andthenwhatwastheirconditioninthatstate?Andagain,howdoesithappen,onthissupposition,thatthisspiritineachindividualexhibitssolargelythementalandmoraltraitsoftheearthlyparents?Thesehypothesesnotbeingverysatisfactory,willitbeclaimedthatGodcreatesthesespiritsasfastaschildrenareborntoneedthem?andifso,whobringsthemdownjustinthenickoftime?andbywhatprocessaretheyincarnated?
ButifGodhas,byspecialact,createdasoulorspiritforeverymemberofthehumanfamilysinceAdam,isitnotacontradictionofGen。2:2,whichdeclaresthatallGod’sworkofcreation,sofarasitpertainstothisworld,wascompletedbythecloseofthefirstweekoftime?
Again,howmanyoftheinhabitantsofthiseartharetheoffspringofabandonedcriminality;andcanitbesupposedthatGodholdshimselfinreadinesstocreatesoulswhichmustcomefromhishandspureasthedewofheaven,tobethrustintosuchviletenements,anddoomedtoalifeofwretchednessandwoeatthebiddingofPage47defiantlust?Theirreverenceofthequestionwillbepardonedasanexposureoftheabsurdityofthattheorywhichnecessitatesit。
3。TheSpiritsofJustMenMadePerfect。——ThisexpressionisfoundinHeb。12:23,andseems,bysome,torecognizetheideathatspiritscanexistwithoutthebody,andaretobetreatedasseparateentities。
ThusinterpreteditmightappeartogivesomesupporttoSpiritualism。
Butitwillbynomeansbearsuchaninterpretation。TheapostleiscontrastingtheprivilegesofChristiansinthepresentdispensation,withthesituationofbelieversbeforethecomingofChrist。Whathesetsforthareblessingstobeenjoyedinthepresenttense。Yes,saysone,thatisjustwhatI
believe:Wearecometospirits;theyareallaboutus,andtipandtalkandwriteforusatourpleasure。Buthold!nothingisaffirmedofspiritsseparately。Thewholeideamustbetakenin。Itisthe\"spiritsofjustmenmadeperfect;\"andtheparticiple\"madeperfect\"agreeswith\"justmen,\"orliterally\"thejustmadeperfect\"[GREEKCHARACTERSINPRINTED
TEXT],notwith\"spirits。\"Itisthemenwhoaremadeperfecttowhomwearesaidtohavecome。Butthereareonlytwolocalitiesandtwoperiods,inwhichmenareanywhereintheScripturessaidtobemadeperfect。Oneisinthislifeandonthisearth,andreferstoreligiousexperience(\"Beyethereforeperfect,evenasyourFatherwhichisinheavenisperfect\");theotherisnotrelative,butactualandabsolute,andreferstothefutureimmortalstatewhenallthepeopleofGodPage48willenteruponeternallifetogether(\"Godhavingprovidedsomebetterthingforus,thatthey[theancientworthies]withoutusshouldnotbemadeperfect。\"Heb。11:40)。Thus,takenineitheroftheonlytwowayspossible,thetextfurnishesnoproofofSpiritualism。Itdoubtlessreferstothepresentstate,theexpression,\"spiritsofjustmen,\"beingsimplyaperiphrasisfor\"justmen,\"thesameastheexpression,\"theGodofthespiritsofallflesh\"Num。16:22),meanssimply\"theGodofallflesh,\"andtheWords\"yourwholespirit,andsoul,andbody\"(1Thess。
5:23),meanssimplythewholeperson。
4。SpiritsinPrison。——TheapostlePeterusesanexpression,which,thoughperhapsnotoftenquotedindirectdefenseofSpiritualism,isrelieduponextensivelyinbehalfofthedoctrineoftheconsciousstateofthedead,which,asalreadyshown,istheessentialbasisofSpiritualism。
Andsuchtextsastheseareherenoticedtoshowtothegeneralreader,thattheBiblecontainsnotestimonyinbehalfofthatdoctrine,butpositivelyforbidsit,asfurtherquotationswillsoonbeintroducedtoshow。Thepassagenowinquestionis1Peter3:19,where,speakingofChrist,itsays:\"Bywhichalsohewentandpreacheduntothespiritsinprison。\"
Bytheuseofstrongassumption,andsomeloftyflightsoftheimagination,andkeepinginthebackgroundtherealintentofthepassage,apictureofratheralivelytimeinthespiritworld,canbeconstructedoutofthistestimony。ThusthespiritsaresaidtobePage49thedisembodiedspiritsofthosewhoweredestroyedbytheflood。Seecontext。
Theywerein\"prison,\"thatis,inhell。WhenChristwasputtodeathuponthecross,heimmediatelywentbyhisdisembodiedspirit,downintohellandpreachedtothoseconsciousintelligentspiritswhowerethere,andcontinuedthatworktillthethirddaywhenhewashimselfraisedfromthedead。Athoughtwillshowthatthispictureiswrong,(1)inthetime,(2)intheconditionofthepeople,(3)intheactingagent,and(4)intheendtobeattained。Thus,whenChristhadbeenputtodeath,hewas\"quickened\"(ormadealive),saystherecord,\"bytheSpirit。\"ThiswascertainlynotapersonaldisembodiedSpirit,butthatdivineagencysooftenreferredtointheScriptures。\"Bywhich,\"thatis,thisSpiritofGod,hewentandpreached。ThenhedidnotgopersonallyonthisworkThe\"spirits\"weretheantediluviansfortheywerethosewhoweredisobedientinthedaysofNoah。NowwhenweretheypreachedtoVerse20plainlytellsusitwas\"whenoncethelongsufferingofGodwaitedinthedaysofNoah。\"
Inaccordancewiththesestatementsnowletanotherpicturehepresented:
Christ,byhisSpiritwhichwasinNoah(1Peter1:11),andthusthroughNoah,preachedtothespirits,orpersons,inNoah’stime,whoweredisobedient,inordertosaveallfromthecomingfloodwhowouldbelieve。Theyweresaidtobe\"inprison,\"thoughstillliving,becausetheywereshutupundercondemnation,andhadonlyonehundredandtwentyyearsgrantedtheminwhichtoPage50repentorperish。ThusChristwascommissionedtopreachtomensaidtobeinprison,becauseindarkness,error,andcondemnation,thoughtheywerestilllivingintheflesh。Isa。61:1。Dr。AdamClarke,theeminentMethodistcommentator(inloco),placesthegoingandpreachingofChristinthedaysofNoah,andbytheministryofNoahforonehundredandtwentyyears,andnotduringthetimewhilehelayinthegrave。Thenhesays\"Theword[GREEKCHARACTERSINPRINTEDTEXT](spirits)
issupposedtorenderthisviewofthesubjectimprobable,becausethismustmeandisembodiedspirits;butthiscertainlydoesnotfollow;
forthespiritsofjustmenmadeperfect(Heb。12:23),certainlymeansrighteousmen,andmenstillinthechurchmilitant:andtheFatherofspirits(Heb。129)meansmenstillinthebody:andtheGodofthespiritsofallflesh(Num。16:22and27:16),meansmen,notinadisembodiedstate。\"[1]5。CannotKilltheSoul。——\"Fearnotthemwhichkillthebody,butarenotabletokillthesoul:
