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eternal : and they have painfully felt how much they are losing, day by day, both of assistance and of comfort, from a total silence, in the presence of experienced and Christian men, upon a point on which they so much need and would be so deeply thankful for either advice or encouragement.
(1) Many a young man would be really grateful if, without any attempt at undue influence, without any assumption of superior position, with the exquisite sympathy that is born of God, and comes from the live coal from the altar having touched his own lips, an elder brother would speak straight out to a younger brother from time to time on the love of God in Christ Jesus and the things of the world to come. Sometimes at an early stage a shipwreck of faith or life might be avoided by the tactful and judicious friendship of one who has himself a firm hold of the Eock of Ages.
(2) But this " speaking one with another," may be not merely as between older and younger men, but as between equals, con- temporaries, friends. Would not light be thrown upon many a passage of the Word of God which has never been realized, on many a difficulty in life, if, without cant and unreality, one could just simply speak on spiritual matters with a friend ?
Tj John Wesley saw the need of this when he set on foot the class system which has been the strength, even if sometimes the weakness, of Methodism ; and I plead that the Church of England should supply what is needed for her children without forcing them to seek outside her ranks the Christian fellowship for which they hanker. Classes or meetings for the study of the Word of God, conferences on the lessons of Church history, discus- sions on Christian missions with a view to learning and teaching in turn what God is doing in other parts of the world — all this, if carried out with prayer and as a downright spiritual work, would be found further to illustrate this principle of Christian intercourse. Its special methods will vary, but the thing itself can be ignored only at our peril.1
^| People are unwilling to talk about religion because it seems almost a profanity. They cannot bear to expose their most sacred feelings at all. They could not find words to utter reverently and truly " thoughts too deep for words." All the tact and wisdom the Holy Spirit gives are indeed needed here. For the holy things ought not to be flung to the dogs. It is only in the most sacred 1 E. Jacob, in Oqford University Sermons, 380.
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confidence of friendship that the best things can be said. There is, moreover, a danger (and what precious thing is not dangerous ?) of an over-exposed conscience becoming callous and blatant. Most Christians in most churches have been stopped by these dangers so far as actual personal conversation with each other is concerned. Some have left the talking to the minister in the pulpit. People can listen in company to what they could not bear to have said to them direct ; and, stranger still, a man can speak out to a great congregation heart secrets that he could not sit in his study and tell to his dearest friend. Some, again, have left the talking to be done in confession in the presence of God under the seal of absolute secrecy. Some have waited till they found a friend who made confidence possible ; while others have found themselves able to tell their heart to an entire stranger whom they thought they would never meet again.
The matter is so vital to religious progress that we must at all costs cling to our dearly-won habit of talking to one another about religious experience, and, therefore, must encourage people to begin to do so when they first begin to share the Christian life. Certainly it is easier for them to do so then than it ever will be later. There is an instinct to open the heart and trust others at first, the power of which fades quite away if it is suppressed.1
II.
The Topics.
What was the subject of their discourse? The world's politics, and the world's pleasures ? The last entertainment, or the latest scandal ? The newest book, or the latest fashion ? It is interesting to note how every age is but a repetition of the last. Men in those days had their feasts, where the viol and the tabret and the harp played an important part, and where they sat over their wine until they had redness of eyes; and they would no doubt then, as now, hold up the glass to the light, and praise its amber or ruby colour, commending its bouquet and flavour, and speaking of the vintage whence it came. And over the wine they would talk of the sports and games, the feast- ings and pleasures of the hour, and many a jest would go round the board, followed by laughter and glee. Was it of such things
1 W. Bradfield, Personality and Fellowship, 190.
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as these that " they that feared the Lord " spoke when they met together, " and the Lord hearkened and heard " ? Women had in those days their ornaments, " their cauls, and round tires like the moon, their chains, and bracelets, and mufflers ; their bonnets and broad bands, and tablets and earrings, their rings, and changeable suits of apparel ; their mantles, and wimples, and crisping pins, their glasses and fine linen, and hoods and veils." Was it of these that the women who " feared the Lord spake one with another " ? Certainly not. The Lord would hardly have thought it worth while to bow the heavens and come down " to hearken and hear " and to keep " a book of remembrance " for conversation such as this. It was of higher and better things than these that the holy men and women of old spoke : of God and His grace, of His mercy and goodness, of His judgments against sin, of His lovingkindness to His people.