- God, in order to the salvation of man, does no work of supererogation.
- But Mormonism not being essential to the salvation of man would be a work of supererogation.
- Therefore God did not give Mormonism.
Again,
- We need all that is essential to salvation.
- But Mormonism is not essential to salvation.
- Therefore, we do not need Mormonism.
As to the purpose of God in Christ Paul says: "Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him."—Eph. 1: 9, 10. Again: "For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." ib. 2: 14–16. This one body, under one head, gathered by one gospel, is perfected for all that God requires by the one book-the Bible. So far, hence, as the purpose of God in Christ is concerned neither the Book of Mormon nor any of the revelations of Joseph Smith are needed. We now purpose to show that the Book of Mormon is not only an uninspired document, but also that it is of modern origin—to demonstrate hence, that it is a miserable falsehood, and as a consequence, a miserable fraud. The first fact to which we call attention is, If the Book of Mormon be true Jesus of Nazareth was an ignoramus, unacquainted with the Jewish Scriptures?! We invite attention to the following: "As many were astonished at thee; (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men) so shall he sprinkle many
