THE COMING CONFLICT

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 23, 1868

THE COMING CONFLICT.

FOR years we have thought that Spiritualism, under the garb of religion, would act a conspicuous part in the coming struggle, and in the work of persecution against the truth. Human nature, unrestrained, cannot be trusted; and no theory or system was ever devised which so completely cast off the restraints of law and of moral principles as does Spiritualism. Yet some professed expositors of prophecy have ridiculed this part of our faith, as a thing too incredible to be entertained for a moment. No one will deny the above remark, that unrestrained human nature is tyrannical and persecuting; that it is not safe to give too much power into the hands of any body of religionists. It becomes, then, a very interesting question, Do Spiritualists aspire to this end, and to this are their labors directed? Are they aiming to substitute Spiritualism for all the religions of the day, or make them second to it and give to it the political control of our country? In addition to testimony which we have before given, we call attention to the following:

On the 10th of May last, Warren Chase delivered two lectures in Boston, Mass., on the religious and scientific phases of Spiritualism. In one he said:

“Many persons, especially in New England, were outgrowing Christianity entirely, and demanding a rational religion. What should that religion be? Spiritualism! It had come in good time. When it came it was as distinct from Christianity, as that was from Judaism. Its God was no Christ, no man, no Jehovah, but a God of rationality—an acknowledgment of the existence of God in every human breast, as in that of Jesus; the Deity was not cast out of Jesus; his habitation had only been broadened to the idea that God was born on earth every time a child was born.”

In the other he remarked:

“He beheld with heartfelt satisfaction the dawning of this new light, and he could see drawing nearer and nearer, the fulfillment of the promises he had received from the spirit-world, that the governments of earth should ultimately pass into the hands of its followers.”

Here we have the religion of Spiritualism or rationalism, with all its falsities, immoralities, and blasphemies, to have control of the governments of earth! This, with them, is no unmeaning talk, no “temporal millennium,” to be prayed for and looked for at some far-distant day; but it is what they are working for with all their energies, backed up with the “working of Satan, with power, and signs, and lying wonders.”

In a late number of the Banner of Light, under the head of “Protestantism and Politics,” which is really a consideration of the controversy between Protestantism and Catholicism, are the following remarks:

“This question of the union of Church and State, seemingly tending to a different answer in England, promises to come up with us before long, in momentous proportions. We have numerous premonitions of its approach now. On American soil, it is believed by not a few, is to be fought out that stern battle between the two religious systems—Catholicism and Protestantism—which will decide the question of a united religious and political supremacy for the Continent. That Protestantism, by that name, is in a state of decay, it is not possible in strict truth to deny. We see its ranks broken up into innumerable sects, and crumbling away in the pursuit of doctrines not taught by its founders. What it will lead to, is just the problem. Were the result to prove no more than the ecclesiastical aggrandizement of either one side or the other, it would be one of the most unfortunate that could occur, knowing as much as we do of the tendencies of such a power. But happily it lies within the reach and influence of Spiritualism, with its millions of believers already, and its ranks all the time increasing, to step in between the contending parties, and save the country to the higher and holier influences of the truth which descends direct from the heavens.”

That all parties will yield to the popular influence of Spiritualism, is easy to foresee. Vital piety and the power of godliness is already departed from them. Lifeless theories and dull formality is about all there is left to them. Only two points are held by them in common—Sunday observance, and the immortality of the soul. Spiritualists adopt Sunday without difficulty, while the churches are fast turning to Spiritualism to save their tottering theory of immortality. The crisis is approaching. Let the faithful now “put on the whole armor of God.” The victory is sure, and the reward to the overcomer glorious and eternal.