Page images
PDF
EPUB

PREFACE.

THE design of this volume is to analyze Spiritualism as reflected from the earliest history of man, and along succeeding ages to the present

era.

And by the review of ancient spiritualism is revealed the absolute distinction between two currents, their opposite natures, and antagonistic procedures; the Omnipotence, when tested, of one, and the effeminacy of the other. The Bible is sustained as the Book of divine Inspiration; and the opposite current, by revealing its own character, proves itself evil-inclined, and at perpetual variance with the Spirit of Life. The following is the order of the Work.

I. As a competent counterbalance to the modern visions and so-called spirit productions of anti-Christ, and as an introduction to the analysis of Spiritualism, past, present and to come, an Anti-Pantheistic vision, given at Louisville, Ky., June, 1855, is introduced, and without comment respecting its genuineness, further than its absolute utterance by one in a trance state. Its sentiment being strictly Biblical, maintaining the doctrine of a "Satanic" influence affecting

man, the doctrine of "the fall," of "depravity," and of "salvation through Jesus," render it unobjectionable as to its teachings, and therefore admissible as a religious argument against spiritual infidelity.

II. The Scriptures are also introduced, and their record of divine Interposition contrasted with the modern Manifestations, by which the developments of the present age are discovered most inferior, and unworthy, while the Bible is honored and decidedly proved the Word of Inspiration—the manifestation of divine Dispensations; hence unworthy of equal comparison with the spiritualism of the Nineteenth Century.

III. The phenomena of mesmerism, clairvoyance, somnambulism, psychometry, spirit-seeing, etc., of former times are proven of like nature to the present, and by virtue of their proximity to these times, absolutely as delirious and also linked to modern spiritualism; therefore, the phenomena of this day are found not to be a new development, hence afford no evidence of man's having greatly progressed, thus establishing a false claim on the face of the manifestations.

IV. In the conclusion it is shown that the mesmerism of the Nineteenth Century, and the phenomena connected with A. J. Davis, who, by his friends, is called the "Poughkeepsie Seer," are

the sub-principles in, and were the foreshadowing of Magnetic Spiritualism, since developed. It is also stated and amplified, that the Lectures of A. J. Davis, given while under the magnetic force of Dr. Lyon, comprehend, if they do not beget, what has been exhibited by the media of spiritualism; that "Nature's Divine Revelations" reviewed in Vol. I. of this discussion, contains the philosophy and theology of that Spiritualism now so active and which is, from its nature, mode of manifestations and results, properly donominated "Magnetic Spiritualism."

V. That those who composed Mr. Davis' circle while in his incipiency, are now with the foremost advocates of that Spiritualism.

This volume leads to the direct review of modern Spiritualism, which is the work of Vol. III. Finally, the Work is offered as a defence of vital Christianity. Not of an improved Christianity, but of the Gospel as primitively taught, believed and lived by the early christians; and also to furnish those who have not thoroughly studied the subject discussed, with means ample to defeat the influence of that Spiritual Infidelity, which is now flooding the land, and deluding thousands.

PROEM.

SPIRITUALISM: term how full of meaning; and how little understood! Of how much said, and yet how unrevealed. Man's life and sphere, his substance; all-himself! His joys are from its harmonies combined: his sorrows from its wrong. Ever present, yet to him most strange. Sense of his being! Spirit of intelligence. Its nature man doth little know. No moment absent, still he seeks it as of foreign clime. Its good is thence, but when disclosed man's grosser sense beclouds its heavenly form. Nor deigns in humble vales to seek it; but pursues imaginative schemes its dwelling place to find. His efforts to secure it outwardly incline, while deep, deep within his sense it has its altar; or deeper still within the Sanctum of the Cause it holds its throne. Man is not the Spirit, but the spiritual.

ETERNITY: word of awful majesty! Kingdom unlimited. Infinity in its bosom nestleth as doth the nurseling on its mother's breast. And man the infinitesimal germ trembles round some wandering beam as meteors in the sun

« PreviousContinue »