A Conversation by J. Clarke

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 17, 1857

A Conversation.

By J. Clarke

Modern Spiritualist. Do you believe that God is a jealous being ?

Lover of Truth. Yes, I do.

M. S. I cannot believe so. I think too highly of God for that.

L. T. Your mistake lies in the meaning you attach to the word "jealous." This word is now commonly used in a bad sense; but it was not always so used; it implied watchful care. To illustrate: F. has a choice field of grain, exposed to the inroads of unruly cattle; his mind is exercised with an emotion of jealousy, lest his labor should be lost, and he keeps a constant guard while danger is at hand; but when danger is removed he is at ease: so God is jealous for his name and law, in a good, not in a bad sense, and his readiness to pardon the rebel is full proof that he is not subject to any bad passion.

M. S. But do you hold that God would be so cruel as to punish man to all eternity for sins committed in this short life ?

L. T. God has no pleasure in the death of the sinner; it is the sin he hates. Sin brings its own penalty. The laws of God are immutable, and wo to the man or angel who breaks them; for the penalty is sure as the offense. The wicked rebel falls under the penalty in accordance with natural laws, just as he who throws himself into the water, will drown unless succor is at hand. God beholds all pain with sorrow, and his warnings, and expostulations, entreaties and threatenings, his invitations and offers of reward, all proclaim his benevolence. He could not be capable of giving or receiving happiness, without order, and order cannot exist where there is no law, and law would be null without a penalty.

M. S. Do you think there is such a place as hell?

L. T. What God has said I believe. "The wicked shall be turned into hell;" also a "lake of fire" is spoken of. As to the locality, the universe is not wanting a place; the earth we tread is supposed to be a mass of liquid fire, covered with a crust a few miles in thickness. Volcanoes are but the chimneys, and earthquakes the heavings of the mighty mass; and a word from Jehovah would ignite the whole. Christ compares the wicked to chaff of the threshing-floor, also to fuel which is burned up; they are said to be like wax before the flame, and as the fat of lambs to consume away, as ashes, &c. I think, however, that efforts to avoid punishment, are more profitable to us now, than vain speculations as to the mode, duration, place, &c. If a family of children were threatened with punishment for disobedience, it would be lamentable truly, to see them taking counsel together in regard to what kind of penalty they should suffer; better obey at once, and thus end the matter. God is just, not cruel.

M. S. I can't believe the Bible wholly inspired truth.

L. T. Will you please to show me the sieve you use, and where you draw the line?

M. S. That would be difficult; still I assure you that Spiritualists accept what truth there is in the Bible.

L. T. I see you have taken the first steps, and as you advance you will become more and more bold, until with most of like faith, you will class the Bible with the fabulous myths of the ancients.

M. S. But the spirits do good works, heal the sick, the lame, the deaf, &c., and I am under great obligations to them for aid and comfort rendered when in want, and distress, even when my kindred, members of the Methodist church, too, turned their backs upon me. Then in my need, these Spiritualists, though strangers, acted as brethren; this is proof enough for me.

L. T. You look to men for a test of truth, and while you do so, you will ever run into error. "Cursed be he that trusteth in man." Should not a people seek unto their God? You have partly lost your faith in God, and have recourse to men, and familiar spirits. The word of God points out these errors, and gives us a way of escape, but if you reject a part, and put a part on a false foundation, you may be sure God will frown upon you.

M. S. You have not met my question. Can such kind people as these be in the wrong?

L. T. Satan, to gain his ends, assumes the garb of an angel of light, and this is his last effort to counterfeit the works and attributes of God, even to "show that he is God;" and it seems that greater manifestations will yet appear. Satan's masterpiece is yet to come. "Wo to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Trust not to appearances, try the spirits by the word of God.

M. S. I do not wish to be deceived. I have nothing here to live for. If I lose eternal life, all is lost.

L. T. Look to God alone, through Christ. Men are fallible, blind leaders of the blind. You have been looking too low. Read the Word with prayer to escape Satan's snares. Fashionable error, and customary crime, are a gilded pill, while truth, though homely and rough in garb, is truth still.

M. S. I will investigate the matter, and would like to converse with you again at the first opportunity.

J. CLARKE.