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Messenger and Advocate
1, Number 8

Source document in Mormon Publications: 19th and 20th Centuries online archive: Messenger and Advocate Vol. 1

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LATTER DAY SAINTS'
MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE
Volume I. No. 8.]	KIRTLAND, OHIO, MAY, 1835.	[Whole No. 8.

Communications

LETTER NO. 2.

Freedom, March 17th, 1835.

DEAR SIR—It may be thought that I owe you an apology for taxing your time and patience to the extent that I have in mine of the 10th instant, and now again before you have hardly had time to repose from that task, to lay upon you another burden as onerous as the first. But I trust you will see the propriety of having a view of the whole subject at once.—I have not the vanity to think I have done it ample justice as the importance of it demands. But a stronger mind, from the few hints that have been given, may elicit more facts, and by a more masterly arrangement produce conviction in some minds where the productions of my pen cannot. The cause of truth, and that alone would I advocate. If my premises are good, I think my inferences and deductions are logical, and if I have contributed in but a small degree to subserve or advance that cause, my most sanguine hopes will be realized. I shall ever feel to console myself with this pleasing reflection that I shall never be held accountable for the misimprovement of five talents when only one or two were bestowed.

At the close of mine of the 10th inst., a question was asked relative to the present or prevailing religious sects of the day converting the world and thereby bringing about the Millen[n]ium or peaceable reign of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We will examine the subject a little further,—and First, Our God is a God of order and not of confusion as in all the churches of the Saints (see Cor. 14-33) Do we not see them as eager in the pursuit of worldly gain, using every art and every stratagem to circumvent their fellow mortals, and hoard up this world's goods as the non-professor? Most surely.—First John 2d, 15, reads thus: "Love not the world nor the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him." Where then, we ask, is their supreme love for their Master? Where is their self denial? Where is their regard for what the Saviour said, when he commanded his followers to "seek first the kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Mat. 6th, 33. Where are the spiritual gifts that God placed in his church for perfecting the saints and edifying the body? Where do we see the peaceable fruits of that heaven-born principle, Charity; that meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price? (Rev. 3:1) Does it not look like having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof? (1st Peter 3-4) Does it not look like having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof? (2 Tim. 3-5.) Does it not nearly resemble what the Apostle Paul describes in his epistle to Titus 1st, 16, says? "They profess that they know God, but in works deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and to every good work reprobate." This is the character of those who shall profess the Religion of Heaven in the last days, and the prophetic declaration of the great Apostle of the Gentiles in his second letter to Timothy and third chapter—fully supports us in this assertion. If it be said to us that we have looked only on the dark side of the picture, that we are too censori[o]us, that there are many honorable exceptions; we readily grant there are, and would to Heaven there were more.—We would the more earnestly cry, come out of her my people and be not partakers of her sins that ye receive not of her plagues. Both scripture and experience go to prove the fact, that evil communications corrupt good manners. We have before seen, that God commands the righteous to separate themselves from the wicked, and purify themselves before him. It will doubtless be said in reply, that great efforts and great sacrifices are made by churches at the present day to spread the gospel, to convert the heathen, to disseminate the truth. Grant it, and we would say to them as did the Saviour, "These things ought ye to do, and not omit or leave the more important things undone." If we have given a true character of them as a whole, and we trust we have, "they are like whited sepulchres, fair and beautiful without, but within are full of all manner of uncleanness." And if ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte is it not likely he will be just such an one as yourselves? And we now seriously ask, is the kingdom of Heaven made up of such characters as the great mass of the professing christian world at the present day? To answer this question correctly it is only necessary to learn what the kingdom of God is, for which see Romans (14.17.) "The Kingdom of God is not meats and drinks, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." This definition will exclude those who obey not the commands of God. It will exclude those who are haughty, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. It will exclude those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. It will exclude all those who say they love God, but in works deny him. It will exclude those who preach for gain and divine for money. It will exclude those who preach for doctrine the commandments of men for the Gospel of the Son of God. It will exclude those who rejoice in iniquity, are puffed up, easily provoked, possessing and manifesting to the world by their conduct, a spirit of mulise, revenge, and evil speaking which emanates only from the regions of darkness. These we believe must be excluded or the kingdom of Heaven is no desirable place. Such we believe will be excluded by the great head of the church, although they may have eaten and drunken in his name, and in his name and for his name and professedly for his cause (if you please) done many wonderful works. Yet we believe if the word of God be true, he will say to them in the great day, "Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I know you not."—A few reflections shall close this epistle.

