Signs of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 1. (1/3/1884)

Signs of the Times

Jan 3, 1884

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 3, 1884

Heathen Plots against Nehemiah.

By Ellen G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

SANBALLAT, Tobiah, and their confederates, dared not openly make war upon the Jews; but with increasing malice they continued their secret efforts to perplex, injure, and discourage them. The wall about Jerusalem was rapidly approaching completion. When it should be finished, and its gates set up, these enemies of Israel could not hope to force an entrance into the city. Therefore they were the more eager and determined in their efforts to stop the work without delay. At last they devised a plan to draw Nehemiah from his station, and kill or imprison him while they had him in their power.

Pretending to desire a compromise of the opposing parties, they proposed a conference with Nehemiah, and invited him to meet them in a village on the plain of Ono. But the Spirit of God, enlightening the mind of his servant, enabled him to discern their real purpose. Says Nehemiah, "I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down; why should the work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you?" But these emissaries of Satan were persistent. Four times they sent messages of like import, but received the same answer.

Finding this plan unsuccessful, they then had resort to a more dangerous stratagem. Sanballat sent to Nehemiah a messenger bearing an open letter wherein was written: "It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah; and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together." Had the reports mentioned been actually circulated, there would have been cause for apprehension; for they would soon have been carried to the ears of the king, whom a slight suspicion might provoke to the severest measures. But Nehemiah was convinced that the letter was wholly false, written to arouse his fears, and draw him into some snare prepared by his enemies. This conclusion was strengthened by the fact that the letter was sent open, evidently that the contents might be read by the people, and thus intimidate them also.

He therefore promptly returned the answer, "There are no such things done as thou sayest; but thou feignest them out of thine own heart." He is not ignorant of Satan's devices, and he feels assured that all these attempts are made for the purpose of weakening the hands of the builders, that their work may not be accomplished. He turns to the Source of strength, with the prayer, "Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands."

Satan had been defeated again and again; and now with deeper malice and greater cunning, he proceeded to devise a still more subtle and dangerous snare for the servant of God. Sanballat and his companions were moved to hire men, professing to be friends of Nehemiah, to give him evil counsel as the word of the Lord. The principal person engaged in this nefarious work was one Shemaiah, who had previously been held in good repute by Nehemiah. This man shut himself up in a chamber near the sanctuary, as if fearing that his life was in danger, and thither Nehemiah went to consult with him as one who was especially favored of God. The temple was at this time protected by walls and gates, while the gates of the city were not yet set up. This deceiver therefore professed great concern for Nehemiah's safety, and counseled him to seek shelter in the temple: "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee." The hero's fearless answer was, "Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in."

Had Nehemiah followed that treacherous counsel, he would have sacrificed his reputation for courage, and faith in God, and would have appeared cowardly and contemptible. The alarm would have spread among the people, each would have sought his own safety, and the city would have been left unprotected, to fall a prey to their enemies. That one unwise move would have been a virtual surrender of all that had been gained.

Nehemiah was not long in penetrating the true character and object of his counselor; "And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me; for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me."

In view of the important work that Nehemiah had undertaken, together with the integrity of his character, and the confidence in God which he professed to feel, it would be highly inconsistent for him to hide himself as though in fear. The preservation of life itself would not be a sufficient excuse for such a course. The infamous counsel given him was seconded by more than one man of high reputation, who, while professing to be his friend, was secretly in league with his enemies. Women also, while pretending to have received great light from God, basely sold themselves to serve the cause of the heathen. Nehemiah prays that God will mark their evil designs, and reward them according to their deeds.

Despite all the plots of enemies, open and secret, the work of building went steadily forward, the wall rose to the proper height, and in about two months after Nehemiah's arrival at Jerusalem, the holy city was girded round with its defenses, and the builders could walk upon its walls, and look forth upon their astonished adversaries. Says Nehemiah, "When all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God."

