sts itself through a tangible body during this
earth life, and when that body dies, passes unscathed into the unseen
world, into an enlarged sphere of life, activity, and intelligence; that
in this sphere it can still take cognizance of earthly things, and
communicate with those still in the flesh, respecting scenes which it has
left, and those more interesting conditions still veiled from mortal
sight; that it is by these disembodied, or "discarnated" spirits that raps
are given, objects moved, intelligence manifested, secrets revealed,
slates written, voices uttered, faces shown, and epistles addressed to
mortals, as friend would write to friend. If this be true, it opens what
would indeed be considered a grand avenue of consolation to bereaved
hearts, by giving them evidence that their departed friends still lived;
that they recognized, loved, and accompanied them, and delighted still to
counsel and instruct them. If not true, it is a masterpiece of superhuman
craft and cunning; for it takes Christendom on the side where it is least
guarded; as the view is everywhere held that the dead are conscious, and
the only question would be as to their power to communicate with persons
still living in the body; and it throws its arms around the individual
when the heart is the most tender, when plunged into a condition in which
every pang of bereaved sorrow, every tie of affection, and every throb of
love, press him to crave with all his being that communication with the
dead may be proved a fact, and to constrain him to accept the doctrine,
unless kept from it by some power stronger than the cords that bind heart
to heart in deathless love. If it be a deception, it occupies a vantage
ground before which men may well tremble.

But, as has been already stated, the question is here to be discussed from
the standpoint of the Bible; the Bible is to be taken as the standard of
authority by which all conflicting claims respecting the nature of man,
must be decided. The authenticity of the Scriptures, in reference to those
who deny their authority, is an antecedent question, into the discussion
of which it is not the province of this little work to enter. A word,
however, by way of digression, may be allowed in reference to its
authorship.

Credentials of the Bible.

1. The Bible claims to be the word of God. Those who wrote it assert that
they wrote as they "were moved by the Holy Ghost;" and they append to what
they utter