butratherfearhimwhichisabletodestroybothsoulandbodyinhell。\"
Matt。10:28。Weknowwhatitistokillthebody;andbyassociationofideas,itseemsquitenaturaltoformalikeconceptionofthesoulassomethingthatcanbetreatedinthesameway。Thenifthesoulcannotbekilledlikethebody,theconclusionseemseasyofadoptionthatitlivesrighton,withallsensationspreserved,asitwaswiththebodybeforeitsdeath。Ifitwerenotforthepagandefinitionof\"soul,\"whichherecomesintochangethecurrentofthought,suchPage51conclusionsdrawnfromthistextwouldnotbesoprevalent;andalittleattentiontothescopeofChrist’steachingherewillreadilycorrectthemisapprehension。Thisisbroughtoutclearlyinverse39:\"Hethatfindethhislifeshallloseit:andhethatlosethhislifeformysakeshallfindit。\"Thisiseasilyunderstood。Noonewillquestionwhatitistolosehislife;andChristsaysthathewhowilldothisforhissake,shallfindit。Anyonewhohasbeenputtodeathforhisfaithinthegospelhas\"losthislife\"(hadthebodykilled)forChrist’ssake。
ButChristsays,Donotfearthem,eveniftheydothis。Why?——Becauseyeshallfindit——thelifeyoulost。Whenshallwefindit?——Intheresurrection。John6:40;Rev。20:4-6。Theexpression,\"shallfindit,\"
thusbecomestheexactequivalentofthewords,\"arenotabletokillthesoul;\"thatis,arenotabletodestroy,orpreventusfromgainingthatlifehehaspromised,ifwesuffermen,forhissake,to\"killthebody,\"
ordepriveusofourpresentlife。Thecorrectnessofthisviewisdemonstratedbythewordemployedintheseinstances。Thatwordis[GREEKCHARACTERS
INPRINTEDTEXT](psuche)。Itisproperlyrendered\"life\"inverse39,andimproperlyrendered\"soul\"inverse28。Thislesson,thatmenshouldbewillingtolosetheirlifeforChrist’ssake,wasconsideredsoimportantthatitisagainmentionedinMatthew,andreiteratedwithemphasisbyMark,Luke,andJohn;andtheyallusethissameword[GREEK
CHARACTERSINPRINTEDTEXT]whichisrendered\"life。\"InoneinstanceonlyinalltheseparallelpassageshavethePage52translatorsrenderedit\"soul;\"andthatisMatt。10:28,whereitisthesourceofallthemisunderstandingonthattext。
6。SoulsUndertheAltar。——AsapartoftheeventsofthefifthsealasdescribedinRev。6:9-11,Johnsayshesawthesoulsofthemartyrsunderthealtar,andheardthemcryingforvengeance。Iftheycoulddothat,itisasked,cannotdisembodiedsoulsnowcommunicatewiththeliving?
Nottoenterintoafullexpositionofthisscripture,andtheinconsistenciessuchaviewwouldinvolve,itissufficienttoaskifthesewerelikethecommunicatingspiritsofthepresentday。HowmanycommunicationshaveeverbeenreceivedbymodernSpiritualistsfromsoulsconfinedunderanaltarInglowingsymbolism,Johnsawthedeadmartyrs,asifslainatthefootofthealtar;andbythefigureofpersonificationavoicewasgiventothemjustasAbel’sbloodcriedtoGodforvengeanceuponhisguiltybrother(Gen。4:10),andjustasthestoneissaidtocryoutofthewall,andthebeamoutofthetimbertoanswerit。Hab。2:11。
7。TheMediumofEndor。——AsidefromthedirectteachingoftheScriptures,itisstillheldbysomethattherearescenesnarratedintheBiblewhichshowthatthedeadmustbeconscious。ThefirstoftheseisthecaseofSaulandthewomanofEndor,whomheconsultedinordertocommunicatewiththeprophetSamuel,asnarratedin1Samuel28。Here,itmustbeconfessed,isbroughttoviewanactualcaseofspiritmanifestation,aspecimenofPage53ancientnecromancy;fortheconditions,methodofprocedure,andresults,werejustsuchaspertaintothesameworkinourownday。Butthen,asnow,therewasnotruthnorgoodinit,asabriefreviewofthenarrativewillshow。(1)Samuelwasdead。(2)SaulwassorepressedbythePhilistines。
Verse5。(3)Godhaddepartedfromhim。Verse4。(4)Hehadcutoffthosewhobadfamiliarspiritsandwizards,outoftheland,becauseGodhadforbiddentheirpresenceintheJewishtheocracy,asanabomination。Verse3;Lev。19:31。(5)Yetinhisextremityhehadrecoursetoawomanwithafamiliarspirit,foundatEndor。Verse7。(6)Sheaskedwhomsheshouldbringup,andSaulanswered,Samuel。Verse11。(7)Saulwasdisguised,butthefamiliarspirittoldthewomanitwasSaul,andshecriedoutinalarm。Verse12。(8)Saulreassuredher,andthewomanwentonwiththeséance。Verse10。(9)Sheannouncedapresencecoming(notfromheaven,northespheres,but)upoutoftheearth,andatSaul’srequestgaveadescriptionofhim,showingthatSauldidnothimselfseetheform。
Verse13。(10)Saul\"perceived\"thatitwasSamuel(notbyactualsight,butfromthewoman’sdescription;fortheHebrew[HEBREWCHARACTERS
INPRINTEDTEXT]andtheSeptuagint,[GREEKCHARACTERSINPRINTED
TEXT]signifytoknow,orperceive,byanoperationofthemind。)
Verse14。(11)ThewomansupposeditwasSamuel;SaulsupposeditwasSamuel;
andthatpersonationis,then,bythelawofappearance,spokenof,inwhateveritsaidordid,asSamuel;as,\"SamuelsaidtoPage54Saul,\"etc。Verse15。(12)WasSamuelreallythereasanimmortalsoul,adisembodiedspirit,orasoneraisedfromthedead——Nobecause(a)immortalsoulsdonotcomeupoutoftheground,wrappedinmantles,andcomplainofbeingdisquietedandbroughtup;(b)Samuelwasaholyprophet,andifhewasconsciousinthespiritworld,hewouldnotpresenthimselfatthesummonsofawomanwhowaspracticingartswhichGodhadforbidden;(c)GodhavingdepartedfromSaulandhavingrefusedtocommunicatewithhimonaccountofhissins,wouldnotnowsufferhisservantSamueltogranthimthedesiredcommunicationthroughachannelwhichhehadpronouncedanabomination;(d)Samuelwasnotpresentbyaresurrection,fortheDevilcouldnotraisehim,andGodcertainlywouldnot,forsuchapurpose;besidesSamuelwasburiedatRamah,andcouldnotberaisedatEndor;(e)Itwasonlythewoman’sfamiliarspirit,personatingSamuelasheusedtoappearwhenalive——anagedmanclothedwithamantle。HisobjectwastomakeboththewomanandSaulbelieveitwasSamuel,whenitwasnot,justascommunicatingspiritsto-daytrytopalmthemselvesoffforwhattheyarenot。AsaspecimenofancientSpiritualism,thiscaseisnoparticularhonortotheircauseandasaproofoftheimmortalityofthesoul,andtheconsciousstateofthedead,itisaminusquantity。
