patriarchs and prophets-第143部分

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them。　Those　who　thus　assume　to　be　the　spirits　of　the　departed　are　regarded
with　a　certain　idolatry；　and　with　many　their　word　has　greater　weight　than
the　word　of　God。

There　are　many；　however；　who　regard　spiritualism　as　a　mere　imposture。　The
manifestations　by　which　it　supports　its　claims　to　a　supernatural　character
are　attributed　to　fraud　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　also　been　marked　evidences　of　supernatural　power。
And　many　who　reject　spiritualism　as　the　result　of　human　skill　or　cunning
will；　when　confronted　with　manifestations　which　they　cannot　account　for　upon
this　ground；　be　led　to　acknowledge　its　claims。

Modern　spiritualism　and　the　forms　of　ancient　witchcraft　and　idol
worshipall　having　communion　with　the　dead　as　their　vital　principleare
founded　upon　that　first　lie　by　which　Satan　beguiled　Eve　in　Eden：　〃Ye　shall
not　surely　die：　for　God　doth　know　that　in　the　day　ye　eat　thereof；　。　。　。　ye
shall　be　as　gods。〃　Genesis　3：4；　5。　Alike　based　upon　falsehood　and
perpetuating　the　same；　they　are　alike　from　the　father　of　lies。

The　Hebrews　were　expressly　forbidden　to　engage　in　any　manner　in　pretended
communion　with　the　dead。　God　closed　this　door　effectually　when　He　said：　〃The
dead　know　not　anything。　。　。　。　Neither　have　they　any　more　a　portion　forever
in　anything　that　is　done　under　the　sun。〃　Ecclesiastes　9：5；　6。　〃His　breath
goeth　forth；　he　returneth　to　his　earth；　in　that　very　day　his　thoughts
perish。〃　Psalm　146：4。　And　the　Lord　declared　to　Israel：　〃The　soul　that
turneth　after　such　as　have　familiar　spirits；　and　after　wizards；　to　go　a
whoring　after　them；　I　will　even　set　My　face　against　that　soul；　and　will　cut
him　off　from　among　his　people。〃　Leviticus　20：6。

The　〃familiar　spirits〃　were　not　the　spirits　of　the　dead；　but　evil　angels；
the　messengers　of　Satan。　Ancient　idolatry；　which；　as　we　have　seen；　comprises
both　worship　of　the　dead　and　pretended　communion　with　them；　is　declared　by
the　Bible　to　have　been　demon　worship。　The　apostle　Paul；　in　warning　his
brethren　against　participating；　in　any　manner；　in　the　idolatry　of　their
heathen　neighbors；　says；　〃The　things　which　the　Gentiles　sacrifice；　they
sacrifice　to　devils；　and　not　to　God；　and　I　would　not　that　ye

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should　have　fellowship　with　devils。〃　1　Corinthians　10：20。　The　psalmist；
speaking　of　Israel；　says　that　〃they　sacrificed　their　sons　and　their
daughters　unto　devils；〃　and　in　the　next　verse　he　explains　that　they
sacrificed　them　〃unto　the　idols　of　Canaan。〃　Psalm　106：37；　38。　In　their
supposed　worship　of　dead　men　they　were　in　reality　worshiping　demons。

