MAN NOT IMMORTAL, by D. P. Hall

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Dec 26, 1854

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 6, No. 19.

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MAN NOT IMMORTAL,

By D. P. Hall

THE ONLY SHIELD AGAINST THE SEDUCTIONS OF MODERN SPIRITUALISM.

BY D. P. HALL.

[Concluded.]

SPIRITUALISM.

Having proved from the Bible, man's complete mortality, we are prepared to go on and show from the same book, the nature and destiny of modern Spiritualism, and offer the only antidote for the same.

In making a practical application of the Bible doctrine of man's mortality it will be necessary in the first place to notice and define Modern Spiritualism; in the second place to show its seductive influence, and in the third place to apply the only antidote. We will pursue this order in the investigation. And first, what do we understand by spiritualism? In the sense in which we use the word, it means, The doctrine that man has connected with his present organism, an immortal nature or part, called by the different names of immortal soul, deathless spirit, or inner spiritual life, &c., to the end of the vocabulary of names meaning the same thing. It is the notion in short, that man has immortality some how, or in some shape, connected with his present organism.

I am not particular at all as to the peculiar shape or form this notion takes in different ages: it is the same in the mouth of the Serpent, Heathen Philosophers, Catholic Priests, Modern Popular Theologians, or last in the list, Modern Spiritualists. I repeat it, it is the same in substance; it is natural immortality. This notion we would oppose with plain Bible, which declares immortality to be through Jesus, to be put on at the resurrection. Modern Spiritualism, we understand to be the last phase which this notion presents to the world, under the head of Spiritualism, Spirit Manifestations, Mysterious noises, &c., and more recently, in the more refined and perfect communications through mediums in writing, speaking, &c.

This, then, we understand to be modern Spiritualism. There is no danger of being mistaken or misunderstood in our definition of Spiritualism, and especially of modern Spiritualism. The phenomenon is too notorious in the United States to be mistaken. It is claimed by those believing in this peculiar type of Spiritualism, that the spirit being eliminated or thrown off from the body at death, and passes into the spheres, first, second, third, and so on, according to its respective degree of development and perfection, while in the body, and that it returns and communicates with the living on earth, giving them good advice, teaching them how to live, and what their fate will be hereafter, &c.

These spirits after departure from the body, are great Theologians: they know all about God and the Bible. Some of the most bitter enemies to the Bible, when in the body, speak very beautifully touching this Book when out of the body; and vice versa. This modern Spiritualism is doing more towards turning men away from the Bible, and its plain truths, and making converts to its peculiarities, than all other forms of infidelity put together. This is the master-piece: notice its beginning, progress and present prospects.

Says Hon. J. W. Edmonds, Judge of the Supreme Court:—"Scarcely more than four years have elapsed since the Rochester knockings were first known among us. Then mediums could be counted by units, but now by thousands; then believers could be numbered by hundreds, now by tens of thousands.

It is believed by the best informed that the whole number in the United States must be several hundred thousand, and that in this city (New York) and its vicinity there must be from twenty to twenty-five thousand. There are ten or twelve news-papers and periodicals devoted to the cause, and the Spiritual Library embraces more than one hundred different publications, some of which have already attained a circulation of more than ten thousand copies. Besides the undistinguished multitude there are many men of high standing and talent ranked among them—doctors, lawyers and clergymen in great numbers, a Protestant bishop, the learned and reverend president of a college, foreign ambassadors and ex-members of the United States' Senate."

This history of Spiritualism given by Hon J. W. Edmonds, could be greatly enlarged at the present date, as the votaries are increasing rapidly in numbers and rank. Here then we have modern Spiritualism commencing in the latter part of March, 1848, in an obscure family, under the head of rappings, and growing to a perfect giant in the short period of less than seven years, with the prospect of continued and more perfect development in the future. This is Modern Spiritualism; and this wholesale deception and infidelity is based upon the immortality of the soul.

See the testimony of some of the most refined spirits from the spirit land. From John C. Calhoun, "My friend, the question is often put to you, What good can result from these manifestations? I will answer it: It is to draw mankind together in harmony, and convince skeptics of the IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL."

See another from W. E. Channing: "Q.—What do the spirits propose to accomplish by their new manifestations? "A.—To unite mankind, and convince skeptical minds of the immortality of the soul."

These two refined spirits agree most charmingly in their testimony touching this fundamental doctrine. This lies at the very bottom of Spiritualism of every age and form, and if it is removed from beneath it, it must fall. We do not expect to take this false foundation from the mass, but will be content to remove it from a few good and honest souls who prefer the word of God to the teachings of Satan and the traditions of men.

