Jewish Apostacy [Apostasy]

When the Jewish church were in a state of apostacy [apostasy], and were about to be broken off because of their unbelief; (as is the condition of the Gentiles;) they supposed themselves to be a wise people, to have great understanding in spiritual things: and therefore, they could not receive the light that come [came] immediately from heaven, because they were to much blinded by their own superstition and bigotry, having all confidence in the imagined light and wisdom of their age and nation. But instead of so great light and wisdom as they imagined, how dark and benighted [benighted] was their minds while they received not a ray of light from heaven to interrupt their darkness! They were called blind Pharisees, and their leaders "blind leaders of the blind." Indeed, nothing was now wanting to render impossible their escape from this dilemma, but an established opinion that there could be no revelations from heaven in their days. They erred from the truth because they were not dictated by the spirit of truth, but formed opinions of their own according to the depravity of the human heart; and disagreeing in their opinions, they split into sects and parties: but still supposed themselves to be an enlightened people, that they had a perfect knowledge of their scriptures, and that their scriptures were sufficient for their instructions.-Yet they did not understand their scriptures, because they had not the teachings

of the holy Spirit. Their scriptures had taught them "that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was," John's gospel 7:24, therefore they rejected him that came out of Galilee.-For they stumbled at the stumbling stone because there was no light in themselves, for where there is no light from heaven, the darkness is total.-And although the Lord sent them apostles, evangelists, prophets, and teachers, men inspired of God, yet this people knowing that they received no revelations from heaven, immediately to themselves, and disbelieving others who did, might have concluded like the present day gentiles, that there was no revelations from heaven in their days. B.

TIMES AND SEASONS.

CITY OF NAUVOO,

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1841.