A Mormon Perversion Exposed

"These signs shall follow them that believe: In may name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; and they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover: Mark 16:17: 18.

It is said that the Mormons often quote this passage to prove that the power of working miracles was to be perpetuated in the church-a power which they pretend exists among their ministers. That they have not the power promised by our Lord to 'them that believe,' is evident from the following facts."

"1. They cannot cast out devils."

"IT IS SAID." Is this the foundation for the arguments of this great disciple of truth; this champion of the Freewill Baptist order; this learned exposee [expose]? After all our pains, and patience, and investigation, are we to have no better grounds whereon to rest our information relative to this great delusion than something that is barely hypothetical; merely assumption, without evidence, testimony, or proof. As this is a new, arrogant and presumptive manner of adducing testimony, it will behoove us to enquire [inquire] who this writer is, or if there is any precedent for such a proceeding; for if there is not, we shall have to despatch it as being altogether untenable. But as we wish to give all parties a fair hearing, we will investigate the matter fully, and see if we can find any precedent for such a mode of proceeding. We know that such premises would not be admitted by any of our modern, or ancient logicians, nor received in our courts of justice, and that most of our modern divines would be very far from admitting it into any of their polemical essays; but as the Baptist Church boasts of its antiquity, perhaps by the ancient records we may be able to find some precedent for such an un-modern, anti-logical course of proceeding. Solomon says that "there is nothing new under the sun;" that "the thing that hath been, it is that which shall be, and that which is done, it is that which shall be done." So we may expect according to this statement, that however immodern there mode of proceeding may be, it must have "already been," and that some of the ancients have practiced the like.

We find by examining the situation of the churches in our Savior's day, that there was an honorable body of men associated with a church with whom was connected of old men of renown, they were called Pharisees, but from what we can learn, although the name is dissimilar, as the practice is the same, we think they must have belonged to the same church, for they "said" of Christ he hath a devil; they said that he cast out devils through Beelzebub, the prince of devils; they "said' when Christ rose from the dead, that 'his disciples came and stole him away by night,' and so honorable was their testimony, that we are told the saying is reported among the Jews 'unto this day.' They must have belonged to the Freewill Baptist church. We find also an honorable church in Ephesus, of the Freewill Baptist order, who like our modern Baptists, were very zealous for the cause of truth, and violently opposed error, particularly when their craft was in danger, for when the heritic [heretic] Paul was preaching false doctrine in their midst, they were exasperated:-Acts, 19;23, 27.

"And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftmen [craftsmen], whom he called together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth; moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost through all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away much people, saying, that they be no gods which are made with hands: So that not only our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be dispised [despised], and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshipped."

And when they heard "these sayings," they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, great is Diana of the Ephesians. There were some of a similar kind, yet more ancient, they lived in Jeremiah's day. It would seem however, that as though they were of a very respectable class, the Lord was not well pleased with them. However they had the honor of men. 'I am against the prophets saith the Lord, that use their own tongue, and say 'he saith,' It is evident from the analogy they bear to the Freewill

Baptists that they must be of that order.-We might trace out an honorable association of this kind that have ever existed in different ages, but from what we have already noticed, we think that we shall be necessitated to notice what our friends the Baptist says, after quoting one more testimony, that of Lucifer, the son of the morning, to Eve; and he "said" unto the woman 'ye shall not surely die.'

It would seem from the statement of our Baptist friend, that the Mormons are guilty of quoting the 16th chapter of Matthew, 17th and 18th verses. They seem to resemble some of the ancient heretics, who dispite [despite] of all the Freewill Baptists could do, would continue to 'reason out of the Scriptures.' 'Preach the word,' &c. But the difficulty rests not here alone, for the Mormons are not only guilty of reading this, but of believing it also; a crime that cannot be laid to the charge of the Freewill Baptists, for they never would condemn others of what they were guilty of themselves. It seems that there was always difficulties of this kind with the Mormons; for no sooner did the ancient Baptists cease to whip Peter and John for teaching the word of God, than they were immediately found in the temple teaching the same things; and although the Rev. McCoy, one of the modern Baptist was as the head of a mob, driving the deluded Mormons in Missouri, [it would seem from the whole tenor of the Morning Star,] that the Mormons are in that neighborhood, and that the modern Baptists are just as much troubled with the Mormons, as the ancient Baptists were with same class of people in their day.

