Immortality proved by the testimony of sense : $b In which is contemplated the doctrine of spectres and the existence of a particular spectreCummings, Abraham
Religion
Immortality proved by the testimony of sense : $b In which is contemplated the doctrine of spectres and the existence of a particular spectre
Cummings, Abraham
Apparitions; Immortality; Spiritualism
With what contempt and ridicule has the ghost been
treated on account of the marriage! Therefore “I am
not to be trifled with,” was pertinent. What violent
contentions, occasioned by her messages, appropriate
the terms “Peace, peace,” or “there must be peace,” as
she more plainly said to another person about the same
time.
[37] Here we see that the direct answer was entirely
avoided. It was no design of her mission. We have the
Bible by which even the angels must be tried. To the
law and the testimony. If they speak not according to
this word, it is because they have no light in them,
from whatever world they may profess to come. She
accordingly took this ground, and reasoned with the
people out of the Scriptures as the standard of truth
by which she would be tried.
[38] It was matter of trial to some christians among us,
that the Spirit should thus associate with one who
never gave the least evidence of piety: But the Spirit
informed them, out of her hearing, that Mrs. Butler
was one of the elect, and would repent before she left
the world.
[39] She had several times fainted before.
[40] “Don’t you believe a word of all that I have told
you,” say some who heard it.
[41] She now talked without appearing. It was the next
night after this, that the attempt was made to handle
her while she appeared.
[42] The last member of this sentence is matter of dispute.
[43] This shews that this witness was not in the cellar,
when the preceding sentence was uttered. They who
were there, say that it was the Spectre who said,
_they must come down_, and Mr. Blaisdel who added that
_they should be satisfied_. Others tell us that the
sentence was, “Come down _in order_, and you shall be
satisfied.”
Make the worst of it; it was but innocent inaccuracy, like
what is recorded of angels in the scriptures. Possibly
the ghost did not foresee this confusion. Certain it
is, that she constantly and strictly insisted upon
order and solemnity, as indispensably requisite to
her manifestations. After all, if the ghost has ever
uttered one falsehood, or _one_ false accusation,
with the manifest design of injurious deception; or,
if she has ever committed or ordered the commission
of _one_ crime; we must, without hesitation, condemn
her as an evil angel. But then we must remember that
her criminality should first be proved, not by our
surmises or conjectures, but by substantial, plenary,
and indubitable evidence.
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