48 Human Levitation. (January, 
repeatedly materialised; most notably, according to Matthew, 
on ‘‘a mountain ” (which may probably be the occasion 
when Paul says five hundred were present) but otherwise, 
as we read, in no wider circle than ‘‘ the eleven ;” exactly as 
the visitors to the Eddy family in Vermont now describe 
their (the visitor’s) dead and buried relatives to reappear and 
converse. Like these He invited handling, and pointed out 
that ‘‘a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye perceive me 
to have;” like these He ate and drank; and like these 
vanished. ‘Two of these memorable visits were terminated 
by visible ascensions into heaven*—one from Bethany, in 
the evening of the first Easter Day (Luke, xxiv., 50), and 
another from Mount Olivet some weeks later (Acts, 1., 
g-12). Disappearances of such tangible forms by ascension, 
though within doors, are recently testified by Mr. Robert 
Dale Owen and others. 
As the gospels represent spirit possession to have been a 
most prevalent affliction at that time, so do they indicate 
the levitation of the possessed ; as in English and American 
witch trials, two centuries ago and later.—Mark, ix., 17-26 
—A demon that “‘ whithersoever he took”’ (cara\a8n) his victim, 
tore and rent him, often also “‘ cast him into the fire or into 
the water.” Luke, ix., 39—‘‘ Lo, a spirit taketh him ;” 
42, ‘‘The demon threw him down.” ‘The phrases are as 
distinct from any used of a lunatic throwing /imself down, 
or injuring himself (Mark, v., 5) as in the English witch 
levitations. The phenomenon was more associated with 
bad than good spirits, being only once related of Christ 
between his temptation and death; and only on Peter’s 
request does he grant to him also to come unto him on the 
water. We never again read of it among the wonders 
attending any apostle; but one of their first seven deacons, 
Philip, seems to have been congenitally a psychic excelling 
them all, ‘‘ for unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came 
out of many that were possessed” (vilil., 7), and, as an 
instance of hereditary mediumship, ‘‘the same man had 
four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy ” (xxi. 8). He 
accordingly affords the last Scriptural case of an ethrobat ; 
for after his baptism of the destined founder of African 
* In an appendix to the ‘‘ Boyle Lectures” for 1708, Whiston proved that 
the scriptural heaven of angels, and of the just, can be no other than the upper 
strata of our atmosphere; and that such is the abode the writers assign to 
Christ ever since his first posthumous appearance to Mary Magdalen, saying 
“Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father.’’ As he appeared 
at least twice more during that day, and allowed himself to be touched, we 
must infer that he then had ascended ; and, in short, ascended as often as he 
vanished. 