Yet the striking evidence that the hand of the Lord was with Nehemiah was not sufficient to restrain discontent, rebellion, and treachery. "In those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. For there were many in Judah sworn unto him because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah." Here are seen the evil results of intermarriage with idolaters. In this union, Satan had gained the victory. A family of Judah had connected themselves with the enemies of God, and the relation had proved a snare to the people. Many others also united in marriage with the heathen. These, like the mixed multitude that came up with Israel from Egypt, were a source of constant trouble. They were not whole-hearted in the service of God. When his work demanded a sacrifice, they were ready to violate their own solemn oaths of co-operation and support. All this had tended to weaken and discourage those who sought to build up the cause of God.

Some who had been foremost in plotting mischief against the Jews, and endeavoring by every possible means to cause their ruin, now professed great desire to be on friendly terms with them. Some of the nobles of Judah who had become entangled in idolatrous marriages, had held traitorous correspondence with Tobiah,

and had taken oath to serve him. They now presumed to represent this agent of Satan as a man of ability, wisdom, and foresight, and urged that an alliance with him would be highly advantageous to the Jews. At the same time they betrayed to him Nehemiah's plans and movements. Thus the work of God was laid open to his enemies, and opportunity was given them not only to misconstrue Nehemiah's words and acts, and circulate false reports concerning him, but to lay plans to counteract his efforts and hinder his work. Yet this man, who had so boldly stood in defense of the oppressed, did not exercise the authority with which he was invested, and bring to punishment those traitors in the camp. Calmly and unselfishly he went forward in the service of his people, never dreaming of slackening his efforts though they should be repaid only with ingratitude and treachery.

The whole power and policy of Satan have always been aimed at those who are zealously seeking to advance the cause and work of God. Though often baffled, he as often renews his assaults. But it is when he works in secret that he is most to be feared. The advocates of unpopular truth must expect opposition from its open enemies; this is often fierce and cruel, but it is far less dangerous than the secret enmity of those who profess to be serving God while at heart they are servants of Satan. While apparently uniting in the work of God, many are connected with his foes; and if in any way crossed in their plans, or reproved for their sins, they court the favor of the enemies of truth, and open to them all the plans of God's servants and the workings of his cause. Thus they place every advantage in the hands of those who use all their knowledge to hinder the work of God and injure his people. Thus these men of two minds and two purposes pretend to serve God, and then go over to the enemy and serve him, as best suits their inclination.

Every device which the prince of darkness can suggest, will be employed to induce God's servants to form a compromise with the agents of Satan. Repeated solicitations will come in, to call us from duty; but, like Nehemiah, we should steadfastly reply, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down." We have no time to seek the favor of the world, or even to defend ourselves from their misrepresentation and calumny. We have no time to lose in self-vindication. We should keep steadily at our work, and let that refute the falsehoods which malice may coin to our injury. Slanders will be multiplied if we stop to answer them. Should we allow our enemies to gain our friendship and sympathy, and thereby allure us from our post of duty; should we by any unguarded act, expose the cause of God to reproach, and thus weaken the hands of the workers, we should bring upon our characters a stain not easily removed, and place a serious obstacle in the way of our own future usefulness.

Those temptations are most dangerous which come from the professed servants of God, and from our friends. When persons who are uniting with the world, yet claiming great piety and love, counsel the faithful workers for God to be less zealous and more conservative, our answer must be an appeal to the word of God. When they plead for union with those who have been our determined opposers, we should fear and shun them as decidedly as did Nehemiah. Those who would lead away from the old landmarks to form a connection with the ungodly, cannot be sent of Heaven. Whatever may have been their former position, their present course tends to unsettle the faith of God's people.

Such counselors are prompted by Satan. They are time-servers. The testimonies, reproofs, and warnings of God's servants are unpalatable to them, being a reproof to their worldly, pleasure-loving propensities. We should shun this class as resolutely as did Nehemiah.

When plied with the arguments and suggestions of such advisers, it would be well for us each to inquire, "Should I, who am a Christian, a child of God; one called to be the light of the world, a preacher of righteousness; who have so often expressed my confidence in the truth and the way in which the Lord has led us,—should I unite my influence with those who bitterly oppose the work of God? Should I, a steward of the mysteries of God, open to his worst enemies the counsels of his people? Would not such a course embolden the wicked in their opposition to the truth of God and to his covenant-keeping people? Would not such concession prevent me from opening my lips in exhortation, warning, or entreaty, in my own family or in the church of God? If Paul or Peter were placed in similar circumstances, would he thus betray a sacred trust? Would not even men of the world despise me? Would they not scorn to be diverted from their life-work by difficulties or perils?"