Modern　spiritualism；　resting　upon　the　same　foundation；　is　but　a　revival　in　a
new　form　of　the　witchcraft　and　demon　worship　that　God　condemned　and
prohibited　of　old。　It　is　foretold　in　the　Scriptures；　which　declare　that　〃in
the　latter　times　some　shall　depart　from　the　faith；　giving　heed　to　seducing
spirits；　and　doctrines　of　devils。〃　1　Timothy　4：1。　Paul；　in　his　second　letter
to　the　Thessalonians；　points　to　the　special　working　of　Satan　in　spiritualism
as　an　event　to　take　place　immediately　before　the　second　advent　of　Christ。
Speaking　of　Christ's　second　coming；　he　declares　that　it　is　〃after　the
working　of　Satan　with　all　power　and　signs　and　lying　wonders。〃　2
Thessalonians　2：9。　And　Peter；　describing　the　dangers　to　which　the　church　was
to　be　exposed　in　the　last　days；　says　that　as　there　were　false　prophets　who
led　Israel　into　sin；　so　there　will　be　false　teachers；　〃who　privily　shall
bring　in　damnable　heresies；　even　denying　the　Lord　that　bought　them。　。　。　。
And　many　shall　follow　their　pernicious　ways。〃　2　Peter　2：1；　2。　Here　the
apostle　has　pointed　out　one　of　the　marked　characteristics　of　spiritualist
teachers。　They　refuse　to　acknowledge　Christ　as　the　Son　of　God。　Concerning
such　teachers　the　beloved　John　declares：　〃Who　is　a　liar　but　he　that　denieth
that　Jesus　is　the　Christ？　He　is　antichrist；　that　denieth　the　Father　and　the
Son。　Whosoever　denieth　the　Son；　the　same　hath　not　the　Father。〃　1　John　2：22；
23。　Spiritualism；　by　denying　Christ；　denies　both　the　Father　and　the　Son；　and
the　Bible　pronounces　it　the　manifestation　of　antichrist。

By　the　prediction　of　Saul's　doom；　given　through　the　woman　of　Endor；　Satan
planned　to　ensnare　the　people　of　Israel。　He　hoped　that　they　would　be
inspired　with　confidence　in　the　sorceress；　and　would　be　led　to　consult　her。
Thus　they　would　turn　from　God　as　their　counselor　and　would　place　themselves
under　the　guidance　of　Satan。　The　lure　by　which　spiritualism　attracts　the
multitudes　is　its　pretended　power　to　draw　aside　the　veil　from　the　future　and
reveal　to　men　what　God　has　hidden。　God　has　in　His

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word　opened　before　us　the　great　events　of　the　futureall　that　it　is
essential　for　us　to　knowand　He　has　given　us　a　safe　guide　for　our　feet　amid
all　its　perils；　but　it　is　Satan's　purpose　to　destroy　men's　confidence　in
God；　to　make　them　dissatisfied　with　their　condition　in　life；　and　to　lead
them　to　seek　a　knowledge　of　what　God　has　wisely　veiled　from　them；　and　to
despise　what　He　has　revealed　in　His　Holy　Word。

There　are　many　who　become　restless　when　they　cannot　know　the　definite
outcome　of　affairs。　They　cannot　endure　uncertainty；　and　in　their　impatience
they　refuse　to　wait　to　see　the　salvation　of　God。　Apprehended　evils　drive
them　nearly　distracted。　They　give　way　to　their　rebellious　feelings；　and　run
hither　and　thither　in　passionate　grief；　seeking　intelligence　concerning　that
which　has　not　been　revealed。　If　they　would　but　trust　in　God；　and　watch　unto
prayer；　they　would　find　divine　consolation。　Their　spirit　would　be　calmed　by
communion　with　God。　The　weary　and　the　heavy…laden　would　find　rest　unto　their
souls　if　they　would　only　go　to　Jesus；　but　when　they　neglect　the　means　that
God　has　ordained　for　their　comfort；　and　resort　to　other　sources；　hoping　to
learn　what　God　has　withheld；　they　commit　the　error　of　Saul；　and　thereby　gain
only　a　knowledge　of　evil。

God　is　not　pleased　with　this　course；　and　has　expressed　it　in　the　most
explicit　terms。　This　impatient　haste　to　tear　away　the　veil　from　the　future
reveals　a　lack　of　faith　in　God　and　leaves　the　soul　open　to　the　suggestions
of　the　master　deceiver。　Satan　leads　men　to　consult　those　that　have　familiar
spirits；　and　by　revealing　hidden　things　of　the　past；　he　inspires　confidence
in　his　power　to　foretell　things　to　come。　By　experience　gained　through　the
long　ages　he　can　reason　from　cause　to　effect　and　often　forecast；　with　a
degree　of　accuracy；　some　of　the　future　events　of　man's　life。　Thus　he　in
enabled　to　deceive　poor；　misguided　souls　and　bring　them　under　his　power　and
lead　them　captive　at　his　will。