We offer the Bible as teaching the truth touching man's nature and destiny, and in that blessed volume, we cannot find immortal soul applied to man in the present state. It is not in fact found in the Bible. We cannot find immortality promised to any one who does not believe the gospel, or partake of the benefits of the atonement, or plan of salvation through Christ. All are now mortal wholly: a part will be made immortal wholly and that part will be those who partake of the benefits of redemption.

The wicked who sow in this present life to the flesh, will reap corruption, not immortality. Whence then originates this notion of natural immortality, upon which Spiritualism, ancient and modern, is based? for certainly such a mighty stream must have a fountain somewhere.

1st. It did not originate with God: if it did, some of his prophets would have expressed this sentiment. Jesus, who was sent from God, would have breathed it out in some of his numerous teachings, or certainly some of his apostles would have uttered something from which it could at least be fairly inferred. The Bible, the Book of God, would contain this system of doctrine if from him. We repeat it, this Spiritualism is not from God, does not flow down to us through the channel of prophets, Jesus and the apostles; but the Bible does furnish information touching its founder and first teacher, and its nature and destiny; and we invite the especial attention of all interested, by those scriptures which give us a clue to its origin, character and destiny.

We invite attention then to its originator. Immortal soulism has been placed to the credit of heathen philosophers as the originators; I beg leave to antedate heathen philosophy a trifle, unless the Serpent, or the Devil, was the first heathen philosopher: in this case I would not differ with such.

Genesis. God created Adam and Eve, and placed them in a beautiful garden of delights. He placed before them life and death; life for obedience, death for disobedience. He forbade their eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil lest they should die. Gen. ii, 15-18.

See Gen. iii, 1-6. "Now the Serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made; and he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden; and the woman said unto the Serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the Serpent said unto the woman, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE; for God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as God's, knowing good and evil."

Here then we have God on one side and the Devil on the other: the devil contradicting God. Now who shall we believe? The one who gives immortality through Jesus Christ and a resurrection, or the one who gives it, or promises it I should say, through death. Which shall we believe, God or the Devil? when there is a plain contradiction. God never lied: the Devil is a liar from the beginning.

Here is the fountain: Ye shall not surely die, but be as Gods. Oh how easily the poor proud heart of man has been deceived by this flattering promise: be as Gods. We don't DIE: we may appear to, but nothing dies: we, that is the man proper, the spirit, ascends to the Gods, to be a little god among the Gods. So taught the Devil; and Heathen philosophers, have but imitated the language of Satan, in their teachings upon this theme. The Devil then is the originator; and Spiritualism, ancient and modern, is the Devil's doctrine. There can be no question as to its paternity, its origin; and the teaching of Heathers, Catholics, Protestants, and last, not least, modern Spiritualism refined, is but an imitation of the old

stereotyped sermon preached by Satan in the garden of Eden.

From this point we can trace both streams down to the present; the doctrine of God, Ye shall surely die, and the doctrine of the Devil, Ye shall not surely die. The one channel can be traced through apostolic teachings, the teachings of Christ and prophets, up to God; the other through modern Spiritualists, Protestants, Catholics, and Heathen philosophers, up to the Devil.

From this point we invite attention to other Scriptures, pointing out this doctrine of the Devil known in these days under the more polished and refined name of Spiritualism. Isa. viii, 19. "And 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." The context and every thing in this quotation fits Spiritualism most perfectly. The association, verse 9, taking council together, verse 10, confederacy, verse 12, stumbling and falling, verse 13, binding up the testimony, sealing the law, verse 16.

All this refers to the present time and applies. Then notice the saying, When they shall say, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits. This is just what modern Spiritualism is saying through its lectures, periodicals, and all its communications. Seek information from the dead, or the spirits of those who are dead, (who according to Scripture know not any thing.)

But what saith the Prophet of God? Verse 20. "To the law and to the testimony." What! go from the living God, from the word of God, to the dead! No: to the law and to the testimony. Who of us will obey this direction and turn away from these familiar spirits to the living God, and his word? Who, I inquire again, will obey this injunction?

As we have not time to notice all the prophetic declarations touching this modern wonder, we will notice several New Testament Scriptures upon this point: 1st. The sayings of the apostle Paul. 1 Tim. iv, 1-4 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils."

Notice the preparation: departing from the faith, or word of God; that is, turning away from the belief or faith in God's word. Is this true in preparing the way for modern Spiritualism? Are those who believe in modern Spiritualism, infidel with reference to God's book? Let us hear them testify: we will judge them out of their own mouths.

