Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-05-16
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-, mfssks' EDITORS In your paper Of the 18Th
ui.'' saw an account of a wonderful exhibition NJ
what is called Animal Magnetism, by a sty,bcS,
VINO lately appeared In your town. 4 will rr,..s.s
lew thoughts in relation TO such exhbi,ions
;, Some OF these rambling magicians wish us to b.
heVe 'hat there IS certain subtle fluid in the hu.
man system, by means of which, the operator c,,
oy certain touches and motions Of his hands and
looks OF his eyes, bring the soul Of another person
INTO such intimate union with his soul, as tdhave
an e".re control over tke thoughts affections and
VIII OF the person mesmerised aud dignity it with
the name OF a science. But cannot believe tbss
good God ever gave an intellectual, moral being.
such an essential constituent the composition ~
his nature, as would subject vrtuous person 'hv
necessary law of his nature, to the will of a VI;
cious man. This theory will not do. We mus,
look out for some other.
If magclans can do any thing by their art th.,
cannot be accounted for by any law Of our nature
Igiven to US by holy and good God, and if God
has revealed TO facts tina, bear striking resem.
biance in their character TO the wonders performed
by The maglcans in our day, submit it to the CO..
Der Judgment OF every wise man to decide whether
we must not believe the causes Identical
Il know OF no book that gives us so extensive and
varied information on all subjects shat effect the NOR
al condition and happiness of man as the HOLY BIZ
ble From that book, shall state some facts which
the public may compare with the wonders perform
ed by the maglcians Of our day and draw their own
conclusions.
| In the book OF Genesis, we have an account NJ
the fall of man. We there read that the Sermon,
came TO our mother Eve, and told hor i'm familiar
language that she might eat the fruit of the forbid.
den tree and not die. Now the snake had no
natural power TO speak words. 1t was the devil
that spake by it, and hence our Saviour, referring
10 the TACT, calls him liar and murderer from tho
cceSlnhng. ms was permitted by God TO try our
first parents TO see If they would believe and obev
HIN. And wonderful as the trial was, il was not
unreasonable; for the plain declaration of Gud ouph,
always to ce regarded as superior to all wonders
wrought by man devils.
Again when the SON Of God assumed our nature.
and, 10 that nature, was placed under the law, as
the second Adam, head and representative of hi,
seed, it was proper that his obedience should DO
tested For this purpose the same old serpent, tho
deVii, spermiited TO tempt him forty DAYS A.
mongst the various methods of seducng him from
obedience TO the divine law, he took him IN 70 an
exceeding high mountain aud showed him all tho
Kingdoms OF the world and the glory of them in n
moment Of time This was magic in perfection.
and the word of God tells us the devil was the ac-
tor lie showed the human nature of the Son Of
God more places and gave him more perfect view
ot them, than the magicjan, Or the devil BY him.
showed to his subjects in Staunton.
The Scriptures make frequent mention of sootb.
savers, enchanmcnts and the spirit of dvination.
Our Saviour says, in one place, ''There shall arise
ialse ChIsts and false prophets, and shall show
great signs and wonders, insoinuch that, if ii wero
possible, they shall deceive tho very eect"-we are
therefore 10 lcok for such things
In the 10th chapter of Acts, we have an accoun,
OF Paul, In the name OF Jesus Christ casting tho
devil ont ola damse, who brought her masters much
gam by her daboica tricks Of soohsaying or diyi-
nation And when her masters saw thei. hope Of
gain was gone, they had Paul and Silas whipf.
and put in prison.
The devil is not yet bound and as in all past
IN I,,y 4 -.
about with his diabolica works to test the prnci.
pies OF his Church, to whom he has given his pure
word, established by indubi,abe evidence, to 500
II they Will adhere to his testimonies.
VIII close this sketch, with quotation, from
deuteronomy, 18th chapter, LIST and 3rd verses s.If
mere arise among you, prophet, a dreamer Of
dreams; and giveih thee sign wonder and the
sign or wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto
thee, saying, let us go after other Gods which thou
hast not known and let us serve them: thou shalt
not hearken unto the words of that prophet or that
dreamer OF dreams for the Lord your God proveth
God,H &C.
The meaning Of this passage is, God permits
evil spirits TO show signs and wonders, in order to
prove his Church that is, 20 test them, to see il
they will disregard his word, or faithfully obey the
Lord their God and hearken to his voice only, as
the Bible.
The design Of the devil in our day is, by his
wonderful exhibitions, or by the enchantment of
men, insilgated by him to lead caviling souls to
dIscredi the miracles recorded in the Bible, as If
they were done by some magic art.
But any honest hearted and sober thinking man,
Will see very great difference between the won
ders done in Siaunton by the magician. and tho
miracles recorded in the word of God The Won
ders OF the former only to aiiuse and aslonish
the spectators, without doing good to any one and
vanished away at the end of the farce
But the miracles wrought by the prophets, jesus
Christ, and his apostles, were permanent in their
effects They were for the good of mankind and
to relieve the afflicted. They were woIthy.of a
compassionate God, and the most of them such as
no magician can initiate. VIM. C+H*tsN.
FOR TEE SPECTATOR.