第2章

Havingdiedfortheungodly，wemayknowthatJesusChristhasmadeitHischiefconcerntobringtheungodlytorepentance，andtorestoreinthemtheimageofthedivinecharacter，sobringingtothemeternalsalvation。Hefindsthemungodly，invitesthemtosettheirfeetinthewayoflife，toturnawayfrominiquityandseekafterrighteousness，andcreateswithinthemacleanheart。Thentheiriniquityandungodlinessareforgiven，andwereadofthemanwhohaspassedthroughthatexperience，“BlessedisthemantowhomtheLordwillnotimputesin。”Rom。4:8。 Spiritismmaycontinuetodenytheexistenceoftheungodly；butallthatheavenhasdoneforman\'sredemptionisdoneuponthebasisthatthereareungodlypeopleintheworld。\'Heavenaffirmsthisfact，andSpiritismdeniesit。JesusChristgaveHimselffortheonepurposeofbringingtheungodlytorepentanceandsalvation。Spiritism，indenyingtheexistenceoftheungodly，deniesthenecessityofChrist\'ssacrificeandthenecessityofredemption；andindenyingofChristwhatChristPage42affirmsofHimself，SpiritismsetsitselfagainstthemostfundamentalandmostvitalprinciplesofChristianity。Itmay，anddoes，usethelanguageofthesacredBook；butthevoiceisthevoiceofhimwhodeniedthedeclarationsoftheDeityinthegardenofEden，andspreadtheblackpallofsinoverthewholehabitableworld。 SatandeclaredtoEve，“Yeshallbeasgods，knowinggoodandevil，“ andSpiritismsays(inthelastquotationfrom“TheTruthAboutOurDead“)\'“Eachoneofusisagodinthemaking。”ThusweseethatthedeclarationsofSpiritismareeitheradenialoftheBibleandthewordsofJesusChrist，oranaffirmationofsomedeclarationofthespiritofevil。Howeverwetakeit，whatSpiritismdeniesiswhatSatandenies，andwhatSpiritismaffirmsiswhatSatanaffirms。Again，whatSpiritismdenies，God\'sWordaffirms；andwhatSpiritismaffirms，God\'sWorddenies。Theissueisclear-cut，andnoonewhodesirestobeatrueandsincerefollowerofJesusChristoughttobeforamomentindoubtastowhatattitudeheshouldassumetowardSpiritism。 ThedeclarationsofHolyWritareverycleartotheeffectthatoutsideofChristthereisabsolutelynohopeofeternallifeforanyofthese“godsinthemaking。”“InHimwaslife；andthelifewasthelightofmen。” John1:4。Again:“YewillnotcometoMe，thatyemighthavelife。”John5:40。“Iamthedoor:byMeifanymanenterin，heshallhesaved，andshallgoinandout，andfindpasture。”John10:9。“HethatbelievethontheSonhatheverlastinglife:andhethatbelievethnottheSonshallnotseelife；butthewrathofGodabidethonHim。”John3:36。 ThusallwhoareoutsideofChrist，allwhodonotbelieveonHimastheall-sufficientandall-needfulSaviouroftheworld，eventhoughtheyconsiderthemselves“godsinthemaking，“aredoomedtoeternalextinction。 They“shallnotseelife；“andthisontheemphaticdeclarationoftheOnewhomevenSpiritistsclaimtohonorasthegreatTeacher。AgainHesaid，“Iamtheresurrection，andthelife:hethatbelievethinMe，thoughheweredead，yetshallhelive。”John11:25。Herecognizesdeathandlifeastwooppositeconditions。Spiritists，onthePage43otherhand，whileprofessingtohonorHim，denyHisteaching，andclaimthatdeathismerelyacontinuationoflife。Herecognizesdeathasthecessationoflife，andtheresurrectionasthecessationofdeath。InthisHeisinperfectharmonywiththedeclarationsofInspirationthroughtheprophetIsaiah:“Thydeadmenshalllive，togetherwithMydeadbodyshalltheyarise。Awakeandsing，yethatdwellindust:forthydewisasthedewofherbs，andtheearthshallcastoutthedead。”Isa。26:19。 Itishardlyconceivablethatgods，eveninthemaking，shouldgodownintodeath。NeitherGodnorChristhasanywheretoldmanthatmenare“godsinthemaking。”Satantaughtmanthatlessoninunholyambition；andthefirststepmantookafterthatlessonsenthimtothegrave，theretoremainuntilthehandoftheLife-givershallsundertherustybarsoftheprisonhouseofdeath，speaklifetothelong-silentprisoners，andbidthemgoforthagainintothesunlightoftheirFather\'slove。Theyaredead，waitingthroughthesorrow-soddencenturiesforthesummonsofthegreatRedeemer。 Theirpillowisthedust，theirdewthedewofherbs；buttheirhopeisknitintotheunbreakablecableofdivinelove；andwhenthevoiceoftheArchangelrollsaroundareeling，waitingworld，andthetrumpoftheeternalGodburstsoutofthesunderedsky，thereisnopowerofmanorearthordemonthatcanholdthemanumittedprisonersofhope。Theyarenotgods，buttheyareGod\'sown。 ThatisthehopeofthosewhoselivesarehidwithChristinGod；butitisthehopeofonlysuch——sofarasGodgivesushope。Spiritismsays: “Nosoulcanbeforeverlost。”(“TheTruthAboutOurDead，“p。 70。)ButtheWorddeclaresofthoseoutsideofChrist，thattothem“isreservedtheblacknessofdarknessforever。”Jude13。Thosewhoareinthatconditionarecertainly“lost。”Thepsalmistsays:“Yetalittlewhile，andthewickedshallnotbe:yea，thoushaltdiligentlyconsiderhisplace，anditshallnotbe。”“Thewickedshallperish，andtheenemiesoftheLordshallbeasthefatoflambs:theyshallconsume；intosmokeshalltheyconsumeaway。Ps。37:10，20。Malachispeaksofthewickedas“ashes“underthefeetoftherighteous，inthedaywhentheLordofPage44hostsshallpunishthewickednessofthewicked。Mal。4:1-3。Theywerenot“godsinthemaking，“inspiteofSatan\'spromisesandSpiritism\'sassurances。Theyweremenandwomenplacedinthisworldonprobation，andchosetousetheirtimeandopportunitiestoadvancetheirownselfishinterests，andwenttotheirgravesorcameuptothegreatandfinaldaywithnoshieldbetweentheirsoulsanddivinejustice。SaystheapostlePaul，“Thefireshalltryeveryman\'sworkofwhatsortitis。”1Cor。 3:13。Ifwehavecrucifiedself，ifourlivesarehidwithChristinGod，thefiresofthatdaywillnotharmus；forweshallbe“caughtup“outofthefierywelterofruinto“meettheLordintheair:andsoshallweeverbewiththeLord。”1Thess。4:17。 Theinspiredapostlegivesonemoreverypositivedeclarationastowhethermenareundyingandimperishableandgodsinthemaking。”Hesays:“Toyouthataretroubledrestwithus，whentheLordJesusshallberevealedfromheavenwithHismightyangels，inflamingfiretakingvengeanceonthemthatknownotGod，andthatobeynotthegospelofourLordJesusChrist:whoshallbepunishedwitheverlastingdestructionfromthepresenceoftheLord，andfromthegloryofHispower；whenHeshallcometobeglorifiedinHissaints，andtobeadmiredinallthemthatbelieve……inthatday。”2Thess。1:7-10。WhiletheBookofGodplainlydeclarestheutterdestructionfinallyofalltheimpenitent，andthat，too，byliteralfire，Spiritismdeniesthewholeideaofdestruction，andmakesthisaffirmation:“Thelowerandlowesttypesofmankindwillunquestionablysuffer，notfromliteralflames，butfromcravingsfordrink，clamoringsoflust，theclutchingsofgreedforgold，andmanyotherinsistentdemandswhichcanneverbesatisfied，andfromtheremorsewhichcrimeandcrueltyandtyrannyentail。”——“TheTruthAboutOurDead，“p。72。AccordingtoSpiritism，therefore，thehellofthelowestandmostincorrigiblespiritsisnoworsethanagaolforsinnersandcriminalsintheflesh。 HowdifferentisthisfromthesimpleBiblestatementofthefateofthewicked！TheSpiritistdeclares:Page45“\'Thewayoftheungodlyshallperish。\'Thisstatementofthepsalmistisliterallytrue。Nottheungodly，buthiswayshallperish。”—— Id。，p。75。Butthepsalmistalsosays:“Thewickedshallperish:。theyshallconsume； intosmokeshalltheyconsumeaway。Ps。37:20。Thisisplain；butitunhorsesSpiritism。 ThedivineWordpositivelycontradictstheideathat“nosoulcanbeforeverlost。”Satansaid，“Yeshallnotsurelydie；“Spiritismsays，“Nosoulcanbeforeverlost。”Thesetwoagree。ButtheBiblesays，“Thewickedshallperish:theyshallconsume；intosmokeshalltheyconsumeaway。“Theyshallbeasthoughtheyhadnotbeen。”Obadiah16。 Where，then，doesSpiritismstand——withGod，oragainstHim?withSatan，oragainsthim?IthasrejectedGod，andchosenHisenemy。TheprinceofruinisthusfoundtobetheoriginatorofthebasicideaofSpiritism。 ThePrinceoftheRestorationhasgivenusthetruthoftheseweightymattersthroughprophetsandapostlesinspiredbyHim。Theprinceofruinhasgivenhiswillfullywickedperversionofthesetruthsandhiscontradictionofthemthroughspiritmediumsinspiredbyhim。 InthiscontroversybetweentheprinceofruinandthePrinceoftheRestoration，Spiritismupholdstheformerandcontradictsthelatter，andindoingso，is，inturn，upheldbyheathenism。Throughagespastheathenismhasheldtothecontinuityoflifeafter“thechangecalleddeath。”Inabookentitled，“TheSongCelestial“(book2，pages8，9)，translatedfromtheSanskritbySirEdwinArnold，occurthefollowingexpressionsofBrahmanphilosophyconcerningtheideaofman\'sinherentimmortality:“ThatwhichisCanneverceasetobe；thatwhichisnotWillnotexist。”“NorI，northou，noranyoneofthese，Everwasnot，noreverwillnotbe，ForeverandforeverafterwardsAllthatdothlive，livesalways。”Page46“Neverthespiritwasborn；thespiritshallceasetobenever；Neverwastimeitwasnot；EndandBeginningaredreams！Birthlessanddeathlessandchangelessremaineththespiritforever；Deathhathnottoucheditatall，deadthoughthehouseofitseems。”