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

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128 APOLOGY FOR MY CONVERSION.<strong>the</strong> conditions <strong>of</strong> tliis life. Death -will be only <strong>the</strong> destruction or disappearance<strong>of</strong> human and earthly affinities, and directly we shall be surroundedby affinities adapted to our new state <strong>of</strong> existence, and shall find for ourselvesa congenial home in and around our present habitation.G73. Much is argued in favour <strong>of</strong> this <strong>the</strong>ory. It is said in no plajeto interfere with Scripture, but ra<strong>the</strong>r to be countenanced by incidentalhints and allusions. It is said to be made highly probable by <strong>the</strong> knowntruths <strong>of</strong> physical science. An unseen world, in all respects material,inhabited by corporeal beings, it is said, is possible. There are materialelements which are not cognizable to any <strong>of</strong> our senses exceptby a round<strong>of</strong> research and experiment, and <strong>the</strong>n only in <strong>the</strong>ir remote effects, as, forinstance, electricity. The atmosphere also, and light, are material, andyet so subtle as almost entirely to evade our unassisted observation ; andmay <strong>the</strong>re not be still o<strong>the</strong>rs as yet to us unknown ? Wc are related to,and become acquainted with, <strong>the</strong> external world by <strong>the</strong> medium <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fivesenses ; but who will say that <strong>the</strong>re are not o<strong>the</strong>r senses hidden in possibilityin our nature which may by means <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r affinities communicatewith a world far more refined in its constitution, with which we cannotnow come in contact? Science has discovered living animalculoe in <strong>the</strong>solidest substances; <strong>the</strong> air we brea<strong>the</strong> and <strong>the</strong> water we drink are <strong>the</strong>homes <strong>of</strong> myriads <strong>of</strong> beings, and though unseen by <strong>the</strong> naked eye, <strong>the</strong>seelements are swarming with miniature life ! It seems to be God's motto,^'3fultum ill parvo"—life in life, world in world, universe in universe IWith <strong>the</strong>se known facts in science before us, may we not, it is asked, consider<strong>the</strong> above <strong>the</strong>ory probable ?674. It is fur<strong>the</strong>r supposed that this invisible world around us is <strong>the</strong>after stage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> present life ; and as it is a stage <strong>of</strong> being in all respectssuperior to this, it may be that its inhabitants have a knowledge <strong>of</strong> us,though wc have not <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, just as we are acquainted with grades <strong>of</strong>animalcule life beneath us, when it can hardly be supposed that <strong>the</strong>y knowany thing <strong>of</strong> our existence. Hence, too, in some exceptive cases it maybe possible for <strong>the</strong>m to break through <strong>the</strong> veil <strong>of</strong> separation, and appearin various ways unto men on <strong>the</strong> platform <strong>of</strong> human life. Then we areindeed '^ surrounded by a cloud <strong>of</strong> witnesses," who stand around, or bendover us, and look with deep interest upon <strong>the</strong> struggle <strong>of</strong> life, and when<strong>the</strong>y see it unequal in <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> saints, <strong>the</strong>y break through in<strong>the</strong>irardour, and become ministering <strong>spirit</strong>s to those who are heirs <strong>of</strong> eternallife.675. It is also supposed that <strong>the</strong>se beings in <strong>the</strong> world unseen mayhave capacities to communicate with <strong>the</strong> remotest inhabitants <strong>of</strong> God'suniverse.The facilities <strong>of</strong> communication may be so great in <strong>the</strong>se e<strong>the</strong>realclimes, that space is annihilated, and <strong>the</strong> different hosts <strong>of</strong> intelligences in<strong>the</strong> wide universe may commune with each o<strong>the</strong>r and God as one familyin <strong>the</strong>ir ''Fa<strong>the</strong>r's house."

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