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entire ignorance of Christian doctrine； but； when in Germany；
after being talked to by Christian friends； she read the Bible
and prayed； and finally the plan of salvation flashed upon her
like a stream of light。
〃To this day；〃 she writes； 〃I cannot understand dallying
with religion and the commands of God。 The very instant I heard
my Father's cry calling unto me； my heart bounded in recognition。
I ran； I stretched forth my arms； I cried aloud； 'Here； here I
am； my Father。' Oh； happy child； what should I do？ 'Love me；'
answered my God。 'I do； I do；' I cried passionately。 'Come unto
me；' called my Father。 'I will；' my heart panted。 Did I stop to
ask a single question？ Not one。 It never occurred to me to ask
whether I was good enough； or to hesitate over my unfitness； or
to find out what I thought of his church； or 。 。 。 to wait until
I should be satisfied。 Satisfied！ I was satisfied。 Had I not
found my God and my Father？ Did he not love me？ Had he not
called me？ Was there not a Church into which I might enter？ 。 。
。 Since then I have had direct answers to prayerso significant
as to be almost like talking with God and hearing his answer。
The idea of God's reality has never left me for one moment。〃
Here is still another case； the writer being a man aged
twenty…seven； in which the experience； probably almost as
characteristic； is less vividly described：
〃I have on a number of occasions felt that I had enjoyed a period
of intimate communion with the divine。 These meetings came
unasked and unexpected； and seemed to consist merely in the
temporary obliteration of the conventionalities which usually
surround and cover my life。 。 。 。 Once it was when from the
summit of a high mountain I looked over a gashed and corrugated
landscape extending to a long convex of ocean that ascended to
the horizon； and again from the same point when I could see
nothing beneath me but a boundless expanse of white cloud； on the
blown surface of which a few high peaks； including the one I was
on； seemed plunging about as if they were dragging their anchors。
What I felt on these occasions was a temporary loss of my own
identity； accompanied by an illumination which revealed to me a
deeper significance than I had been wont to attach to life。 It
is in this that I find my justification for saying that I have
enjoyed communication with God。 Of course the absence of such a
being as this would be chaos。 I cannot conceive of life without
its presence。〃
Of the more habitual and so to speak chronic sense of God's
presence the following sample from Professor Starbuck's
manuscript collection may serve to give an idea。 It is from a
man aged forty…nineprobably thousands of unpretending
Christians would write an almost identical account。
〃God is more real to me than any thought or thing or person。 I
feel his presence positively； and the more as I live in closer
harmony with his laws as written in my body and mind。 I feel him
in the sunshine or rain； and awe mingled with a delicious
restfulness most nearly describes my feelings。 I talk to him as
to a companion in prayer and praise； and our communion is
delightful。 He answers me again and again； often in words so
clearly spoken that it seems my outer ear must have carried the
tone； but generally in strong mental impressions。 Usually a text
of Scripture； unfolding some new view of him and his love for me；
and care for my safety。 I could give hundreds of instances； in
school matters； social problems； financial difficulties； etc。
That he is mine and I am his never leaves me； it is an abiding
joy。 Without it life would be a blank； a desert； a shoreless；
trackless waste。〃
I subjoin some more examples from writers of different ages and
sexes。 They are also from Professor Starbuck's collection； and
their number might be greatly multiplied。 The first is from a
man twenty…seven years old：
〃God is quite real to me。 I talk to him and often get answers。
Thoughts sudden and distinct from any I have been entertaining
come to my mind after asking God for his direction。 Something
over a year ago I was for some weeks in the direst perplexity。
When the trouble first appeared before me I was dazed； but before
long （two or three hours） I could hear distinctly a passage of
Scripture： 'My grace is sufficient for thee。' Every time my
thoughts turned to the trouble I could hear this quotation。 I
don't think I ever doubted the existence of God； or had him drop
out of my consciousness。 God has frequently stepped into my
affairs very perceptibly； and I feel that he directs many little
details all the time。 But on two or three occasions he has
ordered ways for me very contrary to my ambitions and plans。〃
Another statement （none the less valuable psychologically for
being so decidedly childish） is that of a boy of seventeen：
〃Sometimes as I go to church； I sit down； join in the service；
and before I go out I feel as if God was with me； right side of
me； singing and reading the Psalms with me。 。 。 。 And then again
I feel as if I could sit beside him； and put my arms around him；
kiss him； etc。 When I am taking Holy Communion at the altar； I
try to get with him and generally feel his presence。〃
I let a few other cases follow at random：
〃God surrounds me like the physical atmosphere。 He is closer to
me than my own breath。 In him literally I live and move and have
my being。〃
〃There are times when I seem to stand in his very presence； to
talk with him。 Answers to prayer have come； sometimes direct and
overwhelming in their revelation of his presence and powers。
There are times when God seems far off； but this is always my own
fault。〃
〃I have the sense of a presence； strong； and at the same time
soothing； which hovers over me。 Sometimes it seems to enwrap me
with sustaining arms。〃
Such is the human ontological imagination； and such is the
convincingness of what it brings to birth。 Unpicturable beings
are realized； and realized with an intensity almost like that of
an hallucination。 They determine our vital attitude as
decisively as the vital attitude of lovers is determined by the
habitual sense； by which each is haunted； of the other being in
the world。 A lover has notoriously this sense of the continuous
being of his idol； even when his attention is addressed to other
matters and he no longer represents her features。 He cannot
forget her； she uninterruptedly affects him through and through。
I spoke of the convincingness of these feelings of reality； and I
must dwell a moment longer on that point。 They are as convincing
to those who have them as any direct sensible experiences can be；
and they are； as a rule； much more convincing than results
established by mere logic ever are。 One may indeed be entirely
without them； probably more than one of you here present is
without them in any marked degree； but if you do have them； and
have them at all strongly； the probability is that you cannot
help regarding them as genuine perceptions of truth； as
revelations of a kind of reality which no adverse argument；
however unanswerable by you in words； can expel from your belief。
The opinion opposed to mysticism in philosophy is sometimes
spoken of as RATIONALISM。 Rationalism insists that all our
beliefs ought ultimately to find for themselves articulate
grounds。 Such grounds； for rationalism； must consist of four
things： （1） definitely statable abstract principles； （2）
definite facts of sensation； （3） definite hypotheses based on
such facts； and （4） definite inferences logically drawn。 Vague
impressions of something indefinable have no place in the
rationalistic system； which on its positive side is surely a
splendid intellectual tendency； for not only are all our
philosophies fruits of it； but physical science （amongst other
good things） is its result。
Nevertheless； if we look on man's whole mental life as it exists；
on the life of men that lies in them apart from their learning
and science； and that they inwardly and privately follow； we have
to confess that the part of it of which rationalism can give an
account is relatively superficial。 It is the part that has the
prestige undoubtedly； for it has the loquacity； it can challenge
you fo