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

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RELiaiOUS ERRORS OF MH. MAIIAN. 415iloctriiics <strong>of</strong> Moses as respects iJulatcrs? Certainly, Constantius Avas notany better for his Christianity, whoa he could listen, without iudignation,to such wicked suggestions I2022. It is alleged that in <strong>the</strong> city <strong>of</strong> Thcssalonica <strong>the</strong> Emperor Theodosiusput to death all <strong>the</strong> jiagans that brea<strong>the</strong>d, in obedience to ChristianizedMosaic intolerance, which inmodern times was carried out in <strong>the</strong>massacre <strong>of</strong> St. Bartholomew's day, and <strong>the</strong> Inquisition. Such were <strong>the</strong>effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> propagation <strong>of</strong> Christianity, with <strong>the</strong> appendage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pentateuchto <strong>the</strong> swordliko attributes with which Christ endowed himself:" Think not that I am come to send peace on earth ; I come not to sendpeace, but a sword I" Matt. x. 34.2023. Shakspeare truly makes one <strong>of</strong> his characters say that whosoevertakes away <strong>the</strong> good name <strong>of</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r commits a more wicked <strong>the</strong>ft thanone who takes a purse. But in this portrait <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> effect <strong>of</strong> calumny<strong>the</strong>re is one important feature omitted, which is sometimes <strong>the</strong> most injurious:I allude to <strong>the</strong> pain <strong>of</strong> mind created by a false accusation. If, asI have before urged, it be wrong to hurt <strong>the</strong> flesh by a blow, is it notwrong to hurt <strong>the</strong> soul by calumny ?The sting <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fangs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> viper,no less than <strong>the</strong> paw <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lion, may give a mortal infliction; but no lesspainful may be <strong>the</strong> effect <strong>of</strong> a false human tongue. Is it not as great awrong to wound a man's soul as his flesh ?Yet <strong>the</strong>re never has been anyhesitation on <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> sectarians to express any painful opinion as toheretics or idolaters. The word infidel, so much more deserved by <strong>the</strong>mselvesfor <strong>the</strong>ir violation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> precepts <strong>the</strong>y pr<strong>of</strong>ess, is used as a matter<strong>of</strong> course, and, coupling with an error in worship a heinous sinfulness, <strong>the</strong>idolater is always in <strong>the</strong> wrong. But reasonably, upon <strong>the</strong> grounds whichhave been advanced in <strong>the</strong> preceding portion <strong>of</strong> this work, (1245,) idolatrymay be an imputation against <strong>the</strong> intellectual pretension, but notagainst <strong>the</strong> integrity, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> worshipper; and for one I consider <strong>the</strong> propensityto <strong>the</strong> worship <strong>of</strong> idols displayed throughout <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jewishhistory, and even by Solomon <strong>the</strong> " Wise,'' as a strong pro<strong>of</strong> that <strong>the</strong>renever was sufficientevidence presented to <strong>the</strong> Jews <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> divine origin <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> books <strong>of</strong> Moses, or any o<strong>the</strong>rs represented as conveying God's holyword.2024. It is not doing as we would be done by to accuse any worshipper<strong>of</strong> bad motives, for <strong>the</strong> reasons which I have above given; and when itisconsidered how unwilling people are to part with <strong>the</strong>ir property, <strong>the</strong> fact that<strong>the</strong> Israelites gave <strong>the</strong>ir gold ornaments to enable Aaron to cast a goldencalf, shows that <strong>the</strong>y sincerely believed that <strong>the</strong>ir worship would be acceptableto some deity who had <strong>the</strong> best claim to <strong>the</strong>ir acknowledgment.If <strong>the</strong>y mistook <strong>the</strong> object, it must have been an error <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> understanding,which it would have been evidently more reasonable to have correctedby reasoning and evidence, than by punishment.2025. "While such eminent men as 3Iahan, and <strong>the</strong> learned Goliah <strong>of</strong> mj

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