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

CONCLUSION. 425pa^an.Yel., ^vhilc r»isliop l\lcl lvalue, ns respects his conleiiiporaries, rcpresciilsmaUu'ialism as irrcconcilaljlc ^ith virtue, INIoses isto be veneratedand tlicbooks attrilnitcd to his authorship idohitrously worshipped astlie Avord of (Jod! ]>iit if tlie advocacy of any thing which tends tolessen the hope of immortality be culpable, is it not culpable, fi«;alnst thetruths of Spiritualism to hold up a book which autliorizes disbelief inimmortality, and that, too, upon such questionable authority as an obscurepriest and fanatical and barbarous autocrat? (1937.) As respects the gospel,it has, I hope, been shown that, with all the exertions of the goodi)arson Harbaugh to exhibit the heaven of Scripture in its most favorableaspect, (777 to 805,) Spiritualism has immensely the advantage in thedescription given of the spirit world, (400 to 4G9,) sanctioned by the repliesgiven to my queries under test conditions, (552).20G8. Another ground of pre-eminence is the perfect immunity fromany association with such a priesthood as that described by the EightRev. Bishop Hopkins.Media, replacing the priests, will owe their officeto nature, not to any aristocracy, monarch, or theocrat, (1307).20G9. Private disinterested Media will always outnumber and controlany of the same class who may attem2)t to acquire unfair ascendancy,even if, in the nature of the case, it were possible that such a wrongcould be contemplated.2070. I trust I have shown that the actual morals of Christendom areirreconcilable with the precepts of the gospel, which denounce wealthand enjoin submission to wrong, these morals being also inconsistent withthe materialism of the books of Moses.Under these circumstances, letthe reader turn to the evidence which has converted me from a prepossessedskeptic to a devout believer in spiritual communication. Let thatglorious portraiture of the spirit-world be considerd which has been openedto the view of mortals through the high spirits who have accreditedme as one of their servants. I will not go over the evidence, nor recapitulatethe arguments which I have already so fully urged upon theattentionof my readers. I implore them to read with candour, and thinkearnestly of the facts and reasoning submitted in this volume.P. S.— Ex2')lanation respecting Jesus Christ.My spirit sister alleges that Christ never uttered the language recordedas his, and upon which I have commented. This being admitted, I wishthatnotliing which I have said may be considered as bearing personally ona Being who is so much tlie object of devotion with many of my dearestconnections, relations, and friends. I wish that it should be consideredthat it is only upon the doctrines imputed to Christ, that I have intendedto animadvert, not on Jesus himself. Surely I am justified as treatingthat language as coming from Jesus Christ, which is ascribed to him inthe only history of his teachings which has come down to us, and which,under the name of the holy canonical gospel, is considered by more thanthree-fourths of all the Christians in existence as inspired by God