Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-18
The Great and Supernatural Fact of
Convers1om---BGshop w. A. Gambler

, and still hold to Christianity in SINGER
ity.
The most characteristic feature in the
ScTiptural teaching concerning the ma
ture of conversion is, that, it is the most
radical and revolutionary change OF
which human character is susceptible.
If we speak according to the oracles OF
God, we cannot define the greatness OF
the change in literal speech, otherwise
than by pronouncing it the most pro-
found, so far as we can know, that hu-
man nature can by any means expe-
rience The resurrection Of the BODY
cannot be so elemental a change as
souls conversion. if We may trust the
Bible to utter the truth upon the sub
/ ject.
! And if this be so, it is time for the
people to turn away from all those 1alse
/ teachers who reduce conversion to the
plane of mere naturalism. Such teach
ing leaves men without God and without
| hope in their struggle for spiritual life
We have had enough of all the mine
| ing talk about getting into a relation OF
| friendship with God" and of respond
| ing to the eternal energy within the
soul"
! The strong words Of the Scriptures
scarcely suffice to express adequateiy
| the great fact of conversion. How much
| less can all this petty twaddle set forth
the power of God exerted in the regen-
/ Grafton of a human soul! st. Paul, with
all his wonderful gift of speech, de-
! clared of this heavenly experience,
| Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart OF
man. the things which God hath pre-
pared for them that love Him." 1 Cor
| inthians 11:9.
And what st. Paul described is not an
ancient and obsolete experience of which
the modern man knows, and can know,
nothing.
Mr.. Begbie's interesting book, Twice
/ Born Men," gives multiplied instances
| of such supernatural life begotten in
the souls Of men among the most de-
graded classes of London. And what
! Begbie tells is no more than what every
| evangelical preacher has seen repeated
| before his own eyes constantly in every
part of our own land.
Charles Wesley was not a fanatic.
! He was a graduate of the greatest of
English universities, and a man Of the
most extensive learning. He knew this
experience, and sang about it. Hear
him:
How happy are they who their Soviour
| obey,
And have laid up their treasures
| above!
/
| fort and peace
| OF a soul in its earliest love!
That comfort was mine. when the pow
er divine
I first found in the blood of the
| Lamb:
When my heart it believed, what a joy
1 received,
| What a heaven in Jesus name!
|
Twas a heaven below my Redeemer to
know
And the angels could do nothing more
Than to fall at His feet, and the story
repeat
And the Lover of sinners adore
o the rapturous height of that holy de-
| light
! Which 1 felt in the life-giving blood
IF my Saviour possessed, l was perfect
ly blessed,
AS if filled with the fulness of God"
! Placed alongside such a heavenly ex-
perience. how worse than worthless ap-
pears the poor stuff OF naturalism in
religion All! men have had enough Of
this trash. Back to God, the Redeemer
of the Soul! Back to the Fathers en-
brace and the Fathers house! Away
with the husks that even swine cannot
eat without hurti