The Scriptures are, with those of his faith, only “the paper and ink relics of Christianity,” (Ib., p. 21); which they regard as “a foundation as impermanent as the changeful sand” (Ib. p. 24), and not adapted “to the wants or requirements of the nineteenth century,” Ib. p. 26. They reject Him, whom they style “the cruel and capricious God generally worshipped by the Bible Christians,” Ib. p. 47. “The Jewish God,” says Davis, “is cruel, capricious and tyrannical,” whose “kingdom is more despotic, and more contracted in principle, than the present government of the Russian empire,” Ib. p. 61. He adds, “The Old Testament idea of a Deity is the outgrowth of the despotic stage of human mental development,” and “a superannuated monotheistic conception,” Ib. p. 62. In their opinion, “the developments of republicanism, and of mental happiness among men, depend very much upon the absence of these dogmatical compilations, or fossil relics, of an old Hebrew and Chaldean theology,” Ib. p. 70. With them “the Bible account of creation is a very interesting myth,—mainly a plagiarism from the early traditions and cosmological doctrines of the ancient Persians and Chaldeans;” and, instead of being “a divine revelation of truth,” is “a pagan relic, which should no more command [pg 283] serious respect than the ancient doctrines of Fetichism,” Ib. p. 90.
These “Harmonial Philosophers” are antagonistic to the teachings of Jehovah in nearly all their theological notions. They scout the idea that any actual evil exists in the universe. They deny the existence of the devil, and of evil spirits. “Everything,” says Davis, “is forever progressing in goodness and perfection,” Ib. p. 180. The salvation of all men, is with them as certain as the operation of fixed laws. They recognize no Saviour and no atonement in their system of faith. The teachings of spirits, and “a certain organization of labor, capital and talent,” they fancy, “will effect the desired cure” for all actual or supposed ills, Ib. p. 178. They recognize no responsibility in the sinner, but attribute his wrong-doings to ignorance and accident; and their laws of right, are the dictates of their own wisdom.
Their system is essentially Pantheistic, all things being regarded by them as a part and parcel of Deity. They argue that “every object which has an existence in the universe must be in its nature good and pure, on the principle that the effect must partake of the nature of the cause, and the stream must be the corresponding emanation of the fountain from which it flows.”—Elements of Spiritual Philosophy, p. 55. They teach that human spirits are “formed primarily from the animating [pg 284] essences that pervade the creation,—which essences,” they say, “are the breath and presence of the Divinity;” and hence they argue, “that there are no spirits which are intrinsically evil in their nature, and none which do not present in their inward depths the reflection of divine purity,” Ib. p. 56. Going still further, they claim that there is no existing “source of positive evil,” “no principle of this nature in the human spirit,” and that consequently “there can be no evil designs to emanate from such a source,” Ib. p. 60.
These assertions are put forth authoritatively; for the “Elements of Spiritual Philosophy” are attested by witnesses to be “written by Spirits of the Sixth Circle, R. P. Ambler, Medium.” And if they are met by the declarations written by those who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, they reply: “The Christian who deifies his Bible is as much an idolater as the heathen who burns his incense before his household image. It is surely attributing to the book what the Pagan attributes to his image.”—Shekinah, April No., p. 251. Christianity, they denominate, “learned scepticism, baptized in the name of Jesus,” &c., Ib., p. 301. Thus are they warring against the word of God, and placing themselves in direct conflict with the Almighty.
This warfare is not only avowed to be against the God of the Bible, but is recognized by themselves as the last great conflict [pg 285] previous to the millennium. They regard this subject as “the great question of the age, which is destined to convulse and divide Protestantism, and around which all other religious controversies must necessarily revolve.”—Davis' Review of Bushnell, page 3. The millennium which is to be thus ushered in, they regard as a period when “every one that desires will be able to hold direct intercourse and conversation with the spirit world.”—Spiritual Tel., Vol. 1, No. 1. Says Davis: “The thunders of a stupendous reformation are soon to issue from the now open mouth of the Protestant church. The supernatural faith,” i.e. a belief in the authenticity of Scripture, “will be shaken, as a reed in the tempest. New channels will be formed for the inflowing of new truths, and then a long-promised era will steal upon the religious and political world.”—Review of Bushnell, p. 187.
In another place he says: “You may be assured of the truth of this approaching crisis. The world must recognize it, because it will be accompanied with war; for politics are inseparably connected, all over the world, with religious systems. Religion will develop reason; but politics will impel the masses to unsheath the sword, and to stain the bosom of Nature with blood! Friends of progress! be not discouraged; for the FINAL CRISIS must come; then the strange interregnum,” [pg 286] Ib. p. 217. “Protestantism as now constructed will first decay; because it is to be divided into two,—the smallest party will go back into Catholicism; the other will go forward into Rationalism. And then, after a succession of eventful years, a political revolution will hurl the Catholic superstructure to the earth, and the prismatic bow of promise will span the heavens. The children of earth will then be comparatively free and happy! for the millennial epoch will have arrived; and there will be something like a realization of peace on earth, and good will toward all men!” Ib. p. 221.
Such are their delusive hopes, while setting themselves against the Lord, and against his Anointed. The Bible teaches that multitudes will be deceived by them, and, if it were possible, some of the elect; and hence:
The Admonition.
“Behold, I come like a thief. Happy is he who watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Rev. 16:15.
“The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat,” 2 Pet. 3:10. The Saviour said to his disciples: “Watch, therefore; for ye know not what hour your [pg 287] Lord doth come,” Matt. 24:42. Says Paul: “Yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night; for when they shall say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh, ... and they shall not escape; but ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief,” 1 Thess. 5:1-6.