1st. We trust we have proven to the satisfaction of every intelligent being, that there is a great first cause, prime mover, self-existent, independent and all-wise being whom we call God.

2d. That the Universe with all its attendant furniture is the workmanship of his hand.

3d. That man is the more noble and intelligent part of this lower creation, to whom the other grades in the scale of being are subject, yet, that man, is dependent on the great first cause and is constantly upheld by him, therefore justly amenable to him.

4th. We trust it may justly be inferred from the foregoing premises, that man's accountability rests on his knowledge of the will of him to whom he is accountable, and that he cannot be considered criminally guilty for the non-fulfilment of a law or command until he has a knowledge of such law or command and the physical ability to obey.

5th. We trust we have proven to the satisfaction of every unprejudiced mind, that what we call the scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, are the revealed will of God to man.

6th. We trust also, that we have satisfactorily proven that they were written by men divinely inspired, consequently must be true, and that the threatenings denounced against the wicked and the promises addressed to the righteous, will all be fulfilled.

7th. We argue the literal fulfilment, of scripture predictions, from the foregoing premises laid down, which rest on two predicates. And 1st. All scripture predictions which have been fulfilled and recorded for our benefit, have been so literally fulfilled, that any one understanding the language in which they are written need not be mistaken. 2d. Because it would savor of tyranny, oppression and cruelty, to inflict punishment, without clearly revealing the cause, for which the punishment was to be inflicted, and would be at war with love and benevolence, the attributes of God.

8th. We infer also that God is immutable in his purposes and unchangeable in his nature.

9th. We believe it justly deducible for the foregoing premises; that God warned the Antedeluvians, the Sodomites, and others, previously to their overthrow, and that their destruction came upon them in consequence of their great wickedness and disobedience.

10th. We have also inferred, from plain scripture testimony, that God reveals his secrets respecting his dealings with the children of men, to his servants the Prophets, and we deem it equally logical and scriptural, that the prophets have time to warn the people, and the people time to repent before judgements are sent or punishments inflicted.

11th. We infer from the word of God and the foregoing premises, that great and heavy judgements or sore calamities, presuppose great wickedness and disobedience to God.

12th. We have received it as an admitted fact, that the present, are what are denominated in the scriptures of truth, the last days, consequently near the close of the present dispensation, and that the Millen[n]ium is soon to be ushered in.

13th. We have seen from the word of God that

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great and sore judgements are coming upon this generation.

14th. We have seen that it illy comports with the character of God to punish the righteous with the wicked; therefore, that the present religious orders of the day do not constitute the true church, consequently, their endeavors to convert the world to their faith, and thereby bring about or usher in the Millen[n]ium, is not what God requires of them, and will be unavailing.

15th. We, therefore, infer from the confusion, disorder and iniquity that reigns among them, they are the legitimate descendants of Mystical Babylon, that personage described in the scriptures as setting upon many waters.

16th. We therefore come to the irresistible conclusion, that it is our indispensable duty to come out of her and be separate, be not partaker of her sins that we receive not of her plagues.

17th. We argue from the immutability of God, his goodness and benevolence, from analogy, and from revelation of his will to his servants, that it is our duty in obedience to the command of God to literally separate ourselves from this wicked and untoward generation.

18. We also argue from the same premises, that the place of safety, the city of refuge is pointed out and that we shall be justly culpable if we do not obey the commands of God, and that if we do refuse we must inevitably perish with the ungodly.

W. A. COWDERY.

TO OLIVER COWDERY, ESQ.