TheseexpressionsoccurintheexhortationofthegodKrishna(Brahma) totheprinceArjunatogoonwiththebattlewhichhehadplanned，andslayhisenemies。Theslayingofone\'sfellowmenispermissible，heteaches，because，thoughheslaysmen，theydonotdie，andhehasdonenowrong。 Itcanreadilybeseenhowthisphilosophycheapensone\'srespectforlife，andmakesthetakingofhumanlifeseemaharmlessthingtothoseholdingsuchabelief。Andthisteachingcomes，too，fromthelipsofKrishna，theBrahman\'sgodofallgods。ThusdoesheathenismsupportSpiritism，andSpiritismsupportthedoctrineofSatan，whichrobbedtheworldofrighteousnessandinnocency，andturnedtheearthitselfintoacharnelhouseofdiseaseanddeadmen\'sbones。 OnTheThroneofSin:TheChurchChallengedbySpiritismPage47Chapter6TheChurchChallengedbySpiritismTHEChristianchurchtodayischallengedbySpiritism——notmerelybythefactthatSpiritismissweepingaroundtheglobelikeaspiritualinfluenzaepidemic；butanactualchallengeisthrownoutbySpiritism，demandingthatthechurchshowareasonforthecontinuationofitsexistence。 UntilthechurchacceptsSpiritism，theSpiritistclaimsthatsheisstandingstillandrefusingtoprogress。 Mr。W。BrittonHarvey，editoroftheHarbingerofLight，speaksthusofthechurch\'srefusaltoprogress——alongthelinesofSpiritism:“ItisagreatdrawbacktothespiritualenlightenmentofthepeopleofAustraliathatthereisnooutstandingrepresentativeoftheChristianchurchwho\'willboldlydeclarethat，inasmuchastherevelationoftruthisaprogressiveprocess，itispossiblethatwehavereachedanageinwhichtheoutpouringisbeingaccentuated，andthatwhatisknownasSpiritualismmaybethechanneldivinelyselectedforthemanifestationofthepurposesoftheMostHigh。Wedonotsuggestthatthisshouldbedefinitelyassertedasafact，butthatthepossibilityshouldbeadmitted；andthat，consequently，thevariedphenomenaassociatedwithSpiritualismshouldbecloselyexamined，andineveryrespectapproachedwithanopenmind。 “Thisdoesnotappeartobeaveryunreasonableproposition，andifappliedtoanyotherdepartmentofinquiry——anewscientifictheory，forinstance——wouldbereadilyassentedto。Otherwisetherecouldbenoprogressinknowledge。Weshouldbeatanintellectualstandstill。Butwhenweaskthatthesameprinciplebeappliedtoreligion，weareusuallymetwithaflatrefusal，andassuredthatthetruthhasbeenrevealedonceandforall，andthattherecanbenorevision。We，therefore，reachstagnation，anddeclare，ineffect，thatprogressiverevelationisnothingbutamyth。 ThewordsoftheChrist，thatthereweremanythingsyettoberevealed，thusbecomemeaningless。Inotherwords，punymanpresumestolimittheoperationsoftheAlmighty，andmakeHimindifferenttothegrowingspiritualneedsofaseekingandprogressivegeneration。”——HarbingerofLight，June1，1921。WhatMr。Harveyispleadingfor，professedlyintheinterestsofthechurchitself，isthatinfluentialministersofthegospelPage48shouldtakeaboldstandinencouragingtheirparishionerstoinvestigateSpiritism，uponthepossibilitythatSpiritismmaybethechannelthroughwhichtheMostHighwillpourouttheHolySpirituponthechurches。Canwegrantthatthereissuchapossibility?CanwelogicallypresumethatwhatJehovahcursedandabsolutelyprohibitedunderthepatriarchalandLeviticaldispensations，HewillsanctionandblessanduseundertheChristiandispensation?Hesays，“IamtheLord，Ichangenot；thereforeyesonsofJacobarenotconsumed。”Mal。3:6。Again；“JesusChristthesameyesterday，andtoday，andforever。”Heb。13:8。 Truthiseternal，ratherthanprogressive，orinneedofrevision，becauseitisofthenatureofGod。Wespeakofthingsorindividualsasprogressivethatarenotyetperfect。Wecannotspeakthusoftheomnipotent，omniscient，omnipresent，andeternalGodasprogressive。Wemayprogressfromtruthtotruth，andthuscomenearerandnearertothedivinelikeness；butGodandtruthareeternallythesame；andHistruthisinnomoreneedofrevisionthanHeisinneedofchange。 ThroughtheeternalagesitwillcontinuetruethatsalvationfromsinwasprovidedofGodinJesusChrist，andthattherewasnootherprovisionmade，nootherthroughwhomsalvationcouldcometoman。ButSpiritism，upontheassumptionthatrevealedtruthneedsrevision，discardstheprincipleoflifethroughChristandthroughHimalone，andteachesmankindtobelievethatlifeiscontinuous；thatwedonotneedJesusChristtomakeeternallifepossible；rather，thatitisimpossibletocauselifetocease。Thatisnottruthprogressiveorrevised；itistruthcontradicted；itistruthmadetoappearalie。TheChristHimselfdeclared，“Iamcomethattheymighthavelife，andthattheymighthaveitmoreabundantly。”John10:10。 AccordingtothisdeclarationofourLord，whatwouldhavebeentheresulthadChristnotcome?——Theabsenceoflife。SoHeiscalledtheLife-giver。 “WhenChrist，whoisourlife，shallappear，thenshallyealsoappearwithHiminglory。”Col。3:4。 Thesearefundamentaltruthsofthegospel，asdeclaredbytheSonofGodHimself，andbyInspirationthroughtheapostlePage49Paul。ThisapostlefoundsomeamongtheGalatianswhowerepreachingadifferentgospelfromthatrevealedtohimbytheLordJesusChrist；andofthemandtheir“progressiverevelation“or“revisedtruth“hesays:“Thoughwe，oranangelfromheaven，preachanyothergospeluntoyouthanthatwhichwehavepreacheduntoyou，lethimbeaccursed。 Aswesaidbefore，sosayInowagain，Ifanymanpreachanyothergospeluntoyouthanthatyehavereceived，lethimbeaccursed。”Gal。1:8，9。SpiritismiscertainlyadifferentgospelfromthattaughtbyJesusChristorHisapostlePaul。WhereasthetruegospelteachessalvationthroughJesusChristalone，Spiritismteachessalvationasaprogressiveprocess，goingoninalifebeyondthetomb；andintheassertionofthatlife，itdeniestheexplicitteachingofHolyWritthatthedeadsleepuntiltheresurrection。 Mr。HarveypleadsthatthechurchesshouldinvestigateSpiritismaswedoanyotherscientifictheory；butSpiritismisnotonthesamebasisasscientifictheories。Spiritismisadenialofthemostfundamentalprinciplesofthegospel，andseekstoproveitselftrueandthethingsitdeniesuntruebypsychicaldemonstrations，spiritphotography，table-rappingandtable-moving，levitation，automaticwriting，planchetteandouija-boardmessages，trance-mediumspeaking，etc。WhenweinvestigatethesemanifestationstoseewhetherornotSpiritism\'sclaimsaretrue，admittingatthesametimethepossibilitythattheymaybetrue，thenbythatsametokenandinthatsameinvestigationweareseekingtodeterminewhetherthefundamentalprinciplesofthegospelaretrueornot，andweareadmittingthepossibilitythattheymaynotbetrue；becauseSpiritismdeniesthegospel\'sveryfoundation；andifSpiritismbetrue，Christianitywithallitstandsforisafabricationofthemindfoundedupontheshiftingsandofhumanfancy。 Shallwe，then，admitthepossibilitythatthegospelasoutlinedinHolyWritisuntrue?thatJesuswasmistakeninHisteachingsandgaveHislifefornaught?thatthediscipleswerehoodwinkedintotheacceptanceofasystemofreligionfoundeduponmisrepresentationandfalsehood，anddeludedinplacingPage50theirhopeandtrustinOnewhowasmistakeninHismission?thatPaulwasindeedbeatingtheairwhenhewascontendingforthefaithoncedeliveredtothesaints?WeadmitthepossibilityofallthatwhenweinvestigatethephenomenaofSpiritismtodeterminewhetherthatorthegospelisthetruth；whetherthatorJesusChristisfalse。 Mr。HarveyconsidersitnecessarytomakethisinvestigationandtofollowtheleadingsofSpiritism，elseweshall“beatanintellectualstandstill。”UntilwehavelearnedandexhaustedallthetreasuresofdivinetruthrevealedintheWordofGod，itisnotnecessarytolookelsewhereforspiritualleadership。GodhasleftusamineofintellectualandspiritualwealthasinexhaustibleasDeityitself，intheBookgiventousthroughinspiredprophetsandapostlesandtheteachingsoftheChristHimself。 Aretheseemptynowandexhausted?Ifthiswerepossible，itwerebetterforustowaituntiltheDeityHimselfhadfilledthemagain，ratherthanacceptasystemofintellectualprogressthatdeniesthemandleadsawayfromthemintothehopelessabyssofoblivion。Eventhoughthatwaywerestuddedwithmyriadsofscintillatingdiamonds，ifitleadsawayfromthegospel，itleadstothepitofdoom。 Mr。HarveycomplainsthatSpiritism\'spleaforaninvestigationofspiritphenomenaismetbythechurch“withaflatrefusal。”Wellwoulditbeforthechurchifthiswereastrueasitoughttobeandashesaysitis。Heis“assured[bythechurch]thatthetruthhasbeenrevealedonceandforall，andthattherecanbenorevision。”Verywell；truththatneedsrevisionisnottruth。WhowillrevisethetruthofGod?Arethepeepingandmutteringandtable-breakingspiritsfitworkmenforthattaskwhichevenDivinitywillnotattempt?Wedenyboththeircapacityandtheirauthority。 ItisindeedtruethatJesussaid，“Ihaveyetmanythingstosayuntoyou，butyecannotbearthemnow“(John16:12)；butnowheredidHedeclarethatwhenHeshouldtellthem，theywouldcontradictorbearevisionofthethingsalreadytold。