Lose the experience, and
the doctrine will surely be neglected, if not attacked and
denied. No man can have the heart, even if he has the head, to
fully and faithfully and constantly preach the doctrine unless he
has the experience.
Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and as this doctrine
deals with the deepest things of the Spirit, it is only clearly
understood and is best recommended, explained, defended, and
enforced by those who have the experience.
Without the experience, the presentation of the doctrine will be
faulty and cold and lifeless, or weak and vacillating, or harsh
and sharp and severe. With the experience, the preaching of the
doctrine will be with great joy and assurance, and will be strong
and searching, but at the same time warm and persuasive and
tender.
I shall never forget the shock of mingled surprise and amusement
and grief with which I heard a Captain loudly announce in one of
my meetings many years ago that he was "going to preach holiness
now," and his people "have to get it," if he had to "ram it down
their throats." Poor fellow! He did not possess the experience
himself, and never pressed into it and soon forsook his people.
A man in the clear experience of the blessing will never think of
"ramming" it down people; but will, with much secret prayer,
constant meditation and study, patient instruction, faithful
warning, loving persuasion, and burning, joyful testimony, seek
to lead them into that entire and glad consecration and that
fullness of faith that never fail to receive the blessing.
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