"The greatest danger," said Dr. Murray, " the
individual has to dread is the inordinate activity of the soul with its powers
of mind and will." This danger is intensified a thousand-fold at the
present time, through the advance made by those who term themselves "
Researchers " in Psychic science, having led multitudes into knowledge of
the hitherto undreamt-of forces latent in the human frame. The danger to the
Christian desirous of walking after the spirit, and being a channel for the out
flow of the Spirit of God, is very real, for even when a man becomes
regenerate, and has the life of God in his spirit, through ignorance he may be
using " soul force ", even in his mission work for God. This may
account for the transient results in missions, more than we know.
But now let us endeavour to get a bird's eye view of the dangers
which we are attempting to point out under the term " soul-force ".
There is no writer who appears to have given such full information on the
dispensational aspect of the subject, as the late Mrs. McHardie, but her
valuable books are out of print, instead of being available for the very hour
for which they were written.
It is remarkable that in these closing days of the Age, the book
of Genesis should be so much contested by the devil, in his endeavour to
overthrow its authority. The reason undoubtedly is that it not only contains
the basic truth of the Fall, and of the gospel of redemption, but it also holds
the key to all the problems of the present time. It is so in the present
instance. As we have pointed out already, the gilded bait offered to Eve in the
temptation in Eden was " Ye shall be as God "-which was the very
purpose in the heart of God in His creation of man. The point we need to grasp
is this : (I) That the very attributes of the soul, now being brought to light
by " Psychical Research ", were placed in the sinless Adam for the
express purpose of their development in fellowship with, and for the purposes
of God; (2) That the Tempter knew of these potentialities in the sinless Adam,
and desired them brought into action under his control instead of God's-hence
the temptation to Eve; (3) That when Adam fell into awful separation in spirit
from God, all these latent powers fell with him, and became open to the control
of the Tempter.
In a previous paper we referred to the great plot of Satan, the
Master Strategist, to capture (I) men of science, (2) men of business, and (3)
men of religion. This was made known by a medium under the direction of the
evil spirits controlling her. Up to that time, said the controlling spirit,
they had only succeeded in reaching the " noncritical part of humanity
", and scientists, with some exceptions, stood aloof. We see the results
at the present time in the numbers of scientists caught in the great deception,
through the specious plea of " investigation " into a " natural
science ".
From this history of Spiritism we learn that the first stage of
advance into conditions which enabled the spirits to break through into
communication with man, was the discovery of Anton Mesmer, somewhere about
1778, from which has come a knowledge of what is called to-day, "
Mesmerism ". Following Mesmer, we read that numbers of his converts made
further and further " discoveries ", producing phenomena, which
almost seemed incredible. But it was when Mesmer assumed the position of a man
of science, and appealed to the scientific world to examine " natural
phenomena ", declaring that he wanted for his " discovery " the
" unqualified approval of the most scientific men " of the age, that
the satanic scheme of capturing the men of science succeeded. For Psychical
Researchers admit that Mesmerism is " the rock from which all mental
sciences (including Christian Science) were hewn ".
A list of some of the " discoveries " which followed
the obtaining by Mesmer of the basic knowledge of the mysterious forces latent
in the human frame, shows how amazingly the movement advanced, once men had
obtained the key. In 1784, a pupil of Mesmer discovered " clairvoyance
", as the result of mesmeric sleep, and incidentally stumbled upon "
Thought Reading ". Then ancient books were studied for further knowledge,
and it was seen that these " secrets of nature " had been made known
to a few, but now through Mesmer and his pupils, the time had come for the
advance of the movement which in the end would re-engulf the world in darkness.
Hypnotism, Neurology, and Psychometry-the discovery that the mind can act
outside the human body, and that the " psychometric sensitive " can
read the past like an open book - and numberless other " discoveries
" followed as the years went by. Then came a discovery, called
Statuvolism, signifying a peculiar condition produced by the will, in which the
subject can " throw his mind " to any distant place, and see, hear,
feel, smell and taste, what is going on there. Then through a revivalist
preacher, somewhere about 1847, came a discovery, which he called "
Pathetism ", which caused him to leave the ministry to devote himself to
the investigation of the " trance ". Large numbers became
magnetically affected at his lectures, the discoverer attributing these trances
to the power of "self-induction inherent in human life ". By this the
mind could withdraw itself from the consciousness of pain, and cure diseases.
