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

206 INFLUENCE OF SCRIPTUREto the spirit of a most intimate male friend, by botli it was alleged thatpeculiar emotions were attendant on sexual affection in the spheres, aswell as on earth, so far as consistent with the absence of 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 the 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 there is nothing but humantestimony to advance in support of that claim? For if in the instance ofSpiritualism, human testimony isdeemed to be unavailable, how comes itto avail when adduced in support of this arrogant claim of inspiration ?As well might a man expect to cure the defect of a marshy foundation bysubstituting columns of iron for wooden posts, or that, while resting onwood, the support could be made firmer by introducing iron into the superstructure.1087. As the introduction of the iron would diminish the competencyof the foundation in proportion to the augmentation of weight, so theclaim to inspiration lessens the competency of the testimony upon whichit is advanced, proportionally as the incredibility is increased.1088. But as rcs2)ccts the ancient witnesses, their own statements makethem out unworthy of confidence. Facts or circumstances are statedwhich are manifestly blasphemous, inconsistent, and absurd, if not impossible.Thus a want of veracity or of 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 the necessity of subjecting hiscreatures to probation, to find out what, by the premises, he must foresee.It represents him while wishing his creatures to know him and his attributes,as not teaching them that which he wishes them to learn, yet punishingthem and their posterity for ignorance arising from his own omission.1090. It does not suffice to allege that the Old Testament taught God'swill to the Jews ;since it is to me incredible that our Heavenly Fatherwould give instruction of vital importance to a few of his children, leavingall the rest uninstructed, and yet afflict them for this result. But,admitting this possible, it appears that the instruction given the Jews in