The New York herald., 1870-09-26
SERVICES AT a. BANY.
sermon ,of Rev. Dr.. clover Against spirit
re" uali.ni. d. 4s

-
rahsm. @
aLBAYy sept. %. 1870.
The Church oI the Messiah in tie village Of Green.
bush opposite the city Of Albany is one OF the most
chaste and beautiful suburban churches in the
neighborhood II rs built or stone. after one or Up.
johns designs. and was erected sonc Leu or 6lteen
years ago, chiefly, It IS believed, through the exer
ons and ilberaIlty OF pr. JesemiIn Van Rensselaer,
who Is ROW IN Europe with his iauii'y. SUrrouu1ed
by foliage ana oyerFran with creeping vines II
presents, though IN very unfav0rabie position q
picturesque Appearance The insiie OF the church
il IN keeping with lis exterior On The lett OF the
altar hangs large and valuable painting, presented
10 the church BY Mr. raul Forbes. brother to REV.
DR.. Forbes, Dean Of the theological Scmmsry New
York.
The rector, Rev Dr. Clover preached on spiritual.
ism and took for his text the following appropriate
passage OF Scrlpture:-''And when iitsy shall say
unto you, seek unto them that faai,ar spirits
and unto wizads that peep aad thai nia,ter should
not people seek unto their GOD for the living 10
the dead To the law aud to the testimony: If laey
speak not according 10 this word, is because they
have no light in them He said.--There are cut
few subjects. 1t is TO DC spprehcnded, wnlcn the
Church and humanity at the present day are 20 much
disposed to overlook rhe Importance Of as that re-
ferred 10 In the nineteenth and twentieth verses OF
the eighth chapter OF the propGeses o. Isaiah The ia
telgent reader ofthe Biole VIII not require 10 be
formed OF the circumstances which called forth the
caution OF the text Similar admonitions ring IN a
subdued but startling monotone, throughout the
whole Of Scripture. Moses. under the inspiration Of
Almighty GoG repeatedly raised MS voice IN pro.
pheJic warning against It, jeremiah and the other
prophets joined Ia the cry. Whether the splI raised
by the witch Of Endor to confront the trembling and
conscence-stricKen Saul indeed the spirit OF
samuel, or or demon mysteriOusly empowered TO
| assume the form ana appearance or that departed
ariu nyyif 4,
J the more important question whether any spirit did
ARISE AZ the bidding of the sorceress OF Manasseh Ii
so, whether that spirit did predict the downfall and
death Of SAUL and whether lastly the prediction was
| fulfilled. We may attempt to evade the logical ue
! Ject, but the facts as stated he received or
/ Holy Scripture discarded as fable and an ilnpos-
ture. We know the result when w Baaam sought by
| dlvnstlon knowledge OF the iuture. Wnen
! Manasseh consulted with familiar spirits
| aud wizards God became so incensed chat
| he declared be would for the iniQuIty
| or her king wipe Jerusalem as man wipetn a DISH
wplng 1t and turning 1t upside down. and that the
! diadem Of the KING OF Babylon was torn from ms
| brow and his plans and purposes defeated for the
commission OF this iniquty That there is an nhu-
| the agencies or the world unseen the intelligent
mind versed In the teaching Of scripture and obsery-
ant Of the operations and Developments or the hn-
man heart cannot for a moment doubt. Nor Is 1t
wise to ignore, pass by with rdicule. questions
however startling, which may arise In this connec-
tion. Involved In deadly error, demOraZing and
degrading the soul OF man, there may be SO much
truth as must be met, acknowledged ana explained
U we would save Lnnt soul awe. TUcre are thou
sands and tens OF thousands VINO at this day are
being drawn away from the truth as it IL In Jesus into
the dark, mysterious Vaccinations Of sOcalled splr-
tual deveopement; while christian men, ministers
or the Gospel, pass by with cold indifference on
the other side, leaving the poor victims wounded
In the hands OF their enemies, stripped OF their
raiment, half dead. The adlnoniton contained IN
the text against needing the invitation OF those who
seek unto familiar spiI1ts ts followed by two ques-
tionS which appeal at once TO the reason and con-
science Of man. One Is, should not people seek
unto their Godf The other expressive of astonish-
that the living, instead OF seeking unto God
should seek the dead. To lasten che COZ
cluSloD that must force Itself upon the mind
In answering these questions, we are directed to the
law and TO the testimony, and tod that II auy speak
not according to this word It. Is because they have
hight IN them. Let us, then consult the law and
tue testimony. Here we md that the inhabi-
tants or TINS earth are in1uclced by ana
under the guidance OF spirits, good aud
e'u. Not to refer To the influence an1
frequent visitation Of good ana evil spirits spoken
OF ia the Old Testament let us consider the subject
under the more genial and gentle dispensation which
brought life and immortality 10 hght, when the
sun OF righteousness arose Win healing ON Has
wings: whose birth was published 10y angels 10 the
an angel was carried by Joseph INTO Egypt for saeiy
and afterwards was directed by tue same 10 return
from Egypt; to whom angels mi0iStered when lie
was tempted or The deril. and gave succor when VI.
was In agony In the garden whose Father, as ne
declared 10 refer, were he 10 ask, Wouit presently
send nn more than twelve lcgions Of angels ~
come MS enemies from whose sepuichrc an anger
rolled BACK the stone and announced HIS resnrrec-
tion at whose ascension angels declared HIS COM
ing again, aud upon whose coming again from
Hm-b)essed messengers, which encamp round
about those who fear God, and deliver them; who
have charge over the faithful to keep them in all
helr ways; who appeared az guides ana connseiors