THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

{519} the stature of the fullness of age of Christianity, and then were

Christ; to cease, because no longer needed,

That we henceforth be no more having accomplished their purpose.

children, tossed to and fro, and Tracts, creeds, sermons, and

carried about with every wind of commentaries of uninspired men,

doctrine, by the sleight of men, together with a hireling priesthood,

and cunning craftiness, whereby are now necessary in order

they lie in wait to deceive.--_Eph. to keep men from being carried

iv._, 11-14. about with every wind of doctrine,

&c.

And no man taketh this honour For no man taketh this honour

unto himself, but he that is called upon himself, but one who has

of God, as was Aaron.--_Heb. been educated for the purpose,

v._, 4. and commissioned by men.

And how shall they preach, except But how shall the preach except

they be sent? (of God.)--_Rom. they be well educated for the

x._, 15. purpose and sent (by the board of

officers)?

Is any sick among you? let him If any are sick among you do

call for the elders of the church; not send for the Elders of the

and let them pray over him, Church; or if the Elders, come

anointing him with oil in the name do not let them lay hands on

of the Lord; them, neither let them anoint them

And the prayer of faith shall in the name of the Lord, for this

save the sick, and the Lord shall is all Mormon delusion; but send

raise him up; and if he have committed for a good physician, and perhaps

sins, they shall be forgiven they may get well.

him.--_James v._, 14-15.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent Repent and come to the anxious

and be baptized every one seat (penitent form) every one of

of you in the name of Jesus you, and cry, "Lord, Lord," and

Christ for the remission of sins, may be you will get forgiveness

and ye shall receive the gift of of sins; and you may be baptized

the Holy Ghost. or not; but if you do you will

For the promise is unto you, not get the Holy Ghost as they

and to your children, and to all did anciently, for such things are

that are afar off, even as many done away.

as the Lord our God shall call.--_Acts

ii._, 38-39.

And it shall come to pass afterward, And in these last days the Lord

that I will pour out my will not pour out His Spirit so

spirit upon all flesh; and your as to cause our sons and daughters

sons and your daughter shall to prophesy, our old men to

prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and our young men

dream dreams, your young men to see visions; for such things are

shall see visions.--_Joel ii._, 28. no longer needed, and it is all delusion,

and none but the ignorant

believe such things.

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Follow after charity, and desire Do not covet any of the supernatural

spiritual gifts, but rather that ye gifts, but especially beware

may prophesy.--_I. Cor. xiv._, 1. of Prophesying, for such

things are done away.

Wherefore, brethren, covet to Do not prophesy, and it is all

prophesy, and forbid not to speak a delusion to speak in tongues.

with tongues.--_I. Cor. xiv._, 39.

But in vain they do worship me, It matters not what kind of doctrine,

teaching for doctrines the commandments or what system, a man embraces,

of men.--_Matt. xv._, 9. if he is only sincere and

worships Jesus Christ.

At that time Jesus answered We thank God that He has revealed

and said, I thank thee, O Father, nothing to any person, wise

Lord of heaven and earth, because or simple, for many hundred

thou hast hid these things from years, but that our wise and

the wise and prudent, and hast learned men have been able to

revealed them unto babes. know God without a revelation,

Even so, Father; for so it seemed and that we shall never be favored

good in thy sight.--_Matt. xi._, with any more.

25-26.

All things are delivered unto We all know God in this enlightened

me of my Father; and no man age, and yet neither the

knoweth the Son, but the Father; Father nor the Son has revealed

neither knoweth any man the anything to any of us, for we

Father, save the Son, and he to do not believe revelations are necessary

whomsoever the Son will reveal now.

him.--_Matt. xi._, 27.

And this is life eternal, that And we cannot know for ourselves,

that they might know Thee the only by any positive manifestation

true God, and Jesus Christ, whom in these days, but must depend

Thou hast sent.--_John xvii._, 3. on the wisdom and learning

of men.

