that the spirit of some departed friend commu nicates from the spiritual to the external sphere, it is heralded forth as parallel with or of greater consequence than the evidences of Christianity. If sensitive persons, after years of experience, and arduous effort and untiring application, become efficient in transcendental arts, they are exalted as gods and proclaimed "the Oracles." If a bell is made to ring without hands, or musical instruments played by the inexperienced, or rattled without physical contact, the marvel-stricken spectators exclaim, "Those who performed the works recorded in the Bible, and attributed to the Almighty Lord, are now removing the darkness which shuts the glory and being of spirit spheres from mortality, revealing greater light than the Scriptures afford, and by disclosing their true nature, are demonstrating that all the Christian claims as the supernatural, the Work of the Divine Spirit, can easily be excelled by earth's departed, and therefore human spirits were the Bible communicators. Hence arises that form of anti-Christ, which determines upon the overthrow of true Christianity. But until the Harmonialists and their spirits unfold principles more profound, and disclose greater and more efficient laws than have yet attended their works, no evidence is afforded worthy of comparison with those means God has ordained and

brought to light with the race, and substantiated by his Almighty Power; by the bestowments of his Mercy, the gracious disclosures of his Wisdom, and the efficacy of his Grace. The proposition of the christian Religion, is that, God, the Lord and Creator, by means of divine appointment, in the Spirit of Heavenly Benefaction, provides for the salvation of man from his deplorable condition, and the record of God's dealings accord therewith. The professions of antiChristian spiritualism is high and extensive; let the demonstration be paramount to the claims or let the claim descend to the ability manifested.

CHAPTER XII.

NEW TESTAMENT INCIDENTS.

EIGHTEEN hundred years ago, in Bethlehem of Judea, and in the days of Herod the king, JESUS was born. "When Herod heard thereof he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, art not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

"Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also."Mat. ch. ii.

This was another evil device again t the Spirit of Truth, for the context and sequel prove that Herod disguised his purpose in the charge given to the wise men. "When Herod had heard these

things he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him." Not because he desired to worship; that need not beget fear or perplexity. Had he been a true Israelite, the Mesiah's advent would have given him joy and tranquility. His proceeding evinced his consciousness that Christ, when he came, would possess a spirit adverse to his. Jerusalem was also troubled. But had she been actuated by the true principle, the star would have been hailed as the prelude of a most glorious day to them.

By examining the history of that event, it will be found that former conflicts between the Spirit of Truth and the Principle of Evil were only types of this their legitimate ante-type, and that in the spiritual history of man this was the Great Centre Epoch and Period when the heavenly Grace was to seal the Covenant and make an end of Oblations. To prevent the consumating Offering the Prince of Darkness seems to have been preparing his agents at Jerusalem, and so adjusting the external government that when the trial should come, as by magic the forces of wickedness might be arrayed against the Savior. But God provided for the emergency. Hence, the wise men having found the young child acknowl edged him. Being warned of God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. "And an angel of the Lord

appeared to Joseph in a dream," (Will Harmo nial Spiritualists deny this? By what authority?) "saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

"When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod."

As the wise men did not return, and Herod not being able to find and identify the child whom he feared, he caused all the children to be slain that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

From this time Jesus was pursued until he made the final Offering upon the cross. The following record reveals the cause of this opposition to Jesus, and also unmistakably proves the malicious author to have been the same who from the days of Adam had afflicted the people of God, and contended with Theopneustic principles.

"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him he said, If thou be the Son