As introductory to this work, I shall make a few brief remarks on the
following topics:—
Objects of religion.—Diversity of opinion as to the means by which they
have been attainable.—Every sect, excepting one, would vote against any
one.—Consequent sentiments of the Author as embodied in verse.—Reasons
for his believing in the existence of a Deity.—American priesthood
eminently honest and pious.—If people who have obtained a belief in
immortality by _one route_ are better and happier therefor, why object
that others, by another route, should attain the same ends.—The table,
no less than our firesides, an object of interest.—Inconsistency
of those who make their Deity pass through all the stages of human
existence, from the embryo to maturity, in objecting to the transient
employment of tables.—Use of the tables soon laid aside in the
manifestations to which the Author has resorted.—Inconsistency of
accusing Spiritualists of undue incredulity as to scriptural miracles,
and of the opposite defect as respects spiritual manifestations.—Of
certain savans who strain at spiritual gnats, yet swallow scriptural
camels.—Miracles of Scripture, if they ever occurred, can never be
repeated; but the manifestations of Spiritualism will be repeated with
an improved and a multifarious efficiency.—Religion and positive or
inductive science having, under the guidance of devotion and atheism,
been made to travel in opposite directions, are by Spiritualism so
associated as to travel together in the same direction.—The atheist
Comte would dissolve the union between theology and science.—According
to Comte, where true science begins, the domain of theology terminates,
being only a creature of the imagination.—According to Spiritualism, it
is the domain of ignorance that is lessened, while theology, _founded_
on _knowledge_, grows with its growth, and strengthens with its
strength.—An effort to refute the idea of Comte, that the phenomena of
the sidereal creation can be explained by gravitation; which, left to
itself, would consolidate all the matter in the universe into an inert
lump.—Suggestions respecting the devil.—Arguments founded on ignorance.
1. On all sides I presume that it will be admitted that the great
objects of religion are as follows:—
2. To furnish the best evidence of the existence of a Supreme Deity,
and of his attributes.
3. To convey a correct idea of our duty toward that Deity and our
fellow creatures.
4. To impart that knowledge of a state of existence beyond the grave
which will be _happier_ as we are more _virtuous in this life_, and
more miserable as we are more vicious; this knowledge affording the
best consolation amid temporal sufferings of the righteous, and the
strongest restraint upon the vicious indulgence of passion in the
unrighteous.
5. Finally, by these means, to promote morality and the happiness of
man in this world, and prepare him for a blissful position in the world
to come.
6. It must result, from these premises, that whichever is most
competent for the attainment of these all-important ends, will be the
best religion.
7. The above-mentioned postulates being generally admitted, various
recorded traditions, pretended to have been derived from one or more
deities, have been advanced as best calculated to meet the requisitions
in question. Each of the religious doctrines thus advanced is
tenaciously defended by its appropriate priesthood. If the opinions
of the majority of these advocates of their respective revelations be
taken as respects any creed excepting their own, it will be denounced
as originating in error or fraud. The opinion being taken successively
upon _any one_, by all but those to whom it appertains, each would be
condemned.
8. It was under these impressions that the following verses were
written, more than forty years ago. They have recently been published
in a pamphlet on the better employment of the first day of the week.
They serve to show that my skepticism arose from my love of truth,
instead of that aversion from it, ascribed to skeptics by many
well-meaning bigots.
9. Oh, Truth! if man thy way could find,
Not doomed to stray with error blind,
How much more kind his fate!
But wayward still, he seeks his bane,
Nor can of foul delusion gain
A knowledge till too late.
By sad experience slowly shown,
Thy way at times though plainly known,
Too late repays his care;
While in thy garb dark Error leads,
With best intent, to evil deeds
The bigot to ensnare.
Is there a theme more highly fraught
With matter for our serious thought
Than this reflection sad,
That millions err in different ways,
Yet all their own impressions praise,
Deeming all others bad?
To man it seems no standard’s given,
No scale of Truth hangs down from Heaven
Opinion to assay;
Yet called upon to act and think,
How are we then to shun the brink
O’er which so many stray?
10. How far I was a believer in God may be estimated from the following
opinions, which have appeared in the pamphlet wherein the foregoing
verses were published:
On the Evidence of the Existence of a Deity.