| 17 TIMES AND SEASONS
"TRUTH WILL PREVAIL"
Vol. IV. No. 2.] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILLINOIS, DEC. 1,1842 [Whole No. 62.
LETTER OF J. S. FULLMER.
Editor of the "Times and Seasons"-
DEAR SIR:-In accordance with the solicitations of several of my friends, I send you the annexed communication for your inspection, for the purpose, if it meet your approbation, and you are not too much crowded with more important matter, to have you give it a place in your very valuable and interesting periodical. Treating as it does upon the first principles of the gospel, I should be glad if I could have the opportunity of sending it, through the medium of the press, to numerous friends and acquaintances, and in fact, to all concerned in this important subject, who cannot otherwise be favored with it. And as the gentleman to whom it was addressed, and of which this is a correct copy or rather original, expressed an intention of publishing it himself, which he has failed as yet to do, after receiving my approbation, he cannot, certainly, take exceptions at my doing the same at the solicitation of my friends. JOHN S. FULLMER.
Nashville, Tennessee, March 1840.
DEAR BROTHER HOWELL:-After an acknowledgment of my affectionate regard for you as pastor and friend, permit me to direct your attention without any further preliminaries, to a subject which, at first view, appears both novel and strange; but which, notwithstanding, will be found to be of the utmost importance to mankind; and, in my humble opinion, is destined to revolutionize all the various religions of the christian and heathen world. The subject to which I allude, is none other than a return, in this age of the world, even in the nineteenth century, to the purity of primitive christianity; embracing all the offices, powers and gifts, instituted by our Lord, and conferred upon his disciples before and after his ascension, and which distinguished the church of Christ during the apostolic age.
This doctrine prevails, to some small extent, in a good many of the States at this time; but is, wherever promulgated, of all others the most unpopular; and thought to be, especially by the various denominations of christians, an innovation upon the gospel, good sense, and established usages; and of course, without any authority from the sacred scriptures.
That it is an innovation upon the gospel and consequently also, upon good sense, I am firmly of the opinion, is a most egregious mistake. And it is only because it comes in contact with the established usages, that it is called fanaticism and rendered so odious with sectarians, but especially with the majority of modern divines. The fact is, that the scriptures abound with authority and proof that this is the true doctrine, and that none other was ever instituted, or intended to be recognized by divine authority.
I do not intend to be tedious in this address, though pages upon pages might be written in defence [defense] of what is here advanced; neither is it necessary that I should, since I have a small volume in possession, written on the subject, treating it in a manner so strong and lucid, that "he who runs may read" and understand; which I intend you shall have the privilege of perusing if you desire it, and which I am particularly anxious you should do, because I know your candor and love of truth will secure the subject a fair and thorough investigation, and will prompt you to act with regard to it, according to the honest convictions of your own judgment, disregarding consequences.
It is indeed the universally received opinion that prophecies, miracles, and the gifts of the early christians are no longer needed, and are, for this reason, done away. But I think there can be a better or more reasonable reason assigned than that. If miracles were instituted to complete and perfect the organization of the christian church, they must needs be perpetual in order to keep up such organization; and of course there can be no true church without them. If, to establish the disciples of Christ in the belief of the truth, they are as necessary to the prosperity of the church in every age as in that. For why was it more necessary, after what was written by the prophets, concerning the first advent of Christ, that miracles should follow and continue for a time, to prove that it was he, than that they should now continue for the same purpose? That they were, however, taken from the earth none will deny, but all admit. But was it not in consequence of transgression and a deviation from first principles, that they were taken away? This I think is abundantly shown by the history of the church, the writings of the apostles, and God's dealing with men.
Let me in the first place inquire what the gospel is, and for what purpose made known to man? This is an important inquiry; though one, upon the solution of which, I apprehend we will not differ in opinion. It may I suppose,
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