THE KING’S BUSINESS
496
in the acquirement of knowledge we have a recognition by science of the thing in human life which corresponds with this great truth of the New Test ament. Here we have recognized in the nature of man the very thing that makes possible this importation oi knowledge spoken of by Christ. So we find that what we would naturally expect in a normal universe in regard to this matter of guidance is true. God has actually provided a means by which we may know all that it is neces sary for us to know in order to live our lives at their best. Jesus could, therefore, say to the men of His day, “If any man willeth to do His will he shall know.” If we are willing to obey God He will give His Holy Spirit in order that we may be guided into what is His will concerning us. The most of us know a good deal more than we are willing to do. We have a great deal more truth than we are willing to live. It is at this point that the revelation of truth is arrested. A great deal of the doubt and ignorance of the world has its roots in the disobedience and rebellion of the heart. It would be a very easy matter to illustrate this fact from experience. Paul speaking of it, says, “Knowing God they glori fied Him not as God,” therefore they “became vain in their reasonings and their senseless heart was darkened.” That is the realm in which much of our strange reasoning and doubt have their origin. We are in ignorance and darkness not because God wants us to wander in the shades of intellectual and spiritual night but because we are are not willing to obey truth as it is revealed to us, II. How to Get Strength to Carry God’s Will Into Effect? This brings us to the second ques tion suggested. Men may feel that their disobedience is not a question of
tion which are easy enough to answer. Men often ask questions about a lot of things that they know perfectly well. They ask them only because they want to ease their consciences in their disobedience of the truth they know. Every man knows that he ought to be clean, and honest, and true, and useful. He knows God. wants every man to be that. What ever the particular work God has for him he knows that that is the kind of a man God wants to do it. But be-)| yond these things that are clear and obvious there are things that are not always easy to know. There are cer tain questions of interpretation of truth and conduct in which we are sorely in need of guidance. If there is a need you may depend upon it that there is a provision made to meet that need. If we are respon sible before God for what we do or for what we fail to do, there must be a way by which we can find out what we ought to do and what we ought not to do. How did Christ who lived a normal life, come to know these things? In speaking to the disciples (Luke 12:12) He told them that in certain circumstances they were not to be anxious because the Holy Spirit would teach them. Here we have a key to Christ’s own life. He was led and taught by the Holy Spirit. He told the disciples towards the close of His life that the Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth. That prom ise was fulfilled in the life and expe rience of' the disciples. When the Spirit was given the right of way in their lives they came to understand things in a way that they could not understand them under the teaching of Christ Himself. God has given the Holy Spirit to guide men into truth—all the truth that is necessary to the fulfillment of their life. In Prof. Bergson’s conten tion regarding the place of intuition
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