Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-27
WHY QUOTE FROM THEME

VI the different religious t'ols VT NU'i ~
spndom. They arc regarded hs ln-
,pired and containing the literal word
81 God" By moe, Of the orthodox de-
nominations And even those minis
srs who reject the inspiration Of the
hooks Of the Bible. hold Paul up ~
treat authority on religious doctrine
And principle. Re appears 70 be the
rayorite theologIan % the modern
phurches. That many ot his sayings
arc imperfectly understood. and some-
times entirely mlsuuders.ood, IL very
-vldent from the conclusions which are
reached hy the expourders Of texts
from his epistles I, was tho sane IN
The days Of his ministry, According
10 the Apostle Peter. there were some
thlngs I'm them hard 70 be under
stood" which "unlearned and unslN-
Ible" people "Wrested from ''e''
proper meaning.
We do not intend IN this article TO
take up the subjects on which many
OF tho present day sectsries are vice
a.tray. but we notice that learned
preacher Of n proiessedly Christian
body in this city recently took for his
ext quotation from Paul and drew
from Il many thoughts and arguments
which indicated his great regard Tor
the ancient Apostle as a religious ana
Christian teacher. But the reverend
gentleman has at other times expressed
his disbelief In the so-oalled miracles
spoken OF IN the Scriptures and In the
doctrine OF revelation as disclosed
therein. To him no such occurrences
ss those related In the Bible took place
nor was there impaired direct
sevelatlon from God 10 man. All the
religion ever entertained by humanity
al any time or place, he says. came
from the mind OF man and originated
primarily IN wonder. The doctrine OF
communication from Deity to mankind
ne utterly repudiatcs. and he regards
come at least OF the greatest prophets
whose history Is recorded IN the Bible
as myths or "nebulous heroes OF an
tlquity. he has not stated whether
he classes Paul the Apostle IN that
category. but he evidently looks upon
that writer AZ a great religious teach
e.. whose sayings are worthy OF re-
production and as texts for sermons
IN Christian pulpit
Let MS examine for few moments
The testimony left on record as com
ing from Paul and included IN the
books Of the New Testament Paul
declares that when ON his way 10 pa
mascus as a pcrsccutor ~ the Saints.
desiring 10 obtain authority 10 punish
them Tor what he then believed 20 be
heresy. demsion and imposture. he was
met on the way by the appearance OF
a glorious parsonage, who declared
himself to be the rcsurrected Jesus or
Nazareth. who rebuked him Tor that
which he was endeayoriug 10 do and
proclaimed Himself as the Christ The
Story OF His countenance was so great
that It struck Saul as he was then
called. completely blind. and be- was
BED sighuess into Damascus where he
was healed by the administration OF
disciple OF Jesus Christ and was in'
formed concerning his future as a min
lister " the Gospel
II is written Of him subsequently,
that b. Was called 10 the ministry by
she revelation Of the Holy Ghost and
ordained by those who held divine an.
thori,y. In writing to the Corinthians,
from which the gentleman 10 whom we
slude took his text Paul speaks u
being caught up to the third heaven
and into paradise where De heard
words unlawful Tor man 90 utter. Al
90 that be- had received such an album
dance Of revelations that a thorn in
the flesh" was given Co keep him hum
DIE. 50 that be- might NOT boast of
those manifestations Further. that by
him Was wrought among the Corin-
,hisns signs and wonders ana mighty
deeds"
Now. without going into other par
iiculars ~ dlyinc manifestations % the
Apostle Paul Boa what light are We 10
view him - these statements Of his are
nutruee lie either saw that which be
claimed TO have seen and received tho
powers Witch be- asserted No. obtained
and exercised and had the revelations
81 which au abundance no said was
given him. or be dd no, receive them.
There Is no middle position 20 take IN
regard 60 them They are of too posse
tive a character 20 permit Ut the notion
that they were imaginary ~ De- re-
oeiyed those manifestations Then the
Theory that religion springs only from
the mind OF man is incorrect. and thg
notion that revelation from God is a
fallacy Is certainly untrue
II Paul told these stories for 600,
purpose than to declare facts and toe.
tlfy, as be claimed 90 that which hs
knew aud had seen then De- must be
viewed as an imposior lf hts testi.
mouy Is untrue. be- cannot be- con.
siderej IN the light OF "a Christian
:. teacher. and his doctrines ought not "a
b. held forth as inspired utterances oi
even as those 81 religious or philo.
sophical Instructor The same mas
nationally be said Of his fellow apos.
ties ana Of the prophets who preceded
them. who testify 81 similar expert
cnces They received revelations from
God and angels. or they dii not re
eeiyc them. There is uo middle oours.
10 take in considering their claims an,
testimonies. That is the grea, point &,
which We have drawn attention an,
which We now sim further put for
WarA The rsffef.t. - 81. pfAt. l.