8。TheTransfiguration。——Jesustookthreeofhisdisciples,Peter,James,andJohn,apartintoaPage55highmountain,andwastransfiguredbeforethem;hisfacebecameasthesun,andhisraimentwaswhiteasthelight,justasitwillbeinthefuturekingdomofglory,whichthisscenewasdesignedtorepresent。AndtherethenappearedMosesandEliastalkingwithChrist。ButMoseshaddiedinthelandofMoabnearlyfifteenhundredyearsbefore,anditisatonceconcludedthattheonlywaytoaccountforhisappearanceonthisoccasion,istosupposethathewasstillaliveinthespiritworld,andcouldappearinadisembodiedstate,andtalkwithJesusashererepresented。
Butsuchaconclusionisbynomeansnecessary。Jesuswasthereinperson,Eliaswasthereinperson;forhehadnotdied,buthadbeentranslatedbodilyfromthisearth。Nowitwouldbealtogetherincongruoustosupposethatthethirdmemberofthisglorioustrio,apparentlyjustasrealastheothers,wasonlyadisembodiedspirit;animmaterialphantom。Unlessthewholescenewasmerelyavisionbroughtbeforethemindsofthedisciples,Moseswasasreallythere,inhisownproperperson,asJesusandElias。
Butthereisnowayinwhichhecouldthusbepresent,exceptbymeansofaresurrectionfromthedead;andthathehadbeenraised,andwasthereasarepresentativeoftheresurrection,isproved,firstbyhisactualpresenceonthisoccasion,andsecondly,bythefactthatMichael(Christ,whois\"theresurrectionandthelife,\"John11:25)disputedwiththeDevil(whohasthepowerofdeath,Heb。2:14)aboutthebodyofMoses。
Jude9。TherecouldbePage56nootherpossiblegroundofcontroversyaboutthebodyofMosesexceptwhetherornotChristshouldgiveitlifebeforethegeneralresurrection。
ButChristrebukedtheDevil。Christwasnotthwartedinthiscontest,butgavehisservantlife;andthusMosescouldappearpersonallyuponthemount。ThismakesthescenecompleteasarepresentationofthekingdomofGod,asPetersaysitwas(2Peter1:16-18);namely,ChristtheglorifiedKing,Eliasrepresentingthosewhowillbetranslatedwithoutseeingdeath,andMosesrepresentingthosewhowillberaisedfromthedead。Thesetwoclassesembraceallthehappysubjectsofthatkingdom。Thisviewofthematterisnotpeculiartothisbook。Dr。AdamClarke,onMatt。17:3,says:
\"ThebodyofMoseswasprobablyraisedagain,asapledgeoftheresurrection。’[2]AndOlshausensays:\"Forifweassumetherealityoftheresurrectionofthebody,anditsglorification,——truthswhichassuredlybelongtothesystemofChristiandoctrine,——thewholeoccurrencepresentsnoessentialdifficulties。TheappearanceofMosesandElias,whichisusuallyheldtobethemostunintelligiblepointinit,isaseasilyconceivedofaspossible,ifweadmittheirbodilyglorification。\"
ThosepassageswhichspeakofChristasthe\"first-fruits,\"the\"first-bornfrontthedead,\"the\"first-bornamongmanybrethren,\"\"ofeverycreature,\"
etc。,referonlytothechiefandpivotalim-Page57portanceofhisownresurrection,asrelatedtoallothers;andActs26:
23doesnotdeclarethatChristshouldbethefirstonetoberaisedfromthedead,butthathefirst,byaresurrectionfromthedead,shouldshowlighttotheGentiles。(SeetheGreekofthispassage。)ThesescripturesthereforeprovenoobjectiontotheideathatMoseshadbeenraisedfromthedead,andasavictoroverthegrave,appearedwithChristuponthemount。Thusanothersupposedstrongholdaffordsnorefugefortheconscious-statetheory,orforSpiritualism。
9。TheRichManandLazarus。——Withthefeaturesofthisparable,asfoundinLuke16,whichissupposedtoprovethedeadconscious,andSpiritualismpossible,thereaderisdoubtlessfamiliar。Itshouldeverbeborneinmindthatthisisaparable;andinaparable,neitherthepartiesnorthescenesaretobetakenliterally,andhencenodoctrinescanbebuiltuponsuchsymbolicrepresentations。Butnotonlyisitaparable,butitisaparableBasedupontraditionslargelyentertainedbytheJewsthemselvesinthetimeofChrist。ThusT。J。Hudson(\"LawofPsychicPhenomena,\"
p。385)says:——\"Itisahistoricalfact,nevertheless,thatbeforetheadventofJesus,theJewshadbecomeimbuedwiththeGreekdoctrineofHades,whichwasanintermediatewaitingstationbetweenthislifeandthejudgment。
InthisweresituatedbothParadiseandGehenna,theoneontheright,andtheotherontheleft,andintothesetwocompartmentsthespiritsofthedeadwereseparated,accordingtotheirdeserts。Jesusfoundthisdoctrinealreadyinexistence,andinenforcingPage58hismoralpreceptsinhisparables,heemployedthesymbolswhichthepeopleunderstood,neitherdenyingnoraffirmingtheirliteralverity。\"ThusChristappealedtothepeopleontheirownground。Hetooktheviewsandtraditionswhichhefoundalreadyamongthem,andarrangedthemintoaparableinsuchawayastorebuketheircovetousness,correcttheirnotionsthatprosperityandrichesinthislifearetokensofthefavorandapprobationofGod,andcondemntheirdeparturefromtheteachingsofMosesandtheprophets。Asaparable,itisnotdesignedtoshowthestateofthedead,andtheconditionsthatprevailinthespiritworld,Butifanypersistthatitisnotaparable,butapresentationofactualfact,thenthesceneislaid,notintheintermediatestate,butbeyondtheresurrection;foritisaftertheangelshadcarriedLazarusintoAbraham’sbosom。Buttheangelsdonotbearanyoneanywhereawayfromthisearth,tillthesecondcomingofChristandtheresurrectionofthedead。Matt。
24:30,31;1Thess。4:15-17。Findingnosupport。inthisportionofscripturefortheconscious-statetheory,withitsspiritualisticpossibilities,appealisnextmadebythefriendsofthattheorytothecaseof——
10。TheThiefontheCross。——Luke23:39-43。WhenoneofthemalefactorswhowerecrucifiedwithJesus,requestedtoberememberedwhenheshouldcomeintohiskingdom,accordingtotherecordinthecommonversion,theLordreplied,\"To-dayshaltthoubewithmeinparadise。\"
ToPage59gofromdeathintoparadisethesameday,meanstogointothespiritworldwithoutabody,ordiscarnated,asSpiritualistsclaim。AndsoitwouldbeifsuchwasChrist’spromisetothethief;butitwasnot。
