32 X 660 PREFACE BEFORE Paul had cast it into a theology, or "John" had developed it into a philosophy; before the Catholic had organized it into an institution, or the Protestant had stereotyped it into a creed, primitive Christianity was known simply as the Way. Jesus lived his life originally, successfully; in love to God and man. In living this gentle, generous, joyous life, he struck out a Way he wanted every one to know and share. A Way of life, like the trade of a carpenter or the art of a musician, has certain principles and laws, discovered by experience, and as precepts capable of being taught. These precepts are not arbitrary impositions to be enforced by pains and penalties. Nothing was farther from Jesus' purpose than to be such a taskmaster over the consciences of men. Because his Way could not be had apart from the principles on which it rests, Jesus gave himself, eagerly and enthusiastically, to the work of teaching and preaching them. : These principles of the Way were to him what the laws of navigation are to the sailor, and the laws of perspective to the artist helps in doing the thing he most delighted to do. Though to the outsider these principles may seem like a yoke and a burden, yet, viewed as essential conditions of living the noblest and happiest life, even the yoke becomes, to all who wear it rightly, easy; and the burden light to all who catch the spirit of his Way. The most obvious advantage of a return to the primitive view of Christianity as a Way of life, rather than an ecclesiastical institution or a system of theological or philosophic doctrine, is the experimental basis it gives to the Christian life. In all matters of experience proof follows, does not precede, the test. A man, for instance, cavils at golf. The golf enthusiast is dumb, if he be wise. He knows it is of no use to argue with his critic. His only chance is to entice him on to the links, put the driver in his hand, and then, if the caviler makes one good drive, the chances are ten to one that he will become a devotee of the sport, which, in advance of personal experience, he boastfully despised. Proof founded on experience cannot be refuted or denied. Yet since experience comes first and proof second in all practical matters, industrial, artistic, intellectual, moral, spiritual, we must take our initial experience as the golfer takes his first drive, as the swimmer takes his first stroke, in advance of demonstration, on the recommendation of others who have had the experience; or, as Jesus, Paul, Augus tine, Luther; and Paulsen, Harnack, Sabatier, and James in our day, tell us, on faith. Jesus' Way is simply one of many possible ways in which a man may live. Ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of people have tried it and found it superior to any other way of life they have experienced or can conceive. Their experience and testimony create a strong presumption in its favor. One's own lack of experience is no argument against it. The responsibility rests entirely on the will of the individual. If a man does not skate, the fault is not with the laws of motion or the properties of ice. It is because he does not believe it is worth while to put on the skates, and take a few incidental falls. Precisely so, if a man is not a Christian, he cannot, in these days of the supremacy of the empirical method, throw the blame on to anything so respecta |