CHAPTER XIV.
COGNATE FACTS AND PHENOMENA.
All life is Thy life, O Infinite One, and only the religious eye penetrates to the
realm of True Beauty.” — J. G. Fichte.
"M0 one who has carefully examined the facts of modern
Spiritualism, can fail of being struck by the analogy they
bear to many of the miraculous incidents recorded in the Bible.
Nothing can be more certain than that the Bible distinctly
recognizes a class of phenomena, rejected by modern skepticism
as contrary to the order of nature, but the possibility of which
is clearly proved in the attestations of thousands of intelligent
contemporaries to similar occurrences.
Instances of the exercise of the prophetic faculty, by som¬
nambulists and others, have been not unfrequent during the
present century. The prophet Hosea represents God as saying,
I have spoken by the prophets, I have multiplied visions.”
What clearer recognition of some of the higher experiences
of somnambulism and trance can vve have than the following:
God speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth not; in a
dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon
men, in slumberings upon the bed, and sealeth their instruction,
that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride
from man.”
Among the earliest spiritual manifestations of the Old Testa¬
ment are the spirit-voices. The Lord spake face to face with
Adam and Eve (Gen. ii. 16, and again, Gen. iii. 9-22) ; again, he
spake with Cain (Gen. iv. 6), and also spake and walked with
Enoch.
What a life of spiritual experiences was that of Abraham!
In Gen. xviii. is related the memorable visit of the three angels
to him, and afterwards their visit to Lot, — “ Be not forgetful to