A Lesson in Christian Experience.
By Editor
A FRIEND proposes the following question: "Why is it that conscientious persons, who have long professed Christianity, and led exemplary lives, will sometimes be brought almost to the verge of despair over their own cases?" Our observation has been somewhat extensive, and we think we can solve the problem to the satisfaction of every one who has a true knowledge of Christian experience. 1. It is generally the conscientious and exemplary that pass through this experience. There may be exceptions, but we think they are only exceptions. We once had opportunity to preach to a company who were, till then, strangers to us, who appeared to be living Christians. We noticed their religious zeal and fervor, and said that, if their zeal was genuine, we should take the Bible and take away their good feeling; but if it was not of the Spirit of God, we might be unable to move it by Bible truth. They were much surprised at this announcement, but the reason of it will be made to appear. 2. It must be borne in mind that Christians in this world are in school. The appellation of "disciple" signifies a learner—a pupil. It is a sad mistake which many are making, to consider the converted soul a graduate instead of one just entering the school of Christ. Many think that they are saved, in so strong a sense as to almost place themselves beyond probation! Before their conversion they have no religious knowledge or experience whatever. After their conversion they look upon themselves as graduates, and not as disciples, or learners. They allow no chance to "grow in grace," for they think they are already full grown. They only increase in more self-assurance and self-sufficiency. The humble, contrite soul, who trembles at the word of the Lord (Isa. 66:1, 2), is looked upon by them as lacking in grace. We pity them, but they seldom place themselves in a position where they can be helped. Their standard of right is their own feelings, and nothing can shake their self-confidence as long as they feel well. And any message, even from the Scriptures of truth, which conflicts with their feelings, is regarded with suspicion; they consider it subversive of religion because it is not in harmony with their experience. As far as genuine Christianity is concerned, they are only self-satisfied dwarfs. 3. But there is another class consisting of those who rightly regard themselves, at their conversion, as "babes in Christ." They feel their insufficiency, and hear the admonition to grow in grace, and they hold themselves ever ready to learn more of the divine will. When they learn a new truth and a new duty presents itself to them, they approach the cross tremblingly, and humble themselves before God because they have so long walked in ignorance of his revealed word and contrary to his will. They may not give their testimony with as much assurance as the others; but they do not forget the injunction of the apostle in Rom. 11:20 (Be not highminded, but fear); and they best prove the blessing assured in Prov. 28:14 (Happy is the man that feareth alway). 4. Now we will make the application by referring to the company of whom we spoke at first. Most of them had enjoyed the power of godliness and the blessing of the Holy Spirit. We presented to them the prophecies concerning the last days, and the last message of Rev. 14, given immediately preceding the coming of the Son of man to reap the harvest of the earth. We preached not only "the faith of Jesus," but also "the commandments of God," as brought to view in that message. We commented upon each of the commandments, showing the perpetual obligation of the Sabbath of the Lord. They whose consciences were tender, who trembled at the word of the Lord, readily saw the force of the argument and the heavy cross which it involved, and "the spirit of groaning" rested upon them. Some, whose religion was more of the self-confident quality, heard it without a serious feeling, or a single conviction in regard to the truth of God's law, or to their obligation to walk in the way of increasing light shining from the word. But the more the truth was pressed home to the conscience, the more the beauty and harmony of the divine revelation was set before them, the more heavy became the burden of those of tender consciences. Now in such cases we have known ministers to advise the troubled ones to "stop thinking of these things, and the troubled state of mind will soon cease." Of course it will. Any sinner convicted by God's Spirit and word, can get rid of his convictions in the same way. But it is replied: "These are not sinners; they are Christians, long acquainted with the things of God's Spirit." But we answer: Every person who is living in violation of God's law is a sinner as far as that violation extends. "Sin is the transgression of the law;" and "by the law is the knowledge of sin." And any person may be a sinner, even unconsciously, until he becomes quite perfect in knowledge, because it is possible to sin ignorantly. See Num. 15:22-29. And when it shall "come to his knowledge" (Lev. 4:22-28), then he is required to take steps to secure forgiveness. In the case of the persons to whom we referred, their sin of breaking the Sabbath of the Lord came to their knowledge by the presentation of the law (by the law is the knowledge of sin), and their joy and peace of mind was not only restored, but increased by repentance and walking in the light presented. We have referred to these persons; we can refer to scores and hundreds who have passed through the same experience under our labors; and first of all, we can refer to our own experience. Our experience exactly corresponded with that of Paul, who had not known the strength and extent of the law until the Lord Jesus revealed himself, and moved upon his heart by the Spirit. "For I was alive [walking 'in all good conscience'] without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." Rom. 7:9. When the commandment comes, when the light of new truth is seen, when a new duty is presented, then is the critical period in the soul's experience. Were the people instructed properly, were they taught to keep their consciences tender and their minds open to the reception of new truths from God's word, were they not trained to believe that it is fully sufficient if the "articles of faith," the "discipline," or the "confession" is accepted and believed, then there would be no such critical period in our experience. But it is often true—unfortunately so, and it should never be so—that it is a heavier cross to accept a new Bible truth in the church, than to accept the truth of the whole Bible before entering the church. This is owing to the wrong teaching to which we have referred—that after conversion, and uniting with the church, the work is done; the person is saved; and if you are only honest, you need have no further concern for yourself. We verily believe that thousands in the churches have been lulled into a false security, and led to indulge a vain hope, by stifling their convictions of duty in regard to truth which has been presented to their minds. We have only feelings of strong sympathy for people in such a condition. We have been placed in the same situation, and have been made to realize the danger. But the power of the truth of the message to this generation (Rev. 14:9-12), so awfully solemn in its terms, prevailed over our fear of man and over our dread of the cross. The fear of man brings a snare, and the rejection of a cross leads to bondage, to darkness, and to death. We have known people to quiet their consciences over the neglect of duty and the rejection of the cross by being unusually religious in other points. But that is a deception of the worst nature. No show of piety, and no amount of prayer, will atone for neglect of duty. Any peace brought to the mind while evading a cross is but carnal security—a fatal delusion. We trust that we are understood in this our answer. God has continual claims on us; new duties are made known, and new crosses are presented. We are pupils in the school of our Master. We must not reject duty and evade crosses because we profess to be his children; but we must prove that we are his children, and worthy to be accepted of him, by accepting truth and duty and taking up crosses. If we are weak, his strength is perfected in our weakness, and his grace is sufficient for us He who said, "Without me ye can do nothing," has promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us if we will come unto him. If we are weary and heavy laden, we may come to him and find rest to our souls; but only on condition of learning of him, and bearing his yoke who was meek and lowly in heart. O that God may incline the hearts of the weary of soul to follow the footsteps of the lowly one, who did not his own will but the will of him who sent him!