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

ON THE MORALS OF CHRISTIANS. 225tlic otlicr party—a gross bcL^giiiLi; of tlic (juestioii, that the Bible i.s theword of God, and paramount to human reason.1175. In a subsequent part of this letter, Hume's excellent rule is setaside : that wo must weigh the probability of the evidence against theimprobability of the miracle, llochefoucault alleges, 'Tis better to tell aprobable lie, than an extremely improbable truth. ]3y what evidence canany record bo proved true, when it is vastly more probable it should befalse,than the facts recorded by it should be true.1176. Manifestly, there are but these two ways in which any record cancommand credence : either there must be external evidence sufBcient toweigh against the improbability of the facts which it has recorded ; orthose facts must be of a nature to create belief from their probability, fromwhat is called internal evidence. As to external evidence, clearly anyamount of that, may be adduced without creating a belief in spiritualmanifestations.Human evidence is wholly inadequate to prove any thingwhich sectarianism does not wish to admit.Considering the external evidenceof Scripture as vastly inferior to that on which Spiritualism isfounded, and the miracles recorded, and thedoctrines taught, as carryingno evidence of their truth, but the contrary, I do not understand uponwhat reasonable ground they are to be identified with the word of God.1177. This fascinating lady supposes that she gave ear to my expositionof my views ; but I am under the impression that she is quite deaf to anything that does not concur with her fanatical impressions, otherwise shewould never have looked upon me as one to be converted from the opinionswhich I entertain by the reasoning of her clerical friend, beginning with abegging of the question : assuming that revelation is God's word, in orderto prove it to be God's word.1178. So the Bible is true because of the miracles which it recordsand these are true because the Bible records them1179. If she can so confine her mind as to become master of the pyramidof facts which I have raised in favour of Spiritualism, she will perceivethat all other evidence of immortality sinks into insignificance ascompared with it. Now all this may be nominally abrogated by denyingthe truth of it. But if I do not rely on my own senses, is it likely I shallrely on those of other persons, in whom I have no more confidence thanher clerical adviser and herself have in Mohammed and his disciples.1180. I subjoin a portion of the letter of the clerical champion, whosereasoning; this intercstina; devotee deems so conclusive. I have irone overthe whole of it, and have ascertained that by substituting Allah for God,Mohammed for Christ, Prophet for Redeemer, Mediator for Saviour, it hasa qualification which would be deemed a merit elsewhere, if not in Christendom: it would serve just as well to uphold the religion of Mohammed,as that of Christ.1181. The letter is so long that it would occupy too many pages to crive15