Bishop J.H.  Vincent, than whom stands no higher in the Northern M.E.  Church, aptly states the whole matter thus:  “There are people who put stress on sentiment and emotion in religion.  If they ‘feel good,’ they have no doubt as to their present security and their acceptance with God.  These people covet moods and states of feeling.  They revel in songs and prayers and hallelujahs.  The thrill of sentiment and the warm currents of emotion are ‘the all and in all’ of religion.  Such saints forget that mere mental exhilaration and good feeling may coexist with carnal hearts, selfish aims, and utter worldliness of temper.”  His brethren will scarcely accuse the Bishop of not believing in “heartfelt religion,” and yet they used to strongly accuse us of denying it, because we plead for the testimony of the Book rather than the testimony of feelings.

We get into the same confusion when we attempt to fall back upon some inward power, independent of God’s word, in living the Christian life.  The writer has known many good, honest people that claimed to have an inward monitor to lead them, who at the same time would reject the clear teaching of God’s word.  The Spirit of God never led any man to contradict the Word which he has so clearly revealed.  The whole Christian life is a life of faith. It begins, continues and ends in faith. “God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him.”  “The sword of the Spirit” is “the word of God.”