of the cottagers, he found his way home. Two days after this occurrence, I was summoned in the night to see him, on account of an extra ordinary state of insensibility in which he appeared to be, and of the impossibility of his friends' get ting him to bed. I found him in a paroxysm of ecstasy, with his Bible in his hands, opened, and too firmly grasped to be relinquished without the use of great violence; his eyes fixed on a particular part of the room, with the utmost intensity of eager desire; his lips quivering in imaginary conversation; his feet cold, though it was a very hot night; and the head greatly heated with an accelerated and excited circulation through its vessels. This state was only the precursor of a regular attack of insanity, which gave way, after a few days, to cupping, leeches, blistering, cold applications to the head, mustard plasters to the feet, the usual medicines, and rational treatment of a mental and moral complexion. And what do these circumstances prove, if they do not shew that these supposed supernatural appearances are the result of disordered action of the brainular system, arising for the most part from the incubation of disease? At least, we have traced back several instances of this kind to this peculiar condition of the nervous system; and it becomes the objector to shew why we may not argue from circumstances which we can fathom, to analogous circumstances, which are beyond the reach of our bounded vision, but which admit of easy explanation upon this principle, while on any other hypothesis they are wholly and entirely inexplicable. It is related, in the Memoirs of Pastor Oberlin, that there appeared nightly to the family of one of his parishioners the ghost of an ancient knight, who gave information of a treasure hidden in the cellar. Pastor Oberlin was called in his ministerial capacity to witness this appearance. It is needless to add, that he could see nothing: but he very wisely addressed the supposed apparition in a commanding tone, desiring it to delude these poor people no longer; and most pru dently introduced into his address the only legitimate means of acquiring riches, by persevering energy. The nocturnal visitor never again appeared; clearly shewing that his pastoral influence was enough to supersede the morbid hallucination which had been produced upon several brains, by the agency of that community of feeling and in terest which exists between the dif ferent branches of the same family. A young man, within the circle of my acquaintance, was severely ill, and suffered large loss of blood. This was succeeded by irregularity in the distribution of that fluid, and the head got an undue proportion; the consequence of which was an excited state of the brain, and what he termed a happiness on religious subjects, which rendered him full of gratitude and hope. This was followed, in a day or two, by his assertion that he had had an extraordinary revelation from God, in which he was called by name in an audible voice, and had received a commission to teach and preach by every means: in fact, a paroxysm of insanity had set in. He burst into a rhapsodical, incoherent prayer; laid his hands on a little girl, and blessed her, as in the character of our Saviour. The instant the Bible is mentioned, he asserts that he no longer needs it, because he has received a special revelation, which supersedes its necessity ;-in itself an abundant proof of the patient's delusion, and shewing, on the whole, the influence of physical causes in disturbing the manifestations of mind. But I advance a step further, and assert, that, if these supernatural appearances be considered as the commissioned agents of the Omnipotent to convince the hardened heart, it is quite impossible to resist the conclusion that the same agency has been employed as a weapon against the spread of true religion in the world. But it is impossible to allow that any portion of God's providential arrangements can be directly opposed to his most holy will; therefore an event can never have occurred which would involve this solecism: consequently the apparition cannot be traced to spiritual agency, without involving a tremendous absurdity; whereas, if it be considered as of bodily origin, though its consequences may have been such as, in the hands of a God of infinite grace, to be sometimes rendered the means of stopping the sinner in his maddening career, all is comprehensible, all is in keeping with the revealed and ordinary methods of God's providence. The instance to which I particularly allude, is that of the wellknown Lord Herbert of Cherbury, who, while meditating the publication of his work, "De Veritate, prout distinguitur a Revelatione verisimili, possibili, et a falso;" and, indeed, while hesitating as to the propriety of publishing, what he knew would attach some considerable odium to its author; prayed thus: "O thou eternal God, Author of the light which now shines upon me, and Giver of all inward illuminations, I do beseech thee, of thy infinite goodness, to pardon a greater request than a sinner ought to make. I am not satisfied enough, whether I shall publish this book, De Veritate: if it be for thy glory, I beseech thee give me some sign from heaven; if not, I shall suppress it. He had no sooner spoken these words, than a loud, though gentle, noise came from the heavens; which so comforted and supported him, that he took his petition as granted, considered that he had the sign asked for, and resolved to print the work in question." Now, it is quite impossible to gainsay this fact, since it rests on the same basis with others of similar pretensions, though of an opposite cast of character-namely, human testimony, which, if admitted as evidence in the one case, must also be allowed in the other. It may indeed be said, that God overrules all things for the promotion of his kingdom in the world; and therefore, that, as every event redounds to his glory, this was among the number. But it cannot be supposed that the Almighty would actually commission an enemy to the cause of truth to make an attack upon that cause (which would ultimately triumph), for the purpose of obtaining a refutation; although he may have made the devices of man's froward heart contribute, by His power, to some real and substantial good, and to the setting forth of his glory. If, then, we separate these results in any one instance from