Christian Contacts

The next day at one o’clock I Twent to Mr. Baker’s prayer-meeting. Every There I was introduced to Miss Harris, Miss Gabb, Mr. Coates and others, one kneeled down to pray and I followed suit. The prayers were supplications to God for various things, according to each person’s desire. Thus the usual forms were for the day to be passed peacefully, or for God to open the doors of the heart.

The next day at one o’clock, I went to Mr. Baker’s prayer meeting. There I was introduced to Miss Harris, Miss Gabb, Mr. Coates and others. Everyone knelt to pray, and I did the same. Each person asked God for various things, according to their wishes. Common prayers were for a peaceful day or for God to open the doors of the heart.

A prayer was now added for my welfare: ‘Lord, show the path to the new brother, who has come amongst us. Give him, Lord, the peace that Thou hast given us. May the Lord Jesus who has saved us save him too. We ask all this in the name of Jesus.’ There was no singing of hymns or other music at these meetings. After the supplication for something special every day, we dispersed, each going to his lunch, that being the hour for it. The prayer did not take more than five minutes.

A prayer for my welfare was now added: ‘Lord, show the way to the new brother who has joined us. Lord, give him the peace you have given us. May the Lord Jesus, who has saved us, save him too. We ask all this in the name of Jesus.’ There were no hymns or other music at these meetings. After a prayer for something special each day, we went our separate ways. It was lunchtime, so each of us went to lunch. The prayer took no more than five minutes.

The Misses Harris and Gabb were both elderly maiden ladies. Mr. Coates was a Quaker. The two ladies lived together, and they gave me a standing invitation to four o’clock tea, at their house, every Sunday.

Miss Harris and Miss Gabb were both elderly, unmarried women. Mr. Coates was a Quaker. The two women lived together and invited me to tea at their home every Sunday at four o’clock.

When we met on Sundays, I used to give Mr. Coates my religious diary for the week, and discuss with him the books I had read and the impression they had left on me. The ladies used to narrate their sweet experiences, and talk about the peace they had found.

When we met on Sundays, I gave Mr. Coates my religious diary for the week. We discussed the books I had read and the impressions they had left on me. The ladies shared their sweet experiences and talked about the peace they had found.

Mr. Coates was a frank-hearted staunch young man. We went out for walks together, and he also took me to other Christian friends.

Mr. Coates was an open and steadfast young man. We went for walks together, and he also introduced me to his other Christian friends.

As we came closer to each other, he began to give me books of his own choice, until my shelf was filled with them. He loaded me with books, as it were. In pure faith I consented to read all those books, and as I went on reading them, we discussed them.

As we grew closer, he began giving me books he had chosen, until my shelf was full of them. He loaded me down with books, so to speak. Trusting him completely, I agreed to read all the books. As I read them, we discussed them.

I read a number of such books in 1893. I do not remember the names of them all, but they included the Commentary of Dr. Parker of the City Temple, Pearson’s Many Infallible Proofs and Butler’s Analogy. Parts of these were unintelligible to me. I liked some things in them, while I did not like others. Many Infallible Proofs were proofs in support of the religion of the Bible as the author understood it. The book had no effect on me. Parker’s Commentary was morally stimulating, but it could not be of any help to one, who had no faith in the prevalent Christian beliefs. Butler’s Analogy struck me to be a very profound and difficult book, which should be read four or five times to be understood properly. It seemed to me to be written with a view to converting atheists to theism. The arguments advanced in it regarding the existence of God were unnecessary for me, as I had then passed the stage of unbelief; but the arguments in proof of Jesus being the only incarnation of God and the Mediator between God and man left me unmoved.

I read a number of such books in 1893. I do not remember all their names. But they included Dr. Parker of the City Temple’s Commentary, Pearson’s Many Infallible Proofs, and Butler’s Analogy. I could not understand parts of these books. I liked some things in them, but not others. Many Infallible Proofs offered proofs in support of the religion of the Bible as the author understood it. The book had no effect on me. Parker’s Commentary encouraged me morally, but it could not help someone who had no faith in common Christian beliefs. Butler’s Analogy struck me as a very profound and difficult book. I thought it should be read four or five times to be properly understood. It seemed to have been written to convert atheists to belief in God. I did not need its arguments for the existence of God, because I had already passed the stage of unbelief. But its arguments that Jesus was the only incarnation of God and the Mediator between God and man left me unmoved.

But Mr. Coates was not the man easily to accept defeat. He had great affection for me. He saw, round my neck, the Vaishnava necklace of Tulasi-beads. He thought it to be superstition, and was pained by it. ‘This superstition does not become you. Come, let me break the necklace.’

But Mr. Coates was not easily defeated. He cared deeply for me. He saw the Vaishnava necklace of Tulasi beads around my neck. He thought it was a superstition, and it troubled him. ‘This superstition is beneath you. Come, let me break the necklace.’

‘No, you will not. It is a sacred gift from my mother.’

‘No, you will not. It is a sacred gift from my mother.’

‘But do you believe in it?’

‘But do you believe in it?’

‘I do not know its mysterious significance. I do not think I should come to harm if I did not wear it. But I cannot, without sufficient reason, give up a necklace that she put round my neck out of love and in the conviction that it would be conducive to my welfare. When, with the passage of time, it wears away and breaks of its own accord, I shall have no desire to get a new one. But this necklace cannot be broken.’