I thank my God always on your We thank the Lord always in

behalf, for the grace of God behalf of the Church in these

which is given you by Jesus days, that she has no supernatural

Christ; gifts given unto her, and

That in everything ye are enriched that she is not enriched by Christ,

by him, in all utterance, neither in the gift of utterance

and in all knowledge; nor in the gift of knowledge;

Even as the testimony of Christ neither has she the testimony of

was confirmed in you; Jesus (the spirit of prophecy)

So that ye come behind in no confirmed in her, and she comes

gift; waiting for the coming of behind in all the gifts; nor is she

our Lord Jesus Christ.--_I. Cor. waiting for, or expecting the coming

i._, 4-7. of the Lord; for He has come

once, and never will come again

till the great and last day, the

end of the earth.

{521} THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

Because the foolishness of God The wisdom of men, and the

is wiser than men; and the weakness learning of men, are better than

of God is stronger than men. the inspiration of the Almighty,

For ye see your calling, brethren, for that is not needed any longer;

now that not many wise men for you see your calling, brethren,

after the flesh, not many mighty, how that the wise, and learned,

not many noble, are called; and noble, and mighty are

But God has chosen the foolish called in these days; for we have

things of the world to confound chosen such to confound the foolish;

the wise; and God hath the unlearned, and the ignorant;

chosen the weak things of the yea, to confound the base

world to confound the things things of the world which are

which are mighty; despised, that flesh might glory in

And base things of the world, His presence.

and things which are despised,

hath God chosen, yea, and things

which are not, to bring to naught

things that are:

That no flesh should glory in

his presence.--_I. Cor. i._, 25-29.

And I, brethren, when I came And we, brethren, when we

to you, came not with excellency came unto you, came with excellency

of speech or of wisdom, declaring of speech, and with the wisdom

unto you the testimony of and learning of man; and

God. our speech and our preaching were

For I determined not to know with enticing words of man's wisdom;

any thing among you, save Jesus not in demonstration of the

Christ, and Him crucified. spirit and power, for that is done

And I was with you in weakness, away; that your faith should not

and in fear, and in much stand in the power of God, but in

trembling. the wisdom of man.

And my speech and my preaching

was not with enticing words

of man's wisdom. but in demonstration

of the Spirit and of

power:

That your faith should not

stand in the wisdom of men, but

in the power of God.--_I. Cor. ii._,

1-5.

But we speak the wisdom of But we speak the wisdom of

God in a mystery, even the hidden man in a mystery, even the hidden

wisdom, which God ordained wisdom, which none but the

before the world unto our glory; learned knew; for had others

Which none of the princes of known it, they would never have

this world knew; for had they been under the necessity of employing

known it, they would not have us to tell it to them.

crucified the Lord of glory.--_I. Cor.

ii._, 7-8.

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But God hath revealed them But God hath revealed nothing

unto us by His Spirit; for the unto us by His Spirit; for the

Spirit searcheth all things, yea, wisdom and learning of man

the deep things of God. search all things; yea, all the deep

For what man knoweth the things which are necessary for

things of a man, save the spirit us to know.

of man which is in him? even For what man knoweth the

so the things of God knoweth no things of man, save the spirit of

man, but the Spirit of God. man, which is in him? Even so

Now we have received not the the things of God knoweth no

spirit of the world, but the spirit man by the Spirit of God in these

which is of God; that we might days, for it is done away, or it

know the things that are freely reveals nothing.

given to us of God. Now, we have not received the

Which things also we speak, Spirit of God, but the spirit of

not in the words which man's wisdom the world, that we might not know

teacheth; comparing spiritual for a certainty, but that we might

things with spiritual. guess at, or give our opinion of

But the natural man receiveth the things of God.

not the things of the Spirit of Which things also we speak, not

God, for they are foolishness unto in the words which the Holy

him, neither can he know them, Ghost teacheth, but which man's

because they are spiritually wisdom teacheth, for the inspiration

discerned.--_I. Cor. ii._, 10-14. of the Holy Ghost is done

away.

But the learned man may receive

and understand the things of

God by his own wisdom, without

the inspiration of the Spirit; for

will be so foolish as to believe

in visions and revelations

in this religious age?

