| 580 the Lord has never said that they should be taken from the faithful until the perfect day-eternity; therefore, there is no umpropriety [impropriety] in our contending for these gifts. Some scorn at the idea of these gifts being enjoyed now-a-days, but they only scorn at the doctrine taught throughout the bible, and not at one of our invention. The following we refer to as proof of this doctrine: Mark, xvi, 17; 1st Cor. xii chap.; Rom. xii, chap,; 2d Cor. xii ch.; Heb. xiii, 2; Eph. iv chap.; 1st Cor. xiv chap.
But there are some that say, show us a sign and we will believe. We answer; that Christ, and the apostles, never worked miracles to gratify the curiosity of any man. When Satan tempted Jesus, saying, make bread out of stones, he said get behind me Satan, &c. A set of wicked priests afterwards sought a sign of him; but he said, "a wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign and none shall be given unto it," &c.-This is the only rule that is laid down in the scriptures, by which we can judge of the character of sign-seekers. We do not go about on purpose to work miracles to gratify curiosity; but to preach the gospel; neither do we make any pretensions to raise the dead; for it is not mentioned among the signs that were for the believer.
It is written that faith comes by hearing, and that by faith in the Lord the spiritual gifts are received. These gifts are for the saints, and not for the unbeliever. Paul says, "Gifts are for the perfecting of the saints." James says, "If there are any sick among you (saints, not unbelievers,) let them send for the Elders," &c.
We believe that in consequence of the apostacy [apostasy], men have lost the necessary authority to administer ordinances; hence the spiritual gifts have not been enjoyed; for the Lord will not sanction the administrations of men who assume their authority; therefore, such works are illegal. The commission given to the apostles does not authorizes us to preach the gospel any more than the commission given to Gen. Washington and others, makes us authorized officers of state.
When an ambassador from Great Britian [Britain] comes to our government to do business, he must be commissioned by his government or all his transactions will be null and void, and Great Britain will never fulfil [fulfill] any promise which he might make in her name, however sincere our nation might be in believing him sent. So it is with the ambassador of Christ. He must be specially sent or commissioned to minister in his name, or all his baptizing and other ordinances will be null and void, so as never to entitle the candidate to remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost according to promise. We do not call in question the morality, the sincerity, or the spiritual enjoyment of individuals belonging to any religious society. On the contrary, we feel assured that there are many sincere and zealous persons in every denomination.
We believe and teach that it is necessary to abstain from all immorality, and practice all the virtues-such as love to God and good will to man, brotherly kindness, industry, to visit the widow and fatherless in their afflictions, and keep ourselves unspotted from the world.
We also believe and testify, that the Lord has renewed the gospel dispensation, and in fulfilment [fulfillment] of numerous predictions of the prophets and apostles, sent his holy angel to commission men to preach the fulness [fullness] of the everlasting gospel to all nations; and is raising up a people that worship him according to the written word. We might quote many passages to prove the above; but for the want of room for a written investigation, we omit them, (see Rev. xiv,6.)
We also testify that our faith in these things viz. immediate revelation from God, and the administration of angels, &c., has brought a persecution upon us, like that of primitive times.
We believe the fulness [fullness] of the gospel will be preached in all the world as a witness of the second coming of Christ, who will come with great power and glory, being accompanied with his saints and angels. But during the time the gospel is being proclaimed, there will be great commotions, distress, and destruction among the inhabitants of the earth, war and rumors of war, earthquakes, pestilences, famines, father against the son, and son against the father, awful destructions by fire, tempests,
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