340 AGNOSTICISM AND CHRISTIANITY ix 



sometimes learned and acute persons, even philo- 

 sophers of no mean pretensions, testify to the 

 " levitation " of bodies much heavier than Elisha's 

 axe ; to the existence of " spirits " who, to the 

 mere tactile sense, have been indistinguishable 

 from flesh and blood ; and, occasionally, have 

 wrestled with all the vigour of Jacob's opponent ; 

 yet, further, to the speech, in the language of raps, 

 of spiritual beings, whose discourses, in point of 

 coherence and value, are far inferior to that of 

 Balaam's humble but sagacious steed. I have not 

 the smallest doubt that, if these were persecuting 

 times, there is many a worthy " spiritualist " who 

 would cheerfully go to the stake in support of his 

 pneumatological faith ; and furnish evidence, after 

 Paley's own heart, in proof of the truth of his 

 doctrines. Not a few modern divines, doubtless 

 struck by the impossibility of refusing the spirit- 

 ualist evidence, if the ecclesiastical evidence is 

 accepted, and deprived of any a priori objection 

 by their implicit belief in Christian Demonology, 

 show themselves ready to take poor Sludge 

 seriously, and to believe that he is possessed by 

 other devils than those of need, greed, and vain- 

 glory. 



Under these circumstances, it was to be 



power wishes to meet with an elderly gentleman who would be 

 willing to give her a comfortable home and maintenance in 

 Exchange for her Spiritualistic services, as her guides consider 

 her health is too delicate for public sittings : London preferred. 

 Address ' Mary,' Office of Light." 



Are we going back to the days of the Judges, when wealthy 

 Micah set up his private ephod, teraphim, and Levite ? 



