"Do You See It in Your Heart?"
THERE are doubtless places where a man may learn less of God's word than in some theological schools; but when infidels, skeptics, and unregenerate sinners sit in Moses' seat to teach vain philosophy and the traditions of the elders to young men who are preparing to preach the Gospel of Christ, it is not strange that a man should say, "I spent four years in college and three years in the theological seminary, to learn how to preach, and I learned everything only what I ought to know." One chapter of God's word, ploughed into the depths of the soul, will bring forth more fruit than years of philosophic cavilling and rationalistic criticism and speculation. The late Merle D' Aubigne relates his experience thus: "When M. Monod and I attended the University of Geneva, there was a professor of divinity who confined himself to lecturing on the immortality of the soul, and similar topics. Instead of the Bible, he gave us quotations from Seneca and Plato, his two chief saints. But the Lord sent one of his servants to Geneva, and I well remember the visit of Robert Haldane. I heard him first as an English or Scotch gentleman who spoke much about the Bible, which seemed a strange thing to me and other students, to whom it was a shut book. I afterwards met him at a private house, and heard a chapter from Romans about the natural corruption of man, a doctrine of which I had never heard before—in fact, I was quite astonished to hear of men being corrupt by nature. I remember saying to Mr. Haldane, "Now I see that doctrine in the Bible." 'Yes' he replied, "but do you see it in your heart?" That was a question that came home to my conscience. It was the sword of the Spirit, and from that time I saw that my heart was corrupt, and knew from the word of God that I could be saved by grace alone." The seed thus sown was fruitful, and the young students who learned at the lips of Haldane the truth as it is in Jesus, became a power in the land and a blessing to mankind.—Christian.