Let no man deceive himself. If Let no man deceive himself. If

any man among you seemeth to any man among you seemeth to

be wise in the world, let him become be wise in the things of God, let

a fool, that he may be wise. him get the wisdom of men, that

he may be wise.

For the wisdom of this world For the wisdom of God is foolishness

is foolishness with God. For it with the world, for it is

is written, he taketh the wise in written, Let us educate young men

their own craftiness. for the ministry; and again, Let

And again, the Lord knoweth no man preach who has not been

the thoughts of the wise, that educated for the purpose; and especially,

they are vain. receive no man who

Therefore let no man glory in professes to be inspired.

men. For all things are

yours.--_I. Cor. iii._, 18-21.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, Now, concerning spiritual gifts,

brethren, I would not have you brethren, we would have you entire

ignorant.--_I. Cor. xii._, 1. ignorant, for they are not

needed at all in this generation.

{523}THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

But the manifestation of the But the manifestation of the

spirit is given to every man to Spirit is given to no man to profit

profit withal. at all.

For to one is given by the Spirit But to one is given, by the learning

the word of wisdom; to another of men, the word of wisdom;

the word of knowledge by the and to another the word of knowledge

same Spirit. by human learning.

To another faith by the same And to another faith, by the

Spirit; to another the gift of healing same spirit; but to none the gift

by the same Spirit. of healing by the same Spirit.

To another the working of miracles; And to none the working of

to another prophecy; to miracles, and to none to prophesy,

another discerning of spirits; to and to none discerning of spirits,

another divers kinds of tongues; and to none to speak with divers

to another the interpretation of kinds of tongues, and to none to

tongues.--_I. Cor. xii._, 7-10. interpret tongues.

For as the body is one, and For as the body is composed of

hath many members, and all the many sects and parties who are

members of that one body, so also is opposed to each other, and have

Christ. no gifts, and, being many sects,

For by one Spirit are we all are but one body, so also is Antichrist.

baptized into one body, whether For by many spirits are we all

we are Jews or Gentiles, whether baptized into many bodies, whether

we be bond or free; and have we be Catholics or Protestants,

been all made to drink into one Presbyterians or Methodists, but

Spirit. have all drunk into one spirit,

For the body is not one member, even the spirit of the world.

but many.--_I. Cor., xii._, 12-14. For the body is not one sect,

but many.

But now hath God set the members But now hath the god (of this

every one of them in the world) set the sects and parties

body, as it hath pleased him. in the body (of Antichrist) as it

And if they were all one member, hath pleased him.

where were the body? And if they were all one sect,

But now are they many members where were the body?

yet but one body.--_I. Cor., But now are they many sects,

xii._, 18-20. yet but one body (even Babylon).

Now ye are the body of Christ, Now, ye are the body of Antichrist,

and members in particular. and members in particular.

And God hath set some in the And man hath set some in the

church, first apostles, secondarily Church; first, a hireling Priest;

prophets, thirdly teachers, after secondly, a board of officers;

that miracles, then gifts of healings, thirdly, tracts; then commentaries,

helps, governments, diversities creeds and diversities of opinions;

of tongues.--_I. Cor., xii._, hence societies, and wondrous

27-28. helps.

Blessed are ye, when men shall Woe unto you when men reviled

revile you and persecute you, and you, and persecute you, and say

{524}THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

shall say all manner of evil against all manner of evil against you

you falsely, for my sake. falsely for Christ's sake. Lament

Rejoice and be exceeding glad, ye, and be exceedingly sorrowful

for great is your reward in in that hour, for little is your reward

heaven; for so persecuted they among men; for so persecute

the prophets which were before they the Latter-day Saints.

you.--_Matt. v._, 11-12.

Give to him that asketh thee, Give to him that asketh of thee,

and from him that would borrow if he be able to make thee a similar

of thee turn not thou away.--_Matt. present; and from him that

v._, 42. would borrow of thee turn not

thou away, if he be able to pay

thee again with good interest.

