p. 99 | Advanced Christians by Maine Evangelist

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 29, 1857

Advanced Christians.

By Maine Evangelist

ALL stages of life have their peculiar hazards. The young have their dangers, the middle-aged theirs, and the old theirs. We speak oftener of the hazards of the young—of young disciples—not often enough, perhaps, of the hazards of the old—of disciples who have walked long in Christian paths.

There is the danger among advanced Christians, of relying too much on past experiences, as evidences of discipleship. These have their value as evidence of our union with Christ. It may be fitting and desirable at times to recur to past joys, the sweet fellowships of past years, and to derive consolation from their remembrance. Such a recurrence to past experiences for comfort, while the soul is traveling on in temporary gloom, may be legitimate, but when we begin to make our past experience our dependence, it becomes a snare to us and a stone of stumbling. It is not to be used as a couch on which to recline, but as a cordial to cheer us, and to stimulate us to fresh endeavors.

When we go back to what we have felt of the Divine love, and rest upon that, instead of going forward to sound the fathomless depths of the Divine love yet unknown to us, we are in great danger. Instead of gathering manna every day afresh, we avoid labor by attempting to store up what we gathered in past years. This danger of relying on past experiences, attaches peculiarly to older Christians. It is not till we have journeyed on in the Divine life, that we gain any experience, and it is not till then that experience ever comes between us and Christ, and eclipses his light. Now, whatever takes off our eye from Christ, even if it be an experience of Divine love itself, becomes a snare to us. There can never be gained an experience so rich as to justify us a moment in trusting to it; and hence, when you see a Christian dwelling much upon his experience, instead of thinking and talking much of Christ, it is a bad sign. Paul was taken up into heaven, and there saw wonderful things, and yet he does not even mention the fact until years after. What is called a wonderful experience is often a dangerous one for a Christian, and even Paul could not bear it, without the thorn in the flesh to keep him from self-exaltation. It is not experience, it is Christ, that saves us. Maine Evangelist.