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

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206 INFLUENCE OF SCRIPTUREto <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong> <strong>of</strong> a most intimate male friend, by botli it was alleged thatpeculiar emotions were attendant on sexual affection in <strong>the</strong> spheres, aswell as on earth, so far as consistent with <strong>the</strong> absence <strong>of</strong> that which existsin common with brutes.THE MORALITY OF CHRISTENDOM BEING IRRECONCILABLE AVITIITHE NEW TESTAMENT, CANNOT BE ITS LEGITIMATE OFF SPRING.Inspiration can have no higher authority ^ than <strong>the</strong> human testimony onichich itsexistence is arrogated.1086. Is it not a mistake to suppose that any doctrine gains any validityby claiming inspiration as its source, when <strong>the</strong>re is nothing but humantestimony to advance in support <strong>of</strong> that claim? For if in <strong>the</strong> instance <strong>of</strong>Spiritualism, human testimony isdeemed to be unavailable, how comes itto avail when adduced in support <strong>of</strong> this arrogant claim <strong>of</strong> inspiration ?As well might a man expect to cure <strong>the</strong> defect <strong>of</strong> a marshy foundation bysubstituting columns <strong>of</strong> iron for wooden posts, or that, while resting onwood, <strong>the</strong> support could be made firmer by introducing iron into <strong>the</strong> superstructure.1087. As <strong>the</strong> introduction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> iron would diminish <strong>the</strong> competency<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> foundation in proportion to <strong>the</strong> augmentation <strong>of</strong> weight, so <strong>the</strong>claim to inspiration lessens <strong>the</strong> competency <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> testimony upon whichit is advanced, proportionally as <strong>the</strong> incredibility is increased.1088. But as rcs2)ccts <strong>the</strong> ancient witnesses, <strong>the</strong>ir own statements make<strong>the</strong>m out unworthy <strong>of</strong> confidence. Facts or circumstances are statedwhich are manifestly blasphemous, inconsistent, and absurd, if not impossible.Thus a want <strong>of</strong> veracity or <strong>of</strong> discretion being demonstrated in somepoints, issufiicient to destroy validity in all.1089. Picvelation assumes God to be omnipotent, omniscient, prescient,and all good, yet represents him as under <strong>the</strong> necessity <strong>of</strong> subjecting hiscreatures to probation, to find out what, by <strong>the</strong> premises, he must foresee.It represents him while wishing his creatures to know him and his attributes,as not teaching <strong>the</strong>m that which he wishes <strong>the</strong>m to learn, yet punishing<strong>the</strong>m and <strong>the</strong>ir posterity for ignorance arising from his own omission.1090. It does not suffice to allege that <strong>the</strong> Old Testament taught God'swill to <strong>the</strong> Jews ;since it is to me incredible that our Heavenly Fa<strong>the</strong>rwould give instruction <strong>of</strong> vital importance to a few <strong>of</strong> his children, leavingall <strong>the</strong> rest uninstructed, and yet afflict <strong>the</strong>m for this result. But,admitting this possible, it appears that <strong>the</strong> instruction given <strong>the</strong> Jews in

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