| 958 only as he took it upon himself to suffer for us. [Is. 53 chap.] And the whole was an act of mercy against justice for the remission of our sins, or that we should not be forever subject to the vengeance of a broken law; and also, that we might be placed upon the ground of exaltation and eternal life, according to the first purpose of God in the creation of man: for the atonement of Jesus Christ hath secured unto mankind much good; and this one thing it hath secured particularly; even the forgiveness of sins by the shedding of blood; as it is written, "And he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it unto them, saying drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins"-[Mat.26:28.]
Again, "For behold I say unto you,* * * * when ye partake of the sacrament, do it with an eye single to my glory; remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of sins."-[Book of Doc. and Cov. Sec 50]
Some may object to this position, because the apostle Peter told certain believing Jews to be baptised [baptized] for the remission of sins; or at least it is so on record. If this proves anything, it proves too much for an objection, for the scriptures also say, that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for the remission of our sins, and if this is the only necessity of baptism, one or the other must be superfluous. But if we will dip a little deeper into the fountain of truth, and search still further into the character of the fall, and the merits of the atonement, we shall find that notwithstanding we are no longer counted sinners because of Adam's transgression, yet, there is a curse left upon the earth, for man's sake, and God's preparing salvation for us by the atonement does not reconcile us to him without law; for we are prone to sin by nature, being still under the power of the devil according to the character of the curse, and would forever have remained so, but the atonement brought in a law of restoration, by which we may subject our carnal nature, and again become heirs of the kingdom of God if we will: and that law is the gospel, and baptism is an ordinance therein for what? Why, for birth and regeneration, as it is written, "Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Again, the Book of Cov., speaking of baptism, says, "Wherefore, enter ye in at the strait gate," &c. [Sec. 41. (see also 1 Pet.)] It is a door of entrance into the kingdom of God. But the apostle said, "Be baptized for the remission of sins." [See also Book of Cov. (old edition Sec. 65]. Now the first definition of the word "for," is "because of." Put this construction upon the quotation, and it would read, Be baptized because of the remission of sins. This would agree with the general face of the scriptures, and with the plan of salvation, for, if there had been no atonement, original sin could not have been remitted, neither would the gospel have been given, and we because of sin could never have been saved; but now, because of the remission of sins, by the shedding of blood; we have the privilege of water baptism as an ordinance of initiation into the kingdom of God; and this together with the other gospel ordinances, will secure to us legitimate claim upon celestial inheritance. But if this argument does not suit, there are others. Mankind are by nature aliens from God, and will be until in all cases, the gospel is had in exercise for their restoration; and every one hearing the gespel [gospel], is under condemnation if he will not obey it; and unto such the atonement is no longer meritorious because of actual sin against a greater law, as it is written, "He that believeth on him (Christ) is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." [Jno. 3:18] And like as though there had been no atonement, and not only so, but worse; they are subject not only to death, but to the power of the second death:-"where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
Hence baptism is, in a certain sense, for the remission of sins, or rather, it is a means by which we may escape condemnation. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." But according to the words of Christ, and the character of the gospel, baptism has more properly the birth and regeneration of alienated man into the kingdom of God as its object, and the remission of sins is granted unto mankind because of the atonement made by the shedding of blood, "and without shedding of blood is no remission." [Heb. 9:22]
V. H. BRUCE
City of Joseph, July 1845.
*Properly "reconciled us to God."
ANOTHER WITNESS FOR MORMONISM.
It certainly is a great consolation to the Latter-Day Saints, to see the unravelment of all things come forth and prove the Book of Mormon. some people may query because there are Roman figures and Roman letters. There never were any other figures used in the word: they belonged to the 'pure languge [language].' As to the
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