THE HOLY SPIRIT
and other spirits 

PART II.—EVIL SPIRITS.

Magnetic Healing

  All magnetic healing is founded on the theory of Dr. Anton Mesmer and Dr. Braid, the founders of mesmerism and hypnotism. Having perused a complete course in magnetic healing I am thoroughly convinced that all modern healers, such as John Alex, Dowie, Sanford, Schlatter, Merritt, and Weltmer, are nothing more than hypnotists or mesmerists clothed in, and a disgrace to, the name of Christianity.

  All magnetic healers, with a few exceptions, claim that their power comes from God. Magnetic healers are always men or women with strong individuality and ruling force, by which the mind is overpowered and deceived. Dowie, Weltmer, Mrs. Eddy, Sanford, and Merritt claim the same, and yet they all differ, and ever quarrel and fight. "Is God the author of confusion? God forbid."

  Weltmer founds his doctrine on the text, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 18:19. Such perverters of holy writ will receive their just recompense of reward at the final judgment, when God shall reward the wicked. Some of these impostors have the brazen audacity to say that Christ was a magnetic healer, or used the power of hypnotism. Such is almost as bad as the Pharisees, who ascribed His work to the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils.

  To be healed by faith in God does not require the magnetic passes of mesmerism, nor the senseless gaze of hypnotism. Divine healing comes from God through the simple means laid down in the Bible, such as anointing with oil, laying on—not rubbing—of hands, prayer, and faith. H also comes "without money and without price," while magnetic healers are usually money beggars. God will heal the sick, cast out evil spirits, and answer prayer today, the same as He ever did; but the people of His choice should beware of modern impostors sent out by the devil "to deceive the very elect if possible." That they cure diseases we cannot deny, for the spirits of devils can work miracles (Rev. 16:14), and the Egyptian sorcerers turned their rods into [160] serpents; but they deceive the soul and drown it in perdition to accomplish their mysterious end.

  May the Lord help every true child of God to quickly flee the dark ruins of mystic Babel and steer clear of every black art and invention of the wicked one. We now stand in the battle's front, surrounded by the hosts infernal, and face the stern realities of the severest struggle ever engaged in by Christian soldiers. Mesmerism, hypnotism, spiritualism, false healing, and "Iying wonders" of every description lurk on every hand to deceive. This calls for double diligence on the part of the children of God. Surely the "fig tree is budding," and the signs of the times in general proclaim to all that the "Son of man" is near to come. "Wicked men and seducers are waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived;" reveling on to the final judgment, blinded to their certain awful doom.

"We have reached an awful era
In the onward flight of years;
While the nations are in slumber,
Crying peace and drowning fears,
Lot the shadows of creation
Lengthen to the eventide;
The Lord is surely coming
To receive His holy bride.
"While we stand upon the summit
Of the everlasting rock
Every human structure 'round us
Crumbles into gen'ral wreck;
Mighty heralds swiftly flying,
Sound the news from shore to shore
The Bridegroom is returning,
And already at the door." [161]

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