,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,word ,a ,treatise on the ,holy ,spirit in the ,light of a ,rational ,interpretation of the ,word of ,truth ,by ,z4 ,t4 ,,sweeney ,,gospel ,,advocate ,,company ,nashville1 ,tennessee ,,table ,,of ,,contents ,,page ,,introduction #e ,i ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,old ,,testament #i ,,ii ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,new ,,testament #ae ,,iii ,,the ,,personality ,,and ,,divinity ,,of ,,the ,,spirit #ce ,,iv ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,john ,,the ,,baptist #dc ,v ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,jesus #ec ,,vi ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,apostles #fe ,,vii ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,apostolic ,,church #ha ,,viii ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,world #ih ,,ix ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,christians #aag ,x ,,the ,,parting ,,word #ada ,,introduction ,christianity is differentiated from all the other religions by the fact that it offers its followers a spiritual dynamic in living up to its precepts4 ,that dynamic is the ,holy ,spirit1 that sets the word of ,god on fire1 warms the church from coldness to enthusiasm1 and strengthens the ,christian with a power not his own in the great battle between the flesh and the spirit4 ,christianity is unique in making this offer4 ,no other religion has any equivalent for it4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is not obtained from the deductions of logic1 the conclusions of philosophy nor from the investigations of science4 ,all these are as silent as the grave regarding his presence and potency4 ,it is solely and distinctly a matter of divine revelation4 ,it is not my purpose1 therefore1 to view this subject in the light of philosophic induction1 logical deduction nor scientific investigation1 but solely in the light of ,god's revelation4 ,i shall gather the teaching of ,god's word around several important phases of the nature1 mission and work of the ,spirit4 ,i do not speculate upon what ,god may do through his ,spirit2 ,i put no limit upon the power of the ,spirit4 ,he may work in a thousand ways1 for aught ,i know4 ,i am treating solely of that work of the ,spirit which ,god has made plain in his revealed word4 ,for the sake of simplifying the treatment of the subject1 ,i shall use the words ,spirit and ,holy ,spirit instead of other terms used in the ,scriptures4 ,the ,old ,testament has eighty-eight distinct references to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in these references there are eighteen names applied4 ,the ,new ,testament refers to the ,spirit two hundred and sixty-four times and uses thirty-nine names4 ,five names are common to both ,testaments1 which leaves fifty-two different appellatives for the ,spirit4 ,seventeen appellatives express his relation to ,god1 five his relation to the ,son1 five indicate his divine nature1 seven describe his own character1 while seventeen are used to indicate his relation to man4 ,he is called the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,spirit of ,god1 the ,spirit of ,christ1 the ,spirit of ,jesus1 the ,spirit of his ,son1 of the ,lord1 of ,truth1 of ,grace1 of ,holiness1 of ,glory1 and of ,adoption4 ,he is called the ,comforter1 but this term never denotes his relation to man in general4 ,it always describes a special relation to the apostles and their work4 ,i wish my readers to bring to the perusal of this work the same spirit of earnestness that ,i shall put into the task of producing it4 ,we read in the language of ,jesus that every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men2 but the blasphemy against the ,spirit shall not be forgiven 7,matt4 #ab3ca74 ,and every one who shall speak a word against the ,son of man1 it shall be forgiven him3 but unto him that blasphemeth against the ,holy ,spirit it shall not be forgiven 7,luke #ab3aj74 ,whatever else these terrible warnings may teach1 they undoubtedly teach that the greatest care should be taken by those who venture to discuss this subject or investigate such discussion4 ,let both writer and reader therefore cast aside any flippancy of spirit1 also any preconceptions or prejudices1 and say like young ,samuel of old3 ,speak1 ,lord2 thy servant heareth4 ,the subject may be made plain or simple according to the manner we may treat it4 ,if we view it in the light of psychological manifestation in our own hearts1 or in the lives of those around us1 which are ascribed to the ,spirit1 we shall find ourselves wandering in a maze of mystery4 ,if we follow the word of ,god1 which is the only source of knowledge1 we shall find ourselves walking in a light that shall grow brighter as we proceed4 ,it is impossible in a book the size of this to treat all the many passages that refer to the ,holy ,spirit1 but we shall give those that have important bearing upon the subject4 ,i ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,old ,,testament ,the ,old ,testament does not give the same prominence to the ,holy ,spirit as does the ,new ,testament4 ,this is doubtless true because the ,old ,testament deals largely with material things1 while the ,new ,testament is primarily and essentially dealing with the spiritual nature and actions of man4 ,it is1 however1 referred to in more than half of the books of the ,old ,testament1 while in sixteen of them there