And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount." This is the substance of all apostolical teaching-the report and exposition of the various experiences through which they passed in association with Christ or in the prosecution of his work after his ascension. The Acts of the Apostles is but a record of miracles, of the works connected with them, and of the truths illustrated and confirmed by them. Instead of the Acts of the Apostles, it would be nearer the actual facts to call it "The Dynamics of the Holy Spirit." It is a book of experiences with their doctrinal implications.

This is a close adherence to the strict scientific method: first the fact, then the theory or doctrine derived from it. But always the fact is the basal, the determining thing, and the doctrine the necessary logical conclusion from the fact. In connection with the experience revelations were made that reached out into the future or into realms of truth beyond the range of experience, but in natural line with it, deducible from it, and confirmed by it. As revelation came to us by the way of

experience, and moves on that plane, so is it understood only in the light of experience. We must rise to its level if we would catch its spirit and deepest meaning. One must have musical taste and culture to appreciate the best music; only artistic taste- that is, a mind conscious of the beauties of art-can appreciate a masterpiece; literary taste and culture are necessary for the understanding and appreciation of the best literature; so is a spiritual nature, developed by spiritual experiences, necessary to the understanding of revelation. This manifest fact in our intellectual life is clearly stated by Saint Paul when he says: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Therefore to receive the revelation properly requires the same spiritual elevation that is necessary in making it, which brings us again to the proposition stated before in this discussion, that inspiration by the Holy Ghost is the perpetual need and privilege of believers, as it is the promised office and work of the

Divine Spirit. As in wireless telegraphy the receiving station must be constructed and equipped as the transmitting station is, so they that receive must be in the same spiritual condition as they who transmit the revelation.

CHAPTER X

THE BIBLE TESTED BY

EXPERIENCE

THIS is a fair test, just to the book, reliable and scientific in character, and satisfying to the thinking mind. If it was sent forth by God, the embodiment of infinite wisdom, adapted to the human race by the maker of it, and designed for a certain purpose by Him who rules all things, then we have a right to expect two things of it: first, that there will be in it a working energy that will persist and hold to its purpose till its work is done; and, second, that it will be found to fit into existing conditions and to work toward a general betterment.

If it came forth from God and has in it the life and thought of God, its system of truth should be reasonably satisfying to the most learned minds, its standard of ethics should be the best known, its curative and corrective methods for human frailties and weaknesses should be the most effective,

its motives to worthy conduct the most moving, its rewards to virtue the most engaging, its supports under trial the greatest, its outlook for hope the brightest, its grounds for confidence the strongest, its aids to love the most creative and helpful, its regenerating power by the Holy Spirit the most effective, and in all ways it should prove itself an adequate corrective of human perversity and an abundant supply for human need. If God sent it into the world, putting his personality into it and back of it, so that he could say of his Word, "It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it," then we shall be justified in looking for results corresponding to this high ideal. Does it accomplish what it proposes? Is it effective in the thing it undertakes? Does it live up to contract? These questions naturally suggest themselves, we have a right to ask them, and the author of the revelation invites us to consider them.

This is the scientific method, settling questions by facts. The final, the unan