Our friend tells us that the 'the Mormons often quote this passage, to prove that the power of working miracles was to be perpetuated in the church.' If he had read the two preceding verses, he must have been convinced that any believer in the Bible must come to that conclusion; and his not believing the Bible does not invalidate the testimony of the Bible, as part and parcel of the Mormon creed. The Mormons believe the Bible, and that statement says, 'go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned' &c. We here ask, where was the gospel to be preached? The answer is to all the world. We ask again, where were these signs to follow? The answer is, where the gospel is preached and believed in, all the world. Consequently, in all the world wherever the gospel is preached and believed in, these sings must follow, and if these signs do not follow in the world, the gospel is not preached and believed in, in all the world, Therefore, however orthodox it is to believe the Bible, and howsoever contrary to the faith of the Baptist order, the Mormons are consistent inasmuch as they professed to believe the Bible, to live up to their profession, and the Bible does positively state that the power of working miracles should be continued in all the world where the gospel was preached and believed in.

Our friend goes on to state 'that they have not the power promised to them that believe, is evident from the following facts.' Just above he tells us that the Mormons often quote this passage to prove that the power of working miracles was to be perpetuated, and calls it a Mormon perversion. He next goes on to say that they have not the power promised; hence he believes that there was power promised.-Just before that, it was Mormon perversion to believe in that promise; hence, although the Mormons believe the Bible, it is a perversion for them to say they do, or teach it; but according to our friend's reasoning, it is perfectly right and logical for the Baptists to say they believe the Bible, and then to call it a perversion to teach it.

But we are told by our friend that the Mormons possess not the power to work miracles, as is evident from the following facts:

"1. They cannot cast out devils."

How are we to know that this is a fact?-Facts seem to be curious things in this gentleman's hands; a mere say-so from who, or by whom he knows not, is sufficient for him, but not for us. The Mormons believe that it is the privilege of the Church of Christ to cast out devils-not, however, of themselves-but in the name, and by the power of Jesus. They do not profess greater power than our Savior, who said, "of myself I can do nothing; the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." Another fact is,

"2. They cannot speak with new tongues. Their pretensions to this gift will avail nothing till they give the world as good evidence that they possess it, as the apostles gave on the day of Pentecost."

We say here as said our Savior, "I bear not witness of myself," but we merely state, if these things exist not in the Mormon church, it is not the church of Christ. Did it ever occur to our friend that the Baptists are not believers in, or of, the church of Christ, because they have not these things?

"3. They cannot take up serpents. Call upon a Mormon teacher to prove his claims to miraculous power by taking up a copperhead or rattlesnake, and I pledge myself that he will not dare to attempt the deadly task. This fact alone effectually fastens the charge of imposition

upon their pretensions! Let this be remembered."

We wonder if the Baptist church can? The Mormons do not profess any such thing. Do we ever read of any of the servants of God taking up rattlesnakes or copperheads, for the sake of making infidels believe? or in any presumptious [presumptuous] manner? We do not, but we read of some of the ancient Freewill Baptist's coming to our Savior, and wanting to see a sign, and he called them a wicked and adulterous generation for so doing. Herod must have belonged to the Baptist church, for he sent for our Savior, desiring to see some miracle performed by him. And we read of another personage of high note, who came to our Savior and took him to a pinnacle of the temple, and with all the bombast of any of our modern sign-seeking Baptists, told him to cast himself down from thence, for it is written, "he will give his angels charge concerning thee," &c. Our Savior answered, "it is written, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." We would remind our modern Baptist friend that it is so written; and if our Savior dared not to tempt the Lord his God, the Mormons dare not.

"4. They cannot drink any deadly thing with impunity."

"When Zeenab was asked why she put poison into a roasted lamb, which she had provided for Mohammed's dinner, it is said she replied to this effect, 'I said in my heart, if he be a king, we shall be freed from his tyranny;-and if he be a prophet, he will easily perceive it, and consequently receive no injury.' Several Mohammedan historians state that he died from the effect of the poison, about two years after he took it. This, as Dr. Clarke observed, is a complete and everlasting refutation of his pretensions to the prophetic spirit and mission; for the language of Christ implies that those who believed on him in the sense of the text, should not die by poison. Notwithstanding Christ's assurance that those who were endowed with miraculous gifts, should not lose their lievs [lives] in this way, it is presumed that J. Smith, the prophet and apostle of Mormonism, with all his pretensions to the Divine favor, would not dare to drink a cup of tea if he feared that it possibly contained arsenic. Nor would his best friends dare to test his pretentions [pretensions] to the power to work miracless [miracles], by putting poison into his food."

They cannot drink any deadly thing with impunity. Our answer to his last fact, must be sufficient for this. Query: Can the Freewill Baptists? They profess to believe the Bible.-Relative to his statements about Mahomed, we know nothing; and we presume our great exposee [exposé] known as little. We have always found it is difficult to obtain a correct statement of facts concerning Mahomedanism, as we do concerning Mormonism, from some of our dealers in facts. Christ has given no assurance that those who were endowed with miraculous gifts should not lose their lives in this way; but Christ has said that these signs should follow those that believe. If the Baptists believe, they will follow them. If the Mormons believe, they will follow them; and if they follow neither of them, they are neither of them believers.

