Article July 1, 1911 Issue

FROM OUR EXCHANGES

with contributions from Charles New, W. E. Orchard

[Rev. Charles New in British Congregationalist.]

The gospel is one of joy: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow," "Let not your heart be troubled," "Peace I leave with you," and so on. I fear some of our anxious looks and troubled lives are a sad disparagement of those sacred and binding words. If the world sees that we have no "peace and joy in believing," and that we reject the Saviour's authority when he commands us to have them, can we wonder that it feels free to reject his authority in other matters, and to doubt us when we say the gospel creates peace and joy? Must there not be a change in us Christian sufferers in this respect before we can hope to do good to the world?

I think there must be something else in us to reach this great end, the bearing of the other fruits of the indwelling spirit. I hardly know what to call it except spirituality as distinguished from morality. It is not easily defined. The natural man cannot attain to it. We may speak of it in the best sense of the word as other-worldliness. It is perhaps due to the union of "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, patience, temperance." It is the "lily work" on the top of the pillars. It is that which makes others take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus and discern in us what he is. The world will believe in the supernatural when it sees it in what we are, and in the miracle-working Jesus when it sees his mightiest miracle in the spirituality of our lives. Brethren, this, depend upon it, will produce a revival which no preaching can. The people will know God is the Lord, and to know Him is life eternal, when, as He says here, "I shall be sanctified in you."

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