Thelittleadverb\"to-day\"holdsthebalanceofpowerastothemeaningofthistext。IfitqualifiesChrist’swords,\"VerilyIsayuntothee,\"
itgivesoneidea;ifitqualifiesthewords,\"Thoushaltbewithmeinparadise,\"wehaveanotherandverydifferentidea。Andhowshallthequestionofitsrelationshipbedecided?——Itcanbedoneonlybythepunctuation。
Hereanotherdifficultyconfrontsus;fortheGreekwasoriginallywritteninasolidlineofletters,withoutanypunctuation,orevendivisionintowords。Suchbeingthecase,thepunctuation,andtherelationofthequalifyingword\"to-day,\"mustbedeterminedbythecontext。NowitisafactthatChristdidnotgotoparadisethatday。Hedied,andwasplacedinthetomb,andthethirddayrosefromthedead。Marywasthefirsttomeethim,andsoughttoworshiphim……Buthesaid,\"Touchmenot,forIamnotyetascendedtomyFather。\"John20:17。ParadiseiswheretheFatheris(see2Cor。12:2-4;Rev。2:7;22:1,2),andifChristhadnotbeentohisFatherwhenMarymethimthethirddayafterhiscrucifixion,hehadnotthenbeentoparadise;thereforeitisnotpossiblethathemadeapromisetothethiefonthedayofhiscrucifixion,thatheshouldbewithhimthatdayinparadise。Page60Butfurther,thedayofthecrucifixionwasthedaybeforetheSabbath;
anditwasnotlawfultoheavecriminalsonthecrossduringthatday。
John19:31。Iftheywerestilllivingwhenthetimecametotakethemfromthecross,theyweretakendown,andtheirlegswerebrokentopreventtheirescape。Thesoldiersonthisoccasionbrokethelegsofthetwothievesbecausetheywerestillalive;\"butwhentheycametoJesusandsawthathewasdeadalready,theybrakenothislegs。\"Verses32,33。Thethiefthereforelivedoverintothenextday。
Thustherearetwoabsolutelyinsuperableobjectionsagainstallowingtheadverb\"to-day,\"toqualifyChrist’spromise,\"ThoushaltbewithmeinParadise:\"(1)Christdidnotgotoparadisethatday;and(2)Thethiefdidnotdiethatday。Beforethesefactstheconscious-stateargumentbuiltuponthisincident,vanishesintothinair。Justplacethecomma(apunctuationmarknotinventedtill1490)after\"to-day\"insteadofbeforeit,andletthatwordqualifytheverb\"say\"andemphasizethetimewhenitwasspoken,andallisharmonious。Thethief’srequestdidnotpertaintothatday,butlookedforwardtothetimewhenChristshouldcomeintohiskingdom;
andChrist’spromisedidnotpertaintothatday,buttothetimeinthethief’srequest;sohedidnotfalsifyitbynotgoingtohisFatherforthreedaysafterwardThethiefisquietlyslumberinginthetomb;butChristissooncomingintohiskingdom。ThenthethiefwillbePage61remembered,beraisedfromthedead,andbewithChristinthatparadiseintowhichhewillthenintroduceallhispeople。Thusallisasclearasasunbeam,whenthetextisfreedfromthebunglingtinkeringofmen。
Thestrongesttextsandincidentswhichareappealedtoindefenseoftheconscious-statetheory,havenowbeenexamined。Ifthesedonotsustainit,nothingcanbefoundintheBiblewhichwillsustainit。Allareeasilyharmonizedwiththese。ThusinPaul’sdesireto\"departandbewithChrist\"
(Phil。1:23,hedoesnottheretelluswhenhewillbewithChrist;
buthedoestellusinmanyotherplaces;anditisattheresurrectionandthecomingofChrist。Phil。3:11;1Thess。4:17。Whenhespeaksofourbeingclotheduponwithourhousefromheaven(2Cor。5:2),hetellsusthatitiswhen\"immortality\"is\"swallowedupoflife。\"Butthatisonlyatthelasttrump。1Cor。15:51-54。Ifwearetoldaboutthewomanwhohadhadsevenhusbands(Matt。22:23-28),nohintusgivenofanyreuniontillaftertheresurrection。IfGodcallshimselfnottheGodofthedead,butoftheliving\"(Matt。22:32),itisbecausehespeaksof\"thosethingsthatbenotasthoughtheywere\"(Rom。4:17),andtheworthiesofwhomthisisspoken,aresuretoliveagain(Heb。11:15,16),andhencearenowspokenofasaliveinhissight,becausetheyaresoinhispurpose。
Textswhichspeakofthedepartureandreturnofthesoul(Gen。35:18;
1Kings17:21,22,arereferabletothePage62\"breathoflife,\"whichisthemeaningofthewordintheseinstancesrendered\"soul。\"
Threepassagesonlyhavebeenreferredto,whichdeclarepositivelythatthedeadknownotanything。Itwasthoughtpreferabletoanswercertainobjections,beforeintroducingfurtherdirecttestimony。Buttherearemanysuchpassages,afewmoreofwhichwillnowbepresented,asafittingconclusiontothisbranchofthesubject。Thereader’scarefulattentionisinvitedtoafewofthevarioustexts,andtheconclusionsthatfollowtherefrom。
1。DeathandSleep。——Death,innumerouspassagesiscomparedtosleep,incontrastwiththewakefulcondition。SeePs。13:3;Job7:
21;John11:11;Acts7:60;lCor。11:30;15:51;1Thess。4:14;etc。Butthereisonlyonefeatureinsleepbyvirtueofwhichitcanbetakenasafigureofdeath;andthatis,theconditionofunconsciousnesswhichshutsuptheavenuesofone’ssensestoallone’senvironment。Ifoneisnotthusunconsciousindeath,thefigureisfalse,andthecomparisonillogicalandmisleading。
2。ThoughtsPerish。——SoDavidtestifies:\"Putnotyourtrustinprinces,norinthesonofman,inwhomthereisnohelp。Hisbreathgoethforth,hereturnethtohisearth;inthatverydayhisthoughtsperish。\"
Ps。146:3,4。Theword\"thoughts\"doesnotheremeansimplytheprojectsandpurposesonehasinview,whichdooftenfail,whentheauthorofthemdies,butitisfromarootwhichmeanstheactofthinking,theoperationofthemind;Page63andindeath,thatentirelyceases。ItcannotthereforebethedeadwhocomeoutoftheunseenwithsuchintelligenceasisshowninSpiritualism。
3。Job’sStatement。——Speakingofadeadman,Job(14:21)says:
\"Hissonscometohonor,andheknowethitnot;andtheyarebroughtlow,butheperceivethitnotofthem。\"Ifthedeadcannottakecognizanceofmattersofsomuchinterestasthese,howcantheycommunicatewiththelivingasthespiritsdo?
4。NoRemembranceofGod。——David,inPs。6:5and115:17,againtestifies:\"Forindeaththereisnoremembranceofthee:inthegravewhoshallgivetheethanks?\"\"ThedeadpraisenottheLord,neitheranythatgodownintosilence\"Isitpossiblethatanyrighteousman,ifheislivingandconsciousaftergoingintothegrave,wouldnotpraiseandgivethankstotheLord?