At first, scientific men only followed up these "
discoveries " as branches of Natural Science, and no attempt was made to
connect spirit agency with the phenomena, all teaching and doctrine being
carefully withheld by the spirits.
Then came the development of the plot to capture " men of
business ", which is assuming such wide dimensions to-day. The plan was to
show how to put these " discoveries " to practical account for
success in business, and other pursuits, and to this end, through wide
advertisement, books were offered showing how to develop " The Power
Within ". Business men everywhere were urged to use " mind power
", or mental magnetism, to attract friendship and success, and to develop
a " strong magnetic attractive personality ".
Then followed the further carrying out of the plot, in the
endeavour to reach "men of religion". How successful this has been is
to be seen to-day, in the veritable landslide of professing Christian teachers
absorbing the demon teachings of rationalistic views of the Bible, and
especially the objection to the Atoning work of Christ, which is the main
burden of all doctrines of demons.
The subtle undermining work of the deceptive spirits of Satan is
now reaching its climax, and we can see how section after section of the
leaders of the people have been captured by the enemy. The strategy has been
masterly. " Men of Science " led the way, and now " men of
religion " have capitulated to science (falsely so-called), led astray by
the Deceiver of the whole inhabited world.
We are undoubtedly reaching the high tide of the foretold "
Falling away " from the Faith. The momentum is increasing rapidly. The
hand of the Arch-enemy of God and man is on the helm, and the world is rushing
to the dark hour, when, for a brief period, Satan will actually be the "
god of this age ", ruling through a super-man whose " parousia "
cannot long be delayed.
To-day " discovery " is following discovery until it is
difficult to keep pace with the announcements in the daily Press.
"Psycho-Analysis " for example, is now a recognized " science
", bluntly described, however, by a Canon at the Church Congress, as a
" dabbling in dirt to an unnecessary degree ! " And " teachers
" galore are coming forth, each one with some fresh " teaching "
of this whirlwind of psychic madness, leading the unwary away from the true
Gospel of Christ.
The purpose of the present psychic flood is plainly discernible
by those who have some knowledge of what " the days of Noah", meant
to his generation, so that a Flood, to destroy all flesh, was a necessity for
the preservation of the race, through the one family that was clear of the
prevailing corruption. It will be found in the ultimate that all phases of psychic
science, are a definite substitution for some aspect of the Gospel of Christ,
even to the point of UNION WITH INVISIBLE BEINGS, as counterfeit of the
Christian's union with Christ. As the tide rushes on, it will be seen
eventually that the latter is the main objective of all the purposes of Satan,
so as to bring about the same corruption " as in the days of Noah ".
The children of God must now know for their own safety, the
difference between " Soul and Spirit ". They must know the
possibility of ignorantly using "Psycho-Analysis " in dealing with
the personal problems of others, instead of leading such souls to the Cross-for
deliverance in reliance upon the INDWELLING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Yes, and
in " warfare " against the devil himself, there can be an actual
development of soul force, unless there is a deep work of the Cross continually
applied to the old Adam life, with a real life-union with the Risen Lord by the
Holy Ghost.
" Soul-force " versus " Spirit-force " is the
battleground today. The Body of Christ is by the energy of the Holy Spirit
within her, advancing heavenward. The atmosphere of the world is thickening
with psychic currents behind which are massed the aerial foes. The only safety
for the child of God is an experimental knowledge of the life in union with
Christ wherein he dwells with Christ in God, above the poisonous air in which
the Prince of the power of the air carries on his work. The blood of Christ for
cleansing. The Cross of Christ for identification in death. The Power of the
Risen Ascended Lord by the Holy Ghost, continually declared, laid hold of and
wielded, will alone bring the members of the Body through in victory to join
the Ascended Head.