Inconsistencies of Professed Bible Believers

Reading an article in the Times of the 20th inst. headed "Taking the Veil," my thoughts were led to muse on the gross inconsistency of the present professed Bible believing generation. Now it is a well known fact, that the present christian world, (with the exception of a few that the rest term infidels,) both priest and people, editors and readers, are professed believers in the Bible, and are ready to denounce a man as infidel, who dares question its authority; they believe it to be a revelation of the will of God to man, for the purpose of effecting his salvation; and (with the exception of the Mormons,) they believe it to be the last and only revelation that man ever did or will receive from his God. Now if they acted consistently, would they not receive and support those who come among them preaching and practicing the plan of salvation, with its ordinances contained in the New Testament, to the very letter and repudiate and condemn all others. Would they not obey the injunction of John, 'if any come among you and obey not the doctrine of Christ, receive him not into your houses, neither bid him God speed.'

Should it make any difference whether they were old or new, popular or unpopular, learned or unlearned? Every candid mind will answer no, it should not, but the grand, and only question should be, do you preach the same plan of salvation which Christ and his apostles preached? Do you hold out the same blessings and promises they held out for believing, and threaten them with the same condemnation for disbelieving the New Testament being the rule of evidence? But how stands the case? what are the facts? Now for the purpose of testing this thing, I will make use of two denominations, viz: 'Catholics' and 'Mormons,' not out of any disrespect to either, but only to test the principle standing at the head of this article, particularly

in regard to the press and pulpit.

The Mormons came among us preaching faith, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, see Acts ii: 38 and xxii: 16. They practice the order of laying on of hands, for the reception of the holy spirit, see Acts vii: 17-18 and xix; 6 and Heb. vi: 2. They preach that the signs shall follow them that believe, see Mark xvi: 17. They preach that as the gospel, like its author, is unchangeable, therefore his church whenever and wherever found, will be built on the same foundation, organized with the same organization that characterized it in its early period, and that that organization consisted of apostles and prophets, &c., see Eph. ii: 20 and iv: 11, also Cor xii: 28. And that these officers were to continue until perfection is come, 1 Cor. xiii: 8-10. And 'till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge (not belief) of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Eph. iv: 13. They preach that as like causes produce like effects in all ages of the world, that those who are obedient to the gospel in this age and thereby receive the holy spirit, can and will claim and receive the holy spirit, and will claim and receive all its blessings and fruits, which include revelations, visions, dreams, tongues, prophecies, interpretations, discerning of spirits, healing the sick, casting out devils, &c. Proof, see 1 Cor. xii, Mark. xvi: 17, James v: 14-15.-They preach that Zion is to be built in the last days, see Ps. cii: 16 and xlviii: 2, and also Ps. lx, and Mich. iv, and Joel ii: 32. They preach a gathering of the saints in the last days to this Zion, while God pours out his judgments upon the earth. Proof, Ps. iv: 5 and cii 22, Js. ix: 3,4,5,8 and xxxiv: 10, and the Parables, especially that of tares and wheat, 2 Thess. ii: 1, Rev. xviii: 4. These are some of the grand and important doctrines taught by the Mormons, all based and founded on the word of God in the Bible that the whole christian world profess to receive as their standard of faith and practice.

And now, I would ask, where, among the whole Christian world, can be found another people that teaches or even believes one of these plain Bible doctrines? And where is the priest that dare meet the elders of the Mormons on any one of these questions? I have heard elder Page, time and again, publicly challenge the whole clergy of Boston to meet him on any of these questions, using their own hall free of expense, the Bible being the rule of evidence, and where is there one that dare do it? Echo answers where? Bro. Comings to the contrary notwithstanding.

And now, how are the Mormons, coming as they do, Bible in hand, received by the present Bible believing generation, especially editors and priests? I need not answer. Every one knows that each and all of the above Bible doctrines, preached by the Mormons, are met with scorn and contempt, ridicule and blackguardism, and by the very men that denounce men that honestly admit their disbelief in the Bible, as Infidels.

And here are the Mormons baptising [baptizing] weekly, having established a branch in this city of 250, and that in a year and a half, and yet not one of the Boston clergy dare meet them, and expose their delusion, as they call it, and thereby save the dear people from being deceived. And not the clergy alone, but the press also, professedly Bible believing, will in their turn ridicule each of the above doctrines, and publish every item that will tend to throw contempt and obliquy [obloquy] upon them, and not publish a word by way of reply, or in favor, unless paid for.

But now let us look a the other sect mentioned viz: The Catholics, not that they are any more inconsistent than other denominations, or even half so much, but I mention them because the article that gave rise to this communication involves their principles, viz: 'Taking the veil.' Merely to show the difference of treatment by the press, when the doctrines and ceremonies of an old, numerous and popular church, is concerned, than when an unpopular people are the subject for remarks. Now with what grace, and respect the ceremony of taking the veil is spoken of, in the article referred to. If they were written concerning the crucifixion of Christ, they could not be more serious or respectful. And what do we see in the article the, why-'Taking the Veil,' 'Nunnery,' 'Sacrament of high Mass,' 'Reverend Archbishop,' dressed in the 'Pontificals of his station,' then the co-sister in which, with their black veils and a lighted taper in their hands.' then we have a 'Reverend mother,' &c. &c. Now in what part of the Old or New Testament are one of these things alluded to? Where in the organization of the Church of Christ, can the office of 'Reverend Arch Bishop,' or 'Reverend mothers,' be found? We can read about Paul and the Apostles and the Prophets dressed in sheep and goat skins, but nothing about Arch Bishops in their pontificals,' and where can you read of the white dress of the sisters-and their long black veils, and their lighted tapers, &c. Now I will challenge the whole professed Bible believing world, to point out a single passage, that even alludes to one of these ceremonies.

Then we may mention the enquiring [inquiring] meetings and anxious seats of the Orthodox and

baptist. The camp meetings, class meetings, sisters and the three baptisms of the Methodist, all verifying the predictions of Paul, that in the last days 'they would not endure sound doctrines, but would turn from the truth, unto fables,' such as I have been referring to; that they should 'heap to themselves teachers instead of God sending them-and that they would have a form of godliness but deny the power,' also fulfilling the words of Christ to the Jews, that they made void the law of God by their own traditions, and 'taught for doctrines the commandments of men,' for instance the doctrine of Christ, as I have before shown, is baptism for the remission of sins-but the commandments of men are, come to the anxious seats, the altars-or the mourners bench, for the remission of sins. The doctrines of Christ is 'laying on of hands fro [for] the reception of the Holy Ghost;' the commandment of men-go to the camp meeting and receive the Holy Ghost.

But enough has been said to show that this Bible believing generation care not a fig for the Bible, or the doctrines it contains, when speaking of the doctrines and ceremonies of any sect; but if the sect is wealthy, or numerous and popular, they will be spoken of with respect and flattering words-whether their doctrines accords with the Bible or not; and the sect that is small, new and unpopular, will be met with ridicule and contempt, Bible or no Bible. The Catholics and Methodists and others will present to the community, doctrines and precepts, laws and ceremonies, that the Bible never dreamed of, and will be petted and supported by Pulpit and Press. The Mormons, on the other hand, come Bible in hand, ready to defend therefrom, both publicly and privately, each and every doctrine they present to the people, and they are met by Pulpit and Press with slang, vituperation, and any thing under heaven but argument. Oh! the consistency of this godly, Bible believing generation. J. H.