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

258 INFLUENCE OF SCRIPTUREPcoj'tle 2)rofcss Christianiti/ more from a desire to do right^ than they doright in consequence of their professions.1329. I ain aware how nmcli it is a part of the existing system of educationto imbue a confident faith in whatever tenets may be taught, andhow little it is possible, in consequence, to have any arguments fairly consideredwhich bear against the educational impressions. It may be seenin the instance of the interesting lady to whom I owe the kind letter, (11G3,)how much more anxious such persons are to teach than to listen. Shehad, as she supposed, listened to an exposition of my views, ofwhich thefoundation had already been described in a published letter, with an effortto compare the heaven and hell of Scripture with those of Spiritualismyet in all confidence of victory, this excellent creature brings me a letterwritten by one whom she considers to have a first-rate intellect, and whobegins by assuming what I most emphatically deny, and of which theargument is just as good for Mohammedanism as forChristianity, providedthe Koran be assumed as the word of God in lieu of the Bible, and Mohammedas the vicegerent of God instead of Christ. This may be consideredas the argument of an eminent Episcopalianin favour of the truthof Christianity, while in those cited from Hughes and Breckinridge wehave the arguments of an eminent Romanist on one side, and an eminentCalvinist on the other. The one objects to the basis of ^^fallihle^^ menas the rule of faith ; the other, to any inference derived from a gospel by^^faUihlc^ men. Breckinridge does not recollect that there is nothingmore fallible than the traditions, compilations, and translations of falliblemen, nor how skeptical all those who sustain the truth of Scripture onthis evidence, are of any other evidence of the same kind which conflictswith Scripture.1330. If the reader will look at the letters of Amasa Holcomb and myreplies, (690,) he will see an exemplification of the difficulty in whichmany were placed, who had no other evidence of a future state besidethat afforded by Scripture. Let him apply to the human evidence ofantiquity no less skepticism than is now applied to the human evidenceof Spiritualists, and then estimate the weight of testimony in favour of theScriptures. Let him fairly consider the internal evidence against Scripture,as briefly sketched in this work or elsewhere, and then say whetherhe can conscientiously condemn Mr. Holcomb or myself for conscientiouslydisbelieving Scripture.1331. Let it be considered whether belief in Christianity is not at thepresent time a consequence of morality, rather than its cause; whether it isnot, with ninety-nine in an hundred, the consequence of early impressions,which have associated the Christian religion and morals inseparably on theconscience; without, however, inducing in any one of the individuals thusinfluenced any idea that the precepts of Christ are to be carried out in