Letter No. 7.

KIRTLAND, MAY 19, 1835.

Dear Brother in the Lord:—Your letter in the 5th number of the Messenger and Advocate, addressed to me, would have been answered before now, had not my time been occupied in journeying from the State of Missouri to Ohio. I now proceed to answer it.—The letter before me relates to one of the most sublime scenes that has transpired from the days of the Savior, till its own august period, and, I am happy to perceive, is a full answer to the question asked in my 4th letter. I hope the saints will duly appreciate its merits, and rejoice that God was so mindful of, and merciful to the children of men, as to send an angel, in these last days, to light the candle of truth again upon earth, that the meek among men might walk in the light of it and be saved in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord by faith and works, as in other gospel days.

In this dark day of "gospel purity," though thousands may continue to suppose, that God is not the same that he was in days of old—of the prophets—of the apostles, and others, still the sacred scriptures teach us that he is the same unchangeable, holy and alwise Jehovah, yesterday, to-day, and forever, and I rejoice that too much cannot be written in praise of, nor too much said in thanksgiving to him for his merciful kindness towards us. Though angel's visits are few and short, the memory of them is great and everlasting. This holy visit of the angel to open the way for the fulness of the gospel, and gather Israel from all the countries whither they had been scattered for transgression, has been followed by such miraculous movements for the salvation of mankind, and such strange events as a token of coming perils, that I am unable to give even a sketch, of the mighty works of God, and his great doings in these latter times.

The book of Mormon, the rise of the church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, whose history you are now touching in your communications to me, the book of commandments, &c. are such prominent matters of fact, that all the unwearied pains taken by sects, sectarians, hypocrites, and scoffers, to stop the spread of these "glad tidings" dwindle into nothings compared to the joy of gathering souls for God, and preparing for the glory that will follow when the earth is purified.

I may be thought too ardent on this point, but gratify me a little;—These books and the Bible contain the words and promises of eternal life, the greatest gift of God, and while I live, the Lord assisting, I mean to labor, (and all honest men will go and do likewise,) to obtain souls for the first kingdom; yea, even the last kingdom, which re-commenced after the book of Mormon came forth; and must continue, till, as the stone cut out of the mountains, as the prophetic Daniel foretold, it shall have filled the whole world; till, as the waters cover the sea, it shall have covered the face of the earth; till, by the power of God, it shall have become terrible as an army with banners; and, till, by the glory of God, it shall have shone, clear as the moon and fair as the sun.

What a glorious prospect appeared after the angel delivered his message! The heavens had been opened; the gospel again committed to men, and a period as great as when the Lord said unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee. And I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed," welcomed the beginning of better days in the midst of this crooked and money

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seeking generation. For, as the angel informed our brother Joseph, that the Lord was about to proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, that Israel might be gathered and saved, so also was that glorious day shown when the Lord should come the second time to dwell on earth; yea, even come in the clouds of heaven, with all his holy angels with him, to execute judgment upon all, that the earth may rest; that righteousness may abound; that all flesh that is justified, may glorify God and enjoy his presence a thousand years.

Though, at the time the heavenly messenger came down to open the understanding of a few, and prepare the way for the true church to arise, and come forth as it were from the wilderness; yea, though at this time, the fathers had fallen asleep, and all things, seemingly but the gospel, remained as they were in other ages, and men that pretended to worship, did it as a mere matter of form, without authority or power, yet the "strange news" was believed by some, and hailed as the harbinger to prepare to gather the Lord's elect; and in fact it was the day-break of a day of glory.

I was not a professor at the time, nor a believer in sectarian religion, but a believer in God, and the Son of God, as two distinct characters, and a believer in sacred scripture. I had long been searching for the "old paths," that I might find the right way and walk in it, and after a suitable time to investigate the work, and prove its truth by corresponding evidence from the old bible, and by the internal witness of the spirit, according to the rules of holiness, I embraced it for the truth's sake, and all honest men who seek a better world, will "go and do likewise."