Be ye therefore, perfect, even Do not think to be perfect, for

as your Father which is in heaven it is impossible to live without sin.

is perfect.--_Matt. v._, 48.

Take heed that ye do not your Take heed that you do your

alms before men, to be seen of alms before men, to be seen of

them; otherwise ye have no reward them; otherwise you have no reward

of your Father which is in nor praise from the children

heaven. of men.

Therefore when thou doest Therefore, when thou doest

thine alms, do not sound a trumpet thine alms, publish it in the Missionary

before thee, as the hypocrites Herald, or some other

do in the synagogues and in the paper, that you may get praise of

streets, that they may have glory the world. Verily I say unto you,

of men. Verily I say unto you, You shall have your reward.

They have their reward.--_Matt.

vi._, 1-2.

And when thou prayest thou And when thou prayest, be like

shall not be as the hypocrites are, the hypocrites in days of old; go

for they love to pray standing in before the public and cry mightily,

the synagogues and in the corners not expecting to be heard and answered,

of the streets, that they may be for that would be miraculous,

seen of men. Verily I say unto and miracles have ceased.

you, They have their reward.--_Matt.

vi._, 5.

And when thou prayest thou And when thou prayest, be like

shall not be as the hypocrites are, the hypocrites in days of old; go

for they love to pray standing in before the public and cry mightily,

the synagogues and in the corners not expecting to be heard and answered,

of the streets, that they may be for that would be miraculous,

seen of men. Verily I say unto and miracles have ceased.

you, They have their reward.--_Matt.

vi._, 5.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, Moreover, when ye fast, be like

as the hypocrites, of a sad the hypocrites, of a sad countenance,

countenance; for they disfigure their that ye may appear unto

faces that they may appear unto men to fast; so that you may get

men to fast. Verily I say unto your reward.

you, They have their reward,--_Matt.

vi._, 16.

Lay not up for yourselves Lay up for yourselves abundance

treasures upon earth, where moth of treasures on the earth,

and rust doth corrupt, and where where moth and rust doth corrupt,

thieves break through and steal. and where thieves break

{525}THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

But lay up for yourselves treasures through and steal; for if your

in heaven, where neither heart is only in heaven, it is no

moth nor rust doth corrupt, and matter how rich you are in this

where thieves do not break world; for now it is come to pass

through nor steal. that ye cannot serve God and mammon.

For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.--_Matt.

vi._, 19-21.

Therefore all things whatsoever Therefore, all things whatsoever

ye would that men should do to men do to you do you even

you, do ye even so to them; for so to them; for this is the law and

this is the law and the prophets. the practice.

Enter ye in at the strait gate; Enter ye in at the wide gate,

for wide is the gate and broad is where the multitude go; for it

the way that leadeth to destruction, cannot be that all our great and

and many there be which learned men are wrong, and nobody

go in thereat. right but a few obscure individuals.

Because strait is the gate and For the narrow way is not altogether

narrow is the way, which leadeth too straight, but only a

unto life, and few there be very few travel in it.

that find it.

Beware of false prophets, which Beware of prophets who come

come to you in sheep's clothing, to you with the Word of God;

but inwardly they are ravening you may know at once they are

wolves. false, without hearing them or

Ye shall know them by their examining their fruits; popular

fruits. Do men gather grapes of opinion is against them; whereas,

thorns, or figs of thistles?--_Matt. if they were men of God,

vii._, 12-16. the people would speak well of

Wherefore by their fruits ye them.

shall know them. If we are only sure that we

Not every one that saith unto have experienced religion, and we

me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into pray often, we shall be saved,

the kingdom of heaven; but he whether we do the Lord's will or

that doeth the will of my Father not; for it mattereth not what

which is in heaven.--_Matt. vii._, system we embrace, whether it

20-21. be right or wrong, if we are only

sincere.

And it came to pass, when Jesus And it came to pass that when

had ended these sayings, the men had ended these sayings, the

people were astonished at His people were pleased with their

doctrine. doctrines, for they taught them

For he taught them as one having not as men having authority, but

authority, and not as the as the scribes.

scribes.--_Matt. vii._, 28-29.

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