ful. He answers me again and
again, often in words so clearly spoken that it seems my outer ear must
have carried the tone, but generally in strong mental impressions.
Usually a text of Scripture, unfolding some new view of him and his
love for me, and care for my safety. I could give hundreds of
instances, in school matters, social problems, financial difficulties,
etc. That he is mine and I am his never leaves me, it is an abiding
joy. Without it life would be a blank, a desert, a shoreless,
trackless waste."

I subjoin some more examples from writers of different ages and sexes.
They are also from Professor Starbuck's collection, and their number
might be greatly multiplied. The first is from a man twenty-seven
years old:--

"God is quite real to me. I talk to him and often get answers.
Thoughts sudden and distinct from any I have been entertaining come to
my mind after asking God for his direction. Something over a year ago
I was for some weeks in the direst perplexity. When the trouble first
appeared before me I was dazed, but before long (two or three hours) I
could hear distinctly a passage of Scripture: 'My grace is sufficient
for thee.' Every time my thoughts turned to the trouble I could hear
this quotation. I don't think I ever doubted the existence of God, or
had him drop out of my consciousness. God has frequently stepped into
my affairs very perceptibly, and I feel that he directs many little
details all the time. But on two or three occasions he has ordered
ways for me very contrary to my ambitions and plans."

Another statement (none the less valuable psychologically for being so
decidedly childish) is that of a boy of seventeen:--

"Sometimes as I go to church, I sit down, join in the service, and
before I go out I feel as if God was with me, right side of me, singing
and reading the Psalms with me.... And then again I feel as if I could
sit beside him, and put my arms around him, kiss him, etc. When I am
taking Holy Communion at the altar, I try to get with him and generally
feel his presence."

I let a few other cases follow at random:--

"God surrounds me like the physical atmosphere. He is closer to me
than my own breath. In him literally I live and move and have my
being."--

"There are times when I seem to stand in his very presence, to talk
with him. Answers to prayer have come, sometimes direct and
overwhelming in their revelation of his presence and powers. There are