5。Hezekiah’sTestimony。——Hezekiahwassickuntodeath。Isa。
38:1。Butheprayed,andtheLordaddedtohisdaysfifteenyears。Verse5。ForthishepraisedtheLord,andgavehisreasonsforsodoinginthefollowingwords(verses18,19):\"Forthegravecannotpraisethee,deathcannotcelebratethee:theythatgodownintothepitcannothopeforthytruth。Theliving,theliving,heshallpraisethee,asIdothisday。\"
Thisisaclearaffirmationthatindeathhewouldnotbeabletodowhathewasabletodowhileliving。
6。NewTestamentEvidence。——TheNewTestamentbearsacorrespondingtestimonyonthissub-Page64ject。NonewillbesavedexceptsuchasChristraisesupatthelastday。
John6:39,40。Nooneistoreceiveanyrewardbeforetheresurrection。
Luke14:14;2Tim。4:8。NoonecanenterGod’skingdombeforebeingjudged;
butthereisnoexecutionofjudgmentbeforethecomingofChrist。2Tim。
4:1;Acts17:31;Luke19:35;etc。Ifthereisnoavenuetoafuturelifebyaresurrection,thenallwhohavegonedownindeathareperished。1
Cor。15:18。Suchtextsutterlyforbidtheideaofconsciousnessandactivity,onthepartofanyofthehumanfamily,indeath。
Thispartofthesubjectneednotbecarriedfurther。Ithasbeendweltuponsofullysimplybecauseofitsdeterminatebearingonthequestionunderdiscussion。Spiritualismrestsitswholetitletocredenceontheclaimthattheintelligenceswhichmanifestthemselvesarethespiritsofthedead。TheBiblesaysthattheyarenotthespiritsofthedead。TheniftheBibleistrue,thewholesystemrestsupondeceptionandfalsehood。NoonewhobelievesthiswilltamperwithSpiritualism。
OnecannothaveSpiritualismandtheBible,too。Oneortheothermustbegivenup。Buthewhostillholdsontothetheorythatthedeadareconscious,contrarytothetestimonyoftheScriptureshasnoshieldagainsttheSpiritualisticdelusion,andthedangeristhathewillsoonerorlaterthrowtheBibleaway。Notes[1]Originaledition。
[2]Originaledition。
Notfoundinthemutilatededition,revisedbyDr。Curry。
ModernSpiritualism:ASubjectofProphecyandaSignoftheTimes。
Chapter4Page65CHAPTERFOURTHEYAREEVILANGELSAStheBibleplainlyshowswhatthespiritswhichcommunicatearenot,itjustasclearlyrevealsalsowhattheyare;sothatinnoparticularisonelefttoconjectureorguesswork。ThereisanorderofbeingsbroughttoviewintheScriptures,abovemanbutlowerthanGodorChrist,called\"angels。\"NoBiblebelieverquestionstheexistenceofsuchbeings。Itissometimesassertedthatangelsaredepartedhumanspirits;
butthiscannotbe;fortheyappearuponthestageofactionbeforeasinglehumanbeinghaddied,oradisembodiedspiritcouldhaveexisted。Whentheworldwascreated,Jobdeclaresthat\"themorningstarssangtogether,andallthesonsofGodshoutedforjoy。\"Thesearetwoofthenamesappliedtothesebeings,buttheyarealsoknownbyanumberofothers。Theyare167timescalledangels;61times,angeloftheLord;8times,angelofGod;17times,hisangels;41times,cherubandcherubim。Therearealsosuchnamesasseraphim,chariots,God’shosts,watchers,holyones,thrones,dominions,principalitiesandpowers,——allreferringtothedifferentordersoftheseheavenlybeings。
Apartofthishostfellintosin,andtherebybecameevil,orfallen,angels。Areasonablestate-Page66mentofhowthiscameaboutcanbegiven,butnoreasonfortheactitself。
Sincannotbeexplained。Toexplainitwouldbetogiveareasonforit;
andtogiveareasonforitwouldbetoexcuseit;andthenitwouldceasetobesin。Inthebeginningaconditionexistedwhichwasinitselfrightandessential;butwhichneverthelessmadesinpossible。ItisoneoftheinevitableconditionsofthehighestgloryofGod,thatallhiscreaturesshouldservehimfromchoice,underthelawoflove,andnotbycompulsion,asamachine,underthelawofnecessity。Tosecurethisend,theymustbemadefreemoralagents。Thustoangelswasgiventhefreedomofthewill,thesameastoman。Theywereinastateofpurityandhappiness,witheveryconditionfavorableforacontinuanceinthatcondition;butinthefreechoicesoftheirfreewills,theyofcoursehadthepower,iftheyshouldunaccountablyseefitsotouseit,toturnawayfromtruthandright,andrebelagainstGod。Thissomeofthemdid。SowefindJudespeakingof\"theangelsthatkeptnottheirfirstestate\"(Jude6),andPeter,of\"theangelsthatsinned\"(2Peter2:4);andthesetheyfurtherdeclare,werecastdowntoTartarus,andarereservedineverlastingchainsunderdarkness,untothejudgmentofthegreatday。
Theremusthavebeentothisrebellionaninstigatorandleader;andweaccordinglyfindtheBiblespeakingofsuchapersonage;thewholecompanybeingdescribedas\"theDevilandhisangels。\"OurLordpointedoutthisleaderinevil,andhisPage67work,inJohn8:44:\"YeareofyourFathertheDevil,andthelustsofyourfatheryewilldo。Hewasamurdererfromthebeginning,andabodenotinthetruth,becausethereisnotruthinhim。Whenhespeakethalie,hespeakethofhisown:forheisaliarandthefatherofit。\"Thisrevealsthegreatfactsinhiscase。Heabodenotinthetruth。Thenhewasonceinthetruth;andasheisaliar,andthefatherofit,hewasthefirstonetodepartfromtruthandintroducefalsehoodandevilintotheuniverseofGod。
InIsaiah(14:12-14)thisbeingisaddressedasLucifer,ortheday-star;
andtheprophetexclaims,\"Howartthoufallenfromheaven,OLucifer,sonofthemorning!howartthoucutdowntotheground,whichdidstweakenthenations!\"Thefollowingversesindicatethatthenatureofhistransgressionwasself-exaltationandprideofheart:\"Forthouhastsaidinthineheart,Iwillascendintoheaven,IwillexaltmythroneabovethestarsofGod:
Iwillsitalsouponthemountofthecongregation,inthesidesofthenorth:Iwillascendabovetheheightsoftheclouds;IwillbeliketheMostHigh。\"Paul,in1Tim。3:6,intimatesthatitwasthispridethatcausedtheruinofthisonceholybeing。Ofanelderhesaysthathemustnotbeanovice,\"lestbeingliftedupwithpridehefallintothecondemnationoftheDevil,\"orthatsinforwhichtheDevilwascondemned。
InEzekiel28,Satanisagainspokenofunderthepseudonymof\"theprinceofTyrus。\"Verse2Page68showshispride:\"Becausethineheartisliftedup,andthouhastsaid,IamaGod,IsitintheseatofGod,\"etc。Verses12-15describehisbeauty,wisdom,andapparel,andhisexaltedofficeasahighcherub,beforehissinandfall。Verse15reads:\"Thouwastperfectinthywaysfromthedaythouwastcreated,tilliniquitywasfoundinthee。\"
ThesepassagesgiveusasufficientideaoftheoriginofSatanandhowsuchanincarnationofevilhascometoexist。TheTartarusintowhichheandhisangelswerecast,accordingtoPeter,isdefinedbyleadinglexicographers,asmeaningthedark,void,interplanetaryspaces,surroundingtheworld。Usingtheserpentasamedium,thisapostateangel。,thuscastout,pliedourfirstparentswithhistemptationbypreachingtothemtheimmortalityofthesoul,\"Thoushaltnotsurelydie,\"andalas!seducedthemalsointorebellion。ThedominionwhichwasgiventoAdam(Gen。1:
