INTERCOURSE WITH . GOD [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Those
who believe that Christianity has everything to gain by free and frank discussion of its claims are grateful to the Spectator for the series of articles entitled " The Challenge to Religious Orthodoxy." The challengers seem to have one common characteristic. As is perhaps inevitable, they all approach the Christian faith from the outside as a system which on various grounds they reject, and all, with the partial exception of Mr. Joad, naively ignore even the possibility of that personal intercourse with God which is the very core and essence of religion. To persons devoid of this experience all argumentation on the Christian side must seem futile, " a tale of little meaning tho' the words are strong." But there are others, hovering on the borderland between unbelief and faith, who feel the force of the attack and whose doubts are not resolved by the defence, however ably conducted. Would not such be well advised if they gave up for the moment the attempt to balance the arguments and pursued a different path ? If they are uncertain about the existence of God let them, while striving their hardest to lead a pure and upright life, resolve to make their own by frequent repetition, say for three months, that prayer of Charles de Foucauld, which, in the words of his biographer, M. Bazin, goes straight up to Paradise, " Mon Dieu, si. vous existez, faites-le moi connaltre."
They will probably not have to wait three months for the answer. Or, if they beliei'e in God but doubt the efficacy of prayer, let them with as much simple faith as they can com- mand bring to Him each small difficulty or ordeal of daily life before it comes along and ask for His help and guidance. Afterwards let them note the difference in result when such matters have been prayed about and when they have not. We learn the power of prayer by praying about little things.
Religion begins with an experiment and ends with an
experience."—I am, Sir, &c., J. C. Du BUISSON. The Deanery, St. Asaph, Flintshire.
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