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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
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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；
devilish。〃 James 3：15。 This； however； the great deceiver conceals when
concealment will best suit his purpose。 He who could appear clothed with the
brightness of the heavenly seraphs before Christ in the wilderness of
temptation； comes to men in the most attractive manner as an angel of light。
He appeals to the reason by the presentation of elevating themes； he
delights the fancy with enrapturing scenes； and he enlists the affections by
his eloquent portrayals of love and charity。 He excites the imagination to
lofty flights； leading men to take so great pride in their own wisdom that
in their hearts they despise the Eternal One。 That mighty being who could
take the world's Redeemer to an exceedingly high mountain and bring before
Him all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them； will present his
temptations to men in a manner to pervert the senses of all who are not
shielded by divine power。
Satan beguiles men now as he beguiled Eve in Eden by flattery； by kindling a
desire to obtain forbidden knowledge； by exciting ambition for
self…exaltation。 It was cherishing these evils that caused his fall； and
through them he aims to compass the ruin of men。 〃Ye shall be as gods；〃 he
declares； 〃knowing good and evil。〃 Genesis 3：5。 Spiritualism teaches 〃that
man is the creature of progression； that it is his destiny from his birth to
progress； even to eternity； toward the Godhead。〃 And again： 〃Each mind will
judge itself and not another。〃 〃The judgment will be right； because it is
the judgment of self。 。 。 。 The throne is within you。〃 Said a spiritualistic
teacher； as the 〃spiritual consciousness〃 awoke within him： 〃My fellow men；
all were unfallen demigods。〃 And another declares： 〃Any just and perfect
being is Christ。〃
Thus； in place of the righteousness and perfection of the
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infinite God； the true object of adoration； in place of the perfect
righteousness of His law； the true standard of human attainment； Satan has
substituted the sinful； erring nature of man himself as the only object of
adoration； the only rule of judgment； or standard of character。 This is
progress； not upward； but downward。
It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature that by
beholding we become changed。 The mind gradually adapts itself to the
subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell。 It becomes assimilated to that
which it is accustomed to love and reverence。 Man will never rise higher
than his standard of purity or goodness or truth。 If self is his loftiest
ideal； he will never attain to anything more exalted。 Rather； he will
constantly sink lower and lower。 The grace of God alone has power to exalt
man。 Left to himself； his course must inevitably be downward。
To the self…indulgent； the pleasure…loving； the sensual； spiritualism
presents itself under a less subtle disguise than to the more refined and
intellectual； in its grosser forms they find that which is in harmony with
their inclinations。 Satan studies every indication of the frailty of human
nature； he marks the sins which each individual is inclined to commit； and
then he takes care that opportunities shall not be wanting to gratify the
tendency to evil。 He tempts men to excess in that which is in itself lawful；
causing them； through intemperance； to weaken physical； mental； and moral
power。 He has destroyed and is destroying thousands through the indulgence
of the passions； thus brutalizing the entire nature of man。 And to complete
his work； he declares； through the spirits that 〃true knowledge places man
above all law；〃 that 〃whatever is； is right；〃 that 〃God doth not condemn；〃
and that 〃all sins which are committed are innocent。〃 When the people are
thus led to believe that desire is the highest law； that liberty is license；
and that man is accountable only to himself； who can wonder that corruption
and depravity teem
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on every hand？ Multitudes eagerly accept teachings that leave them at
liberty to obey the promptings of the carnal heart。 The reins of
self…control are laid upon the neck of lust； the powers of mind and soul are
made subject to the animal propensities； and Satan exultingly sweeps into
his net thousands who profess to be followers of Christ。
But none need be deceived by the lying claims of spiritualism。 God has given
the world sufficient light to enable them to discover the snare。 As already
shown； the theory which forms the very foundation of spiritualism is at war
with the plainest statements of Scripture。 The Bible declares that the dead
know not anything； that their thoughts have perished； they have no part in
anything that is done under the sun； they know nothing of the joys or
sorrows of those who were dearest to them on earth。
Furthermore； God has expressly forbidden all pretended communication with
departed spirits。 In the days of the Hebrews there was a class of people who
claimed； as do the spiritualists of today； to hold communication with the
dead。 But the 〃familiar spirits；〃 as these visitants from other worlds were
called； are declared by the Bible to be 〃the spirits of devils。〃 （Compare
Numbers 25：1…3； Psalm 106：28； I Corinthians 10：20； Revelation 16：14。） The
work of dealing with familiar spirits was pronounced an abomination to the
Lord； and was solemnly forbidden under penalty of death。 Leviticus 19：31；
20：27。 The very name of witchcraft is now held in contempt。 The claim that
men can hold intercourse with evil spirits is regarded as a fable of the
Dark Ages。 But spiritualism； which numbers its converts by hundreds of
thousands； yea； by millions； which has made its way into scientific circles；
which has invaded churches； and has found favor in legislative bodies； and
even in the courts of kings this mammoth deception is but a revival； in a
new disguise； of the witchcraft condemned and prohibited of old。
If there were no other evidence of the real character of spiritualism； it
should be enough for the Christian that the
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spirits make no difference between righteousness and sin； between the
noblest and purest of the apostles of Christ and the most corrupt of the
servants of Satan。 By representing the basest of men as in heaven； and
highly exalted there； Satan says to the world： 〃No matter how wicked you
are； no matter whether you believe or disbelieve God and the Bible。 Live as
you please； heaven is your home。〃 The spiritualist teachers virtually
declare： 〃Everyone that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord； and He
delighteth in them； or； Where is the God of judgment？〃 Malachi 2：17。 Saith
the word of God： 〃Woe unto them that call evil good； and good evil； that put
darkness for light； and light for darkness。〃 Isaiah 5：20。
The apostles； as personated by these lying spirits； are made to contradict
what they wrote at the dictation of the Holy Spirit when on earth。 They deny
the divine origin of the Bible； and thus tear away the foundation of the
Christian's hope and put out the light that reveals the way to heaven。 Satan
is making the world believe that the Bible is a mere fiction； or at least a
book suited to the infancy of the race； but now to be lightly regarded； or
cast aside as obsolete。 And to take the place of the word of God he holds
our spiritual manifestations。 Here is a channel wholly under his control； by
this means he can make the world believe what he will。 The Book that is to
judge him and his followers he puts in the shade； just where he wants it；
the Saviour of the world he makes to be no more tha