80
Confrontation
broad path of pleasure and sinful indulgence, rather than the narrow
path and the straight way. Spiritualists call the requirements of God’s
law bondage, and say those who obey them live a life of slavish fear.
With smooth words and fair speeches they boast of their freedom and
seek to cover their dangerous heresies with the garments of righteous-
ness. They would make the most revolting crimes be considered as
blessings to the race.
They open before the sinner a wide door to follow the promptings
of the carnal heart, and violate the law of God—especially the seventh
commandment. Those who speak these great swelling words of vanity,
and who triumph in their freedom in sin, promise those whom they
deceive the enjoyment of freedom in a course of rebellion against the
revealed will of God. These deluded souls are themselves in the veriest
bondage to Satan and are controlled by his power, and yet promising
liberty to those who will dare to follow the same course of sin that
they themselves have chosen.
The Scriptures are indeed fulfilled in this, that the blind are leading
the blind. For by whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought
in bondage. These deluded souls are under the most abject slavery
[91]
to the will of demons. They have allied themselves to the powers of
darkness and have no strength to go contrary to the will of demons.
This is their boasted liberty. By Satan are they overcome and brought
into bondage, and the great liberty promised to those they deceive is
helpless slavery to sin and Satan.
We are not to attend their circles, neither are our ministers to engage
in controversy with them. They are of that class specified whom we
should not invite into our houses or bid them Godspeed. We have to
compare their teachings with the revealed will of God. We are not to
engage in an investigation of spiritualism. God has investigated this
for us, and told us definitely that a class would arise in the last days
who would deny Christ who has purchased them with His own blood.
The character of spiritualists is so plainly described that we need not
be deceived by them. If we obey the divine injunction we shall have
no sympathy with spiritualists, however smooth and fair may be their
words.
The beloved John continues his warning against seducers: “Who
is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist,
that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the