As the people
in the time of Christ had opportunity enough to inquire about His
resurrection, in seeing how His disciples continued to hold together,
so our neighbors also see our close alliance, which has nothing to do
with the affairs of this world; and if they, because of this, inquire
about what unites us, the answer will not be lacking to them. But our
inner history we will as little thrust upon them as the risen Christ
thrust His presence on those who had slain Him, and who had therefore
no desire to see Him. Instead of this, as He showed Himself only to
His own, we also will make known our inner life only to those who are
just in the same way our own; who, glowing with the same love, and
cheered by the same faith, can tell us in return how the Lord has
revealed Himself to them. Not by any means as if we followed some
mysterious course, and that those only whose experiences had been
entirely alike should separate themselves into little exclusive
groups; for even the days of the Lord's resurrection present examples
of various kinds of experience, and of one common inner fellowship
connected with them all. And not only so, but even those who as yet
have experienced nothing at all are not sent empty away.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209