Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-11-27
geliginns department.
A TEST QUESTION.

OF OlQef CHRISTIANS III re-
lating their spiritual experience.
The doubling, self-accusing heart
does not take into account that Paul
was not only in intimate companion
ship with those who had personally
known the Lord, and therefore could
realize his human life more wildly
than we can looking at it through
the long vista of centuries but that
he was a seer as we'll as a preacher;
that the memory of the wonderful
vision which melted his proud heart
on the way to Damascus was ever
with him to stimulate and exalt him
above the stings of daily trials, and
that later he was caught into the
spirit world and heard what he could
not translate into human speech. We
apprehend Christ by faith, and we
love his character; we believe that
He was the manifestation of God /;
but Paul spoke of Him whom He saw
and heard. Whenever the Lord ap-
points modern disciple to such a
life of conflict, self-denial, and SUBJ
lime far-reaching influence as Pauls,
He will inspire and strengthen him
for his peculiar labor by especial ex-
periences, and enable him to speak
with confident joy of his relation to
God. In comparing ones feelings
with those of more experienced chris
tians it should be borne in mind that
if they are indeed followers of God,
certain frames of mind, thoughts,
and expressions have become habit
ual with them, and they speak with
certainty and ardor that would be un-
becoming one who had but lately be-
gun his spiritual pilgrimage. Differ
ences Of temperament also affect oul
religious feelings and our expressions
of them. An imaginative, excitable
mind is easily wrought up to enthusi-
asm, and is apt to express even g
transient emotion as though it were
constant; it grasps, although moi
steadily, the reality of the unseen
the opposite type does not kindlt
readily, and is moved by reflection
instead of quick perception; obeys
law rather than impulse. Each class
of minds is subject to different temp
tation, and each looks upon life ant
it's problems from different point O
view.
How, then, shall we know whethe
we do or do not love God? It is a Sc
rious question, one whose answer W
cannot safely defer, although Their
is self analysis which is morbid ant
hindrance to religious character.
"Mother," said young man VIII
was slowly fading out of life, II d
not feel toward Christ as 1 would lik
to; think 1t may be owing to m
temperament that cannot have ths
deep, personal love for Him that
feel toward you, whom l see, an
hear, and touch; who have been eve
since | can remember visible wit
me. But / am not afraid. I kno
that [ am really changed, becaus
now my first thought about anythir
I wish to do is, is it right?' A lit
while ago l should not have care
whether anything was right or wrong
now if my conscience tells me it
wrong / no longer wish to do it. Isr
this a safe test p
No expression of joyful hope,
of love to Christ, could have giv'
that mother so satisfactory eviden
that her sons heart was stayed {
Him whose leading attribute is rigf
I eousness as did this measuring
inward character by the eternal la
She knew that God had begun in l
!. heart a work which He would perfe
when, where, and how it shou
please Him and when later the /
}, loved eyes in the dark valley look
4 into hers with steadfast love, VIII
II he said, ESoon | shall see Jesus, a
g He will understand she answere
10 eyes, darling, He knows all abe
= you" She saw her child pass
a yond the vail in full confidence IL
r he bore with him the one pearl
price, righteous character, and tt
clad in the garment of Christ's O
- providing he would know and Il
" the Master and Elder Brother as
lie could not while in the flesh.
J. Said the Master, eff We loye
l. We will keep my commandments. %
Ill we find ourselves seeking to be o
so dent to the laws of inward pun
re and love, loving the things VIII
st God loves, asking not what see
In expedient for the present world {
ne the present moment, but what is
accord with eternal principles of tt
I'LL and righteousness, we may be S
that we love God, although, owing
our ignorance and weakness, we 4
3 not experience toward Him '
dwells in light and is a spirit, f
81 ing which we can measure by t
I affection which binds us to tn
sI whose presence we apprehend by