at first. But the other gifts with which God favored the rising Church of Christ were, as we learn from numerous testimonies of the ancients, still conferred upon particular persons here and there."* Dr. Murdock, the translator of Mosheim, sanctions these statements with emphasis, adding a long note, in which he argues the point, and refers to numerous passages in the ancients to establish it." "Notwithstanding there

appears to have been a gradual decline and final cessation of heathen oracles after the establishment of the Christian Church, (and we might show strong reasons for believing that these oracles were actual spiritual communications, as both heathens and Christians believed them to be,) there seem to have still been among the heathens some mediums for spirits (or the alledged gods) for a long time after the apostolic age. Between these spirits and their mediums on the one hand, and the Christian prophets on the other, there was generally an open hostility; but wherever a trial of powers occurred, the heathen spirit was forced to give way, showing the existence still in the Church of that power conferred by Jesus upon his disciples to "cast out devils." Hence we find Tertullian, in his "Apology for the Christian Religion," boldly challenging all heathendom to a trial of their

Mos. Eccl. Hist., B. I. Cent. II. Part I. Chap. I. § 8.

patron spirits and divinities, who were accustomed to possess and speak through the bodies of certain men. "Hitherto," says he, "we have used words; we will now come to a demonstration of the very thing, that your Gentile gods are no one of them greater than another. For a decision of the point, let any one that is judged to be possessed by a devil be brought into open court before your tribunals; when that spirit shall be commanded by a Christian to speak, he shall as truly confess himself a devil there, as elsewhere he falsely claims to be a god. Or let one equally be produced who is among you Gentiles judged to be inspired of God, who waits at your altars, and is esteemed a sacred person by you; nay, though he be acted by one of your most venerated deities, be it Diana the heavenly virgin, or Esculapius that prescribes your medicines, and who pretends to relieve the dying, yet these, or any others, when they are summoned, if they dare to lie unto the Christian summoning, and if they do not confess themselves openly to be devils, then let that reproaceful Christian's blood be spilt by you on the spot." "Tertullian died about the year 231." deed, Mosheim informs us that in the third century the office of exorcist, as a special office, was created in the churches, it being the duty of the one holding it to cast out these subtile and un

"In

Christian spirits from the bodies of such as were infested by them, and which they did by a process similar to that employed by the apostles."!

No spiritualist will presume to deny the above statements. What, then, do they establish but the great truth maintained throughout the Bible, viz.: that a Satanic power opposes the government of God with man? and that by the Spirit of the Lord evil spirits are subdued and cast out of the possessed. It is important to regard this fact, 1. Because the sentiment is called in question by the "anti-Christ" of this age, and indeed the denial is important to the life of Harmonialism and all other "isms" which conflict with the Gospel; 2. Because it constitutes one strong point at issue between the Biblicist and Naturalist; 3. Because by the application of this principle (Divine power) the Christian faith is confirmed and also distinguished from the imitations thereof, by false and deceptive beings, and because it is a Bible doctrine; 4. Because there is a power actively engaged with men, assuming the form and name of mesmerism, spirit manifestations, etc., which denies the divine authenticity of the Bible, the fall and depravity of man, the divinity of Christ; also redemption through Jesus, and therefore utterly rejects the doctrines of the Gospel, whose necessity depends upon the existence of absolute evil; 5. Because

this power heralds its determination to remove the Christian Church from the world; 6. Because the Opposition to Christianity demands, like the ancient Philistines, the issue; and its Goliath, with shield and armor-bearer, appears before men, boldly defying the God of Israel.

The religious world may deem this subject unworthy their consideration; nevertheless, a power is at work with the hearts of men that, unless checked, shall shake the external church and try every soul, and test the faith of every believer in the Lord Jesus. We are thus emphatic upon this subject because when analyzing the present phenomena we shall have occasion to disclose, define and elucidate these principles. We only add, that Zion's watchmen have occasion to guard well those avenues through which these invidious influences approach the souls of men. Nor is it from fancy, as the sequel will determine, that these thoughts are suggested.

CHAPTER II.

PROPOSITIONS FOR SPIRITUALISTS, ETC.

As the anti-Christian spiritualists proclaim their system of so-called "Rational Religion" as the true religion, and as they profess to have power equal or even superior to that which accompanied the Prophets, Jesus of Nazareth, and the Apostles, we invite them to bring a parallel to the following incidents of the Old and New Testament times. As they complain much of those who deny the spiritual origin of their works, and who seek to change the character of the manifestation by rendering other reasons for their origin than those set forth by the advocates, we suggest to spiritualists that by their own law they are bound to admit the ancient Records, and especially since they have no means to disprove their authenticity and the correctness of their claims. If they deny their validity, they sanction arguments against themselves and condemn their own theory.

Progressionists denominate those "bigots" who adhere to Bible theology in this age of light and reason, (?) and particularly those doctrines not endorsed by "the spirits." Therefore they teach that the Bible should receive credit only