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and my joy was full。 I returned home from the meeting with
feelings as simple as a child。 I thought all would be glad to
hear of the joy of the Lord that possessed me； and so I began to
tell the simple story。 But to my great surprise； the pastors
（for I attended meetings in three churches） opposed the
experience and said it was fanaticism； and one told the members
of his church to shun those that professed it； and I soon found
that my foes were those of my own household。〃
The penny was a small financial safeguard； but an effective
spiritual obstacle。 Not till it was thrown away could the
character settle into the new equilibrium completely。
Over and above the mystery of self…surrender； there are in the
cult of poverty other religious mysteries。 There is the mystery
of veracity： 〃Naked came I into the world；〃 etc。 whoever first
said that； possessed this mystery。 My own bare entity must fight
the battleshams cannot save me。 There is also the mystery of
democracy； or sentiment of the equality before God of all his
creatures。 This sentiment （which seems in general to have been
more widespread in Mohammedan than in Christian lands） tends to
nullify man's usual acquisitiveness。 Those who have it spurn
dignities and honors； privileges and advantages； preferring； as I
said in a former lecture； to grovel on the common level before
the face of God。 It is not exactly the sentiment of humility；
though it comes so close to it in practice。 It is HUMANITY；
rather； refusing to enjoy anything that others do not share。 A
profound moralist； writing of Christ's saying； 〃Sell all thou
hast and follow me；〃 proceeds as follows：
〃Christ may have meant： If you love mankind absolutely you will
as a result not care for any possessions whatever； and this seems
a very likely proposition。 But it is one thing to believe that a
proposition is probably true； it is another thing to see it as a
fact。 If you loved mankind as Christ loved them； you would see
his conclusion as a fact。 It would be obvious。 You would sell
your goods； and they would be no loss to you。 These truths；
while literal to Christ； and to any mind that has Christ's love
for mankind； become parables to lesser natures。 There are in
every generation people who； beginning innocently； with no
predetermined intention of becoming saints； find themselves drawn
into the vortex by their interest in helping mankind； and by the
understanding that comes from actually doing it。 The abandonment
of their old mode of life is like dust in the balance。 It is
done gradually； incidentally； imperceptibly。 Thus the whole
question of the abandonment of luxury is no question at all； but
a mere incident to another question； namely； the degree to which
we abandon ourselves to the remorseless logic of our love for
others。〃＇197＇
＇197＇ J。 J。 Chapman； in the Political Nursery； vol。 iv。 p。 4；
April； 1900； abridged。
But in all these matters of sentiment one must have 〃been there〃
one's self in order to understand them。 No American can ever
attain to understanding the loyalty of a Briton towards his king；
of a German towards his emperor； nor can a Briton or German ever
understand the peace of heart of an American in having no king；
no Kaiser； no spurious nonsense； between him and the common God
of all。 If sentiments as simple as these are mysteries which one
must receive as gifts of birth； how much more is this the case
with those subtler religious sentiments which we have been
considering！ One can never fathom an emotion or divine its
dictates by standing outside of it。 In the glowing hour of
excitement； however； all incomprehensibilities are solved； and
what was so enigmatical from without becomes transparently
obvious。 Each emotion obeys a logic of its own； and makes
deductions which no other logic can draw。 Piety and charity live
in a different universe from worldly lusts and fears； and form
another centre of energy altogether。 As in a supreme sorrow
lesser vexations may become a consolation； as a supreme love may
turn minor sacrifices into gain； so a supreme trust may render
common safeguards odious； and in certain glows of generous
excitement it may appear unspeakably mean to retain one's hold of
personal possessions。 The only sound plan； if we are ourselves
outside the pale of such emotions； is to observe as well as we
are able those who feel them； and to record faithfully what we
observe； and this； I need hardly say； is what I have striven to
do in these last two descriptive lectures； which I now hope will
have covered the ground sufficiently for our present needs。