The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-12-12

Of Godliness but denying the power
thereof" Such are the false prophets Of
the present day, being in sympathy with
the lying spirits by whom they are in
huenced.
But you should not imagine that, be-
cause yon are more familiar with this
class, that there can be none of the other,
for there are true and reliable prophets,
seers and teachers, impressed, and inspir-
ed by wise and holy angels, even if you
can not, or will not understand the same.
Because few men are blind, it does not
follow that others can not sec. nor that
what they do see, is illusive.
The history Of Spiritualsm, is the his
tory Of inspiration. When you take the
pure Spiritualism, from tae Bible, you
have left only "The letter which killeth."
The commingling of the inhabitants Of
the other life with those of this, is the
underlying principle of the whole book,
and from which proceeds all the great
moral lessons therein recorded. | know
that Spiritual things are spiritually dis
cerned," and therefore do not expect you
will eyer fully appreciate the gospel Of
Christ, which was one of love and holiness,
until you havo como down from your state
of self righteous arrogance, and over
bearing assumption, and have learned
some what Of the simplicity and truthful
spirituality of Him who recognized the
presence Of angels, and conversed with
Moses and Elias, or the Mount of trans.
iguration. How signally was the inter.
position Of spirit power shown in the roll.
ing the stone away from the sepulchre.
In the appearance Of Jesus among his
disciples after his crucifxion. In the un.
looking Of the prison doors for Peter. In
the trance ofJohn, on the Isle of Patmos.
in which he talked with the angel who
told him he was "hs fellow servant, and
of his brethren the prophets" and in
numberless other instances too numerous
to mention.
Paul distinctly states that discerning
of spirits, was one Of the spiritual gifts.
In first John, fourth chapter, we are told
to believe not every Spirit but try the
Spirits" And that Mr.. Bailey, is the
doctrine we preach, and unless we make
ourselves acquainted with this spiritual
gift" the discerning of spirits, we can not
TRY them" We consider if incumbent
upon US to prove all things and hold fast
that which is good. And we consider it
very unwise for any one to condemn q
thing before bo thoroughly understands
it.
From the time of Jesus until now, there
have been good and holy persons who
we're the mediums for spirit manifesto
ton. Among the most conspicuous of
these was John Wesley. Your great
learning has, undoubtedly rendered you
familiar with the peculiar phenomena
with which he and his family were visit
ed. The raps, bell ringing &C.. which
occurred with them, were none the less
spiritualism, because he chanced to be
the founder ofa great and popular church,
and the visions and frances with which
none the less the operation Of spirits be-
cause they, like mediums of the present
day, were tho recipients.
"BY their fruits yc shall know them"
The fruits Of Spiritualism are purer, ,truer
lives, for those who accept it and the
laying bare Of wicksdness and deceit in
every one who falsely approaches it. 1t
takes away the fear Of death, and helps
us to look with resignation upon the
death of those We love. 1t enables US to
revere truth more than the speech OF
people, and teaches US to "feel after God
in our own souls. assuring US that he is
not "very far from every one ofus." BY
so doing we are strong iu our own con-
seriousness Of right, and it relieves us
from being under obligations to any such
blind guide as you have proven yourself
to be.
At no time in the history Of the world
have so many been conscious recipients o.
this Heavenly blessing, as at tho present
We now number more than tho member
of all Protestant Churches combined, ane
do you suppose that 10 all that vast com
pany there are none as wise or truthful
AS yourself? When you condemn Spirit
ualism you are condemuing some Of tn
/, highest dignitaries, and great man.
lay members, of your own church. Per
, sons Of unquestioned integrity, an
, purity.
Then comes day when you will b
compelled to acknowledge the truth Of al
Y | have written. when you will stand con
5 domned before the white robed angels
t by the vindctiveness of your own motives
e and the ialsity ofyour arrogant assertions
o for you may rest assured that no powe
J. will be able to W ipe these scars from you
i spirit at the eleventh hour, and howeve
a much you may hug to your bosom tn
s comfortable illusion that you can ASA
/. us with out cause, and abuse as witheu
O measure, until that late day, and then tn
t blood Of Christ. wash out all the stain.
i you will surely awake in the other lif,
s A. F. Bailey, still, with all your hatre
d and malice. SCARED into your l.whicl
n only long, long!seasous of persistent eHoi
v to undo the wrong you have done, ca
q ever efface. You will then find, tina
q every evil deed must suffer its inevitahl
n penalty. that every false spirit can bu
: reveal itself. How much better it woul
!. be for society could you be convince
e nolc, that you must suffer the conseqr
d ences of your own acts, instead of throw
d ing the burthen upon another. l Ibeliev'
o indeed. that were that extra "millstone
is hung to your neck, alarm at the conseql
n ences might drive you to truer life.
% understand the stereotyped adjective
10 you will use at this portion Of my lette
,r nevertheless that does not trouble me.
as know truth will bear its own weigh
!. The religion hold is sacred to me, ss
10 is to thousands beside, and you have 1
re right to slander and insult us for holdin
ID it. If, by candid reasoning you cou
r. bring arguments to bear against it, v
ir would respect, and thank you for it, b'
ts when you take advantage Of the cover