I may be persuaded that a thing is so, and shape my course as though it were so; still I am liable to be mistaken. Therefore I affirm again, that this outward method of communication can not be relied upon for the communication of absolute or positive truth. You can not make it the basis of action as you can when you have clear and positive information; and even if it should become as reliable as the ordinary communications passing between man and man, still it will not bring sufficient certainty to make it the basis of action. I might give many other reasons why this external means of communication can not be relied upon as sufficient to give us the necessary information respecting our connection with the Spirit-world. It may give facts or tests which may prove to be sufficient to satisfy the mind of every inquirer that Spirits do exist and communicate. This is no unusual thing; but the point is to make them the instruments of communicating to us such information as from day to day we need, and upon which we must rely. Those who do thus rely upon their communications, and yield implicit confidence to them, nine times in ten show themselves to be complete dupes, and make themselves the laughing-stock of every sensible man and woman. You will find in all parts of the country those who, if they can get a rap, say “Spirits, is it so?” and act according to the responses they receive. Nothing can be further from the true use and design of these manifestations. My position is simply this: so far as these outward means of communication are concerned, they are designed for those who can not get a more interior view of their relations with the Spirit-world. If an individual is living in his exterior or sensuous nature, so that what comes to his understanding must come through his senses, then these outward manifestations are useful and necessary to satisfy him of the fact that Spiritual beings do exist, and have the means of communicating with us. But when he is fully satisfied on that point, he has received about all the benefit he can from these exterior communications.