| 76 with Christ, as he and the Father are one; to overcome, and set down on his throne, as he overcame and sat down on his Fathers; to be made perfect, as he is in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God, is to be saved. To exalt mankind to this high station, is the design of the gospel of Christ. However nearly allied to this, may be the systems of men, they will come infinitely short of effecting this object. This gospel may be perverted, and so changed, as to loose [lose] its efficacy, and not have power to save those who believe it.-No substitute, nothing but the thing itself will answer. I have often heard men say that the sincere worshiper would be saved, it matters not what religious system be embraced. If this theory be correct, sincerity becomes the principle means of salvation instead of obedience to the gospel, and the sincere Mussleman [Muslim ?] who bows at the shrine of Mahomed [Mohammed ?]: The ignorant Hidoostan who worships the work of men's hands; The zealous Roman who confesses to his priest, and the honest prottestant [Protestant] of modern times, will all be united with the apostles in the kingdom of God-however wide may be their differences in this life.
It was not because the Galatians were not sincere, that Paul said, I fear lest I have bestowed labor upon you in vain; it was because the gospel he administered to them, had been perverted by others attemping [attempting] to teach, and the Galations [Galatians] became their adherents.-Not that they preached another gospel, or denied the fundamental principles of the gospel of Christ; but subverted it by making as they supposed, additions and improvements. See Gal. 1:6,10. Being in possession of these facts, the apostle indignantly says, I would that they were even cut off that trouble you. He also says, though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other than that we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Paul had but little hopes of, or fellowship with, those subverters of the gospel, however zealously they might advocate its fundamental principles: for of itself, it is a perfect system, and will make those perfect who obey it. It is a scheme of infinite wisdom, therefore its perfection consists in its being just what it is, and nothing else; for were it susceptible of improvement, it would argue that is was not perfect, for perfection reaches beyond improvement, therefore, any alteration in its ordinances, or any of its ramifications, tend to destroy its power of saving, or perfecting men: Hence the necessity of Christ bestowing on those whom he called to preach the gospel, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, that leads into all truth; this he said should bring all things to their remembrance, whatsoever he has spoken unto them. John 19:26, also 16:13. Being thus endowed with the spirit and power from on high, they were capable of teaching that system which Christ delivered to them, without alteration; for the comforter brought to their minds what they had forgotten, and lead them into all truth and prevented the introduction of error. The Lord never called a man to that office, unless he qualified him in that manner, for that qualification is absolutely necessary for the salvation of the world; for without it the gospel never was and never will be preached in purity, and administered in righteousness, consequently will not make those pure to whom it is administered. Therefore, as Paul said, so say I, how can a man preach, except he be sent. Answer he can teach for doctrine, the commandments of men, and make void the law of God through the traditions of the fathers, as did the Scribes and Pharisees of old. The lack of that calling and qualification in the multitude of modern divines, is evidently the cause of contentions, differences, and divisions in the christian world, and of the dublety that rest upon the minds of the religious world, relative to the true points of Christ's doctrine. In view of what is above stated the apostle said, 2nd Timothy, 4:3, 4 . for the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and they shall be turned to fables. Having made these remarks to prepare the mind, I shall now proceed to examine the gospel as preached by the apostles. E. S.
Carthage Hancock Co. Ill. February the 6th 1840.
To the Editors of the Times and
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