第87部分(第2/7 頁)

rely　too　much　upon　the　revelations　of　such　seers　as　Swedenborg；　for　these　may　be　and　doubtless　often　are　self…deceived　or　the　victims　of　hallucinations。　In　short；　of　all　such　matters　and　dogmas；　if　so　they　may　be　called；　including　that　of　theosophy　which　its　interesting　and　gigantic　dreams　reported　to　emanate　from　the　teaching　of　“Masters”　whose　address　it　seems　impossible　to　discover；　it　may　be　said　that；　like　that　of　reincarnation；　they　are　superfluous。　The　Christian　can　afford　to　wait　to　learn　the　truth　of　them　—　or　perhaps　their　fallacy。

We　tread　on　firmer　ground　when　we　consider　that　as　far　back　as　history　shows　her　light；　and　beyond　it　as　the　graves　of　primitive　peoples　prove；　the　almost　universal　instinct　of　mankind　was　to　believe　that　death　is　but　a　gate　of　other　forms　of　continued　and　individual　Life。　I　know　of　no　instinct　which　haunts　breathing　creatures　that　is　uselessly　given　without　purpose；　and　does　not　serve　some　necessary　or　protective　object　or　reflect　some　existent　truth。　Why；　then；　among　them　all　should　this　rooted　conviction　that　physical　decease　is　not　the　end　of　man　be　but　a　vain　thing　fondly　imagined？　Such　a　conclusion　seems　inconsistent；　even　unnatural　and　absurd。　But　if　our　faith　is　strong　enough　to　enable　us　to　accept　Christ’s　teaching；　again　what　need　is　there　for　us　to　seek　support　in　instincts　which　it　is　possible　we　do　not　understand　aright？

To　one　fact；　corroborative　in　its　nature；　I　think；　however；　weight　should　be　given；　that　of　the　fatherhood　of　God；　displayed　towards　those　of　His　children　who　seek；　or　who　in　His　foresight　He　knows；　in　some　other　day　or　place；　will　seek　the　fort　and　protection　of　His　love。　How　any　reflecting　man　who　has　led　a　full　and　adventurous　life　can　doubt　the　present；　living　power　of　that　fatherhood