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

ON THE MORALS OP CHRISTIANS. 2611337. Those who really wish to serve the cause of true religion, andhuman welfare here and hereafter, should not expect that harsh words ormeasures will promote these objects. If, from want of due consideration,they uphold that which is repulsive to the human heart and understanding,and turn a deaf ear to facts and reasoning, which would produce a morebeneficial issue, they will really be amenable to the blame which they sounjustly lavish upon those whom they calumniate as ^^ Infidch,^' whilethey themselves are really infidels to their professed principles. The Bibleitself made me an unbeliver in its authenticity, and makes unbelievers ofmany who read it attentively and fearlessly, after their reason is matured.1338. Nothing could serve the cause of true religion and true moralitymore than a belief in a future state of reward and punishment, withouthaving that book made an appendage to the instruction.To ajypreciate the Jcwhh representation of the Deity ^ a reader should firstform an idea of this planet and its inhahitantSj comparativeli/ ivith thehundred millions of solar si/stems, and the inconceivable extent of thespace which encompasses thon, which fall loithin the domain of onecommon Deity.1339. In order to form an idea of the Deity, we must consider the extentof the universe over which he rules, and the magnificence and multiplicityof the bodies which it comprises. Alpha Centauri, a star of theCentaur, a constellation in the southern hemisphere, is the nearest of thefixed stars ; it nevertheless is nearly twenty thousand million of miles fromthe earth. Light, flying at the rate of two hundred thousand miles in asecond, to come from that star,to reach the earth.would take three years and three months1340. A star in the constellation of the Swan, known as ^-61 Cygni," isanother among the few whose distance is sufficiently small to allow it tobe measured.This is nearly three times as far as Alpha Centauri; so thatit would take light nine years to come from ^' 61 Cygni" to the earth.This star appears single to the naked eye, but, seen through a telescope,appears like two stars, which according to Mitchell, are six thousandmillions of miles apart.1341. But the stars which enter into the nebula of Orion are so remote,that light, to come fromone of them, would require ninety-two thousandyears. Suppose an imaginary right line to be extended from a star inOrion so as to pass through the centre of this planet, and to reach a staron the other side as remote as that first mentioned;of course, the distanceGod's sanction, and the skilful use of the sword. He seems to have valued the favour ofJehovah only for worldly objects. Had it been otherwise, in lieu of so much stress beinglaid upon the " j^romiscd land," it had been more wisely rested on the hope of heaven.Had Moses obtained a knowledge of the spirit world, the Saddueees had not been materialists,nor the Pharisees worldly-minded, corrupt hypocrites, as alleged by Christ.