Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-03-14

=" wv Io'Wc't yo', 'H"t tMN Huh tV'
umphed over all opposition, and many
in view Of q speedy dissolution have
been enabled under its consoling inlu.
ence to cry with Stephen 81 see the hea.
vens opened, and the son OF an stand.
ing on the right hand Of God"
As to prophecies, we can only Judge
Of such as we have head.-yet We read
Of Ahab's four hundred lying prophets,
,ha! prophecied good concerning their
king, still the prophecies of Micayab
were no less true; and we are quite Ger.
tain there is still in mankind the SHINE
perverseness, that viii! naturally draw
around him evil influences, and conse. L.
quent evil communication, when unai,l.
g by firm reliance upon the great
source Of all good.
Is the fact that perplexins questions
are sometimes propounded, a sufficient
reason that we should shut our eyes .
gainst, and denounce every subject that
does not exactly correspond with our
preconceived notions, aud prescribed O..
pinions?
That some whose education has en-.
stamped upon their minds an utter dread
Of luturity, and who look upon the ex.
change Of mortality for immortality, as a
leap into some dark unfathomablc abyss,
and reparation that must remove their
friends TO an immense distance for all
time, with serous doubts as 10 their re.
cosnition in eternity, should get so in.
tensely excited upon this subjcc, as to
become deranged, is not more rcmarka.
BILE than many other facts on record
We knew an Individual PERSONAL ly That
became SO excited upon the subject Of
religion, during proiractcd meeting, as
TO produce permanent insanity. The pa.
pcrs furnish US an instance Of a laly IN
Boston, some two or three weeks since,
hearing sermon upon the subject OF
hell, that SO excited her Imagination as
10 produce fearful insanity, and various
instances are recorded Of surprise, ex.
cessive Joy, and intense grief producing
the same result. Indeed were We more
occus toned 10 the study Of the nature
and powers Of the mind, we woull un.
doubledly be less liable to this maIady.
The ihlimstion that it is all trick, evi.
dances a zeal that would outrun that
principle without which all Others "will
prof. US nolhing"-charity.
What he considers the most "forbil.
ding" is 10 us the most pleasing idea in
the theory. TO feel that in tho. Provi.
dencc of God, he permits those who have
been appointed as ministering spirits, TO
make US conscious Of their presence, ,and
by an elevation and proper religious cul.
'ure of our thoughts and affections, to
converse with US, TO us presents no for.
bidding feature.
But 10 "ReuchIin's" scripture quota.
tions.
lie cannot but be aware that "Famili.
ar Spirits" was term applied to Ger.
tain characters denominaled "demons,'
"evil Spirits" or genii; and that the an.
clients believe "lhat human spirits after
their departure from the body became
demons, and that the souls OF vrluous
men If highly purified, were exalted from
demons into goJs." That evil influences
are surrounding US, continually seeking
opportunities TO impress our minds with
evil thoughts, and conciling to evil ac
tions. is not only believed by spiritual.
lists, but also furnishes the theme for no
inconsijerable portion of instruction
from tie pulpit. What seems to US more
forbiIdins is the assertion that while the
devil and his emissaries are permitted to
harass mankind continually with false
hopes, entcins 10 unhallowsd desires
and passions, the influence OF virtuous
individuals that throws such shield a.
round US in this life, lose all that power
by separation from the grosser iacul.
ties Of this material nature, AMI are i'm.
me,liately confned at an impsne,rable
distance from US.
The denuncialions against those who
do not speak according 10 His word are
not applicable to tho demonstrations we
have witnessed. On the other hand
there has been deep abiding humanity
constantly appealing to the admonitions
and instructions of Christ, as contrastel
with the present aspect Of religious sen.
timent that is calculated to arouse at
once ip The mind Of every thoughtful in.
quiref, that important question, "what
wilt thou have me to dot" We hope
"Reuchlin" will explain the meaning Of
some of the passages we quoted in our
first. And again, if the belief iG vir.
tuous spiritual intercourse did not pre-
vail at the time Of Christs' visit in the
flesh, why the expression Of the scribes
when counciling as to His (ate-"We
find no evil in this man; but If spirit
or an angel hath spoken TO him, let US
not fight against God" II the quota.
tions from Deuteronomy, and Isaiah,
apply to all spiritual inter course, (as
they undoubtedly prove that Of eviIJ
why such teaching from Paul! After
remunetating the gifts, some Of which
we quoted in our FIRST article, he adds
"for as much as ye are Jealous ofspirit-
ual gifts, seek that 70 may excel to the
ediging ofthe church," Why were spir-
its Of the prophets subject to the proph.
ets," if there was not an affinity attract.
ing them 10 each other? And what the
manner OF communication by which the
directions Of the divine spirit were con.
veyed 10 the apostles, a. whsn it was
"ssid to Paul through the spirit, that he