The Bible Examiner of July, speaking of the 'Bible Convention,' so named, called by Andrew Jackson Davis, says: "A long string of charges was brought against the Bible, by the Chairman, Joseph Barker, of Ohio, recently from England, and formerly a Methodist preacher, in which he attempted to make out that the Bible sanctioned all manner of crimes, &c. He was followed by Henry C. Wright, formerly a Congregational minister: once a Non-Resistant and Peace man, but now an opposer of the Bible. He opens with the following resolution: 'Resolved, That the Bible, in some parts of the Old and New Testaments, sanctions injustice, concubinage, prostitution, oppression, war, plunder, and wholesale murder; and therefore, the doctrine of the Bible, as a whole, is false, and injurious to the social and spiritual growth and perfection of man.'" Is not here a departure from the faith of God's book?

Note the second point: giving heed to seducing spirits. Are not these spirits seducers? Let us notice briefly. 1st. A seducer, is one who appears under the garb of friendship; one who pretends to be your warmest friend. Is not this the case with these spirits? Rap, rap, rap! Who are you? Your dear husband, your best friend. Rap, rap, rap! Who are you? Your wife, your warmest friend, come to converse with you. Rap, rap, rap! Who are you? Your son, daughter, father, mother, or in short, your warmest and tenderest friend: one who loves you dearly. And then this so-called spirit will relate some of the most endearing circumstances and connections in life, make some of the most powerful appeals to sympathy, gain your confidence, and then you are prepared for deception.

Are not these spirits just such kind of creatures? They are, always boasting of virtue and goodness, to begin with, but when they secure your confidence, and get you completely blinded to their arts, they will poison you to death. I might cite instances which have come under my own observation.

Notice how most of them speak of the Bible, when they first commence their seductions upon those who have some confidence in that blessed volume: "The Bible is not precisely the book you look upon it to be, it has a great many good things in it, some few errors. I believe the Bible, oh yes, I believe the Bible, and even take a text from it when I lecture." Very nice, until you become duped, and then hear the changed tone, quite another story: "a very bad book, false, horrible, the old skin of the serpent, not fit to be read," and so on. This is the way these spirits manage matters, filling up the character of a seducer in every particular.

2d. Do they not teach doctrines of Devils? They do. They are preaching the Devil's doctrine, "Thou shalt not surely die," continually. This is the very basis of their whole system of Spiritualism; so that Paul has pointed this modern wonder out, in three points most clearly. 1st. Departing from the faith of God's word. 2d. Giving heed to seducing spirits. 3d. Doctrines of Devils.

Let us pass from this to notice another statement of the Apostle. Note verses 2 and 3. They are equally true. We have not time to go into detail. See 2 Tim. iii, 1-10, especially verses 6, 8: "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers lusts. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstand Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith."

Notice two points in this quotation. 1st. The persons led captive. Now it is a notorious fact that two thirds of those who are seduced into this delusion of Satan, are silly women, weak-minded women who can easily resign their wills to another. The first mediums, and the great majority of those who have since become such, are silly women. 2d. They withstand and resist the truth, as Jannes and Jambres did Moses. See Ex. vii, 10, 11, 12. These sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, undertook to do the same miracles that Moses and Aaron wrought. Let us see if this is not strictly true of these modern Spiritualizers. They say that they can do the same miracles that Jesus and the apostles did. Notice some instances: "The spirit of Christ was not wholly separated from the body, when he was placed in the tomb, and the guardian spirits who attended him through life, using him as a medium, rolled away the stone, restored the spirit to the body, and Christ walked bodily out of the tomb; sometime afterward he died naturally, his body was left to moulder back to dust, and his spirit, seen only by those who were mediums, ascended to heaven." From Dr. Bristol's letter, Telegraph, No. 34.

"The spirit of Channing says: The spirit of Lazarus had not entirely left the body: he was in a trance. Christ in his superior condition saw this, and by his magnetic power restored the action of the system. The same was done at the restoration of the maid." Telegraph, No. 34.

The miracles of the Bible are either denied in toto, or explained so that Spiritualizers can perform them. Where one is superior to their explanations, or arts, it is denied. Others are explained down to magnetism; and then they come in and declare themselves able to perform them. Just as Jannes and Jambres did, they undertake to imitate the miracles of God.

"But they shall proceed no further." When they fill up their cup, when they carry this deception to its height, they shall perish. Notice carefully verse 9. Notice other predictions which point out this modern phenomenon. See Paul 2 Thess. ii, 9. "Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

All this applies, as to time; just before the coming of Christ the second time to destroy the man of sin: as to character; the working of Satan with power, in its physical manifestations and in its influence over the minds of men: signs; it presents a sign of the near coming of Christ, and it certainly is a wonder. Wonder! wonder! has been the cry from the beginning. As to its being a lying wonder, no one can doubt who believes God's book. As to its being a strong delusion note the thousands and tens of thousands who are being deluded continually by it; so that in every particular it is a perfect fit.

