than his standard of purity or goodness or truth。 If self is his loftiest
ideal； he will never attain to anything more exalted。 Rather； he will
constantly sink lower and lower。 The grace of God alone has power to exalt
man。 Left to himself； his course must inevitably be downward。
To the self…indulgent； the pleasure…loving； the sensual； spiritualism
presents itself under a less subtle disguise than to the more refined and
intellectual； in its grosser forms they find that which is in harmony with
their inclinations。 Satan studies every indication of the frailty of human
nature； he marks the sins which each individual is inclined to commit； and
then he takes care that opportunities shall not be wanting to gratify the
tendency to evil。 He tempts men to excess in that which is in itself lawful；
causing them； through intemperance； to weaken physical； mental； and moral
power。 He has destroyed and is destroying thousands through the indulgence
of the passions； thus brutalizing the entire nature of man。 And to complete
his work； he declares； through the spirits that 〃true knowledge places man
above all law；〃 that 〃whatever is； is right；〃 that 〃God doth not condemn；〃
and that 〃all sins which are committed are innocent。〃 When the people are
thus led to believe that desire is the highest law； that liberty is license；
and that man is accountable only to himself； who can wonder that corruption
and depravity teem
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on every hand？ Multitudes eagerly accept teachings that leave them at
liberty to obey the promptings of the carnal heart。 The reins of
self…control are laid upon the neck of lust； the powers of mind and soul are
made subject to the animal propensities； and Satan exultingly sweeps into
his net thousands who profess to be followers of Christ。
But none need be deceived by the lying claims of spiritualism。 God has given
the world sufficient light to enable them to discover the snare。 As already
shown； the theory which forms the very foundation of spiritualism is at war
with the plainest statements of Scripture。 The Bible declares that the dead
know not anything； that their thoughts have perished； they have no part in
anything that is done under the sun； they know nothing of the joys or
sorrows of those who were dearest to them on earth。
Furthermore； God has expressly forbidden all pretended communication with
departed spirits。 In the days of the Hebrews there was a class of people who
claimed； as do the spiritualists of today； to hold communication with the
dead。 But the 〃familiar spirits；〃 as these visitants from other worlds were
called； are declared by the Bible to be 〃the spirits of devils。〃 （Compare
Numbers 25：1…3； Psalm 106：28； I Corinthians 10：20； Revelation 16：14。） The
work of dealing with familiar spirits was pronounced an abomination to the
Lord； and was solemnly forbidden under penalty of death。 Leviticus 19：31；
20：27。 The very name of witchcraft is now held in contempt。 The claim that
men can hold intercourse with evil spirits is regarded as a fable of the
Dark Ages。 But spiritualism； which numbers its converts by hundreds of
thousands； yea； by millions； which has made its way into scientific circles；
which has invaded churches； and has found favor in legislative bodies； and
even in the courts of kings this mammoth deception is but a revival； in a
new disguise； of the witchcraft condemned and prohibited of old。
If there were no other evidence of the real character of spiritualism； it
should be enough for the Christian that the
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spirits make no difference between righteousness and sin； between the
noblest and purest of the apostles of Christ and the most corrupt of the
servants of Satan。 By representing the basest of men as in heaven； and
highly exalted there； Satan says to the world： 〃No matter how wicked you
are； no matter whether you believe or disbelieve God and the Bible。 Live as
you please； heaven is your home。〃 The spiritualist teachers virtually
declare： 〃Everyone that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord； and He
delighteth in them； or； Where is the God of judgment？〃 Malachi 2：17。 Saith
the word of God： 〃Woe unto them that call evil good； and good evil； that put
darkness for light； and light for darkness。〃 Isaiah 5：20。
The apostles； as personated by these lying spirits； are made to contradict
what they wrote at the dictation of the Holy Spirit when on earth。 They deny
the divine origin of the Bible； and thus tear away the foundation of the
Christian's hope and put out the light that reveals the way to heaven。 Satan
is making the world believe that the Bible is a mere fiction； or at least a
book suited to the infancy of the race； but now to be lightly regarded； or
cast aside as obsolete。 And to take the place of the word of God he holds
our spiritual manifestations。 Here is a channel wholly under his control； by
this means he can make the world believe what he will。 The Book that is to
judge him and his followers he puts in the shade； just where he wants it；
the Saviour of the world he makes to be no more than a common man。 And as
the Roman guard that watched the tomb of Jesus spread the lying report which
the priests and elders put into their mouths to disprove His resurrection；
so do the believers in spiritual manifestations try to make it appear that
there is nothing miraculous in the circumstances of our Saviour's life。
After thus seeking to put Jesus in the background； they call attention to
their own miracles； declaring that these far exceed the works of Christ。
It is true that spiritualism is now changing its form and； veiling some of
its more objectionable features； is assuming
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a Christian guise。 But its utterances from the platform and the press have
been before the public for many years； and in these its real character
stands revealed。 These teachings cannot be denied or hidden。
Even in its present form； so far from being more worthy of toleration than
formerly； it is really a more dangerous； because a more subtle； deception。
While it formerly denounced Christ and the Bible； it now professes to accept
both。 But the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is pleasing to the
unrenewed heart； while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect。
Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God； but it is degraded to a
weak sentimentalism； making little distinction between good and evil。 God's
justice； His denunciations of sin； the requirements of His holy law； are all
kept out of sight。 The people are taught to regard the Decalogue as a dead
letter。 Pleasing； bewitching fables captivate the senses and lead men to
reject the Bible as the foundation of their faith。 Christ is as verily
denied as before； but Satan has so blinded the eyes of the people that the
deception is not discerned。
There are few who have any just conception of the deceptive power of
spiritualism and the danger of coming under its influence。 Many tamper with
it merely to gratify their curiosity。 They have no real faith in it and
would be filled with horror at the thought of yielding themselves to the
spirits' control。 But they venture upon the forbidden ground； and the mighty
destroyer exercises his power upon them against their will。 Let them once be
induced to submit their minds to his direction； and he holds them captive。
It is impossible； in their own strength； to break away from the bewitching；
alluring spell。 Nothing but the power of God； granted in answer to the
earnest prayer of faith； can deliver these ensnared souls。
All who indulge sinful traits of character； or willfully cherish a known
sin； are inviting the temptations of Satan。
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They separate themselves from God and from the watchcare of His angels； as
the evil one presents his deceptions； they are without defense and fall an
easy prey。 Those who thus place themselves in his power little realize where
their course will end。 Having achieved their overthrow； the tempter will
employ them as his agents to lure others to ruin。
Says the prophet Isaiah： 〃When they shall say unto you； Seek unto them that
have familiar spirits； and unto wizards that peep； and that mutter： should
not a people seek unto their God？ for the living to the dead？ To the law and
to the testimony： if they speak not according to this word； it is because
there is no light in them。〃 Isaiah 8：19； 20。 If men had been willing to
receive the truth so plainly stated in the Scriptures concerning the nature
of man and the state of the dead； they would see in the claims and
manifestations of spiritualism the working of Satan with power and signs and
lying wonders。 But rather than yield the liberty so agreeable to the carnal
heart； and renounce the sins which they love； multitudes close their eyes to
the light and walk straight on； regardless of warnings； while Satan weaves
his snares about them； and they become his prey。 〃Because they received not
the love of the truth； that they might be saved；〃 therefore 〃God shall send
them strong delusion； that they should believe a lie。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：10；
11。
Those who op