Joe (Joseph) Smith would not drink arsenic knowingly if offered to him. Again we ask, dare our Baptist friend, who is no much better than he?

"5. They cannot heal the sick. That they may occasionally arouse a hypocondriac [hypochondriac], is not denied; but they can no more cure the fever, the palsey [palsy], or consumption, than they can arrest the mighty current of the majestic Niagara."

This we must let pass with the rest. If the Mormons cannot, the Lord can; and perhaps they can do it in the 'name of Christ.' If they 'lay hands on the sick, and annoint [anoint] them with oil in the name of the Lord,' they live up to what they believe more than the Baptists do, who do not attempt to fulfil [fulfill] the ordinances of God: and if the sick are not healed, they fulfil [fulfill] their part-they come nearer the mark than the Freewill Baptists do, who neither believe nor practice.

"6. The apostolic miracles were performed in such a manner, that the most intelligent and powerful enemies of the gospel were obliged to confess that notable miracles were wrought. See Acts 4:16. The Mormonites [Mormons] have done nothing like this. They cannot imitate the Apostles in curing the lame and healing the sick, half so well as Pharaoh's magician's imitated the miracles performed by Moses. But, as the deluded will not be convinced by arguments of this kind, and as the discerning and candid do not need them, I will draw this article to a close. It is probable that many of the followers of J. Smith, really believe that miracles are wrought by this modern Mohammed [Mahommed] and his minions. But there is no more proof that they have ever done so, than there is that the pretended miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, in Ancona, opened and shut its eyes supernaturally; or that withered lillies [lilies] placed before that image, boomed anew the night after they were put there. None but credulous, superstitious Catholics believed that such miracles were really performed; yet the first of these prodigies 'was attested by more than 80,000 ocular witnesses, and by legal inquiries.' much more evidence than the Mormonites [Mormons] will ever be able to furnish to prove that they have performed miracles. The Catholic Archbishop Martini asserted, for selfish purposes, that the pretended miracles just named, with others equally absurd, did in reality; occur in Italy, about the time it was conquered by Bonaparte; and there is every reason to believe that the motives of the Mormon leaders, in pretending to work miracles, are no better than those of the worldly minded Archbishop. It may be expected, however, that, while the 'Latter Day' deceivers are impudent and impious enough to pretend that they can work miracles, they will find many silly enough to believe their blasphemous pretensions.

ELIAS HUTCHINS."

If the miracles were so fully evident in our Savior's day, why did not all the people believe in him? The Freewill Baptist's had no more confidence in him in that day, than they have in this, notwithstanding his many miracles.-They said he 'had a devil; that he cast out devils through Belzebub [Beelzebub], the prince of devils;' and if they witnessed anything that was incontestibly [incontestably] proven, they cried out 'give God the glory, for we know this man is a sinner.' No evidence was sufficient, no argument would convince, no testimony would satisfy; and our friend, Elias Hutchins, tells us that a miracle was said to be performed by the Roman Catholics, and attested by more than eighty thousand ocular witnesses; and yet it is false, although the testimony of any two of those witnesses would be sufficient to hang a man, if guilty of murder. Here we are called. upon the mere say-so of somebody, to believe all the 'facts' spoken of by our Baptist friend: but coming from any body else, if there are eighty thousand eye witnesses they must not be credited.-We suppose if twice that number were to testify to a Mormon healing the sick by laying on of hands, he would not credit it; but we, of course, must believe him upon bearing evidence, merely because he is a Freewill Baptist. So much for his facts and rule of evidence.

Our Baptist friends, however, may rest assured that they will have ample evidence of the kind they are looking for before long; for Paul says, 2d Thessalonians, ii: 7-12; "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming as after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceiveablness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie; That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

When these lying wonders shall be revealed, and the beast spoken of by John, shall perform his miracles-when fire shall descend from heaven, and great things be done by this power, there will be plenty of evidence to satisfy the most sceptical [skeptical]. The "world will then wonder after the beast;" the order of the Freewill Baptists will flourish, from lands to land, and from sea to sea. The "Morning Star'" under the direction of the Trustees of the "Freewill Baptists Connection," will then be extensively read circulated, and admired--the incontestible [incontestable] evidence of the miracles will be chronicled in its pages, and our friend, Elias Hutchins, may then be rewarded for his zeal and labor, and obtain a seat among the honorable of the earth.