Evening journal., 1907-01-23
exNnsion

10 the exclusion or the
organic whole. This dissecting pro-
cess Of psychology has passed its day
and the new or functional view is SUI
perseding it and giving US a better un-
derstanding- Kings Psychology Of
Child Development illustrates what I
mean. head IT and see the difference.
The whole soul acts as an organic un-
lily in every expression Of ITSELF Feel
ing and actions and thinking move to-
gether. They cannot be separated.
The feelings cannot be trusted indie
pendent Of the other soul functions
Feelings are unreliable standards Of
life unless they harmonic with the
just actions Of life. Who is the man
that God really talks to2 Who ascends
the holy hill and cornnunes with the
Almighty? The answer is as of old
He that hath clean hands as well as
a pure heartl The ethical test is the
final reliable sign of God in human life
and human consciousness. More and
more viii the enlightened world reject
all other. A man who processes to be
IN communion with God must stand
fDr things wise and noble and good
yes, he must stand for the best. He
must keep pace with tho advancement
Of the standards OF righteousness. I
do not raise an impossible or imprac-
ticable standard, such as perfect right
eousness. know too well the imper-
fections Of Judgment and the uncer-
tainties of temperament. but true action
must endorse the feelings of the soul.
More and more the ethical test will
be called for. Under it many a lively
ard happy meeting viii cool Off and
nistly a so-calied conversion will evap-
crate.
''The third test or safeguard I would
propose is that of historic inspiration
Some Of you would place this first.
Maybe it should be there. think not.
But it has a very high vaIue. Here IS
before us the experiences of men in all
ages in communion with God. Time
has been able to SIT the genuine from
the false. The gold has been gathered.
while the worthless rock has been
washed away. The law Of communica-
tion is here discovered. God is the
same in every age. What he said 70
one man at any time he will not deny
to another man at some other time;
not one word for one generation and
another for another. SO our Bible wiz
stand as a court Of appeal in matters
of divine revelation and decide what is
TO pass as assurance. Right here the
authority Of the church must also be
honored.
Fourth: The facts Of life must ac-
cord with the pretended voice from
heaven. God does not contradict his
own mind or works. His providential
course in nature. especially that shown
IN human life. must correspond to what
he is saying to men to-day. The cir
.cumstances Of everyday occurrence.
the larger movements Of history must
endorse Gods latest communication.
IF a man comes to us with a pre-
tended revelation from the sky we have
the right to ask Of him harmony with
common sense occurrences and estab-
ished order God win still talk with
men. This we cannot deny until we are
ready to affirm that he is dead or gone
on a distant journey from the world
But to know his voice and be sure that
we are not deceiving others and laying
grounds for a greater doubt it might
be well to apply all the tests I have
vuggested. Surely it is not wisdom in
his day Of scientific research, when
nen are alert and severe in discrimi-
1ations and ready to take alarm al
what is not genuine, for us to allow
every pretension to pass unchallenged
and surely it is fearful to encourage
among a weaker class signs that are
to pass with an intelligent and high
ly moral age.