account of the church founded by the first ,alma 7page #bac72 and the account of the missionary expeditions of the sons of ,mosiah to the ,lamanites within the ,book of ,alma 7page #bhc47 #b4 ,complexity of the ,literary ,structure of the ,book4--,again we caution the student to remember that the ,book of ,mormon is1 for the most #bhh part1 an abridgment from the larger plates of ,nephi2 but it is quite evident that ,mormon frequently came to passages upon the plates of ,nephi which pleased him so well that he transcribed them verbatim upon the plates containing his abridgment4 ,an example of this will be found beginning on page #afc1 in the second line of the ninth paragraph1 and ending with page #afi--the words of ,king ,benjamin to his people4 ,the words of ,king ,benjamin are also renewed on page #agj1 in the second line of the fourth paragraph1 and continue to the close of the chapter4 ,there are many such passages throughout ,mormon's abridgment4 ,in addition to this1 ,mormon frequently introduces remarks of his own by way of comment1 warning1 prophecy or admonition1 and since there is nothing in the text1 neither quotation marks nor a change of type1 to indicate where these comments1 or what we might call annotations1 begin or end1 they are liable to confuse the reader--a difficulty that we hope will be obviated by this caution4 ,so much for ,mormon's abridgment4 ,now to consider the part of the work done by his son1 ,moroni4 ,this is from page #efc to the end of the volume4 ,he closes up the record of his father1 ,mormon1 and then gives us an abridgment of the twenty-four plates of ,ether1 which were found in ,north ,america by the people of ,limhi1 in the second century ,b4 ,c41 and then concludes his work with notes on the manner of ordaining priests and teachers1 administering the sacrament of the ,lord's supper1 baptism1 spiritual gifts1 together with a sermon and some of his father's letters4 ,in his abridgment of the record of the ,jaredites1 the peculiarity of mixing up his comments1 admonitions and prophecies with his narrative1 is even more marked than in the abridgment of ,mormon1 therefore the reader will need to be doubly on his guard4 #c4 ,how the ,smaller ,plates of ,nephi came to be attached to ,mormon's ,abridgment4--,we have already said that the first #aeg pages of the ,book of ,mormon were not a part of ,mormon's abridgment4 ,those pages are a verbatim translation of the smaller plates of ,nephi1 and became connected with ,mormon's abridgment in this manner3 ,mormon had abridged the larger plates of ,nephi as far as the reign of ,king ,benjamin1 and in searching through the records which had been delivered to him1 he found the smaller plates of ,nephi4 ,they contained a brief history of events connected with the departure of ,lehi and his colony from ,jerusalem to their landing in ,america1 and thence down to the reign of this ,king ,benjamin--covering a period of about #djj years4 ,these plates were made by ,nephi1 that upon them might be engraven an account of the ministry of the servants of ,god1 among his people1 together with their prophecies and teachings4 ,they contain1 in other words1 an ecclesiastical history of the #bhi ,nephites1 while the larger plates of ,nephi contained a political or secular history of the same people4 7,i ,nephi ix2 xix3 #a-e47 ,mormon was particularly well pleased with the contents of these smaller plates of ,nephi1 because upon them had been engraven so many prophecies concerning the coming and mission of the ,messiah2 and instead of condensing the history recorded on them into an abridgment1 he took the plates themselves and attached them to the abridgment of ,nephi's larger plates4 ,and ,i do this for a wise purpose1 says ,mormon2 for thus it whispereth me according to the workings of the ,spirit of the ,lord which is in me4 7,words of ,mormon1 page #aei ,n4 ,e47 ,nephi also1 in speaking of these smaller plates1 says1 the ,lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him2 which purpose ,i know not4 7,i ,nephi ix3#e47 #d4 ,the ,wise ,purpose4--,by ,mormon attaching these smaller plates of ,nephi to his own abridgment of ,nephi's larger plates1 it will be observed there was a double line of history of the ,nephites for about #djj years1 and the wisdom of this arrangement is seen in the following3 ,when ,joseph ,smith had translated the first part of ,mormon's abridgment--amounting to #aaf pages of manuscript1 he listened to the importunities of ,martin ,harris1 who was giving him some assistance in the work of translating1 and who desired to show that portion of the work to his friends4 ,the result was the manuscript was stolen from ,harris2 the records were taken from ,joseph by the angel1 and for a season he lost his power to translate4 ,after a time1 however1 he was permitted to go on with the work1 but the ,lord made it known to him that it was the design of those into whose hands the manuscript had fallen to wait until he had translated that part again1 and then by changing the manuscript in their possession1 would bring it forth and claim that he could not translate the same record twice alike2 and thus they would seek to overthrow the work of ,god4 ,but the heavenly messenger commanded ,joseph ,smith not to translate again the part he had already translated1 but instead thereof he should translate the smaller plates of ,nephi1 and that account was to take the place of ,mormon's abridgment up to the latter days of the reign of ,king ,benjamin4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 ,sec4 #aj47 ,thus it is that we have the ,words of ,mormon1 beginning on page #aeh1 explaining how the smaller plates of ,nephi came into his possession and attached to the plates containing the record he himself was making1 and connecting the historical narrative of the smaller plates of ,nephi with his own abridgment of ,nephi's larger plates4 ,the ,words of ,mormon1 interrupting as they do the history of the ,nephites1 have caused no little confusion in the minds of unthoughtful readers2 but after it is understood that they are merely the link connecting the ecclesiastical history engraven on the smaller #bij plates of ,nephi to ,mormon's abridgment1 and that they take the place of the first part of ,mormon's record1 the difficulty will disappear4 #e4 ,difference in the ,literary ,style of the ,smaller ,plates and ,mormon's ,abridgment4--,one thing we cannot forbear to mention1 and that is1 in the parts of the ,book of ,mormon translated from the smaller plates of ,nephi1 we find none of those comments or annotations mixed up with the record that we have already spoken of as being peculiar to the abridgment made by ,mormon--a circumstance1 we take it1 which proves the ,book of ,mormon to be consistent with the account given of the original records from which it was translated4 ,the value of this fact appears if we stop to consider how destructive to the claims of the book it would be if the peculiarity of ,mormon's abridgment were found in that part of the book which claims to be a verbatim translation of the smaller plates of ,nephi4 ,there will be found1 however1 in this translation direct from the smaller plates of ,nephi1 as also in ,mormon's abridgment1 extracts from the old ,jewish ,scriptures--especially from the writings of ,isaiah--this is accounted for by the fact that when ,lehi's colony left ,jerusalem1 they took with them copies of the books of ,moses and the writings of the prophets1 and the record of the ,jews down to the commencement of the reign of ,zedekiah1 all of which were engraven on plates of brass 7see ,i ,nephi v3 #aj-ac71 and the ,nephite historians transcribed passages from these sacred records into their own writings4 #f4 ,the ,transcribed ,passages4--,there are a few suggestions about these transcribed passages which may be valuable to the student1 as they furnish an indirect evidence of the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the ,nephites having transcribed passages from the brass plates they carried with them from ,jerusalem into their records1 wherever such passages occur in the ,book of ,mormon1 and corresponding passages are found in our ,english ,bible1 it will be seen by the reader that so far we have two translations of the writings of the old ,hebrew prophets2 and it will be found on comparison that the passages in the ,book of ,mormon are stronger and more in keeping with the sense sought to be expressed by the prophet than the corresponding passages and chapters in the ,bible4 ,as a proof of this ,i ask the student to compare ,i ,nephi xx and xxi with ,isaiah xlvii and xlix4 ,in some instances there are sentences1 in the ,book of ,mormon version of passages from ,isaiah1 not to be found in our ,english version1 as witness the following3 #bia ,,book ,,of ,,mormon4 ,o house of ,jacob1 come ye and let us walk in the light of the ,lord2 yea1 come1 for ye have all gone astray1 every one to his wicked ways4--,,ii ,nephi xii4 ,,bible4 ,o house of ,jacob1 come ye1 and let us walk in the light of the ,lord4--,isa4 ii3 #e4 ,in other instances it will be found that the sense of the passages is different1 and that the passages in the ,book of ,mormon best accord with the sense of the whole3 ,,book ,,of ,,mormon4 ,therefore1 ,o ,lord1 thou hast forsaken thy people1 the house of ,jacob1 because they be replenished from the east1 and hearken unto soothsayers like the ,philistines1 and they please themselves in the children of strangers4--,,ii ,nephi xii3 #f4 ,their land is also full of idols--they worship the work of their own hands1 that which their own fingers have made3 and the mean man boweth not down1 and the great man humbleth himself not1 therefore1 forgive him not4--,,ii ,nephi xii3 #h1 #i4 ,thou hast multiplied the nation1 and increased the joy3 they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest1 and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil4--,,ii ,nephi xix3 #c4 ,,bible4 ,therefore ,thou hast forsaken ,thy people the house of ,jacob1 because they be replenished from the east1 and are soothsayers like the ,philistines1 and they please themselves in the children of strangers4--,isa4 ii3 #f ,their land also is full of idols2 they worship the work which their own fingers have made3 and the mean man boweth down1 and the great man humbleth himself3 therefore1 forgive them not4--,isa4 ii3 #h1 #i4 ,thou hast multiplied the nation1 and not increased the joy3 they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest1 and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil4--,isa4 ix3 #c4 ,observe1 too1 the difference in the clearness of the following passages3 ,,book ,,of ,,mormon4 ,and when they shall say unto you1 seek unto them that have familiar spirits1 and unto wizards that peep and mutter2 should not a people seek unto their ,god8 for the living to hear from the dead8--,,ii ,nephi xix3 #c4 ,,bible4 ,and when they shall say unto you1 seek unto them that have familiar spirits1 and unto wizards that peep1 and that mutter2 should not a people seek unto their ,god8 for the living to the dead8--,isa4 viii3 #ai4 #bib ,again1 the ,english translators of the ,bible1 in order to make the sense of various passages more clear1 inserted here and there1 words of their own2 which are always written in ,italics1 that the reader might know what words have been inserted by the translator1 and for which he will find no equivalent in the original text4 ,it is worthy of note that in those transcribed passages from the brass plates into the ,book of ,mormon1 in almost every instance1 the words in the ,book of ,mormon version are different to those substituted by the translators of the common ,english ,version2 or are left out1 as follows3 ,,book ,,of ,,mormon4 ,what mean ye8 ,ye beat my people to pieces1 and grind the faces of the poor4--,,ii ,nephi xiii3 #ae4 ,,bible4 ,what mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces1 and grind the faces of the poor8--,isa4 iii3 #ae4 ,the above is a case where the inserted word of the translator1 which ,i have written in ,italics1 is omitted1 and to my mind the passage as it stands in the ,book of ,mormon is the stronger and more beautiful4 ,here is a passage where different words are used than those inserted by the translators3 ,,book ,,of ,,mormon4 ,say unto the righteous1 that it is well with them2 for they shall eat the fruit of their doings4 ,woe unto the wicked for they shall perish2 for the reward of their hands shall be upon them4--,,ii ,nephi xiii3 #aj1 #aa4 ,,bible4 ,say ye to the righteous1 that it shall be well with him3 for they shall eat the fruit of their doings4 ,woe unto the wicked2 it shall be ill with him2 for the reward of his hands shall be given him4--,isa4 iii3 #aj1 #aa4 ,i think it will be readily conceived that the above passage as it stands in the ,book of ,mormon is much superior to the version given in our common ,bible4 ,and when it is remembered that ,joseph ,smith and those who assisted in translating that work were most likely uninformed as to the supplied words of the translators being written in ,italics1 it is an incidental evidence that those passages in the ,book of ,mormon to which are found corresponding passages in the ,bible1 were not merely copied from the ,bible1 but in the ,book of ,mormon we have really another translation of those passages taken from original records of the ,hebrews1 uncorrupted by the hand of man1 and hence more perfect4 #g4 ,a ,means of ,testing the ,truth of the ,book of ,mormon4--,one suggestion more ,i would make to the readers of the ,book of ,mormon3 #bic that is1 that they read it prayerfully with a real desire to know if it is of ,god4 ,if they will peruse it with that desire in their hearts1 ,i am sanguine that the ,spirit of ,god which searches all things1 yea1 the deep things of ,god1 will bear witness to their understanding that the book is of divine origin1 and they will have a witness from ,god of its truth4 ,such a promise in fact1 is contained within the book itself4 ,when ,moroni was closing up the sacred record previous to hiding it up unto the ,lord until the time should come for it to be revealed as a witness for ,god1 he engraved the following passage on the plates as words of counsel to those into whose hands the record should fall3 ,and when ye shall receive these things 7i4 e41 the things written in the ,book of ,mormon7 ,i would exhort you that ye would ask ,god the ,eternal ,father1 in the name of ,christ1 if these things are not true2 and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart1 with real intent1 having faith in ,christ1 he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the ,holy ,ghost2 and by the power of the ,holy ,ghost ye may know the truth of all things4 7,moroni x3 #d1e47 ,here1 then1 is a means by which every person into whose hands the ,book of ,mormon falls may find out for himself1 not from human testimony1 not from the deductions of logic1 but through the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 whether the ,book of ,mormon is of divine origin or not4 ,this test must be final1 either for or against it1 to every individual who complies with the conditions enjoined by ,moroni4 ,those conditions are1 that they into whose hands the record falls shall inquire of ,god with a sincere heart1 with real intent1 and having faith in ,christ and to those who so proceed he promises without equivocation that they shall receive a manifestation of its truth by the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,therefore1 if these directions are complied with faithfully and honestly1 and the manifestation follows not1 then they may know it is not of ,god4 ,if the manifestation comes1 of course the divine origin of the book is confirmed1 for the ,holy ,ghost would not confirm by any manifestation of its power an imposition4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what is a dispensation in connection with the work of ,god8 #b4 ,in what does the ,dispensation of the ,fullness of ,times differ from other dispensations8 #c4 ,state when and where the ,prophet ,joseph was born4 #d4 ,what was the condition and standing of the ,prophet's parents8 #bid #e4 ,state what you can about the movements of the ,smith family until its settlement in ,manchester4 #f4 ,what occurred in ,manchester when the prophet was in his fifteenth year8 #g4 ,what influence did this religious revival have on the ,smith family8 #h4 ,what reflections did it give birth to in the boy ,joseph8 #i4 ,what circumstance was it that decided the course of ,joseph8 #aj4 ,describe the first great vision ,joseph received4 #aa4 ,what sectarian vagary is dispelled by this vision8 #ab4 ,what were the prophet's subsequent teachings relative to the personage of ,god8 7,note47 #ac4 ,what does the vision teach in respect to the ,father and ,son being distinct persons8 #ad4 ,what great truth respecting the character of the creeds and sects of ,christendom is learned from the vision8 #ae4 ,what did it prove in regard to the false idea that ,god would give no more revelation to man8 #af4 ,what other important thing did this first vision accomplish8 #ag4 ,how long was it after the prophet received his first vision before any other revelation was given him8 #ah4 ,how was ,joseph's announcement that he had received a revelation from ,god treated by the ministers8 #ai4 ,what can you say of the prophet's conduct during the above mentioned interval of three years8 #bj4 ,give an account of ,moroni's first visit to the ,prophet ,joseph4 #ba4 ,give a description of ,moroni4 7,note #c71 #bb4 ,what ancient record did ,moroni reveal the existence of8 #bc4 ,enumerate the several ancient prophecies of the ,bible quoted by ,moroni4 #bd4 ,what cautions did ,moroni give ,joseph before finally leaving him8 #be4 ,relate ,moroni's fourth appearance to ,joseph4 #bf4 ,give an account of ,joseph's first visit to ,cumorah4 #bg4 ,by what name was this same hill known among the ,jaredites8 #bh4 ,give a description of ,cumorah4 #bi4 ,what arrangements for future visitations did ,moroni make with ,joseph8 #cj4 ,when were the plates of the ,book of ,mormon together with the ,urim and ,thummim given into the possession of ,joseph8 #ca4 ,what individuals and family rendered ,joseph valuable assistance while translating the ,book of ,mormon8 #cb4 ,how many especial witnesses were raised up to the ,book of ,mormon8 #cc4 ,state how the ,book of ,mormon was constructed4 #cd4 ,describe the complexity of the structure of the ,book of ,mormon4 #bie #ce4 ,how did the smaller plates of ,nephi come to be attached to ,mormon's abridgment8 #cf4 ,for what wise purpose were they attached to ,mormon's abridgment8 #cg4 ,what difference in style of composition is noticeable between these smaller plates and ,mormon's abridgment8 #ch4 ,what can you say of the transcribed passages from the brass plates8 #ci4 ,what direct means exists for testing the truth of the ,book of ,mormon8 #bif ,,section ,,ii4 #a4 ,the ,restoration of the ,aaronic ,priesthood4--,while engaged in the work of translating the ,book of ,mormon1 ,joseph and ,oliver found reference made in the record to baptism for the remission of sins2 and on the #aeth of ,may1 #ahbi1 they went into the woods to inquire of the ,lord about it4 ,while thus engaged a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light and announced himself to be ,john1 the same that is called the ,baptist1#aj in the ,new ,testament4 ,he placed his hands upon the heads of ,joseph and ,oliver and ordained them to the ,aaronic ,priesthood4#aa ,he explained that this priesthood held the keys of the ministration of angels1 the gospel of repentance and of baptism for the remission of sins1 but had not the power of laying on hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he promised them also that the priesthood he then conferred upon them should never be taken again from the earth1 until the sons of ,levi offer an offering unto the ,lord in righteousness4 ,see note #a1 end of section4 #b4 ,john stated that he was acting under the direction of #big ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 who held the keys of the ,melchisedek ,priesthood1 which he said would in due time be conferred upon them4 ,he then commanded ,joseph to baptize ,oliver1 and afterwards ,oliver to baptize ,joseph4#ab ,after their baptism they were both filled with the spirit of prophecy and predicted many things concerning the rise and progress of the work4 ,the angel also commanded them to each re-ordain the other to the ,priesthood--,joseph to first ordain ,oliver1 and afterwards ,oliver to ordain ,joseph4 ,to this commandment they were obedient1 and thus the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 the power from ,god which gives the right to those who receive it to preach repentance and to administer baptism for the remission of sins1 was restored to men4 #c4 ,for a season1 doubtless in order to avoid persecution1 which constantly increased in bitterness1 ,joseph and ,oliver kept their baptism and ordination to the ,aaronic ,priesthood a secret2 but as men's minds were wrought upon to inquire after the truth1 they at last let it be known that they had received authority to baptize for the remission of sins1 and a number of people received the ordinance at their hands4 #d4 ,restoration of the ,melchisedek ,priesthood4--,some time in ,june1 #ahbi1ac the promise made by ,john the ,baptist to ,joseph and ,oliver1 at the time he conferred the ,aaronic ,priesthood upon them--viz41 that they should receive the higher or ,melchisedek ,priesthood1 was fulfilled4 ,this ,priesthood was conferred upon them by ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 probably in the wilderness between ,harmony1 ,susquehanna county1 and ,colesville1 #bih ,broome county1 on the ,susquehanna ,river4#ad ,see note #b1 end of section ,it is quite evident from the prominence given to these three apostles in the ,new ,testament1 that they held the keys of this ,priesthood2 and that of the three ,peter was the chief4 ,to him the ,lord said3 ,i will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven2 and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven2 and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven4 #ae ,it was eminently proper therefore that these three apostles should be the ones to restore to the earth the ,melchisedek ,priesthood by conferring the apostleship upon ,joseph and ,oliver4 #e4 ,as after receiving their ordination under the hands of ,john the ,baptist they were required to re-ordain each other1 so after receiving the apostleship under the hands of ,peter1 ,james and ,john they re-ordained each other1 ,joseph first re-ordaining ,oliver1 and afterwards accepting re-ordination at his hands4#af #f4 ,the power and authority of this ,melchisedek ,priesthood see note #c1 end of section is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church1 and those holding it have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven--they have the right to have the heavens opened unto them--to commune with the general assembly and church of the ,first ,born1 and to enjoy the communication and presence of ,god the ,father and ,jesus the ,mediator of the new covenant4#ag ,hence1 clothed with this power1 ,joseph and ,oliver were authorized to organize the ,church of ,christ in the earth4 #g4 ,the ,organization of the ,church of ,christ4--,in all things1 however1 the two young men waited for direction from the ,lord1 and hence did not undertake to organize the church until he commanded them4 ,it was in obedience to a commandment from the ,lord1 therefore1 that they appointed the sixth #bii day of ,april1 #ahcj1 as the time to organize the church4 ,six persons#ah who had been baptized1 and a few of their friends1 met at the house of ,peter ,whitmer1 ,sen41 in ,fayette1 ,seneca county1 in the ,state of ,new ,york1 to effect that organization4 ,the meeting was opened by solemn prayer1 after which1 according to previous commandment1 the ,prophet ,joseph called upon the brethren present to know if they would accept himself and ,oliver ,cowdery as their teachers in the things of the kingdom of ,god2 and if they were willing that they should proceed to organize the church according to the commandment of the ,lord4 ,to this they consented by unanimous vote4 ,joseph then ordained ,oliver an elder of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ2#ai after which ,oliver ordained ,joseph an elder of the said church4 ,the sacrament was administered and those who had been previously baptized were confirmed members of the church and received the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands4 ,some enjoyed the gift of prophecy1 and all rejoiced exceedingly4 ,see note #d1 end of section4 #h4 ,while the church was yet assembled a revelation was received from the ,lord1#bj directing that a record be kept in the church1 and that in it ,joseph be called a seer1 a translator1 a prophet1 an apostle of ,jesus ,christ1 an elder of the church2 and the church was commanded to give heed to all his words and commandments which he should receive from the ,lord1 accepting his word as the word of ,god in all patience and faith4 ,on condition of their doing this1 the ,lord promised them that the gates of hell should not prevail against the church2 but on #cjj the contrary he would disperse the powers of darkness from before them and shake the heavens for their good4 #i4 ,the ,voice of ,god and the ,voice of the ,people in ,church ,government4--,thus the church was organized2 and in that organization we see the operation of two mighty principles--the voice of ,god3 the consent of the people4 ,at the time that ,joseph and ,oliver received instruction to ordain each other to be elders of the church1 they were told to defer their ordination until such time as would be practicable to get their brethren who had been and who would be baptized assembled together3 for they must have the sanction of their brethren before they ordained each other elders of the ,church2 and their brethren must decide by vote whether they would accept them ,joseph and ,oliver as spiritual#ba teachers4 ,thus1 notwithstanding ,joseph and ,oliver had been ordained apostles under the hands of ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 and had doubtless re-ordained each other as already stated1#bb yet when it came to being ordained elders of the ,church1#bc and made the spiritual leaders of it1 it must be done by the common consent of the church2 and thus early we see enforced that law which says3 ,all things shall be done by common consent in the church1 by much prayer and faith4 #bd ,but no sooner was the church organized than a prophet1 a seer1 a translator1 is appointed and the church commanded to give heed to his words1 and to receive them as coming from the mouth of of the ,lord himself4 ,here in the very inception of the church organization is clearly established the great truth1 the grand principle1 that in the government of the church there is to be a union of the voice of ,god #cja and the consent or voice of the people4 ,not vox populi1 vox ,dei2#be nor vox ,dei1 vox populi2#bf but vox ,dei et vox populi4#bg #aj4 ,revelation on ,church ,government and ,discipline4--,previous to the organization of the church1 a very important revelation was given--in fact it was the revelation which pointed out the date on which the church was to be organized#bh--which teaches many important truths and points out the duties of the members of the church and also the duties of the officers of the church--so far as the officers of the church at that time had been given4 ,that revelation announces the following doctrines3-- ,i4 ,of the ,existence of ,god4--,there is a ,god in heaven who is infinite and eternal from everlasting to everlasting--unchangeable2 the framer of heaven and earth and all things which are in them4 ,,ii4 ,of the ,creation and ,fall of ,man4--,god created man male and female1 after his own image1 and in his own likeness created he them4 ,he gave them commandment that they should love and serve him1 and that he should be the sole object of their worship4 ,but by the transgression of these holy laws man became sensual and devilish--fallen man4 ,,iii4 ,of ,jesus ,christ4--,the ,almighty ,god gave his ,only ,begotten ,son as a ransom for fallen man1 as it is written of him in the scriptures4 ,he suffered temptations1 but gave no heed to them2 he was crucified1 died1 and rose again the third day2 he ascended into heaven to sit on the right hand of his ,father1 #cjb to reign with almighty power according to the will of ,god4 ,as many as believe on him and are baptized in his holy name--enduring in faith to the end--shall be saved4 ,not only those who believed after he came in the flesh2 but all those who from the beginning believed in the words of the holy prophets1 who testified of him in all things4 ,,iv4 ,of the ,holy ,ghost and the ,trinity4--,the ,holy ,ghost beareth record of the ,father and of the ,son--is ,god's witness4 ,the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost constitute the ,holy ,trinity--one ,god or grand ,presidency of heaven and earth1 infinite1 eternal4 ,v4 ,of ,justification and ,sanctification4--,justification and sanctification come through the grace of ,god1 and are just and true principles4 ,that is1 the grace of ,god supplies the means or conditions of justification and sanctification1 and it is for man to apply those means of salvation4 ,the means or conditions of justification and sanctification are that men love and serve ,god with all their might1 mind1 and strength4 ,that would lead them to exercise faith in ,god1 repentance of sin and baptism for the remission of sins1 laying on of hands for the ,holy ,ghost1 and the pursuit of a godly life and conversation--the old conditions of salvation4#bi ,,vi4 ,of ,falling from ,grace4--,it is possible for men to fall from grace and depart from the living ,god1 therefore the saints are admonished to take heed and pray always1 least they fall into temptation4 ,even those who are sanctified are cautioned to take heed4 ,,vii4 ,of ,baptism4--,all who humble themselves before ,god1 and desire to be baptized and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits1 and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins1 and are willing to take upon them the name of ,jesus ,christ1 having a determination to serve ,him to the end1 and truly manifest by their works that #cjc they have received of the spirit of ,christ unto the remission of their sins--shall be received by baptism into the church4#cj ,no person1 however1 can be received into the church of ,christ1 unless he has arrived unto the years of accountability#ca before ,god1 and is capable of repentance4 ,,viii4 ,of the ,manner of ,baptism4--,the person who is called of ,god1 and has authority from ,jesus ,christ to baptize1 shall go into the water with the person who has presented him or herself for baptism1 and shall say--calling him or her by name--,having been commissioned of ,jesus ,christ1 ,i baptize you in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,amen4 #cb ,then shall he immerse him or her1 and come forth again out of the water4 ,,ix4 ,of ,confirmation4--,confirmation into the church follows baptism and is performed by the laying on of hands1 by those who have authority in the church4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is imparted in the same manner4 ,there is no form of exact words given1 so far as we know1 for confirming persons into the church and imparting the ,holy ,ghost2 but judging from the forms given for baptism1 administering the sacrament1 etc41 a simple form would be most proper4 ,but whatever other words are used1 the following should not be omitted3 ,i confirm you a member of the #cjd ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints2 and say unto you1 receive ye the ,holy ,ghost4 ,those officiating would of course be careful to do this in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 or their administration would be of none effect4 ,x4 ,of the ,duties of ,members4--,it is the duty of the members of the church to manifest righteousness by a ,godly walk and conversation2 to abstain from ill feeling toward each other1 neither indulging in lying1 back-biting nor evil speaking4 ,it is also their duty to pray vocally and in secret4 ,they are required to meet together often to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the ,lord ,jesus1 which is to be administered by the elder or priest#cc in the following manner3 kneeling with the church he consecrates the emblems of the body and blood of ,christ in these words3 ,,blessing ,,on ,,the ,,bread4 ,o ,god1 the ,eternal ,father1 we ask thee in the name of thy ,son ,jesus ,christ to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it1 that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy ,son1 and witness unto thee1 ,o ,god1 the ,eternal ,father1 that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy ,son1 and always remember him1 and keep his commandments which he has given them1 that they may always have ,his ,spirit to be with them4 ,amen4 ,,blessing ,,on ,,the ,,wine4#cd ,o ,god1 the ,eternal ,father1 we ask thee in the name of thy ,son ,jesus ,christ to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of #cje all those who drink of it1 that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy ,son1 which was shed for them2 that they may witness unto thee1 ,o ,god1 the ,eternal ,father1 that they do always remember him1 that they may have his ,spirit to be with them4 ,amen4 ,,xi4 ,of the ,duties of ,saints ,respecting ,children4--,every member of the church having children is required to bring them to the elders1 before the church1 who are to lay their hands upon them and bless them in the name of ,jesus ,christ4#ce ,,xii4 ,duties of ,officers--,elders4 #cf--;,elders have authority to preside over meetings and conduct them as prompted by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,they also have authority to teach and expound #cjf the scriptures2 to watch over the church2 to baptize2 to lay on hands for the bestowal of the ,holy ,ghost2 confirm those baptized1 members of the church2 administer the sacrament1 and ordain other elders and also priests1 teachers1 and deacons4 --,priests4--,it is the duty of priests to preach1 teach1 and expound scripture2 to visit the home of each member and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all duties4 ,they may also baptize and administer the sacrament1 ordain other priests1 teachers and deacons1 take the lead of meetings when no elder is present1 and in a general way assist the elder2 but they have no authority to lay on hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost or confirmation in the church4 --,teachers4--,the teacher's duty is to always be with the church1 watch over and strengthen it2 to see that there is no iniquity in it1 and that the members thereof meet together often and all do their duty4 ,teachers may warn1 expound1 exhort1 teach and invite all to come unto ,christ1 and take the lead of meetings when no elder or priest is present2 but they have not the authority to baptize1 administer the sacrament or lay on hands4 --,deacons4--,deacons are appointed to assist the teachers in the performance of their duties4 ,they may also warn1 expound1 exhort1 teach and invite all to come unto ,christ1 but like teachers have no authority to baptize1 administer the sacrament1 or lay on hands4 ,,xiii4 ,conferences4--,the several elders comprising the church of ,christ are to meet in conference once in three months1 or from time to time as the said conference shall appoint1 to do whatever church business is necessary4 ,it is the duty of the several branches of the church to send one or more of their #cjg teachers or other representatives to attend the conferences of the church1 with a list of the names of those who joined the church since the last conference1 that a record of the names of the whole church may be kept by one who shall be appointed to that work2 and the names of those who are expelled from the church are also to be sent up to the conferences1 that their names may be blotted out of the general record of the church4 ,members removing from the church where they reside are to take a letter certifying that they are regular members in good standing1 and that when signed by the regular authorities of the church from whence they move is to admit them into the fellowship of the ,saints in the church to which they go4 ,such is the plan of government and discipline contained in the revelation given just previous to the organization of the church1 and in it one may observe the outlines of that more complete organization of the church which will be treated more fully in another section4 ,the above was sufficient for the church in its infancy4 #aa4 ,commencement of the ,public ,ministry4--,on ,sunday1 the #aath of ,april1 #ahcj1 the first public discourse was preached4 ,it was delivered by ,elder ,oliver ,cowdery1 at the house of ,peter ,whitmer1 in ,fayette4 ,after the services six persons were baptized4 ,thus began the public ministry of the church4 #ab4 ,first ,miracle in the ,church4--,in this same month of ,april the first miracle in the church was performed4 ,it occurred in this manner3 ,the ,prophet ,joseph went on a visit to ,mr4 ,joseph ,knight1 at ,colesville1 ,broome ,county1 ,new ,york4 ,this gentleman had rendered the prophet some timely assistance while translating the ,book of ,mormon1 and he was anxious that ,mr4 ,knight and his family should receive the truth4 ,while in ,mr4 ,knight's neighborhood the prophet held a number of meetings4 ,among those who regularly attended was ,newel ,knight1 son of ,joseph ,knight4 ,he and the prophet had many serious conversations on the subject of man's salvation4 ,in the meetings #cjh held the people prayed much1 and in one of the aforesaid conversations with the prophet1 ,newel ,knight promised that he would pray publicly4 ,when the time came1 however1 his heart failed him1 and he refused1 saying that he would wait until he got into the woods by himself4 ,the next morning when he attempted to pray in the woods1 he was overwhelmed with a sense of having neglected his duty the evening before in not praying in the presence of others4 ,he began to feel uneasy1 and continued to grow worse both in mind and body1 until upon reaching home his appearance was such as to alarm his wife4 ,he sent for the prophet1 who1 when he came1 found ,newel in a sad condition and suffering greatly4 ,his visage and limbs were distorted and twisted in every shape imaginable4 ,at last he was caught up off the floor and tossed about most fearfully4 ,the neighbors hearing