ThosethingswhichHisdisciplescouldnotbearthen，Hetoldthemlater，orrevealedthroughPeterandPaulandJamesandJudeandJohnintheirepistles，andthroughJohnagaininthePage51Revelation。Innoneofthesedowefindadenialofthebasicprinciplesofthegospel。 Spiritismcomestousnow，claimingtohavethoseotherrevelations； butitbearstheearmarksofthecounterfeit，foritdeniestheveryfoundationsuponwhichtheothersbuilded，anddeniesthenecessityforthesacrificeofChrist。ThewriterofthelettertotheHebrewsdeclares:“Christwasonceofferedtobearthesinsof\'many；anduntothemthatlookforHimshallHeappearthesecondtimewithoutsin[ornotasasinoffering] untosalvation。”Heb。9:28。“ButthisMan[Christ]，afterHehadofferedonesacrificeforsinsforever，satdownontherighthandofGod；fromhenceforthexpectingtillHisenemiesbemadeHisfootstool。”Heb。10: 12，13。 InSpiritism\'screed，salvationdoesnotdependuponthesacrificialofferingofChrist。FromaworkwrittenbyRev。)G。ValeOwenatthedictationofaspiritwhocalledhimselfZabdiel，Itakethissignificantstatement:“Ihaveheard，moreover，andbelieveittrue，thatthosewhoworshiptheFatherGodbyotherrulesthantheChristianarelikewisetendedattheirgreatfestivalsbytheirownspecialguiding，watchingangels。”——“TheLifeBeyondtheVeil，“book2，p。157。Whatarewetoinferfromthis，exceptthatthosewhofollowConfucius，Buddha，andMohammedareascertainofeternallifeasthosewhotrustinthesacrificeofferedformanonCalvary?EachseemsequallyacceptabletoGod，accordingtothisteachingofSpiritism，inspiteoftheplainandverypositivedeclarationofGod\'sWordthat“thereisnoneothernameunderheavengivenamongmen，wherebywemustbesaved。”Acts4:12。AndyetSpiritismusestheverylanguageofScripture，andsomeoftheverywordsofourSaviourHimself，inwhichtoconcealthesubtlepoisonofitsdeadlydoctrine。 ThepuregospelofJesusChristdoesnot“limittheoperationsoftheAlmighty，“nor“makeHimindifferenttothegrowingspiritualneedsofaseekingandprogressivegeneration。”AseekingandprogressivegenerationmustbesavedthroughexactlythesamesacrificeandbyexactlythesameprocessthatmenaresavedbywholivedinthedaysofChristandofPaul，ofLutherandtheWesleys。ThereisnorespectPage52ofpersonsandnopartialitywithGod。The“operationsoftheAlmighty“ cannotbelimitedbyhumanity，norcantheyberevisedorextendedbymutteringsfromthespiritworldwhichdenytheneedforCalvary\'sofferingandcontradicttheplanofGodbyteachingsalvationthroughone\'sowneffortsinacontinuationoflifebeyondthetomb。GodisnotnecessarilylimitedinHisrevelationstoprophetsandapostles；butallfurtherrevelationsfromHimwillbeinharmonywiththosealreadygiven。RevelationswhichpurporttocomefromHim，butwhichcontradictthosealreadygiven，beartheirownstampoffraudanddeceit。“Tothelawandtothetestimony:iftheyspeaknotaccordingtothisword，itisbecausethereisnolightinthem。”Isa。 8:20。Thatisthedivinetouchstone，thedivineacidtest；andtheverseimmediatelyprecedingtheonequotedshowsthatitistobeappliedtoSpiritismprimarily。 Mr。Harvey，continuinghispleathatthechurchinvestigateSpiritism，says:“Thisistheonlywayofaddingtoourstoreofspiritualknowledge。 Anditisknowledge——knowledgethatshallbuttressawaveringfaithintheonlythingsthatreallymatter——thatthoughtfulmenandwomenareseekingtoday。Aboveallelsetheywanttoknow:\'Ifamandie，shallheliveagain?\'Theyputthatquestiontothechurch，andthechurchreplies: \'Yes。\'Thentheyaskforproof。\'Wehavenone，\'isthereply，\'apartfromthestatementscontainedintheScriptures。\'But\'statements\'arenot\'proofs，\'andasnofurtheradvancecanbemade，thehungryaresentemptyaway。Thechurch，inshort，hasnoproofthatthereisaspiritualworldatall。AsCanonAdderleyadmits:\'Thechurchcanonlyassumethatthereisanotherworld。Itdoesnotknow。Ithasremainedforsciencetoprovidetheproof，andyet，notwithstandingalltheevidenceadduced，thechurchstillpreferstoclingtomereassumption。\'“——HarbingerofLight，June1，1921。Butletuslookintothesemostastonishingstatements。HereisSpiritismprofessingtobesettingforththerevisedtruthofGodfor“thegrowing\'spiritualneedsofaseekingandprogressivegeneration，“andwhatisitsattitudetowardthetruthofGodalreadyrevealed，aswehaveitintheBible?ThestatementsfoundinthatBookoftruth，spokenbytheChristHimself，orwrittenbyHisinspiredpenmen，arenot“proof“tothem；theyareonly“statements，““assumption。”Andwhenwegivethemtopersonshungryforthetruth，——andthatisPage53allwehavetogive，——thesehungryseekers“aresentemptyaway。”Aftersuchstatementsasthese，itisincomprehensibletothewriterhowSpiritismcanmakeanyclaimatalltoabeliefintheGodoftheBible，orinJesusChristasevenagreatteacher。 JesusChristansweredthequestion，“Ifamandie，shallheliveagain?“ intheseplainwords:“Marvelnotatthis:forthehouriscoming，inthewhichallthatareinthegravesshallhearHisvoice，andshallcomeforth；theythathavedonegood，untotheresurrectionoflife；andtheythathavedoneevil，untotheresurrectionofdamnation。”John:28，29。Doesthatnotanswerthequestion?orisitonlyassumption，andnotproof? Ifthatisonlya“statement，“only“assumption，“andnot“proof，“thenwecanputnodependenceinanyoftheteachingsoftheManofNazareth，andHeisnotwhatHesaidHewas，——“theway，thetruth，andthelife。” ItwasJobwhoaskedthequestion，“Ifamandie，shallheliveagain? “andunderthespellofinspirationheansweredit:“AllthedaysofmyappointedtimewillIwait，tillmychangecome。Thoushaltcall，andIwillanswerThee:ThouwilthaveadesiretotheworkofThinehands。”Job14:14，15。Hesaysthathewillwaittillhischangeshallcome。Butwherewillyouwait，Job?Jobanswers:“IfIwait，thegraveisminehouse:Ihavemademybedinthedarkness。”Job17:13。ThereforeinthegraveJobwouldwait； hewouldbeinthegraveduringallhis“appointedtime，“untilGodshouldcall；andwhenGoddoescall，Jobwillstandupandanswer。HewillbeamongthoseofwhomtheprophetIsaiahspeaks，whowill“awakeandsing。” IhavealreadyquotedIsaiah\'swonderfulwords；butinasmuchastheyalsoanswerthequestionofafuturelife，Iwillquotethemagain:“Thydeadmenshalllive，togetherwithMydeadbodyshalltheyarise。Awakeandsing，yethatdwellindust:forthydewisasthedewofherbs，andtheearthshallcastoutthedead。”Isa。26:59。Thepsalmistalsoexpressestheassuranceofeternallifewhenhesays，“IwilldwellinthehouseoftheLordforever。”Ps。23:6。Inthatassurancehecould“walkthroughthePage54valleyoftheshadowofdeath“and“fearnoevil。”Heitwasalsowhodeclared: “Ishallbesatisfied，whenIawake，withThylikeness。”Ps。17:15。Job，inspiteofhismisery，hadthesamegladassuranceandhopewhenhedeclared:“IknowthatmyRedeemerliveth，andthatHeshallstandatthelatterdayupontheearth:andthoughaftermyskinwormsdestroythisbody，yetinmyfleshshallIseeGod:whomIshallseeformyself，andmineeyesshallbehold，andnotanother[ornotasastranger]；thoughmyreinsbeconsumedwithinme。”Job19:25-27。TheapostlePaul，whosewritingswereinditedbytheSpiritofInspiration，andwhotellsusthatthegospelwhichhepreachedbedidnotreceivefromman，butfromtheLordJesusChristHimself(Gal。1:12-19)，hasgivenhistestimonyconcerningtheprospectofman\'slivingagain。Letushearhim:“Behold，Ishowyouamystery:Weshallnotallsleep，butweshallallbechanged，inamoment，inthetwinklingofaneye，atthelasttrump:forthetrumpetshallsound，andthedeadshallberaisedincorruptible，andweshallbechanged。Forthiscorruptiblemustputonincorruption，andthismortalmustputonimmortality。Sowhenthiscorruptibleshallhaveputonincorruption，andthismortalshallhaveputonimmortality，thenshallbebroughttopassthesayingthatiswritten，Deathisswallowedupinvictory……ThanksbetoGod，whichgivethusthevictorythroughourLordJesusChrist。”1Cor。15:51-57。PaulspeaksastheveritablemouthpieceoftheLordJesusChrist。Hedeclares，asourLorddeclareswithHisownlips，thatmanshallliveagain。ThedeadwillleavetheirgravesatthesummonsoftheLife-giver。“Isawthedead，smallandgreat，standbeforeGod；andthebookswereopened:andanotherbookwasopened，whichisthehookoflife: andthedeadwerejudgedoutofthosethingswhichwerewritteninthebooks，accordingtotheirworks。Andtheseagaveupthedeadwhichwereinit；anddeathandhell[“thegrave，“margin]deliveredupthedeadwhichwereinthem:andtheywerejudgedeverymanaccordingtotheirworks。 Anddeathandhellwerecastintothelakeoffire。Thisistheseconddeath。Andwhosoeverwasnotfoundwritteninthehookoflifewascastintothelakeoffire。”Rev。20:12-15。UponsuchtestimonyastheforegoingtheChristianchurchbasesitsbeliefintheaffirmativeanswertoJob\'squestion，“IfPage55amandie，shallheliveagain?“Arethesepositivetestimoniesofprophets，apostles，andofJesusChristHimself，tobetossedasideasmere“statements“ unproved，assumptionsfoundeduponnothingtangible，whileweplaceourconfidenceandhopeandtrustintheinanemumblingsofthosewho，through“familiarspirits，“seektothedeadonbehalfoftheliving?Woebetidethosewhodo；fortheyarecastingawayeverypossibilityofimmortalitywhiletheyfollowtheignisfatuusofsatanicfalsehoodintothequicksandsofeternaldeath。 