28),AdamthusalienatedtoSatan,bybecominghisservant;forPaulsays,\"Knowyenot,thattowhomyeyieldyourselvesservantstoobey,hisservantsyearetowhomyeobey?\"Rom。6:116。Now,consequently,suchtitlesas\"princeofthisworld,\"\"princeofthepoweroftheair,\"\"godofthisworld,\"etc。,areappliedtohim,becausehehasbyfraudusurpedthatplace。John14:30;Eph。2:2;2Cor。4:4。He,ofcourse,employs\"hisangels\"toco-operatewithhiminhisnefariouswork。
Thusclearlydowehavesetbeforeusjusttheagencies,——theDevilandhisangels,——whicharePage69adapted,bothbynatureandinclination,tocarryonjustsuchaworkasisseeninSpiritualism。Buthowdoweknow,someonemayask,butthatSpiritualismistheworkofthegoodangels?——Weknowthatitisnot,becausegoodangelsdonotlie。Theyneverwouldcometomen,professingtobethespiritsoftheirdeadfriends,andimitateandperson-atethemtodeceive,knowingthatthemediumsdidnotknow,andcouldnotascertainthattheywerealtogetheranotheranddifferentorderofbeings。Buttheevilangels,ledbythefatheroflies,andcradled,anddrilled,andskilled,andpolished,intheschooloflying,wouldbedelightedtodeceivemeninthisveryway,bypretendingtobetheirdeadfriends,andthenbyworkingupontheiraffectionsandlovefortheonestheycouldskilfullypersonate,bringthemundertheirinfluenceandleadthemcaptiveattheirwill。
Theseevilangelsareexpertsindeception。Theyhavehadmorethansixthousandyears’experience。Theyarewellacquaintedwiththehumanfamily。Theycanreadcharacter。Theystudytemperament。Theyacquaintthemselvesminutelywithpersonalhistory。Theyknowathousandthingswhichonlytheyandtheindividualtheyaretryingtoensnare,areawareof。Theyknowmanythingsbeyondtheknowledgeofmen。Theycaneasilycarrythenewsofthedeceaseofafriend,andthedescriptionofadeathbedscene,tootherfriendsthousandsofmilesaway,andmonthsbeforethetruththroughordinarychannelscanreachthem,sothatwhenitisverified,theirinfluenceoverthemmaybeincreased。(Seepage23。)Page70Thereisnothingthathasyettakenplace,ofhoweverinexplicableanature,andnothingwhicheventheimaginationmayanticipate,whichisnot,andwillnotbe,easilyattributabletotheseunseenangels。Theyarelyingspirits;forthefundamentalprincipleonwhichtheyareactingisalie;
buttheytellenoughtruthtoswayandcaptivatethemindsofmen。Itmattersnothowsacredthefieldinwhichtheytread,norhowhallowedtheassociationswhichtheyinvade,theypressintoeveryspotwhereitispossible,byspinninganotherthread,tostrengthentheirwebofdeception。
Andinwhatdulcetandsirentonestheywootheirvictimstolayasideallresistancetotheirinfluence,tobecomereceptiveandpassive,andyieldthemselvestotheircontrol;andwhentheyhavethemthushelplessintheirarms,theydeliberatelyandcruellyinstilintotheirmindsthevirusofungovernablelust,theleprosyofinconquerablerebellionagainstthegovernmentofheaven。Thatthislanguagedoesnotmisrepresentnorslanderthem,willbeshownfromtheirowntestimony,beforethecloseofthisbook。
ThethoughtisnotoverlookedthatmanyevenofthosewhodonotprofesstobeSpiritualists,denytheexistenceofanysuchbeingasapersonalDevil,orofpersonalevilangels,hisagents,Heisnodoubtwellpleasedwiththis,assuchpeoplecanthemoreeasilybemadethevictimsofhiswiles。Butthesesamepersonswouldnodoubtacknowledgetimeexistence,asrealbeings,ofGod,Christ,andthePage71goodangels。Thisfactbeingestablished,byparityofreasoningtheDevilandhisangelsbecomerealbeingsalso。ThesameargumentswhichshowthatGodandChristexistaspersonalbeingsmaybeusedtoshowthattheDevilandhisangelsarepersonalbeingsalso。HewhodeniesthatthereisapersonalDevil,mustbepreparedalsotodenythatthereisapersonalChrist。Sofarastheargumentforpersonalexistenceisconcerned,Christandgoodangelsstandononesideoftheequation,andtheDevilandhisangelsonthe’other;andwhoeverwouldrubouttheone,mustrubouttheotheralso。
Christsaidthathe\"beheldSatanaslightningfallfromheaven。\"Luke10:18。JohnintheRevelation(12:7)beheldawarinheaven。\"Michael[Christ]andhisangelsfoughtagainstthedragon[Satan];andthedragonfought,andhisangels。\"OnthegroundthatthereisnoDevil,thiswouldbeawonderfulbattle——Christandhisangels,whoarerealbeings,fightingfuriouslyagainstmythsandnonentitieswhichhavenoteventhesubstanceofaphantom。
ToendorsethedoctrineofapersonalDevil,isnottoendorsetimegrosslyabsurdcaricaturesconjuredupbymorbidimaginations,amidpopulartheology,——abeingwithbat’swings,horns,hoofs,andadart-pointedtail。Yetuponsuchpictorialfableshedoubtlesslookswithcomplacency;
astheyarecalculatedstillfurthertodestroyfaithinhisexistence,andenablehimthebettertocoverhistracksandcarryonhisworkamongmen。NeverthelessPage72theonlyrationalhypothesisonwhichtoaccountforthepresentconditionofthisworld(whicheveryonemustadmitisfullofdevilishness),theexistenceofevil,andthepresenceofsickness,suffering,anddeath,istheaccounttheBiblegivesusoffallenangelsandfallenmen。Unfallenangelsarebeingsofmightypower。Oneofthemslewinonenight185,000
Assyrians(2Kings19:35);andtheonewhoappearedatthetimeofChrist’sresurrectionhadacountenancelikethelightning,andraimentwhiteassnow,andbeforehimthekeepersofthetombfelllikedeadmen。Matt。
28:3,4。Afallfromtheirhighestate,thoughitwouldimpairtheirstrengthandpower,cannotbesupposedtohavewhollydeprivedthemofthesequalities;
thereforethefallenangelsstillhavecapabilitiesfarsuperiortothoseofmen。TheonlydefensemankindhasagainstthemisfoundinChrist,whocircumscribestheirpower(fortheyarekeptinchains,2Peter2:4),andmakesprovisionbywhichwemayresistthem。Eph。6:11;James4:6-8;
1John5:18。ThequestionwhytheyarepermittedtocontinuefindssolutioninthethoughtthatGodisconsistentlygivingtosintimeandopportunitytodevelopitself,fullyshowitsnature,andmanifestitsworks,toallcreatedintelligences,sothatwhenitshallfinallybewipedoutofexistence,withallitsoriginators,aiders,andabetters,asinGod’spurposeitistobe(Rev。20:14,l5;2Peter3:7,13;Rev。5:13),therewilleverafterremainanobject-lessonsufficienttosafeguardtheuniverseagainstarepetitionoftheevil。Page73WARNINGSAGAINSTEVILSPIRITSTheScripturesplainlypointouttheworkingoftheseagentsofwickedness,andwarnusagainstthem。In1Tim。4:1,weread:\"NowtheSpiritspeakethexpressly,thatinthelattertimessomeshalldepartfromthefaith,givingheedtoseducingspirits,anddoctrinesofdevils。\"Thisshowsthatthesespiritsmakeitanobjecttoseduce,ordeceive,todrawmenawayfromthetruefaith,andcausethemtoreceive,instead,thedoctrinestheyteach,whicharecalled\"doctrinesofdevils;\"andthisscriptureiswrittento。putmenontheirguardagainstthem。
