lecture09-第1节
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Lecture IX
CONVERSION
To be converted； to be regenerated； to receive grace； to
experience religion； to gain an assurance； are so many phrases
which denote the process； gradual or sudden； by which a self
hitherto divided； and consciously wrong inferior and unhappy；
becomes unified and consciously right superior and happy； in
consequence of its firmer hold upon religious realities。 This at
least is what conversion signifies in general terms； whether or
not we believe that a direct divine operation is needed to bring
such a moral change about。
Before entering upon a minuter study of the process； let me
enliven our understanding of the definition by a concrete
example。 I choose the quaint case of an unlettered man； Stephen
H。 Bradley； whose experience is related in a scarce American
pamphlet。＇98＇
＇98＇ A sketch of the life of Stephen H。 Bradley； from the age of
five to twenty four years； including his remarkable experience of
the power of the Holy Spirit on the second evening of November；
1829。 Madison； Connecticut； 1830。
I select this case because it shows how in these inner
alterations one may find one unsuspected depth below another； as
if the possibilities of character lay disposed in a series of
layers or shells； of whose existence we have no premonitory
knowledge。
Bradley thought that he had been already fully converted at the
age of fourteen。
〃I thought I saw the Saviour； by faith； in human shape； for about
one second in the room； with arms extended； appearing to say to
me； Come。 The next day I rejoiced with trembling； soon after； my
happiness was so great that I said that I wanted to die； this
world had no place in my affections； as I knew of； and every day
appeared as solemn to me as the Sabbath。 I had an ardent desire
that all mankind might feel as I did； I wanted to have them all
love God supremely。 Previous to this time I was very selfish and
self…righteous； but now I desired the welfare of all mankind； and
could with a feeling heart forgive my worst enemies； and I felt
as if I should be willing to bear the scoffs and sneers of any
person； and suffer anything for His sake； if I could be the means
in the hands of God； of the conversion of one soul。〃
Nine years later； in 1829； Mr。 Bradley heard of a revival of
religion that had begun in his neighborhood。 〃Many of the young
converts；〃 he says； 〃would come to me when in meeting and ask me
if I had religion； and my reply generally was； I hope I have。
This did not appear to satisfy them； they said they KNEW THEY had
it。 I requested them to pray for me； thinking with myself； that
if I had not got religion now； after so long a time professing to
be a Christian； that it was time I had； and hoped their prayers
would be answered in my behalf。
〃One Sabbath； I went to hear the Methodist at the Academy。 He
spoke of the ushering in of the day of general judgment； and he
set it forth in such a solemn and terrible manner as I never
heard before。 The scene of that day appeared to be taking place；
and so awakened were all the powers of my mind that； like Felix；
I trembled involuntarily on the bench where I was sitting； though
I felt nothing at heart。 The next day evening I went to hear him
again。 He took his text from Revelation： 'And I saw the dead；
small and great； stand before God。' And he represented the
terrors of that day in such a manner that it appeared as if it
would melt the heart of stone。 When he finished his discourse；
an old gentleman turned to me and said 'This is what I call
preaching。' I thought the same； but my feelings were still
unmoved by what he said； and I did not enjoy religion； but I
believe he did。
〃I will now relate my experience of the power of the Holy Spirit
which took place on the same night。 Had any person told
me previous to this that I could have experienced the power of
the Holy Spirit in the manner which I did； I could not have
believed it； and should have thought the person deluded that told
me so。 I went directly home after the meeting； and when I got
home I wondered what made me feel so stupid。 I retired to rest
soon after I got home； and felt indifferent to the things of
religion until I began to be exercised by the Holy Spirit； which
began in about five minutes after； in the following manner：
〃At first； I began to feel my heart beat very quick all on a
sudden； which made me at first think that perhaps something is
going to ail me； though I was not alarmed； for I felt no pain。
My heart increased in its beating； which soon convinced me that
it was the Holy Spirit from the effect it had on me。 I began to
feel exceedingly happy and humble； and such a sense of
unworthiness as I never felt before。 I could not very well help
speaking out； which I did； and said； Lord； I do not deserve this
happiness； or words to that effect； while there was a stream
（resembling air in feeling） came into my mouth and heart in a
more sensible manner than that of drinking anything； which
continued； as near as I could judge； five minutes or more； which
appeared to be the cause of such a palpitation of my heart。 It
took complete possession of my soul； and I am certain that I
desired the Lord； while in the midst of it； not to give me any
more happiness； for it seemed as if I could not contain what I
had got。 My heart seemed as if it would burst； but it did not
stop until I felt as if I was unutterably full of the love and
grace of God。 In the mean time while thus exercised； a thought
arose in my mind； what can it mean？ and all at once； as if to
answer it； my memory became exceedingly clear； and it appeared to
me just as if the New Testament was placed open before me； eighth
chapter of Romans； and as light as if some candle lighted was
held for me to read the 26th and 27th verses of that chapter； and
I read these words： 'The Spirit helpeth our infirmities with
groanings which cannot be uttered。' And all the time that my
heart was a…beating； it made me groan like a person in distress；
which was not very easy to stop； though I was in no pain at all；
and my brother being in bed in another room came and opened the
door； and asked me if I had got the toothache。 I told him no；
and that he might get to sleep。 I tried to stop。 I felt
unwilling to go to sleep myself； I was so happy； fearing I should
lose it thinking within myself
'My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this。'
And while I lay reflecting； after my heart stopped beating；
feeling as if my soul was full of the Holy Spirit； I thought that
perhaps there might be angels hovering round my bed。 I felt just
as if I wanted to converse with them； and finally I spoke； saying
'O ye affectionate angels！ how is it that ye can take so much
interest in our welfare； and we take so little interest in our
own。' After this； with difficulty I got to sleep； and when I
awoke in the morning my first thoughts were： What has become of
my happiness？ and； feeling a degree of it in my heart； I asked
for more； which was given to me as quick as thought。 I then got
up to dress myself； and found to my surprise that I could but
just stand。 It appeared to me as if it was a little heaven upon
earth。 My soul felt as completely raised above the fears of
death as of going to sleep； and like a bird in a cage； I had a
desire； if it was the will of God； to get released from my body
and to dwell with Christ； though willing to live to do good to
others； and to warn sinners to repent。 I went downstairs feeling
as solemn as if I had lost all my friends； and thinking with
myself； that I would not let my parents know it until I had first
looked into the Testament。 I went directly to the shelf and
looked into it； at the eighth of Romans； and every verse seemed
to almost speak and to confirm it to be truly the Word of God；
and as if my feelings corresponded with the meaning of the word。
I then told my parents of it； and told them that I thought that
they must see that when I spoke； that it was not my own voice；
for it appeared so to me。 My speech seemed entirely under the
control of the Spirit within me； I do not mean that the words
which I spoke were not my own； for they were。 I thought that I
was influenced similar to the Apostles on the