Satan will work by any and every means which he can employ to discourage the active servants of God. If the shepherd can be beguiled from his duty, then the way is clear for wolves to scatter and devour the sheep.

Every success of the truth discourages the enemies of God; and they are sometimes forced to acknowledge that it is his work, while they hate it the more on that very account. False brethren will continue to increase. Those to whom God has sent warnings and reproofs, but who, rejecting the Heaven-sent message, give heed to the counsel of his enemies, are the severest trial to his faithful servants. "They that forsake the law, praise the wicked."

THE NEW YEAR.

By Uriah Smith

BY ELD. U. SMITH.

WHY hail we thus each new-born year, With voice of joy and scenes of mirth? What room for gay and festive cheer, While woe and darkness span the earth? While sin and suffering, pain and death, still throw Their baleful shadow over all below?

Earth trembles at the cannon's roar, War's murderous visage scours the plain, Its fairest spots are drenched with gore, Its fruitful fields are piled with slain. And what are all these slow revolving years, But funeral pageants of distress and tears?

Contagions spread their wings of pall, Fierce tempests rage with blasting breath, And earthquake throes, engulfing all, Make short and sure the way to death. No peace, no safety, no enduring cheer, To him who builds his hopes and treasures here.

Yet glad we hail each New Year's morn; For from the great high throne of Heaven A royal fiat forth has gone, A glorious word to earth is given: Behold, says He who looks creation through, Where sin has marred my works I make anew.

New earth to smile before his face, New heavens in crystal beauty dressed, New years to run a guiltless race, New joys for each immortal breast, New flowers upspringing from the sinless sod, New waters sparkling from the throne of God.

New bodies for these feeble forms, New life from e'en the mouldering tomb, New skies unrent by raging storms, New beauty, new unfading bloom, New scenes the eternal era to begin, Of peace for war, of righteousness for sin.

Speed then away, O tardy years! Fly quickly, hours that intervene! Groaning we wait the time when tears Shall be but things that once have been. Dawn, thou blest morn, so long in promise given, The glorious glad New Year of God and Heaven.

Causes of Spiritual Declension.

By Wm. Penniman

ANOTHER name might be given to spiritual declension, namely, departure from God. Of course there are many ways of departing from God, but they all amount to the same thing; they have the same result. There is but one way of coming unto God the Father—a way of his own appointing. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." And again he said: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day." We have, therefore, the aid of the Holy Spirit in coming to the Father. In order to have this aid we must be in earnest, and do all we can to comply with the conditions of salvation.

If Christ is the way, then he is our Pattern. He kept his Father's commandments; John 15:10; therefore we must keep them. In disobedience Christ cannot lead us, neither will the Father accept us. As we come unto God by obedience to his law, and to the teachings of Christ through faith in him, we depart from God by disobedience, by conformity to the world and the rejection of light. The great mass of the people in this age, including both the church and the world, are trampling upon the law of God. The majority nominally accept the gospel, but reject the law, as obedience to that brings crosses which they are not willing to bear. Therefore there is conformity to the world and rejection of light, and this is one great cause of spiritual declension among all the churches. In regard to the rejection of light, Joseph Cooke has truthfully and forcibly said: "The universe is so made that whoever sins against light draws blood on the spiritual retina of the moral eyes." And in respect to conformity to the world, inspiration has said: "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15.

In the Advance of Jan. 25, 1883, appeared an article on this subject, by Geo. T. Pentecost, from which we quote. We invite the careful attention of the reader to his words:—

"3. To fraternize rather than antagonize the world. There is a theory, if not articulated, at least to a great extent acted upon, viz., that the world, that is, the church-going and respectable world has become so far Christianized that it needs only to be 'led along' and a little further cultivated, to bring it within the pale of salvation. In other words, the worldly virtues of the age are more often made the subject of panegyric than the world which is at enmity with God is made the object of holy assault. One is almost sick and tired of hearing the culture, material progress, advanced civilization, and scientific attainments of the age, lauded and praised. Especially when the most of this worldly advancement and progress is leveled at, or subtly used against Christ. We forget that the world at the top is as much 'in the wicked one' as the world at the bottom. That the atheist of the Herbert Spencer type, and the infidel of the Charles Darwin type, are as really and even more powerfully the enemies of God than the atheist of the Herr Most type and the infidel of the Robert Ingersoll type. The world—whether high or low, church-going and church-patronizing, or non-church-going and opposing, which is not for Christ, is against him; and is not to be patronized but antagonized. It is not to be saved by flattery or petting, but by slaying, that it may be made alive.

