the specious efforts that are made to explain away every manifestation from the world of spirits, will welcome a work which professes to draw aside the veil of obscurity, in which this highly important subject has been so long enveloped, and peruse it with seriousness and attention.
The most plausible theories are, however, of little real value, unless they are based on irrefragable premises; and our author has, therefore, not been wanting to adduce a series of well-authenticated facts to establish his positions. To these the Translator has added, in the notes, a variety of statements of a similar nature, extracted from other credible sources; that by the testimony of a number of witnesses, at different periods, and in various countries, the subject may be placed, as much as possible, beyond a doubt.
But should these various testimonies fail of producing entire conviction, or should the inquiring mind desire further information on topics so important: the writer has the pleasure to state, that since the translation of the present work, he has met with a most singular and remarkable proof of the different
positions laid down by our Author, in a foreign publication of very recent date, which gives still greater insight into the nature of the spiritual world and its connexion with the material; and should his present undertaking meet with a favourable reception, he trusts, ere long, to be able to lay the work in question also before the public.
Herne Hill, 1st Jan. 1834.
Belief of all nations, in every age, in invisible influence.
-The objects of this belief corresponded with the national
character. Hence the doubts of the existence of a world of
spirits.-Refutation of these doubts, and proofs of the real-
ity of a world of spirits.-The Bible the genuine source of
truth. Various parties with respect to the belief of it.—
The first party receives the Holy Scriptures as a divine re-
velation, and is divided into two classes. The first believes
that all apparitions, since the time of the apostles, are de-
ceptions or illusions of Satan.-The second believes them
all, and attaches too much importance to such apparitions;
warning against it.-The second party subjects the Bible to
the criticism of reason, and reduces every thing to mere
morality.-The third party believes nothing at all; it is the
most prevalent in the present day.-The intention of this
work has reference to all these parties. My motives for it.—
The first party is shown, that amongst so many thousand
deceptions, there are, notwithstanding, real apparitions.-
The second party must not regard every thing inexplicable
as natural; the causes of the most dreadful enthusiasm.-
Dreadful abuse of the belief in presentiments and ap-
paritions of spirits amongst Jews and Heathens. Ratifica-
tion thereof by Christ and his apostles.-Ideas of the first
christian churches of the invisible world.-Their ideas of
the solar system. Of the abode and influence of good and
evil angels and departed souls.-Accordance of these ideas
with the Bible, and the then prevalent Platonic philosophy.
-The pride and ambition of the clergy was the cause why
all these ideas degenerated into dreadful errors and abuses.
-The chief source of the most senseless superstition, its
overthrow not accomplished by denying the truth.-Over-
throw of the ancient Ptolemaic solar system by the Coper-
nican; scruples with reference to this.-Consequences of
the Reformation and renewed mistakes.-New philosophi-
cal systems, the Copernican system established, prejudicial
consequences of this system with regard to the christian
faith.-Consoling assurance with respect to these conse-
quences.---Inconsistent conduct of the clergy at all these
discoveries. Origin of Materialism and Fatalism.-The
world a machine, its self-existence, which needs no divine
or invisible influence.-Attempt of philosophers to unite
their mechanical system with the freewill of man.-Hence
the system of the best of worlds, its absurdity.—Horrible
consequences of this system, and yet it continues the
guiding star of modern enlightening, which leads to destruc-
tion.—Leibnitz, the inventor of this system, did not forebode
its results, his Theodicé.—Not all the disciples of this sys-
tem are so deeply sunk, but are yet on the way to it.-
Hindrances in the way of my Theory of Pneumatology;
they must be removed. To these belong the mechanism of
the world, which needs neither God, nor angels, nor spi-
rits. Notwithstanding all these discoveries, the common
people adhered to their faith and superstitions.—The light
of modern philosophy discovered superstition in all its na-
kedness; it was overthrown, but faith along with it. Bal-
thasar Becker, Thomasius.-Basis on which the assailers of
superstition and faith erect their batteries. Atheism, its
result.-Pretended proof, that there are neither good nor evil
angels.-Difficulty in the explanation of human nature.—
Doctrine of indivisibility and predetermined harmony. The
present system, that the soul can do nothing without the
body.-Melancholy and comfortless consequences of this
system.-Developement of the erroneous fundamental prin-
ciples of Materialism.-Accomplishment and proof of this
developement. Our ideas of the visible, world depend solely
upon the organization of our organs of sense.-The organs
of sense are conscious of things in time and space, both are
their own modes of perception.-God alone views the world
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