The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 179

transient. emotion in religion, raising the hopes of anxious observers one day, only to _disnppoint them ere many days are over, and compelling ,the plaintive words, "lour goodness is like the morning cloud and the early dew, it goeth awo.yl" Aud, ma~-bc, the change is as inexplicable to themselves as it is disheartening to others. It may be helpful if we try to remove the perplexity by a study of several in'luiries which such cases suggest. I. How FAR DOES THIS EMOTIONAL RELIGIOUSNESS GO? There may be a" receiving the \\' urd with joy;" gi'l'ing to it, not only a respectful attention, but even mental credence, gla,lsome admiration, nnd e. profound conviction that the gospel message exactly meets the need of gnilly, sinful man. And when the beauty, purity, and triumphant issue of a gennine Christ.ian life arc set forth, there may be an cager desire awakened to know its blessedness, and an inward resolution formed to serve the Lord. 'l'he young inquirer seems, perhaps, at such a stap;c to have been wafted, as by a. Divine breath, to 11 region of halcyon calm, and with the sincerity and datih of a Peter says," Now I am saved; though all men should deny Christ, yet I never will I" And such a. case is looked at with tender, glad, yet anxious hopefulness, by some that are watching for souls more than they that watch for the morning. And yet, notwithstanding all, there is a grievous defect, not yet apparent to human eye, but destined ere long to reveal itself to the bitter disappointment of many a. thoughtful friend! II. ·WHAT IS THERE DEFECTIVE IN THIS CAsE? There is: 1. Defective knowledge of self. 2. Defective knowledge of what the Christian life is, as one of "patient con- tiuu:rnce in well-doing." 3. Defective knowledge of the truth as it is ill Jesus. 4. A non-apprehension of the Lord Jesus Christ as the sole Source or life, energy, and power. :3. Emotion is mistaken for principle, and feelings about religion for a real surrender of heart and life to God. IH. SEYERE TESTS AWAIT sucn A ONE. (Of. Matt. xiii, 20, 21; Luke xiv. 27, 28.) Days in which all things run smoothly are not those which test of what stuff men are made. Ko one's life, however, is ma.de up of smooth days only. There are occasions which put every part of a man on the rack. And there are testing times in store for the yoi:ng emotionalist. 1. Affliction for the Word's sake will come. 2. Persecution may come. 3. Scepticism, or cross-currents of public sentiment may disturb. 4. Or abounding worldliness may bring a chill or even a blight. Some trial or other will surely come to test each and all. It may come suddenly as a storm of wind on a lake, or may act slowly yet surely as the waters wear away the stones. Somehow or other, come it will; aud where there is profession without possession, sad will be the end, for- IV. Suen TESTS WILL BE FATAL. Only forty days after their vow, Israel broke down. The terrors of Sinai could not maintain Israel's loyalty. Nor will even the pathos of Calvary, of itself, avail now. The following results will follow, sooner or later, if beneath the outward vow there bas been no surrender of heart and life to God. 1. Emotion will die out. Men canaot live at fever heat; it is not desirable that they should. If beneath the emotion there is living principle, though the emotion lessen, that will strengthen. Dut if there is no such liviag principle, the emotion will leave nought behind it but sadder lack of it than ever. 2. External membership will come to be rested in, as if it" covered a multitude of sins." 3. There will be a growing indifference to tlie higher and more spiritual work ol the Christian life-both in private, social, an~ Church duties. 4. There may even be a collapse into a state of more thorough worldli- ness tlian before any profession whatever was made; and " the last stale of that man is worse than the first." Of all the members of Christian congregations, those a.re the hardest to move who made a profession in a swell of emotion, without quickening of conscience or the renewal of the heart! V. WHAT IS NEEDED IN SUCH CASES? 1. Deep and genuine conviction of sin and repentance before God; a quickening unto righl,cousness, which is born of the Spirit. 2. Heart-surrender to God; tliis cannot 'be brought about through being borne along in a cmwd as on a wave of religious ecstasy, any more than the patients in a hospital can be ,:ured en masse. 3. New life towards God, created, sustained, perpetually increased by the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, renewed by faith, and aided by communion with God. hi OOMLUSION. Ltt all beware of trusting to "frames and feelings." Emotion ia  THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 1G9