God　has　given　us　the　warning　by　His　prophet：　〃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。

Shall　those　who　have　a　holy　God；　infinite　in　wisdom　and

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power；　go　unto　wizards；　whose　knowledge　comes　from　intimacy　with　the　enemy
of　our　Lord？　God　Himself　is　the　light　of　His　people；　He　bids　them　fix　their
eyes　by　faith　upon　the　glories　that　are　veiled　from　human　sight。　The　Sun　of
Righteousness　sends　its　bright　beams　into　their　hearts；　they　have　light　from
the　throne　of　heaven；　and　they　have　no　desire　to　turn　away　from　the　source
of　light　to　the　messengers　of　Satan。

The　demon's　message　to　Saul；　although　it　was　a　denunciation　of　sin　and　a
prophecy　of　retribution；　was　not　meant　to　reform　him；　but　to　goad　him　to
despair　and　ruin。　Oftener；　however；　it　serves　the　tempter's　purpose　best　to
lure　men　to　destruction　by　flattery。　The　teaching　of　the　demon　gods　in
ancient　times　fostered　the　vilest　license。　The　divine　precepts　condemning
sin　and　enforcing　righteousness　were　set　aside；　truth　was　light　regarded；
and　impurity　was　not　only　permitted　but　enjoined。　Spiritualism　declares　that
there　is　no　death；　no　sin；　no　judgment；　no　retribution；　that　〃men　are
unfallen　demigods；〃　that　desire　is　the　highest　law；　and　that　man　is
accountable　only　to　himself。　The　barriers　that　God　has　erected　to　guard
truth；　purity；　and　reverence　are　broken　down；　and　many　are　thus　emboldened
in　sin。　Does　not　such　teaching　suggest　an　origin　similar　to　that　of　demon
worship？

The　Lord　presented　before　Israel　the　results　of　holding　communion　with　evil
spirits；　in　the　abominations　of　the　Canaanites：　they　were　without　natural
affection；　idolaters；　adulterers；　murderers；　and　abominable　by　every　corrupt
thought　and　revolting　practice。　Men　do　not　know　their　own　hearts；　for　〃the
heart　is　deceitful　above　all　things；　and　desperately　wicked。〃　Jeremiah　17：9。
But　God　understands　the　tendencies　of　the　depraved　nature　of　man。　Then；　as
now；　Satan　was　watching　to　bring　about　conditions　favorable　to　rebellion；
that　the　people　of　Israel　might　make　themselves　as　abhorrent　to　God　as　were
the　Canaanites。　The　adversary　of　souls　is　ever　on　the　alert　to　open　channels
for　the　unrestrained　flow　of　evil　in　us；　for　he　desires　that　we　may　be
ruined；　and　be　condemned　before　God。

Satan　was　determined　to　keep　his　hold　on　the　land　of　Canaan；　and　when　it　was
made　the　habitation　of　the　children　of　Israel；　and　the　law　of　God　was　made
the　law　of　the　land；　he　hated　Israel　with　a　cruel　and　malignant　hatred　and
plotted　their　destruction。

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Through　the　agency　of　evil　spirits　strange　gods　were　introduced；　and　because
of　transgression；　the　chosen　people　were　finally　scattered　from　the　Land　of
Promise。　This　history　Satan　is　striving　to　repeat　in　our　day。　God　is　leading
His　people　out　from　the　abominations　of　the　world；　that　they　may　keep　His
law；　and　because　of　this；　the　rage　of　〃the　accuser　of　our　brethren〃　knows　no
bounds。　〃The　devil　is　come　down　unto　you；　having　great　wrath；　because　he
knoweth　that　he　hath　but　a　short　time。〃　Revelation　12：10；　12。　The
antitypical