NorisiteasytounderstandthepositionofCanonAdderley，that“thechurchcanonlyassumethatthereisanotherworld；“that“itdoesnotknow；“andthat“notwithstandingalltheevidenceadduced[bySpiritism]，thechurchstillpreferstoclingtomereassumption。”Thechurchdoesknow，ifitbelievestheChristwhofoundedit，andtheapostlesthroughwhomHespoketoit，andwhosealedtheirtestimonywiththeirblood。SurelyacanonofthechurchwillnotsaythatsuchpositivedeclarationsaswehavereadfromourSaviourareonly“statements“and“assumption，“unlesshehasacceptedthedestructivephilosophyofthe“highercriticism，“whichisIngersollisminaclericalcollarandstole；orunlessthewanderingsofaplanchetteoverasheetofpaperhaveconvincedhimthatheoughttodenytheLordwhoboughthim。Onlyundersuchcircumstancescanweunderstandthe“assumptionsofthecanon；fortheauthorshipofallsuchmessageshastobeassumed。Theypurporttocomefromthedead；heassumesthattheytellthetruth，becausetheyspeakofthingswhichonlyheandthedepartedfriendorrelativeknewabout，forgettingthatinvisiblewatchersareintimatelyacquaintedwitheverydetailofone\'slife，andthatsomeoftheseinvisiblewatchersareofthefallenhostsofheaven，againstwhomheavenwarnstheinhabitersofearth。 Anotherdoctorofdivinity(Rev。Dr。Nixon)whoseemstohaveleftthesurefoundationforoneofshiftingsand，isquotedbyMr。Harveyassaying:“Theattitudeofthechurchseemstometobestrange，sincewewouldnaturallysupposeeverychurchmantobeinthewayofbecomingaSpiritualist，ifnotonealready。”Page56ThechurchmanwhoplacestheScripturessimplyonaparwithotherliterature，whofeelsatlibertytodiscardwhateverportionsdonotagreewithhisownideas，andwhohasimbibedthedoctrinethatimmediatelyatdeaththesoulentersuponitseternalrewardorpunishment，reallyhasnologicalreasontogiveastowhyheshouldnotbelieveinSpiritism。ThephenomenaofSpiritism，whenthefraud，whichevenSpiritistsadmit，hasbeeneliminatedfromthem，dodemonstratethatthereisanintelligenceandapowerconnectedwithSpiritismwhichareentirelyoutsideofandbeyondthehuman。Why，then，ifthesearespiritsofthedead，astheyaffirmtheyare，shouldnottheirearthlyfriendscommunicatewiththem?Tobesure，certainportionsoftheBibleforbidwitchcraft，wizardry，necromancy，andconsultingwith“familiarspirits。”Butwhatofthat?Itisthefashionnowamongmanytheologians，whohavebeeneducatedintheschoolsofthe“highercritics，“ todiscardportionsoftheBiblewhichdonotappealtothemasessential，andwhyshouldnotthewould-beSpiritistdothesame? Wearelivinginagenerationthatistakingallkindsoflibertieswiththehiddenforcesofnature，andwhynottakelibertiesalsowiththerecordsofrevealedreligion?Surelyifthetheologianscancondensethetencommandments，whichwerespokenbythelipsofJehovahandwrittenbytheirAuthor\'sownfinger，eliminatingthe“nonessential“(！)portions； andifdoctorsofdivinitycancondensetheBibleitselfintoaShorterBible，“eliminatingall“nonessentials“(！)，suchasalltextsreferringtothesecondcomingofChrist，andeveneliminatingthedivineprohibitionagainsttamperingwithHolyWrit(Rev。22:18，19)，surelythewould-beSpiritistmaybeexcusedforeliminatingsuchtextsasdonotcomportwithhisideasandwishes。Andhedoesit，andthentakestohisbosomthepracticesofSpiritism，whichtheunmutilatedBookforbids。 Itmightbelogical，asDr。Nixonfeels，forchurchmenwhobelieveintheinherentimmortalityofman，toadoptSpiritism；andyetitisafactthatmanyofthem，whileholdingtobeliefsthatmakethedoctrinesandthepracticeofSpiritismlogical，refusetobe，forthepresentatleast，ensnaredinit。TheyPage57realizethatwhentheirbeliefintheinherentimmortalityofmankindiscarriedtothelogicalextentofcommunicatingwiththesupposedspiritsofthedead，theyareenteringupondangerousground。AcrossthepathwayleadingthitherwardJehovahhassetadangersignalandawarning，“Thoushaltnot；thatwayliesmadnessandthewreckofhumanhopes。” OneprofessedrepresentativeoftheChristianchurch，theRev。F。Fielding-Ould，M。A。，vicarofChristChurch，AlbanyStreet，London，whohaspublishedaworkentitled，“TheWondersoftheSaintsintheLightofSpiritualism，“ isquotedbyMr。Harveyassaying:“Theleadersofthought，enlightenedbydivineinspirationandafirewithlivingintuitions，speakasprophetsandseers，andmarchintheforefrontofthemovinghostsofmankind，whilethepriestsaretoooftensearchingthemustyauthoritiesofthepastuntilcompelledfortheirverylife，andwithaverygreatlossofprestige，toacceptwhathasbecomeself-evident。”——HarbingerofLight，June1，1921。ThisclergymanspeaksasonewhoisthoroughlyconvincedthattheclaimsofSpiritismaretrue，andhasthereforeleftthe“mustyauthoritiesofthepast“(theWordofGod)forwhatSpiritismhastogive；fornonebut“highercritics“andSpiritistscanspeakofHolyWritasa“musty“authority。 Howfarsuchleadingsbeguileawayfromthedivinechanneloftruthandblessing，isseeninthisverydeclarationofaclericalconverttoSpiritism。 Hedeprecatesdependencefortheessentialsofreligiousfaithandpracticeupontheauthoritative，heaven-inspiredBook，theBible。ButGodexpectsustodependuponthatBookforthoseessentials。HehasrevealedHiswill； Hehasneverauthorizedanymanormentoamendit，andhasneverintimatedthatanythingelsewouldevertakeitsplace。HereisHisadmonitionconcerningjustsuchsuggestionsastheaforementionedclergymenhavethrownout:“ThussaiththeLord，Standyeintheways，andsee，andaskfortheoldpaths，whereisthegoodway，andwalktherein，andyeshallfindrestforyoursouls。Buttheysaid，Wewillnotwalktherein。AlsoIsetwatchmenoveryou，saying，Hearkentothesoundofthetrumpet。Buttheysaid，Wewillnothearken。Thereforehear，yenations，andknow，O congregation，whatisamongthem。Hear，Oearth:behold，Iwillbringeviluponthispeople，eventhefruitoftheirthoughts，be-Page58causetheyhavenothearkeneduntoMywords，nortoMylaw，butrejectedit。”Jer。6:16-19。Theyhadturnedawayfromthe“mustyauthoritiesofthepast，“evenasRev。Fielding-Ouldadvisesthisgenerationtodo。Theprinciplesofthegospelareeternal。Thegospelisindeed“thepowerofGoduntosalvation，“ andiscapableofexercisingitsdivinefunctionsequallyineveryage。 This“progressiveage“doesnotrequirearevisionofthedivineplanofhumanredemptioninorderthatitmayfindthewaytotheAuthorofsalvation。 GodwasdispleasedwiththemajorityofHischurchinJeremiah\'sdaybecausetheydesertedHimandHisWordforthe“progressivereligiousideasfoundinothersystems，andHedeclaredHisdispleasureinthesewords:“ThereforethussaiththeLord，Behold，Iwilllaystumblingblocksbeforethispeople，andthefathersandthesonstogethershallfalluponthem；theneighborandhisfriendshallperish。”Jer。6:21。ThatdestructionwhichGodsaidwouldcomeuponthepeoplebecausetheyturnedawayfromHisauthoritativeplansandrequirements，didcome，swiftandcertain。NowthisgenerationisbeingledinthesamewaythatJeremiah\'sgenerationwasled，——awayfromtheauthoritativeteachingsofJehovah，afterthenew，themysterious，andthe“progressive。”HasJehovahwarnedusofasimilarresult?“ThenshallthatWickedberevealed，whomtheLordshallconsumewiththespiritofHismouth，andshalldestroywiththebrightnessofHiscoming:evenHim，whosecomingisaftertheworkingofSatanwithallpowerandsignsandlyingwonders，andwithalldeceivablenessofunrighteousnessinthemthatperish；becausetheyreceivednottheloveofthetruth，thattheymightbesaved。AndforthiscauseGodshallsendthemstrongdelusions，thattheyshouldbelievealie:thattheymightbedamnedwhobelievenotthetruth，buthadpleasureinunrighteousness。”2Thess。2:8-12。GoddidnottakehalfwaymeasureswithHispeopleancientlywhentheyturnedawayfromHimandwereturneduntofables。Heinstructedthem，pleadedwiththem，andwarnedthem。Theypersistedintheirstiff-neckedattitude，andwouldhavenoneofHisauthority；andthencamethejudgmentwhichHehadinlovewarnedthemofandhadpleadedwithPage59themtoescape。Hiswarningtousisevenmoreemphaticthantothem；andascertainlyasnightfollowsday，socertainlywillthedivinejudgmentsfalluponthepeopleofthisgenerationwhosneeratthe“mustyauthoritiesofthepast，“turnadeafeartoGod\'swarnings，andfollowasareligionthesystemofsatanicdeceptionwhichJehovahdenouncedthroughHisprophetsofold；viz。，seekingtothedeadonbehalfoftheliving。 Godcalledthatpractice“abomination，“andoutlaweditamongHispeople； andconcerningHispeople\'srefusaltobeboundbyHisauthoritativeWord，HespeaksthusthroughtheprophetIsaiah:“Yea，theyhavechosentheirownways，andtheirsouldelightethintheirabominations。Ialsowillchoosetheirdelusions，andwillbringtheirfearsuponthem；becausewhenIcalled，nonedidanswer；whenIspake，theydidnothear:buttheydidevilbeforeMineeyes，andchosethatinwhichIdelightednot。”Isa。66:3，4。