of his condition came running in4 ,after he had suffered for a time1 the prophet succeeded in getting him by the hand1 when immediately ,newel spoke to him1 saying he knew he was possessed of the devil1 and that the prophet had power to cast him out4 ,if you know ,i can1 it shall be done1 replied the prophet2 and then almost unconsciously he rebuked ,satan and commanded him to depart from the man4 ,immediately ,newel's contortions stopped1 and he spoke out and said he saw the devil leave him and vanish from sight4 #ac4--,this was the first miracle which was done in this church or by any member of it1 writes the prophet2 and it was done not by man1 nor by the power of man1 but it was done by ,god1 and by the power of godliness2 therefore let the honor and praise1 the dominion and the glory1 be ascribed to the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,spirit1 for ever and ever4 ,amen4 #ad4 ,the ,first ,conference4--,the first conference of the church was held the first day of ,june1 #ahcj4 ,about thirty members were in attendance1 besides a number of unbaptized believers and others anxious to learn4 ,the sacrament was administered1 a number who had been baptized were confirmed1 #cji and brethren were called and ordained to various offices of the priesthood4 ,the time was spent in prayer1 singing1 instruction and exhortation4 ,the ,holy ,ghost was abundantly poured out upon the saints4 ,some prophesied1 and others were wrapped in heavenly vision1 until their bodily strength was exhausted4 ,when restored they shouted hosannah to ,god and the ,lamb1 and related the glorious things they had seen and felt while in vision4 ,see note #d1 end of section4 ,thus the ministry of ,god's servants began to be confirmed by the signs and the gifts of the ,holy ,ghost following those who believed4 #ae4 ,errors of the ,saints4--,it would be unreasonable to suppose that the members of the church fell into no errors4 ,some time in the summer of #ahcj1 while the prophet was still living in ,harmony1 ,penn41 and ,oliver ,cowdery was with the ,whitmer family in ,new ,york1 he received a letter from ,oliver informing him that he ,oliver had discovered an error in one of the revelations1 and added3 ,i command you in the name of ,god to erase these words having named the passage that no priestcraft be among us4 #cg ,the prophet wrote immediately1 asking by what authority ,oliver took it upon himself to command him to alter or erase1 to add to1 or diminish a revelation or commandment from ,almighty ,god4 ,joseph followed his letter in a few days1 and was grieved beyond measure to find that the whole ,whitmer family sustained ,oliver in the position he had taken4 ,by labor and perseverance1 however1 he convinced them that they were in error and the difficulty was settled4 #af4 ,scarcely had this trouble subsided when another arose4 ,in the month of ,august1 #ahcj1 in consequence of persecution having grown extremely bitter in ,harmony and vicinity1 the prophet removed with his family to ,fayette1 ,new ,york1 at the invitation of the ,whitmers1 to live with them4 ,on arriving #caj there he learned that ,hyrum ,page was in possession of a stone which he called a seer stone1 and through which he was receiving revelations for the church in respect to the up-building of ,zion1 church government1 etc4 ,the ,whitmers and the inconstant ,oliver accepted these revelations and much harm was being done4 ,a conference was to convene on the first of ,september1 but before it assembled the prophet inquired of the ,lord and obtained a revelation on the subject1 which was directed more especially to ,oliver ,cowdery4#ch ,in regard to the subject in hand1 it contained the following3 ,oliver was to be heard by the church in all things whatsoever he taught by the ,comforter1 concerning the revelations and commandments2 and if led by the ,comforter to teach by way of commandment1 he had permission to do it2 ,but thou shalt not write by way of commandment1 said the ,lord to him1 but by wisdom4 ,and thou shalt not command him who is at thy head and at the head of the church4 ,no one was to receive commandments and revelations in the church1 that is for the church1 except ,joseph the prophet2 for the ,lord had given him the keys of the mysteries and revelations1 until he appointed unto the church another in his stead4 ,oliver was commanded to take ,hyrum ,page aside by himself and tell him that the revelations which he had written from that stone were not of the ,lord1 but that ,satan had deceived him1 and they must be given up1 for he had not been appointed to receive revelations1 neither would any one be appointed contrary to the church covenants1 which provided that all things must be done in order and by common consent of the church4 #ag4 ,during the conference the subject of the revelations from ,hyrum ,page's seer stone was discussed1 and after much consideration1 the whole church1 including ,hyrum ,page1 renounced the stone and all things connected with it2 and the #caa church was made to understand more clearly that there is but one on the earth at a time who is authorized to receive the word and commandment of the ,lord for the ,church4#ci ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,visitation of ,john the ,baptist4--,on a sudden1 as from the midst of eternity1 the voice of the ,redeemer spake peace to us1 while the vail was parted and the angel of ,god came down clothed with glory1 and delivered the anxiously looked for message1 and the keys of the gospel of repentance6 ,what joy6 ,what wonder6 ,what amazement6 ,while the world was racked and distracted--while millions were groping as the blind for the wall1 and while all men were resting on uncertainty1 as a general mass1 our eyes beheld1 our ears heard4 ,as in the blaze of day2 yes1 more--above the glitter of the ,may sunbeam which then shed its brilliancy over the face of nature6 ,then this voice1 though mild1 pierced to the center1 and his words1 ,i am thy fellow servant1 dispelled every fear4 ,we listened1 we gazed1 we admired6 ',twas the voice of an angel from glory1 'twas a message from the ,most ,high6 ,and as we heard we rejoiced1 while his love enkindled upon our souls1 and we were wrapped in the vision of the ,almighty6 ,where was room for doubt8 ,nowhere2 uncertainty had fled1 doubt had sunk more more to rise1 while fiction and deception had fled forever6 99 99 99 ,think for a moment what joy filled our hearts1 and with what surprise we must have bowed 7for who would not have bowed the knee for such a blessing7 when we received under his hand the holy priesthood as he said1 ,upon you1 my fellow servants1 in the name of ,messiah1 ,i confer this priesthood and this authority1 which shall remain upon the earth1 that the sons of ,levi may yet offer an offering to the ,lord in righteousness4--,oliver ,cowdery4 #b4 ,melchisedek ,priesthood ,restored4--,we cannot fix the exact date when this priesthood was restored1 but it occurred sometime between the #aeth of ,may1 #ahbi1 and the #fth of ,april1 #ahcj4 ,we can approximate within a few months of the exact time1 but no further1 from any of the records of the church4 ,joseph1 the ,prophet1 designates #cab the place1 where their ordination took place1 in his address to the saints1 written ,september #fth1 #ahdb1 as follows3 ,again what do we hear8 99 99 99 the voice of ,peter1 ,james and ,john in the wilderness between ,harmony1 ,susquehanna county1 and ,colesville1 ,broome county1 on the ,susquehanna ,river1 declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom and of the dispensation of the fullness of times4 ,and in a revelation given ,september1 #ahcj1 referring to ,joseph and ,oliver1 the ,lord said1 in reference to partaking again of the sacrament on the earth1 that the hour cometh that ,i will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth1 and with ,moroni1 99 99 99 and also with ,elias1 99 99 99 and also with ,john1 the son of ,zacharias1 99 99 99 and also with ,peter1 ,james and ,john whom ,i have sent unto you1 by whom ,i have ordained you and confirmed you apostles and especial witnesses of my name4 ,it would appear from the instructions given in the revelation1 dated ,june1 #ahbi1 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 xviii that the apostleship had been conferred on ,joseph ,smith1 ,oliver ,cowdery1 and ,david ,whitmer4 ,if this supposition is correct1 it reduces the period of uncertainty when this glorious event actually took place to a few weeks1 or from the middle of ,may to the end of ,june4--,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 ,contributor1 vol4 x1 p4 #caj4 #c4 ,why the ,higher ,priesthood is ,called ,after ,melchisedek4--,there are in the church two ,priesthoods 99 99 99 ,why the first is called the ,melchisedek ,priesthood1 is because ,melchisedek was such a great high priest4 ,before his day it was called the ,holy ,priesthood1 after the order of the ,son of ,god2 but out of respect or deference to the name of the ,supreme ,being1 to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name1 they the church1 in ancient days called that priesthood after ,melchisedek1 or the ,melchisedek ,priesthood4--,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 cvii4 #d4 ,visions at the ,first ,conference of the ,church4--,among those who received visions was ,newel ,knight1 who was so completely overcome by the power of the spirit that he had to be laid on a bed1 being unable to help himself4 ,by his own account of the transaction1 says the prophet1 he could not understand why we should lay him on the bed1 as he felt no sensibility of weakness4 ,he felt his heart filled with love1 with glory1 and pleasure unspeakable1 and could discern all that was going on in the room2 when all of a sudden a vision of futurity burst upon him4 ,he saw there represented the great work which through my instrumentality was yet to be accomplished4 ,he saw heaven opened1 and beheld the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 seated on the right hand of the majesty on high1 and had it made plain to his understanding that the time would come when he would be admitted into ,his presence to enjoy his society for ever and ever4 #cac ,,review4 #a4 ,relate the circumstances which led to the restoration of the ,aaronic priesthood4 #b4 ,what explanation did the angel make concerning this priesthood8 #c4 ,what reason have you for believing that ,john the ,baptist would be among the resurrected saints spoken of by ,matthew8 7,note47 #d4 ,under whose direction did ,john say he was acting8 #e4 ,what promise did he make to them about the ,melchisedek priesthood8 #f4 ,what commandment did the angel then give to ,joseph and ,oliver8 #g4 ,how were these baptisms performed8 7,note47 #h4 ,what commandment did the angel give in relation to re-ordination8 #i4 ,what course did ,joseph and ,oliver pursue after their ordination8 #aj4 ,about what time was the ,melchisedek ,priesthood restored8 7,note #b47 #aa4 ,by whom and in what locality was it restored8 #ab4 ,what made it especially appropriate that these three apostles should restore that ,priesthood8 #ac4 ,what is the power or authority of the ,melchisedek priesthood8 #ad4 ,what particular power did this ,priesthood give to ,joseph and ,oliver8 #ae4 ,when was the church organized8 #af4 ,how many persons effected the organization8 #ag4 ,were six persons all who had been baptized up to that date--#fth of ,april1 #ahcj8 #ah4 ,relate the circumstances connected with the organization of the church4 #ai4 ,what was the organization called8 #bj4 ,when was the phrase of ,latter-day ,saints1 added as a part of the name of the church8 #ba4 ,what spiritual manifestations were experienced at the organization of the church8 7,note #d47 #bb4 ,what important revelation was given immediately after the church was organized8 #bc4 ,what two great principles are seen operating at the organization of the church8 #cad #bd4 ,what can you say of the union of these two principles in church government8 #be4 ,what revelation is it that commanded the organization of the church8 7,note47 #bf4 ,state what that revelation says upon the existence of ,god4 #bg4 --,of the creation of man4 #bh4 --,of ,jesus ,christ4 #bi4 --,of the ,holy ,ghost4 #cj4 --,of justification and sanctification4 #ca4 --,of falling from grace4 #cb4 --,of baptism4 #cc4 --,of the manner of baptism4 #cd4 --,of confirmation4 #ce4 --,of the duties of members4 #cf4 --,of the duties of parents respecting their children4 7,note47 #cg4 --,of the duties of officers--elders4 7,note47 #ch4 --,of priests4 #ci4 --,of teachers4 #dj4 --,of deacons4 #da4 --,of conferences4 #db4 ,in what manner did the public ministry of the church begin8 #dc4 ,relate the first miracle performed in the church4 #dd4 ,when was the first conference of the church held1 and what occurred8 #de4 ,what error did ,oliver ,cowdery and the ,whitmer family fall into8 #df4 ,how was ,hyrum ,page deceived by ,lucifer8 #dg4 ,what great principle concerning revelations to the church was brought out by these errors8 #cae ,,section ,,iii4 #a4 ,first ,mission to the ,lamanites4--,at the conference held in ,fayette1 ,new ,york1 ,september1 #ahcj1 the first mission to the ,lamanites was appointed4 ,in the revelation#dj which corrected the evils introduced by ,hiram ,page's seer stone1 ,oliver ,cowdery was appointed to a mission to the ,lamanites2 and before the conference was adjourned another revelation as given appointing ,parley ,p4 ,pratt1 ,peter ,whitmer1 ,jun41 and ,ziba ,peterson to accompany him4 ,great promises are contained in the ,book of ,mormon concerning the ,lamanites1 and the elders at that conference hoped that the time had come for their fulfillment4 ,see note #a1 end of section4 #b4 ,en route for their field of labor--the western part of the ,state of ,missouri--the elders of the ,lamanite mission stopped at ,kirtland1 in the north-eastern part of ,ohio4 ,here they found a society of reformed ,baptists1 sometimes called ,campbellites1 after ,alexander ,campbell1 the chief founder of the new sect4 ,their pastor was ,sidney ,rigdon4 ,elder ,parley ,p4 ,pratt had formerly been a member of this sect1 and he presented to his former co-religionists the ,book of ,mormon1 and with his associates preached the fullness of the gospel to them1 which1 finally ,mr4 ,rigdon and nearly all his congregation accepted4 #c4 ,the ,lamanite mission continued its journey westward1 and in mid-winter reached the city of ,independence1 in the western borders of ,missouri4 ,crossing the frontier1 several meetings were held with the ,delaware ,indians1 which had the effect of arousing the jealousy of the sectarian missionaries #caf among them4 ,such was their influence with the ,indian agents that they succeeded in getting the elders banished from the territory4 ,returning to ,independence1 they sent one of their number1 ,parley ,p4 ,pratt1 to report their labors to the prophet4 #d4 ,the ,first ,commandment to ,gather4--,in ,december1 #ahcj1 the ,lord gave a revelation#da to the church in ,new ,york1 requiring the ,saints in that state to move into ,ohio by the time ,oliver ,cowdery returned from his mission to the ,lamanites4 ,this is the first direct commandment to the church to gather4 ,during the winter of #ahcj-ca1 the ,saints obeyed this commandment1 the most of them settling in ,kirtland4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph and his family arrived there about the first of ,february1 #ahca4 ,before the coming of the ,new ,york ,saints there was a church at ,kirtland of about one hundred members1 most of whom had been drawn from the ,campbellite sect4 #e4 ,the ,first ,bishops of the ,church4--,on the #dth of ,february1 #ahca1 the ,lord by revelation#db commanded that ,edward ,partridge should be appointed by the voice of the church1 and ordained a bishop4 ,edward ,partridge was a merchant in ,kirtland1 of whom the prophet said3 ,he was a pattern of piety1 and one of the ,lord's great men1 known by his steadfastness and patient endurance to the end2 and of whom the ,lord said1 in the revelation appointing him bishop--,his heart is pure before me1 for he is like unto ,nathaniel of old1 in whom there is no guile4 ,he was required to give up his business of merchant1 and devote all his time in the labors of the church4 ,he was not to be the only bishop in the church1 however1 as in the ,november following 7#ahca71 the ,lord said3 ,there remaineth 99 99 99 other bishops to be set apart unto the church1 to minister even according to the first4 #dc ,in ,december of that year1 ,newel ,k4 ,whitney was appointed a bishop over the church in ,kirtland and vicinity #cag see note #b1 end of section2 while ,edward ,partridge was bishop in ,zion and the regions round about4 #f4 ,the ,bishopric4--,although nothing is said in the revelation which appointed ,edward ,partridge bishop about the rights and powers of his office in the church1 yet here1 doubtless1 will be the most proper place to speak of bishops in respect to their rights and authority4 ,i4 ,the bishopric is the presidency of the ,aaronic ,priesthood2#dd and since that ,priesthood has most to do with administering the outward ordinances1 the letter of the gospel1 #de the bishops will find their chief employment in the temporal affairs of the church4 ,indeed the ,lord plainly says3 ,the office of a bishop is in administering all temporal things4 #df ,by ministering in temporal things we mean attending to the tithing1 caring for the poor1 and when the law of consecration shall be observed by the church1 the bishops will receive the consecrations1 settle people on their possessions1 divide their inheritances unto them1#dg keep the ,lord's store-house1 etc4 ,see note #c1 end of section4 ,,ii4 ,the bishops are also to be judges among the people1 to sit in judgment on trangressors1 to hear testimony and give decisions according to the laws of the kingdom which are given by the prophets of ,god4#dh ,the bishop's court is the first court of record in the church2 that is1 a record is kept of the trial and preserved2 whereas in any investigation of difficulties that may be had before the teachers or others1 no record is kept4 ,an appeal lies from the bishop's courts to the high council having jurisdiction4 ,for want of a better expression we may say there are several kinds of bishops2 first1 the general presiding bishop of the church2 second1 traveling ,bishops2 third1 local or ward bishops4#di #cah ,,iii4 ,presiding ,bishop of the ,church3--,this bishop is the president of the ,aaronic ,priesthood throughout the church2 he has a jurisdiction over all other bishops1 priests1 teachers and deacons2 and a general supervision of the temporal affairs of the church1 subject1 of course1 to the counsel of the presidency of the ,melchisedek ,priesthood4 ,of right this bishop should be the first-born among the sons of ,aaron2 ,for the first-born holds the right of the presidency over this the ,aaronic priesthood1 and the keys or authority of the same4 ,no man has a legal right to this office1 to hold the keys of this priesthood1 except he be a literal descendant and the first-born of ,aaron4 #ej ,but before the first-born among the literal descendants of ,aaron can legally officiate in this calling1 he must first be designated by the first presidency of the ,melchisedek priesthood2 second1 he must be found worthy of the position1 and that includes his capacity to fill the office with ability1 honor and dignity2 third1 he must be ordained under the hands of the first presidency of the ,melchisedek ,priesthood4#ea ,but by virtue of the decree concerning the right of the priesthood descending from father to son1 the first-born of the sons of ,aaron may claim their anointing1 if at any time they can prove their lineage or do ascertain it by revelation from the ,lord under the hands of the ,first ,presidency4#eb ,a literal descendant of ,aaron when appointed as above described may act without counselors1 except in a case where a president of the ,high priesthood after the order of ,melchisedek is tried4 ,in that event he is to be assisted by twelve counselors of the ,high priesthood4 #ec ,but when no literal descendant of ,aaron #cai can be found1 as a high priest of the ,melchisedek priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices1 he may officiate in the office of bishop2 provided he is called1 set apart and ordained unto that power under the hands of the first presidency of the ,melchisedek priesthood1 and is assisted by two other high priests as counselors4#ed ,this bishop1 whether a descendant of ,aaron or a high priest appointed to officiate in that calling1 cannot be tried or condemned for any crime save before the first presidency of the church4 ,if he be found guilty on testimony that cannot be impeached1 he is to be condemned4#ee ,these are the powers1 prerogatives and privileges of the presiding bishop of the church4 ,,iv4 ,traveling ,bishops3--,these are bishops appointed to preside as such over large districts of country in which there are a number of branches of the church1 and among which they would be expected to travel1 to set in order temporal affairs and preside over those holding the ,aaronic priesthood4 ,newel ,k4 ,whitney when called to preside over the church at ,kirtland and the regions round about was a traveling bishop1 and best illustrates this order of bishops4 ,some eight or ten months after his ordination he was called upon by the ,lord to travel among all the churches of the east1 searching after the poor1 to administer to their wants by humbling the rich and the proud4#ef ,he was also sent to the cities of ,new ,york1 ,albany and ,boston1 to warn the inhabitants thereof of judgments to come and to preach the gospel4 ,v4 ,local or ,ward ,bishops3--,by local bishops we mean those ordained and set apart to preside over a single ward or branch of the church2 and whose jurisdiction is strictly limited #cbj to that ward or branch4 ,both traveling and local bishops must either be high priests or literal descendants of ,aaron4 ,if the latter1 then from among the first-born of the sons of ,aaron4#eg ,in the event of their being descendants of ,aaron1 they would possess the same privileges in their sphere as the presiding bishop does in his2 that is1 they could act without counselors but must be found worthy men designated and ordained by the first presidency of the church1 or by their direction4 ,if high priests appointed to act in these bishoprics1 then they must be designated and set apart by the same authority as literal descendants of ,aaron1 and assisted by two counselors who are also high priests4 ,they would form the presidency over the ,aaronic priesthood in the districts over which they preside1 have an oversight of all the temporal concerns thereof1 and in addition to that act as the common judge in that ward or district assigned to them4 #g4 ,zion4--,the ,book of ,mormon prophecies predict the founding of a glorious city upon the ,american continent to be called ,new ,jerusalem1 or ,zion4 ,see note #d1 end of section4#eh ,it was but natural1 therefore1 that the first elders of the church should be anxious to learn where it was to be built and seek to find it4 ,the ,book of ,mormon1 while clearly predicting that the city will be established1 fails to give its location4 ,in ,march1 #ahca1 however1 the ,saints were commanded to gather #cba up their riches that they might purchase an inheritance that the ,lord promised to point out to them some time in the future1 the ,new ,jerusalem--a city of refuge1 a place of safety for the ,saints of the ,most ,high #ei--,zion4 ,in ,june1 #ahca1 a conference convened at ,kirtland1 and the ,lord called twenty-eight elders to go through the ,western ,states by different routes1 two by two1 preaching by the way1 baptizing by water and the laying on of hands by the water side4#fj ,they were to meet in western ,missouri to hold a conference1 and if faithful the ,lord promised to reveal to them the place of the city of ,zion4 #h4 ,about the middle of ,july the ,prophet ,joseph and a number of these brethren arrived at ,independence1 meeting with ,oliver ,cowdery and his associates--the mission to the ,lamanites4 ,a few days afterwards a revelation was received#fa declaring ,missouri to be the land which ,god had appointed for the gathering of the ,saints1 the land of promise1 the place of the city of ,zion1 ,independence being the center place4 ,the site of the temple which the ,lord has decreed shall be built in this generation1 upon which his glory shall rest1 and in which the sons of ,moses and of ,aaron shall offer an acceptable offering to the ,lord--was declared to be a short distance west of the court house4 ,on the morning of the #crd of ,august1 #ahca1 the ,prophet ,joseph with the other elders that had arrived at ,independence1 met at the temple site and dedicated it as the place for the building of a temple4 ,see notes #e and #f1 end of section4 ,meantime a company of ,saints known as the ,colesville ,branch--from their having lived at ,colesville1 ,broome ,county1 ,new ,york--had arrived in ,missouri1 and having received instructions to purchase the lands in the regions round about ,zion1 they secured a tract of land in a fertile prairie some ten or twelve miles west of ,independence1 in ,kaw township1 not #cbb far from the present location of ,kansas ,city4 ,on the #bnd of ,august--the day preceding the dedication of the temple site--in the settlement of the ,colesville ,saints1 the first log was laid for a house1 as the foundation of ,zion4 ,the log was carried by twelve men in honor of the ,twelve ,tribes of ,israel2 and ,elder ,sidney ,rigdon consecrated and dedicated the land of ,zion for the gathering of the ,saints4 ,see note #g1 end of section4 #i4 ,the ,law of ,consecration4--,it is said of the early ,christian saints that they were of one heart and of one soul2 neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own2 but they had all things common4 #fb ,it was doubtless a desire to imitate this condition of affairs which led the followers of ,sidney ,rigdon1 at ,kirtland1 to establish the common stock plan of living4 ,that is1 the whole community attempted to live together as one family1 having all things in common4 ,nearly all the family joined the church2 and when the ,prophet settled in ,kirtland1 about the #ast of ,february1 #ahca1 he persuaded them to abandon that plan of living1 for the more perfect law of the ,lord4 #fc ,the more perfect law was the law of consecration4 #aj4 ,the preparations for the introduction of this law was first made by the appointment of a bishop1 who should have authority to administer in temporal things4 ,the bishop was called by revelation on the #dth of ,february1 #ahca4fd ,on the #ith of the same month the ,lord in a revelation gave the first #cbc instructions about the law of consecration4#fe ,from that and subsequent revelations we summarize the following in relation to that law3 ,i4 ,the person desiring to make the consecration brings his possessions to the bishop and delivers them unto him--consecrates them unto the ,lord1 giving them up absolutely1 with a deed and a covenant that cannot be broken4#ff ,,ii4 ,the person so consecrating his possessions1 whether they be much or little1 if it be a full consecration1 has claim upon the bishop for stewardship out of the consecrated properties of the church1 an inheritance for himself and his family1#fg from the management of which1 by industry and economy--for this law contemplates industry and economy on the part of those who embrace it#fh--they may obtain a livelihood4 ,but the possessions consecrated are the ,lord's1 or else the consecrations are vain1 and the whole proceedings farcical4#fi ,the inheritance given to the individual is given to him as his stewardship1 of which he must render an account unto the bishop4#gj ,the steward is responsible for his stewardship in time and in eternity unto the ,lord4#ga ,the stewardships are to be secured to those to whom they are given by a written deed1 that they may not be deprived of their inheritance4#gb ,,iii4 ,after men have received their stewardships the income from them1 over and above that which is needful for the support #cbd of themselves and their families1 is also to be consecrated unto the ,lord and taken to the ,lord's store house to be distributed to the poor to supply stewardships to those who have not yet received them1 to purchase lands for the public benefit1 to build houses of worship1 temples1 etc41 etc4#gc ,,iv4 ,in the event of any steward needing means to improve his stewardship1 or for any other righteous purpose1 he has a claim upon the ,lord's store-house1 and so long as he is in full fellowship with the church1 and is a wise and faithful steward1 on application to the treasurer of the general fund1 he is to be supplied with that which he needs2 the treasurer1 of course1 being accountable to the church for his management of the general fund1 and subject to removal in the event of incompetency or transgression4#gd ,v4 ,each steward is independent in the management of his stewardship4 ,he must pay for that which he buys2 he can insist on payment for that which he sells4 ,he has no claim upon the stewardship of his neighbor2 his neighbor has no claim upon his stewardship2 but both have claim1 as also have their children--when they shall become of age and start in life for themselves#ge--upon the surplus in the ,lord's store-house to aid them in the event of their needing assistance4#gf ,the various churches1 or branches of the church1 are each to be independent in the management of their respective store-houses1#gg subject of #cbe course to a general supervision of the presiding bishop of the church and of the first presidency thereof4 #aa4 ,reflections4--,such is the law of consecration and stewardship given to the church as early as the first and second year of its existence in this last dispensation2 under which law1 and under no other1 the ,saints are to build up the ,zion of ,god1 the ,new ,jerusalem upon this continent4#gh ,the law is designated to humble the rich and the proud and raise the poor and the lowly1#gi that men might be equal in temporal possessions according to their families1 their circumstances1 their wants and their needs4#hj ,there is enough in the earth and more than enough#ha to supply the necessities and the reasonable luxuries desired by man if the wealth created by his industry was but more equally distributed4 ,the plan which the ,lord has revealed to accomplish this1 however1 does not aim at the destruction of the individuality of men4 ,it makes no attempt to control men in the detail management of their stewardships1 or the disposal of their time1 or to set taskmasters over them1 but only to control and dispose of the surplus arising from their labors in the management of their respective stewardships4 #ab4 ,in consequence of the unsettled state of the church arising from the persecutions and drivings inflicted upon the ,saints during the time they were settling in ,missouri1 coupled with their inexperience1 their pride1 covetousness1 greed and disobedience1 they failed to live up to the requirements of the law of consecration1 and in #ahch the lesser law of tithing was given1 and has obtained in the ,church unto this day4 ,this law of tithing requires that the ,saints pay first their surplus property to the bishop1 and after that those who have been so tithed shall pay one-tenth of their income annually4 ,this is the law of tithing now binding on the church4#hb #cbf ,,notes4 #a4 ,promises to the ,lamanites4--,then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us1 how that we came out from ,jerusalem1 and that they are descendants of the ,jews4 ,and the gospel of ,jesus ,christ shall be declared among them2 wherefore they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers1 and also to the knowledge of ,jesus ,christ1 which was had among their fathers4 ,and then shall they rejoice2 for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of ,god2 and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes2 and many generations shall not pass away among them1 save they shall be a white and delightsome people4--,prophecy of ,nephi1 ,nephi ,,ii1 ch4 xxx4 #b4 ,newel ,k4 ,whitney's ,appointment to be ,bishop4--,though in natural gifts few men were better qualified for such a position1 he nevertheless distrusted his ability1 and deemed himself incapable of discharging the high and holy trust4 ,in his perplexity he appealed to the prophet3 ,i cannot see a bishop in myself1 ,brother ,joseph2 but if you say it's the ,lord's will1 ,i'll try4 ,you need not take my word alone1 answered the prophet1 kindly1 go and ask ,father for yourself4 ,newel felt the force of this mild rebuke1 but determined to do as he was advised and seek to obtain the knowledge for himself4 ,his humble1 heartfelt prayer was answered4 ,in the silence of night and the solitude of his own chamber1 he heard a voice from heaven3 ,thy strength is in me4 ,the words were few and simple1 but for him they had a world of meaning4 ,his doubts were dispelled like the dew before the dawn4 ,he straightway sought the prophet1 told him he was satisfied and was willing to accept the office to which he had been called4 #c4 ,the ,sphere of the ,aaronic ,priesthood4--,the lesser priesthood is a part of or an appendage to the greater1 or the ,melchisedek priesthood1 and has power in administering outward ordinances4 ,the lesser or ,aaronic priesthood can make appointments for the greater1 in preaching1 can baptize1 administer the sacrament1 attend to the tithing1 buy lands1 settle people on possessions1 divide inheritances1 look after the poor1 take care of the properties of the church1 attend generally to temporal affairs1 act as common judges in ,israel and assist in ordinances of the temple1 under the direction of the greater or ,melchisedek priesthood4 ,they hold the keys of the administering of angels and administer in outward ordinances1 the letter of the gospel and the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins4--,items on ,priesthood4 ,john ,taylor4 #d4 ,zion4--,the word ,zion is variously employed3 ,this is ,zion1 the pure in heart4 7,doc4 and ,cov47 ,in this instance the word refers to a people who are declared to be the pure in heart4 ,in the south part #cbg of ,jerusalem is a hill frequently spoken of in ,jewish scripture as ,zion1 or ,mount ,zion4 ,then ,enoch the seventh from ,adam gathered the righteous and built a city1 that was called the city of ,holiness1 even ,zion4 ,the ,lord in speaking to ,enoch about the great events to take place in the last days1 in which he would come to the earth in his glory1 said ,he would with righteousness and truth sweep the earth as with a flood to gather ,his elect to an holy city 99 99 99 and it shall be called ,zion1 a new ,jerusalem4 ,the ,nephite prophet1 ,moroni1 tells us that ,ether in vision saw the days of the coming of the ,son of ,man and that he spake concerning a new ,jerusalem upon this land 7,america71 that was to be built up unto the remnant of the seed of ,joseph 7,ether xiii74 ,jesus also after his resurrection1 when he visited the ,nephites on the ,american continent1 told them that he would establish them upon this land1 and if the ,gentiles would not harden their hearts1 but would repent of their sins1 they should be included in the covenant1 and should assist in building up the city of ,zion1 or ,new ,jerusalem 7,,iii ,nephi3 xx74 ,the word ,zion1 then1 is applied to a people2 it is the name of a hill in the south part of ,jerusalem2 it is the name of a city built by ,enoch and his people2 it is to be the name of a city built in the last days by the ,saints of the ,most ,high upon the continent of ,america4--,missouri ,persecutions4 #e4 ,western ,missouri 7#ahca74--;,it was a country whose richness and fertility of soil far surpassed anything which they the ,saints had ever before seen4 ,it was a country abounding with springs and rivulets of the purest kind of water1 whose crystal streams flowed in luxuriant abundance in almost every grove and prairie4 ,a great variety of the most excellent timber bordered upon the rivers and water-courses4 ,these shady and delightful groves were from one to three miles in width1 extending many miles in length1 while the rich rolling prairies1 covered with a gorgeous profusion of wild flowers of every varied hue1 lay spread around among the intervening groves4 ,their grassy surfaces extending for miles1 presented the delightful appearance of a sea of meadows4 ,it was a new country2 but few inhabitants had as yet formed settlements within its borders4 ,these consisted principally of emigrants from the ,southern ,states4--,orson ,pratt4 #f4 ,the ,temple ,site4--,taking the road running west from the court house for a scant half mile1 you come to the summit of a crowning hill1 the slope of which to the south and west is quite abrupt and very gradual toward the north and east4 99 99 99 ,this is the temple site4 ,it was upon this spot on the third day of ,august1 #ahca1 that ,joseph ,smith1 ,sidney ,rigdon1 ,edward ,partridge1 ,w4 ,w4 ,phelps1 ,oliver ,cowdery1 ,martin ,harris and ,joseph ,coe and another person whose name ,i cannot learn1 for there were eight in all--men in whom the ,lord was well pleased1 assembled to dedicate this place as the #cbh temple site in ,zion4 ,the eighty-seventh ,psalm was read4 ,joseph the prophet then dedicated the spot where is to be built a temple on which the glory of ,god shall rest4 ,yea the great ,god hath so decreed it1 saying ,verily1 this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the ,lord1 and a cloud shall rest upon it1 which cloud shall be even the glory of the ,lord1 which shall fill the house4 99 99 99 ,and the sons of ,moses1 and also the sons of ,aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the ,lord1 which house shall be built unto the ,lord in this generation upon the consecrated spot as ,i have appointed4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 lxxxiv3 #e1 #ca47--,missouri ,persecutions--,roberts4 #g4 ,the ,founding of ,zion4--,thus the work of building up ,zion commenced1 and though the commencement was humble in the extreme1 the final result shall be the erection of a city that shall be the crowning glory of the whole earth2 a city from which shall go forth the law of the ,lord unto all nations1 for is it not written3 ,out of ,zion shall go forth the law 7,isaiah ii78 ,it shall be a city of refuge1 for the ,lord has said3 ,every man who will not take up his sword against his neighbor1 must needs flee to ,zion for safety4 ,the wicked will consider her inhabitants terrible1 while the righteous out of every nation will come into