AgainPaulsays:\"Forwewrestlenotagainstfleshandblood,butagainstprincipalities,againstpowers,againsttherulersofthedarknessofthisworld,againstspiritualwickedness[margin,\"wickedspirits\"]inhighplaces。\"Eph。6:12。AndheadjureshisreaderstoputonthewholearmorofGodtobeabletoresistthem。
TheapostlePeterexhortstothesamepurpose:\"Besober,bevigilant;
becauseyouradversarythedevil,asaroaringlion,walkethabout,seekingwhomhemaydevour:whomresiststeadfastinthefaith。\"1Peter5:8,9。Ifourearsdonotdeceiveus,agooddealofthisroaringisheardintheranksofSpiritualists,where,byinvisiblerapping,agitatedfurniture,clairvoyance,clairaudience,Page74writing,speaking,marvels,andwonders,heseekstosettheworldontiptoeofcuriosityandexpectation,andbewildermenintoadeparturefromthefaithandtheacceptanceofthedoctrinesofdevils。Heiscunningenoughnotto\"roar\"inawaytofrightenandrepel,butonlytoattractattention,andleadmultitudes,throughanoverweeningcuriosityandwonderatthemarvels,tocomethoughtlesslywithinthesphereofhisinfluence。
TheprophetIsaiahalsohassomethingtosaydirectlyuponthissubject:
\"Andwhentheyshallsayuntoyou,Seekuntothemthathavefamiliarspirits,anduntowizardsthatpeep,andthatmutter:shouldnotapeopleseekuntotheirGod?forthelivingtothedead?\"Isa。8:19。Thatis,isitconsistentforlivingpeopletogotodeadonesfortheirknowledge?Thefollowingverseshowswhereweshouldgoforlightandtruth:\"Tothelawandtothetestimony:iftheyspeaknotaccordingtothisword,itisbecausethereisnolightinthem。\"Thetimehascertainlycomewhenmanyaresayingjustwhatthetextpointsout,andseekingtothedead,tofamiliarspirits,andwizards,forknowledge。ThosepracticeswhichintheBibleareenumeratedas\"charming,\"\"enchantment,\"\"sorcery,\"\"witchcraft,\"\"necromancy,\"\"divination,\"
\"consultingwithfamiliarspirits,\"etc。,aremoreorlessrelated,andareallreallyfromonesource。Soinmoderntimesdifferentnamesindicatesubstantiallythesamething。ThusMr。Hudson,in\"PsychicPhenomena,\"
p。v,says:——Page75\"Ithas,however,longbeenfeltbytheablestthinkersofourtimethatallpsychicmanifestationsofthehumanintellect,normalorabnormal,whetherdesignatedbythenameofmesmerism,hypnotism,somnambulism,trance,spiritism,demonology,miracle,mentaltherapeutics,genius,orinsanity,areinsomewayrelated。\"Seven,atleast,oftheforegoingnamesarenodoubtinthewarpandwoofofSpiritualism;andhemighthaveaddedmind-readingandChristianScience。
AndSpiritualistsadmitthattheirworkisthesameasthatdescribedbytheBibletermsabovequoted。Thus,AllenPutnam,aSpiritualisticwriter,says:——\"Thedoctrinethattheoracles,soothsaying,andwitchcraftofpastageswerekindredtothesemanifestationsofourday,I,forone,mostfullybelieve。\"Inapamphletbythesameauthor,entitled,\"Mesmerism,Spiritualism,Witchcraft,andMiracle,\"p。6,hesays:——\"Asseenbymenow,Mesmerism,Spiritualism,Witchcraft,Miracles,allbelongtoonefamily,allhaveacommonroot,andaredevelopedbythesamelaws。\"Toallthese,therefore,thetextundernotice(Isa。8:19,20)applies。
Wearetobringthemtothestandardof\"thelawandthetestimony,\"and\"iftheyspeaknotaccordingtothisword……thereisnolightinthem。\"
Thelivingshouldnotseektothedead。
InRev。16:13,14,thesamespiritsareagainbroughttoview,andcalled\"uncleanspirits\"and\"spiritsofdevils。\"Theirlastworkofdeceptionistogoforthtothekingsoftheearth,andofthePage76wholeworld,togatherthemtothebattleofthegreatdayofGodAlmighty。
Thusallthatisrevealedofthemfrombeginningtoend(andscripturesmightbemultipliedonthepoint)furnishesthemostcogentreasonwhyallshouldbekeenlyawaketotheirexistenceandtheirwork,andbeeverwatchfulagainsttheirinfluenceandapproach。
ModernSpiritualism:ASubjectofProphecyandaSignoftheTimes。
Chapter5Page77CHAPTERFIVEWHATTHESPIRITSTEACHIThasbeenshownintheprecedingchaptersthattheunseen\"controls\"
(thebeingswhocontrolthemediums)inSpiritualism,arenotthespiritsofthedead,butarefallenangelsorspiritsofdevils。Thisfactwillbeconfirmedbyabriefglanceatsomeoftheirteachings;forwearetorememberthatiftheyspeaknotaccordingtothelawandthetestimonythereisnolightinthem。Itmattersnotthatwhattheyteachmaybesupportedbysignsandwondersbeyondthecomprehensionofthehumanmind。Thatisnoguaranteeoftruth;forsuchphenomenaaretobewrought,aswillsoonbeshown,toprovealie。TheLordancientlyputhispeopleontheirguardinthisrespect。Deut。13:1-3,5:\"Ifthereariseamongyouaprophet,oradreamerofdreams,andgiveththeeasignorawonder,andthesignorthewondercometopass,whereofhespakeuntothee,saying,Letusgoafterothergods,whichthouhastnotknown,andletusservethem;
thoushaltnothearkenuntothewordsofthatprophet,orthatdreamerofdreams:fortheLordyourGodprovethyou,toknowwhetheryelovetheLordyourGodwithallyourheartandwithallyoursoul。\"\"Andthatprophet,orthatdreamerofPage78dreams,shallbeputtodeath;becausehehathspokentoturnyouawayfromtheLordyourGod,……outofthewaywhichtheLordthyGodcommandedtheetowalkin。\"
Thusthefactthatonewhoprofessedtobeaprophetcouldperformasignorwonder,showinghisconnectionwithsomeunseenpower,wasnotenoughtoshieldhimfromcondemnationandpunishment,ifwhatheundertooktoprovebythatsignorwonderwascontrarytothetruth,andtendedtoleadawayfromGod。Theteachingofanysystemisanimportantpartofthefruititbears;andby:that,accordingtoourLord’sownrule,wearetojudgeit,andnotbyanypowerormightyworksconnectedwithit,howeverwonderfultheymaybe。\"’TisnotthebroadphylacteryNorstubbornfasts,norstatedprayersThatmakeussaints。WejudgethetreeBywhatitbears。\"——AliceCarey。
Itisthereforepertinenttolooksufficientlyattheteachingsofthespiritstoascertaintheircharacter……Hereweshallfindsomemostdamagingtestimony;for——
1。TheyDenyGod。——Itisnopleasuretotranscribetheutterancesofpracticalatheism;yetenoughshouldbegiventoshowwhattheyteachonthegreatfundamentalprinciplesofChristianity。Ataséance,reportedintheBannerofLight,July11,1868,thefollowingquestionswereaddressedtothespirits,andtheaccompanyinganswersreceived:——\"Ques。——ItissaidintheBiblethatmanismadeintheimageofGod。Pleasetelluswhatthatimageis,Page79\"Ans。——Heismadeintheimageofeverythingthateverwas,thatis,orthatevershallbe。Heholdswithinhiscalibereverythingthatexists,thateverhasexisted,orthateverwillexist。Now,Godisincludedinthis。Ifheexistsatall,heexistseverywhere(andwehavetakenineverything),everyplace,everyname,everycondition。Ibelievethatthehumanstandsaboveallthingselse,andholdswithinitsembraceallthepast,present,andfuture。InthissenseheiscreatedandexistsintheimageofGod。
Q。——WhatisGodessentially?
