im: and
when he saw Him he became so like Him, that his dying utterances
corresponded with those of his LORD on the Cross. When Saul, likewise,
saw the glory of his risen SAVIOUR, on the way to Damascus, the vision
at midday was of a light above the brightness of the sun shining round
about him; and the effect of that heavenly vision changed the whole
current of his life, making him a follower of the CHRIST, who pleased
not Himself, and making the spirit manifested in his first cry, "LORD,
what wilt _Thou_ have me to do?" the spirit of his life ever after. And
so when the LORD makes the light of His countenance to shine upon any of
His people, in the measure in which with unveiled face they discern the
beauty of the LORD, there is a moral and progressive change into His
likeness, the work of the LORD, the SPIRIT.
[C: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away."--Cant. ii. 10; "Come
with Me from Lebanon, My spouse."--Cant. iv. 8.]
THE LORD, THE SPIRIT.
We have considered the bountiful overflow of the FATHER'S love; and our
hearts have burned within us as we dwelt upon and felt the glow of the
love of the SON. Now, as we think of the blessing of the LORD, the
SPIRIT, may He reveal Himself to us through these holy Words, which were
written by His inspiration and which can never be fully understood and
enjoyed save by His own illumination. The Bible is a supernatural book,
a divine revelation: the HOLY SPIRIT is the supernatural, the divine
GUIDE to its meaning. From the "wise and prudent" its teachings are
hidden;--hence the questionings of some of the learned only confirm its
truth; but to "babes"--to all those, whether learned or unlearned, in
whom the HOLY GHOST has wrought the child-like spirit, it is an opened
book: they love it, and feast upon it, and grow thereby.
It is very important to have clear thoughts about the third person of
the Trinity. Many Christians fail in this respect, and lose much in
consequence. He has as distinct personality as has the SON of GOD; and
we must not think or speak of Him vaguely, as though He were an
influence merely and not a person. Our SAVIOUR teaches us that _we_
should _know_ Him, "for He abideth with you, and shall be in you." But
are there not many of the LORD'S people to whom He is not yet "a living,
bright Reality"?
So important are the presence and the work of the HOLY GHOST, that our
LORD assured His disciples that it was expedient for them that _He_
should
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