“Election and Reprobation” Do you believe in Election and Reprobation? To prevent the necessity of repeating a thousand times what may be said at once, we purpose to answer this oft asked question in writing; so that the Saints may learn doctrine, and all who will, may understand that such election and reprobation as is taught in the Old and New Testaments, and other revelations from God, we fully believe, in connexion with every other principle of righteousness; and we ask this favor of all, into whose hands our answer may come, that they will not condemn till they have read it through, in the spirit of meekness and prayer.

The Lord (Jehovah) hath spoken through Isaiah (42, 1.) saying “behold my servant, whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth”; evidently referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, chosen or elected by the Father, (1 Peter i. 20.) “who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God.” to serve him in the redemption of the world, <​(Isaiah xlii, 6.)​> “to be a Covenant of the people (Isaiah xlii, 6.) for a light of the Gentiles”, and the glory of his people Israel; having ordained him “to be the judge of the quick and dead” (Acts x, 42) that through him forgiveness of sins might be preached (Acts xiii, 38) unto all who would be obedient unto his gospel (Mark xvi, 16, 17,). [HC 4:256] Every High Priest must be ordained (Hebrews v,1.) and if Christ had not received ordination, he would not have had power to ordain others, as he did when he ordained the twelve (Mark iii, 14) to take a part in the ministry which he had received of his father: also, (John xv, 16) ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, (Hebrews v, 4) for no man taketh this honor unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron (v. 5.) So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest, but he that said unto him thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. No being can give that which he does not possess; consequently no man can confer the priesthood on another, if he has not himself first received it; and the priesthood is of such a nature that it is impossible to investigate the principles of election, reprobation &c without touching upon the priesthood also; and although some may say that Christ as God needed no ordination, having possessed it eternally, yet Christ says (Matthew xxviii, 18) all power is given unto me in heaven and on earth; which could not have been if he was in eternal possession; and in the previously quoted verse we discover that he that said unto him (i.e.) his father glorified him to be made an high priest, or ordained him to the [p. 1133]