WHOEVER meddles with Spiritism is trespassing upon dangerous and forbidden ground. He is doing that against which God has given a plain “Thou shalt not.” It matters not tho it be done innocently, the experiment is fraught with danger, and the results can not be otherwise than bad.
The reason for this is because the essential doctrine of Spiritism is a most deceptive and deadly evil. The foundation upon which the whole superstructure of Spiritism is built is the error over which Eve was deceived by the serpent in the garden of Eden, the falsehood through which Satan accomplished the fall of the race, the rock upon which the whole human family was wrecked.
The sermon which Satan preached to Eve upon the immortality of the soul—“Thou shalt not surely die”—is the foundation of Spiritism. This, strange to say, has been taught and reiterated by priests, pastors, and teachers of almost all religions, in all lands and in all ages; and the people have received it as pure Bible truth. And the acceptance of this doctrine—upon which are built those other doctrines of eternal torment, purgatory, prayers for the dead, saint worship, Mariolatry, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, and the whole system of heathen philosophy—has placed the race where they have been but the sport of the enemy, and an easy prey to all his machinations and artful deceptions.
Some may think it matters little what one believes concerning the nature of man and the state of the dead, whether man is mortal or immortal, or whether the dead are dead or alive. But it does matter, and it matters a great deal; for if we refuse to believe what God says, and accept what Satan says, we are on Satan’s ground, and are prepared to be further controlled and deceived by him. Men and women should therefore reject and repudiate the doctrines of the natural immortality of the soul and the conscious state of the dead as they would flee from Satan himself, for they are nothing else than darts hurled at the whole human race out of his own quiver.
It is no trifling thing to come under the direct influence and power of the wily foe whom the Scriptures declare to be “wiser than Daniel;” of him who, when in heaven, dared to match strength with the mighty Christ, and thought even to ascend into the heights and exalt his throne above that of God Himself. But every one who, to gratify curiosity or to obtain a false comfort concerning the dead, meddles with Spiritism, does this very thing. He tampers with the devil, and places himself upon enchanted ground. He tempts the devil to tempt him. And when once individuals are thus brought under his influence and control, this powerful destroyer ever after considers them his lawful prey, and exercises his power upon them, and that against their will. When they wish to control themselves, they can not. They have yielded their minds to Satan, and he will not release his claims, but holds them captive. And no power can deliver the ensnared soul but the power of God, in answer to the earnest prayer of His faithful followers. It is a dangerous thing, therefore, to have anything to do with Spiritism.
Illustrative Incidents.
1. Who does not know of families or individuals who have had to do with Spiritism, and though repudiating it afterward, have still been troubled with Spiritistic manifestations and influences? The very family with which Modern Spiritism arose, the Fox family, reference to which was made in our first article, is an illustration in point. They got into the thing, and though afterward they sought to have nothing further to do with it, against their own wills they were forced to go on and reveal the whole matter, and strike the match which set the whole civilized world ablaze with its doings.
2. A man living in Melbourne had been mixed up with Spiritism. As he crossed a certain bridge on his way home late at night, he had frequently been tempted to drown himself. He became converted, became a Bible Christian, and as a consequence learned of the true nature of Spiritism, and repudiated it. As he was crossing this same bridge once afterward, he was again tempted to make way with himself. Something behind him seemed to say, “Now is your chance. ‘Jump over, it will take only a minute or two to do it, and end your ‘life.’” He turned around and said, “I know who you are. You are ‘the devil.’” And then, he said, he got such a blow as he had never had before in all his life.
3. A few years ago Pastor A. G. Daniells was speaking on Spiritism in Napier, N. Z. He told how miserably the “spirits” would sometimes treat people who had had to do with them. After the lecture, a young man, a medium, came up and said to him: “What you ‘say is true. I know it, for I myself am a medium. Sometimes when ‘I am going home nights, something knocks me down, and beats me ‘till I am black and blue!” This is in perfect accord with the experience, as recorded in the Scriptures, of certain ones who were “possessed of devils” in Christ’s time. The father who besought Christ to heal his demoniacal son, said: “He is mine only child. And, lo, a ‘spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that ‘he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.” Luke 9: 38, 39. Spiritism is of the same order. There are many kinds of spirits, however, and they do not treat all alike; but the whole system tends to the ruination of both soul and body.
4. In one of the first places the writer ever preached the Gospel in America, a woman, a prominent lady of the town, accepted the truth. But she had to quite an extent been meddling with Spiritism. She broke squarely off, however, but in relating to us afterward her experience in doing so, she said, “You do not know what a terrible time I have had to do it.”