is no specific mention of the ,spirit4 ,it is1 however1 mentioned specifically eighty-eight times in the ,old ,testament4 ,it is generally spoken of as the ,spirit of ,god4 ,the ,new ,testament refers to these passages in such a way as to identify the ,holy ,spirit of the ,new with the ,spirit of ,god of the ,old4 ,in ,luke #d3ah ,jesus says3 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 ,because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor3 ,he hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives1 ,and recovering of sight to the blind4 ,to set at liberty them that are bruised1 ,to proclaim the acceptable year of the ,lord4 ,this is directly connected with the ,spirit of the ,lord ,jehovah in ,isa4 #fa3 #a1 #b4 ,in the second chapter of ,acts we have a direct connection with ,joel #b4 ,these are two of many such connections that bind together and identify the ,spirit of the ,lord of the ,old ,testament with the ,holy ,spirit of the ,new4 ,in both ,testaments we find ,god working by his ,spirit4 ,the ,old ,testament gives three lines of work performed by the ,spirit3 #a4 ,,his ,,relation ,,to ,,the ,,material ,,universe4 7#a7 ,in ,gen4 #a3b we are told3 ,and the ,spirit of ,god moved on the face of the waters4 ,the word moved carries the sense of hovered or brooded4 ,the previous condition of the world was waste and void1 or a formless waste4 ,in some way the ,spirit of ,god fashioned this formless waste into the multiplicity of contrasts that followed4 ,it bound together those elements that were homogeneous1 and separated the heterogeneous and so prepared the way for the dividing the light from the darkness that followed4 ,the mode of the operation we do not know1 but the fact of the operation is clearly revealed4 7#b7 ,by his ,spirit the heavens are garnished 7,job #bf3ac74 ,the expression could be better translated1 ,the heavens are made fair1 or beautiful4 ,that is1 he set the constellations in their order4 ,he gives one illustration when he says3 ,his hand hath pierced the swift serpent4 ,reference is here made to the beautiful constellation of ,serpens1 or ,draco1 of graceful and striking appearance4 7#c7 ,god's ,spirit made me man2 'twas the ,almighty's breath that gave me life4 ,this higher life that was given to man by an inbreathing of the ,spirit distinguishes man 7homo7 from all other animal species4 #b4 ,,the ,,relation ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,,to ,,created ,,man4 7#a7 ,gen4 #f3c4 ,god tells ,noah3 ,my ,spirit shall not strive with man for ever1 for that he also is flesh3 yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years4 ,here the work of the ,spirit passes from the form of omnipotence to one of pleading or striving4 ,the ,spirit no more impresses his will upon the material universe1 but expresses 7rolls it out7 to a rational creature4 ,by the preaching of the faithful ,noah the ,spirit plead with the antediluvians to do right and escape the destruction that was coming upon a corrupt and wicked world4 ,from this time onward the ,spirit comes on men in various ways1 qualifying them with supernatural power for the performance of special duties4 7,see ,num4 #aa3be2 ,judg4 #c3aj2 #a ,sam4 #ah3aj2 #aj3aa47 7#b7 ,but we find no case of the ,spirit falling on man to cleanse him from sin1 or to confer upon him a special blessing4 ,later on in the prophets the ,spirit becomes a revealing and inspiring ,spirit4 7,see ,isa4 #fa3a2 ,ezek4 #b3b2 ,zech4 #g3ab2 #d3f47 ,as a result of this revealing power1 we have the great facts of the ,new ,testament set forth in detail4 ,the life1 nature1 character and mission of the world's ,redeemer stand forth in beauty and symmetry4 #c4 ,,the ,,relation ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,,to ,,the ,,individual ,,man4 ,the idea of holiness is not usually associated with the ,spirit in the ,old ,testament4 ,the term ,holy ,spirit occurs but three times in it4 ,david prays 7,ps4 #ea3aa73 ,take not thy holy ,spirit from me4 ,isaiah says 7#fc3aj73 ,they rebelled and grieved his holy ,spirit2 and again 7#fc3aa7 he asks3 ,where is he that put his holy ,spirit in the midst of them8 ,it is1 however1 called good ,spirit twice 7,neh4 #i3bj2 ,ps4 #adc3aj74 ,it is mainly in reference to ,messianic days that we find this ethical and personal relation to the ,spirit of ,god4 ,these three relations of the ,spirit are in perfect harmony with ,god's law of progressive development in the world4 ,we find him at first working upon a chaotic material universe2 second1 upon society1 and1 third1 upon the individual character4 ,the work of the ,spirit upon the material universe makes it a fit dwelling-place for man4 ,his work upon society makes man fit to dwell in the universe1 and his work upon the individual character makes man fit for a righteous and holy fellowship with similar characters4 ,,ii ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,there are two hundred and sixty-four references to the ,spirit in the ,new ,testament4 ,but in many of them there is no allusion to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in many places the expressions the ,spirit1 and the ,holy ,spirit1 should be rendered ,spirit and holy ,spirit1 or frequently a holy ,spirit4 ,the passages in this chapter are arranged in two columns3 ,column ,i contains the passages in which the definite article is to be found in the ,greek4 ,these should always be translated the ,holy ,spirit4 ,column #b