the immediate agency of God's providence, so do we legitimately in others: we estimate them aright; we refer them to a peculiar state of morbid cerebral irritation; and the individual so acting is to be considered as entirely under a bodily influence, however he may be deceived into a contrary opinion, by feeling, prejudice, ignorance, or passion. We have next to notice more particularly the appearance of individuals to others, and especially of the dead or dying to their distant friends. We shall observe, that these appearances occur in a disordered state of the brainular system arising from bodily disease, or in the particular condition of that organ which results from intense mental emotion. In either case, there will be remarked a peculiar susceptibility to impression of every kind, and a predisposition towards the indulgence of emotions of a painful character. But this is a morbid state, not of the immaterial, indestructible spirit, but of the organ through which its manifestations of action are made, by which its perceptions are received, and its impressions are conveyed. This may exist in a greater or less degree, as will be best illustrated by the history of some cases which have fallen under my own observation. G. H. had been blind for some years before she discovered that she was constantly surrounded by many bright and spiritual beings. She acknowledged they were inoffensive, but their constant presence became troublesome. It was useless to reason with her: her constant appeal from the force of every argument employed was to demonstration: "See, sir; there they are." No defined purpose for their appearance was ever ascertained. In this case, there was chronic disease of the brain, which ultimately proved fatal, through the lengthened shadows of declining reason, the gradually deepening gloom of mental imbecility, to the total extinction of that light which mental manifestation sheds upon the pathway of mortality. Here, therefore, we have one instance of supposed spiritual appearance distinctly traced to disorder of the function of the brain. I. K. became the subject of a severe attack of apoplexy, on recovering from which he had lost the power of recollecting the names, or even of distinguishing the different individuals, of which his family was composed he would weep bitterly, or laugh heartily, without any adequate cause would frequently address one part of his household for another; and would almost constantly hold imaginary conversations with some spiritual attendant, to whose agency he would attribute all his misdemeanours in diet, and all the deviations from the rules prescribed by his medical friend. So that here again we have traced back an alleged spiritual agency to disease of the brain. The sequel of this history is instructive; for I. K. convalesced imperfectly; and in proportion as he did so, became more rational, and and less frequently assailed by the visitation of his spiritual conductor, till the impression was entirely superseded by returning health and strength. But there may be some excellent persons, who may fear, lest, in thus referring supposed spiritual agency The to a purely physical state, I may be undervaluing one of the most important doctrines of our holy religion-namely, the influence of the Sacred Spirit. By no means: my only object is to vindicate this doctrine, and to separate it from those adventitious states with which it has no connexion, though it has too frequently been associated with them. For a moment let the differences be considered. The office of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into truth; while the effect of this pseudo-spiritual agency is to leave us in the darkness of error. Spirit of God operates upon our spirits through the medium of his word and ordinances; while these are generally lost sight of, or perhaps even opposed, by this supernatural influence. The teaching of the Spirit will lead us to follow Christ, and to strive to be like him, with intense desire; while this physical state concentrates the thoughts and feelings upon selfish objects and pursuits, and abstracts them from the only satisfying good. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter of the people of God; while this morbid state disturbs the peace, produces error, and surrounds its subject with the impenetrable gloom of disordered brainular function. The Spirit of grace exerts a holy, sanctifying influence upon the heart and conduct; while the alleged supernatural agency to which it is opposed more commonly leads the mind from that which is holy and just and good, and besets it with the fearfully morbid creations of a distempered fancy. The Spirit of God helpeth our infirmities; while this physical load increases their weight, augments their influence, diminishes the power of volition, and renders the Christian an easier prey to temptation, by taking away the natural safeguards which a gracious God has communicated in those faculties, which are talents, that, well employed, are capable of large augmentation. Again: L. M. a clergyman of considerable talent and acquirements, had lived as an old fellow and private tutor in his college for many years, and had realized considerable property by these pursuits; but he sighed for independence, for absence from the duties and responsibilities of teaching, and for family comforts: he accordingly accepted the first good living that became vacant, and retired from his college, to the regret of all who knew him. Too soon, however, he found that he had acted indiscreetly; and that, in fact, he had fled from peace. For the first month he established himself in his princely parsonage, and endeavoured to persuade himself that he was happy; but happiness could not be found. Already his books ceased to interest him, and to beguile the many hours of his leisure; he had not even spirits enough to unpack the cases which contained them. His parsonage required the temporary occupancy of some workmen, in order to render it exactly what he wished, and these harassed him by delays. Some difference of opinion arose with his parishioners on the subject of tithes : and he found, or seemed to find, that he had actually given up income, and all the comforts of life without care, and with good society of his own literary habits, for an excellent house which he could not enjoy; for literary leisure which he had ceased to relish; for