There are certain impulses pertaining to the body in its relation to the body. An instance of such is the sensation of hunger. I do not mean to say that the body has the sensation of hunger, but that it is awakened in the spirit by a demand which the body makes upon the spirit for material to supply its need. There are the sensations of thirst, heat and cold—diverse sensations of this kind which come to the spirit through the body. But that impulse which leads the individual to seek gratification at the horse-race, the brothel, etc., has its spiritual original, and flows out of the depraved condition of the spirit; and the body is not responsible for it, though the body may be destroyed by such impulse.
When we enter the Spiritual world, if we recognize ourselves at all, we must recognize ourselves by that which the absolute consciousness reveals to us. I do not recognize myself by the principle of absolute consciousness within me, but by that which it reveals to me. When I go to the Spirit-world, I must take that with me of which I must be conscious, else I shall not take my individuality with me—else I become annihilated. Just to the extent I leave my affections behind me, shall I be annihilated as a spiritual being. When I go to the Spiritual world, I must take my character with me—that which is made an integral part of my spiritual character by its development in me. Of course, then, wherever I go that must go. The love which rules within me must go with me until that ruling love is changed, or until some holier love shall call me to a higher plane of action. I am prepared to maintain that when we go to the Spiritual world, we shall take with us all the love, affections, thoughts, feelings, and sentiments which characterize us as individual beings. Every thing which causes me to differ from you here will cause me to differ from you when we enter the Spiritual world. I will retain my spiritual selfhood by the same laws by which we maintain our selfhood here. I believe the testimony of all Spirits who have spoken to us concerning it, is that the difference between the sensations here and there is so slight that it is difficult to tell when one has entered the Spiritual world. Many times have Spirits testified that they had to make many examinations after entering the Spiritual world, to satisfy themselves that they had left the body. That is, their sensations, thoughts, feelings, loves, and affections underwent so slight a change, they did not recognize any change in passing to the Spiritual sphere.
If that individual Spirit changes his character there, it must evidently be by some law operating upon character. We know perfectly well that if you were to bring an individual into New York who has been given to a certain kind of pleasure, unless he can find the same channel of pleasure here, he would feel miserable. Let any one of you get in the habit of going night after night to the theater, and you will by-and-by acquire such a habit that you will be perfectly wretched unless you can go there. You make resolutions to break up the habit; but often break your resolutions, and will feel miserable until some other love takes the place of your love for theatrical amusements. The poor drunkard often, in the midst of his dissipation, resolves to put away his cup; but when again he comes in the presence of the bottles and decanters, his mouth begins to feel thus and so, and he can not help drinking. The habit is so fixed upon him that he can not break it up, unless something can implant a stronger love within him.
As is our condition in this world, so is our state in the Spiritual world. How often does an individual feel that there would be no source of enjoyment for him in the Spiritual world if he could not find certain pleasures there. The beef-eater will continue to have a desire for beef, unless some other gratification can come in to supply its place. So it is in reference to every means of gratification. Upon the same law that the good desire the good and true, would the individual who has been a pleasure-seeker in this life seek in the Spiritual world for his accustomed gratification.
In the Spiritual world the Spirits have the means of gratifying their desires. Beef-eaters have the means of gratifying their desires. Not that they have any Spiritual beef. They have a mode of getting beef there different from ours—namely, by representing it and growing it on their own plantations. Spirits also enter into their former pleasures by coming into rapport with those here who have tastes like their own. If all their passions and lusts are to be dropped, how are those to know themselves in the Spiritual world who, during a whole life here, have been dead to every feeling and sentiment? Will they know themselves by their truth and justice? They never had any. How are they to know themselves, except by that for which they were known here? It is evident that they must carry their animal impulses with them. Gratification for these impulses are procured by the law of mental sympathy—the Spirits getting into rapport with those on the earth who have desires similar to their own, and taking thus the gratifications in which they delighted while in the body. It is for this reason that so many dark, benighted Spirits are found revealing themselves to the world. I am aware that, in these latter days, the idea has been advanced that Spirits, when they leave this body, get rid of all this filth. The truth is, the body was the cleanest part of them here. The idea that when a Spirit leaves the body he gets rid of all his impurity, has caused many to greatly venerate Spiritual communications, and attach to them much authority. I remember that it was with much deference that I listened to the first communications which came from the Spirit-world; but I very soon learned that a Spirit was not necessarily wiser because of his separation from the body, and that he required quite as much watching as one in the body. Not that they are below the world; for when you have taken an average of the justice and wisdom of the world, you will find that the standard it could set up would not be very high. When you look over the earth and witness the very low state of character of the human race here, why should you wonder that Spirits of a very low character should hover around us and manifest themselves to the world.
There was some philosophy in Dr. Beecher’s conclusion, that the manifestations were Spiritual, but devilish; for the majority of these manifestations come from the very lowest Spirits. There is no use in denying it. But the fault is all our own if a Spirit of an undeveloped character comes in communication with us and controls us; for I have power, which is superior to all their finite power, to prevent their controlling me. If I will live the life I should, I can be protected from all such influences. If a Spirit of a low character comes into rapport with you to control you, it is your fault. It is because you are not in that true condition of soul by which you come into rapport with Spirits of a pure and wise character. It is nevertheless unphilosophical for any individual to say that, because there are low Spirits, he will have nothing to do with Spiritual communications. It would be equally unphilosophical to say, because there are good Spirits, that all Spiritual communications should be received.
In respect of developing mediums, I wish to say, that if they are to be developed for curiosity’s sake, they had better remain undeveloped. But if it is desired to bring them into conditions to redeem them, it is all very well. But no person should permit himself to become passive in his feelings and affections while waiting for Spirits to come and develop him as a medium; for in that condition he will be liable to be influenced by bad Spirits. He may become the instrument of one of the lowest and most debasing influences, and may be influenced to commit the most filthy and disgusting deeds. While the body should be passive, the affections should be ardent, the soul must send forth its most earnest aspirations.
You need not read from the Bible or the Koran. What is needed is to keep your hearts right. Let the aid for which you seek have strict reference to keeping the affections right. We need to guard against being influenced by those low Spirits who are waiting round us to seek self-gratification. If you wish to commune with Spirits, you yourself must determine what shall be the class of Spirits with whom you will commune. If you would commune with Jesus, you must come upon his plane. If you would commune with the Divine Father, you must become like him. You must assume the character of the class of Spirits with which you wish to commune. By observing this law we need not have so much of this low manifestation. We need a higher class of communications to convince the world. The objections to Spiritualism is not that there are not enough facts, but that their character is such that the world is not willing to accept them.
CHAPTER XI.
LUST.
“Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts.”—James Letter, chap. i. 14.