The Gates of Gold [pp. 462]

2THE LADIES' REPOSITOA Y.
familiar spirits, and as one of the virtues of
Josiah that hlie put them away. One of the
curses threatened in Isaiah is that the people
shlall seek unto wizardcs and them that have
familiar spirits! And many other passages
mighit be quoted, but we do not wish to draw
out the subject to too great a length.
In the Newv Testament see the mention of
Simon, who bewitched the people of Samaria,
and of the damsel possessed withl the spirit of
divination whlo followed St. Paul, and then ob serve that it is expressly prophesied that people
will give heed to "seducing spirits" and "lying
wonders," and be given over to strong delusion,
that they may believe a lie! "Spirits of devils
working miracles" are also mentioned, and in
the very last chapter of the Revelation, when
the various classes are enumerated who are not
permitted to enter the city and take of the tree
of life, we find included the sorcerer, and whosoever lovethl and maketh a lie!
Nowv, these are very solemn thoughts, and a
very strong testimony fi-om God's Word as to
the light in whichl he regards these things.
WVe may be censured for comprehending modern spiritualism within the category of witchcraft, sorcery, and dealing with evil spirits, but
in our opinion they are all of the same class.
What but med(liumship was that proceeding of
the wNitch of Encdor? What did Saul want but
that Samuel should be brought back to hold
converse with him? VWhere does that differ
from the present spiritualist, who professes
to hold intercourse with all manner of people
whlo no longer inhabit this world of ours? All
dealing with the supernatural, all seeking to
penetrate beyond the veil, is most clearly and
distinctly rep-robated, and, far from having the
slilghtest warrant for such practices, we may be
convinced that they are only to be abhorred.
And let it not be said that we are limiiting
the power of God or setting bounds to his merciful dealings with us, and -ejecting an element
of great comfort and a means of instruction in
the higher life. We dlo nothing of the kind.
But we say that if God be pleased to send
back to this world any of his servants with a
message for those below, they will be able to
deliver it, and find no imlpedliment in any terrestrial atmosphere or influences; and we also
say that we are by no means justified in expecting or seeking for any such communications,
and that if we deliberately go into temptation
we have no right to expect to be delivered from
evil. As to instruction in the higher life, do
we want more instruction than that given by
our Lord and his apostles? If Moses and the
prophets were sufficient under the first dispen
sation, how more than sufficient is the light we
have now! Nor do we need that one should
rise from the dead to tell us!
THE GATES OF GOLD.
I'vE gathered a strange, sweet fancy Perhaps it were best untold And yet I will name it softly,
Of the gates of glittering gold.
There were angel souls that journeyed
With us on this earthly shore,
We knew they had hidden pinions,
Yet we loved them more and more.
But at last their shining souil-wings
So strong and so swift had grown,
That they flew to the better country,
And left us to walk alone.
Away from the strife and sorrow,
Afar in the upper calms,
They lost the wail of our anguish
In sound of the seraph psalms.
Yet with eyes of tenderest longing
They looked o'er the mystic bar,
Adown on our dreary darkness,
Untouched by a single star.
And their crowned brows bent lowly,
As they prayed with one accord,
"Wilt thou not unclose the portal
To their human sight, O Lord?"
And the loving heart of the Master
Spake then thro' His accents low,
"Not all of my wondrous glory
May shine on the loved below.
Yet your hands shall bear them upward,
And lighten their load of pain,
As they gather my ripened fruitage,
And garner the golden grain.
And the gates shall stand half-open,
Till I greet your glad return,
That down'mid the earthly shadows
Ye may see the home-lights burn."
We toil in the flush of morning,
We strive in the noon-tide heat,
And feel not the bliss of their presence,
The thrill of their voices sweet;
But as in the still of even,
When the daylight's toil is done,
We look tow'rd the lurple mountains,
And sigh for the sinking sun,
Over our desolate spirits
Trembles a mystical spell A breath from the beautiful city
They leave in their mute farewell
And there dawns on our upward vision
A gleam from the closing bars,
Till our souls in the dark of sorrow
Are sown with the light of stars.
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