Spiritualism.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 223, 18 August 1884, Page 2

Spiritualism.

» The Rev. Mr Bunn preached on the above subject at the Wesleyan Church last evening, taking for his text the 3 1st Verse of the 16th Chapter of Luke's Gospel. " And he said unto them if they hear not Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." The preacher m opening his discourse explained the mode of teaching m the East, viz , by parables. The one recorded m the words of his text was perhaps the most beautiful appearing m Holy Writ. The rev. gentleman gave a review of the principle features appearing m it, explaining the positions social and moral of the two men spoken of, mainly portraying' the selfishness and heart* lessness of the rich man and the utter destitution and helplessness of the poor beggar desk ing to be fed with the ciumbs falling from ihe table oi the former, his sores being such thai tho wild dogs licked them. The Iwo men's death and burial were also beautifully described. The preacher than said he wished to bring before his hearers the fact that the parable stated there was an inexpressible gulf fixed after death between these two men. On the one hand, sufferings and torment, or better rendered anguish, and on the other quiet and peaceful joy, the request of the suffering man to have his torment allayed by one drop of water being refused, and also when he asked that Abraham might send to his five brethem warning them of his fate, the reply being given m the words of the text. It was very natural for those m deep sorrow for their departed relations to earnestly desiro that gome good spirit would tell them of their spiritual state ; but are spirits to be equal to the Word of God, the breath, the vivifier, the enlightener? What manner of teaching is the spiritist doctrine? Are the dead to know more than the inspired ; I beg of you to weigh this matter cautiously and prayerfully : satisfy yourselves fully, and read carefully God's book, before deciding. Suppose some father among you, some minister, think of the best, were to appear from the dead. I imagine it would be an affront; add to your difficulties and not make clear. This calling 1 up of spirits is not from the Almighty. There is nothing m all God's univeise that can meet the case of sinners like Moses and the prophets. God through it can be just and justify the sinner. No. There is, thank God, an inexpressible gulf fixed, separating the spirit world, from the material, and I praise my Creator that my dead §iat died m the Lord are far above that gulf — beyond all troubling. I wish to emphasize a statement I made on last Sunday evening, namely, that this consulting of familiar spirits is. an abomination. There can be no intermeddling with God's own. He appoints angols to. surround them. I go further and affirm it is a doctrine of devils disloyal to God and unbiblical. In the past we find professors unbiased and learned men of high social standing have gone into this matter and have studied it carefully, and then come to the conclusion that the influence was satanical. The dead, the lost dead think of us ; the liviug ought to weigh well this fact, have you led others astray by a guilty life ? Their blood may be upon you. There is stupendousness m this thought which ought to awaken the careless and indifferent. Spiritists attempt a prayer called invocation, but it is Christless. The Christian has a Saviour to call upon when m trouble and difficulty, and m his belief there is nothing* abstruse, complex, or puzzling. A little child may understand. There is no book and no belief like the one from Christ, "and if you hear not Moses and the prophets neither will you be persuaded though one rose from the dead."