ship being common to Paganism, Mohammedanism, and Popery, when
the frog-like agency emerges from them, the conditions of the symbol seem
to require that it shall originate with, but shall pass beyond and outside
the influence of those religions. The agency thus symbolized, was to "go
forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world." Its fulfilment
requires a wonderful and an alarming increase of those who teach and
believe these doctrines; and as they are to work miracles, whereby the
world will be deceived, their teachings are to be accompanied by
extraordinary phenomena, which will be unexplainable by any of the known
laws of science. The spirits of the departed are to be recognized by them
as authoritative teachers, who are to be reverenced and obeyed. They will
be regarded as communicating with mortals, as unveiling the hidden things
of the invisible state, and as performing acts requiring the exercise of
physical power. The former are evident from the analogy which exists
between this and demon-worship; and the latter, from the ascription to
them of miraculous acts.

The existence of demoniacal intelligences, capable of communicating with
and acting on mortals, appears to be in accordance with the teachings of
the Saviour and apostles. Demoniacal possessions are clearly distinguished
from all diseases; and demons are shown, by the admissions of the New
Testament, to be actual intelligences, capable of physical power. When the
fame of Christ "went throughout all Syria, they brought unto him all sick
people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which
were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those which
had the palsy; and he healed them," Matt. 4:24. "When the unclean spirit
is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and
findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I
came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked
than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of
that man is worse than the first," Matt. 12:43-45. "And as they went out,
behold they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.(7) And when
the devil was cast out, the dumb spake; and the multitudes marvelled,
saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, He casteth
out devils,(8) through the prince of the devils," Matt