Thisistheexactcoursewhichtheabove-namedclericalSpiritistadvisesthisgenerationtopursue，——toturnawayfromthemustyauthoritiesofthepast。”ButIsaiahtellsusalsowhattheresultwillbeoffollowingthatadvice:“Behold，theLordwillcomewithfire，andwithHischariotslikeawhirlwind，torenderHisangerwithfury，andHisrebukewithflamesoffire。ForbyfireandbyHisswordwilltheLordpleadwithallflesh: andtheslainoftheLordshallbemany。”Isa。66:15，16。Leadersofheathensystemschallengedthechurchinthoseancientdaysevenastheydotoday，andsneeredatherrespectfortheancientauthorities。 Thechurchfailedthenassheseemstobefailingtoday；andtheswiftretributionwhichfollowedthoseapostasiesisanunmistakableprototypeofthedestructionwhichPaulsaysawaitsthechurchofthislastgenerationwhenshefollowsthoseexamplesofapostasyfromthetruthofGod。 Oneofthemostdangerousdevelopmentsofourdayisthere-enforcementoftheranksofSpiritismfromtheclergy。Clergymanafterclergymanhasgoneovertoit，andwrittenbooksandpreachedsermonsinfavorofthepracticeofnecromancy。ASpiritistjournalsays:Page60“AgreatmanyoftheclergyofGreatBritain——particularlyintheChurchofEngland——haveunquestionablyarrivedatasimilarconclusion[tothatofthebishopofSouthwark]，anditmaybeonlyamatteroftimewhentheywillobtainthatconvincingpersonalexperiencewhich，inmostcases，isabsolutelynecessaryfortheremovalof“the。remainingvestigesofdoubt。”——HarbingerofLight，June1，1921。ThebishopofSouthwark，Dr。C。F。Garbett，had\'saidhe“wasboundtosaythat，whenallthatcouldbesaidagainstSpiritismhadbeensaid，thereremainedaresiduewhichcouldonlybeaccountedforatthepresenttimebythehypothesisthattherewassomecommunicationwiththosewhowerenotofthisworld。Thatwasonlyahypothesiswhichmightbedisproved。 Therewas，however，astrongcaseforinvestigation，butitmustbeaninvestigationbycompetentpeople。” Thusdosomeoftheleadingclergyanswerthechallengeoftheprinceofruin。Theyansweriteitherbydenyingthefundamentalsoftheirownfaithandacceptinghisdelusions，orbyweaklyadmittingthathehaspresentedagoodcase，worthyofseriousconsideration。SodidEve；sodidAdam； andsowehavedeathandruinintheworldtoday；andsowillcome，asGodhassoplainlydeclared，thejudgmentsofthegreatJudgeuponagenerationthatstopsitsearstothewordofGodspeakingtousfromthepast。Thisgeneration，thatoughttobestandingfastandaskingfor“theoldpaths“ surveyedbyourownSaviourthroughthiswildernessofsin，issettingitsfaceintothatwildernessonapathofitsownchoosing，butwhichthecunningdeceiverhassurveyedforit，——apathwhichleadsstraightdownintothepitofeverlastingruin。Saysthewiseman:“Whenwisdomenterethintothineheart，andknowledgeispleasantuntothysoul；discretionshallpreservethee，understandingshallkeepthee:todelivertheefromthewayoftheevilman，fromthemanthatspeakethfrowardthings；wholeavethepathsofuprightness，towalkinthewaysofdarkness。”Prov。2:10-13。Theywhocounselustoflingasidethe“mustyauthoritiesofthepast，“ areenticingusto“leavethepathsofuprightness；“and，doingso，weshallindeed“walkinthewaysofdarkness，“inthepaththatleadstotheprecipiceofdestruction。IfitisourfirmintentiontobehumblefollowersoftheLordPage61JesusChrist，andtoshareintheeternalinheritancewhichHehaspromised，wewillfollowthedivineadmonitionto“askfortheoldpaths，whereisthegoodway，andwalktherein；“thenweshallindeedfindrestforoursouls。 Whentheprinceofruinchallengesus，todeserttheinfalliblestandardofdivinetruth，andsneersatthatstandardasthe“mustyauthoritiesofthepast，“itistimeforustoanswerthatchallengeasdidourSaviourinthewildernessoftemptation:“Gettheebehindme，Satan。”ItisasnecessaryforusinthewildernessofourtemptationtobetruetotheFatherasitwasforHim；andthepowertoenableustodoit“awaitsourdemandandreception。” OnTheThroneofSin:SpiritismAnti-ChristianPage62Chapter7SpiritismAnti-ChristianONEoftheleadingSpiritistjournalsoftheworld[1]openlydeclaresitselfasopposedtotheideaoftryingtoappearintheguiseofChristianitywhilemaintainingthedoctrines(orphilosophies) ofSpiritism。Ithasmadethedeclarationofitspositionsoplainandemphaticthatthereisnoquestionaboutitsattitude，andcannotbe。ThisisamuchmoreconsistentthingtodothantotaketheattitudeofsomeSpiritistswhotrytowearthegarbofChristianityandsailunderitsflagwhilemaintainingbeliefsandpublishingteachingsthataresofundamentallyopposedtotrueChristianityasSpiritismis。Saystheeditorialinquestion:“LetusbeSpiritualistsatalltimes——justplain，straight，out-and-outSpiritualists。 “WerefusetobecalledbythenameofChristianSpiritualists，becausetheword\'Christian\'standsforthedogmaofsalvationbyaman\'sdeath——abloodatonement。 “WehonorthemanChrist，butwerepudiatethetheologicalsystemthathasbeenbuiltuparoundHisname。 “AndwhilewegladlyacceptmanybeautifulthingsastaughtbyChrist，wecannotaffordtocallourselvesChristians，forthatwouldimplythatwebelieveHisbloodreallycleansesfromsin，andwedenythat。”——TheProgressiveThinker，Aug。28，1920。Thisisfrank，open，andaboveboard。Itdeclaresinastraightforwardwaywhattheteachingsofso-called“Christian“Spiritistsdeclarebydeduction，byinference，andbylogicalconclusion。BothclassesofSpiritistsareequallyanti-Christianinfact；buttheclasswhocallthemselves“Christian“ arelessfrankinadmittingtherealfactsinthecase。 Itisperfectlytruethattheword“Christian“standsforthedogmaofsalvationbyabloodatonement。TheBibleclearlydeclares:“Withoutsheddingofbloodisnoremission。”“NowonceintheendoftheworldhathHeappearedtoputawaysinbythesacrificeofPage63Himself。”“SoChristwasonceofferedtobearthesinsofmany； anduntothemthatlookforHimshallHeappearthesecondtimewithoutsinuntosalvation。”Heb。9:22，26，28。ThisistheteachingoftheBook——itisChristianteaching；itisinharmonywiththenameoftheOneuponwhomChristianityisfounded。SaidtheangeltoJoseph，thereputedfatherofJesus:“ThoushaltcallHisnameJesus:forHeshallsaveHispeoplefromtheirsins。”Matt。1:21。 TobeatrueChristianmeanstoacceptthatdoctrine。Spiritistsdonotacceptit，neithertheso-called“Christian“SpiritistsnorthosewhostandwiththeProgressiveThinker。TotheSpiritistthebeautifulscripturewhichisalwaysfirstbroughttothemindsofheathenpeoples，andisagladconsolationtotheheartsofallChristianpeoples，meansnothing:“Godsolovedtheworld，thatHegaveHisonlybegottenSon，thatwhosoeverbelievethinHimshouldnotperish，buthaveeverlastinglife。ForGodsentnotHisSonintotheworldtocondemntheworld；butthattheworldthroughHimmightbesaved。”John3:16，17。ThatandtheotherscripturesquotedinthischapterprovethateternallifeisconditionaluponouracceptanceofJesusChristasboththeSonofGodandthenecessarysacrificeforoursins——theLambofGod“slainfromthefoundationoftheworld。”Inthathopewetrust，andarepositivethatourconfidencerestsuponafoundationwhichneithertimenorphilosophynortestofanykindcaneverproveunsound。 Spiritismdeniesthisfoundation；itdeniestheentirebasisofthegospel。UpontheworkandthesacrificeofChristformanChristianityrests。Withoutthat，itisnothing。Itdeclaresofitselfthatitdoesrestuponthatbasis。Whateverdeniesthebasis，deniesallthatisbuiltthereon；andifSpiritism\'sdenialbethetruth，thenthewholegospelstructureisafraudfromcorner-stonetopinnacle。FromthetestimonyofSpiritismasexpressedthroughtheProgressiveThinker，thetwosystemsarediametricallyopposedtoeachother。 Spiritismsays，“WehonorthemanChrist，butwerepudiatethetheologicalsystemthathasbeenbuiltuparoundHisname。Letusseeifthisdeclarationissincere。Theword“Christ“meanstheanointedofGod，anointedtopreachdeliverancetoPage64thecaptivesofsin，toopentheprisonhouseofSatanandliberatesoulsperishinginhiscruelthralldom，andtogiveHislifeanofferingformany。TohonortheChrist，theAnointed，istohonorthatwhichHewasanointedtodo。WecannothonortheAnointedOnewhilewedenythethingHewasanointedtoaccomplish，——thesalvationofmanthroughHisteachingsandHissacrifice。Spiritism，inmakingitsdenialofthosethingsforwhichChristianitystands，deniestheplainestandmostexplicitutterancesoftheChristconcerningHismission。LetushearHimspeakingwithHisownlipstothelearnedNicodemus:“AsMoseslifteduptheserpentinthewilderness，evensomusttheSonofmanbeliftedup:thatwhosoeverbelievethinHimshouldnotperish，buthaveeternallife。ForGodsolovedtheworld，thatHegaveHisonlybegottenSon，thatwhosoeverbelievethinHimshouldnotperish，buthaveeverlastinglife。ForGodsentnotHisSonintotheworldtocondemntheworld；butthattheworldthroughHimmightbesaved。”John3:14-17。ThisisthefoundationofChristianity。Itisnotmerelya“theologicalsystemthathasbeenbuiltuparoundHisname。”ItisHisowndeclarationoftheobjectforwhichHecameintothisworld。ItpredictsHisbeinglifteduponthecrossforthesalvationofthesouleternally，evenasthebrazenserpentinthewildernesswasliftedupforthesalvationofmen\'sbodiestemporarily。