We now come to notice the works of the enemy which the Scriptures condemn, among which the works of the magicians of Egypt are included. The first noticed in the Scriptures is witchcraft.
Many contend, and those too, who profess faith in the Bible, that there is no such thing as witchcraft; and that a belief in its existence is a relic of the superstition of the dark ages. But God said, [Ex. xxii, 18,] "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." This proves that witches did exist, or else God commanded them to put to death such as had no being, to suppose which, would be absurd. Paul also teaches in Gal. v, that witchcraft is one of the works of the flesh as much as envy, hatred, drunkenness, and murder. Thus the fact of its existence is established by both Testaments.
Again in Lev. xix, 26, they were forbidden to use enchantment; and verse 31 says: "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them." And in chap. xx, 6, the Lord said he would cut off the soul that turned after wizards, and such as have familiar spirits. Also in verse 27; a wizard and such as had familiar spirits, either men or women, were to be put to death.
According to the definitions of the words witch, wizard, sorcerer, enchanter, &c., which we will give, these various works are closely allied to one another, or are all parts of the same work, differing more in degree than in nature. Most of them are named in Deut. xviii, 9-12, which is as follows:
"When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of these nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.
The following definitions are copied from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary:
WITCHCRAFT. The practices of witches; sorcery; enchantments; intercourse with the Devil; power more than natural.
SORCERY. Magic; enchantment; witchcraft; divination; by the assistance, or supposed assistance of evil spirits: or the power of commanding evil spirits.
ENCHANTMENT. The act of producing certain wonderful effects by the invocation or aid of demons, or the agency of certain supposed spirits; the use of magic arts, spells, or charms; incantations.
DIVINATIONS. The act of divining; a foretelling future events, or discovering things secret or obscure, by the aid of superior beings; or by other than human means.
NECROMANCY. Properly the art of revealing future events by means of a pretended communication with the dead.
FAMILIAR SPIRIT. A demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at a call.
But Israel did not keep free from these abominations. King Saul consulted a familiar spirit when the Lord rejected him, and would not answer him. It is no uncommon thing in these days for those to seek to familiar or evil spirits, who never ask counsel of the Lord, and who have no reverence for his word. Also Manasseh, who was very wicked, and in whose reign Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians, "did evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen . . . he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards; he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger." 2 Chron. xxxiii, 2-6.
One writer in a spiritual paper has undertaken to show that this restriction was placed upon the Jews alone, given in a law specially for them; that Gentiles were never bound by it, and in this dispensation neither Jew nor Gentile is holden to it. But the following facts disprove the assertion: (1) The Lord calls them "the abominations of the heathen," and after naming them says: "For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee." Deut. xviii, 12. (2) The abominable, and sorcerers are condemned in the New Testament; Rev. xxi, 8. See also Gal. v, 19-21; Acts xiii, 6-11; Elymas the sorcerer, a false prophet, withstood the apostles, and tried to turn away others from the faith. This is ever their intent. To him Paul used the following language: "O full of all subtility and all mischief, thou child of the Devil, thou enemy of all righteousness." This language is applicable to all sorcerers, and their co-workers, according to the testimony of the Bible respecting their works. See Acts viii, 5-11; xvi, 16-18.
The viith chapter of Isaiah is doubtless a prophecy of the present time, or the last days. Of this there are several separate points of proof in the chapter, only one of which we will notice. Verses 20, 21, "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."
If "seeking unto them that have familiar spirits," and "the living to the dead" does not imply the present work of consulting mediums and countenancing their sorceries, to what could it apply? or is the Scripture without meaning? Only ten years ago this scripture might have appeared almost meaningless. Then the sorrowing friends would anxiously surround the bed of the dying, eager to catch each word, which was often laid up in the heart as a memento of the lost one. Then if the departed had aught to tell, it was listened to with breathless interest, as all were well assured that no future communication could pass between them till the morning of the resurrection should loose the now silent tongue. But now, how changed the times! Parents no longer regard death as an enemy tearing their children from their embrace; but as the best friend, to transplant them as buds of promise, where they can sooner blossom in a happier clime, and mature in richer beauty. The infidel no longer sinks to the sleep of death with a "fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries," but he is led to expect to be released from the sinful surroundings and propensities of the present state, to awake where there is no suffering for sin, and all are progressing toward perfect bliss; thus making the cross of Christ of no effect, and rendering the gospel a nullity. Witness the case of the blasphem26er, Thomas Paine, as revealed through Rev. C. Hammond, medium. Death is regarded only as a transition, not to be dreaded nor avoided. While wisdom cries, "all they that hate me love death," [Prov. viii, 36,] the foolish turn away from the paths of wisdom, and say, "We have made a covenant with death, and with hell [the grave] are we at agreement." Isa. xxviii, 5. The word of God counts death an enemy; 1 Cor. xv, 26; and Jesus is the great life-giver, conferring immortality on all who seek for it by patient continuance in well doing; Rom. ii, 7. Of course, they who attribute immortality to another source, or seek for it in another way, dishonor God by rejecting the gospel of his Son. They reverse the order of scripture, which says that the Lord will destroy death, and raise the dead to life. See the following from a spiritual paper:
"Fold us in thy embrace, sweet angel death,
So that no cloud can our twin being sever;
Come with soft lips and kiss away our breath
And let us take our heavenward flight together."
