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Selected Messages Book 2
Sciences Pertaining to the Mind
In these days when skepticism and infidelity so often appear in
a scientific grab, we need to be guarded on every hand. Through
this means our great adversary is deceiving thousands, and leading
them captive according to his will. The advantage he takes of the
sciences, sciences which pertain to the human mind, is tremendous.
Here, serpentlike, he imperceptibly creeps in to corrupt the work of
God.
This entering in of Satan through the sciences is well devised.
Through the channel of phrenology, psychology, and mesmerism, he
comes more directly to the people of this generation, and works with
that power which is to characterize his efforts near the close of proba-
tion. The minds of thousands have thus been poisoned, and led into
infidelity. While it is believed that one human mind so wonderfully af-
fects another, Satan, who is ready to press every advantage, insinuates
himself, and works on the right hand and on the left. And while those
who are devoted to these sciences laud them to the heavens because
of the great and good works which they affirm are wrought by them,
they little know what a power for evil they are cherishing; but it is a
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power which will yet work with all signs and lying wonders—with
all deceivableness of unrighteousness. Mark the influence of these
sciences, dear reader, for the conflict between Christ and Satan is not
yet ended....
Neglect of prayer leads men to rely on their own strength, and
opens the door to temptation. In many cases the imagination is cap-
tivated by scientific research, and men are flattered through the con-
sciousness of their own powers. The sciences which treat of the human
mind are very much exalted. They are good in their place [
Significant
wording in the light of the statement in
Testimonies for the Church
1:296
.—Compilers.]; but they are seized upon by Satan as his pow-
erful agents to deceive and destroy souls. His arts are accepted as
from heaven, and he thus receives the worship which suits him well.
The world, which is supposed to be benefited so much by phrenology
and animal magnetism, never was so corrupt as now. Through these
sciences, virtue is destroyed, and the foundations of Spiritualism are
laid.—
The Signs of the Times, November 6, 1884
.