ItpredictsthesheddingofHisblood——Hissacrifice——forsoulswho，withoutit，wouldeternallyperish。ButSpiritistssay:“WecannotaffordtocallourselvesChristians，forthatwouldimplythatwebelieveHisbloodreallycleansesfromsin，andwedenythat。” TheydeclarethattheyhonortheChrist，andinthesamebreathdenywhatHeassertsconcerningHismission。Tobehonoredthusistobedisparagedanddefamed。 Atthelastsupper——theinstitutionoftheLord\'ssupper——Jesusmadethisdeclaration:“ThiscupisthenewtestamentinMyblood，whichisshedforyou。”Luke22:20。Markrecordsit:“ThisisMybloodofthenewtestament，whichisshedformany。”Mark14:24。Matthewputsitinthesewords:“ThisisMybloodofthenewtestament，whichisshedPage65formanyfortheremissionofsins。”Matt。26:28。WithsuchaverydefinitestatementfromtheChristHimself，whomSpiritistsprofesstohonor，ChristiansmaycertainlybepardonedforbelievingthattheChristHimselfputintothemindsofmentheideathatthroughthesheddingofHisbloodwemayhaveremissionofsins，andenterfinallyintoeternallife。Wedonotdependupontheologiansforthis，butuponthemostemphaticdeclarationoftheChristHimself，whomSpiritistsprofesstohonor。 WiththesedeclarationsoftheChristinmind，letusnoticeanotherstatementfromthespokesmanofSpiritism:“Spiritualismisareligion；butitisareligionfreefromtheabsurdandsuperstitiousfeaturesthatmarthesystemknownasChristianity。 AmongtheseobjectionablefeaturesIdenouncethefollowing:thevicariousatonement，thedoctrineofeternalpunishment，theliteralresurrectionofthebody，thevirginbirthofJesus，theinfallibilityoftheBible，andthedoctrineofsalvationbyfaithonly。Someofthesedoctrinesaremerelyfoolish，butsomeofthem，likethebloodatonementtheory，areabsolutelyvicious，andleadtowickedandimmoralliving……Theorthodoxtheoryoftheatonement，togetherwiththedoctrineofjustificationfromsinbyfaithonly，aredoctrinesthatinevitablyencouragesinandimmoralconduct。”——TheProgressiveThinker，Aug。28，1920。Itisimpossibletoconceiveofsuchstatementsbeingmadebyonewhohadthefaintestconceptionofwhatconstitutethevitalprinciplesofgodliness，orhadeverexperiencedthejoyofsinsforgiven，orhadanexperimentalknowledgeoftheresultinhisownsoulofanacceptanceofChristforwhatHesaysHeis。Thelanguageusedisamostbitinginsulttoheaven，andtotheChristHimself——whomtheSpiritistprofessestohonor。ItshorribleinsinuationthatJesusChrist，throughthesystemHeestablished，encouragesimmorality，isthemostcruelblasphemythatcouldbecrowdedintosofewwords。InthatawfulaccusationtheChristischargedwithpromulgatingtheverythingwhichHegaveupHisgloryinheavenandHislifeonearthtoeradicatefromtheuniverse。OnlythespiritofhimwhoinspiredtheleadersoftheJewstocrucifytheChristcouldhaveinspiredthataccusation。Andnoneotherdid。IfanyevidencewereneededtoprovethatSpiritismisSatanism，Page66itisfurnishedintheextractIhavejustquoted；for，beitnoted，thepurposewhichtheChristHimselfgaveforHiscomingintotheworld—— toshedHisbloodfortheremissionofsins——isdeclaredbythisapologistforSpiritismtobe“absolutelyvicious“andto“leadtowickedandimmoralliving。” Satanisdetermined，ontheonehand，torepresentGodasatyrant，whowillnotforgivesin；and，ontheotherhand，asonewhoinforgivingsinnersisencouragingsin。Thedishonestyofsuchapositionissoevidentthatitneedsonlytobestatedtobeinstantlyapparent。SaysthedivineBook:“Ifweconfessoursins，Heisfaithfulandjusttoforgiveusoursins，andtocleanseusfromallunrighteousness。”1John1:9。Theconfessionofsins，tobeacceptabletoGod，mustbeaccompaniedbysincererepentanceforthesinscommitted。NowhereintheScriptureisanyhintgiventhatmencangooninalifeofsin，andenjoytheblessingsofGod\'sgraciousforgiveness。HewhotrulyconfesseshissinstoGod，expectingforgiveness，mustconfessthemwithaheartofpenitence，sorrowingforthesinscommitted，andsincerelypurposing，withGod\'shelp，toabandonhissinfulcourseandliveinharmonywithGod\'swill。ThatkindofconfessionbringstheforgivenessofGod，anditdoesnotencouragesin。 AfterHisresurrection，inexplainingthemeaningofcertainscripturestoHisdisciples，Jesusmadethisdeclaration:“Thusitiswritten，andthusitbehoovedChristtosuffer，andtorisefromthedeadthethirdday:andthatrepentanceandremissionofsinsshouldbepreachedinHisnameamongallnations，beginningatJerusalem。”Luke24:46，47。Itisrepentancefirst，thenconfession，andthencomesremissionofsins；andwhenthatmightytransformationhastakenplaceintheheartofanindividual，heknowsthatGod\'splanfortheeradicationofsinfromhissoulhasnotencouragedhimtodeepersinortocontinueinthesinshehadrepentedofandconfessedandbeenforgivenfor。ItisthoseonlywhohaveneverexperiencedthisworkofdivinegraceintheirheartswhocannotunderstandhowGodcandoitwithoutencouragingsin。ButthatisGod\'splanofoperation，andSpiritismdenouncestheplan，deniesitsefficacy，andinsultsitsAuthor。Page67Asforthedoctrineof“eternalpunishment“——bywhichthewritermeans“eternaltorment“——thatisnotinGod\'splan。Thatisanoutgrowthofheathenreligionsandofpaganphilosophies，andwasintroducedintothechurchinthedaysofthechurch\'sapostasy。Indenyingthat，SpiritismisnotcontradictingGod；itisonlycontradictingatenetoftheRomanChurchandsomeProtestantchurches，whichtheyneveroughttohaveadopted，sinceitssourceispaganandnotChristian。InflingingitsdenialofthatdoctrineatChristianity，Spiritismisthereforeonlybeatingtheair。 AsfortheresurrectionofthebodyofJesus，itisenoughforusthattheywhohadbeenthreeandahalfyearswithHimrecognizedtheresurrectedJesusasthesameJesuswhohadcalledthem，taughtthem，，journeyedwiththem，performedmiraclesintheirpresence，hadsubmittedtoanunjustandillegaltrial，hadexpireduponthecross，andhadbeenburiedinJoseph\'stombundertheRomangovernment\'sofficialseal。Oneoftheirnumber，whohadnotyetseenHimsinceHisresurrection，doubtedwhethertheonewhohadbeenseenwasthesamethathehadknown，risenwiththesamebody； butwhenJesusshowedthegapingwoundsinHishandsandHisfeetandHisside，thisdoubterexclaimedinhisgladastonishment，“MyLordandmyGod！“John20:28。Jesussaiduntohim，“Thomas，becausethouhastseenMe，thouhastbelieved:blessedaretheythathavenotseen，andyethavebelieved。”Verse29。Butnowhereisanyblessingpronounceduponthosewhorefusetobelieve，whodenyanddenouncethefoundationprinciplesofHisgospel。 AsfortheBible\'sinfallibility，ithasdemonstrateditselfsocompletelyinitsdivinerighteousness，initsminuteforetellingofeventsthatwerelongfuturewhentheywerewrittenof，andinitspredictionoftheRedeemerwhowastocomeandtheworkHewastodo，thatitisnotnecessarytoenterintoanyelaboratedefenseoftheBiblehere。However，ofJesuswhenHewasenteringuponHisministry，therecordsays:“HecametoNazareth，whereHehadbeenbroughtup:and，asHiscustomwas，HewentintothesynagogueontheSabbathday，andstoodupfortoread。AndtherewasdelivereduntoHimthebookofPage68theprophetEsaias[Isaiah]。AndwhenHehadopenedthebook，Hefoundtheplacewhereitwaswritten，TheSpiritoftheLordisuponMe，becauseHehathanointedMetopreachthegospeltothepoor；HehathsentMetohealthebroken-hearted，topreachdeliverancetothecaptives，andrecoveringofsighttotheblind，tosetatlibertythemthatarebruised，topreachtheacceptableyearoftheLord。AndHeclosedthebook，andHegaveitagaintotheminister，andsatdown。AndtheeyesofallthatwereinthesynagoguewerefastenedonHim。AndHebegantosayuntothem，Thisdayisthisscripturefulfilledinyourears。”Luke4:16-21。ThefulfillmentofthatprophecyhadcometopassinthepersonofJesus，theanointedofGod。ButthiswasnottheonlyprophecyofIsaiahthatwasfulfilledinthepersonandworksofJesustheanointed。Thesewonderfulwordsalsoweresuchaprophecy，andineverylettermettheirfulfillmentinthemanChristJesus:“Whohathbelievedourreport?andtowhomisthearmoftheLordrevealed?ForHeshallgrowupbeforeHimasatenderplant，andasarootoutofadryground:Hehathnoformnorcomeliness；andwhenweshallseeHim，thereisnobeautythatweshoulddesireHim。Heisdespisedandrejectedofmen；amanofsorrows，andacquaintedwith\'grief:andwehidasitwereourfacesfromHim；Hewasdespised，andweesteemedHimnot。SurelyHehathborneourgriefs，andcarriedoursorrows:yetwedidesteemHimstricken，smittenofGod，andafflicted。ButHewaswoundedforourtransgressions，Hewasbruisedforouriniquities:thechastisementofourpeacewasuponHim；andwithHisstripeswearehealed。 “Allwelikesheephavegoneastray；wehaveturnedeveryonetohisownway；andtheLordhathlaidonHimtheiniquityofusall。Hewasoppressed，andHewasafflicted，yetHeopenednotHismouth:Heisbroughtasalambtotheslaughter，andasasheepbeforehershearersisdumb，soHeopenethnotHismouth。Hewastakenfromprisonandfromjudgment:andwhoshalldeclareHisgeneration?forHewascutoffoutofthelandoftheliving: forthetransgressionofmypeoplewasHestricken。