Modem Spiritualism Briefly Tested by Scripture 113
IV. MODERN SPIRITUALISM FORETOLD The rise and progress of Modern Spiritualism is clearly indicated in Holy Scripture : “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron ; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats” (1 Tim. 4:1-3). The gravity of the warning is emphasized by the way it is introduced, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly s ed u c in g s p ir it s “ ” So crafty is the enemy that the spirits often advise the uninitiated to pray and to read the Bible. While the immediate purpose of such advice is to gain the victim’s confidence, the ultimate object is to undermine faith in the Scriptures. The spirits giving such advice are well described as “seducing spirits.” A lady, a Christian worker, was persuaded to attend a Spiritualistic meeting. She was advised to read the Bible and pray. This led her to believe that the spirit of a Chris tian was speaking to her. When the “seducing spirits” had thus gained her confidence, they led her to question certain parts of the Bible. The result was that she became a com plete infidel, going absolutely to the bad, not only spiritually but morally. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” In the temptation in the wilderness we see how Satan quoted Scripture, leaving put an essential part for his evil purpose ; and we see how a text of Scripture sufficed for his defeat. Scripture clearly indicates deceitfulness as his chief characteristic. (2 Cor. 2:11 ; 2 Cor. 11:14, 15.) V. THE BIBLE OPPOSED TO SPIRITUALISM Before quoting a few texts, so dreaded by “Oxford, M. A.” and his confrères, it would be well to clear the ground by
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