As soon as the "glad tidings" that an angel had visited the earth to prepare the way for greater light, &c. was whispered abroad, every impediment that Satan could lay in the way, and every foolish thing that a giddy headed generation cauld [could] invent, were thrown out to hinder the spread of the truth, and discourage the saints; not entirely by the thoughtless and wicked, but by such as draw near to God with their mouths, and honor him with their lips. There seemed to be a continual dripping of slang, if I may use a figure, besides lawsuits, so that the saints have had to walk under scalding drops, and upon burning coals.

Here let us reflect, that when God graciously condescends to send an angel from heaven to earth, it augurs that a day of retribution is nigh; that a day of vengeance is coming, for so it had been in many ages of the world; at least, it has happened so times enough, for men to prepare to meet their God, when angels visit this world: Wherefore I can say as a humble follower of the meek and adorable Jesus, that before the fulness of the Gentiles is gathered in, calamities and tribulation may be expected: For when men will not reform by entreaty, they must be chastised with judgments. If the voice of the servants of Jesus Christ; if the voice of calamities; if the voice of angels; if the voice of reason and the voice of mercy will not call the children of men to repentance, I greatly fear, that the voice of God will bring them to judgment, when reformation is beyond their power, and, sorrowful to state, they will have to pay the uttermost farthing to a hard master, whose burden is heavy, and whose yoke is galling; and which must learn them by experience, that the wages of sin is death.

Tender my love to the faithful, beseeching them to continue Godly minded and work righteousness till death, or till the Lord comes.

As ever,

W. W. PHELPS.

TO OLIVER COWDERY, ESQ.

For the Messenger and Advocate.

Our meeting, or conference, came to a close this day and we feel disposed to give you a brief account of our proceedings that you may lay them before your readers.

On Saturday last we met the Elders of this branch of the church, and also those of the little branch at Laona, who were called upon by Elder Marsh, our presiding Elder, to represent to us the standing of these branches. The number of members in this branch was 75 in regular standing, in the branch at Laona, were 20. These two branches were rather low in spirits in consequence of some difficulties that were existing among them; which, however, we succeeded in settling. One travelling Elder had been guilty of teaching erroneous doctrine and perverting the

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word of God. Such, for instance, as the following. Christ said, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon turned to blood, and the stars fall from heaven, &c. He stated that the Jewish church was the sun, and when it was scattered the sun was darkened. The moon was the Gentile church, which would be cut off and then it should turn to blood, &c. &c. besides, something about the Apocalyptic beast with seven heads and ten horns. He was shown his error and reproved sharply. He saw it and confessed his fault and made an humble acknowledgement and covenanted to be more careful, and we think he will be. We gave the church and Elders much instruction relative to the great points of our eternal interest, and we endeavored to do our work effectually and leave not a commandment unenforced.

Our public meeting, on Sunday, was attended by nearly five hundred people, who gave good attention, while Elder Marsh gave them a very interesting discourse upon the covenants, followed by Elder Patten upon the corruptions of the Gentile church. At the close of the meeting this day, five came forward for baptism, which was administered by Elder W. E. McLellin. Confirmation attended in the evening.—Monday morning, the church came together and after some consultation it was motioned, seconded and carried by a unanimous vote, that the limits of the Westfield Conference extend as far east as Lodi, south and west to Pennsylvania Line, and north to Lake Erie, embracing the branches at Westfield, Silver Creek, Perrysburgh, or Villanovia and Laona, to be called the "WESTFIELD CONFERENCE."

The conference continued until about 2 o'clock P. M. and then adjourned until 3 o'clock, when public preaching commenced by Elder B. Young, and followed by the farewell exhortation of the twelve: after which seven came forward for baptism, which was administered by Elder O. Hyde, and confirmation in the evening, when the Lord blessed us with his holy spirit, and many that were infirm received the laying on of hands, and prayer. Meeting continued until nearly 12 o'clock. This morning nine of the brethren left for the east, to attend some previous appointments between this and Freedom: We tarried to arrange the minutes of our conference and record them, &c. While the nine were taking their leave one man came to us and said he could not rest nor be satisfied, until he had obeyed the everlasting Gospel. The church was called together soon and we prayed unto the Lord our Heavenly Father, in the name of Christ and the Holy Spirit was shed forth upon us, and all were melted into humility and tears before the Lord. Elder O. Hyde administered baptism unto him and confirmed him by the water's edge.—Praise the Lord for his goodness: Praise him for his wonderful works among the children of men.

