and the spirits of modern times, he did not obtrude himself into notice, he taught none to seek to him for information. He had no theology to present which does not perfectly accord with the doctrines of the Bible; and he arrogated no prerogatives of Jehovah.

Fourthly. He was in an anomalous work for a saint, was out of his element and "disquieted." His repose was violated. In all of these particulars he presents a striking contrast to the spirits of our times. It is obvious from this account that the real appearance of the spirit of a righteous man is an anomaly in necromancy, that when it does occur, it is to the consternation of the "medium" and to announce the doom of her impious employer. Therefore if the spiritualists have not heard their condemnation from a spirit, it is because they have had no intercourse with departed saints. If all these spirits teach contrary to the law and testimony it is because they are all from beneath, which is certainly true. This case of Samuel is an isolated one-the only well authenticated exception to an otherwise universal rule. We contend that this was a real appearance of the spirit of a just man, intended to convey an important lesson, and there is no need of another such manifestation. It could never be rendered more effectual in its purposes by a thousand repetitions. There was one Elijah, one Job, one Daniel, one Messiah, one dividing of the sea, one deliverance from a furnace, and one appearance

to necromancers of the spirit of a righteous man. While it is granted that by the power of conjuration the spirits of wicked men may be summoned to the presence of mortals, we contend that the abodes of bliss are not subject to the arts of necromancers.

The appearance of Samuel simultaneously with the conjuration, can be reconciled with the principles of God's moral government, only on the ground that the sin and high position of Saul, with the exigencies of the case, rendered that the most effectual moment for Jehovah to strike the decisive blow at necromancy, by sending a faithful prophet to doom a rebelious king. Never was such a rebuke given

to the practice of a forbidden art !

Says Dr. Stilling" The enchantress received orders to raise the deceased prophet, Samuel, who, with all the rest of the Old Testament saints, abode in Hades, in a state of blissful rest, until the conqueror of death conducted them in triumph into the mansions prepared for them. The woman employed her art; but instead of one of her familiar spirits, that was to have acted the part of Samuel, he appeared himself, by the divine permission and instigation. This the witch had not expected, she therefore cried out for fear, and said, 'I see Elohim, -something divine! Samuel then announced to

* Theory of Pneumatology by Dr. Johann Jung-Stilling, late Professor of the University of Heidelberg and Marburg, and Private Aulic-Counsellor to the Grand Duke of Baden. Translated from the German by Samuel Jackson, London, 1834, p. 207.

Saul, that the following day he would be with him in the realm of the dead or of spirits."

We are told by Governor Tallmadge and others, that the Apostles John and Paul have returned and conversed with men. One writer alleges that they came to explain their writings. If this were true, Paul made a great mistake when he said he had "fought the good fight and finished his course.' He had no anticipation of fighting his battle over in a disembodied state; much less did he suppose that in this "progressive age" he would become so enlightened as to consider his Christian labors all

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loss and dross for the excellency" of spiritualism! His teachings are specially calculated to tare up by the roots the doctrines of spiritualism. The latter denies the resurrection of the dead. But Paul declared that if the dead should not rise at the sounding of the last trump the Christian's hope was vain and the apostles were false witnesses.* If he is now engaged in the same work with these antiChristian spirits, he must have apostatized, since when living he averred,

"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in heavenly places."—Eph. vi: 12.Margin.

Moreover, he kept very choice company, testifying that "evil communications corrupt good manners,"

* 1 Cor. 15: 13-15, 52.

and that no fellowship should be had with the unfruitful works of darkness.

If the spiritualists are to be credited, Paul and John were very short-sighted prophets. For their writings are specially adapted to forestall any favorable reception which they might otherwise have met, and to counteract any influence which they might have exerted in their spiritual visitations. The former cautioned the world against "seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.” The latter referred the doctrines of spiritualism to Anti-christ, and predicted that demons should “ go forth to the kings of the earth, and the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day."

Some persons suppose they have seen the spirits of departed saints, and conversed with them. But the evidences do not warrant this conclusion.

1. It is well known that some persons are at times afflicted by a species of delirium, the result of debility or the derangement of the nervous system. At such times they often see spectres which have no existence except in their disordered imaginations.

A venerable clergyman related to the writer, that once, when on his bed in feeble health, it appeared to him that his bed was standing some distance from its usual place by the wall, and that three men came twice between his bed and the wall and conversed in an undertone. It seemed a reality for the time; but as he was satisfied that his bed had not been

moved from its usual position, he inferred the whole must have been a mere phantom.

Many saints supposed to have been seen by spiritualists, are, doubtless, the creation of their own excited imaginations.

Dr. Stilling says: "The celebrated Frederick Nicolai, of Berlin, fell once into a state, in which he saw many spiritual beings around him, which all gradually vanished on making use of laxative and cathartic medicines !"

2. Men often psychologize persons and cause them to see whatever they choose to make them see, though the persons appear to be in their natural state, and suppose themselves free from any charm, when in fact they are under an enchantment. Now, since these spirits are generally seen by "seeing mediums”—real clairvoyants, the conclusion is inevitable that the appearance of some spirits to these mediums should be imputed solely to psychological impressions. This the spiritualists will not deny.

3. It is well known that what the mediums term "going into the interior state" is often nothing else than psychologizing themselves. Whatever they may see in that state no reliance can be placed in their visions, all of which should be imputed to a galvanized imagination let loose. They may suppose they see apostles, saints and friends, when none of them are present.

Says Dr. Stilling, in "Pneumatology," p. 72: "I knew a pious female, who, in her trance, was