Thoughts on Religious Experience

CHAPTER I. Early religious impressions — Different results — Classes of persons least impressed — Examples of ineffectual impressions.

There is no necessity for any other proof of native depravity, than the aversion, which children early manifest to religious instruction and to spiritual exer- cises. From this cause it proceeds, that many children, who have the opportunity of a good religious educa- tion, learn scarcely any thing of the most important truths of Christianity. If they are compelled to com- mit the catechism. to memory, they are wont to do this without ever thinking of the doctrines contained in the words which they recite ; so that, when the attention is at any time awakened to the subject of religion, as a personal concern, they feel themselves to be com- pletely ignorant of the system of divine truth taught in the Bible. Yet even to these, the truths committed to memory are now of great utility. They are like a treasure which has been hidden, but is now discovered. Of two persons under conviction of sin, one of whom has had sound religious instruction, and the other none, the former will have an unspeakable advantage over the latter in many respects.

Many children, and especially those who have pious parents, who speak to them of the importance of salvation, are the subjects of occasional religious impressions, of different kinds. Sometimes they are

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alarmed by hearing an awakening sermon, or by the sudden death of a companion of their own age ; or, again, they are tenderly affected, even to tears, from a consideration of the goodness and forbearance of God, or from a representation of the love and sui ings of Christ. There are also seasons of transport- ing joy, which some experience, especially after being tenderly affected with a sense of ingratitude to God for his wonderful goodness, in sparing them and be- stowing so many blessings upon them. These tran sient emotions of joy cannot always he easily accounted for, but they are commonly preceded or accompanied by a hope, or persuasion, that God is reconciled and will receive them. In some it would be thought that these juvenile exercises were indications of a change of heart, did they not pass away like the morning cloud, or early dew, so as even to he ohlite rated from the mind which experienced them. Some undertake to account for these religious impi merely from the susceptible principle of human nature, in connection with the external instructions of the word, and some striking dispensations of Provide] but the cause assigned is not adequate, because the same circumstances often exist, wh« n no such effects follow. Others ascribe them to the evil spirit, who is ever seeking to deceive and delude unwary souls, by inspiring them with a false persuasion of their good estate, while they are in the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. Wlgle I would not deny that Satan may take advantage of these transient e - to

induce a false hope, I cannot be persuaded that he produces these impressions; for often the persons, he- fore experiencing them, were as careless and stupid as he could wish them to be; and be the tendency

of these impressions is salutary. The youth, thus affected, becomes more tender in conscience, forsakes known sin before indulged, has recourse to prayer, and feels strong desires after eternal happiness. These are not what Satan would effect, if he could ; unless we could suppose that he was operating against himself, which our Saviour has taught us to be impossible. I

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am of opinion, therefore, that these transient impres- sions should be ascribed to the common operations of the Spirit of God, and may have some inexplicable connection with the future conversion and salvation of the person. There is a common practical error in the minds of many Christians in regard to this matter. They seem to think that nothing has any relation to the conversion of the sinner, but that which imme- diately preceded this event ; and the Christian is ready to say, I was awakened under such a sermon, and never had rest until I found it in Christ; making nothing of all previous instructions and impressions. So, when a revival occurs under the awakening dis- courses of some evangelist, people are ready to think that he only is the successful preacher whose labours God owns and blesses ; whereas, he does but bring forward to maturity, feelings and convictions, which have been long secretly forming and growing within the soul, but so imperceptibly, that the person himself was little sensible of any change. It may be justly and scripturally compared to a growing crop : after the seed is sown it vegetates, we know not how, and then it receives daily the sun's influence, and from time to time, refreshing showers; but about the time of earing, after a long drought, there comes a plentiful shower, by means of which, nutriment is afforded for the formation of the full corn in the ear. No one will dispute the importance and efficacy of this last shower in maturing the grain; but had there been no cultiva- tion and no showers long before, this had never pro- duced any effect.

Whether those who are never converted, are the subjects of these religious impressions, as well as those who are afterwards brought to faith in Christ, is a question not easily answered. That they expe- rience dreadful alarms and pungent convictions at times, and also tender drawings, cannot be doubted ; but whether those "chosen in Christ " are not, in their natural state, subject to impressions which others never experience, must remain undetermined, since we know so little of the real state of the hearts of

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most men ; but as there is, undoubtedly, a special providence exercised by Christ over those sheep not yet called into the fold, I cannot but think it probable that they are often influenced by the. Holy Spirit in a peculiar manner, to guard them against fatal errors and destructive habits, and to prepare them, by de- grees, to receive the truth.