‘I do not know the necklace’s mysterious meaning. I do not think I would come to harm if I did not wear it. But I cannot give it up without a good reason. She put it around my neck out of love, believing it would help keep me safe. When the necklace wears out and breaks on its own, I will not want a new one. But I cannot break this necklace.’

Mr. Coates could not appreciate my argument, as he had no regard for my religion. He was looking forward to delivering me from the abyss of ignorance. He wanted to convince me, that no matter whether there was some truth in other religions, salvation was impossible for me unless I accepted Christianity which represented the truth, and that my sins would not be washed away except by the intercession of Jesus, and that all good works were useless.

Mr. Coates could not understand my argument because he had no respect for my religion. He hoped to rescue me from the depths of ignorance. He wanted to convince me that, even if other religions held some truth, I could not attain salvation unless I accepted Christianity. Christianity, he believed, represented the truth. He also wanted to convince me that only Jesus could intercede to wash away my sins, and that all good works were useless.

Just as he introduced me to several books, he introduced me to several friends whom he regarded as staunch Christians. One of these introductions was to a family which belonged to the Plymouth Brethren, a Christian sect.

Just as he introduced me to several books, he introduced me to several friends he considered devoted Christians. One of these introductions was to a family belonging to the Plymouth Brethren, a Christian sect.

Many of the contacts for which Mr. Coates was responsible were good. Most struck me as being God-fearing. But during my contact with this family, one of the Plymouth Brethren confronted me with an argument for which I was not prepared:

Many of the people Mr. Coates introduced me to were good. Most struck me as God-fearing. But while I was in contact with this family, one of the Plymouth Brethren confronted me with an argument I was not prepared for:

‘You cannot understand the beauty of our religion. From what you say it appears, that you must be brooding over your transgressions every moment of your life, always mending them and atoning for them. How can this ceaseless cycle of action bring you redemption? You can never have peace. You admit that we are all sinners. Now look at the perfection of our belief. Our attempts at improvement and atonement are futile. And yet redemption we must have. How can we bear the burden of sin? We can but throw it on Jesus. He is the only sinless Son of God. It is His word, that those who believe in Him shall have everlasting life. Therein lies God’s infinite mercy. And as we believe in the atonement of Jesus, our own sins do not bind us. Sin we must. It is impossible to live in this world sinless. And therefore Jesus suffered and atoned for all the sins of mankind. Only he who accepts His great redemption can have eternal peace. Think what a life of restlessness is yours, and what a promise of peace we have.’

‘You cannot understand the beauty of our religion. From what you say, you must spend every moment dwelling on your sins, trying to correct them and make amends. How can this endless cycle of action bring you redemption? You can never have peace. You admit that we are all sinners. Now look at the perfection of our belief. Our attempts to improve and make amends are useless. Yet we must have redemption. How can we bear the burden of sin? We can only place it on Jesus. He is the only sinless Son of God. He says that those who believe in him will have everlasting life. That is where God’s infinite mercy lies. Because we believe that Jesus made amends for our sins, our sins no longer bind us. We must sin. It is impossible to live in this world without sinning. So Jesus suffered and made amends for all the sins of humanity. Only someone who accepts his great redemption can have eternal peace. Think how restless your life is, and what a promise of peace we have.’

The argument utterly failed to convince me. I humbly replied:

The argument did not convince me at all. I replied humbly:

‘If this be the Christianity acknowledged by all Christians, I cannot accept it. I do not seek redemption from the consequences of my sin. I seek to be redeemed from sin itself, or rather from the very thought of sin. Until I have attained that end, I shall be content to be restless.’

‘If this is the Christianity that all Christians accept, I cannot accept it. I do not seek freedom from the consequences of my sin. I seek freedom from sin itself, or rather from the very thought of sin. Until I achieve that, I will be content to remain restless.’

To which the Plymouth Brother rejoined: ‘I assure you, your attempt is fruitless. Think again over what I have said.’

The Plymouth Brother replied: ‘I assure you, your attempt is pointless. Think again about what I have said.’

And the Brother proved as good as his word. He voluntarily committed transgressions, and showed me that he was undisturbed by the thought of them.

And the Brother kept his word. He deliberately did things he knew were wrong and showed me that thinking about them did not trouble him.

But I already knew before meeting with these friends, that all Christians did not believe in such a theory of atonement. Mr. Coates himself walked in the fear of God. His heart was pure, and he believed in the possibility of self-purification. The two ladies also shared this belief. Some of the books that came into my hands were full of devotion. So although Mr. Coates was very much disturbed by this latest experience of mine, I was able to reassure him and tell him, that the distorted belief of a Plymouth Brother could not prejudice me against Christianity.

But before meeting these friends, I already knew that not all Christians believed in such a theory of atonement. Mr. Coates himself lived in reverence for God. His heart was pure, and he believed that people could purify themselves. The two ladies shared this belief. Some of the books I came across were full of devotion. Mr. Coates was deeply troubled by my latest experience. But I was able to reassure him that one Plymouth Brother’s distorted belief could not prejudice me against Christianity.

My difficulties lay elsewhere. They were with regard to the Bible and its accepted interpretation.

My difficulties lay elsewhere. They concerned the Bible and its accepted interpretation.