contains the passages where the definite article is not found and which may be often--but not always--translated a holy ,spirit4 ,the use of the article is often governed by other parts of speech4 ,where the ,spirit sustains a universal relation to mankind1 the word is italicized4 ,,matthew #c3af4 ,he saw the ,spirit of ,god #a3ah4 ,she was found with child of descending as a dove1 and coming the ,holy ,spirit4 upon him4 #a3bj4 ,that which is conceived in #d3 #a4 ,then was ,jesus led up of the her is of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil4 #c3aa4 ,he shall baptize you in the ,holy ,spirit1 and in fire4 #aj3bj4 ,for it is not ye that speak1 but the ,spirit of your #ab3bh4 ,if ,i by the ,spirit of ,god ,father that speaketh in you4 cast out demons4 #ab3ah4 ,i will put my ,spirit upon #bb3dc4 ,how then doth ,david in the him4 ,spirit call him ,lord4 #ab3ca4 ,the blasphemy against the ,spirit shall not be forgiven4 #ab3cb4 ,whosoever shall speak against the ,holy ,spirit1 it shall not be forgiven him4 #bh3ai4 ,baptizing them into the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,mark #a3aj4 ,coming up out of the water1 he saw 444 the ,spirit as a dove descending upon him4 #a3h ,he shall baptize you in the ,holy ,spirit dove descending upon him4 #a3ab4 ,straightway the ,spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness4 #c3bi4 ,whosoever shall blaspheme against the ,holy ,spirit hath never forgiveness4 #ab3cf4 ,david himself said in the ,holy ,spirit4 #ac3aa4 ,it is not ye that speak1 but the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,luke #b3bf4 ,it had been revealed unto #c3af4 ,he shall baptize you in him by the ,holy ,spirit4 the ,holy ,spirit and in fire4 #b3bg4 ,he came in the ,spirit into #d3ah4 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is the temple4 upon me4 #c3bb4 ,the ,holy ,spirit descended in #aj3ba4 ,he rejoiced in the ,holy a bodily form1 as a dove1 upon ,spirit4 him4 #aa3ac4 ,how much more shall your #d3a4 ,jesus 444 was led in the heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit in the wilderness4 ,spirit to them that ask him8 #d3ad4 ,jesus returned in the power #a3ae4 ,he shall be filled with of the ,spirit into ,galilee4 the ,holy ,spirit4 #d3a4 ,jesus1 full of the ,holy #a3ce4 ,the ,holy ,spirit shall come ,spirit1 returned from the ,jordan4 upon thee4 #ab3aj4 ,unto him that blasphemeth #a3da4 ,elisabeth was filled with against the ,holy ,spirit it shall the ,holy ,spirit4 not be forgiven4 #a3fg4 ,zacharias was filled with #ab3ab4 ,the ,holy ,spirit shall teach the ,holy ,spirit4 you in that very hour what ye ought to say4 #b3be4 ,there was a man in ,jerusalem1 whose name was ,simeon2 #bd3di4 ,behold1 ,i send forth the 444 the ,holy ,spirit was upon promise of my ,father upon you4 him4 ,,john4 #a3cb4 ,i have beheld the ,spirit #a3cc4 ,the same is he that descending as a dove out of baptizeth in the ,holy ,spirit4 heaven2 and it abode upon him4 #c3e4 ,except one be born of water #a3cc4 ,upon whomsoever thou shalt and the ,spirit4 see the ,spirit descending1 and abiding upon him4 #g3ci4 ,the ,spirit was not yet given4 #c3f4 ,that which is born of the ,spirit is spirit4 #bj3bb4 ,he breathed on them1 and saith unto them1 ,receive ye the #c3h4 ,so is every one that is born ,holy ,spirit4 of the ,spirit4 #c3cd4 ,he giveth not the ,spirit by measure4 #f3fc4 ,it is the spirit that giveth life4 #g3 #ci4 ,this spake he of the ,spirit1 which they that believed on him were to receive4 #ad3af4 ,he shall give you another ,comforter4 #ad3ag4 ,even the ,spirit of truth4 #ad3bf4 ,the ,comforter1 even the ,holy ,spirit1 444 he shall teach you4 #ae3 #bf4 ,when the ,comforter is come1 444 even the ,spirit of truth1 444 he shall bear witness of me4 #af3g4 ,if ,i go not away1 the ,comforter will not come unto you4 #af3h4 ,he1 when he is come1 will convict the world in respect of sin1 and of righteousness1 and of judgment4 #af3i4 ,of sin1 because they believe not on me2 #af3aj4 ,of righteousness1 because ,i go to the ,father2 #af3aa4 ,of judgment1 because the prince of this world hath been judged4 #af3ac4 ,when he1 the ,spirit of truth1 is come1 he shall guide you into all the truth3 for he shall not speak from himself2 but what things soever he shall hear1 these shall he speak3 and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come4 #af3ad4 ,he shall glorify me3 for he shall take of mine1 and shall declare it unto you4 #af3ae4 ,he taketh of mine1 and shall declare it unto you4 ,,acts #a3d4 ,he charged them 444 to wait #a3b4 ,he had given commandment for the promise of the ,father4 through the ,holy ,spirit unto the apostles4 #a3h4 ,ye shall receive power1 when the ,holy ,spirit is come upon you4 #a3e4 ,john indeed baptized with water2 but ye shall be baptized in #a3af4 ,the scripture should be the ,holy ,spirit4 fulfilled1 which the ,holy ,spirit spake before by the mouth of ,david #b3d4 ,they were all filled with the concerning ,judas4 ,holy ,spirit1 and began to speak with other tongues1 as the #b3ag4 ,i will pour forth of my ,spirit gave them utterances4 ,spirit upon all flesh3 #d3h4 ,peter1 filled with the ,holy #b3ah4 ,on my servants and on my ,spirit1 said unto them4 handmaidens in those days will ,i pour forth my ,spirit4 #f3 #c4 ,look ye out 444 seven men 444 full of the ,spirit4 #b3cc4 ,having received of the ,father the promise of the ,holy #f3e4 ,stephen1 a man full of 444 ,spirit1 he hath poured forth