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

RELIGIOUS ERRORS OF MR. MAIIAN. 407the "world to come, if not hi this; but this result will not flow from theconversion of their skeptical friends to a belief in the manifestations whichnia}' have been viewed by the narrators, as described. TIk; conversion oiskeptics will arise from their own observation, with the concurrent testimonyof many reliable witnesses, all tending to the verification of analogousphenomena.1070. The miracles of Scripture never have had nor never can havethis species of corroboration, and of course will make but little progressamong people educated under conflicting impressions. In this ago ofbigotry in favour of all educational mysteries and extreme skepticism as toinnovations, the last thing which could obtain credence would be miraclesof the nature of those which Mr. Mahan assumes to be the on?^ foundationfor relioious belief.1077. It has already been urged that Moses was. It/ his own account,a worldly man, who, as I conceive, was guilty of a misrepresentation inalleging that the Creator of the hundred millions of solar systems comprisedin this universe (1342) made him and his people especially the objectof a partiality, authorizing them to plunder and extirpate all theneighbouring people: moreover, that Moses was worldly-minded in theextreme, and so intent upon acquiring lands in this world, as to neglecthis opportunities, if he had any, of learning from Jehovah, in frequentalleged intercourse with him, any information respecting the immortalityof the soul, (1001, 1008, 1271.) My attention has been recently turnedto the 24th chapter of Exodus. It is there mentioned that Moses, withmore than seventy elders of Israel, went up the mount, and there had aninterview with the God of Israel, when ^Hlicy saw God." It is thenstated that "The Lord spake luito Moses, saying,Spealc unto the childrenof Israel, that they hring me an offering. And this is the, offering whichyou shall talze of them, gold, silver, and brass, and blue and purple, finelinen, and goats^ hair/' &c.^1078. There are then two or three chapters occupied with the specificationof the various valuable articles of gold, and precious wood, and stones,required by an omnijwtcnt God to furnish a tabernacle. Such is the misusemade by this pretended missionary of God, of the opportunity of learningthat which is above all price. How many thousands of human beings* The following trash is thus made to bo specified by the God of the universe: — gold,silver, brass, blue, purple, goats' hair, red rams'-skius, badger skins, shittim-wood, oil forlight, oil for anointing, spices, sweet incense, onyx-stones, shew-bread, candlesticks withsix branches, almond-shaped bowls with a knop and a flower, knop and branches of beatengold, seven lamps, large dishes, curtains of fine liueu, spoons, cherubims of gold. Eightcolumns, nearly one hundred verses, are taken up with this mummery, expressly directedby Jehovah himself.Now, let the use Moses made of his opportunities be compared with that which I havemade of those afforded me by the spirits, and then judge between Spiritualism and selfcalledorthodoxy.