The Holy Spirit and the Sons of God 71 fillings; one fountain, many the hearts to drink, to have in turn a well of water springing up within them. The disciples were indeed endued with power for service according to promise; on that especially their eyes and hearts had been fixed ; that was the chief thing for them ; but in the light of later Scriptures it is seen that the chief thing with God was not only to attest the glory of Jesus by the gift of the Spirit, but also "in one Spirit to baptize into one body” the “children of God,” who until then were looked upon as “scat tered abroad,” as unincorporated members. (1 Cor. 12:13 ; John 11:52; Gal. 3: 27, 28.) And the Gift, whether to the Body or to the individual mèmber, is once for all. As the Christian is once for all in Christ, so the Holy Spirit is once for all in the Christian ; but the intent of the presence of thé Spirit is Often but feebly met by the believer, just as his knowl edge of what it is to be “in Christ” is often most defective. 5. The Holy Spirit is given at once on the remission of sins to them that believe in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. It is, however, to be observed that as the Spirit acts accord ing to the truth known, or believed and obeyed, an interval unspiritual or unfruitful may come between the remission of sins and the marked manifestation of the Spirit, either in relation to holiness of life, or to power for service, or to patience in trials. I t certainly is the divine ideal of a holy life, that the presence of the Spirit should at once be made manifest on the forgiveness of sins, and continue in increasing light and power to the end. (Rom. 5:1-5 ; Titus 3:4-7.) And this steady onward progress more and more unto the perfect day has been and is true of many, who from early childhood, or from the day of conversion, in the case of adults, were led continuously by the Spirit and never came to one great crisis. With others it is not so, for it is the confession of a large number of men and women, afterward eminent for holiness, devotion, endurance, that their life previous to such
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