Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-06

hgers0HS "BeSt Argument
Ever Advanced Against Christianity"
Replied to by Elder Penrose, of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Laffer-day Saints
rnrrrnnn nnrrnrr,rirJt

hoovcd Christ 10 suffer and TO rise
from the dead the third day, and that
repentance and remission Of sins
should be preached In his name among
all nations. beginning at Jerusalem"
The testimony Of Matthew. Mark.
Luke and John II united In setting
forth the facts Of the birth. death ana
resurrection N Jesus OF Nazareth. In
this they all agree. Each Of them.
however. nnrratcr such Incidents In the
career Of Christ as Impressed him the
most forclbly. John was evidently Of a
philosophical turn Of mind. and was
perhaps more devotional. as he was
more loving IN his disposition. than the
others. lie enlarged upon the pfincl-
piles taught b. the Savior. while the
others touched ON the historical more
than the doctrinal In their writings.
This " perfectly compatible with the
theory that they were Inspired, that II.
inspired 60 write concerning christ. his
ne and teachings. according to the best
~ their knowledge ana understanding.
Inspiration does not take away a mans
Agency or his Individuality II does
not make him "a machine. ~ tngcraoil
appears to think. but prompts and
quiokcns his cncrgica In the desired d.
r,ction. lngcrsoil's statement that they
do not agree N absolutely untrue, and
his reasoning ~ fnllariouH and absurd.
n John only n the four "Evangcllsts"
wrute ~ the atoncmcnt. u would not
prove q disagreement with the other
three. unless they had denied that doe
trnc and testified to the contrary Of
that which was stated By John. The
doctrine Of salvation by faith. which
John delighted 10 explain. was not sal
vatioa without good works. For IN
stance. after quoting chrlstH words In
reference to believing ON him he cites
- a. 100 Na..
hour II coming In which all that are
In the graves shall hear HE voice. and
shall come forth they that have done
good unto the resurrection ~ life, and
they that have done evil unto the rcaur-
rcction Of dnmnation" John VI =. 2al.
lie that hath my commandments ana
kcupcth them, he II II that lovoth me,
and he that lovoth me shall be- loved
of my Father. aud viii love him and
will manifest myself TO him" xiv; gD.
III yc keep my Fathers commandments
yc shall abide Ia my love; even
aH have kept my Fathers command
mcnts and abide In his love" John w:
io,. II should be understood that
neither Of the wHtcrr ~ the four Cos
polr." as they are called. either claims
10 have written by divine Inspiration
all that he recorded. or TO have given a
full and complete account ~ the do
inRr and sayings of Jesus Christ.
Neither did they write In concert. Their
testimonies are Heparat. and distinct.
yet they all agree In substance. ana
there II no contradiction either ~ fact
or doctrine. Ana though John dwcit
lovingly upon those points which
touched his heart In the kccneat man.
ncr when they fell from the lips ~ the
Savior. and recorded some things not
mentioned by the others. he concluded
his essay with these words. And there
are also many other things which Jesus
dld the which n they should be writ
ten every one. suppose that even the
world itself could not contain the books
that should he written. Amen" John
xxi; sD,
IngefHoii goes ON TO say;
.srhe accounts OF the ascension OF Jesus
Christ IN Mark and Luke arc intcrpolh-