AndHemadeHisgravewiththewicked，andwiththerichinHisdeath；becauseHehaddonenoviolence，neitherwasanydeceitinHismouth。 “YetitpleasedtheLordtobruiseHim；HehathputHimtogrief:whenThoushaltmakeHissoulanofferingforsin，HeshallseeHisseed，HeshallprolongHisdays，andthepleasureoftheLordshallprosperinHishand。HeshallseeofthetravailofHissoul，andshallbesatisfied: byHisknowledgeshallMyrighteousservantjustifymany；forHeshallbeartheiriniquities。ThereforewillIdivideHimaportionwiththegreat，andHeshalldividethespoilwiththestrong；be-Page69causeHehathpouredoutHissouluntodeath:andHewasnumberedwiththetransgressors；andHebarethesinofmany，andmadeintercessionforthetransgressors。”Isaiah53。ThatisaprophecyoftheChrist\'whowastocome，oftheworkthatHewastodo，ofthewayHewouldbereceivedbythoseHehadcometosave，andfinallyoftheactualsheddingofHisbloodfortheredemptionofHispeople。ThewholegospelisinthatprophecyofIsaiah。Hecame，andtheycalledHisnameJesus(Saviour)，becauseHewastosaveHispeoplefromtheirsins；Hewasindeeddespisedandrejected，insultedandspatupon； Hewasinthedeepestsenseamanofsorrowsandacquaintedwithgrief； Hewassmitten，andrebukednotthesmiters；HewascrucifiedbecauseoftheinsistentdemandofthoseHecametosavefromsinandfromtheresultsofsin。John\'srecordreads，“HecameuntoHisown，andHisownreceivedHimnot。”John1:11。AndyetofHimJohntheBaptistcouldsay:“BeholdtheLambofGod，whichtakethawaythesinoftheworld。”John1:29。“AndJohnbarerecord，saying，IsawtheSpiritdescendingfromheavenlikeadove，anditabodeuponHim。”Verse32。 HowfullyandcompletelyhasIsaiah\'sprophecyofHimbeenfulfilled！ EverydetailofHisministryandHissacrificeisdepictedbytheprophet，andthelifefitstheprophecyinallitsparticulars。WhocandenytheinfallibilityofaBookwhichspeakswithsuchinerrantwisdomandforeknowledge? ConcerningthatsamegraciousGiftofGod，thatlove-movedPrinceoftheRestoration，theprophet-psalmistwrotecenturiesbeforethebirthofChrist:“MyGod，MyGod，whyhastThouforsakenMe?……ButIamaworm，andnoman；areproachofmen，anddespisedofthepeople。AlltheythatseeMelaughMetoscorn:theyshootoutthelip，theyshakethehead，saying，HetrustedontheLordthatHewoulddeliverHim:letHimdeliverHim，seeingHedelightedinHim……BenotfarfromMe； fortroubleisnear；forthereisnonetohelp……Iampouredoutlikewater，andallMybonesareoutofjoint……Mystrengthisdrieduplikeapotsherd；andMytonguecleavethtoMyjaws；andThouhastbroughtMeintothedustofdeath。FordogshavecompassedMe:theassemblyofthewickedhaveinclosedMe:theypiercedMyhandsandMyfeet。ImaytellallMybones:theylookandstareuponMe。Page70TheypartMygarmentsamongthem，andcastlotsuponMyvesture。” Ps。22:1-18。ThewriterofthosewordshadavisionofChristonthecross，surroundedbyamotleythrongcomposedofangryJewishrulers，ofscoffingblasphemers，ofRomanofficersandsoldiers，andafewofHisnearestfriendsandrelatives。 Thepsalmistforetellstheconditions，andthediscipleshavewrittendownthefulfillment。Hedidcryoutonthecross，“MyGod，MyGod，whyhastThouforsakenMe?“Matt。27:46；Mark15:34。TheydidlaughHimtoscorn，andshakethehead，tauntinglyjeeringHimforHistrustinGod。Matt。 27:39-43；Mark15:29-32。Hedidthirst，asthepsalmistpredicted。John20:24-28。Theyusedtheverywordsintheirinsultswhichthepsalmistwrotedowngenerationsbefore。Matt。27:43。They(thesoldiers)didpartHis。garmentsamongthem，andbecauseHisoutergarmentwasaseamlessone，theycastlotsforittoseewhoseitshouldbe。John19:23，24。 EachofthefourevangelistsmentionsthisstrikingfulfillmentofpredictionsmadesomanycenturiespreviousconcerningthecrucifixionofourRedeemer。 Iftheseareonlycoincidences，theyarethemoststrikingchainofcoincidenceshistoryhaseverrecorded。 Butweshallnotbecontentwiththese。MorethansevenhundredandfiftyyearsbeforethebirthofChrist，theprophetIsaiahhadwritten:“Hearyenow，OhouseofDavid:Isitasmallthingforyoutowearymen，butwillyewearymyGodalso?ThereforetheLordHimselfshallgiveyouasign:Behold，avirginshallconceive，andbearason，andshallcallHisnameImmanuel。”Isa。7:13，14。MatthewandLukegivethedetailsofthefulfillmentofthisprediction。 Matt1:18-25；Luke1:26-35。TheycalledHimJesus(Saviour)andEmmanuel(Godwithus)。Matt。1:21-23。 TheprophetDanielpredictedthetimeoftheMessiah\'sbirthanddeath(Dan。9:25-27)，andthoseeventstookplaceexactlyontime。TheChristwasbornatjustthetimewhenDaniel\'sprophecysaidtheOnesolongwaitedforshouldcome；Page71thecrucifixionofJesusoccurredatjustthetimewhenDaniel\'sprophecysaidtheMessiahshouldbecutoff。Wecannothereenterintoanexpositionofthisday-for-a-yeartimeprophecy，whichreachedfrom457B。C。tothreeandone-halfyearsthissideofourLord\'scrucifixion。Foradetailedandsatisfactoryexpositionofthisprophecy，thereaderisreferredtosuchworksas“ThoughtsonDanielandtheRevelation，“byUriahSmith[2]； and“HistoryUnveilingProphecy“and“AKeytotheApocalypse，“byH。GrattanGuinness。 TherecanbenoreasonabledoubtthattheprophecyofDanielmetitsfulfillmentinthebirth，ministry，andcrucifixionofJesus；andthisexplainsthereluctanceonthepartofmanylearnedJewstodiscusswithChristianstodaytheprophecyofDanielrelatingtothebirthoftheMessiah。 TheprophetMicahgivesonespecificationconcerningthebirthofthePrinceoftheRestorationwhichlaterwritersconfirm。Hewaswritingabout750yearsbeforethebirthofChrist，andthesearehiswords:“Thou，BethlehemEphratah，thoughthoubelittleamongthethousandsofJudah，yetoutoftheeshallHecomeforthuntoMethatistoberulerinIsrael；whosegoingsforthhavebeenfromofold，fromeverlasting[or，“thedaysofeternity，“margin]。”Micah5:2。ThatallIsraelknewwhowasmeantinthatprophecyisshownbytheansweroftheJewishleaderstoHerodwhen“hedemandedofthemwhereChristshouldbeborn:““InBethlehemofJudea:forthusitiswrittenbytheprophet，AndthouBethlehem，inthelandofJuda，artnottheleastamongtheprincesofJuda:foroutoftheeshallcomeaGovernor，thatshallruleMypeopleIsrael。”Matt。2:5，6。JesusChristfulfilledthatspecification；andBethlehem(thehouseofbread)becamethebirthplaceofHimwhowasandisthebreadoflife。Thisisanotherstrikinglinkinthisremarkablechainof——shallwecallthemcoincidences?Shallwenotrathercallthemwhattheyprovethemselvestobe，fulfillmentsofdivineprophecy? TheprophetHoseaaddshislinktothechainofevidence，andintherecordofthefulfillmentofhisprediction，historyPage72putsthenameofChrist:“WhenIsraelwasachild，thenIlovedhim，andcalledMySonoutofEgypt。”Hosea11:1。This，saysone，referredtothedeliveranceoftheIsraelitesfromEgyptianbondage。Ithadonefulfillmentthen，butithadanotherwhentheangeloftheLordcametoJosephinEgypt，whitherhehadfledwithMaryandtheChild，andcalledthembackagaintotheLandofPromise。(SeeMatt。2:13-34。)HedidcallIsraelout，andtheycamewithavastmixedmultitudewhowereoutofsympathywithGod\'spurpose，andnevercouldtrulybecalledHischildren；butwhenHecalledtheChristoutofEgypt，HecalledonewhowasHisSoninverydeed。 TheprophetIsaiah，inthechapterpreviouslyquoted(Isaiah53)，foretoldthenatureofChrist\'sworkamongthepoorandafflicted:“SurelyHehathborneourgriefs，andcarriedoursorrows:yetwedidesteemHimstricken，smittenofGod，andafflicted。”AgainthesameprophetspeaksofHim:“TheSpiritoftheLord\'GodisuponMe；becausetheLordhathanointedMetopreachgoodtidingsuntothemeek；HehathsentMetobindupthebroken-hearted，toproclaimlibertytothecaptives，andtheopeningoftheprisontothemthatarebound；toproclaimtheacceptableyearoftheLord，andthedayofvengeanceofourGod；tocomfortallthatmourn； toappointuntothemthatmourninZion，togiveuntothembeautyforashes，theoilofjoyformourning，thegarmentofpraiseforthespiritofheaviness。” Isa。61:1-3。TheChrist，whenHecame，didallthat，anddeclared，furthermore，thatitwasHissetpurposeandHisappointedworksotodo。Luke4:16-21。 TheprophetZechariahalsoaddsalinktothiswonderfulchainofpredictionandfulfillment，recordingitinthesewords:“Isaiduntothem，Ifyethinkgood，giveMeMyprice；andifnot，forbear。SotheyweighedforMypricethirtypiecesofsilver。 AndtheLordsaiduntoMe，Castituntothepotter:agoodlypricethatIwasprizedatofthem。AndItookthethirtypiecesofsilver，andcastthemtothepotterinthehouseoftheLord。”Zech。11:12，13。Whocanquestion，whenhereadsthisprophecy，thatitfounditsfulfillmentinthetraitorousconnivingofJudaswiththerulersoftheJews，whenhebargainedwiththemtosellhisPage73Lordintotheirhandsforthirtypiecesofsilver——thepriceofaslave?SaidJesustoHissorrow-strickendisciples:“TheSonofmangoethasitiswrittenofHim[orinfulfillmentofthepredictionsoftheprophets]:butwoeuntothatmanbywhomtheSonofmanisbetrayed！Ithadbeengoodforthatmanifhehadnotbeenborn。ThenJudas，whichbetrayedHim，answeredandsaid，Master，isitI?HesaiduntoHim，Thouhastsaid。”