pilgrim in progress

Here is more of the quote I posted the other day:

“Modern Christian books and magazines contain much about Christian doctrine, Christian standards, problems of Christian conduct, techniques of Christian service – but little about the inner realities of fellowship with God. Our sermons contain much sound doctrine – but little relating to the converse between the soul and the Savior. We do not spend much time, alone or together, in dwelling on the wonder of the fact that God and sinners have communion at all; no, we just take that for granted, and give our minds to other matters. Thus we make it plain that communion with God is a small thing for us. But how different were the Puritans! The whole aim of their ‘practical and experimental’ preaching and writing was to explore the reaches of the doctrine and practice of man’s communion with God. In private they talked freely of their experiences of communion with God, for they had deep experiences to talk about” (pp 215-216, The Quest for Godliness, J.I. Packer).