SPIRITUALISM, ANCIENT AND MODERN.
By T. B. Snow
IN an article published in the Signs of January 9, 1893, entitled "Spiritualism and the Bible," I showed that the Bible did not teach that "frequent communication of intelligence from the world of spirits" of dead men, was possible, for the reason that the "dead know not anything," and that in the very day that a man dies his "thoughts perish." This condition would render communication impossible. The object of this article is to show that Spiritualism is no new thing, and that it is not only proven by the Scripture to be impossible, but the practice of seeking for information from the world of spirits is condemned by the word of God, and that those who formerly sought for information from that source were to be put to death. To find out what the Bible teaches in regard to this we will first ascertain just what Spiritualism is. Let us look at a few definitions:— "Enchanter—one who enchants; a sorcerer." "Sorcery—divination by the assistance of evil spirits; magic." "Magic—science or practice of evoking spirits or educing the occult powers of nature, and performing wonderful things by their aid. Synonyms, sorcery, witchcraft, necromancy, conjuration, enchantment." "Necromancy—art of revealing future events by means of a pretended communication with the dead, conjuration." "Spiritualism—a belief in the communication of intelligence from the world of spirits." "Witchcraft—practices of witches; sorcery; enchantment; power more than natural."—Webster. By a comparison of these definitions, it will be readily seen that enchantment, sorcery, magic, necromancy, witchcraft, and Spiritualism are one and the same thing; or, in other words, Spiritualism is only a new name given to sorcery, necromancy, etc., which were practiced among the heathen. These practices were an abomination unto the Lord, and it was because of this that these nations were to be driven out. Deut. 18:10-14. Witches were to be put to death. Ex. 22:18. False prophets were not suffered to live. Deut. 13:1-5. Charmers, consulters of familiar spirits, wizards, and necromancers were not allowed to exist among God's chosen people. Deut. 18:10-14. These things were practiced throughout the heathen world, but originated with Satan, and by him were given to man. He laid the foundation when he said, "Ye shall not surely die" (Gen. 3:4); and upon this foundation he built a doctrine, which has been accepted not only by the heathen, but was brought with them into the Christian church. This doctrine is that of the inherent immortality of the soul. It tends to undermine the whole plan of salvation through Christ. It does away with the necessity of the resurrection of the dead, and of a future judgment day, for it teaches that man goes direct to his reward at death. It embraces within its folds the Catholic doctrines of purgatory, prayers to the dead and for the dead, worship of the Virgin Mary and saint worship, together with Universalism and eternal torment of the wicked, and other equally unscriptural doctrines still held among Protestants. The Reformation by Martin Luthur and his co-workers failed to eradicate many of these false doctrines from the church, therefore we find Protestants still clinging to them. So we have this fact, that the devil in saying, "Ye shall not surely die," laid the foundation for the greatest possible deceptions. Almost all the people of the world have believed it. The heathen first, then an apostate church accepted it. Hence of the last days we read: "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet [symbol of the great apostate religions of earth]. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16:13, 14. Thus we find that Spiritualism is simply a device of the devil to deceive men and lure them on to perdition. God, in his great mercy and love to fallen man, has given him warning not to give ear to it or practice it, on pain of death. The sorcerers will be found on the outside of the city of God, with its gates closed against them (Rev. 22:15), and they will finally suffer the second death in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8).