their legitimate service, could not, by virtue of that fact, have any right to the altar in Christ. Why should a professed Christian seek an interest in a priesthood that would debar him from the privileges of a child of God?! It is positively certain that the angel of Mormonism was characterized by woeful ignorance or fearful dishonesty. The Aaronic priesthood having answered its purpose it was abolished by Jesus Christ, and to ignore that fact by seeking to perpetuate that office is to ignore the positive authority of God.
The next step, however, in order to restoring priesthood Peter, James and John appeared in order to ordain these same fellows to the Melchizedec priesthood!! Heaven did not know that such a wonderful person as Joseph Smith was to appear in the Latter days, who would bring to bear an inspiration superior to that by which the ministry of Christ spake and wrote?! There are several facts that show the statement of Mormon inspiration regarding the ordination of Joseph and Oliver by Peter, James and John to be an unmitigated falsehood! Peter gave his unqualified endorsement of Paul as an inspired writer. Feeling assured that the endorsement has never been withdrawn, we cite the following: "For this Melchizedec, King of Salem, priest of the most high God,' who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all,'—who is first by interpretation, King of Righteousness, and secondly King of Salem, which is King of Peace—without father, without mother, without table of descent—having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God—remaineth a priest forever."—Heb. 7: 1–3. Conybeare. Here is a priest, not of the typical order, but of the anti-typical. As a priest he was made like unto the Son of God. Our comments, however, upon this language of Paul must be reserved for the next chapter.
