Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: PREFACE. The subject of demoniacal influence has become almost practically ignored in the prevalent theology of our day. The reaction consequent upon a period of most grotesque superstition has probably produced this result, and the design of the ensuing pages is to restore the teachings of the Scriptures to their proper place in the creed of Christian faith, or at least to contribute to that end, by presenting those acknowledged truths of the Bible which unquestionably bear upon this topic. The present period in the history of the Church and of the world has been signalized by an almost unprecedented attention, amounting to fanaticism, to so- called spiritual manifestations. That these phenomena are in very many instances the merest tricks of mountebanks who have imposed on popular credulity, is no doubt true, but that they are all to be resolved into this explanation, is, to my mind, not so clear. I believe it to be altogether possible, that a real demoniacal influence mny, in manyinstances be put forth, and though I have never witnessed any of the performances of the alleged "spirits," and what is more, never intend to be a party to any such exhibition, I still deem myself prepared to try the spirits whether they be of God, by a plain appeal to the great test of truth, to which all things spiritual must be brought at last. The very language of the apostle in the passage just cited, is peculiarly impressive and significant. Of course, we need not be told what every commentator will tell us, respecting the meaning of the writer, but is it not altogether possible, and even probable, that there was a more literal import in his mind than is usually supposed? Is it not true that Satan rules in the children of disobedience, and that he has legions of evil spirits at his command, al... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.