Worldly Religion

The world knows of divine consolation , because it knows nothing of spiritual grief and sorrow . Hardened in sin , careless in self-righteousness , or steeped up to the lips in an empty profession ; what do men care to know about an inward Comforter ? Their religion , such as it is , has never cost them an hour's uneasinessor brought their heart down with trouble and distress . If , according to Paul's rule , "as the sufferings of Christ abound , so consolation also aboundeth by Christ [2Cor .1:5]where there is no suffering , there is no consolation. Not knowing ,then , for themselves anything of the inward consolation of the Spirit , they cannot believe there is such a thing known to the saint of God .  "Fanaticism , enthusiasm , madness, religious nonsense , bigotry , a bad spirit " any term that can be used , any which comes the easiest to hand , will be launched , with many an angry invective , against the religion which mainly consists in the love and power of the Holy Ghost . And why ? For this reason - because they do not know themselves bestowed upon the saints of God , nor are they acquainted with the work and witness of the Spirit of truth in their own heart and conscience . Marvel not then that worldly professors despise a religion wrought in the soul by the power of God . Be not surprised if even your own relatives think you almost insane when you speak of the consolation of the Spirit or the teaching of God in your soul . They cannot receive these things , for they have no experience of them , and being such as are opposed to the carnal mind , they reject them with enmity and scorn . It is surprising that men with the Bible in their hands , and read it so much in public and in private , should set themselves so desperately against what is plainly declares therein . Our Lord's own words , if they were not his , would be called by thousands , "fanaticism" and "enthusiasm ;" for the moment they are opened up and brought forward as present realities , they arouse a very storm of indignation . Men can read them or bear to hear them read as long as they are merely in the Bible . The sword in the sheath is not dreaded , for it inflicts no wounds ; but the naked sword cuts too deeply not to arouse enm,ity against its keen strokes . It was so when the Lord spake the words ; it is so when his words in the mouth of his servants have point and edge .

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