Lights and shadows of spiritualism

1 ANCIENTSPIRITUALISM.terror and agony. Disappointed in their opening plot, the magispeedily took heart a second time to attempt murder. On thisoccasion they were themselves the agents of their evil wishes.A fire having heen kindled, the embryo reformer was stolen fromhis mother's dwelling, and cast into the flames. Dogdo, seekingon all sides for her son, found him at length lying peacefully onhis fiery couch, as if in a cradle, and carried him home uninjured.As he grew to manhood numerous other eilorts were made tocompasshis death. He was placed in the way of savage bulls,was cast to wolves, and fed with victuals in which poison hadbeen mingled. Through all this the spirits to whose serviceZoroaster had been consecrated supported him unhurt.At thirtyyears of age his mission began. Quitting his native place hejourneyed towards the court of Iran ;but being warned in a visionof an attack which the magi and devs combined waited to makeupon him, he turned aside into the mountains of the Albordi.There the things which "eye had never seen" Avere revealed tohis gaze. He was lifted up to the highest heaven, and beheldOrmuzd in his glory, encircled by the hosts of the angels. Foodsweet as honey was given to him, on eating which his eyes wereopened to all that passed in the heavens and the earth. Thedarkness of the future was made to him as day. He learned theinmost secrets of nature ; the revolutions of worlds ; the influencesof the stars ; the greatness of the six chief angels of God ; thefelicity of the beatified ; the terrible condition of the sinful. Hewent down into hell and there looked on the evil one face to face.Finally, having received from Ormuzd the Divine gospel whichshould illumine the East, ho was bidden to return to earth, andteach it to all conditions of mankind. Celestial fire was given tohim, to be kept burning as a symbol of the glory of God in everycity where his teachings were received. Placed again upon themountains of Albordi or the Balkan, Zoroaster reared in a cavernan altar to the Creator, and kindled upon it the first sparkles ofthe sacred flame. As he resumed his journey a host of furiousdevs and magi beset him, and sought to destroy the Zendavesta—thegospel which Ormuzd had committed to his care.