domestic pleasures, which his present miserable state of mind forbade him to think of, on account of its injustice; for the cares of a household; and for all the annoyances attendant upon an uncertain income, to be squeezed out of grudging farmers, who most unwillingly paid him their dues, and cheated him as often as they could do so with impunity. The black clouds of melancholy deepened around him; sleep, that common friend of the wretched, fled from his pillow, and was exchanged for brooding care and unvarying regret for the past, grief for the present, and despondency for the future. In this state (there existed family pre disposition to insanity) the integrity of the brain gave way: he was haunted by visions of distress; the dread of poverty became a prominent idea; and the possessor of many hundreds a year in private property, in addition to a very valuable living, spoke of ruin as inevitable. He was assailed by the most painful suggestions, and was attended everywhere by one particular supernatural form, which day and night upbraided him as the author of his own misfortunes. On my representation, his aged diocesan granted him licence of non-residence, and after a time he was so far relieved as to enjoy life again. But a few years afterwards, mental causes of anxiety once more disturbed the equilibrium of the brainular function, and the same spiritual attendant was again visible. Thus, as I proceed in detailing the facts and observations out of which my own principles have grown, does the connexion between disorder of the brain, and supposed spiritual, supernatural appearances, become more clearly demonstrated. N. O. was assailed by unearthly visitants, who used to choose the night for their appearance, and to awaken him by calling loudly on him by his Christian name, and by bringing before him various accusations on the ground of his moral character. So deep was the conviction of the reality of these voices, and of the beings with which they were associated, that he could never tolerate a doubt of their existence, and became angry if the accuracy of the testimony of his senses was impugned. The manifestations of mind, at first only slightly disturbed, became more and more erroneous, till disease of the brain was prominent, under which he sank eventually. But I proceed. - P. Q., an intimate friend of my early years, and most happy in his domestic arrangements, lost his wife under the most painful circumstances, suddenly, just after she had apparently escaped from the dangers of an untoward confinement with her first child. Under these circumstances, it will easily be believed that he laboured under considerable mental excitation, and consequent brainular irritation. A few weeks after this melancholy event, while travelling during the night on horseback, and in all probability thinking over his sorrows, and contrasting his present cheerless prospects with the joy which so lately gilded the hours of his happy home, the form of his lost relative appeared to be presented to him, at a little distance in advance: he stopped his horse, and contemplated the vision with great trepidation, till in a few seconds it vanished away. Within a few days of this appearance, while he was sitting in his solitary parlour late at night, reading by the light of a shaded taper, the door, he thought, opened, and again the form of his deceased partner entered; assured him of her complete happiness; conjured him to follow her footsteps; and added many points of the greatest individual interest, but of a nature too sacred to be submitted to public inspection. Now on both these occasions my friend assured me that he knew and felt that it was the peculiar state of his bodily system which had occasioned these apparitions. Particularly in the latter case, he doubts not that he had fallen asleep, and had been attacked by nightmare, from which he awakened, springing up much agitated, and palpitating. That same night, however, impressed with the extraordinary nature of these circumstances, he committed them to paper; and they certainly afford a good illustration of the visionary irritation of the brain, when dependent upon the morbid influence of mental causes. R. S., during the progress of fever, continually saw persons come to her room, and frequently rang her bell to have them shewn to the door; or to have her children removed, because they were a disturbance to her visitors. The endless forms of unusual being which CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 334. were presented to this patient, during the course of her malady, afford a convincing proof that irritation of the brain has the power of producing this state: and, if it be shewn to possess the power, it is most illogical to deny its agency in the confiction of the spiritual appearance, when no other cause can be given attended with so few difficulties as the present. Again: T. U., for a considerable period, saw the cross of our Saviour planted at a particular corner of her bed-room; and, although thoroughly incapable of reason, yet believed it was placed there for her comfort, on some inexplicable principle. Lastly: X. Y., during a severe illness, repeatedly saw her father, residing at the distance of many hundred miles from her home, come to her bed-side, and, withdrawing the curtain, address her in his usual voice and manner. Instances of this kind might be indefinitely multiplied, from the writer's professional experience; but their accumulation is unnecessary; enough, surely, have been brought forward to establish the position, that disturbance of the cerebral system will occasion a peculiar condition of the brain, in which these apparitions are produced. In many of the foregoing cases supernatural visitations have been traced to this source, and Nicholai's ghosts were evidently of the same character; the result of nervous irritability, brought into action by the violent emotions which had preceded the attack. The author of the present essay is not prepared to affirm that this is the case in every instance, and that there can be no spiritual appearance. But, granting its possibility, the question will then be,-If in some cases these supposed supernatural appearances are to be accounted for on physical principles, who is to deny that the same origin may be applicable to all others? Who is to decide as to what is sensorial illusion, and what is spiritual 4 H |