They spoke with a reminding voice, and it can still be heard across the years. They bid us not to think of the words of Jesus too vaguely. The greatest beauty of the gospel is its truth. The ideal of Jesus will remain unrealized until men have learned to accept his words at their face value, and to act upon the assumption that they are true. Faith knows no other testimony so worthy as that of obedience. The wonder of Jesus is the fact that his power so far outreaches the limits of our experience. The Laboratory Test (1921) We may argue about the Christian faith all we will, but the only way to appraise its real merits is to apply the laboratory test. An ancient singer challenges: “Oh, taste, and see that the Lord is good.” This is an invitation to possess the knowledge of experience. Certain things about Christianity must be taken by faith. Its practical value, however, is demonstrable. It is demonstrated in our civilization. It is seen in the new life of mission lands. It is revealed in the personal experiences of twice-born men. The testimony of opinion is uncertain. The testimony of experience is final and unanswerable. Arguments on the existence of love do not count with one who loves. The thing experienced demands no proof by logical processes. A laboratory test of anything demands two things. First, one must enter the laboratory with an open mind. One does not go there to confirm his prejudices, but to discover the truth. He must be willing to accept the truth which he discovers. One cannot alter the truth to suit himself. He must conform himself to the truth. Second, the honest investigator in the laboratory must put a thing to a complete and honest test. He must do so regardless of his own opinions or desires. The explorer must fulfil all the conditions of discovery before he announces his conclusions. One has no right to deny Christianity until he knows it fully, and has proven it a failure by actual test. Were this condition fulfilled there would be no unbelievers. The faith has nothing to fear from being tested. Indeed, the more it is tested the better. Whoever tries it honestly will find that it works. It can afford to invite the pragmatic test, for it is supremely a workable religion. The best things never can be adequately appraised at the first glance. They must be tried. The Nearness of Destiny (1921) In the opening sentence of the Book of Revelation John states that in it are related the things which must shortly come to pass. In that sentence he indicates an attitude toward the events of life which it is worth while for all to hold. He appreciates the fact that the future is not remote. With at least some of its events we are face to face. From none of them are we very far removed. Destiny is no far distant thing. The processes that build it are continually going on.