Book V - Snyder Bible

24
so, since the matter is in doubt, it is better to live obediently.
But again I would ponder with myself, How should I restrain
myself from the lust of sin, while uncertain as to the reward of
righteousness?-and all the more when I have no certainty
what righteousness is, or what is pleasing to Yahweh; and
when I cannot ascertain whether the spirit be immortal, and
be such that it has anything to hope for; nor do I know what
cannot rest from
thoughts of this sort.
Chapter V: His Design to Test the Immortality of the Spirit
What, then, shall I do? This shall I do. I shall proceed to
Egypt, and there I shall cultivate the friendship of the hierophants
or prophets, who preside at the shrines. Then I shall
win over a magician by money, and entreat him, by what they
call the necromantic art, to bring me a spirit from the infernal
regions, as if I were desirous of consulting it about some business.
But this shall be my consultation, whether the spirit be
immortal. Now, the proof that the spirit is immortal will be put
past doubt, not from what it says, or from what I hear, but
from what I see: for seeing it with my eyes, I shall ever after
hold the surest conviction of its immortality; and no fallacy of
words or uncertainty of hearing shall ever be able to disturb
the persuasion produced by sight. However, I related this
project to a certain philosopher with whom I was intimate,
spirit should not obey the call of the magician, you henceforth
will live more hopelessly, as thinking that there is nothing after
death, and also as having tried things unlawful. If, however,
you seem to see anything, what obedience or what piety can
arise to you from things unlawful and implores? For they say
that transactions of this sort are hateful to the Divinity, and
that Yahweh sets Himself in opposition to those who trouble
was indeed staggered in my purpose; yet I could not in any
way either lay aside my longing, or cast off the distressing
thought.