\"A。——Everything。EssentiallyyouareGod,andIamGod——theflowers,thegrass,thepebbles,thestars,themoon,thesun,everythingisGod。\"TheDevil,throughtheserpentinthegarden,taughtAdamandEvethatthesoulisimmortal,andhastransfusedthesameideaverysuccessfullythroughpaganism,Romanism,andProtestantism;buthealsosaid,\"Yeshallbeasgods;\"andnow,itseems,heistryingtomaketheworldswallowhisotherlegofhisfalsehood;butbyputtingitforthundertheformoftheoldpaganpantheism,thateverythingisGod,andGodiseverything,hebetraysthelieheutteredinEden;forinthatcase,AdamandEvewerenomoregodsaftertheyatethantheywerebefore。
Anotherséance,reportedintheBannerabouttwentyyearslaterthantheonequotedabove,April28,1888;aninquireraddressedtothe\"spirits\"aquestionaboutGod,andreceivedanswer,aportionofwhichispresentedbelow:——\"Ques。——SomeSpiritualists,Ilearn,believeinaGod;
otherwisetheywouldnotpraytohim——takingforgrantedthatthereissuchabeing。Pleaseenlightenus。
\"Ans。——WehaveyettocomeincontactwithathoroughSpiritualist,onewhounderstandssomethingofspirituallifeandtherevelationsmadebyreturningspirits,whodirectlyPage80believesinapersonalGod。True,manySpiritualistsandmanyreturningspiritsoffertheirinvocationstothe’GreatSupremeSpiritofalllifeandintelligence,’notbecausetheyexpecttochangetheorderoflaw,ortocomeintodirectcommunicationwith,ornearnessto,aGreatSupremeBeing,clothedintheimageofman,butbecausetheydesiretoenteranatmosphereofharmony,touplifttheirownsoulstoaplaneofthoughtwhichwillbringspiritualinspirationtotheirminds。WemakeadistinctionbetweenthatGreatSupremeOverrulingForcewhichwemaycalltheSuperiorSpiritofIntelligence,Wisdom,andLove,andthepersonalDeity,clothedintheimageofman,giganticinstature,jealousandrevengefulbynature,whichhasbeensetupandworshipedastheChristianJehovah。
WeknowofnoSpiritualist——letusrepeatit——whobelievesinsuchapersonalGod;butwecanbelieveandaccepttheidea,thoughitmaypassbeyondalmostourfinitecomprehension,thatthereisagranduniversalSpiritpermeatingallformsofexistence;thatthisgreatsourceoflight,ofactivityandvitalityvibrateswithintelligence,andthatitissuperiortoallorganicforms,howevergrandtheymayprovetobe。\"Thesameviewshavebeentaughtallalongbythe\"spirits\"ofSpiritualism,ascouldbeshownbyextractsdatingasfarbackas1858,onlytenyearsafterthe\"RochesterKnockings。\"AndthoughSpiritualismisnowassumingmoreofthesedatespeechoforganizedChristianity,thespiritsdonotmodifytheirteachinginrespecttoGod。In\"Automatic,orSpirit,Writing,\"
p。148(1896),aregivenmanymessagesfromthespiritsthroughthemediumsbipofMrs。S。A。Underwood,wifeoftheeditorofthePhilosophicalJournal,Chicago。The\"spirits\"setforththeirteachinginanswertoquestionsbythemedium,someofwhichhavereferencetoGod,thoughhisnameisnotused。Thusonpage148,thisconversationisgiven:——Page81\"Ques。——Youofteninthesecommunicationsspeakofthebindinglawsofspirituallife——thatbecauseofthemyoucannotgiveussuchandsuchinformation,etc。Nowwhomakesthoselaws,andwhencecamethey,andhowaretheytaught?
\"Ans。——Thousay’st’who’——thereforewecannotanswer。Gobacktothefirstquestionandaskoneatatime。
\"Q。——Well,whomakesthelaws?
\"A。——Spiritsarenotbondagedbypersons。
\"Q。——Thenhowdoyoucometoknowthoselaws?
\"A。——Pharoswillnowanswer。Spirituallawsarespirituallyperceived,assoonasthephysicalperceptionsaregotridof。
\"Q。——Couldyouexplaintousthoselaws?
\"A。——CoursesofteachingfromoursideareasnecessaryforyoutounderstandeventherudimentarylawsofBeing,ascoursesinyourcolleges;andguessed-atspiritknowledgefromyourboundedviewmustalwaysfailinaccuratewording。\"Itwillbeperceivedthattheanswerstothesequestionsare,fromthebeginning,evasive;buttherealideaentertainedclearlyshinesthroughthethinveildrawnovertoconcealit。Thequestionspertaintothesource,orauthorship,ofthe\"lawsofspirituallife;\"andthiswouldgenerallybeunderstoodtobeGod。Butonatechnicalitythespiritsrefusetoanswer。
Thequestionismadeplainer,andtheansweristhat\"spiritsarenotbondagedbypersons;\"thatistosaythatspiritshavenothingtodowithpersonalities,andthatnopersonalbeinghasanythingtodowiththoselaws。ThereisthereforenoGodwhoformulatesandpromulgatesthem。Nowonderthequestionfollowed,howtheycametoknowtheselaws;anditwasaveryconvenientanswerthatwewillknowwhenwegettherePage82andhavelostallphysicalperceptions。Adesireforsomeexplanationofthoselawsismetwiththenotverysatisfactoryinformationthatthey(thespirits)wouldhavetogivethoseinoursphereacourseofteaching,likeacollegecourse,beforewecouldunderstandeventherudimentarylawsofBeing。TheonlythingclearinallthisisthatthereisnoGod;
atleastnopersonalGodsuchastheBiblereveals。Tothe\"grandwhole,\"
whateverthatmaybe,theygivethenameofthe\"AllofBeing。\"Inanswertoaquestionconcerning\"personalities,\"theyarecalled\"atomsemanatingfromthesamesource——partsofthegreatAllofBeing,partakingofthegeneralcharacteristicsofthegrandwhole。\"——Page14。9。
Reader,howdoesallthiscompareinyourownmindwiththeGodoftheBible,theCreatorofallthings,thelovingFatherofusall,whohasforhiscreaturesmoretenderregardandpitythanafathercanfeelforhisownchildren,whoseverynameandnatureisLove,andwhohaspurposedinfinitegoodforallmen,andwillcarryitoutunlessthey,asfreemoralagents,bytheirownsin,preventhisdoingforthemwhathedesirestodo?TheBibleisnotresponsiblefortheaspersionscastuponGodbyafalsetheology,whichmisrepresenthischaracterandgiveoccasionforthechargesofvindictivenessandvengeanceandawfultyranny,sofreelymadebyfallenangelsandwickedmen。Theydonotbelongtohimwhoisthesourceofallgoodnessandmercy;andwewouldlabortobringthosewhohavepervertedviewsofGodbacktoarightconceptionofPage83thegreatFriendofsinners,ashehasrevealedhimselfinhisholyword。
2。TheyDenyJesusChrist。——ChristisrevealedasthedivineSonoftheFather;andtodenythathewasorisanymorethananyothermanissurelytodenyhim;andthescripturesaysthat\"whosoeverdenieththeSon,thesamehathnottheFather。\"1John2:23。Thefollowingiswhatthe\"spirits\"begantoteachintheearlieststagesofSpiritualismconcerningChrist:——\"WhatisthemeaningofthewordChrist?——’Tisnot,asgenerallysupposed,theSonoftheCreatorofallthings。AnyjustandperfectbeingisChrist。ThecrucifixionofChristisnothingmorethanthecrucifixionofthespirit,whichallhavetocontendwithbeforebecomingperfectandrighteous。ThemiraculousconceptionofChristismerelyafabuloustale。\"
——SpiritualTelegraph,No。37。HowfullydoesthisdeclarationthatanygoodmanisChristopenthewayforthefulfilmentoftheSaviour’sprophecythatinthelastdaysmanyfalseChristsandfalseprophetsshallarise,andshalldeceivemany。SeeMatt。24:24。AprospectusoftheTruthSeekercontainedthesewords:
\"Itshallbetheorganthroughwhichthechristsofthelastdispensationwillchoosetospeak。\"
Alittlelater,July19,1862,therewaspublishedintheBannerofLightalectureonSpiritualismbyMrs。C。L。V。Hatch,inwhichshespokeofChristasfollows:——\"OfJesusofNazareth,personally,wehavebutlittletosay。