A new basis of belief in immortality / by John S. Farmer.

  • Farmer, John S.
Date:
1882
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new basis of belief in immortality / by John S. Farmer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “Why now, at this age of the world ? Why not sooner, long ago,, centuries since ? In reply, one might suggest that the Atlantic has always been there, though thousands of years elapsed ere a Columbus adventured its passage. One might ask when the diurnal motion of the earth, when the circulation of the blood, when the fall of aerolites, was first accepted as truth by science. But I rest not the case in gene- ralities like these. I believe that Spiritualism, in its present phase, could not have been the gi-owth of an age much earlier than our own. In its present phase, in distorted form, it has appeared from time to time in past ages, to the terror and the unutterable suffering of the world. The holiest things are the most deadly when they are pro- faned. “ ‘ Yc cannot bear them now.’ In these words we may find the clue to the late appearance of Modern Spiritualism. Certain debasing super- stitions had to disappear before the world was worthy of it. The letter which killeth had itself to die, and the spirit which giveth life had to replace it, before the wiser and the better portion of those who have gone before us could find such sympathy as would attract them to earth, and meet such reception here, as would justify their efforts to enlighten us.” XVI. — The age of miracles has ceased, therefore Spiritual phenomena are impossible. Those M’ho have followed me so far will have seen that Spiritualism regards neither the so-called miracles of the past, nor the Spiritual phenomena occurring in our midst to-day, as supernatural in their nature and origin. A close investigation of Spiritualism has shown that the abnormal phenomena, classed as miracles in the past, are identical with spirit manifestations, and as the latter appear to conform to, and to be governed by natural laws, there is no valid reason for supposing that the ancient miracles were not likewise govenred.. But even admitting for a moment, for argument’s sake, that the wonders recorded in the Bible were miraculous and supernatural in character, it can by no means be taken for granted that the objection now under consideration is true. On the contrary, the statement is a pure assumption, alike gratuitous and unwarranted. *• No confirmation of this notion,” s.ays Mr. .Shorter, in his “Two Worlds,” “can be fonnd in the language of Jesus, or in the teachings of the New Testament; there is no intimation therein that guidance, revelation, influx from the spiritual universe, ceased with the Jewish dispensation;—no limitation of the ‘ spiritual gifts ’ of the Church to that, or to any age : the contrary seems rather to be implied. I can see no reason for their withdrawal, no indications of this being the fact, but I do find very explicit declarations of their continuance. Jesus distinctly promised to supplement His earthly teaching. He told His disciples that they could not be.ar the whole truth ; that conse- quently many things were left unsaid which should, after His death, he communicated to them by the .Spirit of Truth, and that this self- same Spirit should abide with His followers “ even unto the end of the world/* guiding and teaching them.