The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-10-14
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Theme:
EXPE RIENCE.
BY REV, DIR. JuNlus 3. REMEN-
aHt l.lU a SNYDER.
Text-Knowine that patience work.
eth exPerlence.-Rom., ", q.

This is the great defect Of youth
that it discounts the patient schooling
and preparation of discipline, and
would rush unguardedly upon the
the stage and into the battle of life.
But there is danger of placing ex-
treme emphasis on experience. We
must have theoretical knowledge; the
mind must be furnished by reading
and the understanding strengthened
by reflection. Our strongest and no
blest Inspirations come from within.
1t is in our still inner life that are
nourished those visions OF sentiment
and poetry that make life noble and
beautiful This is the mistake we
OTTER hear in regard to religion. 1t is
said that religion IS wholly a matter
of experience. But experience can
not give us facts. 1t is not a creative
but a testing faculty. He who takes
the conclusions of his experience for
the word of God will remain in as
deep darkness and hopelessness with
respect to the blessed truths and
hopes of religion as were the great
pagan thinkers.
On the other hand, however, the
apostle is altogether justified in in
sisung in the text upon the necessity
of experience to religion. One may
be the most orthodox of believers,
the profoundest of theo1gians and the
the most regular of church members,
but if he does not know religion by
experience he denies the power
thereof" and his profession is but
sounding brass and tinkling Gym
bal"
Religion first must be experienced
in the heart Our piety must be sin
cere. 1t must breathe within us the
spirit of brotherly love. 1t must make
US fear God. 1t must incite us to hate
wrong and meanness. 1t must make
us broad minded and charitable. It
must create within us pure affections.
1t must stir US with high aims and
noble ideals. In Bible language. it
must make us new creatures, ere
ated after God in true righteousness
and holiness"
But the supreme test of religion is
that 1t be experienced in our lives. A
man may have deep religious feeling,
but II ii does not prove itself in
action II is but emotionalism.
Sentiment and prayers and tears do
but make a mockery of God and the
Church II they do not issue in right
life. 1t is only when our religion
masters our temptations, sweetens
our ugly, tempers, overcomes our bad
habits, casts out our selishness,
moves us to do good to our neighbors,
gives us courage in danger and faith
and calm under the fire of affliction
that it is real. Then 1t has set to it
the seal of experience, and then will
1t bring tn efavor of God and crown
with an immortal hope.
The defect of too many professors
is the lack of this vital religious ex-
perience. Those who know them best
doubt them most. Those whose close
contacts show Just what they really
are have hard work to believe their
piety genuine.
If believers would only be more
consistent in their lives and illustrate
Luell ldilA III lLClI uSSuS, HO al = ulhShI
would be needed to win the worldly
to follow so gracious guide as re-
iigion. Gibbon, in that famous chap
ter of his history where he seeks to
account for the wondrous progress Of
the early Church. states that ''the
primitive Christian demonstrated his
faith by his virtues" and exercised
himself in the habits of humility
meekness and patience" The same
Christian qualities will give more pow
er to the Gospel to-day than all the
learned arguments OF theologians.