had any value as a
contribution to the welfare of the race, or to its stock of
knowledge. Its messages from learned men who are dead, have been
the silliest bosh; its stories about life upon the planets are
wretched guesses, many of which can be proved false by the
astronomer; its visions have frightened scores of people into
madhouses, and made semi-lunatics of hundreds of others."

If this charge was good as late as 1874, it is equally so at the present
time. And thus are we forced to the conclusion that Spiritualism, judged
by the light of its fair promises, is one of the most lamentable of
delusions, and most stupendous of failures.

Chapter Seven.

SPIRITUALISM A SUBJECT OF PROPHECY.

We come now to one of the most timely and important features of this whole
subject; for God in his word has foretold and forewarned the world of the
movement here passing under review. He has made known the time when it
should appear, the character it would bear, and the work it is to do. He
has also connected this with the great event of all-overshadowing
importance to this world, of which it is a startling sign and sure
precursor; namely, the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask the
special attention of the reader to this part of the subject.

A word of digression may be allowed as to the place which prophecy holds
in the word of God. Prophecy is that feature of the sacred volume which
constitutes it a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Ps. 119:105; 2
Peter 1:19. It is that which enables that word to be a guide to the hosts
of Israel through the weary journey and the gloomy shades of time, giving
to every era its "present truth," and showing the progress of the
slow-revolving ages toward the great consummation. It is the golden
credential which the Bible holds up to the world of its genuineness and
authenticity.

Prophecy is peculiar to the Christian Scriptures. No other so-called
sacred books contain this feature. It is not found in the Vedas, Shasters,
or Puranas of the Hindus, nor the Zend Avestas of the Parsees, nor the
Kojiki Nohonki, of the Shintos of Japan, nor the law books of Manu, nor
the Koran of the Mohammedans, nor the Kan-Ying-Peen or Tao-Te-King of the
Chinese, nor the Tripitakas of the Buddhists. The reason is obvious.
Neither the minds of men nor of angels, either good or bad, can read the
future. Divine omniscience alone can