Page:The Judgment Day.pdf/96

 also be seen that the indian's views on this subject are, in some respects, much nearer the truth, than those of some persons who would smile in pity over the ignorance and superstition that is manifested in slaying the war-horse over his rider's grave. The same persons suppose that they are displaying superior wisdom in regard to spiritual things, when they stand by the tomb of a departed friend, and talk of a time when the dead body will be brought forth from the grave and given back to the spirit to which it once belonged. I hope it will not seem like an ungenerous comparison, if I suggest the probability, that there are some persons who think themselves wise and learned, who might profitably exchange ideas, in regard to the nature of the spiritual world with the poor indian,

But the above remarks in regard to the very general prevalence of a deep and strong conviction that there is a spiritual world, have been made, not for the purpose of proving the existence of such a world, but to show that no such proof is necessary. There are very few men who have intelligence enough to reflect that they are now alive, who have not also a deep and strong impression, amounting in most instances to a certain conviction, that they shall continue to live. Death, they know, will deprive them of their mortal bodies, but as for themselves—the spiritual part—that expects to live on. The mind is its own witness of its immortality. There are times however, with most persons, when the anticipation of another life grows dim and uncertain; dark shadows gather around it. This is when the mind, guided only by the light of natural science, or by the still dimmer light of the popular religious doctrines, seeks to obtain some idea of the nature and form of that spiritual world. The man may perhaps escape this state of anxious doubt, who is contented to remain in simple faith, believing only that there is a spiritual world, but not seeking nor caring to solve any of the numberless difficulties, which press