communicate with them, Satan causes those to appear who went into the
grave unprepared. They claim to be happy in heaven, and even to occupy
exalted positions there; and thus the error is widely taught, that no
difference is made between the righteous and the wicked. The pretended
visitants from the world of spirits sometimes utter cautions and warnings
which prove to be correct. Then, as confidence is gained, they present
doctrines that directly undermine faith in the Scriptures. With an
appearance of deep interest in the well-being of their friends on earth,
they insinuate the most dangerous errors. The fact that they state some
truths, and are able at times to foretell future events, gives to their
statements an appearance of reliability; and their false teachings are
accepted by the multitudes as readily, and believed as implicitly, as if
they were the most sacred truths of the Bible. The law of God is set
aside, the Spirit of grace despised, the blood of the covenant counted an
unholy thing. The spirits deny the deity of Christ, and place even the
Creator on a level with themselves. Thus under a new disguise the great
rebel still carries on his warfare against God, begun in heaven, and for
nearly six thousand years continued upon the earth.
Many endeavor to account for spiritual manifestations by attributing them
wholly to fraud and sleight of hand on the part of the medium. But while
it is true that the results of trickery have often been palmed off as
genuine manifestations, there have been, also, marked exhibitions of
supernatural power. The mysterious rapping with which modern Spiritualism
began was not the result of human trickery or cunning, but was the direct
work of evil angels, who thus introduced one of the most successful of
soul-destroying delusions. Many will be ensnared through the belief that
Spiritualism is a merely human imposture; when brought face to face with
manifestations which they cannot but regard as supernatural, they will be
deceived, and will be led to accept them as the great power of God.
These persons overlook the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the
wonders wrought by Satan and his agents. It was by satanic aid that
Pharaoh’s magicians were enabled to counterfeit the work of God. Paul
testifies that before the second advent of Christ there will be similar
manifestations of satanic power. The coming of the Lord is to be preceded
by “the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.”(984) And the apostle John,
describing the miracle-working power that will be manifested in the last
days, declares: “He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down
from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that
dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to
do.”(985) No mere impostures are here foretold. Men are deceived by the
miracles which Satan’s agents have power to do, not which they pretend to
do.
The prince of darkness, who has so long bent the powers of his master-mind
to the work of deception, skilfully adapts his temptations to men of all
classes and conditions. To persons of culture and refinement he presents
Spiritualism in its more refined and intellectual aspects, and thus
succeeds in drawing many into his snare. The wisdom which Spiritualism
imparts is that described by the apostle James, which “descendeth not from
above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”(986) This, however, the great
deceiver conceals, when concealment will best suit his purpose. He who
could appear clothed with the brightness of the heavenly seraphs before
Christ in the wilderness of temptation, comes to men in the most
attractive manner, as an angel of light. He appeals to the reason by the
presentation of elevating themes; he delights the fancy with enrapturing
scenes; and he enlists the affections by his eloquent portrayals of love
and charity. He excites the imagination to lofty flights, leading men to
take so great pride in their own wisdom that in their hearts they despise
the Eternal One. That mighty being who could take the world’s Redeemer to
an exceedingly high mountain, and bring before Him all the kingdoms of the
earth and the glory of them, will present his temptations to men in a
manner to pervert the senses of all who are not shielded by divine power.
Satan beguiles men now as he beguiled Eve in Eden, by flattery, by
kindling a desire to obtain forbidden knowledge, by exciting ambition for
self-exaltation. It was cherishing these evils that caused his fall, and
through them he aims to compass the ruin of men. “Ye shall be as gods,” he
declares, “knowing good and evil.”(987) Spiritualism teaches “that man is
the creature of progression; that it is his destiny from his birth to
progress, even to eternity, toward the Godhead.” And again: “Each mind
will judge itself and not another.” “The judgment will be right, because
it is the judgment of self.... The throne is within you.” Said a
Spiritualistic teacher, as the “spiritual consciousness” awoke within him,
“My fellow-men, all were unfallen demigods.” And another declares, “Any
just and perfect being is Christ.”
