With an appearance of deep interest in the well-being of their friends on earth , they insinuate the most dangerous errors . The fact that they state some truths , and are able at times to foretell future events , gives to their statements an appearance of reliability ; and their false teachings are accepted by the multitudes as readily , and believed as implicitly , as if they were the most sacred truths of the Bible . The law of God is set aside , the Spirit of grace despised , the blood of the covenant counted an unholy thing . The spirits deny the deity of Christ and place even the Creator on a level with themselves . Thus under a new disguise the great rebel still carries on his warfare against God , begun in heaven and for nearly six thousand years continued upon the earth .
Many endeavor to account for spiritual manifestations by attributing them wholly to fraud and sleight of hand on the part of the medium . But while it is true that the results of trickery have often been palmed off as genuine manifestations , there have been , also , marked exhibitions of supernatural power . The mysterious rapping with which modern spiritualism began was not the result of human trickery or cunning , but was the direct work of evil angels , who thus introduced one of the most successful of soul-destroying delusions . Many will be ensnared through the belief that spiritualism is a merely human imposture ; when brought face to face with manifestations which they cannot but regard as supernatural , they will be deceived , and will be led to accept them as the great power of God .
These persons overlook the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the wonders wrought by Satan and his agents . It was by satanic aid that Pharaoh ' s magicians were enabled to counterfeit the work of God . Paul testifies that before the second advent of Christ there will be similar manifestations of satanic power . The coming of the Lord is to be preceded by " the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders , and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness ." 2 Thessalonians 2:9,10 . And the apostle John , describing the miracleworking power that will be manifested in the last days , declares : " He doeth great wonders , so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men , and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do ." Revelation 13:13 , 14 . No mere impostures are here foretold . Men are deceived by the miracles which Satan ' s agents have power to do , not which they pretend to do .
The prince of darkness , who has so long bent the powers of his mastermind to the work of deception , skillfully adapts his temptations to men of all classes and conditions . To persons of culture and refinement he presents spiritualism in its more refined and intellectual aspects , and thus succeeds in drawing many into his snare . The wisdom which spiritualism imparts is that described by the apostle James , which " descendeth not from above , but is earthly , sensual ,
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