this4 the ,holy ,spirit4 #b3ch4 ,ye shall receive the gift of #g3ee4 ,he1 being full of the ,holy the ,holy ,spirit4 ,spirit4 #d3be4 ,who by the ,holy ,spirit1 by #h3ae4 ,who 444 prayed for them1 the mouth of our father ,david1 444 that they might receive the ,holy didst say4 ,spirit4 #d3ca4 ,they were all filled with #h3af4 ,for as yet it was fallen the ,holy ,spirit1 and they spake upon none of them4 the word of ,god with boldness4 #h3ag4 ,then laid they their hands #e3c4 ,why hath ,satan filled thy on them1 and they received the heart to lie to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,holy ,spirit4 #e3i4 ,how is it that ye have agreed #h3ai4 ,give me also this power1 together to try the ,spirit of the that on whomsoever ,i lay my hands1 ,lord8 he may receive the ,holy ,spirit4 #e3cb4 ,we are witnesses of these #h3ci4 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord things2 and so is the ,holy ,spirit4 caught away ,philip4 #f3aj4 ,they were not able to #i3ag4 ,jesus 444 hath sent me1 that withstand 444 the ,spirit by which thou mayest 444 be filled with he spake4 the ,holy ,spirit4 #g3ea4 ,ye do always resist the ,holy #aj3 #ch4 ,god anointed him with ,spirit4 the ,holy ,spirit and with power4 #h3ah4 ,when ,simon saw that through #aa3af4 ,ye shall be baptized in the laying on of the apostles' the ,holy ,spirit4 hands the ,holy ,spirit was given1 #aa3bd4 ,he was a good man1 and full #h3bj4 ,thou hast thought to obtain of the ,holy ,spirit4 the gift of ,god with money4 #ac3i4 ,paul1 filled with the ,holy #h3bi4 ,the ,spirit said unto ,philip1 ,spirit1 fastened his eyes on him4 ,go near1 and join thyself to this chariot4 #ac3eb4 ,the disciples were filled with joy and with the ,holy #i3ca4 ,the church 444 walking 444 ,spirit4 in the comfort of the ,holy ,spirit1 was multiplied4 #ai3b4 ,did ye receive the ,holy ,spirit when ye believed8444 ,we #aj3ai4 ,the ,spirit said unto him1 did not so much as hear whether ,behold1 three men seek thee4 the ,holy ,spirit was given4 #aj3 #bj4 ,go with them4444 ,i have sent them4 #aj3 #dd4 ,the ,holy ,spirit fell on all them that heard the word4 #aj3 #de4 ,on the ,gentiles also was poured out the gift of the ,holy ,spirit4 #aj3dg4 ,who have received the ,holy ,spirit as well as we8 #aa3ab4 ,the ,spirit bade me go with them4 #aa3be4 ,as ,i began to speak1 the ,holy ,spirit fell on them4 #aa3bh4 ,agabus 444 signified by the ,spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world4 #ac3b4 ,the ,holy ,spirit said1 ,separate me ,barnabas and ,saul4 #ac3d4 ,they1 being sent forth by the ,holy ,spirit4 #ae3h4 ,god 444 bare them witness1 giving them the ,holy ,spirit4 #ae3bh4 ,it seemed good to the ,holy ,spirit1 and to us4 #af3f4 ,forbidden of the ,holy ,spirit1 to speak the word in ,asia4 #af3g4 ,the ,spirit of ,jesus suffered them not4 #ai3f4 ,when ,paul had laid his hands upon them1 the ,holy ,spirit came on them4 #bj3 #bb4 ,i go bound in the spirit unto ,jerusalem4 #bj3 #bh4 ,take heed 444 to all the flock1 in which the ,holy ,spirit hath made you bishops4 #ba3 #d4 ,these said to ,paul through the ,spirit1 that he should not set foot in ,jerusalem4 #ba4aa4 ,thus saith the ,holy ,spirit1 ,so shall the ,jews at ,jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle4 #bh3 #be4 ,well spake the ,holy ,spirit through ,isaiah the prophet4 ,,romans #h3b4 ,the law of the ,spirit #a3d4 ,who was declared to be the of life in ,christ ,jesus made me ,son of ,god with power1 according free from the law of sin and of to the spirit of holiness4 death4 #e3e4 ,the love of ,god hath been #h3 #aj4 ,the spirit is life because shed abroad in our hearts through of righteousness4 the ,holy ,spirit4 #h3 #aa4 ,if the ,spirit of him that #h3d4 ,the ordinance of the law raised up ,jesus from the dead might be fulfilled in us1 who walk dwelleth in you1 he 444 shall 444 after the ,spirit4 give life also to your mortal bodies through his ,spirit4 #h3e4 ,they that are after the ,spirit the things of the #h3af4 ,the ,spirit himself ,spirit4 beareth witness with our spirit4 #h3i4 ,ye are 444 in the #h3bc4 ,who have the first-fruits of ,spirit1 if 444 the ,spirit the ,spirit4 of ,god dwelleth in you4 ,but if any man hath not the ,spirit #h3bj4 ,the ,spirit also helpeth our of ,christ1 he is none of his4 infirmity3 444 the ,spirit himself maketh intercession for us4 #h3ac4 ,if by the ,spirit ye put to death the deeds of the #h3bg4 ,he 444 knoweth what is the body1 ye shall live4 mind of the ,spirit4 #h3ad4 ,as many as are led by the #i3a4 ,i say the truth 444 my ,spirit of ,god1 these are conscience bearing witness with me the sons of ,god4 in the ,holy ,spirit4 #h3ae4 ,ye received the #ae3cj4 ,i beseech you 444 by the spirit of adoption4 love of the ,spirit4 #ad3ag4 ,the kingdom of ,god is 444 righteousness and peace and joy in the ,holy ,spirit4 #ae3ac4 ,that ye may abound in hope1 in the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 #ae3af4 ,the offering up of the ,gentiles might be made acceptable1 being sanctified by the ,holy ,spirit4 #ae3ai4 ,in the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 #a ,,corinthians #b3aj4 ,god revealed them #b3d4 ,my speech and my preaching through the ,spirit2 for the were 444 in demonstration of ,spirit searcheth all the ,spirit4 things4 #b3ac ,in words 444 which the #b3aa4 ,the things of ,god none ,spirit teacheth4 knoweth1 save the ,spirit of ,god4 #g3dj ,i think that ,i also have the spirit of ,god4 #b3ab4 ,but we received 444 the spirit which is from ,god4 #ab3c ,no man speaking in the ,spirit of ,god saith1 ,jesus is anathema2 #b3ad4 ,the natural man and no man can say1 ,jesus is ,lord1 receiveth not the things of but in the ,holy ,spirit4 the ,spirit of ,god4 #ad3b ,in the ,spirit he speaketh #c3af4 ,know ye not 444 that mysteries4 the ,spirit of ,god dwelleth in you8 #f3aa4 ,ye were justified 444 in the ,spirit of our ,god4 #f3ai4 ,your body is a temple of the ,holy ,spirit4 #ab3d4 ,there are diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit4 #ab3g4 ,to each one is given the manifestation of the ,spirit to profit withal4 #ab3h4 ,to one is given through the ,spirit the word of wisdom2 and to another the word of knowledge1 according to the same ,spirit4 #ab3i4 ,to another faith1 in the same ,spirit2 and to another gifts of healings1 in the one ,spirit4 #ab3aa4 ,all these worketh the one and the same ,spirit1 dividing to each one severally even as he will4 #b ,,corinthians #a3bb4 ,who 444 gave us the earnest #c3c4 ,ye are an epistle of ,christ1 of the ,spirit in our hearts4 444 written 444 with the ,spirit of the living ,god4 #c3f4 ,the letter killeth1 but the spirit giveth life4 #c3ah4 ,we all 444 are transformed into the same image from glory to #c3h4 ,how shall not rather the glory1 even us from the ,lord the ministration of the spirit be with ,spirit4 glory8 #f3f4 ,in kindness1 in the ,holy #d3ac4 ,having the same spirit of ,spirit1 in love unfeigned4 faith4 #aa3d ,if ye receive a different #e3e4 ,who gave unto us the earnest spirit1 which ye did not of the ,spirit4 receive4 #ab3ah4 ,walked we not in the same #f3f4 ,in kindness1 in the ,holy ,spirit8 ,spirit1 in love unfeigned4 ,if ye receive a different #ac3ad4 ,the communion of the ,holy spirit1 which ye did not ,spirit1 be with you all1 from receive4 glory to glory1 even as from the ,lord the ,spirit4 ,,galatians4 #c3b4 ,received ye the ,spirit by the #c3c4 ,having begun in the works of the law1 or by the ,spirit1 are ye now hearing of faith8 perfected in the flesh8 #c3e4 ,he 444 that supplieth to you #d3bi4 ,he that was born after the the ,spirit4 flesh persecuted him that was born after the ,spirit4 #c3ad4 ,that we might receive the promise of the ,spirit #e3e4 ,we through the through faith4 ,spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness4 #d3f4 ,god sent forth the ,spirit of his ,son into our #e3af4 ,walk by the ,spirit1 and ye hearts4 shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh4 #e3ag4 ,the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit1 and the #e3ah4 ,if ye are led by the ,spirit against the flesh4 ,spirit1 ye are not under the law4 #e3bb4 ,the fruit of the ,spirit is love1 joy1 peace4 #e3be4 ,if we live by the ,spirit1 by the #f3h4 ,he that soweth unto the ,spirit let us also walk4 ,spirit shall of the ,spirit reap eternal life4 ,,ephesians4 #a3ac4 ,ye were sealed with the ,holy #a3ag4 ,that ,god 444 may give unto ,spirit of promise4 you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of #b3ah4 ,through him we both have our him4 access in one ,spirit unto the ,father4 #b3bb4 ,in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of ,god #c3af4 ,that ye may be strengthened in the ,spirit4 with power through his ,spirit in the inward man4 #c3e4 ,it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and #d3c4 ,keep the unity of the prophets in the ,spirit4 ,spirit in the bond of peace4 #e3ah4 ,be filled with the ,spirit4 #d3d4 ,there is one body1 and one #f3ah4 ,praying at all seasons in ,spirit4 the ,spirit4 #d3cj4 ,grieve not the ,holy ,spirit of ,god1 in whom ye were sealed4 #f3ag4 ,take 444 the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the word of ,god4 ,,phillippians4 #a3ai4 ,the supply of the #b3a4 ,if there is 444any fellowship ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ4 of the ,spirit4 #c3c4 ,we are the circumcision1 who worship by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,,colossians4 #a3h4 ,who also declared unto us your love in the ,spirit4 #a ,,thessalonians4 #d3h4 ,god1 who giveth his ,holy #a3e4 ,our gospel came not unto you ,spirit unto you4 in word only1 but 444in the ,holy ,spirit4 #f3ai4 ,quench not the ,spirit4 #a3f4 ,having received the word 444with joy of the ,holy ,spirit4 #b ,,thessalonians4 #b3ac4 ,god chose you 444in sanctification of the ,spirit4 #a ,,timothy4 #d3a4 ,the ,spirit saith expressly1 #c3af4 ,he who was 444 justified in that 444 some shall fall away from the spirit4 the faith4 #d3ad4 ,neglect not the gift that is in thee4 #b ,,timothy4 #a3g4 ,god gave us not a spirit of fearfulness2 but of power and love and discipline4 #a3ad4 ,that good thing 444 guard through the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,titus4 #c3e4 ,he saved us through the 444 renewing of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,hebrews4 #c3g4 ,wherefore1 even as the ,holy #b3d4 ,god also bearing witness with ,spirit saith1 ,to-day if ye will them1 444 by gifts of the ,holy hear his voice4 ,spirit4 #d3c4 ,even as he hath said4 #f3d4 ,were made partakers of the ,holy ,spirit4 #d3g4 ,he again defineth a certain day4 #i3ad4 ,who through the eternal ,spirit offered himself without #i3h4 ,the ,holy ,spirit this blemish unto ,god4 signifying4 #aj3ae4 ,the ,holy ,spirit also beareth witness to us4 #aj3bi4 ,hath done despite unto the ,spirit of grace8 ,,james4 #d3e4 ,doth the ,spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying8 #a ,,peter #a3aa4 ,searching what time 444 the #a3b4 ,in sanctification of the ,spirit of ,christ 444 did point ,spirit4 unto4 #a3ab4 ,preached the gospel unto you #c3ah4 ,put to death in the flesh1 in the ,holy ,spirit4 but made alive in the spirit4 #d3f4 ,live according to ,god in #d3ad4 ,the ,spirit of glory and the the spirit4 ,spirit of ,god resteth upon you4 #b ,,peter #a3ba4 ,men spake from ,god1 being moved by the ,holy ,spirit4 #a ,,john #b3bj4 ,ye have an anointing from the ,holy ,one4 #b3bg4 ,the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you4 #c3bd4 ,we know that he abideth in us by the ,spirit which he gave us4 #d3b4 ,hereby know ye the ,spirit of ,god3 ,every spirit that confesseth that ,jesus ,christ is come in the flesh is of ,god4 #d3f4 ,by this we know the spirit of truth1 and the spirit of error4 #d3ac4 ,he hath given us of his ,spirit4 #e3g4 ,it is the ,spirit that beareth witness1 because the ,spirit is the truth4 #e3h4 ,there are three who bear witness1 the ,spirit1 and the water1 and the blood4 ,,jude #ai4 ,having not the ,spirit4 #bj4 ,praying in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,revelation4 #a3d4 ,the seven ,spirits that are #a3aj4 ,i was in the ,spirit before his throne4 on the ,lord's day4 #b3g4 ,hear what the ,spirit saith to #d3b4 ,straightway ,i was in the the churches4 ,spirit4 #b3ag4 ,hear what the ,spirit saith #aa3aa4 ,the breath of life from ,god to the churches4 entered into them4 #b3bi4 ,hear what the ,spirit saith #ag3c4 ,he carried me away in the to the churches4 ,spirit into a wilderness4 #c3a4 ,he that hath the seven #ba3aj4 ,he carried me away in the ,spirits of ,god4 ,spirit to a mountain4 #c3f4 ,hear what the ,spirit saith to the churches4 #c3ac4 ,hear what the ,spirit saith to the churches4 #d3e4 ,seven lamps of fire 444 which are the seven ,spirits of ,god4 #e3f4 ,seven eyes1 which are the seven ,spirits of ,god4 #ad3ac4 ,yea1 saith the ,spirit1 that they may rest from their labors4 #bb3ag4 ,the ,spirit and the bride say1 ,come1 ,,iii ,,the ,,personality ,,and ,,divinity ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,two views have been entertained concerning the ,holy ,spirit3 7#a7 ,that it is a divine influence proceeding from the ,father1 an emanation from or manifestation of the divine1 or a mere impersonal force4 7#b7 ,that he is a person and active in all the ways of a personality4 ,that the latter view is the correct and ,scriptural one is evident from the following considerations3 #a4 ,,his ,,works ,,proclaim ,,personality4 7#a7 ,he speaks4 ,but the ,spirit saith expressly1 that in later times some shall fall away from the faith 7#a ,tim4 #d3a74 ,a speaker is a person2 no influence or principle can speak4 7#b7 ,he testifies4 ,but when the ,comforter is come1 whom ,i will send unto you from the ,father1 even the ,spirit of truth1 which proceedeth from the ,father1 he shall bear witness of me 7,john #ae3 #bf74 7#c7 ,he teaches and quickens the mind4 ,but the ,comforter1 even the ,holy ,spirit1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 he shall teach you all things1 and bring to your remembrance all that ,i said unto you 7,john #ad3bf74 7#d7 ,he guides4 ,i have yet many things to say unto you1 but ye can not bear them now4 ,howbeit when he1 the ,spirit of truth1 is come1 he shall guide you into all the truth 7,john #af3 #ab1 #ac74 7#e7 ,he leads and forbids4 ,and they went through the region of ,phrygia and ,galatia1 having been forbidden of the ,holy ,spirit to speak the word in ,asia2 and when they were come over against ,mysia1 they assayed to go into ,bithynia2 and the ,spirit of ,jesus suffered them not 7,acts #af3f1 #g74 7#f7 ,he searches4 ,but unto us ,god revealed them through the ,spirit3 for the ,spirit searcheth all things1 yea1 the deep things of ,god 7#a ,cor4 #b3aj74 ,in the above passages the ,holy ,spirit is said to speak1 to testify1 to quicken1 to teach1 to guide disciples1 to lead1 to forbid and to search4 ,all these things unite in showing the ,holy ,spirit to be a person1 for nothing but a person can do them4 #b4 ,,he ,,has ,,the ,,characteristics ,,of ,a ,,person4 ,we will mention a few of them3 7#a7 ,mind4 ,and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the ,spirit 7,rom4 #h3bg74 7#b7 ,knowledge4 ,even so the things of ,god none knoweth1 save the ,spirit of ,god 7#a ,cor4 #b3aa74 7#c7 ,affection4 ,now ,i beseech you1 brethren1 by our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and by the love of the ,spirit1 that ye strive together with me in your prayers to ,god for me 7,rom4 #ae3cj74 7#d7 ,will4 ,but all these worketh the one and the same ,spirit1 dividing to each one severally even as he will 7#a ,cor4 #ab3aa74 7#e7 ,goodness4 ,thou gavest also thy good ,spirit to instruct them 7,neh4 #i3bj74 ,goodness1 will1 affection1 knowledge and mind are all characteristics of a person4 ,by no stretch of the imagination can they be ascribed to a mere impersonal influence or principle4 ,these five characteristics form the fingers in the hand of certainty by which we grasp the personality of the ,holy ,spirit4 #c4 ,,he ,,suffers ,,slights ,,and ,,injuries ,,that ,,can ,,only ,,be ,,ascribed ,,to ,a ,,personality4 7#a7 ,he can be grieved and vexed4 ,and grieve not the ,holy ,spirit of ,god1 in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption 7,eph4 #d3cj74 ,but they rebelled1 and grieved his holy ,spirit3 therefore he was