The Varieties of Religious Experience - Penn State University

The Varieties of Religious Experiencefire, and to cold he was throughout life extremely sensitive; but henever complained or appeared in any way to be conscious of inconvenience.‘I recollect,’ says his brother, ‘after one most severe night, thatin the morning he sportively thus alluded to his suffering: “If my bedwere my country, I should be somewhat like Bonaparte: I have nocontrol except over the part which I occupy, the instant I move, frosttakes possession.”’ In sickness only would he change for the time hisapartment and accept a few comforts. The dress too that he habituallyadopted was of most inferior quality; and garments were constantlyworn which the world would call mean, though an almostfeminine neatness preserved him from the least appearance of neglect.”177Channing’s asceticism, such as it was, was evidently a compoundof hardihood and love of purity. The democracy which is an offshootof the enthusiasm of humanity, and of which I will speak laterunder the head of the cult of poverty, doubtless bore also a share.Certainly there was no pessimistic element in his case.In the next case we have a strongly pessimistic element, so that itbelongs under head 4. John Cennick was Methodism’s first laypreacher. In 1735 he was convicted of sin, while walking inCheapside—“And at once left off sing-singing, card-playing, and attending theatres.Sometimes he wished to go to a popish monastery, to spend hislife in devout retirement. At other times he longed to live in a cave,sleeping on fallen leaves, and feeding on forest fruits. He fasted longand often, and prayed nine times a day… . Fancying dry bread toogreat an indulgence for so great a sinner as himself, he began to feedon potatoes, acorns, crabs, and grass; and often wished that he couldlive on roots and herbs. At length, in 1737, he found peace with God,and went on his way rejoicing.”178In this poor man we have morbid melancholy and fear, and thesacrifices made are to purge out sin, and to buy safety. The hopelessnessof Christian theology in respect of the flesh and the naturalman generally has, in systematizing fear, made of it one tremendous177 Memoirs of W. E. Channing, Boston, 1840, i. 196.178 L. Tyerman: The Life and Times of the Rev. John Wesley, i. 274.272