Here lies, to my mind, the unreality of mystical books of
devotion and piety, where one is instructed to practise a servile
sort of abasement, and to beg forgiveness for all one's noblest
efforts and aspirations. Neither can I believe that the mystical
absorption, inculcated by such books, in the human personality, the
human sufferings of Christ, is wholesome, or natural, or even
Christian. I cannot imagine that Christ Himself ever recommended
such a frame of mind for an instant. What we want is a much simpler
sort of Christianity. If a man had gone to Christ and expressed a
desire to follow Him, Christ, I believe, would have wanted to know
whether he loved others, whether he hated sin, whether he trusted
God. He would not have asked him to recite the articles of his
belief, and still less have suggested a mystical and emotional sort
of passion for His own Person. As least I cannot believe it, and I
see nothing in the Gospels which would lead me to believe it.
In any case this belief in our experience being sent us for our
far-off ultimate benefit has helped me greatly of late, and will, I
am sure, help me still more. I do not practise it as I should, but
I believe with all my heart that the truth lies there.
Pages:
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362