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Modern Persecution, or Married Woman's Liabilities

From: Modern Persecution
Creator: Elizabeth P. W. Packard (author)
Date: 1873
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 1  Figure 2  Figure 3  Figure 4  Figure 5  Figure 6  Figure 7  Figure 8  Figure 9  Figure 10  Figure 11  Figure 12  Figure 13  Figure 14  Figure 15  Figure 16

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1012  

"Sister, you have a great work to do, but Persevere! Persevere! Persevere!! You cannot fail, for a host are battling for you.

1013  

LUCY JANE PACKARD HASTINGS"

1014  

This dear sister of Mr. Packard's had at this date been dead about three years. In her earth life she had been one of my choicest friends -- one of the few who seemed to understand and appreciate me while others would misapprehend and therefore misrepresent me.

1015  

These manuscripts were laid by among my choicest papers, and although seldom spoken of in conversation with others, yet, I "pondered these sayings in my heart," waiting for the light of the future in which to interpret this prophecy of the past.

1016  

As the reader already has my subsequent experience to the present time, in which to trace a likeness to the original, I shall leave each one free to apply its fulfillment as their own reason dictates.

1017  

Another incident which struck me very forcibly as a new and strange phenomena in the realm of Spiritualism took place in the year 1866, while in Chicago. I had arrived that day in the city, whither I had come to prepare the way for the passage of the "Personal Liberty Bill." I took board and lodging with Mrs. Lull, a widow, living on the West side, hitherto an entire stranger to me. Her house being crowded with boarders, I was admitted on condition that I room with her. I retired early and had dropped into a sound sleep before she came to rest. After laying perfectly quiet a few moments she spoke and said:

1018  

"Mrs. Packard, are you awake?"

1019  

"Yes, I am. What is your request?"

1020  

"I wish to tell you, that your father is here! and he says he wishes to speak to you."

1021  

"Very well, I am most happy to welcome him, and will most gladly listen to all he has to say."

1022  

Mrs. Lull then said, he sends you the following message:

1023  

"I want to ask her forgiveness for not coming to her help when in the Insane Asylum. I can now see how blinded I then was. I was led by that dark spirit, Theophilus, to do this great wrong. Oh! How dark he looks! He is in outer darkness. There is not one ray of light about him. All I can see of him is the faintest glimmer of light in a far distant region -- 'tis not equal to a spark -- 'tis a mere glimmer!

1024  

"And only think, my daughter, how I have been led by such a dark spirit to neglect you, and let you suffer so much when I ought to have gone to your rescue. I see now how I sinned in neglecting you.

1025  

"Oh! can you forgive me, my daughter?

1026  

"How you have suffered! I suffer now correspondingly, because I did not help you when I might and ought to have done go. I see heaven before me, but I cannot enter there until I have sojourned on earth long enough to atone for the sin of neglecting you. I must now raise the fallen and help the oppressed, as I ought to have done by you. I can never be happy until this atonement is thus made.

1027  

"Oh, my Daughter! you are on the plane of true progression. How I wish I could exchange places with you! But vain wish! My Theology was my ruin. My life has been a failure in disseminating such false doctrines. Oh! how many souls have I thus led into darkness. The blind has led the blind.

1028  

"You are now on so different a plane from myself, I cannot assist you as I would wish, but I shall do all I can to help you. I shall go with you to Springfield and help you to influence the minds of the Legislature in favor of your Bill.

1029  

"I am glad I changed my will in your favor. I only wish I had given you more."

1030  

Saying this he left, when Mrs. Lull inquired:

1031  

"Who is Theophilus?"

1032  

"My husband. Did you never know his name? "

1033  

"No; or if I ever had known it, I have forgotten it."

1034  

We being entire strangers, and I knowing nothing of her being a medium, it seemed to be not only a novel event in my experience, but a remarkable one.

1035  

Now, with these facts before me, I cannot but feel that it would be wrong for me to deride Spiritualism as an acknowledged fact. Still, in its present undeveloped state, I do not think it safe or proper to depend upon it as a guide for human conduct. The only infallible rule or guide for us is God's word, as it is interpreted to us through our individual reason and conscience, and any spirit in the body or out of the body, who attempts to dictate to the conscience of another, except through the reason of the one they wish to guide, ought to be looked upon as an enemy to their soul's highest interests.

1036  

CHAPTER XVIII.
Can you Forgive Mr. Packard?

1037  

Yes, I could, freely, promptly and fully forgive him on the gospel condition of practical repentance. This condition could secure it, and this alone.

1038  

As I understand Christ's teachings, he does not allow me to forgive him until he does repent, and in some sense make restitution. He directs me to forgive my brother if he repent -- yea, if he sins and repents seventy times seven, I must forgive as many times.

1039  

But if he does not repent, I am not allowed to forgive him. And so long as he insists upon it, both by word and deed, that he has done only what was right, and that he shall do the same thing again, if he has a chance, I do not see any chance for me to bestow my forgiveness upon a penitent transgressor,

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