"4. To be in harmony with the age. I have heard it said of a distinguished minister that he was 'in harmony with the age.' I think that was about the worst thing that could have been said of him. In my judgment it is more and more the duty of the pulpit to show the people how the age we live in is out of harmony with the gospel, or the age which is to come; and yet a distinguished minister of one of the evangelical denominations in New York has, in a recent series of sermons widely and eagerly printed by the secular press, boldly advocated the publishing of an expurgated edition of the Bible, that will be more in harmony with the light and culture of the nineteenth century, in which the Jewish and Christian fables (miracles) of both Old and New Testaments shall be cut out; the supernatural elements removed, and the worship of the ideal humanity represented by the 'clear Christ' (sic) left to take care of the world. Oh, the age, both in the church and out of it, is sadly out of harmony with God's word, and we need a ministry that will boldly antagonize it as Peter did when he said, 'Ye have taken and with wicked hands have crucified and slain the Lord of glory;' as Paul did when he cried out, 'Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish.'"

"5. To be up with the times, whereas the times are sadly behind the gospel. Young ministers, and old ones too, to meet this demand, spend their days in the study of modern science, and philosophy, and all manner of literature, alas! (if we may judge from some of the sermons we have heard of late) we fear to the great neglect of the word of God, which is and always has been in advance of all time, all science, all philosophy, and all literature. Up with eternity is far more in order than up with the times.

"Time and space do not permit me to speak of the lax and almost total neglect of discipline as another evidence of the loss of spiritual power. First there is a lack of fellowship and watch-care, and when defection comes there is a lack of discipline. Every day we are put to the blush by unbelievers who throw in our faces the scandalous lives of men who yet are permitted to retain their place and standing in the church. And the members who are simply allowed to drift away from outward communion and inward fellowship is legion. If we are ever going to see God's power and glory in the church again, 'judgment must begin at the house of God.' We read with wonder and incredulity of the backsliding, idolatry, and perverse sinfulness and defilement of God's ancient people, the Jews; but I know if we had a prophet in these days, such as Jeremiah or

Isaiah, the worldliness and wickedness, the carnality and corruption of the Christian church would not appear a whit better. Different in kind, but the same in spirit and origin, namely, a carnal mind and a worldly heart. I believe the sins of the flesh and of the spirit are as great to-day as ever in the days before Israel's taking away into Babylon. Therefore are we carried away captive, and powerless both to meet the world or escape it. Our harps are on the willows, or worse still, we are dead and indifferent to our condition; content with the devil's wedge of gold for ourselves, and goodly Babylonish garments for our wives and daughters. It is high time that we should awake out of sleep, cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light."

Mr. Pentecost must certainly think that the Millennial age will be a long time coming. Who can say that his description of the spiritual condition of the churches is not a truthful one? Compare Paul's description of "the last days" in 2 Tim. 3: 1-5. And yet we are accused of a lack of charity if we believe the apostle's prophecy, and obey his injunction, "From such turn away." WM. PENNIMAN.

Woodburn, Ill.,

Inside View of Spiritualism.

By Editor

DANGERS OF MEDIUMSHIP.

IN 1880 was printed a pamphlet of 184 pages, at the Seventh-day Adventist publishing house, entitled, "The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism." This was the fifth edition of that work, revised, which was first published some years ago, written by the present editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Chapter Eight of that work has the following for its subjects: "Dangers of Mediumship—Spirit Control—Evil Propensities—Gratification through Mediums—Consequent Crimes."

