252
THE K I N G ' S BUS I NE S S
He cries in our heart, until He teaches us, to cry, Ajbba, Father. He testifies with personal witnesses. “ He shall testify and ye also testify.” He approves with personal counsel lors. “ It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us.” He invites with personal messengers. “ The Spirit and the Bride say, Come.” He repeats the beatitude pronounced on those who die in the Lord. “ Yea, saith the Spirit, they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.” Here are some twenty different actions, some of them standing forth as the greatest facts in the past history of the Church of Christ, and many of them being repeated continually in the ex perience of believers, but all proving beyond contradiction the operation of an Intelligent and Personal Agent. 3. The Spirit is capable of suffer ing such injuries as a person only can suffer. He can be vexed. For we read of Israel, “ They returned and vexed his Holy Spirit, therefore he was turned to be their, enemy.” He can be grieved. For we are en treated, “ Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.” He can be blasphemed. For we are solemnly warned, “ He that shall blas pheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness.” He can' be lied against and tempted. For St. Peter demanded of Ananias, “ Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to (attempt to deceive) the Holy Ghost?” and of Sapphira his wife, “How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?” He can be insulted. For in the Epistle to the Hebrews we read that the wilful and persevering apostate “ hath done despite to the Spirit of grace.” I do not here bring forward the awful charge of St. Stephen against the Jews, “ Ye do always resist (dash as waves against a rock) the Holy Ghost; as your
fathers did, so do ye,” for such resist ance is conceivable against impersonal power or influence. But with regard to the other Scriptures adduced, would it be possible to speak of an influence being vexed, grieved, blasphemed, lied against, tempted, insulted? 4. The Spirit is expressly called an other Comforter, and is designated by the use of masculine pronouns, though the noun itself, Spirit, is neuter. Thus in the memorable promise, “ I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter,” the very name Comforter implies a personal advocate, helper, consoler. None but an intelli gent, loving person, who could discrimi nate >and sympathize, and minister time ly aid, could fulfil the office of a Com forter. Such Jesus Christ promises the Spirit of truth shall be. Such He was Himself; and as such bears the same name, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” And moreover He here distinguishes BETWIXT Himself and the one whom the Father would send in His name by designating Him as ANOTHER Com forter. So Augustine, quoted by Words worth, says, “ By calling, the person here promised to be sent, another Paraclete He shows that there is one person, who- sends, of the Son;and another to be sent, of the Holy Ghost.” And Chry sostom, “ By the word another, Christ shows the distinction of persons; by the word Paraclete He declares the equality of dignity.” But further, although the noun it self, Spirit, is neuter, the Comforter here promised is designated by the use of masculine pronouns. “ But the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, which the Father will send in my name, he (that Person) shall teach you all things.” “ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth which
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online