it with songs of everlasting joy in their hearts4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 xlv47--,missouri ,persecutions--,roberts4 ,,review4 #a4 ,when and under what circumstances was the first mission appointed to the ,lamanites8 #b4 ,what important circumstance occurred in the experience of the ,lamanite mission en route for the west8 #c4 ,what success attended the mission to the ,lamanites8 #d4 ,when was the first commandment given to the ,church to gather8 #e4 ,to what place did the church first gather8 #f4 ,who was the first ,bishop in the church8 #g4 ,what was his character8 #h4 ,state what you can of the sphere of labor belonging to the bishopric4 #i4 ,what can you say of bishops as judges in ,israel8 #aj4 ,how many kinds of bishops are there8 #aa4 ,tell what you can of the authority1 rights and powers of the presiding bishop of the church4 #ab4 ,what difference exists in respect to a bishop who is a literal #cbi descendant of ,aaron and one who holds the office by virtue of holding the high priesthood8 #ac4 ,is being a descendant of the first-born among the sons of ,aaron all sufficient to qualify a man to be a bishop8 #ad4 ,what is the exception to the rule that a bishop who is a literal descendant of ,aaron can act without counselors8 #ae4 ,describe traveling ,bishops4 #af4 ,give an example of such a bishop in the ,church4 #ag4 ,what is meant by local bishops8 #ah4 ,describe their power and jurisdiction4 #ai4 ,how did the first elders of the church learn that ,zion was to be built in ,america8 #bj4 ,what various significations are attached to the word ,zion8 7,note #d74 #ba4 ,what circumstances led a number of the elders to western ,missouri8 #bb4 ,what was revealed to them there8 #bc4 ,where is ,zion located8 #bd4 ,describe the land of ,zion4 7,note #e74 #be4 ,what promises are made respecting a temple in that land8 7,note #f74 #bf4 ,what caused the people in ,kirtland before they heard the gospel to have all things in common8 #bg4 ,what course did ,joseph ,smith take relative to this subject8 7,note74 #bh4 ,in what way were the people prepared for the introduction of the law of consecration8 #bi4 ,describe the law of consecration4 #cj4 ,what purposes are designed to be accomplished in the law of consecration8 #ca4 ,what circumstances prevented the successful operation of this law in ,missouri8 #ccj ,,section ,,iv4 #a4 ,persecution4--,from the very commencement the work of the ,lord in these last days met with the most violent opposition4 ,no sooner did ,joseph ,smith declare that he had received a revelation from ,god than it brought upon him the ridicule and wrath of many who heard of it4 ,the stream of hatred grew broader and deeper as the work progressed4 ,joseph himself endured many vexatious persecutions1 and those who believed in his teachings were doomed to share them4 ,the first general persecution of the church1 however1 occurred in ,missouri4 #b4 ,the people among whom the ,saints settled in ,jackson county1 ,missouri1 were ignorant1 jealous1 bigoted1 and superstitious4 ,they were also given to ,sabbath-breaking1 drunkenness1 profanity1 horse racing and gambling4 ,it will be seen at once1 therefore1 that there could be but little fellowship between them and the ,saints4 7,see note #a1 end of section47 ,moreover1 they were principally from the ,southern states1 and slaveholders2 and as the ,saints were from the free states of the north1 they were inclined to be suspicious of them4 ,it was an easy matter therefore1 for demagogues to persuade the ,missourians that it was the design of the ,saints to supplant them in the possession of the country4 #c4 ,expulsion of the ,saints from ,jackson ,county4--,the saints themselves were not as prudent as they should have been4 ,many boasted that ,god would destroy the wicked and give their possessions as inheritances unto the righteous4 #cca ,many more failed to live up to the moral precepts of the gospel1 and were disobedient to the counsels of the ,lord4 ,this gave the wicked great power over them1 and the result was that the jealously and wrath which had been burning for some time in the hearts of the old settlers finally broke out into deeds of violence4 ,almost the entire population about ,independence arose and drove the ,saints from the county under circumstances of the utmost cruelty4#hc ,twelve hundred people were driven from their possessions2 and about two hundred of their homes and one grist mill were burned4 ,this was in the fall and winter of #ahcc-cd4 ,see note #b1 end of section4 #d4 ,zion's ,camp4--,the excited ,saints found a temporary abode in ,clay ,county--the next county north of ,jackson--and in the meantime the ,lord commanded the ,prophet ,joseph to gather up the strength of the ,lord's house--the young and middle-aged men in the church--for the purpose of going to the assistance of their brethren in ,missouri1 and to redeem ,zion4#hd ,in the spring of #ahcd1 therefore1 about one hundred and fifty of the brethren from the churches in the eastern states assembled at ,new ,portage1 ,ohio1 about fifty miles from ,kirtland2 and this number was increased to about two hundred by the time the camp reached ,missouri4 ,they took with them money to purchase lands1 food and clothing to assist their destitute brethren1 and it was also the determination of the camp to help their exiled friends maintain their possessions when the governor of ,missouri re-instated them upon their lands4#he ,but en route to ,missouri the brethren did not live up to the requirement made of the camp4 ,some of them were disobedient1 #ccb even rebellious towards the prophet1 and the ,lord was not well pleased with them4 #e4 ,as the camp approached ,jackson county it was met by delegations inquiring into their designs for approaching ,jackson county4 ,various reports had been spread abroad in respect to their intentions1 and some of them were of a character to create alarm4 ,in order to correct these false reports the brethren made the following statement3 ,in the first place it is not our intention to commit hostilities against any man1 or set of men2 it is not our intention to injure any man's person or property except in defending ourselves4 99 99 99 ,it is our intention to go back upon our lands in ,jackson county by order of the executive of the state1 if possible4 ,we have brought our arms with us for the purpose of self-defense1 as it is well known to almost every man of the state1 we have every reason to put ourselves in an attitude of defense1 considering the abuse we have suffered in ,jackson county4 ,we are anxious for a settlement of the difficulties existing between us1 upon honorable and constitutional principles4#hf #f4 ,the brethren also made a proposition to submit their losses to a committee of impartial arbitrators1 and another to buy out those of the old settlers who could not live with them4 ,but before matters were brought to an investigation and adjustment the ,lord in a revelation to the prophet1#hg gave instructions which led to the abandonment of any attempt at that time to redeem ,zion4 #g4 ,the ,lord in this revelation declared that ,zion might have been redeemed by that time1 had it not been for the transgressions of his ,saints4 ,they had not been obedient to the requirements made of them4 ,they had withheld their means1 and in their hearts had said concerning the ,saints in ,zion1 ,where is their ,god8 ,behold he will deliver them in time of trouble1 otherwise we will not go up unto ,zion1 and we will keep our #ccc moneys4 ,besides these evidences of a want of faith1 they lacked that unity required by the law of the celestial kingdom1 and it is only through the observance of that law that ,zion can be redeemed4 ,the ,lord1 therefore1 commanded the elders to wait a season for the redemption of ,zion1 until the ,saints should obtain more experience1 learn obedience1 and until means could be raised to purchase all the lands in ,jackson county that could be purchased and also in the surrounding counties2 and until the ,lord's army had become very great1 and sanctified before him4 ,and when this was done the ,lord promised to hold his people guiltless in taking possession of that which was their own2 and they should possess it forever4 ,he had permitted the elders composing the camp to come thus far1 for a trial of their faith2 and now he had prepared a great endowment for them in the house which he had commanded to be built in ,kirtland4 ,those who could stay in ,missouri were to do so1 but those who had left their families in the east were at liberty to return4 ,in obedience to the commandment to await for a season the redemption of ,zion1 the ,camp of ,zion was disbanded early in the morning of the #beth of ,june4 ,a number remained in ,missouri1 but the most of the camp returned to the east4 #h4 ,relieved now of the immediate responsibility of redeeming ,zion1 the brethren who returned from ,missouri and the churches in the east devoted their attention to building up ,kirtland as a stake of ,zion1 and completing the temple1 the foundation of which had been laid about a year before4#hh ,the declaration of the ,lord in that revelation given on ,fishing river1 ,missouri1 to the effect that he had prepared a great endowment for the faithful elders in the house which he had commanded them to build in ,kirtland1 hastened the work1 as they were anxious to receive those spiritual blessings4 #i4 ,high ,councils4--,meantime the ,lord had given many #ccd important revelations in respect to the priesthood and the organization of the church4 ,in ,february1 #ahcd--;a few months previous to ,zion's ,camp starting for ,missouri--the first high council of the church was organized4 ,this council was appointed by revelation for the purpose of settling important difficulties that might arise in the church1 and which could not be settled in the bishops' courts to the satisfaction of the parties4 #aj4 ,the high council is composed of twelve high priests1 presided over by one or three presidents1 as circumstances may determine4 ,the high council cannot act unless seven of its members are present2 but seven have the power to appoint other high priests to act temporarily in the place of absent councilors4 ,whenever a high council is organized1 the twelve members draw lots for their places4 ,those who draw the even numbers--two1 four1 six1 eight1 ten1 twelve--are to stand in behalf of the accused2 those drawing the odd numbers in behalf of the accuser4 ,in every case the accused has a right to half the council to prevent injury or injustice4 ,the councilors who represent the accused and accuser respectively1 do not become partisans bent on winning their case irrespective of its righteousness or justice2 on the contrary1 every man is to speak according to equity and truth2 and aside from that is merely to see that each party to the issue involved has justice accorded him1 and that he be not subjected to insult or injury4 ,note #c1 end of section4 #aa4 ,whenever the council convenes to act on any case1 the twelve councilors are to consider whether it is very difficult or not4 ,if it be not a difficult case1 then only two of the councilors1 one for the accused and accuser respectively1 are appointed to speak4 ,but if the case is accounted difficult1 then four are appointed to speak2 if still more difficult1 six2 but in no case are more than six to speak4 ,in all cases both the accuser and accused are to have the privilege of speaking for themselves1 #cce after the evidence is all in and the councilors appointed to speak have all spoken4 #ab4 ,the evidence all in1 the speakers for the accused and the accuser having spoken1 as also the accused and the accuser1 the president gives a decision according to the understanding he has of the case and calls upon the twelve councilors to sustain it by vote4 ,but should the councilors who have not spoken1 or any one of them1 discover an error in the decision of the president1 they have the right to manifest it and the case has a re-hearing4 ,if after a careful re-hearing1 additional light is thrown upon the case1 the decision is altered accordingly4 ,but in case no additional light is given1 the first decision shall stand1 the majority of the council having power to determine the same4 #hi ,such are the general outlines of the organization of a high council and the manner of procedure before it4 ,notes #d and #e1 end of section4 #ac4 ,different ,kinds of ,high ,councils4--,there are three kinds of high councils in the church4 ,they are similar in organization1 and the manner of procedure is practically the same before them all2 but they differ in authority and jurisdiction4 ,i4 ,the ,traveling ,high ,council4--,this ,council consists of the twelve apostles of ,jesus ,christ4 ,they are a traveling presiding high council2 and1 laboring under the first presidency of the church1 they have the right to build up the church1 and regulate all the affairs of the same in all the world4#ij ,whenever they sit as a high council1 there is no appeal from their decisions--that is1 they can only be called in question by the general authorities of the church in the event of transgression4#ia ,,ii4 ,the ,standing ,high ,councils at the ,stakes of ,zion4--,the church is divided into branches or wards with appropriate officers2 and these branches1 wards1 and settlements of the ,saints are grouped for convenience into stakes of ,zion4 ,in #ccf each stake there is a standing high council1 limited in its jurisdiction to the affairs of that particular stake where it is located4 ,,iii4 ,temporary ,high ,councils4--,the high priests abroad1 that is1 outside of the organized stakes of ,zion1 whenever the parties to a difficulty1 or either of them request it1 and the high priests abroad deem the case of sufficient importance to justify such action1 are authorized to organize a temporary high council to try the case1 appointing one of their own number to preside over the council during its continuance4 ,otherwise the council is to be organized after the pattern and proceed in the same manner as those at the stakes of ,zion4 ,it shall be the duty of said council to transmit immediately1 a copy of its proceedings1 with a full statement of the testimony accompanying their decision1 to the high council of the seat of the first presidency of the church4 ,should the parties1 or either of them1 be dissatisfied with the decision of said council1 they may appeal to the high council of the seat of the first presidency of the church1 and have a re-hearing1 which case shall then be conducted according to the former pattern written1 as though no such decision had been made4 #ib #ad4 ,organization of the ,quorum of ,twelve ,apostles4--,as early as ,june1 #ahbi1 the ,lord revealed that there would be twelve especial witnesses or apostles called to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth4 ,but it was not until several months after the prophet returned from the ,zion's ,camp expedition that such a quorum was organized4 ,in the month of ,february1 #ahce1 however1 a general conference was called1 and the three especial witnesses to the ,book of ,mormon selected the men--under the inspiration of the ,holy ,ghost1 for they were appointed to that mission by revelation--who were to #ccg constitute the quorum of the twelve apostles#ic or especial witnesses4 #ae4 ,organization of ,quorums of ,seventies4--,in the same month--,february1 #ahce--the first quorum of seventies was organized by the ,prophet ,joseph and his two counselors and others4 ,shortly afterwards the second quorum was also organized4 ,these quorums1 as would be inferred from their being called seventies' quorums1 consist of seventy men4 ,seven presidents preside over each quorum1 and the first seven presidents--the presidents of the first quorum--preside over all the quorums of seventy in the church4 #af4 ,about a month after the organization of these quorums--#bhth of ,march1 #ahce--;a revelation was given1#id in which the duties of the apostles and seventies are made clear1 as well as the duties of other officers4#ie ,we have now1 however1 reached a point in the historical development of the church of ,christ where we can consider it as a system of ecclesiastical government2 and to that consideration the next section is devoted4 #cch ,,notes #a4 ,character of the ,old ,settlers in ,jackson ,county4--,speaking of his arrival in ,independence and meeting with ,oliver ,cowdery and other brethren there1 the ,prophet ,joseph says3 ,it seemed good and pleasant for brethren to meet together in unity4 ,but our reflections were great1 coming as we had from a highly cultivated state of society in the ,east1 and standing now upon the confines and western limits of the ,united ,states1 and looking into the vast wilderness of those that sat in darkness2 how natural it was to observe the degradation1 leanness of intellect1 ferocity and jealousy of a people that were nearly a century behind the time and to feel for those who roamed about without the benefit of civilization1 refinement or religion2 yea1 and to exclaim in the language of the prophets1 'when will the wilderness blossom as a rose8 ,when will ,zion be built up in her glory1 and where will thy temple stand1 unto which all nations shall come in the last days8'--,missouri ,persecutions--,roberts4 #b4 ,persecution in ,jackson ,county4--,the month of ,november1 #ahcc1 was big with important events for the members of the ,church in ,jackson ,county4 ,that month witnessed the expulsion of twelve hundred ,american citizens from their homes which they had purchased from the general government4 ,the events of that month branded the sovereign state of ,missouri with an infamy that will cling to her as long as the name is remembered on earth or in heaven2 and when her officials of that period shall stand before the bar of ,god1 gouts of blood will be found on their ministerial vestments--it will be the stain1 too1 of innocent blood6 99 99 99 ,early in the spring the mob burned the houses belonging to the ,saints4 ,according to the testimony of ,lyman ,wight 7,times and ,seasons for #ahdc1 p4 #bfd71 two hundred and three dwelling houses and one grist mill were so destroyed4--,missouri ,persecutions--,roberts4 #c4 ,fair ,dealing in ,high ,councils4--,the council should try no case without both parties being present1 or having had an opportunity to be present2 neither should they hear one party's complaint before his case is brought up for trial2 neither should they suffer the character of any one to be exposed before the high council without the person being present and ready to defend him or herself2 that the minds of the councilors be not prejudiced for or against any one whose case they may possibly have to act upon4--,joseph ,smith1 ,hist4 under date of ,july #aa1 #ahdj4 #d4 ,order in ,high ,councils4--,in ancient days councils were conducted with strict propriety2 no one was allowed to whisper1 be weary1 leave the room or get uneasy in the least until the voice of the ,lord by revelation1 or the voice of the council by the spirit was obtained4 99 99 99 ,it was understood in ancient days that if one man #cci could stay in the council1 another could2 and if the president could spend his time1 the members could also4--,joseph ,smith1 ,hist4 under date of ,feb4 #ab1 #ahcd4 #e4 ,just ,judgment ,demanded in ,high ,councils4--,no man is capable of judging a matter in council unless his own heart is pure2 and we frequently are so filled with prejudice1 or have a beam in our own eye1 that we are not capable of passing right decisions4 99 99 99 ,our acts are rendered1 and at a future day they will be laid before us2 and if we should fail to judge right1 and injure our fellow beings1 they may be there perhaps1 and condemn us4 ,there they are of great consequence1 and to me the consequence appears to be of force beyond anything which ,i am able to express4--,joseph ,smith1 ,hist4 under date of ,feb4 #ab1 #ahcd4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what can you say of the opposition which the work of ,god has met with in these last days8 #b4 ,where did the first general persecution begin8 #c4 ,what was the character of the people in western ,missouri8 7,note47 #d4 ,relate the expulsion of the ,saints from ,jackson county4 #e4 ,what event brought ,zion's ,camp into existence8 #f4 ,relate its history4 #g4 ,what prevented ,zion's ,camp from redeeming ,zion8 #h4 ,when was the first high council organized8 #i4 ,for what purpose are such councils organized8 #aj4 ,describe the high council4 #aa4 ,what are the privileges of the accused and accuser before the council8 #ab4 ,what rule obtains as to the decision of the president of the council8 #ac4 ,what is to be the course of the high council in respect to deportment1 fair dealing and judgment8 7,see notes #c1 #d and #e47 #ad4 ,how many kinds of high councils are there8 #ae4 ,describe each4 #af4 ,when did the ,lord first reveal that there would be a quorum of twelve apostles called8 #ag4 ,when and in what manner were the members of this quorum selected8 #ah4 ,when were seventies' quorums first organized8 #ai4 ,state what you can concerning the presidency of the seventies' quorums4 #cdj ,,section ,v4 #a4 ,priesthood4--,priesthood is power which ,god gives to man1 by which man becomes an agent of ,god2 an authorized officer in his kingdom1 with the right and power to teach the laws of the kingdom1 and administer the ordinances by which foreigners and aliens are admitted to citizenship4 ,it gives man the right and power to act in ,god's stead--thus1 ,if a man endowed with the proper degree of the priesthood takes one who believes the gospel and baptizes him for the remission of sins in the name of the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost1 the act of that authorized servant of ,god is just as valid as if the ,lord ,jesus ,christ himself did it1 and remission of sins will follow4 ,so also if an authorized servant of ,god lays on hands to impart the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,holy ,ghost will be given1 inasmuch as all is done as the law of the ,lord directs4 ,so in preaching1 exhorting1 warning2 whether it be by ,god's own voice1 or the voice of his servants1 it is the same4#if ,man through receiving the priesthood becomes ,god's agent2 and the ,lord is bound to recognize the ministrations of his agents so long as they act in accordance with the terms by which they hold that agency4 ,such is priesthood4 #b4 ,spirit of ,government by the ,priesthood4--,the government of the priesthood is exercised through the channels of love1 knowledge and righteousness4 ,the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven1 and the powers of heaven can only be controlled upon the principles of righteousness4#ig ,no power can or ought to be maintained #cda by virtue of the priesthood1 only by persuasion1 by long-suffering1 by gentleness and meekness and by love unfeigned2 by kindness and pure knowledge1 which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy and without guile2 reproving betimes with sharpness1 when moved upon by the ,holy ,ghost2 and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love1 lest those reproved esteem those reproving as enemies4#ih ,such is the spirit of government under the priesthood3 it may be summed up in this3 men are to be taught correct principles and then govern themselves4#ii #c4 ,the ,church4--,from the gospel and the priesthood comes the church4 ,the church is the medium through which the gospel is promulgated--by which it is made known among the children of men4 ,it is the system of government by which those who accept the gospel are controlled in things religious4 ,it is the government of ,god on earth pertaining to religious affairs4 ,the ,lord had clothed it with his authority1 which is his power2 and it hath authority not only to teach the gospel1 but to execute its laws1 and inflict the penalties attached to a violation thereof--at least so far as dealing with the membership of trangressors is concerned2 as for other penalties #cdb that will fall upon the violators of divine law1 the ,father hath reserved that to himself1 and will in his own time and way vindicate his own laws1 having due regard to the relative claims of justice and mercy4 ,the authority of the church comes from the priesthood1 and may be said to be the collected authority of all the quorums of the priesthood combined--the aggregation of ,god's authority in the earth1 in relation to things religious4 ,such is the church4 #d4 ,divisions of the ,priesthood4--,in the church of ,christ there are two grand divisions of priesthood2 or rather its powers are grouped under two great heads--for all priesthood comes from ,god1 is power from him1 and therefore cannot properly be regarded as two different priesthoods4#ajj ,the two divisions of priesthood are named respectively the ,melchisedek priesthood#aja and the ,aaronic priesthood4#ajb ,the ,melchisedek priesthood ministers more especially in spiritual things2 it holds the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church1 is entitled to receive the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven1 to commune with the church of the ,first ,born1 and enjoy the communion and presence of ,god the ,father1 and his ,son ,jesus ,christ4#ajc ,the ,aaronic priesthood ministers more especially in temporal things2 it holds the keys1 however1 of the ministering of angels and the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins4#ajd #e4 ,officers of the ,priesthood4--,the officers of the ,melchisedek #cdc priesthood are apostles1 seventies1 patriarchs1 high priests1 elders4 ,the officers of the ,aaronic priesthood are bishops1 priests1 teachers1 deacons4 ,of necessity there are presidents1 or presiding officers growing out of1 or appointed from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two priesthoods4#aje #f4 ,presidencies in the ,melchisedek ,priesthood--,first ,presidency4--,since of necessity there are presiding officers growing out of the priesthood1 there is a president appointed from the high priesthood to preside over that priesthood1 he is called president of the high priesthood of the church2 or1 the presiding high priest over the high priesthood of the church4#ajf ,this president of the high priesthood also presides over the whole church2 he is a seer1 a revelator1 a translator and a prophet1 having all the gifts of ,god which he bestows upon the head of the church4#ajg ,two other high priests#ajh associated with the president of the high priesthood as counselors1 all being appointed and ordained to that office1 and upheld by the confidence1 faith and prayer of the church1 form the quorum of the first presidency of the church1#aji and they preside over all quorums1 over ,zion and all the stakes thereof2 over all wards and branches and missions of the church in all the world4 ,the president in his quorum is to be like unto ,moses1#aaj therefore he is the prophet and law-giver unto the church--the mouthpiece of ,god unto it4 #g4 ,the ,traveling ,presiding ,high ,council4--,the twelve apostles1 or special witnesses of the name of ,christ in all the world1 are a traveling1 presiding high council1 and have #cdd the power to officiate in the name of the ,lord1 under the direction of the first presidency of the church1 to build up the church and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations4 ,in all large branches of the church1 or the stakes of ,zion1 they are authorized to ordain patriarchs1 as they may be designated unto them by revelation2 it is the duty of the twelve also to ordain and set in order all other officers in the church4 ,these twelve apostles form the second general presiding quorum in the church1 and are equal in authority and power to the quorum of the first presidency4#aaa #h4 ,the ,presiding ,quorum of ,seventy4--,the seventy are appointed to act in the name of the ,lord under the direction of the traveling high council in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations4#aab ,the quorum of seventy is presided over by seven presidents1 and the senior of the seven--that is1 the senior by ordination1 not by age--presides over the six4 ,this quorum is equal in authority to the traveling high council--the quorum of the twelve apostles4#aac ,in addition to presiding over the first quorum of seventy--to which quorum they belong--the first seven presidents were authorized in the beginning to choose other seventy1 besides the first1 until seven times seventy had been chosen--if the labor in the ministry required it#aad--;and preside over them4 ,each quorum has its council of seven presidents2 but the first seven presidents preside over all these quorums and all their presidents4 ,the seventies are special witnesses for the ,lord in all the world1#aae and are especially chosen to preach the gospel abroad2 the responsibility of declaring the great #cde message of ,god unto the world rests upon them particularly1 laboring1 of course1 under the direction of the twelve2 and the twelve are to call upon the seventy in preference to any others when they have need of assistance to fill the calls for preaching and administering the gospel4#aaf #i4 ,we have spoken of these three quorums being equal in authority2 but every decision made by either of them1 in order to make such decision of the same power or validity one with the other1 must be by unanimous voice of the respective quorums2 that is every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions1 or such decisions are not entitled to the same blessings as the decisions of the quorum of the first presidency4 ,when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise1 a majority may form a quorum4#aag ,the decisions of these quorums of course are to be made in righteousness1 in holiness and lowliness of heart4 ,if so made there is no appeal from their decision2 but in case that any decision of these quorums is made in unrighteousness1 it may then be brought before a general assembly of the several quorums of the priesthood which constitute the spiritual authorities of the church4 #aj4 ,patriarchs4--,these officers hold the keys of blessings in the church4 ,the order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son1 and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed1 to whom the promises were made4#aah ,there is one general and a number of local patriarchs in the church4 ,the first is patriarch to the whole church1 and he may minister in any branch or stake in it1 his jurisdiction in blessing the people being co-extensive with the church4 ,he holds the keys of the patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all the ,lord's people4 ,and whomsoever he blesses shall be blessed1 and whomsoever he curses shall be cursed2 and whatsoever he binds on earth shall be bound in #cdf heaven2 and whatsoever he looses on earth shall be loosed in heaven4#aai ,he holds the sealing blessings of the church1 even the ,holy ,spirit of promise1 whereby men are sealed up unto the day of redemption2 that they may not fall1 notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon them4#abj ,the local patriarchs referred to above are patriarchs appointed and ordained by the apostles to hold and exercise the powers of giving patriarchal blessings to the ,saints within the branches and stakes of ,zion in which they are appointed to minister in this calling1 but they are not to minister outside of their respective districts4 ,hence they call them local patriarchs4 ,they possess the same powers in blessing within the district where they are appointed to labor as the general patriarch of the church does in his wider sphere4 #aa4 ,high ,priests4--,the quorums of high priests are designed to qualify those who shall be appointed standing presidents over different stakes in ,zion1 and abroad4#aba ,they may travel and preach the gospel if they choose1 for high priests have power to preach and administer all the ordinances of the gospel2 but their calling is more especially to preside4 ,to them belongs the sphere of presidency of government in the church4 ,from these quorums1 so far as the most suitable men can be found in them1 are chosen men to act as bishops--where no literal descendant of ,aaron can be found1--the bishops' counselors2 presidents of stakes and their counselors2 and also high counselors4 ,when men more suitable for these positions are found in other quorums of the priesthood1 then they are ordained high priests1 and appointed to the presiding positions enumerated4 ,in every stake there is a high priests' quorum1 presided over by a president and two counselors4 ,there is no specific number necessary to form a quorum of high priests1 the quorum includes all high priests within a stake or branch where it exists1 be they #cdg many or few4 ,the quorum organization is for convenience1 for discipline1 and for training its members in the art of government4 ,since to the high priests belongs the sphere of government1 we know of no position in the church which calls for higher qualities of heart and mind than that of high priests4 ,it is an office that requires the combination of wisdom and executive ability1 a combination the rarest among men4 ,the world has had untold thousands of learned men and orators1 and multitudes of men with special great gifts2 but it has had comparatively few blessed with that combination of gifts which makes men successful rulers2 and yet those qualities which make men rulers are the qualities to be looked for and developed in high priests4 #ab4 ,elders4--,elder is the lowest office in the ,melchisedek ,priesthood4 ,it is an office that is an appendage to the ,melchisedek ,priesthood4#abb ,yet the ,elder has the power to preach the gospel1 baptize1 lay on hands for the ,holy ,ghost1 administer the sacrament1 and preside when there is no high priest present4#abc ,ninety-six ,elders constitute a quorum4#abd ,the quorum is presided over by a president and two counselors1 whose duty it is to instruct them in the duties of their office4 ,there may be any number of quorums of ,elders in a branch or stake of ,zion1 as there is no limit whatsoever in the revelations4 ,the elders constitute a standing ministry in ,zion and her stakes4#abe ,they are not under obligations to travel abroad as the seventies are2 but may be called upon to preside from time to time as circumstances may require4#abf #ac4 ,presidencies in the ,aaronic ,priesthood4--,the ,aaronic priesthood1 as already remarked1#abg has to do more especially with the temporal affairs of the church2 and the general #cdh presidency of it is the presiding bishopric of the church4 ,the local bishops in like manner preside over the ,aaronic priesthood within their respective districts4 ,the powers1 rights1 duties and responsibilities of the bishops have been treated at some length in ,section ,,iii1 ,part ,,iv1 under the caption ,,the ,,bishopric1 and to the paragraphs on that subject the student is directed4 #ad4 ,priests4--,forty-eight ,priests of the ,aaronic order of priesthood constitute a quorum4 ,the president of this quorum is to be a bishop1 for that is one of the duties of his calling to sit in council with this quorum and teach the members thereof their duties4#abh ,there is no limit to the number of quorums of priests in the church2 there may be such a quorum in every ward or branch4 #ae4 ,teachers4--,twenty-four ,teachers constitute a quorum4 ,they are presided over by a president and two counselors1 who are to teach them the duties of their office4#abi #af4 ,deacons--,twelve deacons form a quorum4 ,the quorum is presided over by a president and two counselors1 who are to instruct them in the duties of their office4#acj ,the offices of teacher and deacon are appendages#aca to the ,aaronic priesthood1 as the office of elder and bishop are appendages to the ,melchisedek priesthood4#acb ,what is meant by appendage to the priesthood is an addition to the regular quorums of the priesthood4 ,when so added they become part of the organization but in a subordinate way4 ,then elders may assist high priests in their duties when called upon1 and may officiate in their stead when there is no high priest present2 but when the high priest is present the elder has no right to act in his stead unless called upon4 ,the teacher may assist the priest in his duties1 as the deacon may assist the teacher in his duty1#acc but #cdi in that event the lesser quorums act in subordination to the ones they are authorized to assist4 ,they were quorums added to the regular organization of the priesthood1 when the duties were so multiplied that the higher and regular quorums could not discharge them4 ,by creating these appendages to the priesthood men could be called into requisition whose wisdom and experience would not justify placing upon them all the authority with the accompanying responsibility of the higher offices of the priesthood4 #ag4 ,territorial ,division of the ,church4--,the church in relation to the territory it occupies1 for convenience in government1 is divided into stakes of ,zion1 wards and branches4 ,i4 ,stakes4--,a stake of ,zion is a division of the church territorially that embraces several wards and branches4 ,there is no set number of wards or branches necessary to constitute a stake4 ,that is arranged according to convenience4 ,the stake is presided over by a president1 who is a high priest1 assisted by two other high priests as counselors4 ,they constitute the presidency of the stake1 and preside over the organizations in that stake much in the same way that the president of the church presides over the entire church2 but is subject of course to the general authorities of the church4 ,in each stake is a standing high council1 over which the presidency of the stake--or the president or either one of the counselors1 when circumstances render it impossible or inconvenient for all to be present--preside4 ,this forms the highest judicial tribunal in the stake4 ,one or more patriarchs are appointed to confer upon the people patriarchal blessings within the stake4 ,the high priests are organized into a quorum with a presidency over them as already explained4#acd ,the elders are organized into one or more quorums1 according #cej as they are numerous enough for one or a number of quorums2#ace and with the high priests constitute the standing ministry in the stake4 ,,ii4 ,wards4--,the stakes are divided into ecclesiastical wards1 presided over by a bishopric1 consisting of a bishop aided by two high priests as counselors unless the bishop is a literal descendant of ,aaron1 in which event he has authority to act as bishop without counselors4#acf ,the bishopric has a direct general presidency over the quorums of the lesser priesthood in his ward2 and