One little circumstance we will briefly notice: We were told that Messrs. How, Hulbert & Co's. Mormonism Unveiled sold for eighteen and three quarter cents, while the Book of Mormon sold for two dollars. It is true that two dollars is above the selling price of the Book of Mormon, but the anxiety of the gentleman to purchase it, and the owner having but one, and not wishing to part with it, is an explanation of this matter. Tell every body to buy and read "Mormonism Unveiled" if they wish, for we are convinced of Paul's statement, where he says, "Ye can do nothing against the truth but for the truth."

ORSON HYDE, }

W. E. McLELLIN, } Clerks of Con.

Westfield, May 12, 1835.

MILLENIUM NO. XIV.

Continued from Page 87.

Every thing said in the scriptures about the thousand years of Christ's reign on the earth, called by the scriptures "that day:" as one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, and that day in particular is noticed above all others, as the day in which the Lord will do the greatest things for his people, that ever were done for them since the world began,—most clearly sets forth that it is to be a time of miracles, and a day of power, such as has not been since man was on the earth; nor could it be possible for the Millenium to exist without; in truth it is the "restitution of all things" which constitutes the glory of the latter day of which all the holy prophets have spoken since the world began; take "the restitution of all things" from the latter day glory and what is left—nothing—there

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would be nothing of any consequence to take place, no material change; nature would continue the same; the seasons the same; animals and vegetables the same; nothing to talk about nor to sing about. The curse would still rest on the earth and upon all things which are on it: the trees would never clap their hands; nor would the earth bring forth in her strength, nor the mountains drop down new wine, nor would the ploughman overtake the reaper, nor the treader of grapes him that soweth seed. Jerusalem would never be built, so as never to be thrown down; nor would the tabernacle of David ever be built. In a word, where would the Millenium be? No where but in the imagination of man. Those, then, who say that the days of miracles are past, literally say that there is to be no millenium, and that Christ is not to reign a thousand years on earth; for if ever Christ reigns a thousand years on earth, there will be a time of miracles, or if ever there is a "restitution of all things" there will be a time of miracles, for what is a restitution but restoring or making good—that is getting that which was lost, and possessing that which had been previously enjoyed. And when the apostle Peter says that the heavens must receive the Savior until the times of the restitution of all things, he meant we presume, what he said; that when all things (not some things) which the Lord had at any time bestowed on the world by way of blessing should be restored to the earth, the Savior also should return or be restored with the all things: See Acts of the Apostles, chap. 3: ver. 19, 20, 21.

Let me ask, what will the Lord do when he restores all things? The answer is, that he will restore to the world every blessing which had ever been enjoyed among men from the first to the last; not even the Savior himself excepted. "And he shall send Jesus Christ who was before preached unto you:" Acts 3: 20. And nothing short of this can be a restitution of all things; and it is this of which all the holy prophets have spoken since the world began;—it has been the great burden of their teaching that there was to be a time of "the restitution of all things." Surely the vision of these prophets must have been peculiarly delightful, to gaze upon the various scenes which took place before their day and which was passing before their eyes, and should take place until the times of the restitution of all things. Those prophets who lived before the days of the Savior's humiliation, beheld him first with his Father before he was veiled in the flesh, and then in the flesh; after that crucified; then beheld him rise from the dead and ascend up into heaven and sit down on the right hand of power. And after that look through a lapse of nearly two thousand years, and then behold him descend to the earth again in all the glory of the heavens, and all the saints with him, and reign with him a thousand years on the earth. Surely a scene like this must have been astonishing beyond description.