Matt。26:24，25。Markspeaksthusofthetransaction:“JudasIscariot，oneofthetwelve，wentuntothechiefpriests，tobetrayHimuntothem。Andwhentheyheardit，theywereglad，andpromisedtogivehimmoney。AndhesoughthowhemightconvenientlybetrayHim。” Mark14:10，11。Matthewhasleftthisrecord:“Thenoneofthetwelve，calledJudasIscariot，wentuntothechiefpriests，andsaiduntothem，Whatwillyegiveme，andIwilldeliverHimuntoyou?Andtheycovenantedwithhimforthirtypiecesofsilver。 AndfromthattimehesoughtopportunitytobetrayHim。”Matt。26:54-56。Nowcomestheremarkablepartofthetransaction，whichfulfillstheprophecytotheletter:“ThenJudas，whichhadbetrayedHim，whenhesawthatHewascondemned，repentedhimself，andbroughtagainthethirtypiecesofsilvertothechiefpriestsandelders，saying，IhavesinnedinthatIhavebetrayedtheinnocentblood。Andtheysaid，Whatisthattous?seethoutothat。 Andhecastdownthepiecesofsilverinthetemple，anddeparted，andwentandhangedhimself。Andthechiefprieststookthesilverpieces，andsaid，Itisnotlawfulfortoputthemintothetreasury，becauseitisthepriceofblood。Andtheytookcounsel，andboughtwiththemthepotter\'sfield，toburystrangersin。Whereforethatfieldwascalled，Thefieldofblood。”Matt。27:3-8。Letitnotescapethereader\'snoticethateventheplacewherethisremarkabletransactionwastobeaccomplishedhadbeenspecifiedhundredsofyearsbeforeitoccurred。Zechariahsaysitwastobe“inthehouseoftheLord。”Zech。11:13。Matthewsays“hecastdownthepiecesofsilverinthetemple。”Matt。27:5。Zechariahsaysthepricewastobecast“untothepotter。”Matthewsaysthey“boughtwiththemthepotter\'sfield，toburystrangersin。Page74ThemarvelousaccuracywithwhichthesepredictionsmettheirfulfillmentdemonstratesthatthehandswhichpennedthemweremovedbyinspirationoftheHolyGhost，andnotbyhumanimpulseorinclination。Spiritism，indenyingthetruthoftheinspirationoftheBible，fliesinthefaceofmostpatentfacts，anddeniestheGodthroughwhomweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing；andindenyingthefundamentalsoftheonlyreligionevergiventothepeopleofthisworldbytheonlytrueGod，itplacesitselfonthesideofGod\'senemy，leadingawayfromtheeternallightofheaventothegloomandthedarknessofeternaldeath。 SpiritismisatwarwithChristianity，andisthusatwarwiththebestinterestsofthewholehumanrace。Spiritismbeingthusatwarwiththegospel，withChristianity，thespiritbehinditproveshimselfatwarwiththeAuthorofthegospel，theFounderofChristianity，theChristofGod。 ItdeniestheinfallibilityoftheBible，whichhasproveditselftruebyitsownirrefutableevidence，andsuppliesitsplacewiththeproductionsofautomaticwriterswhosetestimonialsdealonlyinetherealfancies，whosepropheciesaremerelyguesses，andseldomifevercometrue，andwhosewitnessesareasunabletoagreeasweretheaccusersofChristonthenightofHistrial。Spiritismwouldtakeawaythebreadoflife—— thewordofGod——andgiveusastone。 Spiritismdenouncesalso“thedoctrineofsalvationbyfaithonly。” Insodoing，itagaindishonorsanddeniestheOnewhomitprofessestohonor。OurSavioursaidtotheunbelievingJews，“YewillnotcometoMe，thatyemighthavelife。”John5:40。ThisverseteachesthatifwedonotcometoHim，ifwedonotdependuponHimforlife，weshallnothaveit。Thesameteaching，againfromourSaviour\'sownlips，isfoundinJohn3:16，17:“Godsolovedtheworld，thatHegaveHisonlybegottenSon，thatwhosoeverbelievethinHimshouldnotperish，buthaveeverlastinglife。ForGodsentnotHisSonintotheworldtocondemntheworld；butthattheworldthroughHimmightbesaved。”IsnotthisscriptureaplaindeclarationthatifwedonotbelieveonHimandtrustinHimforoursalvation，weshallPage75perishandshallnothaveeverlastinglife?Thatthisistheonlypossiblemeaningoftheverses，therecanbenoquestion。 Strongasthesescripturesareintheindirectmethodofteachingpositivetruth，wearenotlefttodeductions，eventhoughtheybeeversoplain。 TheMastersaid，“Iamtheway，thetruth，andthelife:nomancomethuntotheFather，butbyMe。”John14:6。HereisthemanJesus，whomSpiritistsclaimtohonor，showingusthewayintothekingdomofGod，anddeclaringthatthereisnootherway。HeopensadoortousthroughwhichHesayswemayenterintoeverlastinglife，andHedeclaresthatthereisnootherdoor。Peter，afterthreeandahalfyears\'instructionunderJesus\'ownteaching，declaredtotherulersoftheJews:“Thisisthestonewhichwassetatnaughtofyoubuilders，whichisbecometheheadofthecorner。Neitheristheresalvationinanyother:forthereisnoneothernameunderheavengivenamongmen，wherebywemustbesaved。”Acts4:11，12。TheapostlePaul，againstwhoseteachinginthismatterthedisciplesutterednoprotest，madethisverydefinitestatement:“He[GodtheFather]hathmadeHim[Christ]tobesinforus，whoknewnosin；thatwemightbemadetherighteousnessofGodinHim。” 2Cor。5:21。Ifwe，then，refuseHimasthe“propitiationforoursins，“anddependuponourselves——ourownefforts，ourowngoodness——toseeusthroughtothekingdomandguaranteeusanentrancethere，weshallfailutterly，ortheteachingsoftheprophetsandapostlesandofChristHimselfareallwrong。TheonlyrighteousnessthatwillberecognizedbythegreatJudgeistherighteousnesswereceiveasthegiftofGodthroughfaithinJesusChrist。Ifwearedependinguponourownrighteousness，weareleaningonaworthlessandbrokenreed。TheprophetIsaiahexpressesthistruthofman\'sutterhelplessnessinthesewords:“Weareallasanuncleanthing，andallourrighteousnessesareasfilthyrags；andwealldofadeasaleaf；andouriniquities，likethewind，havetakenusaway。”Isa。64:6。Page76Thereforehewhodependsuponhisownrighteousnesstosavehimwillfindhimselftakenawaybyhisiniquities，andperishinginthem。 TheapostlePaul，inharmonywiththeteachingsofJesusalreadysetforth，speakingofGod\'splanforpronouncingmenrighteous，usesthesewords:“TherighteousnessofGodwithoutthelawismanifested，beingwitnessedbythelawandtheprophets；eventherighteousnessofGodwhichisbyfaithofJesusChristuntoallanduponallthemthatbelieve:forthereisnodifference:forallhavesinned，andcomeshortofthegloryofGod；beingjustifiedfreelybyHisgracethroughtheredemptionthatisinChristJesus:whom\'GodhathsetforthtobeapropitiationthroughfaithinHisblood，todeclareHisrighteousnessfortheremissionofsinsthatarepast，throughtheforbearanceofGod；todeclare，Isay，atthistimeHisrighteousness:thatHemightbejust，andthejustifierofhimwhichbelievethinJesus。”Rom。3:21-26。Thatisjustificationbyfaith；itisnotsomethinginventedbytheapostlePaul。Itisthesamegreattruth，inotherwords，thatwastaughtbyJesusHimself。Thefaith，moreover，whichtakeseffectualholdofthesethingsisafaiththatmanifestsitselfinalifethatharmonizeswiththerighteouslifeofJesus，whoisourlifeandhope。Thatfaithdoesnotleadtocareless，loose，orimmoralliving。Apersonwithsuchafaithcannotleadalifeofsin。Goodworksspringfromhishandsastrulyandasnaturallyasgoodfruitappearsontheboughsofahealthyandwell-prunedtree。 InHimwetrust，therefore，“whowasdeliveredforouroffenses，andwasraisedagainforourjustification。”Rom。4:25。Therighteousness，therefore，inwhichliesourhopeasourpassportinto“thekingdomofHisdearSon，“isnotour“ownrighteousness，……butthatwhichisthroughthefaithofChrist，therighteousnesswhichisofGodbyfaith。”Phil。 3:9。Wedonotrejectit，asSpiritismdoes，butacceptit，rejoiceinit，andshalltriumphthroughit。 Notes[1]TheProgressiveThinker。 [2]Thebook\'scurrenttitleisThePropheciesofDanielandtheRevelationbyUriahSmith。 OnTheThroneofSin:SpiritismEncouragesSuicidePage77Chapter8SpiritismEncouragesSuicideASSpiritismhassetitselftoimproveman\'sreligiousoutlookanduplookinthisworld，——eventosupersedeChristianityasthereligionofthefuture，——wehavearighttoputitupontrialandascertainwhetherithasdonesoorislikelytodoso。Wehavefoundinitsteachingsandinthefruitageofitsteachingsthatwhichindicatesafailureinthatmatterallalongtheline。Havingtaughtindividualstobelievethatwhenapersondies，hepassesimmediatelyintoanothersphereoflifeandactivity，andthatonlyathinveilhidesthedepartedlovedonefromthoseleftbehind，ithasplacedintheirsoulsanurgentlongingtopiercethatveilandjointhatlovedone。Somehavethatlongingappeasedinameasurebycommunicationswhichpurporttocomefromthedeparted；butothersarenotsatisfiedwiththis，andmessagesoftencomecallingthemorenticingthemtojointhedepartedone“ontheotherside。”SomeresistthetemptationstosuicidewhichSpiritismholdsbeforetheirminds。Othersdonot。Thefollowingwillillustrate: Inthemuch-advertisedbookbySirOliverJ。Lodge，entitled，“Raymond，orLifeandDeath，“aregivenmanyreportsofcommunicationspurportingtocomefromSirOliver\'sdeadson，Raymond，wholosthislifeintheGreatWar。Thesewordsareaddressedbythe“spirit“tothefather，SirOliver:“YouknowthatIamlonginganddyingforthedaywhenyoucomeovertome。Itwillbeasplendiddayforme。ButImustn\'tbeselfish。