Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-19
LOST BOOKS

Tho Portland urgonian enumerates
q list NJ books. referred 90 bon the Bible
g. authority bit now lost. The list In
eludes the Prophecy Of Enoch, refer
red 20 IN the Epistlo of Jude; the
Book Of the Wars Of Jehovah; the
Book Of Jasher. the Book ~ the
Chronicles Of the Kings Of Israel. the
Book OF the chronicles or the Kings
Of Judah: the Prophecy OF Ahijah; the
Visions OF lido. the Book of Nathan.
the Prophet. the Acts of Rehoboam In
the Book Of Shemiah. the Book OF
Jehu. Son Of HANNAH. and the Books
OF solomon. treating on the nature Of
trees. beasts. fowl serpents and fishes
and mention Of Proverbs of solomon.
that have not descended 20 our time.
illusions also are often made 10 a
Book Of the Law. laid up before the
Lord" but In what form these legal
writings existed is not known.
The subject Is not new 20 those
familiar with the literature of the
Church Mormon" writer's have called
attention TO the TACT that not AN i'm
spired writings have been preserved
throughout the ages. when this truth
is known and admitted % Is less dif-
hcut Co believe Zoo the recovery OF
some OF those writings. II Providence
so ordained a.
Il is subject on which orthodox
clergy men do not care 10 preach. but
IL is true nevertheless that nobody
knows exactly when the Ola Testa-
mcnt collection Of books was com
ploted. or why certain books were left
out and others retained Possibly this
was the work OF Ezra and Nehemiah.
or. the scribcs who succeeded Ezra
may have completed the work he be-
gan. A Jewish council held at Jamnia
condemned Ecclesiastes and the Song
OF solomon. and but for later action
ON that Canon. these books might have
been lost TO us as others are.
The New Testament was gradual
growth As the followers Of the Naz-
arene multiplied and controversies
arose. some standard OF faith became
necessary. Paul wrote some Of his
epistlcs Co enlghten the faithful and
settle points n dispute. Very soon his
adversaries entered tine field of litera-
turc and We find that epIst'es and
gospels in vast numbers were circulate
ed Some were true and some were not
true. From the very early years OF our
era we have the Gospel Of Paul; the
Gospel of Peter. the First Epistle Of
element 20 the Corinthians Ignatius
Epistle 90 the Romans his Eriste TO
the EphcHans. bis Epistlo Co Poly
carp; the Gospel according To- the
Egyptians. tho EpIete of polycap
TO the Philippians. the Tesum,nts OF
the twelve PauJrChs. the SibylIine
Oracles the Gospel according 90 the
Hebrews; the Gospel of Perfection; tho
Gospel of Philip and a number of
others. Many of these do no longer
oxlst, though the titles have been pre-
served boo other books lt was from the
entire mass of Nev Testament litora-
ture that tine books now contained boz
that pant or tine Scripture we're soc
lectcd But that oll tho inspired books
were retained. or were accessible at
the time the selection vus made. is "a
proposition that mo- one can successful
ly defend
'"rhe Infancy of the canon Was
Graded bon m unDritical ago. ana rock
ed with traditional ease. OF enc
three Fathers who contributed most ol
its early growth, lreuuoua Nut
Credulous and laundering. Tcuuuu
passionate and uno--ided and Clement
of Alexandra. mbucl with the treas.
10 I'D. % ...H D..