The evidence given on these points are all from Spiritualist authors, most of them well-known, and from publications issued by Spiritualist publishers. Among these authors are Judge Edmunds, Dr. Hare, Hudson Tuttle, Prof. Brittan, Dr. Randolph, Warren Chase, etc. This chapter and these proofs were not in the earliest editions of our work on Spiritualism; the proofs given did not exist when the work was first published. We give this chapter entire in a few short articles in the SIGNS, because the evidences are as good and as applicable to-day as the day they were written. And being quite sufficient to prove the points we wish to make, we shall not add much to those given in the book. We know there are thousands of our readers who have never seen these evidences, and who do not know that such things exist. But they ought to know them, and understand the nature of the work which is increasing on every side. They need to have that knowledge on these subjects which will, through faith in the author of divine truth, guard them against the influence of this monstrous deception. And we shall copy our comments very nearly as given in this book; if any wish to see the whole proofs given in regard to Spiritualism, taken from Spiritualists' own writings, they will find the book advertized in this paper.

Notwithstanding all evidence that has from time to time been presented to the world, of the Satanic origin and evil tendency of these spirit workings, many are so deluded as to court the influence of these spirits, and desire to be developed as mediums. We would that our words of warning could reach the ears and touch the hearts of all such. But Spiritualists will claim that we magnify the danger—that we view the subject from a wrong stand-point, and with eyes of prejudice.

It has been our aim throughout this work to present Spiritualism as it is,—and as it is presented to the world by its own adherents and advocates. We have not offered as evidence the testimony of their enemies, or of those not well acquainted, by observation and experience, with its workings. Let this fact be marked. We now propose to examine the subject of the dangers of mediumship, or spirit control, and this altogether in the light of proofs presented by themselves. The following points are presented to us by spiritualistic data:—

The spirits control the mediums, acting, not only independent of, but against, their wills.
The spirits have all the evil dispositions, propensities, and desires, of wicked, debased persons in this life.
These desires they have no means of gratifying until the recent discovery of mediumship.
Spirits do now gratify their desires by inducing such desires in the mediums, causing them to indulge in evil practices, of the gratification of which the spirits partake.

As some of the testimonies now offered bear upon more than one of these points, we shall not arrange the evidence under each head respectively, as that would involve the necessity of repeating them, and thus add to the number of our pages.

Of the great influence and power of spirits over the mediums, no one who has not examined the matter can have any idea. Dr. Gridley gives an account of an aged medium, of sixty years, living near him (in Southampton, Mass.), whose sufferings "in two months at the hands of evil spirits would fill a volume of 500 pages." Very little of this ever becomes known outside of the "circles." The following extract will give some idea of the above case:—

"They forbade his eating, to the very point of starvation. He was a perfect skeleton; they compelled him to walk day and night, with intermissions, to be sure, as their avowed object was to torment him as much and as long as possible. They swore by everything sacred and profane, that they would knock his damned brains out, always accompanying their threat with blows on the forehead or temples, like that of a mallet in the hands of a powerful man, with this difference, however; the latter would have made him unconscious, while in full consciousness he now endured the indescribable agony of those heavy and oft-repeated blows; they declared they would skin him alive; that he must go to New York and be dissected by inches, all of which he fully believed. They declared they would bore holes into his brain, when he instantly felt the action suited to the word, as though a dozen augurs were being turned at once into his very skull; this done, they would fill his brain with bugs and worms to eat it out, when their gnawing would instantly commence. These spirits would pinch and pound him, twitch him up and throw him down, yell and blaspheme, and use the most obscene language that mortal can conceive; they would declare that they were Christ in one breath and devils in the next; they would tie him head to foot for a long time together, in a most excruciating posture; declare they would wring his neck off because he doubted them or refused obedience."—Astounding Facts from the Spirit World, pages 253-4.

On page 94 of this work Judge Edmonds is quoted as saying that entire spirit control, or the "exclusion of the medium's selfhood—a suspension of his own will," is very rare. See his "Spiritual Tracts," No. 4, p. 7. But this language proves that he believes that it does sometimes occur. An approach to it is given in his second volume on Spiritualism, Dr. Dexter being the medium. He says:—

"It was altogether a very extraordinary manifestation. It was conducted throughout with unusual and, indeed, unknown violence. He took entire possession of the Doctor, not merely of his arms, as others did, and the Doctor said he felt an almost uncontrollable desire to strike me, and to commit acts of violence." Appendix A, Vol. ii, page 512.

