| 324 know, has never yet taken place. But the changing of the ordinance, we have shown, has already been accomplished. But more of this hereafter. Therefore we may look for the time yet to come when this burning is to be consummated. Hence we argue the disappearance of the priesthood. Paul says: Heb., VII: 12; 'For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.'-A good rule will work both ways.' Hence we say that a change of law will accomplish a change of priesthood. This is a fair conclusion to come to. But in order to show more clearly that the ordinance of baptism has been changed and corrupted, we will make a few extracts from Dr. Moshiem's Church History. This point we have clearly proven already by the Bible, (which is the best evidence,) but as men place such great confidence in the statements of commentators and historians, we feel disposed to gratify them. Dr. Moshiem is an unquestionable authority. On page 27, first paragraph, it reads as follows: 'The rites instituted by Christ himself, were only two in number and these were intended to continue to the end of the church here below, without any variation. These rites were baptism and the holy supper, which are not to be considered as mere ceremonies, nor yet as symbolic representations only, but also as ordinances with a sanctifying influence upon the heart, and the affections of true christians.' This goes to strengthen our argument, that baptism is essential to salvation, and that the ordinance must not be treated as a non-essential. It also goes to establish our assertion, that God has but one way of dealing with men, and that the ordinances which he instituted were to continue in the church through all ages wherever a true church should exist. We disagree, however, with the learned author in his statement that Christ placed in his church no ordinances but those mentioned. He certainly created the ordinance of laying on of hands, anointing with oil, &c. St Luke, XII: 11, 12, 13; 'And behold there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her: Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid he hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.' Again: St. Mark, VIII: 22, 23, 24, 25; 'And he came to Bethsadia, and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw aught [ought]. And he looked up and said, I see men as trees walking. After that, he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored and saw every man clearly.' See St. Mark, VI: 5; 'And he [Jesus] could there do no mighty works, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. St. Mark, IV: 40; 'Now, when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick, with diverse diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.' St. Mark, V; 'And besought him greatly, saying, my little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands upon her, and she shall live.' St. Mark, XVI: 18; 'They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.' St. Mark, X: 16; 'And he took them up in his arms and blessed them.' The following proves the ordinance of anointing with oil. St. Mark VI: 13; 'And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.'-Let him that readeth understand. When the Savior appeared unto the Eleven, after his resurrection from the tomb, he gave the following instructions. St. Mark, XVI: 15, 16, 17, 18; And he said unto them, 'go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.' This quotation shows the necessity of baptism, and that the ordinance of laying on of hands should continue in his church. These were the last instructions that were given the apostles by the Savior, previous to his asscention [ascension] into heaven, and taking his seat at the right hand of the Father, as will be seen from the verse that follows in the Bible. Then, upon what authority do men say that these things are done away?-Surely not upon the authority of the Bible.-We find further instructions in first Peter, V: 14; 'Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.' These evidences we deem conclusive; and however much a wicked and corrupt generation may laugh and sneer at the idea of these ordinances, gifts and blessings being continued in the church, we care not. It is the doctrine of the Bible, and that will bear down all the artful subterfuges, scoffs and baseless dogmas of the nineteenth century.
JUNIOR.
(To be Continued.)
(page 324) |