See John's testimony, Rev. xiii, 14: "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast." See also Chap. xviii, 1-3. "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lighted with his glory, and he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and cage of every unclean and hateful bird." See Chap. xiv, 13, 14. "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. (Two-horned Beast, compare the two.) 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. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."

Note several points, 1st. Spirits of devils. 2d. They work miracles. 3d. They deceive, and are instrumental in gathering the several parties to the battle of God Almighty. 4th. This is when these spiritual influences go out of the mouth, (or legislative department,) of these three powers, viz., Dragon, Beast, and False Prophet, or Two-horned Beast. These spirits are now working powerfully in the bodies of these governments, and working their way to the mouth. When they go out of the mouth, then will come the final conflict. They are working with power now: then, according to Paul, they will work with all power.

In concluding upon this branch of the subject, we invite attention to the sayings of our Saviour, as recorded, Matt. xxiv, 23, 24. "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo here is Christ, or there, believe it not. For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect."

Notice several statements made by our Saviour. 1st. Then if any man shall say, &c. When? Turn back to verses 21, 22, and notice the tribulation and shortening of the days for the purpose of saving some of the elect. This tribulation and persecution was upon the people of God, the elect: it was shortened through the influence of the Reformation. Then fixes the time; that is, after the tribulation and shortening of the days. Then if any man shall say, Lo here, or, Lo there. We have had, and are now having, in these modern wonders, a perfect fulfillment of this language of Jesus. Within a few years, many have come in the name of Christ, saying, I am Christ. The Mormons have said, and are now saying, Go into the desert, Christ will come there. Ann Lee said that Christ had come in her person. I conversed some two or three hours with a man not many days since, in Pennsylvania, who said Christ had come in him: he was Christ, in the sense that hundreds are pro-

claiming; that is, Christ's second coming and all the coming now promised as future, is to be in the appearance of such men.

But modern Spiritualism fills this up to perfection: "What is the meaning of the word Christ! 'Tis not as is generally supposed, the Son of the Creator of all things. Any just and perfect being is Christ. The crucifixion of Christ is nothing more than the crucifixion of the spirit, which all have to contend with, before becoming perfect and righteous. The miraculous conception of Christ is merely a fabulous tale." Telegraph, No. 37.

"Jesus never taught people to pay divine homage to him; he never taught that he was the Son of God, except in the sense in which other men might be the Sons of God." Unfoldings, p. 7.

Here then we have many coming in my name and saying, I am Christ, and deceiving many. "For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders."

This is strictly true of modern Spiritualism. Signs and wonders are the grand moving power of the whole machinery. They come, saying, as quoted above, I am Christ; Christ is any good man; I am a good man; I am Christ. Then they prove their mission by their signs and wonders.

Notice, 2d. This is to deceive many, yea all, except the elect; that is, those who believe in the Bible. This last deception of Satan is to be carried to such an extent, and is to be presented in so many forms, that no one can resist it, unless they have a well-grounded hope in the truth of God's book. All who turn away from the truth of God's word, will most certainly be deceived and perish. The delusion will be so strong that none can resist it, who do not have on the whole armor of God, and stand watching unto prayer. This is our only safety, our only refuge. Flee, then, to God's word. Believe it, obey it, patiently continue in well-doing, and seek for glory, honor, immortality, and God will give you eternal life.

In conclusion, I would invite attention to the fact, that modern Spiritualism, although differing slightly from some other forms of Spiritualism, is nevertheless based exclusively and solely upon the dogma of natural immortality. If this dogma is untrue, as I have attempted from God's book to show, then this mighty structure of modern wonders, must prove a falsehood, a strong delusion of Satan, a lie!

The Devil's doctrine, which is now deceiving and deluding its thousands and tens of thousands, is destined to go on in its mad career of falsehood and deception, until all, except the elect, those who believe God's truth and obey it, shall be deceived and fitted for destruction.

Thousands are in a sad condition, perfectly blinded to Satan's arts and wiles; and should these lines meet the eye of any such, let me say to them, Be entreated in the name of God and truth, to flee from this fatal delusion, and lay hold on the hope of the gospel, which is the hope of eternal life, an eternal weight of glory in the kingdom of God.

Do, we entreat you, as you love life, glory, honor and immortality, be persuaded to seek for it in God's own way: the only way given on earth or among men whereby we must be saved. Turn away from Satan's first lie, Thou shalt not surely die, but be as gods, and believe that death entered by sin, (not life,) and that your only hope of immortality is through Jesus and the resurrection, or a change equivalent thereto.