because it was weak and profitless (for the law perfected nothing) and on the other hand, a better hope is brought in whereby we draw near unto God." Heb. 7: 18, 19. Conybeare. When this better hope was brought in the full purpose of the Jewish economy was reached. Where in the New Testament economy, the economy that has the provisions for that better hope, is there a vacuum to be filled by a production through Joseph Smith? Echo answers—where!
It is now, we think, at this early stage in our investigation, perceptible to our readers, that in meeting the claims of Mormonism our task is simply to defend the claims of the Bible. We now and here unhesitatingly affirm, If the claims of Mormonism be true, the claims of the Bible are false. The truthfulness of this will appear as we proceed with our investigation.
A proper view of the development of the remedial system will give us the decision of the Almighty as to the amount of revelation essential in order to the one great purpose regarding the human family. Time was divided into three periods called dispensations. These are known as the Patriarchal, the Jewish, and the Christian. These have been beautifully represented as the starlight period, the moonlight period, and the daylight period of Christianity. During the first period of time, a period of darkness, because of the exceeding corruptness of the race, a man would appear here and there, who would shine as a bright star in the moral heavens. Of these we may mention Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Melchisedec and Job. This period was divided into two parts, the antediluvian and the postdiluvian. Yet the two constituted one period. This period continued till the giving of the law of Moses, hence, till the establishing of the first covenant in the development of the remedial system. With the establishing of that covenant a new and superior period was ushered in. The patriarchs had now as it
