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

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

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RKLKilOUS ERRORS OF MR. MAIIAN. 419Strain iii(/ at Spirit ual Gnats, while sicdlJoviiui Scripturat (Minds.'2042. The question is put, AVliereforc can <strong>spirit</strong>s cause tappings on ortilting <strong>of</strong> tables, only when a medium is present'/ To those who believe in<strong>the</strong> Old Testament as <strong>the</strong> word <strong>of</strong> God, it may be in point to inquire, Whereforetlie mere elevation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hands <strong>of</strong> Moses, on a hill remote from <strong>the</strong>field <strong>of</strong> battle, enabled <strong>the</strong> Israelites to overcome <strong>the</strong>ir enemies, when <strong>the</strong>opposite result ensued when <strong>the</strong> hands <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> veracious prophet werelowered, as agreeably to verses 11 and 12, chapter xvii.<strong>of</strong> Exodus?2043. " And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israelprevailed ; and when ho let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. ButMoses's hands were heavy, and <strong>the</strong>y took a stone and put it under him,and he sat <strong>the</strong>reon, and Aaron and llur stayed up his hands, <strong>the</strong> one on<strong>the</strong> one side and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r sido ; and his hands were steadyuntil <strong>the</strong> going down <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sun.^'2044. It follows from <strong>the</strong> verses in question that <strong>the</strong> skill, strength, orcourage <strong>of</strong> every Jewish combatant varied with <strong>the</strong> elevation or depression<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> arms <strong>of</strong> Moses above or below a mean horizontal plane.2045. Surely, <strong>the</strong> peculiar influences thus exercised by <strong>the</strong> author <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Pentateuch is at least as incredible as that by which <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong>a medium enables <strong>spirit</strong>s to move ponderable bodies, when o<strong>the</strong>rwise <strong>the</strong>ycould not move <strong>the</strong>m. The influence ascribed to Moses is alleged to havebeen witnessed only on one occasion, whereas that attributed to media hasbeen seen in a multiplicity <strong>of</strong> instances by living witnesses <strong>of</strong> good character,who will attest to <strong>the</strong> facts, as well as <strong>the</strong> media <strong>the</strong>mselves.2046. But, independently <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> incredibility <strong>of</strong> this Mosaic miracle asan isolated fact discordant with <strong>the</strong> laws <strong>of</strong> nature and human experience,is it not incredible on account <strong>of</strong> its inconsistency with <strong>the</strong> just and humaneidea <strong>of</strong> God which <strong>the</strong> truly pious entertain, that he should give thisassistance to <strong>the</strong> Jews in <strong>the</strong>ir unchristian warfare ? This reasoning is atleast as applicable to <strong>the</strong> alleged arrestation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sun, (involving that <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> rotary motion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earth,) in order that Joshua might make a fur<strong>the</strong>rslaughter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vanquished Canaanites.For this slaughter <strong>the</strong> prominentexcuse seems to have been that Moses, wishing to possess <strong>the</strong> territory <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Canaanites, pr<strong>of</strong>essed to have <strong>the</strong> authority <strong>of</strong> God for extirpating <strong>the</strong>mas idolaters, agreeably to <strong>the</strong> following language, which is representedby Mr. Mahan and o<strong>the</strong>rs as <strong>the</strong> word <strong>of</strong> God, (Deut. viii. 16, 20, 22 :)2047. ''And thou shalt consume all <strong>the</strong> people which <strong>the</strong> Lord thy Godshall deliver <strong>the</strong>e ; thine eye shall have no pity upon <strong>the</strong>m : nei<strong>the</strong>r shaltthou serve <strong>the</strong>ir gods ; for that will be a snare unto <strong>the</strong>e. Moreover, <strong>the</strong>Lord thy God will send <strong>the</strong> hornet among <strong>the</strong>m, until <strong>the</strong>y that are left,and hide <strong>the</strong>mselves from <strong>the</strong>e, be destroyed. And <strong>the</strong> Lord thy Godwill put out those nations before <strong>the</strong>e by little and little; thou mayest notconsume <strong>the</strong>m at once, lest <strong>the</strong> beasts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> field increase upon <strong>the</strong>e."

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