The Scripture says that the saints of God will all take their "heavenward flight together," not when they die, but when the Lord Jesus shall come and raise them from their graves. 1 Thess. iv, 13-18. And he will not only "abolish death," [2 Tim. i, 10,] but also destroy him that has the power of death, that is the Devil. Heb. ii, 14. The Devil introduced sin into the world, and sin produced death. Rom. v, 12; vi, 23; Jas. i, 15. If the spiritual theory were true, to destroy death and bring the saints back from under its power, would only be to reverse a "desirable transition," and bring them down again from a superior to an inferior condition. Thus they despise the word of the Lord by calling "evil good, and good evil," and rob Jesus, the life-giver, of his glory. But there is a day coming when he will vindicate his truth, and his enemies shall perish; for he says: "And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it." Isa. xxviii, 18.
Now the fact is clearly established that Moses was withstood by enchantment and sorcery, which is the work of the Devil to oppose the truth; by counterfeiting and imitating the miracles of God. So, in like manner, will the truth be resisted in the last days. So was it resisted in the days of Christ and his apostles; evil spirits, demons, were cast out by the followers of Christ; but there never was a time when seeking unto them that have familiar spirits was so universal as at the present. Kings and peasants, priests and people, rich and poor, all go hand in hand in the abominable work. That "they speak not according to this word," or "resist the truth," will be shown in commenting on other texts.
Two questions are asked and answered in Matt. xxiv. One concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and one concerning the coming of Christ, and the end of the world. The Saviour points out the long tribulation of the church, principally under the persecution by the Papacy, which was to continue more than 1000 years. The full time of Papal rule, according to Dan. vii, 25, and Rev. xii, 6, 14; xiii, 7, was 1260 years, which commenced in 538 and terminated in 1798. The Saviour said the days should be shortened for the elect's sake. History shows that the days of Papal rule were not shortened, as the power continued with the Papacy till the Spring of 1798; but the tribulation or persecution did not continue the full term of the days. The persecution was abated by the influence of the Reformation, and entirely ceased before the power of the Papacy was taken away. This gave room for the precise fulfillment of the prophecy, concerning the signs of our Saviour's second coming. According to Mark xiii, 24, the first was to take place "in those days after that tribulation." The sun was darkened in 1780; just 18 years before the end of the days; (years;) and as the moon cannot give any light when the sun is darkened, the second sign was also fulfilled at the same time. The falling of the stars occurred 53 years afterwards, in 1833. Says the Saviour, while discoursing of his
coming, and the end of these days, "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." Matt. xxiv, 23, 24.
It is truly marvelous that any should be so blind to the sense of this scripture as to apply the caution against those who say "Lo here is Christ, or there," to those who preach the near coming of the Lord. A true Advent believer cannot possibly proclaim that Christ is here, either in the desert, or in the secret chamber: but they teach exactly what the Scriptures say, that his coming is future, and will be personal and visible to all, even as the lightning shineth from one end of heaven to the other.
But we think this scripture is now being fulfilled. There is a class, very numerous at present, and fast increasing in numbers, who do thus teach. There are false christs and false prophets, fulfilling this scripture, showing great signs and wonders, and preaching that the Lord is come. See the following from the Spiritual Telegraph, under the head of an "Important Announcement to the World."
"Hearken then to the voice of wisdom, O ye inhabitants of the earth, and be not blinded as to your Lord's appearing; for he is already in your midst." This is in harmony with the general tenor of all spiritual teaching.
