Modern Spiritualism

CHAPTER 5 WHAT THE SPIRITS TEACH

IT has been shown in the preceding chapters that the unseen “controls” (the beings who control the mediums) in Spiritualism, are not the spirits of the dead, but are fallen angels or spirits of devils. This fact will be confirmed by a brief glance at some of their teachings; for we are to remember that if they speak not according to the law and the testimony there is no light in them. It matters not that what they teach may be supported by signs and wonders beyond the comprehension of the human mind. That is no guarantee of truth; for such phenomena are to be wrought, as will soon be shown, to prove a lie. The Lord anciently put his people on their guard in this respect. Deuteronomy 13:1-3, 5: “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” “And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, ... out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in.” MOSP 77.1

Thus the fact that one who professed to be a prophet could perform a sign or wonder, showing his connection with some unseen power, was not enough to shield him from condemnation and punishment, if what he undertook to prove by that sign or wonder was contrary to the truth, and tended to lead away from God. The teaching of any system is an important part of the fruit it bears; and by that, according to our Lord’s own rule, we are to judge it, and not by any power or mighty works connected with it, however wonderful they may be. MOSP 78.1

“‘T is not the broad phylactery Nor stubborn fasts, nor stated prayers That make us saints. We judge the tree By what it bears.” - Alice Carey. MOSP 78.2

It is therefore pertinent to look sufficiently at the teachings of the spirits to ascertain their character. Here we shall find some most damaging testimony; for - MOSP 78.3

1. They Deny God. - It is no pleasure to transcribe the utterances of practical atheism; yet enough should be given to show what they teach on the great fundamental principles of Christianity. At a seance, reported in the Banner of Light, July 11, 1868, the following questions were addressed to the spirits, and the accompanying answers received:- MOSP 78.4

“Ques. - It is said in the Bible that man is made in the image of God. Please tell us what that image is. MOSP 78.5

“Ans. - He is made in the image of everything that ever was, that is, or that ever shall be. He holds within his caliber everything that exists, that ever has existed, or that ever will exist. Now, God is included in this. If he exists at all, he exists everywhere (and we have taken in everything), every place, every name, every condition. I believe that the human stands above all things else, and holds within its embrace all the past, present, and future. In this sense he is created and exists in the image of God. MOSP 79.1

“Q. - What is God essentially? MOSP 79.2

“A. - Everything. Essentially you are God, and I am God - the flowers, the grass, the pebbles, the stars, the moon, the sun, everything is God.” MOSP 79.3

The Devil, through the serpent in the garden, taught Adam and Eve that the soul is immortal, and has transfused the same idea very successfully through paganism, Romanism, and Protestantism; but he also said, “Ye shall be as gods;” and now, it seems, he is trying to make the world swallow this other leg of his falsehood; but by putting it forth under the form of the old pagan pantheism, that everything is God, and God is everything, he betrays the lie he uttered in Eden; for in that case, Adam end Eve were no more gods after they ate than they were before. MOSP 79.4

Another seance, reported in the Banner about twenty years later than the one quoted above, April 28, 1888; an inquirer addressed to the “spirits” a question about God, and received answer, a portion of which is presented below”- MOSP 79.5

“Ques. - Some Spiritualists, I learn, believe in a God: otherwise they would not pray to him - taking for granted that there is such a being. Please enlighten us. MOSP 79.6

“Ans. - We have yet to come in contact with a thorough Spiritualist, one who understands something of spiritual life and the revelations made by returning spirits, who directly believes in a personal God. True, many Spiritualists and many returning spirits offer their invocations to the ‘Great Supreme Spirit of all life and intelligence,’ not because they expect to change the order of law, or to come into direct communication with, or nearness to, a Great Supreme Being, clothed in the image of man, but because they desire to enter an atmosphere of harmony, to uplift their own souls to a plane of thought which will bring spiritual inspiration to their minds. We make a distinction between that Great Supreme Overruling Force which we may call the Superior Spirit of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Love, and the personal Deity, clothed in the image of man, gigantic in stature, jealous and revengeful by nature, which has been set up and worshiped as the Christian Jehovah. We know of no Spiritualist - let us repeat it - who believes in such a personal God but we can believe and accept the idea, though it may pass beyond almost our finite comprehension, that there is a grand universal Spirit permeating all forms of existence, that this great source of light, of activity and vitality vibrates with intelligence, and that it is superior to all organic forms, however grand they may prove to be.” MOSP 79.7

