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