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It would not be a fair thing to test a philosophy, or a body of political, or scientific truth, by the conduct and character of the men that professed it; but it is a perfectly fair thing, under certain conditions and in certain limits, to test a system of practical morality, which professes to do certain things with people's character and conduct, by its professors. It is just as fair, when a creed comes before our notice which assumes to influence men's conduct, to say, "Well! I should like to see it working," as it is for any of you mill-owners to say, when man comes to you with a fine invention upon paper, "Have you got a working model of it? Has it ever been tried? What have been the results that have been secured by it?" Or as it would be to say to anybody that claimed to have got a "medicine that will cure consumption," to say,"Have you any cases? Can you quote any cures?" So when we Christians stand up and say, "We have a faith which is able to deaden men's minds to the world; which is able to make them unselfish; which is able to lift them up above cares and sorrows; which is able to take men and transform their whole nature, and put new desires and hopes and joys into them," it is quite fair for the world to say, "Have you? Does it? Does it do so with you? Can you produce your lives as working models of Christianity?"

(A. Maclaren, D.D.)

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KJV: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

WEB: for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.