NOTES BY THE TRANSLATOR.

Note 1.—The Bible, from beginning to end, asserts the operation of supernatural influence upon mankind, and the connection that subsists between the visible and the invisible world. As evidences of this, it relates a variety of instances, in which beings from the world of spirits have outwardly shewn themselves to man, and held converse with him. Even Jehovah himself, in the second person of the Godhead, frequently condescended to manifest himself in this manner, previous to assuming our nature, and becoming, in the person of Jesus Christ, like unto us.

In both the Old Testament and the New, angels, in the execution of their errands of judgment or of mercy, frequently made themselves visible. But because, as our author repeatedly re. marks, the re-appearance of departed spirits is contrary to the divine order, there are only two instances of the latter in the Old Testament; both which are, however, very striking: the one is that of the prophet Samuel, of which copious notice is taken at page 207 of this work: the other is the very remarkable apparition recorded in the book of Job, chap. iv. verse 12—17, which, as it may not be familiar to every reader, we here insert:

"Now a word was addressed to me in secret; and mine ear received a little thereof.

"In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

"Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

"Then a spirit passed before my face: the hair of my flesh stood up:

"It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes; there was silence; and I heard a voice, saying,

"Shall mortal man be more just than God'; shall a man be more pure than his Maker?"

In the New Testament, we find that Moses and Elias appeared on the mount of transfiguration: but it may be objected, that Moses as well as Elias was probably already clothed with this glorified body, as were also the saints that rose from the dead at the resurrection of the Saviour, and appeared unto many. (Matt. xxvii. 52, 53.) But although this body be less spiritual than that of the soul, yet it is also naturally invisible to man, and its manifestation consequently belongs to the order of apparitions from the spiritual world; which we are persuaded was also the case with the body of our Lord after its resurrection; for it possessed the peculiar properties of spirit, in becoming invisible at pleasure, and entering when the doors were shut. This is also confirmed by the recital, which is given us of his appearing to Saul, on the way to Damascus; for those that were with him, though they heard the voice, yet they saw no man. (Acts ix. 7.)

In the Old Testament, there is also pointed allusion made to an inferior class of spirits called "familiars," and to the forbidden intercourse which some held with them (see Deut. xviii. 1012; Isaiah viii. 19.) We do not however find any account in the

Bible of their personally appearing, nor of the fallen angels being permitted to shew themselves, unless we suppose that Satan assumed a visible shape, when he tempted our Lord in the wilderness, which is however doubtful: and even taking it for granted, we must still conclude that he concealed himself under some specious form, and endeavoured to disguise himself to the utmost, for our Lord only addresses him in his real character, when at the last he tempted him to fall down and worship him.

Those who profess to have seen evil spirits, affirm that in their natural shape they present a monstrous appearance, which occasionally bears a resemblance to some species of the brute creation. Nor is the idea at all irrational; for having, by their wickedness, lost the image of God, they have also lost all affinity to man, in so far as he is still assimilated to the divine image. It is likewise worthy of notice, that the Scriptures speak of Satan under the appellation of the old serpent, the great red dragon, &c.

Note 2.-Plutarch, in his works, has preserved a most remarkable vision of the world of spirits, which may tend, in some measure, to illustrate the ideas which the ancient Greeks formed of it. It is as follows:

"Thespesios of Soli lived, at first, very prodigally and profligately; but afterwards, when he had spent all his property, necessity induced him to have recourse to the basest methods for a subsistence. There was nothing, however vile, which he abstained from, if it only brought him in money; and thus he again amassed a considerable sum, but fell at the same time into the worst repute for his villany. That which contributed the

most to this, was a prediction of the god Amphilochus: for having applied to this deity to know whether he would spend the rest of his life in a better manner, he received for answer, that he would never mend till he died.' And so it really happened, in a certain sense; for not long afterwards, he fell down from an eminence upon his neck, and though he received no wound, yet he died in consequence of the fall. But three days afterwards, when he was about to be interred, he received strength, and came to himself. A wonderful change now took place in his conduct, for the Cilicians know no one who at that time was more conscientious in business, devout towards God, terrible to his foes, or faithful to his friends: so that those who associated with him, wished to learn the cause of this change; justly supposing that such an alteration of conduct, from the greatest baseness to sentiments so noble, could not have come of itself. And so it really was, as he himself related to Protogenus, and other judicious friends.

“When his rational soul left the body, he felt like a pilot hurled out of his vessel into the depths of the sea. He then raised himself up, and his whole being seemed on a sudden to breathe, and to look about it on every side, as if the soul had been all eye. He saw nothing of the previous objects; but beheld the enormous stars at an immense distance from each other, endowed with admirable radiance, and uttering wonderful sounds; whilst his soul glided gently and easily along, borne by a stream of light, in every direction. In his narrative, he passed over what he saw besides, and merely said, that he perceived the souls of those that were just departed, rising up from the earth: they formed a luminous kind of bubble, and when this burst, the soul placidly came forth, glorious, and in human form. The souls, however,