Thus, in place of the righteousness and perfection of the infinite God,
the true object of adoration; in place of the perfect righteousness of His
law, the true standard of human attainment, Satan has substituted the
sinful, erring nature of man himself, as the only object of adoration, the
only rule of judgment, or standard of character. This is progress, not
upward, but downward.
It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature, that by
beholding, we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the
subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. It becomes assimilated to that
which it is accustomed to love and reverence. Man will never rise higher
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 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 to-day, 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.”(988)
The work of dealing with familiar spirits was pronounced an abomination to
the Lord, and was solemnly forbidden under penalty of death.(989) 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 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, “Every one that
doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delighteth in them;
or, Where is the God of judgment?”(990) Saith the word of God, “Woe unto
them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and
light for darkness.”(991)
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 out 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 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 wilfully cherish a known
sin, are inviting the temptations of Satan. 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.”(992) 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.”(993)
Those who oppose the teachings of Spiritualism are assailing, not men
alone, but Satan and his angels. They have entered upon a contest against
principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places. Satan will
not yield one inch of ground except as he is driven back by the power of
heavenly messengers. The people of God should be able to meet him, as did
our Saviour, with the words, “It is written.” Satan can quote Scripture
now as in the days of Christ, and he will pervert its teachings to sustain
his delusions. Those who would stand in this time of peril must understand
for themselves the testimony of the Scriptures. Many will be confronted by
the spirits of devils personating beloved relatives or friends, and
declaring the most dangerous heresies. These visitants will appeal to our
tenderest sympathies, and will work miracles to sustain their pretensions.
We must be prepared to withstand them with the Bible truth that the dead
know not anything, and that they who thus appear are the spirits of
devils.
Just before us is the “hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the
world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”(994) All whose faith is not
firmly established upon the word of God will be deceived and overcome.
Satan “works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness” to gain control
of the children of men; and his deceptions will continually increase. But
he can gain his object only as men voluntarily yield to his temptations.
Those who are earnestly seeking a knowledge of the truth, and are striving
to purify their souls through obedience, thus doing what they can to
prepare for the conflict, will find, in the God of truth, a sure defense.
“Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep
thee,”(995) is the Saviour’s promise. He would sooner send every angel out
of heaven to protect His people, than leave one soul that trusts in Him to
be overcome by Satan.
The prophet Isaiah brings to view the fearful deception which will come
upon the wicked, causing them to count themselves secure from the
judgments of God: “We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are
we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall
not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood
have we hid ourselves.”(996) In the class here described are included
those who in their stubborn impenitence comfort themselves with the
assurance that there is to be no punishment for the sinner; that all
mankind, it matters not how corrupt, are to be exalted to heaven, to
become as the angels of God. But still more emphatically are those making
a covenant with death and an agreement with hell, who renounce the truths
which Heaven has provided as a defense for the righteous in the day of
trouble, and accept the refuge of lies offered by Satan in its stead,—the
delusive pretensions of Spiritualism.
Marvelous beyond expression is the blindness of the people of this
generation. Thousands reject the word of God as unworthy of belief, and
with eager confidence receive the deceptions of Satan. Skeptics and
scoffers denounce the bigotry of those who contend for the faith of
prophets and apostles, and they divert themselves by holding up to
ridicule the solemn declarations of the Scriptures concerning Christ and
the plan of salvation, and the retribution to be visited upon the
rejecters of the truth. They affect great pity for minds so narrow, weak,
and superstitious as to acknowledge the claims of God and obey the
requirements of His law. They manifest as much assurance as if, indeed,
they had made a covenant with death and an agreement with hell,—as if they
had erected an impassable, impenetrable barrier between themselves and the
vengeance of God. Nothing can arouse their fears. So fully have they
yielded to the tempter, so closely are they united with him, and so
thoroughly imbued with his spirit, that they have no power and no
inclination to break away from his snare.
Satan has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world.
The foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden,
“Ye shall not surely die.” “In the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes
shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”(997)
Little by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception
in the development of Spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full
accomplishment of his designs; but it will be reached in the last remnant
of time. Says the prophet: “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs; ...
they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the
kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of
that great day of God Almighty.”(998) Except those who are kept by the
power of God, through faith in His word, the whole world will be swept
into the ranks of this delusion. The people are fast being lulled to a
fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God.
Saith the Lord God: “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and
righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of
lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place. And your covenant
with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not
stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be
trodden down by it.”(999)
35. AIMS OF THE PAPACY.
[Illustration: Chapter header.]
Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in
former years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in the
ascendency, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to
gain influence, there is an increasing indifference concerning the
doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy;
the opinion is gaining ground, that, after all, we do not differ so widely
upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on
our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome. The time was
when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which
had been so dearly purchased. They taught their children to abhor popery,
and held that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty to God. But
how widely different are the sentiments now expressed.
The defenders of the papacy declare that the church has been maligned; and
the Protestant world are inclined to accept the statement. Many urge that
it is unjust to judge the church of to-day by the abominations and
absurdities that marked her reign during the centuries of ignorance and
darkness. They excuse her horrible cruelty as the result of the barbarism
of the times, and plead that the influence of modern civilization has
changed her sentiments.
Have these persons forgotten the claim of infallibility put forth for
eight hundred years by this haughty power? So far from being relinquished,
this claim was affirmed in the nineteenth century with greater
positiveness than ever before. As Rome asserts that the church “_never
erred_; nor will it, according to the Scriptures, _ever err_,”(1000) how
can she renounce the principles which governed her course in past ages?
The papal church will never relinquish her claim to infallibility. All
that she has done in her persecution of those who reject her dogmas, she
holds to be right; and would she not repeat the same acts, should the
opportunity be presented? Let the restraints now imposed by secular
governments be removed, and Rome be re-instated in her former power, and
there would speedily be a revival of her tyranny and persecution.
A well-known writer speaks thus of the attitude of the papal hierarchy as
regards freedom of conscience, and of the perils which especially threaten
the United States from the success of her policy:
“There are many who are disposed to attribute any fear of Roman
Catholicism in the United States to bigotry or childishness. Such see
nothing in the character and attitude of Romanism that is hostile to our
free institutions, or find nothing portentous in its growth. Let us, then,
first compare some of the fundamental principles of our government with
those of the Catholic Church.
“The Constitution of the United States guarantees _liberty of conscience_.
Nothing is dearer or more fundamental. Pope Pius IX., in his Encyclical
Letter of August 15, 1854, said: ‘The absurd and erroneous doctrines or
ravings in defense of liberty of conscience, are a most pestilential
error—a pest, of all others, most to be dreaded in a State.’ The same
pope, in his Encyclical Letter of December 8, 1864, anathematized ‘those
who assert the liberty of conscience science and of religious worship,’
also ‘all such as maintain that the church may not employ force.’
“The pacific tone of Rome in the United States does not imply a change of
heart. She is tolerant where she is helpless. Says Bishop O’Connor:
‘Religious liberty is merely endured until the opposite can be carried
into effect without peril to the Catholic world.’... The archbishop of St.
Louis once said: ‘Heresy and unbelief are crimes; and in Christian
countries, as in Italy and Spain, for instance, where all the people are
Catholics, and where the Catholic religion is an essential part of the law
of the land, they are punished as other crimes.’...
“Every cardinal, archbishop, and bishop in the Catholic Church takes an
oath of allegiance to the pope, in which occur the following words:
‘Heretics, schismatics, and rebels to our said lord (the pope), or his
aforesaid successors, I will to my utmost persecute and oppose.’ ”(1001)
It is true that there are real Christians in the Roman Catholic communion.
Thousands in that church are serving God according to the best light they
have. They are not allowed access to His word, and therefore they do not
discern the truth. They have never seen the contrast between a living
heart-service and a round of mere forms and ceremonies. God looks with
pitying tenderness upon these souls, educated as they are in a faith that
is delusive and unsatisfying. He will cause rays of light to penetrate the
dense darkness that surrounds them. He will reveal to them the truth as it
is in Jesus, and many will yet take their position with His people.