The Washington herald., 1918-01-13

WE BELIEVE IN THE SAME Or
GANIZATION THAT EXISTED IN
THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH, VIZ:
APOSTLES, PROPHETS, PASTORS,
TEACHERS, EVANGELISTS, ETC.
(Articles of Faith, No. 81.
As heretofore demonstrated on the
evidence Of Scripture and history, the
apostolic period was followed by a
general apostasy, first of individuals
from the Church of Christ and gradu-
ally of the church itself. That great
falling away from the truth had been
plainly predicted; the dread pro-
nouncement became an awful actu-
aIIty. But let US rejoice in the glori-
Gus fact that not less certain than the
forecast of darkness is the prophecy
Of later light. and in the yet pro-
founder fact that the restoration of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ HAS BEEN
EFFECTED in the manner foretold.
As one of the signs whereby men
may know that the Lords coming Is
near Christ specified this feature OF
the latter times: "AND THIS Cos
PEI OF THE KINGDOM SHALL BE
PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD
FOR A WITNESS UNTO ALL Ma
TIONS; AND THEN SHALL THE
END COME" Matt 2i:1D. AS this
follows in immediate sequence to our
Lords prediction of the general apos-
tasy, incident to which false prophets
would arise, iniquity abound and love
for the truth wax cold. an actual re-
storation of the Gospel had to occur,
or the Saviour's words recorded in the
oath chapter of Matthew would be in
consistent and their fulfillment i'm
possible.
The Revelator John was shown
the scenes of the days Immediately
before the latter-day advent of the
Christ. In recording the vision as
then already past he wrote:
"AND 1 SAW ANOTHER ANGEL
FLY IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN.
HAVIN THE EVERLASTING
GOSPEL TO PREACH UNTO THEM
THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH
AND TO EVERY NATION, AND
KINDRED. AND TONGUE. AND
PEOPLE, SAYING WITH A LOUD
VOICE. FEAR GOD, AND GIVE
GLORY TO HIM; FOR THE HOUR
OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME: AMI
WORSHIP HIM THAT MADE
HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND THE
SEA. AND THE FOUNTAINS OF
WATERS" (Rev. 14:s-D.
II an angel was to come to earth
bringing the Gospel. the fact is
plain that the Gospel could not be
at that time upon the earth. The
Gospel. which the angel would
bring, was to be preached ITO Ev-
ERY NATION, AND KINDRED
AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE; and
this in strict and logical consistency
with the Lords personal prophecy
quoted above, that one of the dis
tinguishing signs of the last days
was that the Gospel of the king
dom, THIS GOSPEL" that is to
say, the Gospel that He had pro-
claimed, would be PREACHED IN
ALL THE WORLD FOR A WIT
NESS UNTO ALL NATIONS"
But, many have asked, had we
not the Gospel? The Holy Bible
which is the scriptural repository
Of the Gospel record, has been
among men from the time of its
earliest compilation; why then the
necessity of a restoration? Yes, we
had the Bible; BUT THE GOSPEL
is SOMETHING OTHER AMI
GREATER THAN A BOOK,
The Holy Scriptures, invaluable
and sacred though they be, profess
to be only the letter Of the Gospel
Is 1t reasonable to assume that the
mere possession of a Bible, or even
a perfect memorization of its con-
tents, could give to man the au-
thority to administer the ordinances
prescribed therein? It Is quite as
plausible TO say that IL ons owns
~ copy of the statutes of his State
or nation and learns thereffom the