Download PDF - Free Methodist Church

48 THE BABNEST CHBISTIAN.to the wor3 (rf God is untrue. The revelation of the divine in the soul is apreaching of the word is the conservativepower in Christianify. The glory;" "Christ, who is our life;" thereaUty. "Christ in us the hope ofpreacher is the clear mind, the correct abiding presence ofthe Comforter; areeye, and skUlfid hand, of the smith at matters of experience. It is necessarythe forge whUe the -witness who testifies that the church have them. It was expedientthat Jesus should go away, thatfor Jesus, is the helper with the sledge;the one directs the tmth, and the other the Holy Ghost might be given. Thisdrives it home. All preachers should is better than the bodUy presence ofbe -witnesses, but all witnesses need Jesus, for Christians, and for the world.not be preachers.Let ns have it then; in all its quickening,sanctifying power.Why is there so little testifying atthe present day ? One reason ia, it takesmore to-day to say, I know, than it does"LOSTI"to express an opinion. Opinions areplenty, theories abound. 'The abundanceof them has destroyed their strange­BY O. A. PBATT.ness. To say Iknow, attracts attention "Lost I lostl child lost I child lost Iand lays one open to criticism. Watchfuleyes are upon you instantly. A ling cry, interspersed with the loud ring­LOST ! LOST !" Such was the start•positive experience is expected to do ing of the bell, which we heard in asomething for the one who haa it, and prominent street in ono- of our great,if the fruit be wanting, a multitude are westem cities. Consternation, and sympathy,were momentarily depicted uponready to cry ont against you. The deceivedare easUy detected, for, "' By the countenances ofthe passers-by, whiletheir fruits ye shall know them ;" such the exclamations,—-"Have you seenact unwittingly, supposing aU to be thechUd? I hope it wi?Z be found," instinctivelyfeU from many as they paus­right The hypocrite is in danger of exposure,knows it, and but few have the ed a moment. Great was the joy whenconrage to be such. So it is easier to the chUd was found and restored inexpress opinion than to give experience. safety to the arms of its agonizing parents.But the great reason why there is soUttie testifying is, there is so littie experienceof which to speak. " Out of"Lost! lost! I lost!" Though thechUd was indeed found, yet how rangthe abundance of the heart the mouththose words and Ungered ^eir echospeaketh." If there is a fuUness of experience,there wUl be a correspondingnpon my e»s! If the temporary lossof the casket, cause such anxiety andfullness of testimony. If the experiencesorrow, what must be the irreparableis deep and rich, the testimony wUl beloss of the precious yeujeZ itself!the same. It is remarkable how clearlythe experienced in spiritual things canLover of pleasure, you are alreadyexpress themselv'es. Here, the sagelost! Pause now in your mad career, andand the simple can equaUy understandmay the echo of these words so sink downeach other. A full heart controls eyeinto the depths of thy depraved heart,and lip, making every feature expressas to awaken thee to a full sense of thyguilt and danger, and restore thee to thythe same idea simultaneously. If therewas more experience in the church,there would be more experience to relate,and love feast, class, conferenceand prayer meetings would not be sooften damaged by preachimg.The remedy is plain. Get experience; clear, deep experience. TheHoly Ghost gives experience. TheFather's house. Let aU beware of thefirst step; herein Ues the great danger.The first step in a do-wnward careertaken, each brings thee nearer the fataltermination. BEWABE !! hidden rockslay just before thee; you are rapidlyapproaching the vortex from which nohuman power can save. Heed the warningvoice and fly to Christ for safety.