Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-21
SpiritualiSm.

That there issomething that acts upon certain
persons and things, in mysterious manner, no
one at this day doubts or pretends to deny; and
and that this agent, or whatever it may be, has
vast number of adherents, of all Glasses of
people, is equally true, which ought forcibly to
remind us Z" that broad is the road, etc
Has there ever been doctrine, theory, or de-
fusion got up among mankind be it ever 50 sin
full or domoralizng, bat it has had its followers,
its speculative believers, and its real, honest
worahipp2r5? Begin, if you please, with No
hamet, then the Roman Catholic Church-aext
In order, the reign Of iniidelity in France then
in our own country the Shakers, the Mormons,
the Newlights, Millerites, Comoouters or Rant
ers, and last, though not least, the Spirituaists
am much inclined to think as Bishop Hop
kins does, that the strange manifestations, as
experienced by Spiritualists, are not to b, ac-
counted for by Mesmerism, Electricity, or tha
odic force, but are attributable to direct Satanic
agency. As proof of this view of the subject
will refer to Scripture exclusively for it is to
tho law and the testimony if we go not accord
ing to that; there is no light in us, or if the
light in us become darkness how great must
that darkness be-"
WheTMosos wrought miracles before Pha-
raoh that he might be induced to let the Isra-
elites 60, the magicians did the same. When
Moses rod became a serpent, theirs became one
also. Again, when the Spirit of the Lord left
Saul, he went and consulted the Witch of En-
dor, and she called up Samuel, that holy proph-
ct of Che Lord. 1t is declared in Chronicles,
10th chapter, 18th verse, SO So Saul died for
his transgressions which he had committed
against the word of the Lord which he kept
not and also for asking counsel of one that had
a familiar spirit to enquire of it," We also
find in I'd Kings, LIST chapler, that Ahaziah was
sharply reproved, and his days shortened, fol
the same offence.
We now turn to the New Testament, though
we might easily refer to more of the same kline
of evidence in the Old In Acts, 10Th chapter
we find there were coniurors or exorcists among
the Jews that were converted by Paul and cam
forward and burnt their books before all mel
that it might be we'll known that they knew i
to be sinful to deal with evil spirits. Then Their
is Simon, Che sorcerer he tried to buy the gif
Or the Holy Ghost, with money, that he nigh
add that also to his mysteries. In the 1Gtl
chapter of Acts, you will read that certain
damsel, possessed of spirit of Divination an,
sooth-saying, that brought her masters mucl
gain, followed Paul and cried after him unit
he was grieved, and commanded the spirit, il
the name of Jesus, to come out of her. 1t fol
lows, of course, that it must have been an ev
spirit; and is it unreasonable to suppose tina
the same wonders, or spirit mysteries are man
tested in the nineteenth century, when it ha
become fashionable for people of all ranks, t
be much wiser than the Scriptures of Divin
Truth and indeed, not :" clothed with Christ
Righteousness, they 60 about to establish the
own Righteousness. Things that are revea
ed belong to us and to our children-secr
uilihSs peloilS W Nou Z nave got Il Ion
eternity to learn in, and each one for himself
. why so eager to consult modern soothsayers
! mediums? Are we not surrounded with hos
, of spirits that we know really exist? How ca
Christian parents amid their family circle
: )ok for any more sure foundation than whi
has been laid? Do we want to know our dut
from pure, unerring source, have we not tt
Q Book of Books? Speaking of the Scripture
David, the sweet singer of Israel says they al
8" light to his path and lamp to his feet. -
: Are they not able to make us 60 wise unto salv
- ton? ?"
: In conclusion, will say, let it be the dali
: and earnest prayer of all Christians that the a
: tention of people generally may be much mo
+ centered upon the blessed and ever-endurir
q truths of the Bible, and thus be enabled to de
justly, love mercy, and submit the entire ca
: and control of the disembodied spirits to Il
Great Jehovah till He has taken them fro
q hence to be here no more forever ELIZA.
+ Wolcott, JAM, 1858.