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

256 INFLUENCE OF SCRIPTUREcalogue is inconsistent with the unity of the divine power. The words^" Thou sJialt havcno other gods hefore me," implies that there were othergods who might be acknowledged; since if there were none other, theproper words would be—Thou canst have no other God but me, or—Thereis no other God but me.1321. Again, when Jehovah alleges himself to be jealous, of whomcould he be jealous, ifthere was no other God to excite the sentiment ofjealousy ? Can any one conceive God to be jealous of an idol, when hemust perceive that whatever worship may be bestowed on idols, isactuallyintended for the true God ? (1245, 1246.) Could Adam have been jealouswhen there was no other man in existence to be jealous of?1322. In the Introduction the ends to be answered by religion werestated, (page 18.) Several of the foregoing pages have been designed toshow that Scripture does not fulfil these objects, being almost silent asrespects immortality, using doubtfullanguage respecting the unity of thedivine power. Moreover, Jehovah is described as wrathful, jealous, andvindictive; as sanctioning the massacre, spoliation, and extirpation of neighbouringnations.* The fruits of the religion of Moses were two sects, ofwhom one did not believe in a future state of rewards and punishmentsthe other, although professing such a belief, (according to the barbarousidea of Josephus,) were not as moral as the unbelievers, (750, 1098.)Moreover,as respects the New Testament, the precepts on which it laid themost stress,those against pecuniary cupidity and resistance of wrong, havebeen not only neglected, but acted upon inversely; so that rapacity andaggression have been the predominant features of the conduct of Christians,unworthily so called, toward each other, but especially toward those whohave been of a different religious belief. In one trait, however, the wordsof Christ, already cited, have been fully carried out ": I come as a sword. ^'"|*1323. It may be seen from the passages quoted, that prior to the pro-* "I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the peoi)le to whom thou shaltcome, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will sendhornets before thee, which shall drive out the Ilivite, the Canaanite, and the Ilittite frombefore thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land becomedesolate, and the beasts of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drivethem out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. And I will setthy bounds from the Red Sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desertunto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thouehalt drive them out before thee."f "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth;I came not to send peace, but asword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughteragainst her mother, and the daaghtcr-in-law against her mother-in-law." "Suppose yethat I am come to give peace on earth ? I tell you, Nay ; but rather division : For fromhenceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two againstthree. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the Hither; themother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-lawagainst her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-hiw against her mother-in-law."