The same views have been taught all along by the “spirits” of Spiritualism, as could be shown by extracts dating as far back as 1858, only ten years after the “Rochester Knockings.” And though Spiritualism is now assuming more of the sedate speech of organized Christianity, the spirits do not modify their teaching in respect to God. In “Automatic, or Spirit Writing,” p. 148 (1896), are given many messages from the spirits through the mediumship of Mrs. S.A. Underwood, wife of the editor of the Philosophical Journal, Chicago. The “spirits” set forth their teaching in answer to questions by the medium, some of which have reference to God though his name is not used. Thus on page 148, this conversation is given:- MOSP 80.1

“Ques. You often in these communications speak of the binding laws of spiritual life - that because of them you cannot give us such and such information, etc. Now who makes those laws, and whence came they, and how are they taught? MOSP 81.1

“Ans.-Thou say’st ‘who’ - therefore we cannot answer. Go back to the first question and ask one at a time. MOSP 81.2

“Q. - Well, who makes the laws? MOSP 81.3

“A. - Spirits are not bondaged by persons. MOSP 81.4

“Q. - Then how do you come to know those laws? MOSP 81.5

“A. - Pharos will now answer. Spiritual laws are spiritually perceived, as soon as the physical perceptions are got rid of. MOSP 81.6

“Q. - Could you explain to us those laws? MOSP 81.7

“A. - Courses of teaching from our side are as necessary for you to understand even the rudimentary laws of Being, as courses in your colleges; and guessed-at spirit knowledge from your bounded view must always fail in accurate wording.” MOSP 81.8

It will be perceived that the answers to these questions are, from the beginning, evasive; but the real idea entertained clearly shines through the thin veil drawn over to conceal it. The questions pertain to the source or authorship of the “laws of spiritual life;” and this would generally be understood to be God. But on a technicality the spirits refuse to answer. The question is made plainer, and the answer is that “spirits are not bondaged by persons; that is to say that spirits have nothing to do with personalities, and that no personal being has anything to do with those laws. There is therefore no God who formulates and promulgates them. No wonder the question followed how they came to know these laws; and it was a very convenient answer that we will know when we get there and have lost all physical perceptions. A desire for some explanation of those laws is met with the not very satisfactory information that they (the spirits) would have to give those in our sphere a course of teaching, like a college course, before we could understand even the rudimentary laws of Being. The only thing clear in all this is that there is no God; at least no personal God such as the Bible reveals. To the “grand whole,” whatever that may be, they give the name of the “All of Being.” In answer to a question concerning “personalities,” they are called “atoms emanating from the same source - parts of the great All of Being, partaking of the general characteristics of the grand whole.” - Page 149. MOSP 81.9

Reader, how does all this compare in your own mind with the God of the Bible, the Creator of all things, the loving Father of us all, who has for his creatures more tender regard and pity than a father can feel for his own children, whose very name and nature is Love, and who has purposed infinite good for all men, and will carry it out unless they, as free moral agents, by their own sin, prevent his doing for them what he desires to do? The Bible is not responsible for the aspersions cast upon God by a false theology, which misrepresent his character and give occasion for the charges of vindictiveness and vengeance and awful tyranny, so freely made by fallen angels and wicked men. They do not belong to him who is the source of all goodness and mercy; and we would labor to bring those who have perverted views of God back to a right conception of the great Friend of sinners, as he has revealed himself in his holy word. MOSP 82.1

2. They Deny Jesus Christ. - Christ is revealed as the divine Son of the Father; and to deny that he was or is any more than any other man is surely to deny him; and the scripture says that “whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” 1 John 2:23. The following is what the “spirits” began to teach in the earliest stages of Spiritualism concerning Christ:- MOSP 83.1

