The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1858-09-18
For the Patriot.
sniritualism-Its Exrosure-so. 4.

Mr.. Editor In the further examination
OF this subject we inqiirc-lst. What is man
his relations-hls powers, and his destiny ?
I'd. What are Disembodied spirits their rela-
tipns, and their powers? Sd. What are An
gel their relations, and their powers? Man
when considered in his physical, psychological,
and moral attire, presents, at once, the most
sublime of Gods h%andi-work, and the most
interesting aud important study of man. LIST.
vi man physically-it is said-' And the Lord
God formed man out of The dust of the ground. y
(Gen. LIST CT W aud from the properties Of
which we see him possessed, we learn that he
Is actually material-he having 'weight-
length-breadth, and thickness"
We might here elaborate, by giving the
number and Office IF the boHes-sinews-ljga.
ments-tendons-ski -hesh-bloed, etc. etc.
but IT is not to cur purpose in ~this-snilice il
TO say--that simply as a physical being he is
capab'e: OF same of the most Interesting
beautiful and sublime motions-attitudes and
uses Of any organism il ma .%cFtality. Whilst
blazing Suns in heir centres whirl. audreyoivipe
planets. saitin their sllares--magnilieently and
sub tne'y-man a,aaer the guidance Of %yolition
asplres, not only to ron the sphere for which
he was made, bnt aspiring higher proposes
w'ih ange.s To do homage 10 Deity-benainu
before Him with reverence. I'd. or man
souilcalIy-it is SAID and breathpd into his
~uastri!s the breath Of ]ife-ltiyes) aud n,an BE-
came a living sui y ib) according to the
original strictly. there We're, two or more, or al
Ieast apiuiaiity Of lives given to man-(l I)
y natural lie which was dependent upon the
troit Of the " Tree Of life" for lis rerpetuity,
and an immortal life, or the life of the soul
which was to continue foreyer--and perhaps
we might say a mora life also, dependent for
It's continued healthfuI existence upon the
wt'lHi and nnrestrailied obedl ence of the per-
son, | am fully aware that | come directly in
contact with the generally received opinions of
the day. on the subject of natural lie for it
is generally believed that the g soul is The life. >.
or T" vital principle Of animal existence. If
so Observation-Disclosures Insects
at have souls, for they have natural, or animal
life, with (more or le<s) Nil the powers of sensa,
'ion--they see, feel, hear, cal, slerp, breathe.
exercise, rest, etc. etc. The immortal soul of
"a spider, a snake. a fly, a gnat, a maygot /
Positive nonsense They ali live, in the use
OF exiraneons substances. and like man. NAV
be killed by accident, disease, hunger or thirst.
Man III lite Is a complete " Locomotive" with
The Engineer aboard. The physical or material
man is the engine-the product of What he
eats, drinks aud brea'hes, is the steam, the mo.
i've power and the soul is the Engineer, to
direct as to the quantity and quality of food
air ard water together with the amonut ,f
exercise etc. proper 10 be used. for its health
and well-being. This theory is sustained nv
the serlptures-Gen. 81 and 30. And Isaac
gave mp The ghost, and died. Gen. % and s.
= men Abraham gave up the ghost and died.
H. El The soul left the body because il was
no longer suited as it tenement, or at the hid.
ding of It's God aud the body not havite an
intelligent " Engineer - aboald. to direc, its
movements, and, the supply Of its demands.
u cd 1t may be in one minute, or ten or l,nIf
hour, or according to the amount Of Whole.
some food, air and water on board and ,he "a
pacity Of lhe machine, (hody(. Much more
c"lild be said in support, of this theorv-bnt
we pass on. Again. the soul is tbonpht bv
some to he the " mind" b. some did I savt
BY all, believe. But this can moi he t.1e
II so--why is it written in the Bible :. love
G'd with all thy soul, mind and strength -
shls Is a plain positive Important command
W hal is lis meaning? 1t means, that we mnSt
love God with the soul nationally, and in the
iail exercise of the strength of The sonl II
soni and mind be the samoa souI filth i a !
tmnd iAlth-a mind faith is a mental faith -
MENTAL taith is the predict, or effect, Of evi.
deuce 1t may therefore be forced-yon cant
help believing, that " things eqnal in all their
paris are equal in Themselves mental faifh
Ill a soul ialih, is simply "a mind faith. and
ca' oP i'fced 1t destroys mans moral ageney.
Sai2s the foundation Of all responsibility? nbIi''
crates moral character; and forever does away
WIN both future rewards, and pnnisbnnSSts