e as children of God. We get
into confusion when we try to obtain some other and more direct power.
We are led into a dependence upon our feelings, which are unreliable.

Bishop J.H. Vincent, than whom stands no higher in the Northern M.E.
Church, aptly states the whole matter thus: "There are people who put
stress on sentiment and emotion in religion. If they 'feel good,' they
have no doubt as to their present security and their acceptance with
God. These people covet moods and states of feeling. They revel in songs
and prayers and hallelujahs. The thrill of sentiment and the warm
currents of emotion are 'the all and in all' of religion. Such saints
forget that mere mental exhilaration and good feeling may coexist with
carnal hearts, selfish aims, and utter worldliness of temper." His
brethren will scarcely accuse the Bishop of not believing in "heartfelt
religion," and yet they used to strongly accuse us of denying it,
because we plead for the testimony of the Book rather than the testimony
of feelings.

We get into the same confusion when we attempt to fall back upon some
inward power, independent of God's word, in living the Christian life.
The writer has known many good, honest people that claimed to have an
inward monitor to lead them, who at the same time would reject the clear
teaching of God's word. The Spirit of God never led any man to
contradict _the Word_ which he has so clearly revealed. The whole
Christian life is a life of faith. _It begins, continues and ends in
faith._ "God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that
_fears God and works righteousness_ is accepted of him." "The sword of
the Spirit" is "the word of God."

End of Project Gutenberg's The Spirit and the Word, by Zachary Taylor Sweeney

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