5. A man in Victoria, with whom I am well acquainted, innocently got deeply into Spiritism when young, and before he was converted. Later he became converted, but the “spirits” continued to trouble him and his family. Their influence upon him was such as seriously to interfere with his business relations; he would do things he had no intention of doing, and was bound as if by chains from doing other things he desired to do. His little children would frequently start back from the windows of the house in fright and terror, declaring they saw some kind of beings outside. At night-time the family were often disturbed by terrible noises, as if drygoods boxes were being thrown at the house. Tho often praying and seeking to get rid of these manifestations, he got no relief until a faithful brother went to his assistance, seeking God through fasting, and by united, earnest prayer nearly all one night. That was three years ago. The man and his family have not been troubled with the manifestations since. We have in this case an illustration of the persistency with which evil spirits hold on to those who have once given themselves up to their control. We have in it also an illustration of that kind of spirits of which Christ said, “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matt. 17: 21.
6. Another man, of New Zealand, had, in his early days, before he was converted, considerable to do with Spiritism. Afterward, after his conversion and repudiation of Spiritism, he thought himself strong enough to go and listen to a so-called “exposure” of Spiritism. He went, but before he got through with it, he found it to be the real thing. When a call was made for any in the audience who were opposed to Spiritism to come onto the platform, he went. When left all alone on the platform, his coat was violently torn off from him, and he was knocked about till his hair fairly stood on end. The “spirits” were evidently giving him a good trouncing for his apostasy and opposition. Moral: It is dangerous to go on forbidden ground.
7. Moses Hull, a gifted young minister and a powerful and eloquent speaker, in its early days in America dealt Modern Spiritism some heavy and telling blows. Coming to feel himself capable of meeting it alone, he readily accepted challenges for discussions with Spiritists. He was warned against doing this in the following words: “In ‘discussing with Spiritists you have not merely to meet man and his ‘arguments, but Satan and his angels. And never should one man be ‘sent forth alone to combat with a Spiritist.” But he disregarded the warning, and soon afterward engaged, single-handed and alone, in a discussion with a noted Spiritist. As a result, he lost his faith in God and His Word, and soon became an avowed Spiritist himself. This was in 1863. The one who saw his pride, self-sufficiency, and danger, and who gave him warning, said: “He was presented to me as standing5upon the brink of an awful gulf, ready to leap. If he takes the leap, it will be final.” He took it, gave up the faith, and has been a Spiritist ever since. This case shows the powerful deception there is in Spiritism, the danger in recklessly meddling with it, and is a solemn warning against pride, presumption, and independence. We are well acquainted with the parties here referred to.
8. Another strong-minded young man and minister, a most logical and convincing speaker and writer, and a powerful opponent to Spiritism, in order to learn more about Spiritism, in company with his wife attended a number of seances, circles, and table rappings. A few years later his wife went off into Spiritism, and one day while on a visit to California, as he was crossing San Francisco Bay, in a ferry, a man, a perfect stranger to him, stepping across from the opposite side of the ferry, said to him: “Is your name Mr.—?” “Yes,” was the response. He continued, “I have a message for you from your aunt —— (deceased). She tells me to say to you that you will yet be a ‘Spiritualist.’” Imagine the influence such a message would naturally have upon one under such circumstances! But it proved a lie, for this man lived and died a Seventh-day Adventist, and his wife also, after a few years, gave up her connection with the delusion. It shows, however, the persistency with which wicked spirits will pursue those who have tampered or in any way trifled with them.
Twice in his lectures against Spiritism, and each time while reading the scripture found in Deut. 18: 9–14, through the influence of Spiritist mediums present, this man’s tongue was completely paralyzed so that he could not utter a word, until he dropped upon his knees and asked God, in silent prayer, to deliver him from the spell. Upon arising he said, “In the name of the Lord I rebuke the evil spirit present,” whereupon the conjurers, who, as was afterward learned, had come for the avowed purpose of overpowering him, left the building in precipitate haste, as if fleeing for their lives.
This case, like the others already cited, illustrates the powerful and Satanic influence connected with Spiritism, and the dangers of going on forbidden ground to investigate it, even for ostensibly good purposes. We may learn all we need to know about it without ourselves meddling with it. We were intimately acquainted with this man, also with his wife. Our best and only advice to one and all is, to let Spiritism entirely alone.
Our next article will deal with the relation of Spiritism to the second coming of Christ.