“What is the meaning of the word Christ? - ‘T is not, as generally supposed, the Son of the Creator of all things. Any just and perfect being is Christ. The crucifixion of Christ is nothing more than the crucifixion of the spirit, which all have to contend with before becoming perfect and righteous. The miraculous conception of Christ is merely a fabulous tale.” - Spiritual telegraph, No. 37. MOSP 83.2

How fully does this declaration that any good man is Christ open the way for the fulfilment of the Saviour’s prophecy that in the last days many false Christs and false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many. See Matthew 24:24. A prospectus of the Truth Seeker contained these words: “It shall be the organ through which the christs of the last dispensation will choose to speak.” MOSP 83.3

A little later, July 19 1862, there was published in the Banner of Light a lecture on Spiritualism by Mrs. C.L.V. Hatch, in which she spoke of Christ as follows:- MOSP 83.4

“Of Jesus of Nazareth, personally, we have but little to say. Certain it is, we find sufficient that is divine in his life and teaching, without professing to believe in the fables of theologians respecting his birth and parentage. We are content to take the simple record as it stands, and to regard him as the son of Joseph and Mary, endowed with such purity and harmony of character as fitted him to be the Apostle and Revelator of the highest wisdom ever taught to man. It is the fundamental article in the creed of modern Christianity, that Jesus was divine in his nature, and of miraculous origin and nativity. Now, no human being of ordinary intelligence, unwarped by educational bias, would ever profess to believe in such a monstrous figment, which only shows the blindness of superstitious prejudice.” MOSP 83.5

Here is something twenty-four years later. A seance reported in the Banner of Light, Oct. 9, 1886, gives the following question and answer:- MOSP 84.1

“Ques. - “Do ‘spirits’ generally believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ; that he was the Son of God; that he was crucified, dead, and buried, and rose again the third day for the saving of all who should believe in him? MOSP 84.2

“Ans.- “No; spirits generally - advanced spirits, those who are intelligent, having studied deeply into the principles of life - do not accept the theory of the divinity of Jesus Christ; they do not believe that he was crucified for mankind, in the accepted understanding of that term.” MOSP 84.3

Some years ago a class was formed in New York City for the purpose of investigating what is called the spiritual philosophy. Before that class, Dr. Weisse said:- MOSP 84.4

“Friend Orton seems to make rather light of the communications from spirits concerning Christ. It seems, nevertheless, that all the testimony received from advanced spirits only shows that Christ was a medium and reformer in Judea; that he now is an advanced spirit in the sixth sphere; but that he never claimed to be God, and does not at present. I have had two communications to that effect. I have also read some that Dr. Hare had. If I am wrong in my views of the Bible, I should like to know it, for the spirits and mediums do not contradict me.” MOSP 84.5

The peculiar insult here purposely offered to the Saviour will be appreciated when it is noted that at about the same time the spirits located Thomas Paine, the well-known skeptic, in the seventh sphere, one sphere above that of Christ. He must therefore have progressed very rapidly, seeing he so quickly surpassed Christ, who had over 1700 years the start of him. MOSP 85.1

Before the same class Dr. Hare is reported to have spoken as follows, which we give without assuming any responsibility for the spiritual grammar therein exhibited:- MOSP 85.2

“He said that he had been thus protected from deception by the spirits of Washington and Franklin, and that they had brought Jesus Christ to him, with whom he had also communicated. He had first repelled him as an impostor; but became convinced afterward that it was really him. He related that he had learned from that high and holy spirit, that he was not the character that Christendom had represented him to be, and not responsible for the errors connected with his name, but that he was, while on earth, a medium of high and extraordinary powers, and that it was solely through his mediumistic capabilities that he attained so great knowledge, and was enabled to practice such apparent wonders.” MOSP 85.3

When Christ was upon earth, it was envy, jealousy, and malice that moved the Pharisees against him (Matthew 27:18); and it seems that he is followed by the same feelings in the spirit world. This is natural; for he who fired the hearts of the Pharisees with their malignant spirit, is the same one, as we have seen, who is working through the powers of darkness in the unseen world to-day. Any way to degrade Christ in the minds of men to a level with, or below, the mediums of out time, and make it appear that they can do as great wonders as he, seems to be the object in view. MOSP 85.4

