DESCRIPTION
Published in 1853 | 102 pages | PDF reader required
CONTENTS
PREFATORY REMARKS
Reasons for considering the subject.
FIRST OBJECTION
The manifestations are produced by machinery, trickery, or deception.
SECOND OBJECTION
The manifestations are caused by the mind or will of the medium, or by the mind of one, or the minds of all, acting through the medium.
THIRD OBJECTION
The manifestations are produced by electricity, magnetism, nervousness, or some similar agency.
FOURTH OBJECTION
The manifestations produce insanity.
FIFTH OBJECTION
Mediumship injures health,—therefore good spirits have nothing to do with it.
SIXTH OBJECTION
If these communications are from spirits, why do we receive any that are useless, inconsistent, and contradictory.
SEVENTH OBJECTION
If true, why do not public lecturers on the subject exhibit manifestations? Why do we not have them at any time.
EIGHTH OBJECTION
When departed friends appear, why do they come with the deformities which were theirs in this life? When they write, why do they do so in that trembling, nervous style, which disease and age had forced upon them before they left this sphere?
NINTH OBJECTION
If these are spirits, they must be evil spirits.
TENTH OBJECTION
Such strange, incomprehensible doctrines, are given by these manifestations, so different from those I have commonly believed, that I deny their holy origin.
ELEVENTH OBJECTION
If these are good spirits of the departed, why do they come in this way, and announce their presence by rapping, tipping, and such-like demonstrations.
TWELETH OBJECTION
If these are spirits, why have they not appeared before.
THIRTEENTH OBJECTION
What good result will these manifestations produce.
FOURTEENTH OBJECTION
Why are some persons mediums, and not others? Why not all?
ELETEENTH OBJECTION
This subject leads to scepticism, and a neglect of the Bible.
SIXTEENTH OBJECTION
The doctrine of spiritual intercourse is contrary to the Bible. Nothing of the kind is there related,—nothing promised.
SEVENTEENTH OBJECTION
We have no need of any further revelations in regard to the spirit world. The Bible contains all that God has intended we should know, and this spiritual intercourse is an unlawful prying into things with which we have no concern.
CONCLUDING REMARKS