Lights and shadows of spiritualism

12 ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.antiquity who, discardiug the animals, have unearthed from theirdusty receptacle the remaining relics of the Pythagorean system,and, clothing these with the fantasies of their own imaginations,have suhmitted to the notice of a bewildered world the identityconfoundingchima;i-a of re-incarnation.Our information respecting the Egyptian oracles, falls far shortof the ample knowledge accorded to us of the Grecian. The mostfamous—can it, however, be held an oracle of Egypt '?—was thatrenowned temple buried in the solitudes of the Libyan Desert, andconsecrated to Jupiter Ammon. Alexander of Macedon, in theplentitude of his power, visited it to interrogate the deity on somesubject near to his heart. Question and answer were alike keptsecret ; but the magnificence of the conqueror's offerings intimatedthat he was satisfied with the response accorded him. A very fewpredictions of less celebrated oracles have been preserved by theGreek historians.deserve notice.Among such, two singularly-fulfilled propheciesWhilst Sethon, formerly a priest of Vulcan, held the Egyptiansceptre, he was dismayed by the approach of that Sennacheribwhose invasion of Judaea heaven so terribly frustrated. Desertedby the warrior tribe, he betook himself to the temple of Vulcan,and implored against the Assyrians the aid of the deity whom hehad served. As he stood before the image a vision came uponhim. Vulcan, he dreamed, spoke, and bade him be of good cheer,for that he himself would tight in his worshipper's behalf. HereuponSethon, gathering courage, marched to encounter Sennacherib.He was .followed only by a rabble of tradespeople andmechanics at sight of whom the Assyrian laughed, accounting;himself certain of victory. On the morning of the battle, however,Sennacherib found that he was overthrown before the strife commenced.During the night myriads of field-mice had entered theAssyrian camp, and devouring the bowstrings and quivers of thewarriors, had left them almost defenceless. The victory of theEgyptians was easy and complete.Herodotus tells us that after the death of this Sethon twelvekings reigned in the dificrent provinces of Egj-pt. An oracle