There is plainly manifest an irrepressible desire on the part of spirits and mediums to show Christ to be inferior to the leaders of other great religions of the world, as Buddha, Confucius, Zoroaster, etc. Thus, at a seance held in 1864 “(Banner of Light. June 4), the spirits were questioned as follows:- MOSP 86.1

“Ques. - Have you ever seen Confucius or Zoroaster? MOSP 86.2

“Ans. - Yes, many times. MOSP 86.3

“Q. - In the order of degree, which stands the higher in moral excellence - Jesus Christ, Confucius, or Zoroaster? MOSP 86.4

“A. - Confucius stands in morality higher than the other two.... Jesus himself claims to have been inspired to a large extent, by this same Confucius. And if we are to place reliance upon the records concerning each individual, we shall find that Jesus spoke the truth when he tells us that he was inspired by Confucius.” MOSP 86.5

Indeed! Where are the records referred to? Where and when did Jesus “speak” the words attributed to him? And where does he tell us, that he was inspired by Confucius? So we are to believe, are we, that the gospel of Jesus Christ, is only a rehash of what was originally wrought out in the brain of Confucius, and not words fresh from the fountain of light given him by his Father in heaven, to speak, as he claimed them to be. Yet he was a high and holy medium. We wonder what standard of holiness and perfection the spirits can have. MOSP 86.6

But still later, in 1896, we find the spirits putting forth the same teaching in reference to Jesus Christ. In “Automatic, or Spirit Writing,” pp. 148, 149, we have this:- MOSP 86.7

“Ques.- Do you accept Jesus as the model of spiritual knowledge? MOSP 87.1

“Ans. - Shall you give us a better example? MOSP 87.2

“Q. - Well, we are willing to accept him as one of many, but not as chief. MOSP 87.3

“A. - Change the name. Call him by other names - Buddha, Krishna, or Mohammed, the spirit is one - is ever and ever the same. Spirit is one, not many, however often the name is changed. MOSP 87.4

“Q. - Were not Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammed distinct personalities? MOSP 87.5

“A. - No more than all atoms emanating from the same source - parts of the great All of Being, partaking of the general characteristics of the grand whole - but yielding to environments, showed marked individualism, such as the force of the times in which they appeared would create in their characters. MOSP 87.6

“Q. - Are these leaders of religious thought not distinct individualities now? MOSP 87.7

“A. - No, not on spiritual planes, which do not recognize any now.” MOSP 87.8

Thus they persist in denying that Jesus holds any pre-eminent position as a religious teacher. He may as well be called Buddha, Krishna, or Mohammed as Jesus. They are all the same spirit, all atoms of the great “All of Being.” all as much alike as three drops of water from the same ocean, and what is more bewildering still, they have now all lost their individuality in the spirit world. How, then, can it be told that Christ is in the sixth sphere, and Paine in the seventh? Such teachers, though they may claim to be good spirits, are branded as antichrist by both John and Jude. John says: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.” 1 John 2:22. Again, “Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God.” 1 John 4:3. According to the spirits Jesus Christ has no more come in the flesh than have Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Zoroaster, or any other religious teacher. They all simply yielded to their environments, and showed marked individualism while on this earth, and have now become absorbed in the “great whole” in the spirit world. Thus, as Jude says (verse 4), they deny “the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” MOSP 87.9

So much for their denial of Christ in his person. They also deny him in his offices; for to deny and ridicule what he came to do, is one of the most effectual ways of denying him. The great work of Christ was the shedding of his blood to atone for the sins of the world; and the spirits are particularly bitter in denouncing that idea. If such sentiments were uttered only by open and professed scoffers, it would not do so much harm; but it is not unusual to find those bearing the title of “Reverend” descanting on these themes in a manner to show themselves antichrist, according to the definition of that term by John. And even this need not surprise us; for the sure word of prophecy has foretold that some who have once held the true faith will depart therefrom to give heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. 1 Timothy 4:1. MOSP 88.1

