more than a common man . And as the Roman guard that watched the tomb of Jesus spread the lying report which the priests and elders put into their mouths to disprove His resurrection , so do the believers in spiritual manifestations try to make it appear that there is nothing miraculous in the circumstances of our Saviour ' s life . After thus seeking to put Jesus in the background , they call attention to their own miracles , declaring that these far exceed the works of Christ .
It is true that spiritualism is now changing its form and , veiling some of its more objectionable features , is assuming a Christian guise . But its utterances from the platform and the press have been before the public for many years , and in these its real character stands revealed . These teachings cannot be denied or hidden . Even in its present form , so far from being more worthy of toleration than formerly , it is really a more dangerous , because a more subtle , deception . While it formerly denounced Christ and the Bible , it now professes to accept both . But the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart , while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect . Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God , but it is degraded to a weak sentimentalism , making little distinction between good and evil . God ' s justice , His denunciations of sin , the requirements of His holy law , are all kept out of sight . The people are taught to regard the Decalogue as a dead letter . Pleasing , bewitching fables captivate the senses and lead men to reject the Bible as the foundation of their faith . Christ is as verily denied as before ; but Satan has so blinded the eyes of the people that the deception is not discerned .
There are few who have any just conception of the deceptive power of spiritualism and the danger of coming under its influence . Many tamper with it merely to gratify their curiosity . They have no real faith in it and would be filled with horror at the thought of yielding themselves to the spirits ' control . But they venture upon the forbidden ground , and the mighty destroyer exercises his power upon them against their will . Let them once be induced to submit their minds to his direction , and he holds them captive . It is impossible , in their own strength , to break away from the bewitching , alluring spell . Nothing but the power of God , granted in answer to the earnest prayer of faith , can deliver these ensnared souls . All who indulge sinful traits of character , or willfully cherish a known sin , are inviting the temptations of Satan . They separate themselves from God and from the watchcare of His angels ; as the evil one presents his deceptions , they are without defense and fall an easy prey . Those who thus place themselves in his power little realize where their course will end . Having achieved their overthrow , the tempter will employ them as his agents to lure others to ruin .
Says the prophet Isaiah : " 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 ." Isaiah 8:19 , 20 . If men had been willing to receive the truth so plainly stated in the Scriptures concerning the nature of man and the state of the dead , they would
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