The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-15

Rev. Henry at the First NJ. E. church
last evening discussed the Origin of
the Gospel Records The discourse was
a splendid effort and the services Were
further rendered impressive by some very
excellent singing by the choir.
In opening the pastor said that as we
come TO p study of the gospel records
there IS one curious fact that confronts
US at the outset We have nowhere any
tninS that Christ wrote himself; neither
is there any evidence of his debating
10 others This is properly so for it is
very important to members that he came
not here to legislate, but to redeem
Christ is. himself. the gospel
Now the question occurs if Christ
neither wrote any of the New Tesla
ment scriptures nor definitely authorized
their writing, how did they come to be
written and how shall we regard them?
In answer to this We must consider the
lures were given to the world. Christ
spent three years with his dicinles
teaching them. 1t was their college
course as it were and the subject of
their study was-ChriSt. When he had
finished his work he gave them a COM
mission-preach the gospel; the gospel
the words and career of Jesus. The
disciples carried out their Instructions
their commission They went forth to
preach to all the people the message
with which they had been instructed.
About the middle of the first century
they began to realize that conditions were
changing and that new methods must be
adopted The eye-witnesses of Christ
could not live always. written records
We're necessary It was then the scriD-
lures began to be written and the gospels
as we have them now contain in subj
stance the preaching of the various
apostles. Investigation fixes the time
when the four gospels were written as
follows: Matthew. a. d. 80; Mark. a. d.
So; Luke, A. d. so. and John at the close
of the first century. 1t is proven that
all these writings We're priced very high
ly. preserved carefully and copied. Thus
We have preserved in various institutions
old manuscripts of the Bible.
In the British museum are the Alex
andrine manuscripts supposed to have
been written A. D. $50. They are some
contain portions of all the books of the
New Testament. In the pope library.
Rome. is a manuscript of A d. $50 con-
tanning the entire New Testament with
tie exception of Revelations and two
or three Epistles. The Siniatic manuscript ,
IS preserved in the imperial library at
St. Petersburg. 1t contains the New
D. $50.
But entirely aside from these ancient
writings of the Bible we have numerous
evidences of Christ and his mission upon
earth. Many old manuscripts nave been
discovered testifyinS to the genuineneSS
d the gospel
Tac;tus A D. 81 in describing the
burning of Rome-which was attributed
% Nero-remarks that Nero, in order to
put an end to the rumor that he had him
sell set the cltNO n 0re. accused ana IN
1lcted the SeVereSt puniShmentS upon men
whom. hated on account of their crimes
he populace called Christians. The author O.
If this name was Christ, who in the reign
IF Liberals. was put to death by POntiuS
PLATE, the procuratOr. The deadly super
;tition. checked for awhile. broke forth
lot only through Judea, the source of this
s-il. but through the city of Rome also
where all things wicked OF shameful from
very quarter meet and are practiced- At
irst therefore, those were arrested who
that they were of that
ect; then. through their information. a
Tast multitude were convicted. not so
much on the charge of burning Rome, as
If hatred of the human race.
Pliny IN A. D. Ill writes: Many Of
very age. of every rank. of both sexes
Ilso. are summoned, and will be sum-
noned. to trial. For not only through
he cities. but also through the villages
md the fields, has the contagion of this
spread which, it seems. can
,e checked and corrected. 1t is. indeed.
-ery evident. that the temples. which
we're almost entirely forSaken, begin to
,e frecuented. and the appointed rites.
hat had for a long time been neglected.
0 be resumed and victims everywhere
re sold. of which hitherto purchasers
we're rarely found
justin Martyr, A D. 49, says: There
5 not. indeed a single race OF men,
ither of barbarians or of Greeks.
whatever name they may be calleff
rhether dweiIers in wagons. or who have
10 houses, or who as nOmads dwell in
e-.ts. among whom prayers and thanks
wings are not offered 10 the Father and
reator of the universe in the name of the
rucified Jesus.
Tertullian, A D. 200, writs in substance:
In whom else have all nations believed
ut in Christ who has already Gomez He
mum crates Parthians, Modes, Elamites,
Inhabitants of MesoDotamia, Armenia,
'hrygia, Cappadocia, POntuS, Asia,
'amph;lia, Egypt, of africa, beyond
yrene, and Rome. Also various nations
f the Getuli, many in the confines of the
Ioo-s and the borders of Spain, various
-ibes of the Gauls, parts of the Britains
to the Romans. portions Of
go Sarmatiane. Dacians, Germans,
cythians, and of many hostile races
nd of many provinces and islands uns--'
nown to the Ro mans. which could not
e enumerated. IF. says he. we wished
, act the part of open enemies, not that
{ concealed avengers only would we
lck numbers and forces?'' Again he says:
We are of yesterday and we have filed
ve-ything you have. your cities, your
lands citadels free towns, your courts
Justice your very camps. tribes.
ecades, the palace the senate, the
,rum: we have left you your temples
My We can count your armies; in one
rov:rce the Christians will out-number
lem"