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

398 RELIGIOUS ERRORS OF MR. MAIIAN.that it liad been found in a temple or elmrcli, there being no other evidenceof its not having been forged by the priest, or his accomplices,than his own allegation? What better evidence would there be of thesacred origin of such a document, than there is of the Book of Mormonthe ]5ible brought forward by Joe Smith ? Yet the following quotationwillshow that there was no Bible in use in Judea in the reign of Josiah,350 years after the reign of David, and just before the Babylonian captivity;and that,the true worship.in consequence, idolatry had to a great extent superseded1938. Under these circumstances, the high priest alleged a cop}" of theBible to be found, and sent it by a scribe to the king.This monarch hadlived in such ignorance of the existence of this holy code, that he wasthrown into a state of such deep penitence for the sinful omissions arisingfrom his ignorance, as to rend his clothes by way of expressing his sorrow.Moreover, orders were forthwith given to have the abuses abated,which had been introduced solely through ignorance.1939. I view this evidence of the highest importance at this time, whensuch men as Mahan, and the anonymous author of the parodied letter,(1182,) are appealing to the Bible as the inspired word of God, and thusmaking Crod sanction a catalogue of atrocious crimes and indecencies, andwhen this imposture is to sit as an incubus on those truly moral impressionswhich the blessed spirits of the immortal "Washington and otherworthies, as well as my honoured father, would communicate for the ameliorationof the religion and morals of mankind.I repeat, that I considerit of immense importance that attention should be called to the questionablefoundation on which these pretensions to inspiration are erected. Ishall,therefore, not only quote a portion of these pretended icords of God,but also that part of a chapter in the Book of Josephus which narratesthe same all-important occurrence more fully and satisfactoril}-, thoughgiving the same evidence essentially.Scriptural Account of the Finding of the Boohs of Moses hi/ Hilkiah,the High Priest.— 2 Chron. xxxiv. ;2 Kings xxii.1940. '^ And when they brought out the money that was brought intothe house of the Lord, Ililkiah the priest found a book of the law of theLord given by Moses. And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan thescribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. AndIlilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. And Shaphan carried the book tothe king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that wascommitted to th}^ servants, they do it. And they have gathered togetherthe money that was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered itinto the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen. ThenShaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath givenme a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to passwhen the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.And the king commanded Ililkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and