But if Christ is come, how is he come? We have not seen him; our friends still sleep in the dust; and as Peter said of David, so we can say of them, they are dead and buried, and their sepultures are with us to this day. The above "important announcement" we cannot believe, until we can be assured that the events connected with his coming have taken place; but they have not yet. This leads us to the remark that it must be utterly impossible for false christs to appear and deceive those who have correct views of Christ and his offices. Thus, those who firmly believe that Christ is a High Priest on the throne of his Father, and that when he leaves that throne he will descend with a shout, with the voice of the Arch-angel and the trump of God, and that at his coming the righteous dead will be raised, the living changed, and all caught up together to meet the Lord in the air, while the wicked will be slain all over the earth; those, we say, who firmly believe these facts, cannot receive the testimony of false christs. And so also of false prophets. The Scriptures furnish a shield on every point; and those who have living faith in God's word will not be deceived.
But many who profess to believe the word of God, only ask for a manifestation of supernatural power or superhuman intelligence to give full credit to the testimony of the power or spirit communicating. But if no false or spurious manifestations of power could be given, this scripture could never be fulfilled. Hence, it is not sufficient proof of their truthfulness, to see signs and wonders wrought; for the false christs and false prophets will show them. From all this it is plain that before any one can successfully proclaim himself christ, he must destroy confidence in the exalted nature and position of Christ, or so pervert the testimony of Scripture as to make Christ such an one as himself. This Spiritualists have done as the following quotations fully prove. The first is from the Spiritual Telegraph, No. 37, and is the testimony of a "spirit" through a "medium."
"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.
Many expressions to the same intent might be quoted. The next is from a paper read at the spiritual investigating class in the city of New York, by Dr. Weisse.
"Friend Orton seems to make rather light of the communications from spirits, concerning Christ. It seems, nevertheless, that all the testimony received from advanced spirits only shows that Christ was a medium and reformer in Judea; that he now is an advanced spirit in the sixth sphere; but that he never claimed to be God, and does not at present. I have had two communications to that effect. I have also read some that Dr. Hare had. If I am wrong in my views of the Bible, I should like to know it, for the spirits and mediums do not contradict me."
The third is from Dr. Hare himself, given also in the investigating class; though this remark of Dr. H. was made subsequent to that of Dr. Weisse, as above; of course Dr. W. refers to other remarks of a similar nature from Dr. Hare.
"He said that he had been thus protected from deception by the spirits of Washington and Franklin, and that they had brought Jesus Christ to him, with whom he had also communicated. He had first repelled him as an impostor; but became convinced afterward that it was really him. He related that he had learned from that high and holy Spirit that he was not the character Christendom had represented him to be, and not responsible for the errors connected with his name, but that he was, while on earth, a medium of high and extraordinary powers, and that it was solely through his mediumistic capabilities that he attained so great knowledge and was enabled to practice such apparent wonders."
In these quotations the infidelity of the authors is apparent to all. Dr. J. B. Dods, celebrated as a psychologist and spiritualist, is called a "christian spiritualist;" and to show that there is no great difference of faith between the infidel and so-called christian spiritualists, we quote the following from the report of a case of healing by Dr. Dods through spirit influence. He says, "After she was carried into the hall, and near the close of the ceremony (which was a written one) I used these words,— 'Betsy, in the name of the great Master Medium of our race, be whole of your infirmities. Arise and walk.'"
By what power he thought she was healed will be shown by another quotation from the same letter which will be presented on another text.
The above quotations from high spiritual authority show that the way is now fully prepared for false christs to make their appearance and present their claims. Christ "was a medium of high and extraordinary powers," and is now a "spirit in the sixth sphere," but yet behind others, for there are seven spheres. After this the reader will be prepared to believe that we have seen and now know of persons who claim, not only to possess the power that he possessed, but to be christs. Can any one doubt that our Saviour's words will be completely fulfilled in our very midst? "Many shall come in my name, saying I am christ, and shall deceive many." Surely with such warnings as the Scriptures give, with such faithful delineations of these works of darkness before us, we need not be deceived. But such as love not the truth will fall an easy prey to these deceptions. There is only one way of safety in these times of peril, that is to commit our ways, to the Lord, and seek the sustaining and protecting influence of his Spirit, by entire consecration to him, and a renunciation of everything selfish and worldly. J. H. W.
(To be Continued.)