705. Dear Sir: There is a great resemblance in your sentiments, as described in your letter of the 20th, (just received,) and those which I entertain, excepting that while I am very desirous—I may say extremely desirous—to learn something which may prove another state of existence, I am not unhappy at my not being able to find out the truth. If I have less hopes, I have also less fears, than those who have heaven and hell both to encounter. I do not envy those who are placed in the situation of depending upon the estimate which may be formed of them hereafter, whether they are to be placed among the “sheep” or “the goats.”

706. It is true that the gospel holds out the idea on one hand that intense belief, called faith, will wash away sin; but on the other, it is said, that “he who knoweth his Master’s will, yet doeth it not,” shall be beaten with many stripes, while he who is ignorant of that will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with few. Under these circumstances, who can escape flagellation? Who is it that does the will of God, as enumerated by Christ? Who loves his neighbour as himself? Who presents a second cheek on receiving a blow on one? Who gives his coat, when his cloak has been taken? Who returns good for evil? Who acts as if it were as hard for a rich man to go to heaven as for a camel to get through the eye of a needle?

707. Unless our missionaries can make better Christians abroad than they leave at home, it were inhuman to add to the number, who are to be pre-eminently punished for their neglect of their Master’s will, while fully apprized of it. In many cases a pagan will be better off than his nominally Christian instructor, although he should not prove a convert to Christianity.

708. My sentiments are much like those which Socrates expressed. I hope for a future world, and therein to have a happier existence. All those reasons which have been advanced by wise and good men in favour of such futurity, operate upon my mind as upon theirs; but if there be no such a state of future existence, I shall never wake up to feel my disappointment. It will only be a prolongation of a state of oblivion analogous to that which we enter upon transiently, every night.

709. The incentives which have acted upon you, act also upon me, and I have seen some of the manifestations on which you rely; but not so satisfactorily. The answers which I have received have not been worthy of the other world.

710. A message from my own father, amounted to this: “Oh, my son, listen to reason;” and there it ended. Several similar nugatory sentences have been manifested through the alphabet.

711. I have, however, constructed an instrument to put the question of independency of intelligence to the test. It works independently of any control of the medium, as the letters, which must be seen to bring them correctly under the index, are concealed by a screen. ([Plate I].)

712. The sentence above quoted was communicated in this way.

713. I am about, by this contrivance, to test the manifestations farther.

Robert Hare.