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Show MOEMONISM. 333 troduced into the world ?" I need not answer this question, neither need I bring Scripture to show what were the teachings and experience of Peter and the rest of the apostles on this subject. The Bible is too common a book, too widely circulated in the world, and the people of the United States, especially, are too well read in its contents to suppose, for a moment, that Peter or the rest of the apostles would condemn a man because he believed in the ministration of angels, because he related an experience wherein he had had a vision of an angel. Now that was the principle that disturbed this generation, in the commencement of the introduction of that which is now called " Mormonism"-a principle as common in the ancient church as the doctrine of repentance. I will say more-it is a principle that has been common in all dispensations; it is a principle which was had before the flood, and fully enjoyed by the ancient saints, or at least held to by them ; a principle that was common among them ; not that every man attained to it. But where can we read, under the government of the patriarchs, before the flood or after it; before Moses or after him; before Christ or after Christ-where can we read in sacred history of a people of God by whom the doctrine of visions and ministering of angels would be discarded, or be considered erroneous ? It was common to all dispensations, it was enjoyed by the patriarchs and prophets under the law of Moses, before it and after it, and by the people of God among the ten tribes, and among the Jews. We will carry it still further. It was enjoyed among the Gentiles, before there was a people of God fully organized among them in the days of |