presides even over those holding the higher priesthood as members of his ward2 but not over the quorums of the higher priesthood as quorums4 ,the bishopric of a ward1 like the bishopric of the church1 has to do chiefly with temporal affairs2 but in nearly all cases1 in fact1 so far as we know1 in all cases at present in the church1 the bishops are high priests acting in that capacity2 and since in acting as bishops they do not lose their position as high priests they have a right to minister in both temporal and spiritual affairs4 ,it may be well to remark1 however1 in passing1 that wherein bishops do take the lead in spiritual concerns they do it by virtue of the high priesthood which they hold1 which is the proper authority to act in spiritual matters4 ,the ward officers consist of a quorum of priests1 of teachers and of deacons4 ,their powers and duties have already been explained4#acg ,they labor under the direction of the bishop1 and are the standing ministers within the ward1 to be with and watch over the church to see that each member thereof does his duty and that no iniquity is allowed to creep into the church1 to corrupt it4 ,at present in many wards there are not enough men to fill up the quorums of the lesser priesthood1 and members of the high priesthood are frequently found officiating as teachers1 etc4 #cea ,each ward is divided up into teachers' districts1 and two teachers appointed to take charge of each district1 and visit every family and member within it1 to see that all are doing their duty2 that they live1 so far as may be1 in peace with all men2 that they are prayerful2 diligent in attending public worship2 and that they are honest1 sober and hold no hardness against their neighbors4 ,,iii4 ,branches4--,branches are organizations established chiefly out in the world where there are no regularly organized stakes4 ,the elders while abroad on missions in order to preserve in the faith those who receive the gospel1 organize branches1 set apart elders or priests to preside1 and also ordain as many other elders1 priests1 teachers and deacons to assist the president of the branch as may be deemed necessary4 ,these officers discharge the same duties in a branch that they would in a fully organized ward4 ,branches are also sometimes organized in outlying districts of large wards where there are not enough people to justify a complete ward organization1 and yet the district is too far removed from the ward to permit the members living there to enjoy the advantages of the adjacent ward organization4 ,in such an event the branch is usually placed under the care of the neighboring ward4 #ah4 ,helps in ,government4--,in addition to these regular and direct means of ecclesiastical government in the church1 there are also helps in government1 or appendages to the church organization4 ,the chief of these are3 ,i4 ,female ,relief ,societies4--,a woman's association organized in each ward to relieve the poor in their distress1 and visit the sick and afflicted4 ,,ii4 ,sunday ,schools4--,in every ward also is a ,sunday ,school1 in which the young are taught in the gospel and educated in church discipline4 ,,iii4 ,y4 ,m4 and ,y4 ,l4 ,m4 ,i4 ,a4--,in nearly all wards also are ,young ,men's and ,young ,ladies' ,mutual ,improvement ,associations #ceb for the instruction of the young in theology1 science1 history and literature2 and1 in fact1 in all things that tend to the development and refinement of the mind of man2 but the main object of these organizations is to establish the young of both sexes in a knowledge of the truth of the gospel4 ,,iv4 ,primary ,associations4--,primary ,associations are ward organizations for juveniles too young to be connected with the ,improvement ,associations1 and were established to train the young in such moral precepts and conduct as are suitable to their years4 #ai4 ,the ,church ,judiciary ,system4--,so long as men are imperfect just so long will difficulties and misunderstandings arise among them4 ,and these things will beget bitterness of feeling1 enmities and animosities unbecoming those striving to be saints2 and hence the church must be purged of these things4 ,moreover1 although man by nature is a religious creature1 he is prone to be forgetful of religious duty2 and unless a wholesome church discipline be enforced he is liable to become neglectful of his religious obligations4 ,to settle difficulties1 then1 which may arise between members on the one hand1 and to enforce church discipline on the other1 there exists in the church an ecclesiastical judiciary system1 that is most admirably adapted to answer the purposes for which it exists4 #bj4 ,first1 as to the settlement of difficulties arising between members of the church4 ,the law of the ,lord requires that if a brother or sister offend another1 the one offended should go alone to the one who gave offense and tell him his fault2 if he repents and seeks forgiveness1 and makes restitution1 then the one offended must forgive his brother and become reconciled4 ,in the event of the offender being stubborn and impenitent2 or maintaining that he has done no wrong1 then the one aggrieved should take others with him1 one or more1#ach and in their presence1 #cec and with whatever assistance they can render1 seek justice of and reconciliation with his brother4 ,if the offender refuse to make restitution and reconciliation1 then the matter may be taken to the bishop's court for settlement4#aci ,here the matter is put on trial1 the statements of the respective parties received1 and the testimony of witnesses admitted and a decision rendered by the bishop according to his understanding of the case4 #ba4 ,in the event of either party being dissatisfied with the bishop's decision1 they may appeal to the high council of the stake4 ,but if dissatisfied parties neither take an appeal to the high council nor comply with the bishop's decision1 then they stand in danger of losing their fellowship in the church1 for if men will not respect the decisions of the ecclesiastical courts1 then the officers thereof must vindicate their decrees and make the courts respected by punishing those who would treat them with contempt4 #bb4 ,if the case be appealed to the high council of the stake1 it is heard on its merits in the manner already described in section four of this part1 under the caption ,,high ,,councils1 which see4 ,the parties or either of them may appeal to the first presidency of the church1 who will direct in what manner the case shall be disposed of2 but the parties must abide that decision or lose their standing in the church4 #bc4 ,now as to those who neglect their duties2 who do not so much offend against individuals as against the church1 by failing to live up to the regulations it prescribes for its members4 ,it is especially the duty of the teachers1 priests and bishopric to labor very assiduously to preserve their people in the faith1 and by patient watchfulness2 by teaching and admonition2 by warning and reproof1 when necessary1 keep alive the spirit of the gospel in the hearts of the saints4 ,if1 however1 #ced in spite of all these efforts to preserve the church members in an active performance of their duties men will grow careless and transgress the law of the ,lord1 they are amenable to the church courts and may be tried for their fellowship4 ,in that case they would have the same rights in the courts and the same rights to appeal as in the case of difficulty between members4 #bd4 ,the only real punishment which is within the power of the church to inflict is to disfellowship or excommunicate its members4 ,in the former case the offender is merely suspended from the privileges of church communion2 this punishment may be inflicted by the bishop1 until satisfaction is made by the offender4 ,in the latter case--excommunication--the person absolutely loses his membership in the church1 together with all the priesthood he holds2 and if he ever regains a standing it will be by baptism and confirmation as at the first4 #be4 ,of course to those who hold lightly their standing in the church1 suspension of fellowship1 or excommunication has no especial terror2 but to the man of faith1 whose full hopes of eternal life with all its advantages stand or fall with his standing in the church of ,christ1 no greater punishment can threaten him4 ,he remembers that the ,lord hath said3 ,wo unto them who are cut off from my church1 for the same are overcome of the world4 #adj ,and1 again3 ,inasmuch as ye are cut off by transgressions1 ye cannot escape the buffetings of ,satan1 until the day of redemption4 #ada ,the punishment1 then1 of excommunication is a serious one in the estimation of the faithful2 and since man in his imperfect state is influenced to righteousness by his fear of punishment1 as well as by his hope of reward1 the punishment of excommunication has a wholesome effect in preserving the discipline of the church4 #bf4 ,conferences of the ,church4--,there are two general #cee conferences of the church each year1 one convening on the #fth of ,april1 and the other on the #fth of ,october4 ,conferences are convened every three months in all the stakes of ,zion2 and in the respective wards once a year4 ,the chief purposes of holding these conferences1 aside from the giving of instructions by the general authorities1 who are usually present1 is to sustain by vote the officers of the church4 ,the principle of common consent operating in the church government has already been explained2 #adb and it only remains to say that the means by which this common consent is expressed--voting to sustain those proposed for the several offices--virtually amounts to an election4 ,the elective principle in government or in societies1 is not only carried out by direct means2 it may be carried out by indirect means4 ,it is just as much a fact under the form of popular acceptance as of popular choice4#adc ,it is in the form of popular acceptance that the elective principle exists in the church4 #bg4 ,reflections4--,if a good system for the organization and administration of authority1 and an equally good system for the security of liberty is the test of a good plan of government1 then this ecclesiastical government we have described must be recognized as of the very highest order4 ,it is elaborate in organization1 but simple in its operations4 ,there is in it a most excellent assemblage of means to transmit the will of the central power into all departments of the society2 and1 on the other hand1 an equally efficient assemblage of means for transmitting the response of the society to the central organized power4 ,and as the whole government exists by the common consent of the church members1 and elections by popular acceptance are frequent1 the liberties of the people composing the church are secured4 ,where these facts exist1 the highest order of government must result4 ,and we may say1 in conclusion1 #cef that the formation of a free ecclesiastical government on so extensive a scale is one of the most interesting problems of humanity4 ,it requires such refined prudence to form such a government1 such comprehensive knowledge1 and such perspicacious sagacity1 united with such almost illimitable powers of combination1 that it is nearly in vain to hope for qualities so rare to be congregated in a solitary mind4 #add ,indeed it is in vain to hope for these powers in an uninspired mind4 ,it is a task too difficult for mere human ingenuity4 ,and when it is remembered that ,joseph ,smith's knowledge of government and history in his early life was exceedingly limited2 and that this system of church government was given piece-meal--as will be seen by its gradual development as portrayed in this work #ade--;it is absurd to accredit it to a boy's native ingenuity4 ,it was not a system marked out in theory and then organized4 ,on the contrary1 line was given upon line1 precept upon precept4 ,an officer was given today and his duties explained2 another given at another time1 when the development of the work required his services1 and his duties explained4 ,after a lapse of years men began to discover that these fragments of government constituted a most elaborate yet simple system--a consistent whole1 based on the highest and truest principles of government2 a system that while it was suited to the conditions of the church in the earlier years of its existence1 yet is capable of answering the needs of the organization should it be so expanded as to fill the earth4 ,this is a fact as astonishing to the world as it is gratifying to the ,saints4 ,the church is its own witness that the mind which fashioned it is divine4 ,it is too great in its organization1 and yet too simple in its administration to be the creation of an uninspired mind1 especially of a mind so narrow in its knowledge and inexperienced in affairs related to government as that of ,joseph ,smith4 ,no1 neither the hand of man #ceg nor the mind of man created it2 it came from ,god1 and bears the impress of its divine creation4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what is priesthood8 #b4 ,what is the spirit of the government by the priesthood8 #c4 ,for what was the church instituted8 #d4 ,what powers and authority appertains unto it8 #e4 ,how is the priesthood divided8 #f4 ,why was the higher priesthood named after ,melchisedek8 #g4 ,what are the powers of the ,melchisedek priesthood--of the ,aaronic8 #h4 ,enumerate the officers of the respective priesthoods4 #i4 ,what constitutes the first presidency of the church8 #aj4 ,what are the rights and powers of the first presidency8 #aa4 ,what are the rights and powers of the twelve apostles8 #ab4 ,what is the mission and calling of the seventies8 #ac4 ,what are the duties and the special calling of the patriarchs8 #ad4 ,what are the powers and special duties of the high priests--of elders8 #ae4 ,what can you say of presidencies in the ,aaronic priesthood8 #af4 ,what are the privileges and duties of priests8--of teachers8--of deacons8 #ag4 ,what is the significance of appendage in connection with priesthood8 #ah4 ,what can you say of the territorial divisions of the church8 #ai4 ,describe the stake organization--the organization of the ward--of the branch4 #bj4 ,what institutions are recognized as helps in government8 #ba4 ,what can you say of the church judiciary system8 #bb4 ,state how difficulties are to be settled in the church4 #bc4 ,what are the means of punishment legitimately within the right of the church to exercise8 #bd4 ,what can you say of the effectiveness of church punishment8 #be4 ,what regular conferences are held by the church8 #bf4 ,what can be said of the church as an ecclesiastical system of government8 #ceh ,,section ,,vi4 ,having paused to consider the church as a system of ecclesiastical government1 it now remains for us to return to the historical development of the work of the ,lord as connected with the dispensation of the fullness of times4 #a4 ,the ,kirtland ,temple4--,during the winter of #ahce-cf the temple at ,kirtland was completed4 ,this was the first temple built by the church in this dispensation4 ,it was a stone structure1 eighty by sixty1 and fifty feet to the square4 ,at the front was a tower one hundred and ten feet high4 ,there were two main halls fifty-five by sixty-five feet2 four vestries in the front1 two on each floor4 ,there was also an attic1 divided into five rooms4 ,during the winter of #ahce-f a high school was conducted in ,kirtland by ,h4 ,m4 ,hawes1 ,professor of ,greek and ,latin1#adf and the rooms in the attic were used as class rooms and for the meetings of the various quorums of the priesthood4 ,see note #a1 end of section4 #b4 ,dedication of the ,temple4--,on ,sunday1 the #bgth of ,march1 #ahcf1 the temple was dedicated with imposing ceremonies1 beginning early in the morning--eight o'clock--and continuing all day4 ,as all the ,saints could not be admitted at once1 the ,thursday following1 ,march #cast1 the ceremonies were repeated4 ,the service consisted of singing1 prayer1 preaching1 prophesying1 speaking in tongues1 sustaining the several officers of the church by votes of acceptance and confidence1 the #cei offering of a special dedicatory prayer1#adg partaking of the ,lord's ,supper1 rendering the grand shout of ,hosanna1#adh etc4 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord was poured out in great power upon the ,saints1 and spiritual manifestations were abundant4 #c4 ,spiritual ,manifestations in the ,temple4--,frederick ,g4 ,williams1 counselor in the first presidency1 testified that while ,elder ,rigdon was making the opening prayer1 an angel entered the window1 and took a seat between himself and ,patriarch ,joseph ,smith1 father of the prophet1 and remained there during the prayer4 ,david ,whitmer1 one of the three especial witnesses to the ,book of ,mormon1 also saw angels in the house4 ,apostle ,brigham ,young gave a brief address in tongues4 ,apostle ,david ,w4 ,patten1 interpreted the address1 and gave an exhortation in tongues himself4 ,at a meeting in the evening ,george ,a4 ,smith--afterwards an apostle and counselor to ,president ,brigham ,young--arose and began to prophesy1 when a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind1 which filled the temple1 and all the congregation simultaneously arose1 being moved upon by an invisible power2 many began to speak in tongues1 and prophesy2 others saw glorious visions4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph saw that the temple was filled with angels1 which fact he declared to the congregation4 ,the people of the neighborhood came running together--hearing an unusual sound within1 and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the temple--and were astonished at what was transpiring4 ,wednesday night--#cjth ,march--while the meeting in the #cfj temple was in charge of the twelve apostles1 the brethren continued exhorting1 prophesying and speaking in tongues all night4 ,the ,savior made his appearance to some1 while angels ministered to others1 and it was a ,pentecost and an endowment long to be remembered4#adi #d4 ,restoration of the ,keys of ,former ,dispensations4--,sunday1 the #crd of ,april1 one week following the first dedication services1 there was a series of most glorious visions and revelations given in the temple4 ,after the sacrament was administered to the congregation1 the curtains dividing the main hall were dropped and the ,prophet ,joseph and ,oliver ,cowdery retired into the pulpit and bowed in solemn and silent prayer4 ,after prayer they both beheld the ,lord ,jesus ,christ standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit4 ,he announced himself as the ,first and the ,last1 the one who liveth and the one who was slain--their advocate with the ,father4 ,he declared his acceptance of the temple1 and promised to appear unto his servants and speak unto them with his own voice1 if the ,saints would but keep his commandments1 and not pollute the temple1 the fame of which he declared should spread to foreign lands4#aej #e4 ,the ,appearing of ,moses4--,after this vision closed the heavens were again opened and ,moses appeared before them and committed unto them the keys of the gathering of ,israel from the four quarters of the earth and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north4#aea #f4 ,the ,appearing of ,elias4--,then ,elias appeared and committed the dispensation of the gospel of ,abraham1 saying that in them and in their seed all generations after them should be blessed4 #g4 ,the ,appearing of ,elijah4--,as soon as the above vision closed1 another opened before them1 and ,elijah the ,prophet1 who was taken to heaven without tasting death1 stood before them1 and said that the time had fully come which #cfa ,malachi had spoken of1 saying1 that before the great and dreadful day of the ,lord should come1 he1 ,elijah1 would be sent to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children1 and the children to the fathers1 lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse4#aeb ,therefore1 said ,elijah1 to ,joseph and ,oliver1 the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands1 and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the ,lord is near1 even at the doors4 #aec ,,notes4 #a4 ,inner ,courts of ,kirtland ,temple4--,there was a peculiarity in the arrangement of the inner court which made it more than ordinary impressive--so much so that a sense of sacred awe seemed to rest upon all who entered2 not only the ,saints but strangers also manifested a high degree of reverential feeling4 ,four pulpits stood one above another1 in the center of the building1 from north to south1 both on the east and west ends2 those on the west for the presiding officers of the ,melchisedek priesthood1 and those on the east for the ,aaronic3 and each of these pulpits was separated by curtains of white painted canvas1 which were let down and drawn up at pleasure4 ,in front of each of these two rows of pulpits was a sacrament table for the administration of that sacred ordinance4 ,in each corner of the court was an elevated pew for the singers1 the choir being distributed into four compartments4 ,in addition to the pulpit curtains1 were others1 intersecting at right angles1 which divided the main ground-floor hall into four equal sections1 giving to each one half of one set of pulpits4--,eliza ,r4 ,snow4 ,,review4 #a4 ,when was the ,kirtland ,temple completed8 #b4 ,give a description of it4 7,note #a47 #c4 ,for what were the attic rooms used8 #d4 ,what branches were taught in the temple school8 7,note47 #e4 ,describe the dedicatory services4 #f4 ,state what spiritual manifestations occurred during the dedicatory services4 #g4 ,describe the vision of the ,savior given to the ,prophet ,joseph and ,oliver ,cowdery in the temple4 #h4 ,relate the appearing of ,moses--of ,elias--of ,elijah4 #cfb ,,section ,,vii4 ,the appearing of ,moses in ,kirtland ,temple and his restoring the keys for the gathering of ,israel1 marks the inauguration of a mighty work within the work of ,god1 in this dispensation1 and gives a reality to many of the predictions of the ancient prophets4 ,to fully comprehend this great work it will be necessary to call the attention of the student to the ,israelites1 and a brief outline of their history4 #a4 ,who ,are ,israel4--,the children of ,israel are the descendants of ,abraham through the loins of ,isaac and ,jacob1 taking their name1 however1 from the last-named patriarch1 whose name was changed by an angel of the ,lord from ,jacob to ,israel1 which means a prince of ,god4 ,unto ,jacob by four wives were born twelve sons--the heads of the ,twelve ,tribes of ,israel4 ,joseph1 ,jacob's son by his wife ,rachel1 being his father's favorite son1 was hated by his brethren1 and without the father's knowledge was sold to merchants1 who carried him into ,egypt4 ,his cruel brethren rent his clothing and stained it in blood1 then taking it to their father represented that his son had been destroyed by a wild beast4 ,the ,lord was with ,joseph in ,egypt1 and gave him favor in the eyes of the rulers of that land1 until he became second in authority in the kingdom4 ,having been warned in a dream of an approaching famine1 some years before it took place1 he laid up in store an abundance of corn1 so that while famine distressed surrounding countries there was plenty in ,egypt1 and thither the sons of ,israel went to purchase food4 ,joseph revealed his identity to his brethren1 became reconciled to them1 and sent for his father and all attached to his household--about seventy souls in all--to #cfc come to him and take up their abode in ,egypt4 ,this the aged patriarch did1 and ended his days there4 #b4 ,israel ,enslaved4--,some time after ,joseph's death1 there arose a king who knew him not1 and observing that the ,israelites were likely to become more numerous than the ,egyptians--since they did not murder their offspring either before or at birth1 as many among the ,egyptians did--this monarch enslaved them and placed task masters over them1 and by oppression and the destruction of their male offspring sought to prevent their increase4 ,finally the ,lord raised up ,moses and delivered them from bondage amid a splendid display of his ,almighty power1 and eventually settled them in the land of ,canaan--the land he had promised unto ,abraham as an inheritance--where they became a mighty nation4 ,see note #a1 end of section4 #c4 ,revolt of the ,ten ,tribes4--,as a nation the ,israelites reached the zenith of their splendor under the reign of ,david and his son ,solomon4 ,at the death of the latter1 #ige ,b4 ,c41 the kingdom was divided4 ,ten tribes revolted against the oppression of ,solomon's successor1 his son ,rehoboam1 and formed the kingdom of ,israel1 choosing for their king ,jeroboam1 the son of ,nebat1 one of ,solomon's servants4 ,the new king--a man of great valor--established his capital at ,shechem ,shek-em1 but fifty years afterwards it was removed to ,samaria4 #d4 ,the ,captivity of ,israel--,the ,lost ,tribes4--,this kingdom of ,israel continued its existence for about two hundred and fifty years4 ,in that time the people may be said to have departed wholly from the paths of righteousness1 becoming drunken1 licentious and idolatrous4 ,so the ,lord gave them up and ,shalmaneser1 a noted ,assyrian king1 made war upon them1 utterly overcame them and led them captives into ,assyria4 ,from thence the ,lord led many of them away into the northern country1 where1 no man knoweth1 and hence they are denominated the ,lost ,tribes4 ,our reason for saying they were led #cfd away into the north is to be found in the fact that many predictions of the prophets plainly declare that they shall come from the land of the north1 a great company1 etc42 #aed and it must be manifest that they cannot come from the land of the north unless they are there4 ,messiah1 when he visited the ,nephites after his resurrection1 plainly told them that the other tribes of the house of ,israel--meaning the ten tribes--the ,lord had led away out of the land2#aee and he also announced his intention of visiting them1 and commanded the ,nephites to make a record of it that a knowledge of the existence of these other tribes might be made known unto the ,gentiles when the ,nephite records should be revealed to them4 ,these other tribes1 ,messiah spoke of1 he declared not to be of the land of ,america1 nor the land of ,jerusalem1 neither in any parts of that land round about whither ,i have been to minister4 #aef #e4 ,the ,apocryphal writer ,esdras1 in relating one of his visions describes one of the great characters that figured in those visions as calling unto himself a peaceful people4 ,those1 said the angel sent to interpret the vision1 are the tribes which were carried away captives out of their own land in the time of ,oseas 7,hosea7 the king1 whom ,salmanaser1 the king of the ,assyrians1 took captive1 and crossed them beyond the river2 so were they brought into another land4 ,but they took counsel to themselves1 that they would leave the multitude of the heathen1 and go forth unto a further country where never man dwelt1 that they there might keep their statutes1 which they never kept in their own land4 ,and they entered in at the narrow passage of the ,river ,euphrates4 ,for the ,most ,high then showed them signs1 and stayed the springs of the flood till they were passed over4 ,for through the country there was great journey1 even of a year and a half1 and the same region is called ,arsareth 7or ,ararah74 ,then dwelt they there until the latter #cfe time1 and when they come forth again1 the ,most ,high shall hold still the springs of the river again1 that they may go through2 therefore sawest thou the multitude peaceable4 #aeg #f4 ,whatever doubt may be entertained respecting the writings of ,esdras1 it cannot be denied that in respect to the ,ten ,tribes and what became of them he is in harmony with the statement made by ,jesus to the ,nephites1 viz3 that the ,lord had led them away out of the land4 ,the ,most ,high1 according to ,esdras1 showing them signs by staying the springs of the flood of the ,euphrates1 as he will do when the time comes for them to return4 #aeh ,he is also in harmony with the prophets who predict the return of ,israel in the last days from the land in which they have been hidden by the ,lord4#aei ,see note #b1 end of section4 #g4 ,the ,samaritans4--,the country inhabited by the kingdom of ,israel--the north half of ,palestine--was taken possession of by people sent from ,babylon1 ,persia and other countries by the ,assyrian king1 and these strangers1 intermarrying with the few ,israelites remaining in the land1 after the main body of the people had been led away into captivity1 became the mixed people called ,samaritans1 so heartily despised by the ,jews4 #h4 ,the ,kingdom of ,judah4--,in the civil dissensions which divided the ,israelites at the death of ,solomon1 the tribe of ,benjamin remained loyal to ,judah1 and may be said to have almost lost its identity in the kingdom which with ,judah it formed after the revolt of the ten tribes4 ,it was a stormy career that the kingdom of ,judah experienced after the said revolt4 ,it was subject in turn to the ,egyptians1 ,assyrians1 and ,babylonians4 ,in consequence of treachery to the last named power1 ,nebuchadnezzar1 king of ,babylon1 about #ehf ,b4 ,c41 #afj #cff besieged ,jerusalem1 reduced the city to the utmost extremity1 captured the king1 put out his eyes and led him and most of the ,jews captive to ,babylon4 ,the walls of the city were thrown down1 the temple rifled of its sacred vessels and the city left desolate to be inhabited by strangers4 ,the captivity of the ,jews in ,babylon lasted about seventy years4#afa ,the ,babylonians in the meantime had been overcome of the ,persians1 under ,cyrus the ,great1 who in the first year of his reign permitted the ,jews to return and rebuild the city and its walls4 #i4 ,the ,jews1 however1 never wholly regained their independence2 being located between ,syria and ,egypt1 their country was held in subjection as a province to one or the other of them according as now one and now the other was successful in the unhappy wars which broke out between those nations4 ,finally ,palestine became a province of ,rome1 but the people were allowed the freedom to worship ,god according to the teachings of ,moses and their prophets4 ,this was their condition at the birth and during the lifetime of ,messiah4#afb #aj4 ,about forty years after the crucifixion of the ,christ1 the ,jews foolishly rebelled against the ,roman authority1 which brought on a terrible war4 ,during the siege of ,jerusalem1 which lasted six months1 over one million of the wretched inhabitants1 according to ,josephus1 perished of the famine4 ,the remainder were either driven into exile or sold into slavery4 ,the city was razed to the ground1 the temple destroyed1 and in their eager search for gold the ,romans tore up the very foundation1 and ploughed up the site1 so that literally there was not left one stone to stand upon another that was not thrown down4#afc ,since the destruction of their city and the overthrow of their nation1 the ,jews have been scattered among all nations1 despised1 hated1 oppressed1 until all the evil that was prophesied of by ,moses#afd concerning them--when they should turn away #cfg from ,god and his law--came upon them4 ,see note #c1 end of section4 #aa4 ,miscellaneous ,dispersions4--,besides the tribes of ,israel that were thus dispersed1 there were families of various tribes whom the ,lord led away at different times into distant lands4 ,such as the family of ,lehi of the tribe of ,manasseh2 and that of ,ishmael of the tribe of ,ephraim1 both of which families1 together with one ,zoram--of what tribe he was is not known--the ,lord led to the continent of ,america4 ,the ,lord also led to the same land a colony that departed from ,jerusalem immediately after its destruction by king ,nebuchadnezzar1 in the sixth century ,b4 ,c41 among whom was one ,mulek1 one of the sons of ,king ,zedekiah1 whose people founded the city of ,zarahemla1 and afterwards united with the ,nephites4 #ab4 ,the ,blood of ,israel ,sprinkled ,among all ,nations4--,the ,jews since the destruction of their city and nation by the ,romans1 have been scattered among all nations1 but they have succeeded in a remarkable manner in preserving their identity as a distinct people4 ,still it is not to be doubted that there are instances where ,jews have married and intermarried with the ,gentiles among whom they lived1 until they lost their identity1 and thus the blood of ,israel1 unrecognized1 is in the veins of many supposed to be ,gentiles4 #ac4 ,the tribes of ,israel sent into ,babylon1 ,assyria and the surrounding countries in like manner inter-mingled their blood with the people of those nations4 ,moreover1 there are good reasons to believe that in that exodus of the ten tribes from ,assyria to the north1 many became discouraged and stopped by the way4 ,others unable to prosecute the journey also abandoned the expedition1 and these that thus halted1 uniting and intermarrying with the original inhabitants of the land1 constituted those prolific races that over-ran the western division of the ,roman ,empire4 #ad4 ,in this manner the blood of ,israel has been sprinkled #cfh almost among all the nations of the earth1 until the word of the ,lord which says1 ,i will sift the house of ,israel among all nations1 #afe has been literally fulfilled4 #ae4 ,the ,gathering of ,israel4--,notwithstanding ,israel and ,judah have thus been scattered1 their temple destroyed and their chief city trodden down of the ,gentiles1 the remnant of this favored people of ,god1 according to the promises of the ,lord1 are to be gathered together again and established upon the lands promised to their forefathers4 ,the keys necessary for the inauguration of this work were given to the ,prophet ,joseph by ,moses on the occasion of his appearing to him and to ,oliver ,cowdery in the ,kirtland ,temple1 and the work has begun4 ,i think it proper here to give some of the passages of scripture which promise the gathering of ,israel4 #af4 ,from the ,bible4--,hear the word of the ,lord1 ,o1 ye nations1 and declare it in the isles afar off1 and say1 ,he that scattered ,israel will gather him1 and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock4 ,for the ,lord hath redeemed ,jacob1 and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he4 ,therefore they shall come and sing in the height of ,zion1 and shall flow together to the goodness of the ,lord1 for wheat1 and for wine1 and for oil1 and for the young of the flock and of the herd3 and their soul shall be as a watered garden1 and they shall not sorrow any more at all4#aff ,therefore1 behold the days come1 saith the ,lord1 that it shall no more be said1 the ,lord liveth that brought up the children of ,israel out of the land of ,egypt2 but the ,lord liveth that brought up the children of ,israel from the land of the north1 and from all the lands whither he had driven them3 and ,i will bring them again into their land that ,i gave unto their fathers4#afg ,and it shall come to pass in that day#afh that the ,lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people1 #cfi which shall be left from ,assyria1 and from ,egypt1 and from ,pathos1 and from ,cush1 and from ,elam1 and from ,shinar1 and from ,hamath1 and from the islands of the sea4 ,and he shall set up an ensign for the nations1 and shall assemble the outcasts of ,israel1 and gather together the dispersed of ,judah from the four corners of the earth4 ,the envy also of ,ephraim shall depart1 and the adversaries of ,judah shall be cut off4 ,ephraim shall not envy ,judah1 and ,judah shall not vex ,ephraim4 99 99 99 ,and there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people1 which shall be left from ,assyria2 like as it was to ,israel in the day that he came up out of the land of ,egypt4#afi ,turn1 ,o backsliding children1 saith the ,lord2 for ,i am married unto you3 and ,i will take you one of a city1 and two of a family1 and ,i will bring you to ,zion3 and ,i will give you pastors according to my own heart1 and they shall feed you with knowledge and understanding4 ,and it shall come to pass when ye be multiplied and increased in the land in those days1 saith the ,lord1 they shall say no more the ark of the covenant of the ,lord3 neither shall it come to mind4 99 99 99 ,at that time they shall call ,jerusalem the throne of the ,lord2 and all the nations shall be gathered unto it1 to the name of the ,lord1 to ,jerusalem4 99 99 99 ,in those days the house of ,judah shall walk with the house of ,israel1 and they shall come together out of the land of the north1 to the land that ,i have given for an inheritance unto your fathers4#agj #ag4 ,from the ,book of ,mormon4--,but behold thus saith the ,lord ,god3 when the day cometh that they the ,jews--see context shall believe in me1 that ,i am ,christ1 then have ,i covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh1 upon the earth1 unto the lands of their inheritance4 ,and it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion1 from the isles of the sea1 and from the four parts of the earth2 and the nations of the ,gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me1 saith ,god1 in carrying them forth to the lands of their inheritance4#aga #ah4 ,from the ,doctrine and ,covenants4--,and the ,lord1 even the ,savior1 shall stand in the midst of his people1 and shall reign #cgj over all flesh4 ,and they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the ,lord1 and their prophets shall hear his voice1 and shall no longer stay themselves1 and they shall smite the rocks1 and the ice shall flow down at their presence4 ,and an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep4 ,their enemies shall become a prey unto them1 and in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools or living water2 and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land4 ,and they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of ,ephraim1 my servants4 ,and the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence4 ,and there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory1 even in ,zion1 by the hands of the servants of the ,lord1 even the children of ,ephraim2 and they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy4 ,behold1 this is the blessing of the ,everlasting ,god upon the tribes of ,israel1 and the richer blessing upon the head of ,ephraim and his fellows4 ,and they also of the tribe of ,judah1 after their pain1 shall be sanctified in holiness before the ,lord to dwell in his presence day and night1 for ever and for ever4#agb ,see note #d1 end of section4 #ai4 ,the ,preparatory ,work to the ,return of the ,ten ,tribes4--,this is enough in a general way upon the return of the ,ten ,tribes from the north and the return of the ,jews to ,jerusalem4 ,yet there is another part of this work of gathering ,israel that calls for our attention4 ,we have described the manner in which the blood of ,israel has been sprinkled among the ,gentile nations4 ,the people in whose veins that blood runs must be gathered as well as the ,jews and the ,ten ,tribes2 for the promise of gathering extends to all the children of ,israel1 in all the countries whither they have been scattered4 ,moreover1 it would seem that the ,ten ,tribes are to come to ,zion and sing in the heights thereof1 and there be crowned with glory by the hands of the servants of the ,lord1 the children of ,ephraim4#agc ,the gathering of ,israel scattered among the ,gentile nations will have made considerable progress1 and ,zion will be built up before the ,ten ,tribes will be brought from the north4 ,this #cga work of gathering ,israel from among the ,gentile nations is the work that the ,church of ,christ is now engaged in4 ,the ,lord has revealed the location of ,zion2#agd it has been dedicated for the gathering together of his people ,israel4 ,even the temple site is known and dedicated1 and the sure word of ,god given that the temple shall be built in this generation4#age ,the enemies of the church drove the ,saints away form the consecrated land1 it is true2#agf but their absence will only be temporary2 the time will come when they will return and fulfill all that the ,lord hath decreed in relation to ,zion and its redemption4 #bj4 ,meantime they are building up stakes of ,zion in the ,rocky ,mountain valleys1 and in this way are fulfilling predictions of the ancient prophets4 ,isaiah hath it written1 that ,in the last days the house of the ,lord shall be established in the tops of the mountains2 99 99 99 and all nations shall flow unto it4 ,and many people shall go and say1 ,come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the ,lord1 to the house of the ,god of ,jacob2 and he will teach us of his ways1 and we will walk in his paths3 for out of ,zion shall go forth the law1 and the word of the ,lord from ,jerusalem4 #agg #ba4 ,it is remarkable how minutely the ,latter-day ,saints are fulfilling the terms of this prophecy3 ,i4 ,they are building the temples of ,god in the tops of the mountains1 so that the house of the ,lord is truly where ,isaiah saw it would be4 ,,ii4 ,the ,saints engaged in this work are people gathered from nearly all the nations under heaven1 so that all nations are flowing unto the house of the ,lord in the top of the mountains4 ,see note #e1 end of section4 ,,iii4 ,the people who receive the gospel in foreign lands joyfully say to their relatives and friends1 ,come ye1 and let us go #cgb up to the house of the ,lord1 and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths4 #bb4 ,the manner in which the ,saints are gathered1 one here and one there1 one from this city and one from another1 fulfills the prophecy of ,jeremiah1 who1 in speaking of this great gathering of ,israel1 represents the ,lord as saying3 ,i will take you one of a city1 and two of a family1 and ,i will bring you to ,zion2 and ,i will give you pastors according to mine heart1 which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding4 #agh #bc4 ,the student should be informed how it is we know the ,saints are of the house of ,israel4 ,first1 they fulfill the terms of the prophecies written about the gathering of ,israel by the ancient prophets1 as seen above2 second1 the patriarchs of the church1 ordained and set apart to that calling by the apostles1 in giving blessings to the ,saints declare them to be of the house of ,israel1 and mainly of the tribe of ,ephraim4 ,see note #f1 end of section4 #bd4 ,object of ,gathering4--,another object of this gathering of the people of ,god from among the ,gentile nations--which with their wickedness1 spiritual blindness1 and confusion constitute ,babylon--is that they may not partake of the sins of ,babylon1 and that they might escape the judgments and plagues decreed by ,god against the wickedness thereof4 ,the ,apostle ,john prophesies of this4 ,in those visions given to him on the ,isle of ,patmos1 showing him things that would take place in the future1 he heard a voice from heaven saying3 ,come out of her that is out of ,babylon1 my people2 that ye be not partakers of her sins1 and that ye receive not of her plagues4 ,for her sins have reached unto heaven1 and ,god hath remembered her iniquities4 99 99 99 ,therefore shall her plagues come in one day1 death and mourning1 and famine2 for strong is the ,lord ,god who judgeth her4 #agi ,the ,saints are gathering out of ,babylon that they may escape these threatened judgments4 #cgc ,,notes4 #a4 ,settlement of ,israel in ,canaan4--,of the twelve tribes of ,israel1 nine and a half were located to the west and two and a half to the east of the ,jordan4 ,in this region they had been led by ,joshua1 ,moses being only permitted to catch a distant glimpse of the promised land4 ,after the death of ,joshua1 followed the period of ,judges1 which lasted about five centuries4 ,the last of the judges was ,samuel1 who1 when the people demanded a king1 anointed ,saul1 #ajie1 ,b4,c4--,anderson's ,gen4 ,hist4 #b4 ,the ,departure of the ,ten ,tribes for the ,north--,they the ten tribes determined to go to a country where never man dwelt1 that they might be free from all contaminating influences4 ,that country could only be found in the north4 ,asia was already the seat of a comparatively ancient civilizations2 ,egypt flourished in northern ,africa2 and southern ,europe was rapidly filling with the future rulers of the world4 ,they had1 therefore1 no choice but to turn their faces northward4 ,the first portion of their journey was not1 however1 north2 according to the account of ,esdras1 they appear to have at first moved in the direction of their old home1 and it is possible that they originally started with the intention of returning thereto1 or probably in order to deceive the ,assyrians1 they started as if to return to ,canaan1 and when they crossed the ,euphrates1 and were out of danger from the hosts of the ,medes and ,persians1 then they turned their journeying feet toward the polar star4 ,esdras states that they entered in at the narrow passage of the river ,euphrates1 the ,lord staying the springs of the flood until they were passed over4 ,the point on the river ,euphrates at which they crossed would necessarily be in its upper portion1 as lower down would be too far south for their purpose4 ,the upper course of the ,euphrates lies among lofty mountains near the village of ,pastas2 it plunges through a gorge formed by precipices more than a thousand feet in height and so narrow that it is bridged at the top2 it shortly afterwards enters the plain of ,mesopotamia4 ,how accurately this portion of the river answers to the description of ,esdras of the ,narrows1 where the ,israelites crossed6--,reynolds' ,are we of ,israel8 pp4 #bf-bg4 #c4 ,final ,overthrow of ,judah4--,according to ,josephus 7,de ,bell4 ,jud4 vi3 #i1 #c7 #a1ajj1jjj men fell in the siege of ,jerusalem by ,titus1 and #gi1jjj were captured in the whole war4 ,of the latter number1 the greater part was distributed among the provinces1 to be butchered in the amphitheaters or cast to wild beasts2 others were doomed to work as public slaves in ,egypt2 only those under the ages of seventeen were sold into private bondage4 ,an equally dreadful destruction fell upon the remains of the nation1 which had once more assembled in ,judea1 #cgd under the reign of ,hadrian 7,a4 ,d4 #acc71 which ,dion ,cassius concisely relates4 ,by these two savage wars the ,jewish population must have been effectually extirpated from the ,holy ,land itself1 a result which did not follow from the ,babylonian captivity4 ,afterwards a dreary period of fifteen hundred years' oppression crushed in ,europe all who bore the name of ,israel1 and ,christian nations have visited on their head a crime the crucifixion of ,messiah perpetrated by a few thousand inhabitants of ,jerusalem1 who were not the real forefathers of the ,european ,jews4 ,nor in the east has their lot been much more cheering4 ,with a few partial exceptions1 they have ever since been a despised1 an oppressed and naturally a degraded people2 though from them have spread light and truth to the distant nations of the earth4--,biblical ,literature 7,kitto7 vol4 ,i1 p4 #ci4 #d4 ,return of the ,ten ,tribes from the ,north4--,away in yonder north countries1 where1 ,i do not know1 but away in those regions are ten tribes of the house of ,israel4 ,how do you know they are in the north country8 ,because the ,bible has told us that in the latter days they should come out of the north country1 and if they were not in the north country they could not come from there4 ,jeremiah says in his thirty-first chapter--,behold ,i will bring them from the north1 the blind and the lame with them1 and the woman with child2 they shall come1 a great company out of the north countries4 ,where will they go to8 ,will they go immediately to ,palestine1 where they formerly had their inheritance4 ,no4 ,jeremiah tells us where they will go1 he tells there is to be a place called ,zion before these tribes come out of the north countries1 and when they come with a great company1 the blind and the lame with them1 and the ,lord ,god leads them with supplication and with tears and with prayers1 bringing them forth from those dreary1 desolate1 cold arctic regions2 when that day shall come1 there shall be a ,zion prepared to receive these ten tribes1 before they finally go back to ,palestine4 ,is there anything in the scriptures about this8 ,yes4 ,in the same chapter of ,jeremiah we read that1 they shall come and sing in the height of ,zion4 ,zion1 then1 will have to be built up before they come2 ,zion will have to be reared somewhere and prepared to receive them2 and it will be a holy place1 and it will be a holy people who will build up ,zion1 so much so that the ,lord will bring these ten tribes into the height of ,zion1 into the midst of it4--,orson ,pratt--,journal of ,discourses1 vol4 #ah1 p4 #bb1 #bc4 #e4 ,all ,nations ,flowing ,unto the ,house of the ,lord4--,one of the features in the celebration of ,pioneer ,day--#bdth of ,july1 the anniversary of the day the company of ,pioneers entered ,salt ,lake ,valley1 #ahdg--;in ,salt ,lake ,city1 #ahhj1 was to have represented the various nationalities composing the population of ,utah4 ,a man and a woman #cge of each nation from which people had been gathered by the proclamation of the gospel were selected as the representatives1 each pair bearing the national colors of their country4 ,they occupied a platform in the ,tabernacle during the services1 and after a historical sketch of the introduction of the gospel in the various nations was read by ,orson ,pratt1 the representatives of the nations arose and ,president ,john ,taylor said3 ,i wish to state to the congregation that the ,lord commanded his servants to go forth to all the world to preach the gospel to every creature4 ,we have not yet been to all the world1 but here are twenty-five nations represented today1 and we have thus far fulfilled our mission4 #f4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints of ,israel4--,the set time was come for ,god to gather ,israel1 and for his work to commence upon the face of the whole earth1 and the elders who have arisen in this church and kingdom are actually of ,israel4 ,take the elders who are in the house the old ,tabernacle in ,salt ,lake ,city1 and you can scarcely find one out of a hundred but what is of the house of ,israel4 99 99 99 ,will we go to the ,gentile nations to preach the gospel8 ,yes1 and gather out the ,israelites wherever they are mixed among the nations of the earth4 99 99 99 ,ephraim has become mixed with all the nations of the earth1 and it is ,ephraim that is gathering together4 ,it is ,ephraim that ,i have been searching for all the days of my preaching1 and that is the blood which ran in my veins when ,i embraced the gospel4 ,if there are any of the other tribes of ,israel mixed with the ,gentiles we are also searching after them4--,brigham ,young4 ,from a ,discourse preached ,april #hth1 #ahee4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what great work did the visit of ,moses to the ,kirtland ,temple inaugurate8 #b4 ,who are ,israel8 #c4 ,give a sketch of the history of ,israel to the revolt of the ten tribes4 #d4 ,how came the ten tribes to revolt8 #e4 ,give an account of the fall of the kingdom of ,israel4 #f4 ,why are the ten tribes called the lost tribes8 #g4 ,what evidence have you that they are in the north8 #h4 ,give the evidence to be found in the words of ,jesus to the ,nephites4 #cgf #i4 ,what statement does the ,apocryphal writer ,esdras make respecting the ten tribes8 7,note #b47 #aj4 ,who were the ,samaritans8 #aa4 ,what tribes formed the kingdom of ,judah8 #ab4 ,give an outline of the history of ,judah to the birth of ,messiah4 #ac4 ,what befell ,judah about thirty years after the crucifixion of ,messiah8 7,note #c47 #ad4 ,what can you say of miscellaneous dispersions8 #ae4 ,how came the blood of ,israel sprinkled among all nations8 #af4 ,what promises are made to scattered ,israel8 #ag4 ,quote the several passages from the ,bible which predict the gathering of ,israel4 #ah4 ,quote the passages from the ,book of ,mormon4 #ai4 ,what progress has been made in the preparatory work of the ten tribes8 7,note #d47 #bj4 ,what progress has been made in the preparatory work8 #ba4 ,what prophecies are the ,saints minutely fulfilling in gathering together in the mountains8 7,note #e47 #bb4 ,how do we know that the ,latter-day ,saints are of ,israel8 7,note #f47 #bc4 ,for what object are the ,saints gathering from ,babylon8 #cgg ,,section ,,viii4 #a4 ,salvation for the ,dead4--,the appearing of ,elijah the prophet1 in the ,kirtland ,temple on the #crd of ,april1 #ahcf1 was the introduction of another great work connected with the redemption of the human race4 ,that work is ,salvation for the dead1 the keys of which were given to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith by ,elijah1 on the occasion of the appearing mentioned above4 ,that event was an epoch in the history of this great dispensation4 ,it began a revolution in the theology of the ,christian world4 ,up to that time--#ahcf--;it was universally believed by orthodox ,christians that the souls of men who died without conversion to the ,christian religion1 were everlastingly lost4 ,it was believed that the application of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ was limited to this life2 and those who failed1 through whatever cause1 to obtain the benefits of the means of salvation it affords1 are forever barred from such benefits4 ,if the tree fall toward the south1 or toward the north1 in the place where the tree falleth1 there it shall lie2 #ahj and they argued from this that in whatever state a man died so he remained4 ,if he died in a state of justification his salvation was assured2 but if not1 then justification and consequently salvation was forever beyond his hope4 #b4 ,this sectarian doctrine which does so much violence to the justice of ,god--since it closes the door of salvation against so many thousands of ,god's children through no other circumstances than that they never so much as heard of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 and therefore could not either believe or obey it-arose1 first1 through a misconception of the doctrine of eternal punishment with which the wicked are threatened in the scriptures2 and1 second1 through a very narrow conception of the sure mercies of ,god4 #cgh #c4 ,christian ,dogma of ,eternal ,judgment4--,christians believe that to receive eternal punishment was to be punished eternally4 ,this popular ,christian error was corrected in a revelation to ,martin ,harris through ,joseph ,smith1 even before the church was organized4#aha ,in that revelation it is explained that ,god is ,endless2 that is one of his names2 as also is ,eternal one of his names4 ,therefore eternal punishment is ,god's punishment4 ,endless punishment is ,god's punishment4 ,in other words1 the punishment that will overtake the wicked is ,eternal's punishment2 ,endless' punishment4 ,but ,christians1 mistaking the name of the punishment for the sign of its duration1 taught that men were punished eternally for the sins committed in this life4 ,then again ,god's punishment is eternal2 that is1 it always exists2 it is eternal as ,god is1 but the transgressor receives only so much of it1 endures it only so long as may be necessary to satisfy the reasonable claims of justice1 tempered with mercy4 ,then1 when the insulted law is vindicated1 the offender is released from the punishment4 ,but as the bars survive the captive they enthrall1 as the prison remains after the transgressor has served his time in it1 so in ,god's government1 the punishment eternally remains after transgressors have satisfied the claims of justice1 and are relieved from its pains and penalties4 ,it remains to vindicate the law of ,god whenever it shall be broken4 ,but men read--,he that believeth not the gospel shall be damned1 #ahb and they are taught to believe that they were damned to all eternity--that they were consigned forever to the flames of hell4#ahc ,see note #a1 end of section4 #cgi #d4 ,one would think that right conceptions of the attributes of justice and mercy as they exist in ,god's character would lead men to the rejection of the horrible dogma of eternal punishment as taught by orthodox ,christianity4 ,but if that be not sufficient then the scriptures themselves refute it1 as will appear in the following paragraphs3 #e4 ,preaching to the ,spirits in ,prison4--,from a remark made in the writings of the ,apostle ,peter1#ahd we learn that after ,messiah was put to death in the flesh ,he went and preached to the spirits in prison1 which sometime aforetime were disobedient1 when once the long-suffering of ,god waiting in the days of ,noah4 ,during the three days1 then1 that ,messiah's body lay in the tomb at ,jerusalem1 his spirit was in the world of spirits preaching to those who had rejected the preaching of righteous ,noah4 ,the ,christian traditions no less than the scriptures teach that ,jesus went down into hell and preached to those there held in ward4 ,see note #b1 end of section4 #f4 ,not only is the mere fact of ,messiah's going to the spirit prison stated in the scripture1 but the purpose of his going there is learned from the same source4 ,for this cause was #chj the gospel preached also to them that are dead1 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh1 but live according to ,god in the spirit4 #ahe ,this manifestly means that these spirits who had once rejected the counsels of ,god against themselves1 had the gospel again preached to them and had the privilege of living according to its precepts in the spirit life1 and of being judged according to men in the flesh1 or as men in the flesh are judged2 that is1 according to the degree of their faithfulness to the precepts of the gospel4 #g4 ,naturally the question arises1 ,why was the gospel preached to the spirits in prison who had once been disobedient if there were no means by which it could be applied to them for their salvation8 ,we can scarcely suppose that ,messiah would preach the gospel to them if it could do them no good4 ,he did not go there to mock their sufferings or to add something to the torture of their damnation by explaining the beauties of that salvation now forever beyond their reach6 ,such a supposition would at once be revolting to reason1 insulting to the justice of ,god1 and utterly repugnant to the dictates of mercy6 #h4 ,following that question comes another3 ,if the gospel is preached again to those who have once rejected it1 how much sooner will it be presented to those who have never heard it1 who have lived in those generations when the gospel and the authority to administer its ordinances were not in the earth8 ,seeing that those who once rejected the offer of salvation had it presented to them again--after paying the penalty of their first disobedience--it would seem that those who lived when it was not upon the earth1 or who when it was upon the earth perished in ignorance of it1 will much sooner come to salvation4 #i4 ,of the things we have written1 this is the sum3 7#a7 ,the gospel was preached by ,messiah to the spirits in prison who had rejected the teachings of ,noah2 therefore there must be #cha some means through which its precepts and ordinances may be applied to them4 7#b7 ,if the gospel can be made available to those who once rejected the proffered mercies of ,god1 its privileges will much sooner1 and doubtless more abundantly be granted to those who died in ignorance of it4 #aj4 ,baptism for the ,dead4--,the manner in which the ordinances of the gospel may be administered to those who have died without receiving them is hinted at by ,paul4 ,writing to the ,corinthians on the subject of the resurrection1--correcting those who said there was no resurrection--he asks3 ,what shall they do which are baptized for the dead1 if the dead rise not at all8 ,why are they then baptized for the dead8 #ahf ,in this the apostle manifestly referred to a practice which existed among the ,christian saints of the living being baptized for the dead1 and argues from the existence of that practice that the dead must rise1 or why the necessity of being baptized for the dead4 ,though this is the only passage in the ,new ,testament1 or in the whole ,bible1 that refers directly to the subject1 yet of itself it is sufficient to establish the fact that such a principle was known among the ancient saints4 ,see notes #c and #d1 end of section4 #aa4 ,from the revelations of ,god to the church in this dispensation the following may be learned3 ,elijah1 in the fulfillment of ancient prophecy1 appeared unto ,joseph ,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery1 and delivered to them those keys or powers of the priesthood which give to the living the right to do a work for the salvation of the dead4 ,as a consequence the hearts of the children are turned to the fathers2 and of course1 since the fathers in the spirit world through the preaching of the gospel learn that it is within the power of their children to do a work for them1 their hearts are turned to the children1 and thus the predicted result to follow ,elijah's mission is fulfilled4 #ab4 ,the work that the living may do for the dead is that of attending to outward ordinances--baptisms1 confirmations1 #chb ordinations1 washings2 anointings and sealings--all being appointed by revelation and the direction of the ,lord1 and all sealed and ratified by the power of the priesthood of ,god which binds on earth and in heaven4 ,it is required that all baptisms and other ordinances of the gospel performed for the dead be attended to in houses--and more properly in temples--specially dedicated for holy purposes4 ,those ordinances are to be faithfully recorded by those who see and hear them performed1#ahg that there may be valid testimony that the work has been done4 ,these ordinances attended to on earth by the living1 and accepted in the spirit world by those for whom they are performed1 will make them a patent means of salvation to the dead and of exaltation to the living1 since they become in very deed saviors upon ,mount ,zion4 ,this work that can be done for the dead enlarges one's view of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,one begins to see indeed that it is the everlasting gospel2 for it runs parallel with man's existence both in this life and in that which is to come4 ,it vindicates the character of ,god1 for by it we may see that justice and judgment1 truth and mercy are in all his ways4 ,see note #e1 end of section4 #ac4 ,different ,degrees of ,glory4--,closely associated with the subjects treated in the forgoing paragraphs of this section1 is the subject of the ,different ,degrees of ,glory4 ,nothing is more clearly stated in holy writ than that men will be judged and rewarded according to their works4 #ahh;,and as their works vary in degree or righteousness so will their rewards vary1 and so will they have bestowed upon them different degrees of glory according as their works shall merit and their intelligence be capable of comprehending4 ,messiah said to his disciples3 ,in my ,father's house are many mansions3 if it were not so ,i would have told you4 ,i go to prepare a place for you2 99 99 99 that where ,i am there ye may be also4 #ahi ,still it is commonly held #chc among ,christian sects that he who attains heaven partakes immediately of the highest glories2 while he who misses heaven goes direct to hell and partakes of all its miseries forever4#aij ,yet nothing is clearer than the fact that there are different heavens spoken of in scripture and different degrees of glory4 ,when ,solomon dedicated the temple he had builded1 he exclaimed in his prayer--,behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee2 how much less this house which ,i have builded6 #aia ,paul in writing to the ,corinthians says ,i knew a man in ,christ above fourteen years ago 99 99 99 such an one caught up to the third heaven4 ,and ,i knew such a man 99 99 99 how that he was caught up into paradise1 and heard unspeakable words1 which it is not lawful for a man to utter4 #aib #ad4 ,reasoning on the resurrection1 the last writer quoted says3 ,there are also celestial bodies1 and bodies terrestrial2 but the glory of the celestial is one1 and the glory of the terrestrial is another4 ,there is one glory of the sun1 and another glory of the moon1 and another glory of the stars3 for as one star differeth from another star in glory4 ,so also is the resurrection of the dead4 #aic ,in all this1 however1 the great subject is but vaguely hinted at4 ,for a full understanding of it we are indebted to a revelation given to ,joseph ,smith1 ,february #chd #afth1 #ahcb4 ,from that revelation we summarized the following3#aid #ae4 ,the ,celestial ,glory4--,they who receive the testimony of ,jesus1 that believe on his name and are baptized after the manner of his burial2 that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all sin1 and receive the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands by those having authority2 who overcome by faith1 and are sealed by the ,holy ,spirit of ,promise--these become the church of the ,first ,born4 ,they are they into whose hands the ,father hath given all things--they are priests and kings1 who have received of ,god's fullness1 and of his glory2 they are priests of the ,most ,high1 after the order of ,melchisedek1 which is after the order of the ,son of ,god--therefore they are ,gods1 even the ,sons of ,god4 ,all things are theirs1 whether life or death1 or things present1 or things to come1 all are theirs1 and they are ,christ's and ,christ is ,god's4 ,they shall overcome all things2 they shall dwell in the presence of ,god and ,christ forever and forever2 they are they whom ,christ will bring with him when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people2 they have part in the resurrection of the just2 their names are written in heaven1 where ,god and ,christ dwell2 they are just men made perfect through ,jesus the mediator of the new covenant2 these are they whose bodies are celestial1 whose glory the sun in heaven is #che spoken of as typical--they inherit the celestial glory1 they see as they are seen and know as they are known4 #af4 ,the ,terrestrial ,glory4--,the terrestrial glory differs from the celestial glory as the light of the moon differs from the light of the sun4 ,these are they who died without law1 and also they who are the spirits of men in prison1 whom the ,son visited1 and preached the gospel unto them1 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh1 who received not the testimony of ,jesus in the flesh1 but afterwards received it4 ,these are they who are honorable men of the earth1 who were blinded by the craftiness of men4 ,these are they who receive of ,god's glory but not of his fullness4 ,they may enjoy the presence of the ,son but not of the presence of the ,father2 these are they who are not valiant in the testimony of ,jesus1 therefore they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of ,god4 #ag4 ,the ,telestial ,glory4--,the telestial glory differs from the terrestrial1 as the light of the stars differs from the light of the moon4 ,the inhabitants of the telestial glory are those who neither received the gospel of ,christ in the flesh nor the testimony of ,jesus in the spirit world4 ,these are they who are thrust down to hell1 and will not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection1 when ,christ shall have finished his work4 ,these are they who are of ,paul and of ,apollos1 and of ,cephas4 some of ,christ and some of ,john1 some of ,moses and some of ,elias2 but received not the gospel nor the testimony of ,jesus4 ,these are they who will not be gathered with the ,saints1 to be caught up unto the church of the ,first ,born1 and received into the cloud4 ,these are liars and sorcerers and adulterers1 and whoremongers1 and whosoever loves and makes a lie4 ,they suffer the wrath of ,god on earth and the vengeance of eternal fire1 but they will be judged every man according to his works and receive according to his works1 his own dominion1 in the mansions which are prepared2 and they shall be servants #chf of the ,most ,high1#aie but where ,god and ,christ dwell they cannot come1 worlds without end4 ,they of the ,telestial ,glory enjoy neither the presence of the ,father nor the ,son1 but receive the ministration of angels1 and of the ,holy ,ghost1 for even they of the ,telestial ,glory are accounted heirs of salvation4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph and ,sidney ,rigdon in their vision saw that the inhabitants of the telestial glory were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven1 or as the sand upon the sea shore--and they heard the voice of ,god saying--,these all shall bow the knee and every tongue shall confess to ,him who sits upon the throne forever and ever2 for they shall be judged according to their works1 and every man shall receive according to his own works1 his own dominions1 in the mansions which are prepared1 and they shall be servants of the ,most ,high1 but where ,god and ,christ dwell they cannot come1 worlds without end4 #ah4 ,degrees ,within the ,three ,great ,kingdoms of ,glory4--,these are the three great divisions of glory in the world to come1 but within these great divisions are subdivisions or degrees4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph taught that in the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees4#aif ,of the telestial glory it is written3 ,and the glory of the telestial is one1 even as the glory of the stars is one1 for as one star differs from another star in glory even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world4 #aig ,from this it is evident that there are different degrees of glory within the celestial and telestial glories2 and though we have no direct authority for the statement1 it seems but reasonable to conclude that there are different degrees of glory in the terrestrial world also4 ,it appears but rational that it should be so1 since the degrees of worthiness in men are almost infinite in their variety2 and as every man is to be judged according to his works1 it will require #chg a corresponding infinity of degrees in glory to mete out to every man that reward of which he is worthy1 and that also which his intelligence will enable him to enjoy4 #ai4 ,progress ,within and ,from ,different ,degrees of ,glory4--,the question of advancement within the great divisions of glory--celestial1 terrestrial1 and telestial2 as also the question of advancement from one sphere of glory to another remains to be considered4 ,in the revelation from which we have summarized what has been written here1 in respect to the different degrees of glory1 it is said that those of the terrestrial glory will be ministered unto by those of the celestial2 and those of the telestial will be ministered unto by those of the terrestrial--that is1 those of the higher glory minister to those of a lesser order of glory4 ,we can conceive of no reason for all this administration of the higher to the lower1 unless it be for the purpose of advancing our ,father's children along the lines of eternal progression4 ,whether or not in the great future1 full of so many possibilities now hidden from us1 they of the lesser glories after education and advancement within those spheres may at last emerge from them and make their way to the higher degrees of glory until at last they attain to the highest1 is not revealed in the revelations of ,god1 and any statement made on the subject must partake more or less of the nature of conjecture4 #bj4 ,but if it be granted that such a thing is possible1 they who at the first entered into the celestial glory--having before them the privilege also of eternal progress--have been moving onward1 so that the relative distance between them and those who have fought their way up from the lesser glories1 may be as great when the latter have come into the degrees of celestial glory in which the righteous at first stood1 as it was at the commencement2 and thus between them is an impassable gulf which time cannot destroy4 ,thus3 those whose faith and works are such only as to entitle them to inherit a telestial glory1 may arrive at last where those whose works in this life were such as #chh to entitle them to entrance into the celestial kingdom--they may arrive where these were but never where they are4 #ba4 ,sons of ,perdition4--,there is a class of souls with whom the justice of ,god must deal1 which will not and cannot be classified in the celestial1 terrestrial or telestial glories4 ,they are the sons of perdition4 ,but though they will not be assigned a place in either of these grand divisions of glory1 the revelation from which we have drawn our information respecting man's future state describes the condition of these sons of perdition so far as it is made known unto the children of men4 ,it also informs us as to the nature of the crime which calls for such grievous punishment4 #bb4 ,the sons of perdition are they of whom ,god hath said that it had been better for them never to have been born2 for they are vessels of wrath1 doomed to suffer the wrath of ,god1 with the devil and his angels in eternity4 ,concerning whom he hath said there is no forgiveness in this world nor the world to come4 ,these are they who shall go away into everlasting punishment1 with the devil and his angels1 and the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power2 the only ones who will not be redeemed in the due time of the ,lord1 after the sufferings of his wrath4 ,he saves all the works of his hands except these sons of perdition2 but they go away to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity1 where their worm dieth not1 and the fire is not quenched1 which is their torment4 ,the end thereof1 the place thereof no man knoweth4 ,it has not been revealed1 nor will it be revealed unto man1 except to them who are made partakers thereof4 ,it has been partially shown to some in vision1 and may be shown again in the same partial manner to others2 but the end1 the width1 the height1 the depth and the misery thereof they understand not1 nor will any one but those who receive the terrible condemnation4 #bc4 ,such the punishment1 now as to the crime that merits it4 ,it is the crime of high treason to ,god which pulls down on #chi men this fearful doom4 ,it falls upon men who know the power of ,god and who have been made partakers of it1 and then permit themselves to be so far overcome of the devil that they deny the truth that has been revealed to them and defy the power of ,god4 ,they deny the ,holy ,ghost after having received it4 ,they deny the ,only ,begotten ,son of the ,father after the ,father hath revealed him1 and in this crucify him unto themselves anew1 and put him to an open shame4 ,they commit the same act of high treason that ,lucifer in the rebellion of heaven did1 and hence are worthy of the same punishment with him4 ,thank ,god1 the number who commit that fearful crime is but few4 ,it is only those who attain to a very great knowledge of the things of ,god that are capable of committing it1 and the number among such are few indeed who become so recklessly wicked as to rebel against and defy the power of ,god4#aih ,but when such characters do fall1 they fall like ,lucifer1 never to rise again2 they get beyond the power of repentance1 or the hope of forgiveness4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,sectarian ,dogma of ,eternal ,punishment4--,there is nothing more obnoxious to a reasonable mind1 a loving heart1 a soul susceptible to the relative claims of justice and mercy1 than the ,presbyterian and other old ecclesiastical school doctrines of an eternal1 material1 unchanging hell of fire and torment in which the unregenerate are doomed to suffer the implacable wrath of an unrelenting ,deity forever and forever1 worlds without end4 99 99 99 ,and it is not true4 ,it was not and is not a doctrine of ,christ4 ,it sprang from the gloom-clothed brains of cloistered monks and heretic-burning priests1 bearing not a vestige of the sacred authority vested in the apostles and their immediate associates4 ,it is redolent of the ,auto de fe1 and stamped with the bloody seal of apostate papal ,rome4 ,it breathes of vengeance instead of justice1 and banishes sweet mercy #cij from the economy of heaven4 ,it makes ,god more cruel than the most inhuman mortal4 ,it is a libel on the ,almighty and a fruitful cause of atheism1 irreverence and doubt4--,penrose4 #b4 ,messiah ,preaching to the ,spirits in ,prison4--,in the second and third centuries every branch and division of the ,christian church1 so far as their record enables us to judge1 believed that ,christ preached to the departed2 and this belief dates back to our earliest reliable sources of information in the former of those two centuries4--,christ's ,mission to the ,under ,world1 7,huidekoper71 fourth edition1 p4 #di4 ,as ,christ died for us1 and was buried1 so also is it to be believed1 that he went down into hell4--,articles of ,religion--,church of ,england--,art4 ,,iii1 ,book of ,common ,prayer1 p4 #caa4 ,these spirits in prison are supposed to be the holy dead4 99 99 99 ,the most intelligent meaning suggested by the