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

RELiaiOUS ERRORS OF MR. MAIIAN. 409The Worshq) of a Hoohj hlolntry.1983. jMuch has been said in Scripture and by its votaries against idolatry,but I do most seriously consider the Old Testament as a more perniciousidol than any image or statue can be in the nature of thin;^s.1984. An imnge or statue docs not speak; it suggests nothing cruel,unjust, or indecent to the worshipper; neither do any of the objects usuallytreated as idols. It must evidently be an error to accuse idolaters of contemplatingthe inert image to which they kneel, as their God. They mustsee that it neither does nor can do any thing. They must perceive that,fixed in one place, the image cannot have that ubiquity or efficacy, essentialto divine power. It follows that the object of adoration must be aninvisible power associated with the idol, which may occupy the imageonly when invoked. In every temple devoted to Jupiter there might bea statue of Jupiter, and yet it was never held that there was more thanone Jupiter. From the verses subjoined, from Pope's translation of theIliad, it appears that Homer gave to Jupiter a supremacy which made theother deities bear to him no higher relation than that which the archangelsdo to God, according to Christianity1985. "Let down our golden everlasting chain,Whoso strong embrace holds heaven, and earth, and main jStrive all,of mortal or immortal birth,To drag by this the Thunderer down to earth.Ye strive in vain. If I but lift this hand,I heave the heavens, the ocean, and the land;For such I reign, unbounded and above,And such arc men and gods compared to Jove."1986. But when a book is made the word of God, which patronizes menas belonging to a chosen seed who are guilty of cruelty, robbery, fraud,massacre in cold blood, it becomes a more active and mischievous idol thanany dumb beast, image, or statue can be. An idolater worships a silentidol as the representative of God. The idol cannot say, '-^I am a jealuosGod: I wax hot ill iny wrath.'1987. Mr. Mahan urges, that the sufferings undergone by martyrs toChristianity is evidence of its truth, whereas, it seems to me that it onlyproves the conviction of the parties, which, if displayed by a dervise or afakir, would be called bigotry. But if suffering in a cause is evidencein its favour, there have been sufferers on the other side, as well as on thatwhich this author has undertaken to uphold. It is but fair, if those whosuffer for one side should have their suffering held up as proof of theirconscientiousness, the same conscientiousness shouldbe conceded to thosewho have suffered for the other. The author of the pages I am about toquote, the Rev. Robert Taylor, was, for want of a better answer to hispublication, condemned to Oakam Jail, in England, for one year.It wasthere he wrote his Diagesis, copies of which may be had of Mr. Curtis,