EXPERIMENTAL RELIGION

A wonderful article that resounds in the heart of every believer -ed.

Much esteemed brother.

Through the tender mercies of our covenant God, myself, and family are well. And after my respects to you and yours, I will address a few thoughts to you on the subject of experimental religion. We hear people talk of doctrinal, experimental, and practical discourses. And much has been said of what is the most profitable way of preaching. But not having any peculiar gift for making nice distinctions, I am compelled to call all religious teachings doctrine. And all that is or ought to be taught is the legitimate consequence of what the poet sings.

Jehovah in Council resolved to fill. 

The scheme from Eternity laid in his will; 

A scheme too profound for an angel to pry, 

And for all the lifting of Jesus on high.

That portion of the doctrine which relates to the great plan of redemption as a covenant ordered in all things, and sure is a subject of such wonder. That the angels desire to look into it and the wise of all ages have longed to understand it. It being, the union of all our hopes. Is made the point by the apostles in all their teachings and all their preaching. Having its origin in the counsel of Heaven it centers on Jesus and the medium of creation, on whom rested, and in whom centers all the fullness of eternal love. For of him, it is said, "Who is the only and blessed potentate, the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings. Who only has immortality dwelling in the light." The day started from on high. The promised seed. The germ of immortality or eternal life. The heavenly storehouse of all spiritual blessings. For in him was life, and that life was the light of men. And it is written. "For as much as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." Again "he bore our sins in his own body on the tree." Again, "he was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification." The coming of Jesus to fulfill the law, to make an end of sin, and to bring an everlasting righteousness and make reconciliation for iniquity. All his doings and sayings, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension to glory, are the effects of the great self-moving cause, Eternal Grace. And grace, having accomplished its glorious end in Jesus, who is to head over all things to the church which is his body. She, though dead in sins, is redeemed from the curse of the law for:

In all that Jesus did on Earth

His church and interest has.

In his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and he bore them and carried them all the days of old. But notwithstanding, the law is satisfied, and redemption's price is paid, and our representative is in heaven, and no legal charge of guilt can be brought against us. Yet while we are in nature's darkness, we are not qualified to enjoy spiritual blessings, nor are prepared for immortality. We are of the Earth, born only of the flesh, and received not the things of the Spirit. Corrupted throughout and blinded by the god of this world, having all our faculties of soul, body, and spirit, exercised in the things of time, desiring not the knowledge of the ways of the Lord, but:

There is a period known to God, 

When all his sheep redeemed by blood, 

Shall leave the hateful ways of sin, 

Turn to the fold and enter in.

For the hour is coming, and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God, and day that hears shall live the spirit of the living God which quickened the body of our savior in a tomb. The power of the highest that came upon Mary. The Holy Spirit which overshadowed her designs to visit the valley of dry bones. The power of prophecy speaks, and the dead start into life, and then for the first time see things in their true light and feel themselves as standing in the presence of the Holy God, with all their guilt before their astonished eyes. Long-forgotten crimes are brought to mind. Now they strive to put away conviction from their thoughts. But true to his office, the Spirit is fulfilling the prophecy. "I will lead the blind by a way they know not, and in paths which they have not known, I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things I will do unto them, and not forsake them, says the Lord." As light makes manifest from time to time, the Lord by the Spirit reveals himself to his people, until, like Paul, they viewed themselves to be the chief of sinners and less than the least of all saints. With him also they say, "I know that the law is holy, but I am carnal sold under sin." Their hopes of obtaining the favor of God by their doings are all cut off, and their tears, their groans, and repentance all appear to them to be of no avail. Thoughts are wayward and wandering, and sin by the commandment becomes exceedingly sinful. 10,000 talents in debt and have nothing to pay. Their hopes are failing, and like the poor publican, they smite upon their breast but dare not raise their eyes to heaven, and cry "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." 

But, O, how agreeable is their surprise when least looked for, but most needed, the Lord removes the cloud of unbelief and gives them faith, to trust in Jesus, and they are made to wonder why they could not have believed sooner. Now they feel like saying "he brought me up also out of the horrible pit out of the myrie clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto his name." They are made to rejoice with joy, unspeakable and full of glory. As newborn babes, they now desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby.

Thus we see. That because God loved his people with an everlasting love, he sent his son to redeem them, and because he did redeem them, he has sent forth his Spirit, which has quickened them. And because they are alive, they mourn on account of sin. And because they now possess his Spirit, they have faith, for faith is the fruit of the Spirit. And because God first loved them, they now love him. And because they now love him, they keep his commandments. And this is practical religion:

Why should the Saints be filled with dread 

Or yield themselves to slavish fears? 

Heaven can't be full which holds the Head, 

Till every member's present there.

These lines, brother Beebe, are at your service, yours, in the hope of a blessed immortality.

JC Beeman

January 1, 1858

Signs of the Times.