context is1 however1 that ,christ by his spirit preached to those who in the time of ,noah1 while the ,ark was a preparing1 were disobedient1 and whose spirits are now in prison1 abiding the general judgment4 ,the prison is doubtless hades1 but what hades is must be determined by other passages of scripture2 and whether it is the grave or hell1 it is still a prison for those who yet await the judgment day4--,cyclopedia ,biblical ,literature 7,kitto71 p4 #gih4 #c4 ,baptism for the ,dead4--,while not maintaining the view that there is such a thing as a living man being baptized for one who is dead1 the writer in ,biblical ,literature 7,kitto71 expresses these views3 ,from the wording of the sentence why then are they baptized for the dead8 the most simple impression certainly is1 that ,paul speaks of a baptism which a living man receives in the place of a dead one4 ,this interpretation is particularly adopted by those expounders with whom grammatical construction is of paramount importance1 and the first thing to be considered4 ,this view is also upheld by ,ambrose among the early ,christian writers2 and by ,erasmus1 ,scaliger1 ,grotius1 ,calixtus among the moderns2 and still more recently by ,augusti ,meyer1 ,billroth and ,ruckert4 ,de ,wette considers this the only possible meaning of the words4 #d4 ,epiphanius1 a writer of the fourth century1 in speaking of the ,marcionites1 a sect of ,christians to whom he was opposed1 says3 ,in this country--,i mean ,asia--and even ,galatea1 their school flourished eminently2 and a traditional fact concerning them has reached us1 that when any of them had died without baptism1 they used to baptize others in their name1 lest in the resurrection they should suffer punishment as unbaptized 7,heresies xxviii3#g74 ,this proves beyond controversy the fact that vicarious baptism for the dead was practiced among some sects of the early ,christians4 ,another fact proves it still more emphatically than this statement by ,epiphanius4 ,the ,council of ,carthages1 held ,a4 ,d4 #cig1 in its sixth canon1 forbids the #cia administration of baptism and holy communion for the dead2 why should this canon be formed against these practices if they had no existence among the ,christians of those days8--,the ,gospel1 page #bdf4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what great work did ,elijah's visit to the ,kirtland ,temple introduce8 #b4 ,what was the ,christian belief previous to this in respect to those who died without conversion to the ,christian religion8 #c4 ,through what cause did this error arise8 #d4 ,explain the meaning of ,eternal punishment--,endless punishment4 #e4 ,what scripture teaches that ,jesus preached to the spirits in prison8 #f4 ,for what purpose was the gospel preached to those who once rejected it8 #g4 ,if the gospel was preached again to those who once rejected it1 what may we conclude in respect to those who never heard it in this life8 #h4 ,by what means is the gospel made available to those who died without a knowledge of it1 or who hearing1 rejected it8 #i4 ,give an exposition of baptism for the dead4 7,notes #c and #d47 #aj4 ,what is the scriptural doctrine in relation to the future rewards of men8 #aa4 ,what is the orthodox ,christian view in respect to those who attain unto heaven8 #ab4 ,in what does the ,catholic view differ from that of the ,protestant8 7,note1 p4 #dad47 #ac4 ,what evidences in the scripture can you quote to prove that there are different kingdoms or degrees of glory in heaven8 #ad4 ,say what you can of the celestial glory4 #ae4 ,describe as far as you can the terrestrial glory4 #af4 ,in what does the telestial glory differ from the terrestrial8 #ag4 ,what class of people inherit the telestial glory8 #ah4 ,what can you say of degrees within the three great kingdoms of glory8 #ai4 ,what can you say of progress within and from the different degrees of glory8 #bj4 ,what can you say of the sons of perdition and their punishment8 #ba4 ,what is the nature of their sin8 #bb4 ,what of the number of those who commit it8 #cib ,,section ,,ix4 #a4 ,the ,breaking up at ,kirtland4--,the keys of knowledge respecting the great doctrines treated in the last two sections were received in the ,kirtland temple2 and for a time it appeared that the ,saints would long enjoy the blessings of their temple and the communion and instruction of heavenly messengers4 ,but not so4 ,with prosperity which attended them there1 came pride1 envyings1 jealousies and heart-burnings4 ,their temporal prosperity existed but a brief period4 ,it was carried away by the wave of financial disaster which swept over the ,united ,states in #ahcg4 ,then came financial embarrassment1 accompanied with charges and counter-charges of fraud and dishonesty4 ,apostasy among men high in authority was rife4 ,several of the twelve apostles went down in those dark days1 and became bitter enemies to the ,prophet ,joseph4 ,to such an extent did the spirit of apostasy prevail that it became murderous2 and the prophet and a number of his most devoted friends had to flee from ,kirtland for their lives4 ,see note #a1 end of section4 #b4 ,the ,founding of ,far ,west--,expulsion ,from ,missouri4--,meantime the ,saints in ,missouri who were driven from ,jackson county1 in the latter part of #ahcc1 removed from their temporary locations in ,clay ,county1 and settled in the new county of ,caldwell1 where they founded the city of ,far ,west4 ,it was to ,far ,west that the ,prophet ,joseph and other church leaders fled when compelled to leave ,kirtland4 ,but there was little rest for the church in ,missouri2 persecution was threatened #cic before the prophet arrived1 and his presence only seemed to hasten the impending storm4 ,in the autumn of #ahch it broke upon the church in all its fury1 and during that winter the entire church was expelled from the ,state by order of its governor1 ,lilburn ,w4 ,boggs4 ,see note #b1 end of section4 #c4 ,the ,rise of ,nauvoo4--,while the ,saints were being expelled from the state the ,prophet ,joseph and several other leading elders were imprisoned in ,liberty jail1 ,clay county1 ,missouri1 having been betrayed into the hands of their enemies by the treachery of false brethren4 ,they were held on false charges of murder1 arson and treason4 ,they finally made their escape from their enemies and joined the body of the church1 which had found a temporary resting place in the city of ,quincy and vicinity1 in ,illinois4 ,shortly afterwards they settled at ,commerce1 in ,hancock county1 in the same state4 ,the church purchased several large tracts of land at this place of ,dr4 ,galland1 a ,mr4 ,white1 ,hubbard1 ,wells1 ,hotchkiss1 and others2 and soon from the wilderness and bogs of ,commerce--,see note #c1 end of section--rose the city of ,nauvoo--meaning ,the ,beautiful2 carrying with it also1 says the ,prophet ,joseph1 the idea of rest4 #d4 ,although both ,joseph and the ,saints saw some of their best days in ,nauvoo1 there was not much rest for them there1 especially for the former4 ,the toil and anxiety of founding a city1 establishing manufactures1 publishing a paper1 and converting the surrounding country into fields and gardens2 sending the apostles to preach the gospel in foreign lands1 being all the time tormented by their enemies in ,missouri and ,illinois1 kept the church1 and especially the ,prophet ,joseph1 busy during the whole time they remained in ,nauvoo4 ,here the translation of the ,book of ,abraham was published4 ,see note #d1 end of section4 ,a magnificent temple was constructed in which to carry on the work of salvation for the dead1 and in which the living could receive those washings and anointings1 endowments and #cid sealings1 necessary to prepare them for their entrance into and their exaltation in heaven4 #e4 ,celestial ,marriage ,introduced4--,it was in ,nauvoo also that the prophet introduced celestial marriage1--the marriage system which obtains in celestial worlds4 ,it consists of the eternity of the marriage covenant1 that is1 the marriage covenant between a man and his wife is made for time and all eternity1 and being sealed by that power of the priesthood which binds on earth and in heaven1 the covenant holds good in heaven as well as on earth2 and by reason of it men will have claim upon their wives1 and wives upon their husbands1 in and after the resurrection4 ,celestial marriage may also include a plurality of wives4 #f4 ,eternity of the ,marriage ,covenant4--,this new marriage system--new at least to this generation--completely revolutionized the ideas of the ,saints in respect to the marriage institution4 ,in common with the ,christian sects1 they had regarded marriage vaguely as an institution to exist in this world only2 and married their wives as other ,christians did and now do--until death shall them part4 ,but by the revelation which the prophet made known at ,nauvoo1 they learned that in celestial spheres the marriage covenant exists eternally1 and that the pleasing joys of family ties and associations coupled with the power of endless increase1 contributes to the happiness1 power and dominion of those who attain to the celestial glory4 ,what a revelation was here6 ,instead of the ,god-given power of pro-creation being one of the things that is to pass away1 it is one of the chief means of man's exaltation and glory in that great eternity1 which like an endless vista stretches out before him6 ,through it man attains to the glory of the endless increase of eternal lives1 and the right of presiding as priest and patriarch1 king and lord1 over his ever-increasing posterity4 ,instead of the commandment--,be fruitful1 multiply and replenish the earth1 being an unrighteous law1 it is one #cie by means of which the race of ,gods is perpetuated1 and it is as holy and pure as the commandment1 ,repent and be baptized4 ,through that law1 in connection with an observance of all the other laws of the gospel1 man will yet attain unto the power of the ,godhead1#aii and like his ,father--,god--his chief glory shall be to bring to pass the eternal life and happiness of man4 #cif #g4 ,plurality of ,wives4--,celestial marriage1 as already observed1 may include a plurality of wives4 ,this was as great an innovation as marriage for eternity4 ,it came in conflict with the education and tradition of the ,saints1 and the sentiments of the age4 ,still ,god had commanded it through his prophet1 and though their prejudices--the fruit of their traditions--revolted against it1 the faithful to whom it was revealed resolved to obey it4 #h4 ,it was in #ahca that plural marriage was first made known to ,joseph ,smith4 ,in that year he was engaged in revising by inspiration the ,jewish ,scriptures2#bjj and observing with what favor the ,lord regarded the early patriarchs1 and many of the kings and prophets of the ,jews who had a plurality of wives1 he inquired of ,god how it was he justified them in that thing4 ,the ,lord in answer revealed the law of celestial marriage4 ,but the time had not come for the ,saints to enter into its practice1 and hence the prophet kept it locked up a secret in his own breast1 with the exception of saying to one or two of his most confidential friends that plural marriage was a correct principle4 ,see note #d1 end of section4 ,in #ahda the prophet introduced the practice of this principle into the church by taking to himself plural wives4#bja ,he also taught the principle to a number of the leading elders and they obeyed it4 #cig,,notes4 #a4 ,prosperity and ,disaster which ,overwhelmed the ,church at ,kirtland4--,speculation was rife all over the ,united ,states at that time1 #ahcg and the ,saints did not escape the contagion4 ,they started a banking institution1 engaged in mercantile pursuits and land speculation4 ,for a time they were prosperous and wealth rapidly accumulated among them4 ,sidney ,rigdon declared1 in a burst of enthusiasm1 that the glory of the latter days was now being ushered in1 and that ,zion would soon become the glory of the whole earth2 when the ,lord for silver would bring gold2 for iron1 brass2 and for stones1 iron4 ,but a wave of financial disaster swept over the entire country4 ,banking institutions went down before it2 thousands of merchants were hopelessly ruined2 and in the general disaster ,kirtland did not escape4 ,like the inhabitants of other towns1 her people were overwhelmed with financial embarrassment4 ,distress1 ruin and poverty1 says ,elder ,taylor1 seemed to prevail4 ,apostates and corrupt men were prowling about as so many wolves seeking whom they might devour4 ,they were oppressive1 cruel1 heartless1 devising every pretext that the most satanic malignity could invent to harass the ,saints4 ,fraud1 false accusation and false swearing1 vexatious law suits1 personal violence1 and bare-faced robbery abounded4 ,they were truly afficted1 persecuted and tormented4--,life of ,john ,taylor1 p4 #eb4 #b4 ,persecution of the ,saints in ,missouri4--,this brings us to the close of our story of the ,missouri ,persecutions4 ,we have seen a people start out under the direction of the ,lord to build up the city of ,zion to his holy name2 but who1 through their disobedience and failure to observe strictly those conditions upon which the ,lord promised them success in accomplishing so great and glorious a work1 were driven entirely from the ,state where that city is to be erected4 ,we have seen a proud1 sovereign state1 with a constitution that guaranteed the largest possible religious and civil liberty to its citizens1 ignore the spirit and letter of that constitution2 shamelessly violate the laws passed in pursuance of it2 and the officers of the state1 from the chief executive down1 combine to destroy the ,saints of ,god1 or drive them from the ,state3 in accomplishing which they were guilty of the most cruel barbarity4 ,it is no palliation of their offense to say that the ,saints had not strictly kept the commandments of ,god4 ,their offenses were against the laws of ,god rather than the laws of man4 ,so far as the state of ,missouri was concerned1 she was not justified in trampling on her own constitution and laws1 and committing outrages that would bring to the cheek of #cih a savage the blush of shame4 ,it was a case where offenses must needs come1 but woe1 woe1 unto them by whom they come6--,missouri ,persecutions--,roberts4 #c4 ,commerce1 ,afterwards ,nauvoo4--,the place was literally a wilderness4 ,the land was mostly covered with trees and bushes1 and much of it was so wet that it was with the utmost difficulty a footman could get through1 and totally impossible for teams4 ,commerce was unhealthful1 very few could live there2 but believing that it might become a healthful place by the blessing of heaven to the ,saints1 and no more eligible place presenting itself1 ,i considered it wisdom to make an attempt to build up a city4--,joseph ,smith4 #d4 ,the ,book of ,abraham4--,the rolls of papyrus filled with ,egyptian characters and hieroglyphics1 from which ,joseph translated the ,book of ,abraham1 came into his possession in the following manner3 ,in #ahca the celebrated ,french traveler1 ,antonio ,sebolo1 penetrated ,egypt as far as the ancient city of ,thebes1 under a license procured from ,mehemet ,ali--then ,viceroy of ,egypt--through the influence of ,chevalier ,drovetti1 the ,french ,consul4 ,sebolo employed four hundred and thirty-three men for four months and two days1 either ,turkish or ,egyptian soldiers1 paying them from four to six cents a day per man4 ,they entered the ,catatombs near ancient ,thebes on the seventh of ,june1 #ahca1 and procured eleven mummies4 ,these were shipped to ,alexandria1 and from there the great traveler started with his treasures for ,paris4 ,but en route for the ,french capital1 ,sebolo put in at ,trieste1 where he was taken sick1 and after an illness of ten days1 died4 ,this was in #ahcb4 ,previous to his death he willed his ,egyptian treasures to his nephew1 ,michael ,h4 ,chandler1 who was then living in ,philadelphia1 ,pennsylvania1 but whom ,sebolo believed to be in ,dublin1 to which city he ordered the mummies shipped4 ,mr4 ,chandler ordered the mummies forwarded to ,new ,york from ,dublin1 where he took possession of them4 ,here the coffins for the first time were opened1 and in them was found two rolls of papyrus covered with engraving4 ,while still in the customs house1 ,mr4 ,c4 was informed by a gentleman1 a stranger to him1 that no one in the city could translate the characters2 but was referred to ,joseph ,smith1 who1 the stranger informed him1 possessed some kind of gift or power by which he had previously translated similar characters4 ,joseph ,smith was then unknown to ,mr4 ,c4 ,the mummies were shipped to ,philadelphia2 and from there ,mr4 ,c4 traveled through the country1 exhibited them and the rolls of papyrus1 reaching ,kirtland in ,july1 #ahce1 and the ,saints purchased some of the mummies and the two rolls of papyrus1 one of which was the writing of ,abraham and the other of ,joseph1 who was sold into ,egypt4 ,the ,book of ,abraham has been translated and published1 at least in part4 #cii ,see ,pearl of ,great ,price4 ,elder ,george ,reynolds has published a work on this subject1 ,the ,divine ,authenticity of the ,book of ,abraham1 which should be carefully studied by every elder in ,israel4 #e4 ,the ,establishment of ,plural ,marriage4--,the principle of plural marriage was first revealed to ,joseph ,smith in #ahca1 but being forbidden to make it public1 or to teach it as a doctrine of the gospel1 at that time1 he confided the facts to only a very few of his intimate associates4 ,among them were ,oliver ,cowdery and ,lyman ,e4 ,johnson1 the latter confiding the fact to his traveling companion1 ,elder ,orson ,pratt1 in the year #ahcb4 ,and this great principle remained concealed in the bosoms of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith and the few to whom he revealed it1 until he was commanded1 about #ahdb1 to instruct the leading members of the priesthood1 and those who were most faithful and intelligent1 and best prepared to receive it4 ,in relation thereto1 at which time and subsequently until his martyrdom1 the subject in connection with the great principles of baptism1 redemption and sealing for the dead1 became the great theme of his life1 and as the late ,president ,george ,a4 ,smith repeatedly said to me and others--,the prophet seemed irresistibly moved by the power of ,god to establish that principle not only in theory1 in the hearts and minds of his brethren1 but in practice also1 he himself having led the way4--,joseph ,f4 ,smith4 ,,review4 #a4 ,what appeared to be the prospects of the ,saints at ,kirtland8 #b4 ,what influence did wealth have upon them8 #c4 ,what did the great apostasy at ,kirtland result in8 #d4 ,state what you can about the founding of ,far ,west4 #e4 ,what effect did the presence of the ,prophet ,joseph have in ,missouri8 #f4 ,tell what you can of the expulsion from ,nauvoo4 #g4 ,where did the church find a temporary resting place after its expulsion from ,missouri8 #h4 ,where did the church next settle8 #i4 ,what is the meaning of the word ,nauvoo8 #aj4 ,what can you say of ,nauvoo being a place of rest to the ,prophet ,joseph and the ,saints8 #aa4 ,enumerate the several things which employed the attention of the ,prophet and the ,saints at ,nauvoo4 #djj #ab4 ,where was celestial marriage introduced8 #ac4 ,what is celestial marriage8 #ad4 ,in what light was celestial marriage looked upon by the ,saints8 #ae4 ,what was the effect of this principle upon their minds8 #af4 ,is it sacrilege to believe that man may become like his ,father--,god8 7,see note47 #ag4 ,what beside marriage for eternity may celestial marriage include8 #ah4 ,when was the rightfulness of plural marriage first made known to the ,prophet ,joseph8 #ai4 ,about what time was this principle introduced into the ,church8 #bj4 ,under what circumstances and on what date was the revelation on celestial marriage written out8 7,see foot note1 also note #e47 #dja ,,section ,x4 #a4 ,martyrdom of the ,prophets4--,the relentless persecution which had followed the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith ever since he first announced that he had received a revelation from ,god1 culminated at last in his and his brother ,hyrum's martyrdom1 at ,carthage jail1 ,hancock county1 ,illinois1 on the #bgth of ,june1 #ahdd4 ,religious prejudices and political jealousies1 combined with the treason of wicked apostates from the church in ,nauvoo1 are the forces which led to this sad result4 ,the two brothers were murdered in ,carthage prison while awaiting trial on a false charge of treason against the ,state of ,illinois4 ,they were under the immediate protection of the officers of the state1 the governor thereof having only the day before pledged the honor of the ,state for their protection4 ,notwithstanding all this a mob of from one to two hundred surrounded the prison where they were confined1 forced the door1 killed the ,prophet ,joseph and his brother ,hyrum1 and severely wounded ,apostle ,john ,taylor1 who1 with ,willard ,richards1 was a voluntary inmate of the prison with the brothers ,smith4#bjb #b4 ,the martyrdom of the prophet has an importance second only to the crucifixion of ,messiah2 for in his martyrdom he sealed his testimony with his blood1 and thenceforth it is made binding on all the world4 ,for where a testament is1 there must also of necessity be the death of the testator4 ,for a testament is of force after men are dead2 otherwise it is of no #djb strength at all while the testator liveth4 #bjc ,the ,dispensation of the ,fullness of ,times doubtless required a testimony such as ,joseph ,smith bore to the world1 to be sealed with his blood1 else the tragedy at ,carthage would not have been permitted4 #c4 ,the ,twelve ,apostles ,succeed in ,presidency4--,after the death of the ,prophet ,joseph1 the ,twelve--the quorum standing next to the ,first ,presidency1 and equal in authority to that quorum--took charge of the affairs of the church4 ,sidney ,rigdon1 who with ,hyrum ,smith was a counselor in the first presidency1 pressed his claims to be recognized as the guardian or president of the church1 but he was rejected by the ,saints1 and the twelve were sustained for the time being as the presiding quorum of the church4#bjd #d4 ,expulsion from ,illinois4--,when the enemies of the ,saints in ,illinois saw that the killing of the prophet did not destroy the church1 they agitated the question of driving them from the state1 and such was the influence of the mob1 and such the cowardice and weakness of the state officials1 that they were entirely successful in the undertaking4 ,the ,saints were compelled to leave the state under circumstances of the utmost cruelty1 sacrificing very much of their property1 the city they had founded and the temple they had built4 #e4 ,flight to the ,west--,why4--,when compelled to leave ,illinois1 the ,saints turned their faces westward4 ,the country west of the ,missouri was unoccupied1 except by wandering tribes of ,indians1 and they might look for that peace in the vast wilderness of the west which had been refused them in the ,christian1 civilized states of the east4 ,but what caused them to look to the west for an abiding place--even more than the fact that the west was unoccupied--was the frequent predictions #djc of the ,prophet ,joseph that the ,saints would yet remove to the ,rocky ,mountains and become a great people4 ,see note #a1 end of section4 ,here1 too1 in the tops of the ,rocky ,mountains they could fulfill better than anywhere else the predictions of the ancient prophets4 ,see note #b1 end of section4 #f4 ,arrival in ,salt ,lake ,valley4--,westward1 therefore1 they turned their faces2 the pioneer company--consisting of one hundred and forty-three men and three women--crossed the plains in #ahdg1 arriving in ,salt ,lake ,valley on the #bdth of ,july of that year4 ,they made their encampment on the present site of ,salt ,lake ,city1 and soon afterwards laid off the city and began the erection of permanent homes4 #g4 ,reorganization of the ,first ,presidency4--,at ,winter ,quarters1 ,december #e1 #ahdg1 the first presidency of the church was reorganized4 ,brigham ,young was nominated and sustained as the president1 with authority to choose his two counselors4 ,he selected ,heber ,c4 ,kimball and ,willard ,richards for first and second counselors1 respectively1 and they were unanimously sustained by the church4 #h4 ,brigham ,young4#bje--;,brigham ,young acted as the president of the church for thirty years--for thirty-three years1 if the three years that the quorum of the twelve 7of which he was president7 acted as the presiding quorum of the church1 be counted4 ,in the course of these thirty-three eventful years this truly great man conducted the exodus of the ,saints from ,nauvoo2 led them across the wide extended plains which form the eastern slopes of the ,rocky ,mountains2 established them in ,salt ,lake and surrounding valleys1 located and laid out many of their settlements1 and taught them not only the moral precepts of the gospel1 but how to produce from the elements1 sterile as they then seemed1 the necessaries and comforts #djd of life4 ,through his wisdom--,god-given--he laid the foundation of the present commonwealth of ,utah4 ,just previous to his death he organized the settlements of the church into ,stakes of ,zion1 as we now know them1 and set in order the various quorums of the priesthood4 #i4 ,president ,young was a natural leader among men--a master spirit4 ,his genius especially manifested itself in his ability to organize and govern men4 ,he had not only been the president of the church and the first governor of ,utah1 but he was also the friend of the people4 ,in times of trial and sorrow they turned to him for comfort2 in times of danger they looked to him to direct their action2 in times of perplexity they went to him for the word of the ,lord2 and ,brigham ,young1 full of heaven-inspired wisdom1 never failed them in any of these things4 ,see note #c1 end of section4 #aj4 ,the ,twelve again ,presiding4--,at the death of ,president ,brigham ,young1 ,august #bi1 #ahgg1 the quorum of the twelve apostles again became the temporary presiding quorum of the church1 with ,john ,taylor at their head4 ,see note #d1 end of section4 ,the quorum of the twelve continued to act as the presiding quorum of the church until the ,october conference of #ahhj1 when the first presidency was again organized4 ,john ,taylor was chosen president1 and he selected ,george ,q4 ,cannon for his first1 and ,joseph ,f4 ,smith for his second counselor4 #aa4 ,john ,taylor4--,president ,john ,taylor came to the high office of president of the church late in life1 in his seventy-second year4 ,he joined the church in his early manhood1 in #ahcf1 and two years later was ordained into the quorum of the twelve apostles4 ,he was a trusted friend of the ,prophet ,joseph1 and was in prison with him when he was martyred1 and he himself was wounded nigh unto death4 ,he had been prominent in all leading events of the church from the time he was ordained an apostle until he became the president thereof4 ,he was a man of wide experience1 profound judgment1 and unwavering #dje integrity4 ,see note #e1 end of section4 ,he entered upon the performance of his high duties with a zeal and vigor only to be expected of a younger man4 ,he was careful to set in order the several quorums of the priesthood1 and insist upon each man doing his duty4 ,the seven years of his administration as president of the church will be remembered as among the most eventful in the history of the church4 ,it was during those years that the judicial crusade was inaugurated by the ,united ,states and most vigorously carried on against the ,saints for the suppression of plural marriage4 #ab4 ,wilford ,woodruff--,his ,administration4--,president ,taylor died on the #beth of ,july1 #ahhg1 and once more the quorum of the twelve apostles became the presiding quorum of the church4 ,they continued to act in that capacity1 with ,wilford ,woodruff as president1 until ,april #g1 #ahhi1 when the first presidency was again reorganized1 with ,wilford ,woodruff as president4 ,he retained the counselors of the late ,president ,taylor1 ,george ,q4 ,cannon and ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 as his counselors4 #ac4 ,the persecution which the ,united ,states had inflicted upon the church on the pretext of suppressing plural marriage culminated in #ahij in the discontinuance of the practice of that principle4 ,it may be well here to enumerate those circumstances which led to the above result4 ,it has already been stated how plural marriage was introduced and practiced in ,nauvoo4 ,after the church settled in ,salt ,lake valley it was publicly proclaimed as a doctrine of the church in #aheb4 ,the practice of it then was public1 the whole church--and at that time the members of the church comprised nearly the whole community--approving the principle1 which was at once recognized as a proper religious institution4 #ad4 ,enactments of ,congress ,against ,plural ,marriage4--,for ten years the practice in ,utah of this system of marriage met with no opposition from the ,united ,states4 ,but #djf in #ahfb a law was enacted by ,congress to punish and prevent the practice of polygamy in the ,territories of the ,united ,states4#bjf ,the penalties affixed were a fine1 not to exceed five hundred dollars1 and imprisonment not to exceed five years4 ,for twenty years1 however1 the law remained practically a dead letter4 ,it was claimed by the ,saints that it was an infringement of the religious liberty guaranteed by the ,constitution #bjg of the ,united ,states1 since it prohibited the free exercise of religion4 ,for twenty years no pronounced effort was made by the officers of the general government to enforce the law4 ,in #ahhb1 however1 the law enacted twenty years before was supplemented by what is known as the ,edmunds ,law4 ,in addition to defining the crime polygamy--for which it retained the same penalties as the law of #ahfb--the ,edmunds law also made the cohabiting with more than one woman a crime1 punishable by a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars1 and by imprisonment not to exceed six months4 ,this law also rendered persons who were living in polygamy1 or who believed in its rightfulness1 incompetent to act as grand or petit jurors2 and also disqualified all polygamists for voting or holding office4 ,this law of #ahhb was supplemented by the ,edmunds-,tucker law--enacted in #ahhg--which made the legal wife or husband1 in case of polygamy or unlawful cohabitation1 a competent witness1 provided the accused consented thereto2 it also enlarged the powers of ,united ,states commissioners and marshals1 and required certificates of all marriages to be filed in the office of the probate court4 ,the violation of this last provision was a fine of one thousand dollars1 and imprisonment for two years4 ,the law disincorporated the church1 and ordered the supreme court to wind up its affairs1 and take possession of the escheated property4 #djg #ae4 ,the laws were rigorously enforced by the ,united ,states officials1 special appropriations being made by ,congress to enable them to carry on a judicial crusade against the ,saints4 ,the prominent church officials were driven into retirement2 others into exile4 ,homes were disrupted2 family ties were rent asunder4 ,upwards of a thousand men endured fines and imprisonment in the penitentiary rather than be untrue to their families4 ,every effort of the government to deprive the people of what was considered their religious liberty was stubbornly contested in the ,courts until the decision of the supreme court of the ,united ,states was obtained4 ,while some of the proceedings of the courts in ,utah in enforcing the anti-polygamy laws were condemned1 the laws were sustained as constitutional4 ,the court also held that the first amendment to the ,constitution1 which provides that ,congress shall not prohibit the free exercise of religion1 cannot be invoked against legislation for the punishment of plural marriages4 ,meantime government was relentless1 and still more stringent measures than those already enacted were threatened4 #af4 ,discontinuance of ,plural ,marriages4--,in the midst of these afflictions and threatening portents ,president ,wilford ,woodruff besought the ,lord in anguish and prayer and the ,lord inspired him to issue the manifesto which discontinued the practice of plural marriages4 ,at the semi-annual conference in ,october following1 the action of ,president ,woodruff was sustained by unanimous vote of the conference and plural marriages are discontinued in the church4 ,see notes #f1 #g1 #h1 end of section4 #ag4 ,in this matter of plural marriage the ,latter-say ,saints are neither responsible for its introduction nor for its discontinuance4 ,the ,lord commanded its practice1 and in the face of the sentiment of ages1 and in opposition to the teachings of their own traditions1 many of the ,saints obeyed the commandment1 and in the midst of weakness1 difficulties and dangers #djh sought to carry out the law as revealed to them4 ,for about half a century they maintained its practice in the face of opposition sufficient to appall the stoutest hearts4 ,they defended it in the public press proclaimed it from the pulpit1 debated it on the platform with all those who chose to assail it1 and practiced it in their lives1 notwithstanding fines and imprisonments threatened2 and when the power of the government was vigorously employed to enforce its laws against this institution1 hundreds of men cheerfully endured both fines and imprisonment rather than be untrue to it4 ,a whole generation had been grown and had grown to manhood and womanhood in this marriage system1 and the affections of family ties were entwined with it4 ,then1 under the pressure of suffering brought upon the people through the laws of the ,united ,states1 the ,lord inspired the president of the church to proclaim its discontinuance1 and the people1 with hearts bursting with grief submitted to the will of heaven1 and there the matter rests4 ,if the labors and sufferings of the church of ,christ for this principle have done nothing more1 this much at least has been accomplished--the ,saints have borne testimony to the truth4 ,and it is for ,god to vindicate his own law and open the way for its establishment on the earth1 which doubtless he will do when his kingdom shall come in power1 and when his will shall be done in earth as it is in heaven4 #ah4 ,laying of the ,cap-,stone of the ,salt ,lake ,temple4--,one of the most pleasing and at the same time one of the most important events in the history of the church during the administration of ,president ,woodruff1 was laying the cap-stone of the ,salt ,lake ,temple1 on the #fth of ,april1 #ahib4 ,it was laid by ,president ,woodruff amid the rejoicing of thousands of the ,saints2 and a resolution was adopted to complete the sacred edifice and dedicate it on the #fth of ,april1 #ahic--;forty years from the time the corner-stones thereof was laid4 #ai4 ,the ,growth and ,present ,condition of the ,church 7#ahib74--,since the ,saints settled in the valleys of the ,rocky #dji mountains the church has been making steady growth in numbers1 and its territorial boundaries are constantly extending4 ,the church is no longer confined within the boundary lines of the territory of ,utah4 ,it has five stakes organized in the state of ,idaho1 one in the state of ,colorado1 one in ,wyoming1 four in the territory of ,arizona1 and colonies in ,mexico and ,canada4 ,the settlements of the ,saints are noted for peace and good order2 for the cleanliness1 thrift1 sobriety and the comfortable circumstances of the people4 ,but few individuals in the church can be considered wealthy1 yet as a whole the community is rich1 most of the people owning their homes1 the lands they cultivate and the flocks and herds they tend4 ,the land has been blessed for their sakes1 and made to yield in its strength4 ,they are a contented1 happy1 and fast becoming a mighty people4 ,they are diligently preaching the gospel to the world1 having sent missionaries to nearly all the nations of the earth4 ,in the ,british ,isles1 and among the ,scandinavian and ,german people the missionaries have been especially successful4 ,of late years great progress has been made also among the natives of ,new ,zealand1 ,sandwich ,islands1 and other islands of the ,pacific1 notably in ,samoa4 #bj4 ,the church is also devoting much of its energies to the work for the dead4 ,four magnificent temples have been reared by the ,saints4 ,one in ,st1 ,george1 dedicated ,january #ast1 #ahgg2 one in ,logan1 dedicated #agth of ,may1 #ahhd2 another in ,manti1 dedicated #bast of ,may1 #ahhh2 and one in ,salt ,lake1 dedicated on the #fth of ,april1 #ahic4 ,in these temples the faithful ,saints are doing a noble and a mighty work for their ancestors1 as well as a very important work for the living4 #ba4 ,a ,preparatory ,work4--,the work of ,god1 as revealed through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 has a peculiar significance to this generation4 ,it is essentially a preparatory work2 its direct mission is to prepare for the glorious coming of the ,son #daj of ,god to reign over the earth4 ,nothing can be more explicitly stated in the scripture than the fact that the ,son of ,god will come to the earth in the glory of his ,father1 to reward the righteous with a speedy resurrection from the dead1 and destroy the wicked by the judgments of famine1 pestilence and war2 to establish his kingdom in power1 bringing in a reign of peace1 liberty and righteousness4 ,in proof of this let the student consider the following scripture3 ,i4 ,promise of ,messiah's ,glorious ,return3--,and when he had spoken these things1 while they beheld1 he was taken up2 and a cloud received him out of their sight4 ,and1 while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up1 behold two men angels stood by them in white apparel2 which also said1 ,ye men of ,galilee1 why stand ye gazing up into heaven8 ,this same ,jesus1 which is taken up from you into heaven1 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven4 #bjh ,for the ,son of man shall come in the glory of his ,father1 with his angels2 and then he shall reward every man according to his works4 #bji ,,ii4 ,messiah to ,come to ,judgment3--,for if we believe that ,jesus died and rose again1 even so them also which sleep in ,jesus will ,god bring with him4 ,for this we say unto you by the word of the ,lord1 that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the ,lord shall not prevent them which are asleep4 ,for the ,lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout1 with the voice of the archangel1 and with the trump of ,god3 and the dead in ,christ shall rise first2 then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds1 to meet the ,lord in the air3 and so shall we ever be with the ,lord4 #baj ,and to you who are troubled rest with us1 when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels #daa in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not ,god1 and that obey not the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the ,lord1 and from the glory of his power2 when he shall come to be glorified in his saints1 and to be admired in all them that believe 7because our testimony among you was believed7 in that day4 #baa ,for the ,son of ,man cometh at an hour when we think not4 #bab ,see note #i1 end of section4 ,,iii4 ,the ,world to be ,warned of ,coming ,judgments3--,to a number of elders in ,kirtland1 in #ahcb1 who had been called to the ministry1 the ,lord gave these instructions1 and1 of course1 they apply to all elders called to the same ministry3--,teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you1 that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory1 in principle1 in doctrine1 in the law of the gospel1 in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of ,god1 that is expedient for you to understand4 99 99 99 ,that ye may be prepared in all things when ,i shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto ,i have called you1 and the mission with which ,i have commissioned you4 ,behold1 ,i sent you out to testify and warn the people1 and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor4 ,therefore1 they are left without excuse1 and their sins are upon their own heads4 99 99 99 ,therefore1 tarry ye1 and labor diligently1 that ye may be perfected in your ministry to go forth among the ,gentiles for the last time1 as many as the mouth of the ,lord shall name1 to bind up the law and seal up the testimony1 and to prepare the saints for the hour of judgment which is to come2 that their souls may escape the wrath of ,god1 the desolation of abomination which awaits the wicked1 both in this world and the world to come4 99 99 99 ,abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free2 entangle not yourselves in sin1 but let your hands be clean1 until the ,lord come2 for not many days hence and the earth shall #dab tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man1 and the sun shall hide his face1 and shall refuse to give light1 and the moon shall be bathed in blood1 and the stars shall become exceeding angry1 and shall cast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a fig tree4 ,and after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people2 for after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes1 that shall cause groanings in the midst of her1 and men shall fall upon the ground1 and shall not be able to stand4 ,and also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings1 and the voice of lightnings1 and the voice of the tempest1 and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds4 ,and all things shall be in commotion2 and surely1 men's hearts shall fail them2 for fear shall come upon all people2 and angels shall fly through the midst of heaven1 crying with a loud voice1 sounding the trump of ,god1 saying1 ,prepare ye1 prepare ye1 ,o inhabitants of the earth2 for the judgment of our ,god is come2 behold and lo6 the ,bridegroom cometh1 go ye out to meet him4 #bac ,,iv4 ,the ,coming of the ,kingdom of ,god from ,heaven3--,hearken1 and lo1 a voice as of one from on high4 99 99 99 ,prepare ye the way of the ,lord1 make his paths straight4 ,the keys of the kingdom of ,god are committed unto man on the earth1 and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth1 as the stone which is cut out of the mountains without hands shall roll forth1 until it has filled the whole earth2 yea1 a voice crying--,prepare ye the way of the ,lord1 prepare ye the supper of the ,lamb1 make ready for the ,bridegroom2 pray unto the ,lord1 call upon his holy name1 make known his wonderful works among the people2 call upon the ,lord1 that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth1 that the inhabitants thereof may receive it1 and be prepared for the days to come1 in which the ,son of ,man shall come down from heaven1 clothed #dac in the brightness of his glory1 to meet the kingdom of ,god which is set up on the earth4 #bad ,v4 ,a ,prayer3--,wherefore may the kingdom of ,god go forth1 that the kingdom of heaven may come1 that thou1 ,o ,god1 mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth1 that thy enemies may be subdued2 for thine is the honor1 power and glory1 forever and ever4 ,amen4 #bae #bb4 ,conclusion4--,such then is the work of ,god in the great ,dispensation of the ,fullness of ,times--a preparatory work for the glorious coming and reign of ,messiah4 ,it is the gospel of ,jesus ,christ restored to the earth through the ministration of angels to ,joseph ,smith and others whom the ,lord called to the work4 ,in it are found all the principles1 ordinances1 authorities1 powers1 gifts1 graces1 callings and appointments necessary to accomplish the eternal salvation of the living and the dead--it is the fullness of the gospel2 and has or will gather into it all that has ever been revealed concerning the redemption of the earth and the human race4 ,this great work of ,god1 as we have seen1 contemplates the gathering of ,israel and the restoration of the lost tribes2 the return of the ,jews to ,jerusalem1 which city they will rebuild2 the redemption of the ,lamanites and the building of a glorious city upon the ,american continent to be called ,zion2 the advent of ,messiah in power and glory to reign in righteousness over the earth for a thousand years1 with all the ancient ,saints and those of modern days who are worthy2 it contemplates the final redemption of the earth1 and teaches that it will become a celestial sphere1 the abode of resurrected celestial beings forever4 ,this work of ,god accepts and includes within its boundary lines all truth4 ,it is progressive and is destined to become the religion of the age4 ,within it is scope for all the intelligence that shall flow unto it--within its atmosphere is room for every intellectual wing4 #dad ,it does not1 as some have supposed1 thrive best where ignorance is most profound2 nor does it depend upon superstition for its existence or perpetuity2 but it possesses within itself principles of native strength that will enable it to weather every storm1 outlive all hatred born of ignorance and prejudice1 and will yet prove itself to be what indeed it is--the power of ,god unto salvation to all those who believe and obey it4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,prophecy that the ,saints would ,remove to the ,west4--,i passed over the river to ,montrose1 ,iowa1 in company with ,general ,adams1 ,colonel ,brewer and others1 and witnessed the installation of the officers of the ,rising ,sun ,lodge of ,ancient order of ,masons1 at ,montrose1 by ,general ,james ,adams1 deputy grand master of ,illinois4 ,while the deputy grand master was engaged in giving the requisite instructions to the master-elect1 ,i had a conversation with a number of the brethren in the shade of the building on the subject of our persecutions in ,missouri1 and the constant annoyance which has followed us since we were driven from that state4 ,i prophesied that the ,saints would continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the ,rocky ,mountains1 many would apostatize1 others would be put to death by their persecutors1 or lose their lives in consequence of exposure or disease1 and some of you will live to go and assist in making settlements and build cities and see the ,saints become a mighty people in the midst of the ,rocky ,mountains4--,joseph ,smith's journal for #fth of ,august1 #ahdb4 #b4 ,why the ,church ,came ,west4--,many living witnesses can testify that we proposed moving to ,california then a general name for the great ,west1 including what is now ,utah leaving the land of our oppression1 preaching the gospel to the ,lamanites1 building up other temples to the living ,god1 establishing ourselves in the far distant ,west4 ,the cruel and perfidious persecutions that we endured tended to hasten our departure1 but did not dictate it4 ,it jeopardized our lives1 property and liberty1 but was not the cause of our removal4 ,many a time have ,i listened to the voice of our beloved prophet1 while in council1 dwell on this subject with delight2 his eyes sparkling with animation1 and his soul fired with the inspiration of the ,spirit of the living ,god4 ,it was a theme that caused the bosoms of all who were privileged to listen to thrill with delight2 intimately #dae connected with this were themes upon which prophets1 patriarchs1 priests and kings dwelt with pleasure and delight2 of them they prophesied1 sung1 wrote1 spoke and desired4 to see1 but died without the sight4 ,my spirit glows with sacred fire while ,i reflect upon these scenes1 and ,i say1 ,o ,lord1 hasten the day6 ,let ,zion be established6 ,let the mountain of the ,lord's house be established in the tops of the mountains6--a thing1 ,i may add--and which he plainly intimates--could not have been done had the ,saints remained in ,nauvoo4 ,the ,saints did not come to the ,rocky ,mountain valleys because they were compelled to by their enemies1 but came here because it was their destiny to come2 because the ,lord would have them here2 and because there were problems to work out in connection with the work of ,god which could be worked out nowhere else4--,life of ,john ,taylor p4 #agi4 #c4 ,character of ,brigham ,young4--,brigham ,young was colonizer1 statesman1 philosopher1 philanthropist1 reformer1 prophet leader1 priestly-king1 an honest man1 ,god's noblest work6 99 99 99 ,his greatness shines forth in conduct and leadership and colonization and in the building of a mighty commonwealth in these mountain valleys4 99 99 99 ,on all great occasions promptness and decision were characteristics of his organization2 and let a question arise where it might1 all ,israel felt when it reached ,god's prophet-leader1 it would find proper solution1 and when solved would be endorsed by wisdom4--,moses ,thatcher4 #d4 ,succession of the ,twelve on the ,death of ,president ,young4--,on the #dth of ,september1 #ahgg1 the two counselors of the late ,president ,young and ten of the ,twelve ,apostles--,orson ,pratt and ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 the other two members1 were absent in ,england--held a meeting and waited upon the ,lord4 ,with humble1 contrite and saddened hearts they earnestly sought to learn his will concerning themselves and the church4 ,the ,lord blessed them with the spirit of union1 and revealed to them what steps should be taken1 and the following is what was done3 ,elder ,taylor was unanimously sustained as the president of the twelve2 and with the same unanimity it was voted that the twelve apostles should be sustained as the presiding authority in the church1 while the counselors to the late ,president ,young1 ,john ,w4 ,young and ,daniel ,h4 ,wells1 were sustained as one with1 counselors to1 and associated with the twelve apostles4 ,to facilitate the transaction of business it was also voted that for the time being ,president ,taylor should be assisted by ,john ,w4 ,young1 ,daniel ,h4 ,wells and ,george ,q4 ,cannon1 in attending to business connected with the temples1 the public works and other financial affairs of the ,church4--,life of ,john ,taylor4 #e4 ,john ,taylor4--,there was a beautiful harmony in the character of #daf his mind and the lineaments of his person4 ,if the habitation was splendid1 the inmate was worthy of it4 ,his noble form and bearing were but the outward expression of the spirit within4 ,a universal benevolence1 powerful intellect1 splendid courage1 physical as well as moral1 a noble independence of spirit1 coupled with implicit faith and trust in ,god1 a high sense of honor1 unimpeachable integrity1 indomitable determination and passionate love of liberty1 justice and truth marked the outlines of his character4--,life of ,john ,taylor4 #f4 ,the ,discontinuance of ,plural ,marriage4--,the clause in ,president ,woodruff's manifesto which discontinued plural marriage is as follows3 ,inasmuch as laws have been enacted by ,congress forbidding plural marriages1 which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort1 ,i hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws1 and to use my influence with the members of the church over which ,i preside to have them do likewise4 99 99 99 ,and ,i now publicly declare that my advice to the ,latter-day ,saints is to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the law of the land4 ,following is the resolution presented to the semi-annual conference in the ,october following4 ,it was presented by ,lorenzo ,snow1 the president of the twelve apostles3--,i move that1 recognizing ,wilford ,woodruff as the president of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and the only man on the earth at the present time who holds the keys of the sealing ordinances1 we consider him fully authorized by virtue of his position to issue the manifesto which has been read in our hearing1 and which is dated ,september #bd1 #ahij2 and that as a church in general conference assembled1 we accept his declaration concerning plural marriage as authoritative and binding4 ,the vote to sustain the foregoing motion was unanimous4 #g4 ,basis on which the ,manifesto was ,issued4--,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 that when ,i give a commandment to any of the sons of men1 to do a work unto my name1 and those sons of men go with all their might1 and with all they have to perform that work1 and cease not their diligence1 and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work2 behold1 it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men1 but to accept of their offerings4 ,revelation given #aith ,jan41 #ahda1 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cxxiv4 ,it is on this basis that ,president ,woodruff has felt himself justified in issuing this manifesto4 99 99 99 ,we have waited for the ,lord to move in this matter1 and on the #bdth of ,september1 ,president ,woodruff made up his mind that he would write something1 and he had the spirit of it4 ,he had prayed about it and he had besought the ,lord repeatedly to show him what to do4 ,at that time the spirit came upon him1 and the document that has been read in your hearing was the result4 ,i know that it was right1 much as it has gone against #dag the grain with me in many respects4 99 99 99 ,but when ,god speaks and when ,god makes known his mind and will1 ,i hope that ,i and all ,latter-day ,saints will bow in submission to it4--,geo4 ,q4 ,cannon1 in a sermon ,oct4 #fth1 #ahij4 ,i want to say to all ,israel that the step which ,i have taken in issuing this manifesto has not been done without earnest prayer before the ,lord4 99 99 99 ,i have done my duty1 and the nation of which we form a part must be responsible for that which has been done in relation to that principle plural marriage4--,president ,woodruff1 in a sermon ,oct4#fth1 #ahij4 #h4 ,testimony from ,god ,promised that the ,manifesto was ,inspired4--,i have received a revelation and commandment from the ,lord1 which ,i have not revealed to any man1 which ,i shall reveal to this assembly1 and the command of the ,lord ,i shall give to this people1 which is this3 ,the ,lord has revealed to me that there are many in the church who feel badly tried about the manifesto1 and also about the testimony of the presidency and apostles before the master in chancery4 ,the ,lord has commanded me to put the following question to the ,saints1 and those who will give strict attention to it shall have the ,holy ,ghost to be with them to inspire them to answer that question for themselves1 and the ,lord has promised that the answer will be to all alike4 ,the question is this3 which is the wisest course for the ,latter-day ,saints to pursue--to continue to attempt to practice plural marriage with the laws of the nation against it and the opposition of #fj1jjj1jjj of people1 and at the cost of the confiscation1 and loss of all the temples1 and the stopping of the ordinances therein1 both for the living and the dead2 and the imprisonment of the first presidency and the twelve1 and the leaders of heads of families in the church1 and the confiscation of the personal property of the people 7all of which of themselves would stop the practice7 or after doing and suffering what we have through our adherence to this principle1 to cease the practice and submit to the law1 and through doing so leave the prophets1 apostles and fathers at home1 so that they can instruct the people and attend to the duties of the church1 and also leave the temples in the hands of the ,saints so that they can attend to the ordinances of the gospel1 both for the living and the dead8 ,now the inspiration of the ,lord will reveal to any person which course wisdom would dictate us to pursue4 ,and the ,latter-day ,saints throughout all ,israel should understand that the first presidency of the church and the twelve apostles are led and guided by the inspiration of the ,lord1 and the ,lord will not permit me nor any other man to lead the people astray4--,president ,woodruff1 at ,box ,elder quarterly conference1 ,oct4 #beth4 #ahia4 ,juvenile ,instructor1 vol4 xxvi3 p4 #fga4 #i4 ,sign of the ,coming of ,messiah4--,i have asked the ,lord concerning #dah his coming2 and while asking the ,lord1 he gave me a sign and said3 ,in the days of ,noah ,i set a bow in the heavens as a sign and a token that in any year that the bow should be seen the ,lord would not come2 but there should be seed time and harvest during that year2 but whenever you see the bow withdrawn1 it shall be a token that there shall be famine1 pestilence and great distress among the nations1 and that the coming of the ,messiah is not far distant4 99 99 ,jesus ,christ never did reveal to any man the precise time that he would come4--,joseph ,smith4 ,,review4 #a4 ,relate the circumstances connected with the martyrdom of ,joseph and ,hyrum ,smith4 #b4 ,who succeeded to the presidency of the church after the death of the ,prophet ,joseph8 #c4 ,give an account of the expulsion of the church from ,illinois4 #d4 ,state the reasons why the church in its flight went westward4 #e4 ,give an account of the arrival in ,salt ,lake valley4 #f4 ,when and where was the first presidency of the church reorganized8 #g4 ,state the leading achievements in the career of ,brigham ,young4 #h4 ,what was the character of ,president ,young8 7,note #c47 #i4 ,who again took the presidency of the church at the death of ,brigham ,young8 #aj4 ,when was the first presidency again organized8 #aa4 ,state what you can of the life and character of ,john ,taylor4 #ab4 ,for what is ,john ,taylor's administration noted8 #ac4 ,who succeeded to the presidency of the church after the death of ,president ,taylor8 #ad4 ,what led to the discontinuance of the practice of plural marriage8 #ae4 ,when was plural marriage publicly announced as a doctrine of the ,church8 #af4 ,give an account of the enactments of ,congress against plural marriage4 #ag4 ,state in what spirit these laws were enforced4 #ah4 ,state in what way plural marriage was finally discontinued4 #ai4 ,what was the basis of this action of the ,church8 7,notes #f1 #g1 #h47 #bj4 ,were the ,saints responsible either for the introduction or discontinuance of plural marriage8 #ba4 ,what has been their course in relation to this principle since its introduction8 #dai #bb4 ,give an account of the laying of the cap-stone on the ,salt ,lake temple4 #bc4 ,make a statement of the growth and present position of the church4 #bd4 ,what is the immediate purpose of the work began by the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith8 #be4 ,state several promises to be found in the ,jewish scriptures respecting the glorious return of ,messiah4 #bf4 ,quote those that predict ,messiah will come to judgment4 #bg4 ,what hath ,god decreed concerning the time of his coming8 7,note #i47 #bh4 ,for what especial purpose hath ,god sent forth his servants to the world in this dispensation8 #bi4 ,what will be the crowning event to the work of this dispensation8 #cj4 ,state what is contemplated by the work of ,god in the dispensation of the fullness of times4 ,,the ,,end4 ,footnotes #a4 ,jaques' ,catechism1 page #gg4 #b4 ,god having made known unto us 99 99 99 that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in ,christ1 both which are in heaven1 and which are on earth2 even in him4 7,ephesians i3#i1 #aj47 #c4 ,note #b1 end of section4 #d4 ,ontario ,county has since been divided1 and the north part of it1 in which ,palmyra is located1 is now called ,wayne ,county4 #e4 ,while the ,prophet ,joseph in describing this first great vision refers to the ,lord and his ,son ,jesus ,christ as two glorious personages without giving at that time any particular description of their persons1 it is clear that they were in the form of men4 ,teaching the church the character of the ,godhead some years later1 the prophet said3 ,god himself was once as we are now1 and is an exalted ,man and sits enthroned in yonder heavens4 ,that is the great secret4 ,if the vail was rent today and the great ,god who holds this world in its orbit1 and who upholds all worlds and all things by his power1 was to make himself visible--,i say if you were to see him today1 you would see him like a man in form--like yourselves1 in all the person1 image and very form as a man1 for ,adam was created in the very fashion1 image and likeness of ,god1 and received instruction from and walked and talked1 and conversed with him1 as one man talks and communes with another4--,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 ,,vi1 page #c4 #f4 ,most likely the first part of the third chapter1 as that relates to the coming of a messenger to prepare the way for the glorious coming of ,messiah4 7,see ,mal4 iii3 #a-f47 #g4 ,pearl of ,great ,price1 page #ij4 ,the words in ,italics indicate the difference between the passages as quoted by ,moroni and as they stand in our ,english version of the ,bible4 ,the student should compare the passages as quoted above with the ,bible and mark how superior is the angel's rendering of them4 #h4 ,that was the name of the hill among the ,nephites4 ,the ,jaredites1 a still more ancient people1 called it ,ramah4 #i4 ,book of ,mormon1 pp4 #aad1 #aae4 #aj4 ,this messenger was a resurrected personage4 ,it will be remembered that ,john the ,baptist was beheaded by ,herod ,antipas before the crucifixion of the ,lord2 and that after the resurrection of ,messiah1 the graves were opened2 and many bodies of the saints which slept arose1 and came out of the graves after his ,christ's resurrection1 and went into the holy city1 and appeared unto many4 7,matt4 xxvii3 #eb1 #ec47 ,as ,john the ,baptist was one of the most worthy of the saints1 and a martyr for righteousness1 it is but reasonable to conclude that he was among the number resurrected immediately after the resurrection of ,jesus4 #aa4 ,for the words of the angel see ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 #ac4 #ab4 ,these baptisms were1 of course1 by immersion4 ,the ,savior when teaching the ,nephites how to baptize1 said3 ,ye shall go down and stand in the water1 and 99 99 99 these are the words ye shall say1 calling them by name1 saying--,having authority given me of ,jesus ,christ1 ,i baptize you in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,amen4 ,and then shall ye immerse them in the water1 and come forth again out of the water4 7,,iii ,nephi xi3 #bc-bf47 ,it was this passage which led ,joseph and ,oliver to inquire of the ,lord about baptism1 with the result stated in the text4 #ac4 ,see ,cannon's ,life of ,joseph ,smith1 p4 #gc4 #ad4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cxxviii3 #bj2 also article by ,joseph ,f4 ,smith on ,restoration of the ,melchisedek ,priesthood1 ,contributor1 vol x1 p4 #caj4 #ae4 ,matt4 xvi3 #ai4 #af4 ,cannon's ,life of ,joseph ,smith1 p4 #gc4 #ag4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cvii3 #ah1 #ai4 #ah4 ,their names were ,joseph ,smith1 ,oliver ,cowdery1 ,hyrum ,smith1 ,peter ,whitmer1 ,jun41 ,samuel ,h4 ,smith1 and ,david ,whitmer4 ,there were a number of others who had been baptized1 but as six persons were sufficient to fill the requirements of the laws of the ,state of ,new ,york in respect to organizing religious societies1 the church was organized with that number4 #ai4 ,the words of ,latter-day ,saints1 were not used until some time after ,april #bf1 #ahch1 when they were added by revelation from the ,lord4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cxv47 #bj4 ,see ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 xxi4 #ba4 ,the revelation giving these instructions was given in the chamber of ,peter ,whitmer1 ,sen41 and is the voice of ,god in the chamber of old ,father ,whitmer1 alluded to in the letter of ,joseph to the church under date of ,sep4 #f1 #ahdb1 contained in sec4 cxxviii of the ,doc4 and ,cov4 #bb4 ,page #big4 #bc4 ,it is the law of the church that no person is to be ordained to any office in this church1 where there is a regularly organized branch of same1 without the vote of that church4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 xx3 #fe47 #bd4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 xxvi4 #be4 ,the voice of the people is the voice of ,god4 #bf4 ,the voice of ,god is the voice of the people4 #bg4 ,the voice of ,god and the voice of the people4 #bh4 ,this revelation is the one found in sec4 xx41 ,doc4 and ,cov4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph precedes it in his history with these remarks3 ,among many other things of the kind spiritual manifestations1 we obtained of ,him the following1 by the spirit of prophecy and revelation1 which not only gave us much information1 but also pointed out to us the precise day upon which1 according to his will and commandment1 we should proceed to organize his church once again here upon the earth4 ,then followed the revelation above referred to4--,hist4 ,joseph ,smith1 ,mill ,star 7,supplement7 vol4 xiv1 p4#bb #bi4 ,see part ,i4 #cj4 ,subsequently when some persons desired to join the church without baptism at the hands of the elders1 having been baptized by the ministers of other churches1 the ,lord said3 ,all old covenants have ,i caused to be done away in this thing1 and this is a new and everlasting covenant1 even that which was from the beginning4 ,wherefore1 although a man should be baptized an hundred times1 it availeth him nothing1 for you cannot enter in at the straight gate by the law of ,moses1 neither by your dead works4 ,for it is because of your dead works1 that ,i have caused this last covenant and this church to be built up unto me even as in days of old4 ,wherefore enter ye in at the gate1 as ,i have commanded1 and seek not to counsel your ,god4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 xxii4 #ca4 ,eight years is fixed as the age of baptism for children4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 lxviii3 #bg4 #cb4 ,these are the same words given to the ,nephites1 except that the opening clause in the ,book of ,mormon is3 ,having authority given me of ,jesus ,christ 7,,iii ,nephi xi3 #be71 and that means the same as ,having been commissioned of ,jesus ,christ1 etc4 #cc4 ,all officers in the church holding higher authority than those named would1 of course1 have authority to administer the sacrament4 #cd4 ,a few months after the organization of the church1 viz41 early in the month of ,august1 #ahcj1 when the ,prophet ,joseph left his house in ,harmony1 ,penn41 for the purpose of procuring wine to administer the sacrament to a few saints visiting him at his home--he had gone but a short distance when he was met by a heavenly messenger and received the revelation contained in the ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 xxvii1 a portion of which is as follows3 ,listen to the voice of ,jesus ,christ1 your ,lord1 your ,god and your ,redeemer1 whose word is quick and powerful4 ,for behold ,i say unto you1 that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament1 if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory1 remembering unto the ,father my body which was laid down for you1 and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins2 wherefore1 a commandment ,i give unto you1 that ye shall not purchase wine1 neither strong drink of your enemies2 wherefore you shall partake of none except it is made new among you2 yea1 in this my ,father's kingdom1 which shall be built up on the earth4 ,this revelation is the authority the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints has for using water instead of wine in the sacrament4 #ce4 ,it must be remembered that this revelation was given before the church was organized2 at that time there were a number who had been baptized1 and who had children not old enough to be baptized1 and had not yet been blessed of the elders4 ,this commandment1 therefore1 was directed more especially to them1 but applies1 of course1 to people placed in like circumstances4 ,subsequently1 in ,november #ahca1 the ,lord said3 ,inasmuch as parents have children in ,zion1 or in any of her stakes which are organized1 who teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance1 faith in ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god1 and of baptism and the gift of the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands when eight years old1 the sin be upon the heads of the parents2 for this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of ,zion1 or in any of her stakes when organized2 and their children shall be baptized for the remission of sins when eight years old and receive the laying on of hands1 and they shall also teach their children to pray and walk uprightly before the ,lord4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 lxviii3#be-bh47 #cf4 ,the term elder is both a general and a specific title4 ,that is1 it may be applied to an apostle or a seventy2 as1 for instance1 in the revelation under consideration 7,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 xx71 it is said3 ,an apostle is an elder1 etc4 ,we shall see also further on that it is the name of a specific office in the church2 that ninety-six elders constitute a quorum2 that they constitute a standing ministry in the stakes of ,zion2 and that they have authority to do all that is enumerated in the text above4 #cg4 ,the closing phrases of paragraph #cg1 sec4 xx2 ,doc4 and ,cov41 are what ,oliver objected to--,and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the ,spirit of ,christ unto the remission of sins4 #ch4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 xxviii #ci4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 xxviii1 and sec4 xliii3#a-f #dj4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xxviii4 #da4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xxxvii4 #db4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xli4 #dc4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxviii4 #dd4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #ae4 #de4 ,ibid1 verse #bj4 #df4 ,ibid1 verse #fh4 #dg4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lvii3#ag4 #dh4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lviii3 #ae2 #ah4 ,ibid1 sec4 cvii3 #gb-ge4 #di4 ,there are bishops holding different positions3 ,bishop ,partridge was a general bishop over the land of ,zion2 while ,bishop ,whitney was a general bishop over the church in ,kirtland1 ,ohio1 and also over the eastern churches until afterwards appointed as presiding bishop4 99 99 99 ,there are also ward bishops1 whose duties are confined to their several wards4 99 99 99 ,there are also bishops' agents such as ,sidney ,gilbert he was ,bishop ,partridge's agent in ,zion1 ,missouri1 and others4--,items on ,priesthood by the late ,president ,john ,taylor4 #ej4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxviii3 #ag1 #ah4 #ea4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxviii3 #bj4 #eb4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxviii3 #ba4 #ec4 ,and inasmuch as a president of the high priesthood shall transgress1 he shall be had in remembrance before the common council of the church1 who shall be assisted by twelve counselors of the high priesthood2 and their decision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him4 7,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #hb1 #hc74 #ed4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxviii3 #ai4 #ee4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxviii3 #bb-bd4 #ef4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxxxiv3 #aab4 #eg4 ,i think a careful reading of sec4 lxviii of the ,doctrine and ,covenants1 will justify this conclusion--that not only the office of presiding bishop of the church should be filled by the first-born of the sons of ,aaron1 but that the traveling and local bishops also1 so far as can be1 should be chosen from among the first born of the sons of ,aaron4 ,the following passage seems especially clear on the question3 ,there remaineth hereafter1 in the due time of the ,lord1 other bishops to be set apart unto the church1 to minister even according to the first2 wherefore they shall be high priests who are worthy1 and they shall be appointed by the first presidency of the ,melchisedek priesthood1 except they be descendants of ,aaron1 and if they be literal descendants of ,aaron they have a legal right to the bishopric1 if they are the first-born among the sons of ,aaron4 ,sec4 lxviii3 #ad-af4 #eh4 ,book of ,ether1 ch4 xiii1 and ,,iii ,nephi1 ch4 xx4 #ei4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xlv4 #fj4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lii4 #fa4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lvii4 #fb4 ,acts iv3 #cb4 #fc4 ,the branch of the ,church in this part of the ,lord's vineyard ,kirtland1 which had increased to nearly one hundred members1 were striving to do the will of ,god so far as they knew it1 though some had strange notions1 and false spirits had crept in among them4 ,with a little caution and some wisdom1 ,i soon assisted the brethren and sisters to overcome them4 ,the plan of common stock1 which had existed in what was called the family1 whose members generally had embraced the everlasting gospel1 was readily abandoned for the more perfect law of the ,lord1 and the false spirits were easily discerned and rejected by the light of revelation4--,joseph ,smith4--,millennial ,star ,supplement to vol4 xiv1 p4 #ef4 #fd4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xli4 #fe4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xlii4 #ff4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xlii3 #cj1cb4 #fg4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xlii3 #cb4 #fh4 ,in the very revelations in which the first instructions on the subject of consecration and stewardship are given the ,lord says3 ,let all thy garments be plain and their beauty the beauty of the work of thine own hands4 99 99 99 ,thou shalt not be idle1 for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 xliii3 #dj1db74 ,in a subsequent revelation1 referring to the inhabitants of ,zion who were living under this law of consecration1 the ,lord said3 ,and the inhabitants of ,zion1 also1 shall remember their labors1 inasmuch as they are appointed to labor in all faithfulness1 for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the ,lord4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 lxviii3 #cj74 #fi4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 civ3 #ed1eg4 #gj4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxii3 #b1h4 #ga4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 civ4 #gb4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 li3 #d1 #e4 #gc4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xlii3 #cc1 #ce4 #gd4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 civ3 #gj1 #gg4 #ge4 ,all children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age4 ,after that they have claim upon the church1 or in other words1 upon the ,lord's store-house1 if their parents have not wherewith to give them inheritances4 ,and the store-house shall be kept by the consecrations of the church1 and widows and orphans shall be provided for as also the poor4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 lxxxiii3 #d1 #f47 #gf4 ,sec4 xlii3 #ec2ed4 ,and you are to be equal1 or in other words1 you are to have equal claims on the properties for the benefit of managing the concerns of your stewardships1 every man according to his wants and needs inasmuch as his wants are just4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 lxxxii3 #ag47 #gg4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 li3 #aj1 #ac1 also verse #ah1 which says the law laid down in verses #aj1 #ac1 shall be an example to all churches4 #gh4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cv3 #a1 #e1 also sec4 lviii3 #ce1 #cf4 #gi4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xlii3 #ci4 #hj4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 li3 #c4 #ha4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 civ3 #ae-ag4 #hb4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cxix4 #hc4 ,for a detailed account of this event and the causes leading up to it1 see the author's work on the ,missouri ,persecutions4 #hd4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 ciii4 #he4 ,daniel ,dunklin1 governor of ,missouri1 agreed to call out the militia of the state and re-instate the exiles on their lands2 but he claimed that he had no authority to keep a force under arms to protect them after they were restored4 ,hence the coming of ,zion's camp to so strengthen the brethren that they could hold their own against the mob when once placed back in their homes4 #hf4 ,missouri ,persecutions4 #hg4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cv4 ,the revelation was given on ,fishing river1 ,missouri4 #hh4 ,the corner stones of the ,kirtland temple were laid on the #bcrd of ,july1 #ahcc4 #hi4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cii3#bb4 #ij4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cvii3 #bc-cc4 #ia4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cii3 #cj-cb1 also sec4 cvii3 #cb4 #ib4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cii3 #bf1 #bg4 #ic4 ,their names were ,lyman ,e4 ,johnson1 ,brigham ,young1 ,heber ,c4 ,kimball1 ,orson ,hyde1 ,david ,w4 ,patten1 ,luke ,s4 ,johnson1 ,wm4 ,e4 ,mc,lellin1 ,john ,f4 ,boynton1 ,wm4 ,b4 ,smith1 ,parley ,p4 ,pratt1 ,thomas ,b4 ,marsh1 ,orson ,pratt4 #id4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cvii4 #ie4 ,the circumstances under which this revelation 7contained in section cvii1 ,doc4 and ,cov47 was given are highly interesting2 they are as follows3 ,on the afternoon of the #bhth of ,march the twelve met in council and had a time of general confession4 ,on reviewing our past course1 writes ,orson ,hyde and ,wm4 ,e4 ,mc,lellin1 clerks of the meeting1 we are satisfied1 and feel to confess also1 that we have not realized the importance of our calling1 to that degree that we ought2 we have been light minded and vain1 and in many things done wrong--wrong4 ,for all these things we have asked the forgiveness of our ,heavenly ,father1 and wherein we have grieved or wounded the feelings of the presidency1 we ask their forgiveness4 ,the time when we are about to separate is near1 and when we shall meet again1 ,god only knows2 we therefore feel to ask of him whom we have acknowledged to be our prophet and seer1 that he inquire of ,god for us and obtain a revelation 7if consistent7 that we may look upon it when we are separated1 that our hearts may be comforted4 ,our worthiness has not inspired us to make this request1 but our unworthiness4 ,we have unitedly asked ,god our ,heavenly ,father to grant unto us through his seer1 a revelation of his mind and will concerning our duty the coming season1 even a great revelation that will enlarge our hearts comfort us in adversity and brighten our hopes amidst the power of darkness4 7,mill4 ,star1 vol4 xv1 p4 #bde47 ,the revelation which was given in answer to this request is one of the most splendid contained in the ,book of ,doctrine and ,covenants4 #if4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 i3 #ch4 #ig4 ,doctrine and ,covenants sec4 cxxi3#cf4 #ih4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cxxi3 #da-dd4 ,these views from the revelations of the ,lord to ,joseph ,smith are in strict accord with the teachings of ,jesus ,christ to the twelve apostles among the ,jews4 ,to them he said3 ,ye know that the princes of the ,gentiles exercise dominion over them1 and they that are great1 exercise authority upon them4 ,but it shall not be so among you2 but whosoever will be great among you let him be your minister2 and whosoever will be chief among you1 let him be your servant2 even as the ,son of ,man came not to be ministered unto1 but to minister1 and to give his life a ransom for many4 7,matt4 xx3 #be-bh47 ,peter1 it would seem remembered the spirit of these instructions1 as years afterwards we have him saying to those set to govern the churches3 ,feed the flock of ,god which is among you1 taking the oversight thereof1 not by constraint1 but willingly2 not for filthy lucre1 but of a ready mind2 neither as being lords over ,god's heritage1 but being ensamples unto the flock4 7,i ,peter v3 #b1 #c47 #ii4 ,this it appears is the view ,joseph ,smith took of the subject4 ,replying to a question of ,judge ,stephen ,a4 ,douglas1 how he governed so easily so large a people as the ,saints were at ,nauvoo1 the prophet replied1 ,i teach them correct principles and they govern themselves4 #ajj4 ,in answering the question3 was the priesthood of ,melchisedek taken away when ,moses died1 the ,prophet ,joseph said3 ,all priesthood is ,melchisedek1 but there are different portions or degrees of it4 ,the portion which brought ,moses to speak with ,god face to face was taken away2 but that which brought the ministry of angels remained4 7,hist4 ,joseph ,smith4 ,see also ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cxii3 #d1 #e47 #aja4 ,the reasons for calling this division the ,melchisedek priesthood are given in note #c1 section ii of part iv4 #ajb4 ,the reason for calling the second division the ,aaronic ,priesthood is because it was a priesthood conferred upon ,aaron1 the brother of ,moses1 and his sons after him4 ,it is a division of the priesthood which belongs of right to the house of ,aaron4 7,see ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 cvii3 #ac1 #ad47 #ajc4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #ah-ai4 #ajd4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #bj4 #aje4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #ba #ajf4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #fe-ff4 #ajg4 ,ibid1 verses #ia1 #ib4 #ajh4 ,it must be remembered by the student that apostles are also high priests4 ,in fact the apostleship circumscribes all priesthood1 hence it happens that some men who have not been directly ordained high priests1 but who were apostles1 have acted in the quorum of the first presidency of the church4 ,brigham ,young did so4 #aji4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #bb4 #aaj4 ,ibid1 verse #ia4 #aaa4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #bc1 #bd1 #cb1 #ci1 #eh4 #aab4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3#cd4 #aac4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #be1 #bf4 #aad4 ,up to the present date--#aijb--there have been one hundred and forty-three quorums of seventies organized4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith said that this choosing of seventies was to go on--if the labor in the vineyard required it--even until there are one hundred and forty and four thousand thus set apart for the ministry4--,hist4 ,joseph ,smith under date ,may #b1 #ahce4 #aae4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii4 #aaf4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #ch4 #aag4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #bg1 #bh4 #aah4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #ci1 #da4 #aai4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cxxiv3 #ia1 #ic4 #abj4 ,ibid1 verse #abd4 #aba4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cxxiv3 #acc-acf4 #abb4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxxxiv1 verse #bi4 #abc4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #aa4 #abd4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #hi4 #abe4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 cxxiv3 #acg4 #abf4 ,doc4 and ,covenants1 sec4 cvii3 #hi1 #ij4 ,ibid1 sec4 cxxiv3 #adj4 ,for further information on duties of elders see sec4 ii1 part iv1 of this work4 #abg4 ,see sec4 iii1 part iv4 #abh4 ,see sec4 ii1 part iv1 under caption ,priests for explanation of their duties and powers4 #abi4 ,for explanation of the duties and powers of ,teachers see caption ,teachers1 sec4 ii1 part iv4 #acj4 ,for explanation of their duties see caption ,deacons1 sec4 ii1 part iv4 #aca4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxxxiv3 #cj4 #acb4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 lxxxiv3 #bi4 #acc4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xx3 #ch1 #ei4 #acd4 ,see caption ,high ,priests this section4 #ace4 ,see caption ,elders this section4 #acf4 ,see ,bishopric1 sec4 iii1 part iv4 #ach4 ,see caption ,of the ,duties of ,officers1 ,priests1 ,teachers1 ,deacons4 #ach4 ,when the difficulty arises in a regularly organized ward the most suitable persons to engage in such business would be the teachers of the respective parties4 #aci4 ,see on this method of settling difficulties ,matt4 xviii3 #ae1 #ag4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 xlii3 #hh-ia4 ,book of ,mormon1 ,,iii ,nephi1 xii3 #bc1be4 #adj4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 iv3 #h4 #ada4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4 clv3 #i4 #adb4 ,see ,section ii1 ,part ,,iv1 paragraphs #h1 #i4 #adc4 ,guizot's ,hist4 ,civilization4 #add4 ,remarks of ,disraeli on the formation of government in his ,vindication of the ,english ,constitution4 #ade4 ,that is ,part ,,iv of this work4 #adf4 ,besides the classic1 there was an ,english department that included a course in common and higher mathematics1 geography1 ,english grammar1 reading and writing4 ,hebrew was taught by ,professor ,seixas1 a ,jew1 and the elders made considerable progress in that language4 ,these items are interesting as showing that ,mormonism is not and was not even in the beginning of its career1 opposed to education as many have claimed4 #adg4 ,the prayer will be found in the ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 cix4 ,it was given by revelation to the prophet4 #adh4 ,the shout of hosanna consists in the whole congregation shouting with all the strength of their voices--accompanying it with the waving of handkerchiefs--these words3 ,hosanna6 ,hosanna6 ,hosanna6 ,,to ,,god ,,and ,,the ,,lamb6 ,,amen6 ,,amen6 ,,amen6 ,those who have witnessed this shout of praise and gladness to ,god by a large congregation of saints1 will never forget the power and heavenly influence that accompany it4 #adi4 ,for the foregoing account of spiritual manifestations see ,hist4 ,joseph ,smith1 ,mill4 ,star1 ,vol4 #ae1 pages #gbf-bh4 #aej4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 cx4 #aea4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 cx4 #aeb4 ,mal4 iv3 #e1 #f4 #aec4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 cx4 #aed4 ,see pages #cga-ig4 #aee4 ,book of ,mormon1 ,,iii ,nephi xv3 #ab-bj4 #aef4 ,book of ,mormon1 ,,iii ,nephi xvi3 #a-e4 #aeg4 ,,ii ,esdras xiii4 #aeh4 ,compare with ,isaiah xi3 #ae1 #af4 #aei4 ,see prophecies quoted p4 #cfh-i4 #afj4 ,i do not state this date definitely because authorities differ in respect to it2 some fixing it at #ehh1 another at #eij1 and still others as in the text4 ,the difference which is not material1 arose no doubt from some giving the date at which the king of ,babylon began his siege and others when it ended4 #afa4 ,fifty-six1 according to some historians4 #afb4 ,see ,part ,i1 p4 #bg4 #afc4 ,matt4 xxiv3 #b4 #afd4 ,deut4 xxviii3#ae-fh4 ,the student should read this passage in ,deuteronomy4 ,it is without exception the most terrible warning and prophecy on record4 ,yet terrible as it is1 it hath all overtaken ,israel4 #afe4 ,amos ix3 #i4 #aff4 ,jeremiah xxxi3#aj-ab4 ,see also verses #g1 #h1 #i4 #afg4 ,jeremiah xvi3#ad1 #ae4 #afh4 ,see the verses preceding this quotation for an explanation of the time of this occurrence1 ,isaiah xi3#a-aj4 ,this is one of the passages quoted to ,joseph ,smith by the angel ,moroni1 who said also that it was about to be fulfilled4 ,see ,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #ij4 #afi4 ,isaiah xi3#aj-ab1 #af4 #agj4 ,jeremiah iii3#ae-ai4 #aga4 ,book of ,mormon ,,ii ,nephi x3#g1 #h4 ,see also ,i ,nephi x3#ad1 ,,ii ,nephi vi3#h-aa1 and also ,book of ,jacob v4 ,this last reference especially should be studied4 #agb4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cxxxiii3#be-ce4 #agc4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cxxxiii3#cb4 #agd4 ,see page #cba1 this work4 #age4 ,see p4 #cba4 #agf4 ,for the particulars of the persecution which resulted in the banishment of the ,saints from that land1 the student is referred to the author's work on the ,missouri ,persecutions4 #agg4 ,isaiah ii3#bc4 #agh4 ,jeremiah iii3#ad1 #ae4 #agi4 ,rev4 xviii3#d-h4 #ahj4 ,eccl4 xi4 #aha4 ,the revelation was given ,march1 #ahcj2 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 xix4 #ahb4 ,mark xvi3#af4 #ahc4 ,the so-called early fathers of the church1 ,justin ,martyr1 ,clement1 of ,alexandria1 ,tertullian and ,cyprian1 all taught that the fire of hell is a real material flame1 and that the wicked were punished in it eternally4 ,augustine in the fifth century stated the same doctrine with great emphasis and argued against those who sought to modify it4 7,see ,augustine's ,city of ,god4 ,part ,,ii1 book xx1 and xxi74,thomas ,aquinas 7,a-kwi-nas7 of the mediaeval school of theologians1 rising head and shoulders above divines of his day1 teaches in his ,summa ,theologia1 that the fire of hell is of the same nature as ordinary fire1 though with different properties2 that the place of punishment though not definitely known is probably under the earth4 ,he also taught that there was no redemption for those once damned1 their punishment is to be eternal4 ,coming to more modern times1 we read in the ,westminster ,confession of ,faith--adopted in the seventeenth century by the ,puritan party in ,england--the following on the subject 7ch4 xxxiii73 ,the wicked who know not ,god1 and obey not the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ shall be cast into eternal torment and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the ,lord and from the glory of his power4 ,question twenty-nine of the larger catechism and the answer to it are as follows3 ,what are the punishments of sin in the world to come4 ,ans4 ,the punishments of sin in the world to come are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of ,god1 and most grievous torment in soul and body1 without intermission1 in hell fire forever4 ,the ,westminster ,confession and the large catechism are still the standards of the ,presbyterian churches4 ,indeed the above expresses the orthodox ,christian faith from the second and third centuries until the present time4 #ahd4 ,i ,peter iii3#ah-ba4 #ahe4 ,i ,peter iv3#f4 #ahf4 ,i ,cor4 xv3#bi4 #ahg4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 cxxvii and cxxviii4 #ahh4 ,rom4 ii3#f-ab2 ,i ,cor4 iii3#h2 ,,ii ,cor4 v3#aj2 ,rev4 ii3#bc2 xx3#ab4 #ahi4 ,st4 ,john xiv3#a-c4 #aij4 ,an exception must be made in the case of the ,roman ,catholic ,church4 ,catholics do not believe that all ,christians at death go immediately into heaven1 but on the contrary believe that a ,christian who dies after the guilt and everlasting punishment of mortal sins have been forgiven him1 but who1 either from want of opportunity or through his negligence1 has not discharged the debt of temporal punishment due to his sin1 will have to discharge that debt to the justice of ,god in purgatory4 ,purgatory is a state of suffering after this life1 in which those souls are for a time detained1 which depart this life after their deadly sins have been remitted as to the stain and guilt1 and as to the everlasting pain that was due to them2 but which souls have on account of those sins still some temporal punishment to pay2 as also those souls which leave this world guilty only of venial pardonable sins4 ,in purgatory these souls are purified and rendered fit to enter into heaven1 where nothing defiled enters4 ,the quotations in the above are from ,catholic ,belief1 by ,bruno1 ,d4 ,d4 of the ,catholic church4 ,as all works of the ,catholic church accessible to me have nothing on the different degrees of glory1 ,i conclude that ,catholic teaching is that they who attain unto heaven are all equal in glory4 #aia4 ,i ,kings viii3#bg4 #aib4 ,,ii ,cor4 xii3#b-d4 #aic4 ,i ,cor4 xv3#dj-db4 #aid4 ,the circumstances under which the revelation was given are these3 ,the ,prophet ,joseph and ,sidney ,rigdon were engaged in revising the ,jewish scriptures4 ,when they came to ,st4 ,john1 ch4 v3#bi--speaking of the resurrection of the dead1 concerning those that should hear the voice of the ,son of ,man and come forth1 instead of reading in the text of our common ,english ,bibles--,and shall come forth2 they that have done good1 unto the resurrection of life2 and they that have done evil1 unto the resurrection of damnation1 the following was given to them by the ,spirit3 ,and shall come forth they who have done good in the resurrection of the just1 and they who have done evil in the resurrection of the unjust4 ,this reading of the passage caused them to marvel as it was given to them by inspiration2 and while they pondered on this thing the ,spirit of ,god enveloped them1 and they saw the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and those different glories which men will inherit1 an account of which is given in the text4 ,the vision is recorded in ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 lxxvi4 #aie4 ,servants of ,god1 but not ,gods nor the sons of ,god1 remarks ,apostle ,orson ,pratt in his foot note on the passage from which this is condensed4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 lxxvi3#aab4 #aif4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 cxxxi3#a4 #aig4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 lxxvi4 #aih4 ,those desiring to verify the statements of the text will consult with care ,heb4 vi3#d-h and ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 lxxvi3#be-dh4 #aii4 ,it may sound like sacrilege in modern ears to speak of man becoming as ,god4 ,yet why should it be so considered8 ,man is the offspring of ,god1 he is of the same race1 and hath within him--undeveloped1 it is true--the faculties and attributes of his ,father4 ,he hath also before him an eternity of time in which to develop both the faculties of the mind and the attributes of the soul--why should it be accounted a strange thing that at last the child shall arrive at the same exaltation and partake of the same intelligence and glory with his ,father8 ,if ,jesus ,christ1 being in the form of ,god1 thought it not robbery to be equal with ,god 7,philippians ii3#f71 why should it be thought blasphemous to teach that man by faith and righteousness in following the counsels of ,god shall at last become like him1 and share in his power and glory1 being a ,god1 even a son of ,god8 ,i grant you the height from our present position looks tremendous2 yet it is not impossible of attainment1 since we have eternity in which to work4 ,stand by the cradle of a new-born babe and contemplate it4 ,within that little body of organized pulp--with eyes incapable of distinguishing objects2 legs unable to bear the weight of its body--without the power of locomotion2 hands over whose movements it hath no control2 ears that hear but cannot distinguish sounds2 a tongue that cannot speak--yet within that little helpless tabernacle what powers lie dormant6 ,within that germ in the cradle are latent powers which only require time for their unfolding to astonish the world4 ,from it may come the man of profound learning who shall add something by his own wisdom to the sum total of human knowledge4 ,perhaps from that germ shall come a profound historian1 a poet or eloquent orator to sway the reason and passions of men1 and guide them to better and purer things than they have yet known4 ,or a statesman may be there in embryo2 a man whose wisdom shall guide the destiny of the state1 or perhaps with ,god-like power rule the world4 ,if from such a germ as this in the cradle may come such an unfolding of power as we see in the highest and noblest manhood1 may it not be1 that taking that highest and noblest manhood as the germ1 that from it may come1 under the guiding hand of our ,father in heaven1 a still more wonderful unfolding1 until the germ of highest and noblest manhood shall develop into a ,god6 ,the distance between the noblest man and the position of a ,god is greater than that between the infant in the cradle and the highest development of manhood2 but if so1 there is a longer time--eternity--in which to arrive at the result2 and a ,god and heavenly influences instead of the human parent and earthly means to bring to pass the necessary development4--,roberts4 #bjj4 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 xiv1 p4 #aad4 #bja4 ,on the #abth of ,july1 #ahdc1 at the request of ,hyrum ,smith1 the revelation as now contained in the book of ,doctrine and ,covenants1 was written from the dictation of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,elder ,william ,clayton1 at that time the ,prophet's scribe4 ,the same day a copy of the revelation was made for ,bishop ,newel ,k4 ,whitney by ,joseph ,c4 ,kingsbury4 ,emma ,smith1 the first wife of the ,prophet1 obtaining the revelation as first written out by ,william ,clayton1 in a moment of jealousy destroyed it4 ,bishop ,whitney's copy1 however1 was preserved and from it the revelation1 now in the ,doctrine and ,covenants1 was printed4 ,it will be observed by the student from the revelation itself that the principle of plural marriage was known and practiced before the writing of the revelation on the #abth of ,july4 #bjb4 ,for a full account of this terrible tragedy the student is referred to the ,life of ,joseph ,smith by ,geo4 ,q4 ,cannon1 ch4 lxvi2 and the ,life of ,john ,taylor1 ch4 xiii1 xiv1 xv4 #bjc4 ,heb4 ix3#af1 #ag4 #bjd4 ,the subject of ,succession in the ,presidency of the ,church1 is a subject of deep importance1 and those who desire to enter minutely into the consideration of it should consult the author's work of that title1 a book of #abj pages4 #bje4 ,president ,brigham ,young was born in ,whitingham1 ,windham county1 ,vermont1 ,june #a1 #ahja4 ,he was baptized into the ,church ,april #adth1 #ahcb1 and immediately afterwards ordained an elder4 #bjf4 ,the first anti-polygamy law was approved ,july #ast1 #ahfb4 #bjg4 ,congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion1 or prohibiting the free exercise thereof4--,amendments to the ,constitution1 ,article ,i4 #bjh4 ,acts i3#i-aa4 #bji4 ,matt4 xvi3#bg4 #baj4 ,i ,thess4 iv3#ad-ag4 #baa4 ,,ii ,thess4 i3#g-aj4 #bab4 ,luke xii3#dj4 ,,ii ,peter iii3#aj4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 xlix3#f-g4 #bac4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 lxxxviii3#gh-ib4 #bad4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 lxv4 #bae4 ,ibid4 ,index ,abraham1 ,book of1 #cic1 #cih4 ,actors in ,christ's ,crucifixion1 ,fate of1 #eh4 ,adam1 ,fall of1 #hc4 ,agitation1 ,religious in ,n4 ,y41 #bgf1 ,albert1 ,archbishop of ,mentz1 #bab4 ,alva1 ,duke of1 #beg4 ,america1 ,discovery of1 #bfi1 #bgj4 ,influence of on liberty1 #bfc4 ,catholics seek liberty in1 #bfd ,anarchy1 ,reign of1 #bjj4 ,announcement1 ,angelic1 #ab4 ,anti-,christ1 ,rise of foretold1 #aic4 ,apostasy--see ,part ,,ii4 in days of apostles1 #aed4 admitted by ,christian writers1 #ahi4 predicted in scriptures1 #aib1 #aif4 ,apostles1 ,twelve1 #de4 a second time succeed to presidency1 #djd4 equal in authority with first presidency1 #cdd4 ,quorum filled1 #gj4 ,quorum of ,twelve succeed to presidency1 #djb4 ,twelve organized1 #ccf4 ,traveling1 presiding high council1 #cdc4 ,associations1 ,primary1 #ceb4 ,athanasius1 #agb4 ,atonement1 a mystery1 #ih4 ,pact of1 #hf1 #hg4 ,love of ,god in1 #hi4 ,mercy and ,justice of1 #hg4 of ,christ voluntary1 #hh4 universal in application1 #ih4 ,augsburg1 ,confession of1 #bbj4 ,augustus1 #ab1 #ca4 ,aurelius1 ,marcus1 #aae4 ,authority from ,god needful1 #aja4 ,bartholomew's ,eve1 ,st41 ,massacre on1 #bfg4 ,baptism1 #abh4 ,form changed1 #abi4 ,manner of1 among ,nephites1 #acf4 ,of1 #cjb4 of children1 #acj1 #acf4 ,of the manner of1 #cjc4 symbol of burial and resurrection1 #ace4 ,baptist1 ,john1 restores ,aaronic ,priesthood1 #big4 ,bethlehem1 #aa4 ,bible corrupted1 #fe4 ,bishopric1 ,powers of1 #cag4 ,bishops1 ,equality among changed #ada1 #adb4 ,pirst in the ,church1 #caf4 ,local or ,ward1 #cai4 ,manner of electing1 #adj4 ,objections to1 #ade4 of ,constantinople1 #adi4 ,presiding1 #cah4 ,pre-eminence of ,roman1 #add1 #adf1 #aej4 ,traveling1 #cai4 ,blasphemy1 #eb1 #eg4 ,boleyn1 ,anne1 #bei4 ,bull of ,excommunication burned1 #bae1 #bbe4 ,cajetan1 ,cardinal ,thomas1 appointed to hear cause of ,luther1 #bab4 ,cajetan urges ,luther's excommunication1 #bae4 ,calvin1 ,john1 #bff4 ,spread of his doctrine1 #bed4 ,views on church government1 #bec4 ,views on eucharist1 #bed4 ,ceremonies1 ,addition to1 #abh4 ,charles ,v1 ,emperor ,germany1 #bae4 annuls edict of ,worms and ,augsburg1 #bba4 decides against ,protestants1 #bba4 rupture with pope1 #bah4 ,christian ,,iii of ,denmark regulates religious affairs of his kingdom1 #beg4 ,christians1 ,unwise ,zeal of1 #abc4 ,christiern ,,ii1 ,king of ,sweden and ,denmark1 #bee4 ,banished from ,denmark1 #bef4 driven from ,sweden1 #bee4 ,invites ,reynhard1 ,carlstadt and ,luther to ,denmark1 #bef4 ,church1 ,the1 #ib1 ,a corrupt1 #bdd4 ,attempt to reorganize ,nephite1 #bjj4 ,anti-,christian ,nephite1 #aih4 ,condition of1 #b;d century1 #aad4 ,condition of1 in #dth century1 #ahd4 ,condition of1 in #eth century1 #ahe4 ,condition of1 subsequent to #eth century1 #ahg4 ,condition of1 in #ajth century1 #ahh4 ,conferences of1 #ced4 destroyed1 #ahi4 ,distinct ,protestant1 founded1 #bah4 ,division of1 #ith century1 #aea4 ,early decline of1 #aee4 ,establishment of1 by apostles1 #aci4 ,government of1 modeled on plan of civil government1 #adc4 government1 opinions on1 #ii4 government1 ,reflections on1 #cee4 ,growth and present condition of1 #dji4 ,immoral condition of1 #ahd4 in ,america1 #fd1 #if1 #ig4 ,judiciary system of1 #ceb4 members of1 ,duties of1 #cjd4 ,nephite1 #aih4 ,officers1 divinely called1 #ie4 ,organization of by ,joseph ,smith1 #bii4 organization not perpetuated1 #aci4 ,progress of1 under ,constantine1 #aba4 ,the1 what it is1 etc41 #cda4 ,territorial divisions of1 #cdi4 ,clement ,,vii proposes council in ,italy1 #bbb4 rupture with ,charles ,v1 #bah succeeds ,hadrian ,,vi1 #bag4 ,clergy1 ,celibacy of1 #ahc4 ,commerce1 afterwards ,nauvoo1 #cic1 #cih4 ,conferences appointed1 #cjf4 ,the first1 #cjh4 ,confirmation1 ,manner of1 #cjc4 ,consecration1 ,law of1 #cbb4 ,constantine1 #aai1 #abj1 #aba4 ,friendliness to ,christians1 #abj4 ,constantinople taken by ,turks1 #bjf4 ,cornelius1 #gf4 ,councils1 ,attempt to settle difficulties by1 #bdd4 ,desire for general1 #bac4 ,difficulty of locating one1 #bbb4 ,general1 appeal to1 #bab4 ,high1 ,different kinds1 #cce4 ,fair dealing in1 #cch4 how organized1 #ccd4 ,just judgment in1 #cci4 ,order in1 #cch4 organized1 #ccc4 ,standing1 ,the1 #cce4 ,temporary1 #ccf4 ,traveling4 ,the1 #cce4 ,nicene1 ,the1 #aga4 ,rise of1 #adb4 ,trent1 ,the1 of1 #bbc1 #bbg4 ,usurpations of1 #aee4 ,cowdery1 ,oliver1 one of the three witnesses1 #bhd4 involved in errors1 #cji4 ,cross1 ,luminous1 #aai1 #abd4 ,crucifixion1 #ee4 ,crusades1 ,influence of the1 on liberty1 #bjg4 ,cumorah1 ,treasures of1 #bhc4 ,description of1 #bhf4 ,cyprian1 #adi1 #aef4 ,darkness1 ,age of1 #bje4 ,three hours'1 #ee1 #eh4 ,deacons1 ,duties of1 #cjf4 ,quorums of1 #cdh4 ,dead1 ,baptism for1 #cha1 #cij4 ,salvation for1 #cgg4 ,diet at ,augsburg1 ,the1 #bbj4 ,spire1 ,the1 #bai4 ,worms1 ,the1 #bae1 #baf4 ,diocletian1 #aag1 ,distinctions1 ,class1 among ,nephites1 #aih4 ,revival of1 #aii4 ,dispersions1 ,miscellaneous1 #cfg4 ,dispensation of ,fullness of ,times1 ,preparation for opening the1 #bff4 ,meaning of1 #bge4 ,character of1 #dji4 ,domitian1 #aaj1 #aaa4 ,duties of deacons1 #cjf4 elders1 #cje4 members1 #cjd4 priests1 #cjf4 teachers1 #cjf4 ,eckius1 ,john1 theologian of ,ingolstadt1 #bab4 ,discussion with ,carlstadt1 #bae4 ,discussion with ,luther1 #bac4 ,edicts of ,severus1 #aac4 ,elders1 ,duties of1 #cje4 ,quorums of1 #cdg4 ,elias1 ,appearing of1 #cfj4 ,elijah1 ,appearing of1 #cfj4 ,eucharist--see ,sacrament4 ,events1 ,chronological order of1 neglected1 #di4 ,order of1 #dg4 ,excommunication1 ,manner of1 #afb4 ,faith1 ,catholic1 ,rule of1 #bdb4 ,far ,west1 ,founding of1 #cib4 ,fear1 ,political1 #ea4 ,feudalism1 ,breaking up of1 #bjg4 ,frederick1 ,elector of ,saxony1 #bae4 ,death of1 #bah4 ,duke of ,holstein and ,sleswick succeeds ,christiern ,,ii of ,denmark1 #bef4 ,gives religious liberty to ,denmark1 #bef4 ,free will1 ,discussion on1 #bac4 ,gamaliel1 #gc4 ,gathering1 first command to gather1 #caf4 ,object of1 #cgb4 ,gentiles1 ,gospel taken to1 #gf4 ,george1 ,duke of ,saxony joins in demand for general council1 #bac4 at the discussion between ,luther and ,eckius1 #bae4 on the corruptions of the church1 #bbe4 ,gifts ,spiritual1 #ib4 ,decline of1 #afa1 #agf4 ,on continuance of1 #age4 ,glory1 different degrees of1 #chb4 ,celestial1 ,the1 #chd4 ,terrestrial1 ,the1 #che4 ,telestial1 ,the1 #che4 ,degrees within the three great divisions1 #chf4 ,progress within degrees of1 #chg4 ,god1 ,appears to ,joseph ,smith1 #bgh4 ,arian theory of1 #aga4 ,christian doctrine respecting1 #afd4 ,existence of1 #cja4 ,form of1 etc41 #bgi4 ,immateriality of1 #agc4 ,orthodox view of1 #agj4 ,sabellian theory of1 #agj4 ,godhead1 ,oneness of the1 #agc4 ,illustration of1 #agf4 ,man may attain unto1 #cie4 ,gods1 ,heathen1 #ba4 ,gospel1 supplants the law1 #dd4 ,spread of1 #gg4 ,messiah1 author of1 #agg4 ,fragmentary histories of1 #fe4 ,moral precepts1 ,departure from1 #ahj4 ,government1 ,helps in1 #cea4 ,roman1 #bd4 ,grace1 ,catholic view of1 #bcc4 ,controversy on1 #bcj4 ,facts which enter the question of1 #bca4 ,falling from1 #cjb4 ,pelagian view of1 #bcc4 ,protestant view of1 #bcc4 ,gregory ,,vii1 #bje4 ,harris1 ,martin1 one of the three witnesses1 #bhd4 ,henry ,,iv1 ,humiliation of1 #bje1 #bbd4 ,henry ,,viii1 of ,england1 champion ,roman church1 #beh4 ,marriage to ,catharine of ,aragon1 #beh4 ,divorce of1 #bei4 ,rupture with pope1 #bei4 ,hermit1 ,peter the1 #bjg4 ,herod1 ,antipas1 #ch1 #da4 the ,great1 #ac1 #ag4 ,herodias1 #ch4 ,hosanna1 ,shout of1 #cei4 ,house of the ,lord1 ,all nations to flow unto the1 #cgd4 ,huguenots1 ,character of the1 #bee4 ,immaterialists1 ,atheists1 #agh4 ,indulgences1 ,nature of1 #bji4 ,origin of1 #bji4 ,position of ,catholic church respecting1 #bcj4 ,to be accompanied by reformation1 #bch4 ,traffic in1 #baj4 ,interpretation of ,bible1 ,private1 #bdc4 ,private1 effects of1 #bdf4 ,israel1 ,blood of1 sprinkled in all nations1 #cfg4 ,captivity of1 #cfc4 ,enslaved1 #cfc4 ,latter-day ,saints of1 #cge4 ,miscellaneous ,dispersion of1 #cfg4 ,revolt of ,ten ,tribes of1 #cfc4 ,scattering of1 #cfe4 ,settlement of1 in ,canaan1 #cgc4 ,the gathering of1 #cfh4 ,ten tribes of1 preparatory work to their return1 #cgj4 ,who are1 #cfb4 ,jealousy1 ,religious1 #ea4 ,jesus ,christ1 ,appearance among ,nephites1 #fb4 ,appears to ,prophet ,joseph and ,oliver ,cowdery1 #bgh1 #cfj4 ,ascension1 #fb4 ,baptism of1 #cg4 ,before ,pilate and ,herod1 #ed4 ,betrayal of1 #ec4 ,birth of1 #aa1 #af4 ,burial of1 #ef4 ,charges against1 #eb4 ,childhood of1 #cd1 #ci4 ,common people hear1 #ea4 ,crucifixion of1 #ee4 ,defense of1 #eg4 ,divinity of1 #dg4 ,doctrines of1 #dc4 ,manner of ,teaching1 #dh4 ,ministry of1 #dc4 ,mission of1 #hc1 #cja4 ,resurrection of1 #fj4 ,temptation of1 #dc4 ,trial of1 #ec4 ,jews1 ,judgment upon1 #ajg4 ,state of1 #bf4 ,john1 ,the apostle1 #aif4 ,john1 the ,baptist1 #ce4 ,martyrdom of1 #ch4 ,mission of1 #cf4 ,restores ,aaronic ,priesthood1 #bif1 #caa4 ,was he ,elias1 #dj4 ,joseph1 husband of ,mary1 #aa4 ,john1 ,prince1 succeeds ,frederic the ,wise1 #bah4 signs the ,augsburg confession1 #bbj4 ,judah1 ,final overthrow of1 #cgc4 ,kingdom of1 #cid4 ,judas1 #eb4 ,judgment1 eternal1 ,christian dogma of1 #cgh4 ,true doctrine of1 #cgh4 ,justification by faith1 ,luther on1 #bcd1 #bci4 ,catholic church on1 #bcg4 ,evil results of1 #bci4 and sanctification1 #cjb4 ,keys of former dispensations restored1 #cfj4 ,kirtland1 ,breaking up at1 #cib4 ,knight1 ,joseph1 #cjg4 ,newel1 #cjg4 ,knox1 ,john1 ,scotch reformer1 #bfa4 sent to galleys1 #bfa4 his work in ,scotland1 #bfb4 ,law added to gospel1 #de4 ,learning1 ,revival of1 #bje4 ,leo ,x1 indifference to ,german agitation1 #baa4 ,luther's appeal from1 #bab4 ,death of1 #bag4 ,liberty1 ,religious1 secured1 #bbc4 secured by ,u4 ,s4 ,constitution1 #bgj4 ,life1 ,double rule of1 #ahj4 ,origin of false idea of moral1 #aha4 ,literature1 ,greek1 ,influence of1 #bbd4 ,logos1 ,plato's1 #afi4 in ,trinity1 #agj4 ,lying accounted a virtue1 #ahc4 ,luther1 ,martin1 ,birth of1 #bjh4 at ,wartburg1 #bag4 before ,diet at ,worms1 #bae4 burns pope's bull1 #bae1 #bbe4 ,character of1 #bbf4 ,danger of doctrine1 #bcf4 ,death of1 #bbb4 ,fundamental doctrine of1 #bcd4 excommunicated1 #bae1 #bbf4 his answer to ,diet1 #baf4 ,mischief of doctrine1 #bce4 on ,indulgences1 #bbd4 ,preaching of1 #bjh4 visits ,rome1 #bjh4 ,magi1 #ac4 ,man1 ,creation and ,fall of1 #cja4 ,manifesto1 discontinuing plural marriage1 #djg4 ,marriage1 ,celestial1 introduced1 #cid4 ,covenant1 ,eternity of1 #cid4 ,establishment of plural1 #cif4 ,plural1 #cid4 ,discontinued1 #djg4 ,enactments of ,congress against1 #dje4 ,martyrdom of the prophets1 #dja4 ,martyrs1 ,christian1 #abd4 ,worship of1 #afa4 ,mary ,magdalene1 #fa4 ,mary1 the mother of ,jesus1 #aa4 ,mass1 ,institution of1 #acc4 ,matthias1 #gj4 ,maximilian ,i1 ,emperor of ,germany1 #bab4 ,melanchthon1 ,philip1 drafts religious formula1 #bah4 drafts ,augsburg ,confession1 #bbj4 ,messiah 0 see ,jesus ,christ4 ,metropolitans1 ,origin of1 #adb4 ,ministry1 ,commencement of1 #cjg4 ,miracle1 ,first in the ,church1 #cjg4 ,mission1 ,first1 to ,lamanites1 #cae4 ,missouri1 ,character of old settlers1 #cch4 ,saints expelled from1 #cib4 ,western1 #cbg4 ,mormon1 ,book of1 #bhj4 ,analysis of1 #bhf4 ,means of testing truth of1 #bib4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph's first view of1 #bhc4 ,translation and publication1 #bhc4 ,moroni1 ,ancient ,prophecies quoted by1 #bha4 ,description of1 #bhe4 ,fourth appearance of1 #bhb4 ,first visit to ,joseph ,smith1 #bhj4 ,warning to ,jos4 ,smith1 #bhb4 ,moses1 ,appearing of1 #cfj4 ,mysteries1 ,pagan1 #bb4 ,nazareth1 #ce1 #ci4 ,nature1 ,convulsions of1 #eh4 ,nero1 #aji1 #aab4 ,nephites1 ,destruction of1 #bjj4 ,nuremberg1 ,the truce of1 #bba4 ,nauvoo1 ,the rise of1 #cic1 #cih4 ,opposition1 ,rise of1 #gb4 ,officials1 ,church1 ,corruption of1 #adc4 ,ordinances1 ,outward1 #abg4 ,organizations1 ,rerival of secret1 #aii4 ,paganism1 ,mysteries of1 #bb1 ,pagans1 ,accusations of1 #abg4 ,partridge1 ,edward1 appointed bishop1 #caf4 ,passover1 #cd1 #ci4 ,patriarchs1 ,duties and callings1 #cde4 ,paul1 #ge1 #hj4 prophesies of apostasy1 #aid4 ,paul ,,iii succeeds ,clement ,,vii1 #bbb4 calls ,council of ,trent1 #bbb4 ,pentecost1 #ga1 #gi4 ,perdition1 ,sons of1 #chh4 ,persecution1 ,first1 #ge4 among ,nephites1 #aih4 ,early church1 #cec4 ,end of ,pagan1 #aai4 in ,jackson ,county1 ,mo41 #ccj1 #cch4 of ,christians by ,jews1 #aje4 ,romans1 #ajg4 second century1 ,a1 #abc4 under ,aurelius1 #aae4 under ,severus1 #aae4 under ,trajan1 #aaf1 #abc4 under ,diocletian1 #aag4 ,petri1 ,olaus1 #bee4 ,discussion with ,gallius1 #bef4 ,pharisees1 #bg4 ,philip ,,ii of ,spain1 #beg4 ,philosophy1 ,gnostic and ,new ,platonic1 #aff4 ,modes of life to which it led1 #afh4 ,pagan1 mixed with ,christian religion1 #afc4 ,pilate1 #ed4 ,pioneers1 ,arrival of1 in ,salt ,lake ,valley1 #djc4 ,polycarp1 #aae1 #abb4 ,popes1 ,absolute power of1 #aeg4 ,character of language used by1 #aeh4 ,supremacy of1 discussed1 #bad4 ,rise of temporal power of1 #aec4 ,predestination1 ,luther on1 #bcd4 ,melanchthon on1 #bce4 ,effect of1 on the mind1 #bci4 ,presbyterian form of church government1 #bec4 ,presidency1 ,first1 reorganized1 #djc4 ,priesthood1 ,nature of1 #cdj4 ,aaronic1 ,restoration of1 #bif4 ,spirit of government by1 #cdj4 ,sphere of ,aaronic1 #cbf4 ,time of restoration of ,melchisedek1 #caa4 ,priests1 ,duties of1 #cjf4 ,high1 ,duties1 ,powers1 #cdf4 ,quorums of1 #cdh4 ,prophecies on gathering of ,israel1 #cfh4 quoted by ,moroni1 #bha4 ,protestant1 ,confession of ,faith1 #bbj4 ,origin of name1 #bai4 objection to ,catholic abuses1 #bbj4 ,reverses of1 #bbb4 ,victory of1 #bbc4 ,punishment1 ,eternal1 ,sectarian dogma1 of1 #cgh1 #chi4 ,puritans ,character of1 #bfi4 ,intolerance of1 #bfd4 not satisfied with reformation1 #bfj4 ,rebellion1 ,luther's1 #bdb4 ,revolution1 not1 #bdd4 ,reformation1 ,catholic view of1 #bde4 in ,switzerland1 #beb4 in ,france1 #bee4 in ,sweden1 #bee1 #bfg4 in ,denmark1 #bef1 #bfh4 ,motives back of1 #bdi4 ,reproach of1 #bej4 ,revolution1 not1 #bdf4 ,true cause of1 #bde1 #bdi4 ,reformers1 ,divisions among1 #bej4 ,the error of1 #bdh4 ,relatives of ,jesus1 #aaa4 ,resurrection1 #fj4 ,rigdon1 ,sidney1 accepts gospel1 #cae4 ,rites1 ,pagan1 joined to ,christian1 #acg4 ,sacrament1 #eb4 ,administration1 ,manner of #acd1 #cjd4 ,corrupted1 #acb4 ,suppression of half1 the #acd4 ,views of ,calvin and ,zwingle on1 #bed4 ,sadducees1 #bg4 ,saints1 ,latter-day1 added to ,church title1 #bii4 ,errors of1 #cji4 ,expulsion of from ,illinois1 #djb4 ,expulsion of1 from ,jackson ,county1 ,mo41 #ccj4 ,flight of1 to the west1 #djb4 ,salvation1 ,conditions of1 #ia4 ,general1 #hd4 ,individual1 #hi4 ,samaritans1 #bi1 #cfe4 ,sanctification1 #cjb4 ,sanhedrim1 #cb4 ,schools1 ,sunday1 #cea4 ,scripture1 ,missing parts of1 #ff4 ,sects1 ,multiplication of1 #bdh4 ,serfdom1 ,release of masses from1 #bjf4 ,seventies1 #df4 ,nature of calling1 etc41 #cdd4 ,organization of1 #ccg4 ,presiding quorum of1 #cdd4 ,sign of dove1 #db4 ,signs of ,christ's birth1 #ac4 ,smalcald1 ,league of1 #bba4 ,smith1 ,joseph1 ,birth and parentage of1 #bge4 first prayer and vision1 #bgg4 martyrdom of1 #dja4 name foretold1 #bhe4 ,societies1 ,female ,relief1 #cea4 ,spirits in prison1 ,preaching to1 #cgi4 ,messiah preaching to1 #cij4 ,tacitus1 #aji4 ,taylor1 ,president ,john1 #djd4 ,description of1 #dae4 ,teachers1 ,duties of1 #cjf4 ,false1 to arise1 #aib4 ,quorum of1 #cdh4 ,temple1 ,kirtland1 ,the1 #ceh1 #cfa4 ,manifestations in1 #cei4 ,salt ,lake1 ,laying capstone of1 #djh4 ,site of1 in ,jackson ,co41 #cbg4 ,temporal affairs1 #gd4 ,temptations1 ,order of1 #dg4 ,tetzel1 ,john1 his connection with indulgences1 #baa4 ,luther's assault upon1 #baa4 ,character of1 #bbe4 ,death of1 #bcj1 #bci4 ,toleration1 ,heathen1 #ba4 ,traditions1 #fg4 ,trajan1 #aaf4 ,trent1 ,council of1 #bbc4 ,pestilence at1 #bbg4 ,tribes1 ,ten1 depart for north1 #cgc1 lost1 #cfc4 ,return of1 #cfh1 #cgd4 ,revolt of1 #cfc4 ,trinity1 ,doctrine of the1 #cjb4 ,united ,states government1 ,hand of ,god in establishment of1 #bga4 ,urban ,,ii favors crusades1 #bjh4 ,vasa1 ,gustavus1 king of ,sweden1 #bee4 ,vision at first ,conference of the ,church1 #cab4 ,importance of ,joseph ,smith's first1 #bgh4 ,joseph ,smith's first1 #bgg4 ,voice of ,god and of the people in ,church government1 #cjj4 ,wards1 how organized1 #cej4 ,whitmer1 ,david1 one of the ,three ,witnesses1 #bhd4 ,whitnev1 ,newel ,k41 appointed ,bishop1 #caf1 #cbf4 ,witnesses1 ,three1 #bhd4 ,woodruff1 ,president ,wilford1 #dje4 issues ,manifesto1 #djg4 lays capstone of ,salt ,lake ,temple1 #djh4 ,works1 ,good1 ,luther on1 #bcd4 ,catholics trusted in1 #bcg4 ,world1 ,condition of1 etc41 #bj4 ,pagan1 ,arraignment of1 #bc4 ,state at ,christ's birth1 #bd4 ,worship1 on ,sunday1 ,reason why1 #ace4 ,description of1 #ace4 of martyrs1 #afa1 #age4 ,simplicity of1 changed1 #afj4 ,wycliffe1 ,john1 ,english reformer1 #bei1 #bfh4 ,y4 ,m4 and ,y4 ,l4 ,m4 ,i4 ,a41 #cea4 ,young1 ,brigham1 ,birth1 etc41 #djc4 ,character of1 #dae4 chosen ,president of the ,church1 #djc4 ,zion1 ,location of1 etc41 #cbj1 #cbf4 ,camp of1 #cca4 ,stakes of1 #cdi4 ,zwingle1 birth1 teaching1 death1 #beb4 recognized gradation in ,church officers1 #beb4 views on eucharist1 #bed4 views on predestination1 #bed4 ,transcriber's ,note ,various spelling and punctuation errors in the original print edition have been corrected as seemed reasonable4 ,this ebook was developed using scans available at https3_/_/archive4org_/details_/outlines ofeccles#aijbrobe4