Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-10

cerity is getting hold Of both the
priesthood and the people, and
this prophet is especially commits
stoned TO warn them against their
sins
But his warnings are not needed.
The people prepare themselves for
calamities. The spirit Of prophecy
is withdrawn for a period OF 800
years. The temple and the people
are given into the hands Of Antio-
chus Epiphanes. The old dispenSl-
ton is virtually closed.
CONCLUSIONS IRON THE FoREGo-
ING.
The conclusions arrived at now
are clear and need only 10 lie briefly
stated. We have seen that no book
/ Of the Old Testament, although ali
are written and preserved for the in
struction Of the human race in all
ages, contains anything that is OF
such n nature as to exclude further
revelation. Not one single passage,
nor all the passages combined, are
50 written rs TO exclude the neces-
sity Of the revelations contained In
the New Testament, for instance.
On the contrary, one revelation
leads 10 another, God always giving
cline upon line, precept upon pre-
cept," imparting knowledge as men
are willing and able 10 receive IT..
For it Is through revelation that
God educates His servants and His
peorl land as in any branch Of study
We are led on from the fundamental
principles and find that each new
truth suggests Others, 50 here: each
new truth revealed leads us 10 others
until-were such a ease possible
we have been permitted 10 exhaust
the entire fulness OF divine knowl-
edge.
We have also seen that the serv-
ants Of God in the old covenant de-
clare the continuation Of revelation.
They do not consider the prophet
ical gift or the GIFT OF receiving re-
Violations rs peculiar TO their own
dispensation. They point 10 ''the
last days, rs n time in which the
Spirit Of the Lord is 10 be poured
out more abundantly than in any
former period. And His presence IS
to be manifested through ''drelms
aud visions" The withdrawal Of
these they designate as n calamity.
They speak OF the time In which
such heavenly gifts are withdrawn
as might" and darkness" while,
consequently, the presence Of them
indicate day and light. Now, are
day and light necessary for the
physical welfare Of man? IL so,
revelations are also necessary for his
spiritual advancement.
We have further seen that the
establishment of new econom-
les requires new revelation.
Moses was familiar with the revel-
atoms given 10 the patrinrchs before
him. But when he was called upon
10 usher in the dispensntion Of the
law, he could not do this without
new revelations. Norcould Zerubbab-
el re-establish this dispensation after
the return from Babylon without
the aid Of revelation. Through the
revelations given 10 the Prophet
Haggai the people ''prosperedH. and
were able to complete their work as
commanded by the Lord Ezra 6ilil.
Without this, they would not have
been able 10 prosper.
Sometimes we see that revelations
are given IN faithful servants Of Coo
as a special favor TO them. In
such cases, what Is seen or heard
must not be recorded-as was the
case with some visions OF Paul in
the New Testamen:-Or, ifrocOuied,
il sealed up In mystical expressions,
unintelligihle 10 the common read
er, until the Spirit Of revelation
gives the true interpretation thereof.
This was the case with some OF Dan
iel's visions, and with at least one
Of the visions Of John, (ltev. 10: (, 81.
Are revelations, then, given In
orIler TO establish new economies,
TO preserve the children Of God
from falling Into darkness, to in
struct them about things known to
God alone, in one word TO lead men
unto salvation7 Surely, there never
can be n time when revelation is
not necessary.
III y Nv AMEz4NAs
But II will be said, no one gexeept |
the Jews perhapsl contend that the |
Old Testament alone contains all |
that IL is necessary % know. The |
New Testament Is a supplement to |
the Old Testament. and the two to-
gether contain the fulmess Of Gods
revelations. The prophecies Of the
Old Testament are fulfilled in the
New, and TO the volume thus COM
pleted nothing must be added.
Is there anything at all in the
New Testament 10 verify this state
anent 50 universally accepted rs true
lmong the. "Christian'; PrOtestantic
Worlu2 Or does the New Testament
the conclusions we have
lrriveslst in the perusal ofthe old?
The New Tcstau.eht contains I've
historical books, viz, the four Cos
Dels and the Acts Of the Apostles;
onrteen letters, written by Paul
.hree by John, two by Peter, one
etter By james, and one 10y Jude,
o which collection comes one pro-
ghetto book by John.
The four Gospels are brief, bio
,rahicai sketches, records OF a few
i the works and teachings Of cur
Lord.
1t may he supposed that those dis
'ipies OF Christ that were able 10
write, like Mathew aud John, would
,eep journals while they followed
heir master, witnessing his works
md listening 10 bis teachings. These
ournals would, after the crucifixion
nd ascension, naturally I've read in
Iriynte and public. They would be
opted anu distributed In the vari-
us branches Of the church and fern
exits for discourses, and thus be
with such incidents or
ayings GhiCi, uere still retained in
he memories Of those vino lad been
We witnesses. In this way several
ersiOns Of the dOings aud sayings Of
ur Lord began TO circulate, some,
% doubt, contradicting others, until
he necessity became universally
,lt to have some authentic record,
hOwing exactly what was reliable
( the many circulating reports, and
hat was not reliable. And the re-
Ilt is the four Gospels by Mathew,
lark, Luke and John.
At what precise tiIte, these Cos
els were completed in their present
'rm, lisa question not yet settled be-
veen the various critics But that ,
iey contain the "memoirs'' Of our
ord, as published by those Apostles,
mouth and by pen, need not be
Jubted. The testimony Of an
guilty is conclusive on this point.
Hardy African Whites.