FAITH OF THE CHURCH. NO. IX.
Continued from page 19.
So plain and easy of understanding are these teachings of the Savior, that none need mistake them: if there is darkness in our minds, it is owing to our prejudices, and not to any obscurity in the teachings of the Savior. Neither would we expect to find a subject of such vital importance, left in any degree doubtful: indeed all the darkness there is on the subject of the work of the Holy Spirit, in the salvation of men, is owing to carnal and sensual men, who have not the Spirit: taking on themselves the office of teaching the things of God: and being destitute of the Spirit, they are incapable of teaching the truth, to others: and instead of enlightening the minds of men, they "darken council with words without knowledge," and lead the unwary astray, and blind the eyes of the people, so that they are incapable of discerning truth from error.
We have seen in the foregoing quotations, in the clearest possible light, the way and manner in which the Savior of the world, prepared his servants and messengers to teach the world of mankind, and how he qualified them, so that they might teach truth, and not error. But to remove all doubt on this subject from every mind, so as not to have even ground for a caviler, we will take a view of the whole course of the divine proceedings with his messengers, whom he sent into the world to teach it righteousness.—We will go back and examine the manner of his dealing with them, in order to qualify them for the work whereunto he had called them.
We all know that the first thing to be done, was to call them, as he did. See Matthew 4th chapter, from the 17 to the 23. Also, Mark, 1 chapter, from the 15, to the 21.—After he called them, he next ordained them. See Mark 3 chapter, from the 12 to the 20 verse. 1 Timothy, 3 chapter 7 verse, Paul says of himself that he was ordained a preacher and an apostle. In the 14 verse of the 3 chapter of Mark, we are told, that he ordained twelve to be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach to all nations.—As it is particularly said, that these twelve whom he sent forth were in the first place to be with him, we will have a fair opportunity of seeing the manner and way by which he qualified them to go forth, and preach to all nations, whither he would, in due time, send them, and whither he did send them after his resurrection from the dead. We have just seen that he first called them, then ordained them; and from that time, till the time of his crucifixion, he kept them with him, teaching them, and instructing them, into the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven. When he taught by parables, he explained all things to them privately. In the 10 chapter of Matthew, we have an account of his sending them out to preach, and to heal all manner of diseases; to cast out devils, and to raise the dead; preaching as they went, that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. And he continued teaching and instructing them, into the knowledge of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, and expounding all things to them which were written, in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning himself until his death, and for some time after his resurrection. See Luke 24 chapter, from the 43, to the 48 verse. "And he said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. And said unto them. Thus it is written, and thus it beho[o]ved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.