Bible Treasury, 2nd. Edition, Volume 1, November 1856.
(1st. Edition, November 1856 [01 1856 099])
[01 1856 098]
We insert the following letter, which has been sent to us for this purpose, in the hope that the Satan-deluded author of the pamphlet referred to, and his approving readers may see it, peruse it, and take warning ere it be too late:
2, Little's Lane, Wolverhampton.
7 Oct., 1856.
To Mr. Charles F. Jones.
Sir, — Having recently received from you a very singular pamphlet, called "Marriage and Morals in Utah," I am constrained to say a few words upon it to you. This I do both as a Christian man, and as a servant of the Lord; not as being appointed to any office, or as giving forth the sentiments of any class of persons.
Observe! I do not write in the tone of offence, or as one offended, but with much pain and sorrow of heart that anything so defiling and injurious to the truth should have emanated from any class of persons calling themselves "saints" (holy persons), and should ever have been wickedly fathered upon the character of the ever blessed God, the object of all true adoration and worship.
In this pamphlet I am pained to observe that there is nothing said about what can give relief to a troubled conscience; about the calling of "saints" to heaven, and their walking worthy of that "calling"; and about the person and work of the Son of God: but only about the perpetuation of our species, and the desire to get possession of as wide a space of the earth as possible; as if our whole destiny and need were met in such carnal wretched pursuits as these. Is it not monstrous that anything so low and grovelling can occupy "saints" (and that too in laying down principles for the government of a new state), and can be made the subject of their teaching? How suited to inflame the passions of the carnal heart, from the dominion of which Jesus came to deliver us.
And because a species of polygamy was permitted in early times, yet, after its condemnation by our Lord Jesus Christ (after the folly and sin of man have made his own desire manifest), it is assumed in this pamphlet, that polygamy is still to continue; and to this, abominable adultery is added. It is further intimated that this is what is meant by the "everlasting covenant," although it is quite plain that that covenant had to do with the earth, and that even to this day it has not received its full accomplishment. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ," Gal. 3:16. "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son … to redeem," etc., Gal. 4:4-6. Is it, then, more wives, or redemption, that poor, fallen, and degraded man wants. And yet, alas for the blindness of such writers! it is taught in this pamphlet, that marriage and the earth are what we are to be occupied about, and not redemption. And when God says to the "saints" at Corinth, 2 Cor. 5:17, "Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new"; i.e., of course, only to real Christians. Here are other self-called "saints," according to your pamphlet, teaching that it is the old creature we are to be occupied about. With you it is the old Adam, the earth, and more wives; with God it is the new creature, the Second Adam, the Lord from heaven, 1 Cor. 15:47. Does such a perversion of the truth come from heaven or hell?
Sir, it is shocking to father such sentiments as these upon a holy God, "who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and who cannot look upon sin"! And were I not instructed from Holy Scripture to believe that such things should come in these "last days," I should indeed wonder that hell itself could ever invent things so truly wicked and defiling as those recommended in your pamphlet. Let me solemnly remind you of what is said of false prophets and teachers: "To the law, and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light (morning, see margin) in them," Isa. 8:20. Such doctrine is not of the morning, but is of the night and "darkness," John 3:20-21. "If any man, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel than that which I have preached … let him be accursed," Gal. 1:8.
Let "marriage and morals in Utah" be what they may, it will soon be seen that "many will come and say, Lord! Lord! open to us … but then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me," etc., Matt. 7:15-23. And further on in time, "the heavens will pass away, and the elements melt with fervent heat," etc., 2 Peter 3:10. We want something that will secure us then and now! What has marriage and morals to do with meeting the need of the human conscience, furnishing an adequate object for new-born affections, and lifting a poor soul into the presence of God, and giving him the assurance that God loves him in Jesus?
I could say much more, but forbear, praying that a holy and merciful God may rebuke the daring impiety of the Mormons, and in his great mercy rescue them from their delusion. "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them who are lost," etc., 2 Cor. 4:3-4. With proper estimation suited to the case,
I am, Sir, yours truly, Richard Tunley.