But not only to gaze upon this scene, but also to behold the dealings of God among men in connection with the series of events relating to the Savior.—Behold all the spiritual gifts bestowed in the world at one time and another, with all the powers and blessings ever enjoyed at any period of the world among men, while those possessing them were persecuted, reviled, hated, scourged, buffeted, smitten, put to death, chased from place to place, to caves and dens of the earth; being afflicted and tormented, without any clothing but sheep skins and goat skins, until they were wasted and destroyed, and the whole church disappeared; and all the spiritual gifts ceased, and revelations were obtained no longer among men. And they looked until darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people; and until the vision of all had become as the words of a book which was sealed; and the people groped their way in darkness having no light; and party arose after party; sect after sect multiplied until the earth become a scene of confusion; sentiment warring with sentiment, and opinion lashing against opinion; and the true light of heaven was lost. But in the midst of this confusion the prophets beheld the God of heaven setting his hand the second time to recover his people, and to restore to the world what they had lost. Beginning as a grain of mustard planted in the earth; and from this small beginning the work began to roll; the spiritual gifts began to return one after one, until the blind began to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, and all manner of disea-

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ses and sicknesses pass away from among the people of God. And the power become so great that the waters were again smitten and the foundations of rivers and seas were discovered; and people went over dry shod, as they did in the day when the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt. The very heavens themselves were shaken, and all things were rebuked by their Creator. The spirit of God began to be poured out as in days of old, until it fell upon all flesh. The lion become peaceable; the leopard and the bear ceased to devour the asp; and the cockatrices lost their venom; & all the spiritual gifts that were ever enjoyed on earth among men at any period of the world returned and was possessed by men again: even all that were numbered among the living. And revelation followed revelation; vision came after vision; men and women became prophets and prophetesses, until the knowledge of God covered the earth as the waters covered the sea. The earth put on a new aspect; the curse was taken away, and it yielded in its strength, and all creation smiled. The trees clapped their hands, while animal and vegetable life united together to praise their Maker, with the mountains, the floods, and the flames. The Savior also come down from heaven and all the saints with him, who received their bodies glorified like his glorious body. The people of God they beheld gathered from all nations, tongues, languages and kindreds under heaven, unto the mountain of the Lord to rejoice before him. And when they beheld all this glory returning to the earth they sang of the latter day glory, and of that which was to come.—And from these visions came our ideas of a Millenium.

Gospel No. VII.

[CONTINUED FROM PAGE 89.]

There is nothing which gives greater peace and satisfaction to the mind, than clear views on the gospel; to understand it correctly is to understand the will of God to men, and to put a person in possession of truths which will guard him against the various impositions which have been imposed on the world, at one period of it and another; and to give him power to become extensively acquainted with God, as well as the heavenly worlds. But it is necessary in order to a clear understanding of the gospel, that we should have a correct understanding of its origin, and of its progress among men; for without this knowledge, we are liable to be led into darkness, and all the glory of the gospel be hid from our eyes.

Let me here observe, that whatever the gospel was, it now is, and ever will be, that it has not nor will it change; its laws are the same; its ordinances are the same; its institutions are the same; its commands are the same, and its regulations are the same: whatever it required of one man in order to obtain eternal life, it required of all men, and that in every age of the world, and will require the same until all shall be gathered that will be gathered, and those who have obeyed its requisitio[n]s enter into the rest, which God has prepared for them. And it is not only the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, and changes not: but it is the only scheme of things by which any portion of the human family has been, or will be saved; for it is only by virtue of the gospel that salvation was ever proclaimed among men, from first to last; for by it life and immortality came to light; so says Paul, 2d, Timothy 1:15, and as the knowledge of life and immortality is essential to salvation, it is easily seen, that there could be no salvation without the gospel, and not only without the gospel, but without the knowledge of it also; for how could a man have faith in that of which he never heard.