One R. P. Wilson, to whose name is attached the ministerial title, in his lectures on “Spiritual Science,” said:- MOSP 88.2

“Although as a believer in true spiritual philosophy, we cannot receive the orthodox views of salvation, yet we recognize the birth of a Saviour and Redeemer into the universal hearts of humanity, wherein truly the deity is incarnate, dwelling in the interior of man’s spirit. We believe that each soul of man is born with his or her Saviour within them; for as man is an embodiment of the universe in epitome, he contains in his central nature an incarnation of deity. The germ of immortal unfoldings resides within the spirit of it, which needs only appropriate conditions to call forth the expanding and elevating powers of the soul.” MOSP 88.3

In “Spiritual Science Demonstrated,” p. 229, Dr Hare said:- MOSP 89.1

“Since my spirit sister’s translation to the spheres, she has risen from the fifth to the sixth sphere. It has been alleged by her that her ascent was retarded by her belief in the atonement.” MOSP 89.2

A “spirit” calling himself Deacon John Norton, as reported in the Banner of Light, said:- MOSP 89.3

“I used to believe in the atonement; I honestly believed that Christ died to save the world, and that by and through his death all must be saved if saved at all. Now I see that this is folly - it cannot be so. The light through Christ, the Holy One, shone in darkness; the darkness could not comprehend it; and thus it crucified the body, and Christ died a martyr. He was not called in that way, that by the shedding of his blood, the vast multitude coming after him should find salvation. Everything in nature proves this false. They tell me here that Christ was the most perfect man of his time. I am told here also that he is worthy to be worshiped, because of his goodness; and where man finds goodness he may worship. God’s face is seen in the violet, and man may well worship this tiny flower.” MOSP 89.4

In the pantheism of Spiritualism, every object in nature, the tiny flower, the pebbles, the trees, the birds and bees, are worthy to be worshiped as much as Christ. In one breath the spirits extol him as a most perfect man, pre-eminent in goodness and worthy to be worshiped, and in the next, place him in a position which would make him the greatest fraud and impostor that ever lived. Such inconsistencies show that Christ is a miracle which evil men and evil angels know not how to dispose of. MOSP 89.5

As they deny Christ, they must, logically, deny the doctrine of his second coming. This doctrine is made of especial importance and prominence in the New Testament. The nature of that coming, its manner, and the circumstances attending it are so fully described, that no one who adopts the Bible view can possibly be deceived by false christs. But the church and the world have been turned away from the true doctrine of the second advent, and the way is thus prepared for the great deceptions of the last days. Spiritualism is one of these, and claims that it is itself that second coming. Joel Tiffany, a former celebrated teacher of Spiritualism, has said:- MOSP 90.1

“I must look for the coming of my Lord in my own affection. He must come in the clouds of my spiritual heavens, or he cannot come for any benefit to me.” MOSP 90.2

And through Mrs. Conant, a famous medium of the early days of Spiritualism, the controlling spirit said:- MOSP 90.3

“This second coming of Christ means simply the second coming of truths that are not themselves new, that have always existed ... He said, When I come again, I shall not be known to you. Spiritualism is that second coming of Christ.” - Banner of Light, Nov. 18. 1865. MOSP 90.4

But the Bible description of this event is, the revelation of the Lord himself in the clouds of heaven in the glory of the Father, the reverberating shout of triumph, the voice of the archangel, the trump of God, the flash of his presence like that of the lightning, the wailing of the tribes of the earth, as they thus behold him, while unprepared to meet him, and the resurrection of the righteous dead. And where and when have these inseparable accompaniments of that event been seen? They do not occur when a person is converted from sin, nor do they occur in the dying chamber, nor have they occurred in Spiritualism; and until they do take place, the second coming of Christ is not accomplished. MOSP 90.5

Many seek to dispose of such testimony as this, by making it all figurative, or meeting it with a bold denial, as in the case of the resurrection of the body. And the way has been too well prepared for this condition of things, by much of the teaching of popular orthodoxy, which turns the early records of the Bible into childish allegory, perverts the true doctrine of the coming and kingdom of Christ, and denies the resurrection of the dead, by destroying its necessity through the immortality of the soul. On the vital point of the resurrection, Dr. Clarke makes this noteworthy remark:- MOSP 91.1

