the vital message(主信)-第17章
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after recording this spirit message； mentions the interesting fact that there
is a Christian inscription in the Catacombs which runs： NICEFORUS
ANIMA DULCIS IN REFRIGERIO； 〃Nicephorus； a sweet soul in the
refreshment place。〃 One more scrap of evidence that the early Christian
scheme of things was very like that of the modern psychic。 So much for
the borderland； the intermediate condition。 The present Christian dogma
has no name for it； unless it be that nebulous limbo which is occasionally
mentioned； and is usually defined as the place where the souls of the just
who died before Christ were detained。 The idea of crossing a space before
reaching a permanent state on the other side is common to many religions；
and took the allegorical form of a river with a ferry… boat among the
Romans and Greeks。 Continually； one comes on points which make one
realise that far back in the world's history there has been a true revelation；
which has been blurred and twisted in time。 Thus in Dr。 Muir's summary
of the RIG。 VEDA； he says； epitomising the beliefs of the first Aryan
conquerors of India： 〃Before； however； the unborn part〃 （that is； the
etheric body） 〃can complete its course to the third heaven it has to traverse
a vast gulf of darkness； leaving behind on earth all that is evil； and
proceeding by the paths the fathers trod； the spirit soars to the realms of
eternal light； recovers there his body in a glorified form； and obtains from
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God a delectable abode and enters upon a more perfect life； which is
crowned with the fulfilment of all desires； is passed in the presence of the
Gods and employed in the fulfilment of their pleasure。〃 If we substitute
〃angels〃 for 〃Gods〃 we must admit that the new revelation from modern
spirit sources has much in common with the belief of our Aryan fathers。
Such； in very condensed form； is the world which is revealed to us by
these wonderful messages from the beyond。 Is it an unreasonable vision？
Is it in any way opposed to just principles？ Is it not rather so reasonable
that having got the clue we could now see that； given any life at all； this is
exactly the line upon which we should expect to move？ Nature and
evolution are averse from sudden disconnected developments。 If a human
being has technical； literary； musical； or other tendencies； they are an
essential part of his character； and to survive without them would be to
lose his identity and to become an entirely different man。 They must
therefore survive death if personality is to be maintained。 But it is no use
their surviving unless they can find means of expression； and means of
expression seem to require certain material agents； and also a
discriminating audience。 So also the sense of modesty among civilised
races has become part of our very selves； and implies some covering of
our forms if personality is to continue。 Our desires and sympathies would
prompt us to live with those we love； which implies something in the
nature of a house； while the human need for mental rest and privacy would
predicate the existence of separate rooms。 Thus； merely starting from the
basis of the continuity of personality one might； even without the
revelation from the beyond； have built up some such system by the use of
pure reason and deduction。 So far as the existence of this land of happiness
goes； it would seem to have been more fully proved than any other
religious conception within our knowledge。 It may very reasonably be
asked； how far this precise description of life beyond the grave is my own
conception； and how far it has been accepted by the greater minds who
have studied this subject？ I would answer； that it is my own conclusion as
gathered from a very large amount of existing testimony； and that in its
main lines it has for many years been accepted by those great numbers of
silent active workers all over the world； who look upon this matter from a
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strictly religious point of view。 I think that the evidence amply justifies us
in this belief。 On the other hand； those who have approached this subject
with cold and cautious scientific brains； endowed； in many cases； with the
strongest prejudices against dogmatic creeds and with very natural fears
about the possible re…growth of theological quarrels； have in most cases
stopped short of a complete acceptance； declaring that there can be no
positive proof upon such matters； and that we may deceive ourselves
either by a reflection of our own thoughts or by receiving the impressions
of the medium。 Professor Zollner； for example； says：
〃Science can make no use of the substance of intellectual revelations；
but must be guided by observed facts and by the conclusions logically and
mathematically uniting them〃a passage which is quoted with approval by
Professor Reichel； and would seem to be endorsed by the silence
concerning the religious side of the question which is observed by most of
our great scientific supporters。 It is a point of view which can well be
understood； and yet； closely examined； it would appear to be a species of
enlarged materialism。 To admit； as these observers do； that spirits do
return； that they give every proof of being the actual friends whom we
have lost； and yet to turn a deaf ear to the messages which they send
would seem to be pushing caution to the verge of unreason。 To get so far；
and yet not to go further； is impossible as a permanent position。 If； for
example； in Raymond's case we find so many allusions to the small details
of his home upon earth； which prove to be surprisingly correct； is it
reasonable to put a blue pencil through all he says of the home which he
actually inhabits？ Long before I had convinced my mind of the truth of
things which appeared so grotesque and incredible； I had a long account
sent by table tilting about the conditions of life beyond。 The details
seemed to me impossible and I set them aside； and yet they harmonise； as I
now discover； with other revelations。 So； too； with the automatic script of
Mr。 Hubert Wales； which has been described in my previous book。 He had
tossed it aside into a drawer as being unworthy of serious consideration；
and yet it also proved to be in harmony。 In neither of these cases was
telepathy or the prepossession of the medium a possible explanation。 On
the whole； I am inclined to think that these doubtful or dissentient
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scientific men； having their own weighty studies to attend to； have
confined their reading and thought to the more objective side of the
question； and are not aw
