| 655 TIMES AND SEASONS.
"TRUTH WILL PREVAIL."
Vol. III. No. 6.] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. JAN. 15, 1842. [Whole No. 42
From the Gospel Reflector.
ON PERFECTION.
We have often heard individuals, who advocate the Arminian [Armenian] doctrine, talking about perfection, and even pretending that they are ensamples of the perfect class, when indeed, they are not only ignorant of the principle, but destitute of the necessary qualifications, which are prerequisites to so high a standing. Perfection, in the extended import of the word, is that which is beyond improvement. Christ commanded his people, saying: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father who is in heaven is perfect." We do not understand from this, that mankind while in a state of probation on earth, are to become perfect in all things, as the Lord is, or to that degree that he is; but that we have appointed unto us a certain sphere to act in, and that we can be perfect in it; and that we have certain laws to comply with, and we can harmoniously do it. The Lord is perfect in all things, and he governs the whole universe, and every planet pursues its course without interfering with others; for there is order and harmony in all the works of God: for he is the fountain of intelligence, and the first in power; and every thing that he does will be perfect when completed. The formation of this earth is the work of God, and when entirely finished, it will be chrystalized [crystallized], and made pure, and even glorified, or be perfect; although it has its orbit to act in, and with order and harmony does it. So it is with men, they have their sphere to act in, and they can be perfect in it; but God has the immensity of space to act in, and he is perfect in it. It is not to be expected that mankind are required to be perfect in all things, while in a state of mortality, as God is.-His power is unlimited; but we have a certain sphere to act in; therefore our intelligence is limited; but as we have before stated, we can be perfect in this sphere; or in other words we can obey the law of the Lord, walk circumspectly, orderly, and harmoniously before him.-Therefore, we are disposed to enquire [inquire] into the nature of the sphere, we have to act in, and so learn how we can be perfect in it.
There are certain principles of power that are within the reach of man while he is a probationer in time, and there are many things beyond his reach; but as far as his power extends, or that he has power over things, he has the power of choice and free agency to act for himself; and his sphere that he has to act in, extends no farther than he has power to obey or disobey. Hence, in our opinion the perfection that a man may attain to in time, consists in obeying the law of righteousness, and obtaining the promised blessings of the gospel of peace, which are within his sphere. Right and wrong are before him and he has power to do either; but if he does that which is right and obeys the law of the Lord in all things, he is a perfect man, as far as his sphere of action extends. But it is impossible for a man to attain to this high standing without a perfect law or rule to guide him. No law can be in justice presented to a man for his sanction and obedience, which is beyond his power or the power given him to obey; therefore, no law can be a perfect one, that exacts things of men that they cannot perform. The law of God is infallible or perfect, because God who is infallible or perfect, devised it, and it does not exact things of men that they cannot do. If this law is perfect, and also the principle by which a men [man] is made perfect; or in other words, that he cannot be perfect without obeying it, then if he rejects one principle of it, he is not perfect in his sphere. James, no doubt, alluding to the gospel says: "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."-James, i.25. This perfect law of liberty expands the mind, and liberates it from the vulture fangs of bigotry, which has ever infused the idea that the sphere of man, is very contracted, and that certain blessings that were in the power of man to receive in ancient days, are beyond the reach of man in this our day.
It is admitted that if a person complies with the rules of a science in all respects, that he will become as perfect as the rules themselves are, likewise if a man obeys the gospel in all respects, he will be perfect
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