“One remark I cannot help making, - The doctrine of the resurrection appears to have been thought of much more consequence among the primitive Christians than it is now! How is this? - The apostles were continually insisting on it, and exciting the followers of God to diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness through it. And their successors in the present day seldom mention it! So the apostles preached, and so the primitive Christians believed; so we preach and so our hearers believe. There is not a doctrine in the gospel on which more stress is laid; and there is not a doctrine in the present system of preaching which is treated with more neglect”. - On 1 Corinthians 15 (original edition). ¹ MOSP 91.2

In view of the way the Bible has been treated by its professed friends, it is no wonder that infidelity prevails, and Spiritualism prospers. MOSP 92.1

3. They Deny the Bible. - The denial of God and Christ, as set forth above is, of course, a denial of the Bible; and not much need therefore be added on this point. We quote only a few representative utterances. Doctor Hare (“Spiritual Science Demonstrated,” p. 209) says:- MOSP 92.2

“The Old Testament does not impart a knowledge of immortality, without which religion were worthless. The notions derived from the gospels are vague, disgusting, inaccurate, and difficult to believe.” MOSP 92.3

As to the Old Testament, it would seem doubtful whether Mr. Hare ever read far enough to find (1) Job exclaiming: “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” (or, as the margin reads: “My reins within me are consumed with earnest desire [for that day];” or (2) David: “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness;” or (3) Isaiah: “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust;” or (4) Ezekiel: “Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves;” or (5) Daniel: “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt;” and (6) Hosea: “I will ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death.” Job 19:25-27; Psalm 17:15; Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:12; Daniel 12:2; Hosea 13:14. And as for the New Testament, it is no doubt “disgusting” to many Spiritualists to read that “the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death;” and that without the city “are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Revelation 21:8; 22:15. MOSP 92.4

Communications from spirits are offered in place of the Bible as a better source of instruction, the Bible being denounced, as above quoted, as “vague, inaccurate, and difficult to believe.” A brief comparison of the two will furnish pertinent evidence on this point. Take, on the Bible side, for example, a portion of the record of creation (Genesis 1:1-5):- MOSP 93.1

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” MOSP 93.2

The facts stated in this record, the profoundest minds can never comprehend; the language in which they are expressed, a little child can understand. The statements are plain and simple, a perfect model of perspicuous narrative. Place by the side of this an account of the same event, as given us from the “spheres.” The spirits have undertaken to produce a new Bible, beginning, like the old, with the creation; and this is the way it starts out, through the mediumship of “Rev.” T. L. Harris:- MOSP 94.1

“1. In the beginning God, the Life in God, the Lord in God, the Holy Procedure, inhabited the dome, which, burning in magnificence primeval, and revolving in prismatic and undulatory spiral, appeared, and was the pavilion of the Spirit: In glory inexhaustible and inconceivable, in movement spherical, unfolded in harmonious procedure disclosive. MOSP 94.2

“2. And God said, Let good be manifest! and good unfolded and moral-mental germs, ovariums of heavens, descended from the Procedure. And the dome of disclosive magnificence was heaven, and the expanded glory beneath was the germ of creation. And the divine Procedure inbreathed upon the disclosure, and the disclosure became the universe.” MOSP 94.3

We will inflict no more of this “undulatory spiral” nonsense on the reader. He now has both records before him, and can judge for himself which is the more worthy of his regard. There have been Spiritualists who, writing in their normal state, and not yet fully divorced from the influence of their former education, have acknowledged the authenticity of the Bible, and the doctrines of Jesus as recorded in the gospels. But these, it is claimed, are to be understood according to a spiritual meaning which underlies the letter; and this spiritual meaning generally turns out to be contrary to the letter, which is a virtual denial of the record itself. But the quotations here given (only a specimen of the multitudes that might be presented) are given on the authority of the “spirits,” whose teachings are what we wish to ascertain. MOSP 94.4