Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-30
Rev. Bagby Replies to Re" An
drews on "Diylne Healing"
THE MISSION OF MIRACLES.
Says IL Ended with the Iufsncy Of
Christianity and IL Now as Empty
As vacuisy ItseIi.


met as usual this morning at the Y. NJ.
c. A. Considerable discussion was
caused last Monday by the paper on
Divine Healing by Rev. Andrews of
Murray. HE not only stated his hrm
belief in the principle but told Of two
cases that he actually knew about
where persons whom the physicians
had given up to die were healed In con-
sequence OF divine supplieatlon. Rev.
Andrews stated that his wife was on,
VI tie two who were thus healed.
In consequence Of the discussion that
followed the delivery Of that pdpef last
Monday, a paper was delivered this
morning by Rev VIM. H. Bagby "On
the other side OF the question. Some
little discussion was had this morning
after Rev. Bagby's paper, but the ques
ton VII be further discussed at COM
ing meetings OF the association, Rev.
bagby's paper follows:
THE question at Issue between
Brother Andrews and myself Is as to
the perpetulty Of the practice OF divine
healing. He afflrms that the Bible
teaches and that experience proves that
The practice was to have permanent
place In the Church, conditioned only
upon the requisite degree OF faith in the
power and Willingness OF God, In re-
Spouse TO the prayer OF faith, to heal
our bodily inflrmities. This PROPOSE
ton ! deny. In doing so do not place
any limitations on the power OF God.
IL Is not question Of the divine pow
or, but OF the divine plan. "All things
are possible with God, " but file does not
do all things that are possible with
Him. il does not follow because God
does not change, that He does not
change His methods God ever holds
out hand OF help to His people At
one time IT held the law OF Moses, at
another, the Gospel OF Chrlst-at one
time "the letter that killeth," at an
other, 1.-THE Spirit that maketh alive
Man is In his ideally normal state
when he Is In perfect adjustment TO
both natural and spiritual law. To lift
the physical man above the operation
OF the laws that were designed TO gov
ern the physical is TO place II In an
abnormal condition that was never
meant to be permanent. IL this has
been done liz the past as all who be-
lieve In the tsutl fulness OF the divine
records must admit, the purpose vas
not to reflect upon the wisdom and
beneficence Of the laws OF nature as
applied to Gods children, but 10 dem
onstrate the great truth set forth by
Paul when he said that Christ is the
head of all prineipality and oil pow
err the initial force back OF all initial
forces. The healings and other miracles
wrought in Old Testament times were
designed TO prove to people and an
age that needed 1t, the presence and
the power OF God. While the element OF
compassion entered into the individual
cases of healing, there was o more far
reaching motive that actuated the do
ing Of them--they were the reveaiings
OF the arm Of the Infinite to eyes I'M
skilled In the art Of reading the higher
and more enduring manifestations of
the power Of Jehovah. II took the eyes
OF Job and David TO read these.
"That the ultimate dissolution of the
physical man was a part or Gods plan
Is beyond question. The law OF life
out Of death was primal law. Whea
Paul said, THAT which thou sowest is
not Quickened except II die" he suited
a law that has prevailed from the first,
The death OF Jesus did not look to the
prevention Of the disease and death Of
the physical man. but TO the qulckenlng
Of the spirit. The saying that flesh
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
OF Heaven must ever have been true.
II cannot be that Christian faith Is
meant TO permanently turn the course
OF natures laws Because In times
past a few people were healed by divine
power IL does not follow that that Is TO
be the permanent proper method OF
healing. How absurd 1t would be to
apply this same reasoning TO the still
ing OF tempestsl Holding to the theory
| that the power to heal was 10 be per-
mant In the Church, how can we
avoid the conclusion that He meant
that the power 10 save life and prop
erty by stilllng tempests should be per-
manent also? II does not. because God
demonstrated his power over the laws
| OF nature by q temporary suspension
10 them. follow that he would demon
strate his wisdom by a permanent sus-
pension OF them. The healings and
| other "powers" wrought by Jesus and
| His Apostles after Him, were for
| a specific purpose. viz: TO con-
Arm the truth Of the claims they made.
Jesus stated the philosophy Of divine
| healing when He said RI the healing OF
| OF Man hath power 10 forgive sins on
| roof. "That you may know that the Son
OF man hath power 10 forgive sins on
earth. arise and take up your bed and
walk" And John, In the Goth chapter
| Of his gospel. makes II clear that faith
| in Christ was not 20 rest upon the con-
| tinuation OF miracles, but upon those
wrought by Him and reported by those
| who witnessed them. MANY other signs
did Jesus which are not writ
| ten In this book: but these are written
that We may believe that Jesus Is the
| Christ, the Son Of God.
Paul tells us plainly that the SUI
| pernatural powers which characterized
| the infancy OF the Church would cease
| and polnted out definitely HE time when
they would cease. Whether there be
| prophecies they shall be done away;
whether there be tongues, they shall
| cease: whether there be knowledge tsu-
pernstural), II shall be done away"
| Cor. 49, ). This clearly indicates the
rassage Of the supernatural. The per-
feotly organized and equipped Church
would not need Il. Jesus had said TO
| Ills disciples, The works that | do
shall ye do also. ard greater works
shall We do than these. because 90 to
the Father To give to the world the
scriptures Of the New Testament and
| an organized Church was vastly
greater work than 90 heal a sick indi-
v.5ual. There IL a setter way than the
suspension Of the laws Of nature. II Is
| the way OF perfect harmony between
| the laws 81 nature and the laws OF the
spirit-man In normal adjustment to
| each.
But there is another reason why
supernatural powers were taken away
from the Church. The temptation 20
abuse them. Mans cupidity and lust Of
power would drive him TO make mer-
chandise 81 the gift OF the Spirit Pc.
ter could no more sell the gift OF God
han Simon Maglis could buy H. Moth
ing but counterfeit Of divine power