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short； we find ourselves face to face with the undeniable fact that the
last quarter of the nineteenth century is an age of an immense amount
of public religion。
Now I am not going to find fault with this。 Let no one suppose that for
a moment。 On the contrary； I thank God for the revival of the old
apostolic plan of 〃aggressiveness〃 in religion； and the evident spread
of a desire 〃by all means to save some。〃 （1 Cor。 ix。 22。） I thank God
for shortened services； home missions； and evangelistic movements like
that of Moody and Sankey。 Anything is better than torpor； apathy； and
inaction。 〃If Christ is preached I rejoice； yea； and will rejoice。〃
（Phil。 i。 18。） Prophets and righteous men in England once desired to
see those things； and never saw them。 If Whitfield and Wesley had been
told in their day that a time would e when English Archbishops and
Bishops would not only sanction mission services but take an active
part in them； I can hardly think they would have believed it。 Rather； I
suspect； they would have been tempted to say； like the Samaritan
nobleman in Elisha's time； 〃If the Lord would make windows in heaven；
might this thing be。〃 （2 Kings vii。 2。）
But while we are thankful for the increase of public religion； we must
never forget that； unless it is acpanied by private religion； it is
of no real solid value； and may even produce most mischievous effects。
Incessant running after sensational preachers； incessant attendance at
hot； crowded meetings； protracted to late hours； incessant craving
after fresh excitement and highly…spiced pulpit noveltiesall this
kind of thing is calculated to produce a very unhealthy style of
Christianity； and； in many cases； I am afraid； the end is utter ruin of
soul。 For； unhappily； those who make public religion everything； are
often led away by mere temporary emotions； after some grand display of
ecclesiastical oratory； into professing far more than they really feel。
After this； they can only be kept up to the mark； which they imagine
they have reached； by a constant succession of religious excitements。
By and by； as with opium…eaters and dram…drinkers； there es a time
when their dose loses its power； and a feeling of exhaustion and
discontent begins to creep over their minds。 Too often； I fear； the
conclusion of the whole matter is a relapse into utter deadness and
unbelief； and a plete return to the world。 And all results from
having nothing but a public religion！ Oh； that people would remember
that it was not the wind； or the fire； or the earthquake； which showed
Elijah the presence of God； but 〃the still； small voice。〃 （1 Kings xix。
12。）
Now I desire to lift up a warning voice on this subject。 I want to see
no decrease of public religion； remember： but I do want to promote an
increase of that religion which is privateprivate between each man
and his God。 The root of a plant or tree makes no show above ground。 If
you dig down to it and examine it； it is a poor； dirty； coarse…looking
thing； and not nearly so beautiful to the eye as the fruit； or leaf； or
flower。 But that despised root； nevertheless； is the true source of all
the life； health； vigour and fertility which your eyes see； and without
it the plant or tree would soon die。 Now private religion is the root
of all vital Christianity。 Without it； we may make a brave show in the
meeting or on the platform； and sing loud； and shed many tears； and
have a name to live and the praise of man。 But without it we have no
wedding garment； and are 〃dead before God。〃 I tell my readers plainly
that the times require of us all more attention to our private
religion。
（a） Let us pray more heartily in private； and throw our whole souls
more into our prayers。 There are live prayers and there are dead
prayersprayers that cost us nothing and prayers which often cost us
strong crying and tears。 What are yours？ When great professors
backslide in public； and the Church is surprised and shocked； the truth
is that they had long ago backslidden on their knees。 They had
neglected the throne of grace。
（b） Let us read our Bibles in private more； and with more pains and
diligence。 Ignorance of Scripture is the root of all error and makes a
man helpless in the hand of the devil。 There is less private
Bible…reading； I suspect； than there was fifty years ago。 I never can
believe that so many English men and women would have been 〃tossed to
and fro with every wind of doctrine；〃 some falling into scepticism；
some rushing into the wildest and narrowest fanaticism； and some going
over to Rome； if there had not grown up a habit of lazy； superficial；
careless； perfunctory reading of God's Word。 〃Ye do err not knowing the
Scriptures。〃 （Matt。 xxii。 29。） The Bible in the pulpit must never
supersede the Bible at home。
（c） Let us cultivate the habit of keeping up more private meditation
and munion with Christ。 Let us resolutely make time for getting
alone occasionally； for talking with our own souls like David； for
pouring out our hearts to our Great High Priest； Advocate； and
Confessor at the right hand of God。 We want more auricular confession：
but not to man。 The confessional we want is not a box in the vestry；
but the throne of grace。 I see some professing Christians always
running about after spiritual food； always in public； and always out of
breath and in a hurry； and never allowing themselves leisure to sit
down quietly to digest； and take stock of their spiritual condition。 I
am never surprised if such Christians have a dwarfish； stunted religion
and do not grow； and if； like Pharaoh's lean kine； they look no better
for their public religious feasting； but rather worse。 Spiritual
prosperity depends immensely on our private religion； and private
religion cannot nourish unless we determine that by God's help we will
make time； whatever trouble it may cost us； for thought； for prayer；
for the Bible； and for