How to Try Them by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 1, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 25.

How to Try Them.

By Editor

THE editor of the Golden Gate, in an article on "Spiritualism in the Churches," says, "Ministers and laymen alike are disposed to 'try the spirits.'" Thus it is, he says, that "the communion of saints" is "a glorious fact in the lives of thousands who are never known or recognized as Spiritualists." Well we also are disposed to "try the spirits," but in a different way. If we were ignorant of the nature of some substance, we would not think of swallowing it in order to try it and see if it were poison. We would take it to a chemist, who would subject it to the test of some known substance, and we could soon tell whether or not it would be safe to take it. If it was declared to be poison, we should certainly leave it alone. Well, the same word which commands us to "try the spirits," also tells us how to try them: "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20. Turning to a part of the "testimony" where a brief account of the work of the spirits is given, we learn that "they are the spirits of devils." Rev. 16:14. That settles the matter for us. We do not wish any closer acquaintance with those spirits than the word of God, our sure guide, gives us. It declares Spiritualism to be a deadly poison; and the only way we know of to escape the effects of poison is to let it alone.