as “lying wonders” and “seducing spirits” (1 Tim. 4:
1; 2 Thes. 2: 9; compare Ezek. 13: 6; 1 Kings 22: 22,
23) tells us that the heathen sacrificed to these demons.
(1 Cor. 10: 20.)
And so, indeed, we find that in vari-
ous parts of the world there are demon manifestations.
Amongst the Chinese these demon powers are fre-
quently recognized, and sacrifices are offered to them;
so also in India and in Africa. Amongst the North
American Indians in their savage state these evil spirits
operated after much the same manner as elsewhere.
An illustration is given by Missionary Brainard in a
‘ ‘Report
to the Honorable Society for Propagating Christ-
ian Knoukdge,” explanatory of the difficulties and
obstacles to the spread of Christianity among the In-
dians with whom he had been laboring, as follows: –
“What further contributes to their aversion to
Christianity is the influence which their powaws (con-
jurers or diviners) have upon them. These are a sort of
persons who are supposed to have a power offoretelling
future events, or rewvennng th sick, at least oftentimes,
and of churning, enchanting, or poisoning persons to
death by their magic divinations. Their spirit, in its
various operations, seems to be a Satanic imitation of
the spirit of prophecy with which the Church in early
ages was favored. Some of these diviners areendowed
with the spirit in infancy;-~thers in adult age. It
seems not to depend upon their own will, nor to be ac-
quired by any endeavors of the person who is the sub-
j& of it. . . . They are not under the influence of
this spirit always alike,-but it comes upon them at
times.
Those who are endowed with it are accounted
singularly favored.
“I have labored to gain some acquaintance with
this &air of their conjuraCion, and have for that end
consulted and queried with the man mentioned in my
Diary, May 9, who, since his conversion to Christianity,