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Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

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FROM THE SriRIT WORLD. 121is represented to be less, as <strong>the</strong> spheres between which it may exist arcmore elevated or remote from <strong>the</strong> terrestrial centre.G31. Each sphere is divided into six ^^circles" or plains. More properly<strong>the</strong>se may be described as concentric zones, occupying each aboutone-sixth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> space comprised within <strong>the</strong> boundaries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sphere.Therebeing six subdivisions to each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> six spheres, in all <strong>the</strong>re must bethirty-six gradations.632. These boundaries arc not marked by any visible partition, but<strong>spirit</strong>s have in this respect a peculiar sense, which makes <strong>the</strong>m feel when<strong>the</strong>y are passing <strong>the</strong> boundaries <strong>of</strong> one sphere in order to get to <strong>the</strong>next.633. This allegation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> an invisible <strong>spirit</strong> world within<strong>the</strong> clear azure space intervening between <strong>the</strong> surface <strong>of</strong> this globe and<strong>the</strong> lunar orbit may startle <strong>the</strong> reader; and yet this idea may have beenpresented by Scripture to <strong>the</strong> same mind, without awakening skepticism.It was urged by a <strong>spirit</strong> friend—Is it more wonderful that you should findour habitations invisible, than that we arc invisible ?634. It is plain that between <strong>the</strong> lowest degrees <strong>of</strong> vice, ignorance, andfolly, and <strong>the</strong> highest degrees <strong>of</strong> virtue, learning, and wisdom, <strong>the</strong>re aremany gradations. When we are translated to <strong>the</strong> spheres, we take a rankproportional to our merit, which seems tobe <strong>the</strong>re intuitively susceptible<strong>of</strong> estimation by <strong>the</strong> law above alluded to, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> grossness being greateras <strong>the</strong> character is more imperfect. Both <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>s and spheres arerepresented as having a gradation in constitutionalrefinement, so that <strong>the</strong>sphere to which a <strong>spirit</strong> belongs is intuitively manifest. Rank is determinedby a sort <strong>of</strong> moral specific gravity, in which merit is inversely asweight. Ano<strong>the</strong>r means <strong>of</strong> distinction is a circumambient halo by whichevery <strong>spirit</strong> is accompanied, which passes from a darkness to efFulgencyas <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong> belongs to a higher plane. Even mortals are alleged to besurrounded with a halo visible to spii'its, although not to <strong>the</strong>mselves.Intuitively, from <strong>the</strong> extent and nature <strong>of</strong> this halo, <strong>spirit</strong>s perceive <strong>the</strong>sphere to which any mundane being belongs. The efi"ulgence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> higher<strong>spirit</strong>s is represented as splendid. As soon as emancipated from <strong>the</strong>ir corporealtenement, <strong>spirit</strong>s enter <strong>the</strong> spheres, and are entitled to a stationhigher in direct proportion to <strong>the</strong>ir morality, wisdom, knowledge, andintellectual refinement.635. The first <strong>spirit</strong>ual sphere, or <strong>the</strong> second in <strong>the</strong> whole series, is aslarge as all <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r five above it. This is <strong>the</strong> hell or Hades <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>world, where all sensual, malevolent, selfish beings reside. The nextsphere above this, or <strong>the</strong> third in <strong>the</strong> whole series, is <strong>the</strong> habitation <strong>of</strong> allwell-meaning persons, however bigoted, fanatical, or ignorant.are tolerably happy.Here <strong>the</strong>y636. In proportion as <strong>spirit</strong>s improve in purity, benevolence, and wisdom,<strong>the</strong>y ascend. They may ascend as love-<strong>spirit</strong>s, in consequence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two

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