Seeing then, that life and immortality came to light by the gospel, and without the knowledge of life and immortality no person could be saved; there can no difficulty exist on the minds of any of the human family, unless they create one where none really exists as to the time the gospel was promulgated to man; it must have been promulgated as early as life and immortality was known, and they were known ever since the time that salvation was proclaimed among the family of man; for salvation is a matter of faith, and faith cannot exist in relation to it without hearing the word of the Lord, for it is by hearing the word of the Lord, that faith in relation to salvation comes. As far back then as we date salvation, so far back we date the proclamation of the gospel to man; and

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it must be so unless it can be proven that God had more ways than one of saving mankind, and to do this Paul must be refuted, for he says that the plan which he proclaimed was before the foundation of the world, and that no other foundation could any man lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus, and Peter says that there is no other name given under heaven among men, by which they can be saved but in the name of Christ Jesus.

May we not reason a little upon this subject. Let us ask then, what was the most important thing which God could communicate to his creature man? The answer is, the thing which would save him; if God ever at any time condescended to speak to man, there can no good reason be shewn why he did not communicate to him the things which were of the greatest consequence to him, and as God always acts according to reason and never against it we may conclude that he did declare unto man the gospel or the way by which he was to be saved; but what would be very strange would be that there should be a great number of persons saved in the earlier ages of the world, and yet not know how they were saved, be saved in ignorance! It would be equally as strange that prophets, such as Enoch for instance, the seventh from Adam, could prophecy of the second coming of Christ and of his judging the world, and yet not know of his first coming and of his dying for the world. And what would be stranger still would be, that men could be saved by faith, and yet never hear, nor know, of the way of salvation thro' the blood of the Lamb. This would be believing without hearing, and being saved without understanding, and having faith without hearing the word of God, or in other words it would be believing on him of whom they had not heard, or else it would be hearing without a preacher, and if it were any of these things, it would put the shame on all the sacred writers, and expose them to just ridicule. But while it is written in the pages of the divine oracles, that salvation is of faith, and men cannot have faith in a being of whom they have not heard, nor hear without one to tell them, or a preacher, and that life and immortality came to light by the gospel, and that Abel was a prophet, and that Enoch the seventh from Adam was translated, and that God saves men by the gospel and nothing else, for whatever will save men is gospel; so long it will be believed by every thinking man that, the gospel was made known to the ancients as well as to us. But what seems to put the matter at rest as relates to the antiquity of the gospel proclamation is, that the apostle Paul says that the gospel which he proclaimed, or what was to the same effect, that the scheme of things which he taught, was devised before the foundation of the world, and that it was God's fixed purpose to save men in that way or by that plan and none other; so that if there was salvation at all among the ancients, it was because they had the gospel among them.

There are are some other considerations which force the conclusion on the mind, that the ancients had the gospel among them, and that is, that according to the sacred record the fruits of it abounded among them as far back as to the days of Abel. If we inquire what are the things which attend the gospel? we will find that prophecying was one thing, and we are told that Abel was a prophet, for the Savior said to the Jews, that the blood of all the prophets should be required at their hands, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias. Matthew 23:34, 35 verses, Enoch was also a prophet; for he foretold of the second advent as recorded by Jude. Who does not know, that when the apostles proclaimed the gospel, they promised to those who received it that they should prophesy, seeing then that prophesying was a fruit of the gospel who can help seeing that it was by virtue of it that men prophecied, we cannot see where there can be a risk in believing that wherever there are or were prophets there the gospel is, or was, and one strong reason which confirms this belief is that whenever the gospel is lost prophecying is lost also; this generation is all the proof we need on this subject; for if we ask why has prophecying ceased in this generation? the answer is, because they have lost the gospel. And not having the gospel, they cannot have the fruits of it; but we see the ancients had the fruits of it, and how could they have the fruits of it and yet not have the gospel? is a question we

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will leave for those more learned than ourselves to answer.

Messenger and Advocate

The elders in the south and west will remember, that a Conference is to held at New Portage, on the 6th of next month.

THE LATTER DAY SAINTS'

Messenger and Advocate,

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OLIVER COWDERY,

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Difference between revisions of "Messenger and Advocate/1/8"

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