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

424 CONCLUSION.hy its silence,tends to discountenance the Jiope of a future life.— Thosewho uphold the Bible against Spiritualism^ the real antagonists of theonly satisfactory evidence ever given to man of a future hahitation inthe spirit tuorld.2065. Religious people all very justly insist on the immense importanceof a belief in a future state of existence, in which we are to enjoy a degrecof happiness in proportion to our good conduct in this life, or ofmisery in proportion as we do evil.2066. Throughout Christendom I believe such a belief is necessary torender a person competent as a witness, or to hold any ofi&ce. As it isassumed generally by Christians that there is no other proof of immortalitythan that alleged to be afforded by Scripture, unbelievers in Scriptureare assumed to be unbelievers in a future state, and the most unfavourableinsinuations are made respecting such persons, (1310.) BishopMcllvaine, in his '^Evidences,'' has charitaUy represented that, as aclass, such men are peculiarly vicious, and in their domestic relationsimmoral;not recollecting how far Christian prelates have heen found icantingin the present, as well as in past times.But notwithstanding that thedisbelief in a future state is held to be so universally pernicious in itsinfluence, self-called orthodox Christians deem it impious not to bow beforethe Bible as the holy word of God, or to be wanting in respect for hisinspired missionary, Moses. But admitting that the books found by Hilkiali(1940) were written, under divine inspiration, by Moses, how does ithappen that those books and their author stand in such high estimation,when they actually give no evidence of immortality, hut rather tend toprove that God, in communicating his will to Moses, thought it more importantto give to the Jews directions for the decoration of a, tahernacle,than to impart to them the invaluable knowledge of their eternal existence ?Moreover, God is represented as holding in especial favour, those who didnot think it of as much importance to inquire info the truth of immortality,as to obtain decorations for p>harisaical worship. Why is IMoses,a materialist, to be venerated, who so grossly trifled with his opportunities?There is either a flagitious misrepresentation, or he, of all men, had thebest opportunity of learning this all-important truth ;and therefore, dyingignorant of it, is proportionally more culpable. Wherefore is the uncandidand unfounded pretence resorted to, that attacking the Old Testament isattacking the basis of the hope of heaven, when, on the contrary, thatrecord has really the opposite tendency—that of enfeebling the evidenceof immortality?2067. We see the heathen Cyrus, on his death-bed, (1980,) striving toimpress upon his children a belief in immortality, while Moses, dying aworldly-minded, blood-thirsty materialist, employs his last moments ingiving inhuman directions for the merciless massacre of every conquered