The following case was given in the 13th No. of the Spiritual Telegraph:—

"A lady who had joined the Methodist Church, in Cleveland, only two weeks previous, was thrown into a magnetic, or as our Western friends call it, a spiritualized condition, and called for music; and after she had danced fifteen or twenty minutes, was suddenly released, and returned home, I presume none the worse for what she could not help."

Prof. Brittan thus speaks of Mr. Davis' mediumship:—

"During the delivery of 'Nature's Divine Revelations,' Mr. Davis was profoundly entranced, and so far removed from the sphere of outward consciousness as to be temporarily absolved from the obligations of the earth-life. . . . Of course in his state of waking consciousness he was no more accountable for what had been uttered during the trance than the reader is responsible for his dreams, or for unconsciously talking in his sleep."—Telegraph's Answer to Mahan, pages 8, 9.

Of mediumship, he further says:—

"We may further add, in this connection, that the trance mediums for spirit intercourse are equally irresponsible. Many of them are totally unable to resist the powers which come to them from the invisible and unknown realms."—Id., page 10.

This passive state of the mediums in all forms of manifestation has long been inculcated by the spirits. The following was published in 1852:—

"Such is the physical and mental condition of minds that we intend to make a great change in them before we write what will be necessary. The writing will not be the commencement of our work, but will follow other manifestations as soon as will be expedient. . . . The writing will be executed with great rapidity, when mediums shall become wholly passive."—Pilgrimage of Thomas Paine, page 250.

A well-known Spiritualist writes:—

"I have seen a medium gently magnetized and thrown into a trance in one minute by the imperceptible influence of the spirits, in accordance with their own original proposition, reluctantly acceded to by the medium and her friends; during which, sometimes she had visions of the spirit world, and at others became entirely non-cognizant of everything transpiring in either world. In the latter case, the spirits, as previously promised, made use of her organs of speech, unconsciously to herself."—Ballou, quoted by Dr. Hare, page 320.

The following scene of the possession of a medium is described by Dr. Gridley, who offers the fullest proof of the truth of his statements:—

"We have seen the medium evidently possessed by Irishmen and Dutchmen of the lowest grade—heard him repeat Joshua's drunken prayers, exactly like the original—imitate his drunkenness in word and deed—try to repeat or rather act over his brutal deeds (from which, for decency's sake, he was instantly restrained by extraordinary exertion and severe rebuke)—snap and grate his teeth most furiously, strike and swear, while his eyes flashed like the fires of an orthodox perdition. We have heard him hiss, and seen him writhe his body like the serpent when crawling, and dart out his tongue and play it exactly like that reptile. These exhibitions were intermingled with the most wrangling and horrible convulsions."—Astounding Facts, page 19.

Much more to the same intent might be added, but this will not be dissented from. The power of spirits to control the mediums is very great; indeed it is unlimited, as these testimonies show. And we shall presently show how this power is used and abused. Closely connected with the foregoing are some of the following, given to show the disposition of the spirits. Says Dr. Randolph:—

"Many of these denizens of the mid-regions of space are insane—in the higher sense all are so—and to them lust and its gratification, dram-drinking and mal-practice of all sorts, is a reality."—Dealing with the Dead, page 150.

"Another admitted that he was drowned in consequence of getting dead-drunk. On being asked if he was happy, he answered, 'Damned happy.' Having evidently been a seaman, who had sailed under an officer who was present, he had preserved the usual fondness of sailors for tobacco and grog. This propensity he could not avoid displaying, notwithstanding his having passed death's dread portal, and the obvious inutility of expressing to mortals his craving for these pernicious stimulants. Thus it appears that in the spirit world one means of retribution for indulgence of bad propensities in this life, is subjection to their ungratified cravings."—Dr. Hare, Spr. Sci. Dem., page 137. EDITOR. (To be continued.)

Never Restrain an Impulse to Pray

LET us make note of this, as a point of spiritual wisdom, never to restrain an impulse to pray. It never comes without a necessity.

Continue reading: The Doctrine of a Trinity as Related to the Atonement