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Spiritualism
307
of the Word of God he holds out spiritual manifestations. Here is
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a channel wholly under his control; by this means he can make
the world believe what he will. The Book that is to judge him
and his followers he puts into the shade, just where he wants it;
the Saviour of the world he makes to be no more than a common
man. And as the Roman guard that watched the tomb of Jesus
spread the lying report which the priests and elders put into their
mouths to disprove His resurrection, so do the believers in spiritual
manifestations try to make it appear that there is nothing miraculous
in the circumstances of our Saviour’s life. After thus seeking to put
Jesus in the background, they call attention to their own miracles,
declaring that these far exceed the works of Christ.
Says the prophet Isaiah: “When they shall say unto you, Seek
unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and
that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living
to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not
according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Isaiah
8:19, 20
. If men had been willing to receive the truth so plainly
stated in the Scriptures, that the dead know not anything, they would
see in the claims and manifestations of Spiritualism the working
of Satan with power and signs and lying wonders. But rather than
yield the liberty so agreeable to the carnal heart, and renounce the
sins which they love, the multitudes close their eyes to the light,
and walk straight on, regardless of warnings, while Satan weaves
his snares about them, and they become his prey. “Because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,” therefore
“God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”
2 Thessalonians 2:10, 11
.
Those who oppose the teachings of Spiritualism are assailing,
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not men alone, but Satan and his angels. They have entered upon a
contest against principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high
places. Satan will not yield one inch of ground except as he is driven
back by the power of heavenly messengers. The people of God
should be able to meet him, as did our Saviour, with the words, “It
is written.” Satan can quote Scripture now as in the days of Christ,
and he will pervert its teachings to sustain his delusions. But the
plain statements of the Bible will furnish weapons powerful in every
conflict.