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

ON THE MORALS OF CHRISTIANS. 209suitable for Satan than for our heavenly Father, who is represented by thespirits as perfectly impartial and equally loving to all his creatures.lOOG.The example set in the Bible of slandering and persecuting thoseAvho did not believe in its doctrines, has ever been followed out by scripturaldevotees, who would presumptuously represent that it is only fromthe Scriptures, which ihei/ recognise as the word of God, that a correctknowledge of the divine attributes can be obtained. But this is the converseof the truth. As described by Seneca, the Roman Sage, the Godof the ancient theist was to the Jehovah of the Bible as Hyperion toSatyr. (See Seneca's opinions of God, 1224)1097. It appears to rae a striking proof how far men can be dementedby educational bigotry, that it should be supposed that their omnipotentGod can require human missionaries' aid to promulgate or carry out his will.Did God a special creed require,Each soul would ho not Tvith that creed inspire?1098. The Old Testament docs not impart a 7mowled(je of immortalitywitliout which religion were icorthless. The notions derived from the gospelare vague, disgusting, inaccurate, and difficult to helicve.The Pentateuchdid not give the Jews an idea of immortality, nor were those Jewsdistinguished for morality, who from other sources than the Pentateuchembraced a belief in immortality. It has already been pointed out thatthe most enlightened sect among the children of Israel, the Sadducees,did not believe in a future state, while the Pharisees, who professed to believetherein, appear to have been so immoral as to be pre-eminently theobjects of Christ's denunciation.1099. As respects the precepts of Christ, those on which he laid moststress are not only neglected, but grossly violated, by the opposite coursebeing sanctioned by the overruling sentiment of society. Nothing wouldsubject a man to more contempt in Christendomthan a tame submissionto blows, or being so poor as to wear patched or ragged clothes. Thereare few, if any, in Christendom, who would not rather have any deficiencyin attire attributed to accident or taste, than to poverty.1100. I have shown that the idea which the Pharisees entertained ofheaven, as portrayed by Josephus, representing the wicked like the richman within sight of the good, would be a hell to a good-hearted angel.and Lazarus.This representation is sanctioned by Christ in his story of the rich manThe only reward promised to his apostles was worldly preeminencein the form of judgeships.Hence it were hardly reasonable forthose who are subordinate in merit to the disciples to expect any betterremuneration.to interminable fire.Hell is as absurdly as horridly typified by eternal exposure1101. Thus neither among the Jews, nor among Christians, has theBible furnished any adequate account of a future state, nor has it beenproductive of higher morality; since the only morality which does exist,14