turned to be their enemy1 and himself fought against them 7,isa4 #fc3aj74 7#b7 ,he can be despited4 ,of how much sorer punishment1 think ye1 shall he be judged worthy1 who hath trodden under foot the ,son of ,god1 and hath counted the blood of the covenant where-with he was sanctified an unholy thing1 and hath done despite unto the ,spirit of grace 7,heb4 #aj3bi74 7#c7 ,he can be blasphemed4 ,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men2 but the blasphemy against the ,spirit shall not be forgiven4 ,and whosoever shall speak a word against the ,son of man1 it shall be forgiven him2 but whosoever shall speak against the ,holy ,spirit1 it shall not be forgiven him1 neither in this world1 nor in that which is to come 7,matt4 #ab3ca1 #cb74 7#d7 ,he can be resisted4 ,ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears1 ye do always resist the ,holy ,spirit 7,acts #g3ea74 7#e7 ,he can be lied unto4 ,but ,peter said1 ,ananias1 why hath ,satan filled thy heart to lie to the ,holy ,spirit1 and to keep back part of the price of the land8 7,acts #e3c74 ,a mere principle can not sustain any of the above slights4 ,nothing but a personality can be blasphemed1 lied to1 resisted or grieved4 #d4 ,,he ,,is ,a ,,divine ,,personality4 ,this will be seen from the following attributes1 which are the attributes of ,god3 7#a7 ,eternity4 ,how much more shall the blood of ,christ1 who through the eternal ,spirit offered himself without blemish unto ,god1 cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living ,god8 7,heb4 #i3ad74 ,jehovah is great in ,zion2 ,and he is high above all the peoples 7,ps4 #ii3b74 7#b7 ,omniscience4 ,but unto us ,god revealed them through the ,spirit3 for the ,spirit searcheth all things1 yea1 the deep things of ,god4 ,for who among men knoweth the things of a man1 save the spirit of the man1 which is in him8 even so the things of ,god none knoweth1 save the ,spirit of ,god 7#a ,cor4 #b3aj1 #aa74 7#c7 ,omnipotence4 ,but as for me1 ,i am full of power by the ,spirit of ,jehovah1 and of judgment1 and of might1 to declare unto ,jacob his transgression1 and to ,israel his sin 7,mic4 #c3h74 7#d7 ,omnipresence4 ,whither shall ,i go from thy ,spirit8 ,or whither shall ,i flee from thy presence8444 ,even there shall thy hand lead me1 ,and thy right hand shall hold me 7,ps4 #aci3g1 #aj74 ,can any hide himself in secret places so that ,i shall not see him8 saith ,jehovah4 ,do not ,i fill heaven and earth8 saith ,jehovah 7,jer4 #bc3bd74 #e4 ,,the ,,works ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,manifest ,,divinity4 7#a7 ,the work of creation4 ,and the earth was waste and void2 and darkness was upon the face of the deep3 and the ,spirit of ,god moved upon the face of the waters 7,gen4 #a3b74 ,by his ,spirit the heavens are garnished2 his hand hath pierced the swift serpent 7,job #bf3ac74 ,by the word of ,jehovah were the heavens made1 ,and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth 7,ps4 #cc3f74 ,the ,spirit of ,god hath made me1 ,and the breath of the ,almighty giveth me life 7,job #cc3d74 7#b7 ,the work of providence4 ,thou sendest forth thy ,spirit1 they are created2 and thou renewest the face of the ground 7,ps4 #ajd3cj74 7#c7 ,the work of regeneration and resurrection4 ,jesus answered1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 ,except one be born of water and the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god 7,john #c3e74 ,but if the ,spirit of him that raised up ,jesus from the dead dwelleth in you1 he that raised up ,christ ,jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his ,spirit that dwelleth in you 7,rom4 #h3aa74 7#d7 ,he is the source of the miraculous4 ,but if ,i by the ,spirit of ,god cast out demons1 then is the kingdom of ,god come upon you 7,matt4 #ab3bh74 ,to another faith1 in the same ,spirit2 and to another gifts of healing1 in the one ,spirit2 444 but all these worketh the one and the same ,spirit1 dividing to each one severally even as he will 7#a ,cor4 #ab3i1 #aa74 ,thus in his works1 his characteristics1 the things he suffers1 his attributes and his achievements1 we have a fivefold cord of testimony that clearly demonstrates the ,spirit's personality and divinity4 ,,iv ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,john ,,the ,,baptist ,the first mention of the ,holy ,spirit in the ,new ,testament is in connection with ,john the ,baptist3 ,there was in the days of ,herod1 king of ,juda1 a certain priest named ,zacharias1 of the course of ,abijah3 and he had a wife of the daughters of ,aaron1 and her name was ,elisabeth4 ,and they were both righteous before ,god1 walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the ,lord blameless 7,luke #a3e1 #f74 ,this ,zacharias was taking his turn in the temple service1 and an angel appeared unto him and announced that in answer to his prayer his wife ,elisabeth should bear a son whose name should be called ,john2 that he should be great1 and should drink no wine nor strong drink1 and 7,luke #a3ae7 he shall be filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 even from his mother's womb2 and his father ,zacharias was filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and prophesied1 saying1 ,blessed be the ,lord1 the ,god of ,israel2 for he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people 7,luke #a3fg1 #fh74 ,and the child ,john grew and waxed strong in spirit1 and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto ,israel 7,luke #a3hj74 ,his private life was spent in the desert solitudes1 where he was being strengthened in spirit for the great work ,god had prepared for him4 ,this work had been foretold by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it spake through ,isaiah the prophet 7#dj3c71 saying3 ,the voice of one that crieth1 ,prepare ye in the wilderness the way of ,jehovah2 make level in the desert a highway for our ,god4 ,every valley shall be exalted1 and every mountain and hill shall be made low2 and the rough places a plain3 and the glory of ,jehovah shall be revealed1 and all flesh shall see it together4 ,again1 ,malachi 7#c3a7 says3 ,behold1 ,i send my messenger1 and he shall prepare the way before me4 ,in fulfillment of these predictions of the ,spirit came ,john the ,baptist in the fifteenth year of the reign of ,tiberius ,caesar1 preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins4 ,great multitudes flocked to his preaching and baptism4 ,among others came ,jesus of ,nazareth1 and on the morrow he seeth ,jesus coming unto him1 and saith1 ,behold1 the ,lamb of ,god1 that taketh away the sin of the world 7,john #a3bi74 ,this is he of whom ,i said1 ,after me cometh a man who is become before me3 for he was before me4 ,and ,i knew him not2 but that he should be made manifest to ,israel1 for this cause came ,i baptizing in water4 ,and ,john bare witness1 saying1 ,i have beheld the ,spirit descending as a dove out of heaven2 and it abode upon him4 ,and ,i knew him not3 but he that sent me to baptize in water1 he said unto me1 ,upon whomsoever thou shalt see the ,spirit descending1 and abiding upon him1 the same is he that baptizeth in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,and ,i have seen1 and have borne witness that this is the ,son of ,god 7,john #a3cj-cd74 ,the next mention of the ,holy ,spirit by ,john the ,baptist is in reference to the baptism in the ,holy ,spirit and in fire4 ,in order that the reader may have a clear understanding of this disputed and difficult subject1 ,i shall present the testimonies of the four ,evangelists in parallel columns paragraphs3 ,,matt4 #c3aj-ab4 ,and even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees3 every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down1 and cast into the fire4 ,i indeed baptize you in water unto repentance3 but he that after me is mightier than ,i1 whose shoes ,i am not worthy to bear3 he shall baptize you in the ,holy ,spirit and in fire3 whose fan is in his hand1 and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor2 and he will gather his wheat into the garner1 but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire4 ,,mark #a3g1 #h4 ,and he preached1 saying ,there cometh after me he that is mightier than ,i1 the latchet of whose shoes ,i am not worthy to stoop down and unloose4 ,i baptize you in water2 but he shall baptize you in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,luke #c3i1 #af1 #ag4 ,and even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees3 every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down1 and cast into the fire4444 ,john answered1 saying unto them all1 ,i indeed baptize you in water2 but there cometh he that is mightier than ,i1 the latchet of whose shoes ,i am not worthy to unloose2 he shall baptize you in the ,holy ,spirit and in fire3 whose fan is in his hand1 thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his garner2 but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire4 ,,john #a3cc4 ,and ,i knew him not3 but he that sent me to baptize in water1 he said unto me1 ,upon whomsoever thou shalt see the ,spirit descending1 and abiding upon him1 the same is he that baptizeth in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,john is preaching to a mixed multitude composed of those who would accept his teaching and baptism1 and of those who would accept neither4 ,many the former would become disciples of ,jesus and receive the baptism of the ,holy ,spirit to qualify them to take up the work of the ,master and carry it on until the church would be established and the gospel fully revealed to men4 ,the baptism of the ,spirit1 a purely supernatural thing1 was necessary to qualify them for this work4 ,others would reject for themselves the counsel of ,god1 being not baptized of him4 ,these should at last have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone4 ,that such a division was meant by ,john becomes evident if we examine the context carefully4 ,in the above parallel columns the reader will observe that ,matthew and ,luke use the expression in the ,holy ,spirit and in fire4 ,they both use two illustrations to show what is meant by in fire4 ,one of the illustrations immediately precedes and the other immediately follows the expression in the ,holy ,spirit and in fire1 seemingly for the specific purpose of guarding against a failure to understand the expression in fire4 ,the illustration that precedes in both instances is3 ,therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire4 ,the illustration that follows in each instance is3 ,he will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire4 ,with these forcible illustrations to guard the passage1 can any one fail to understand what is meant by the baptism in fire8 ,the reader will also observe that neither ,mark nor ,john refers to the baptism in fire1 and neither uses any illustration to explain it1 because no illustration is necessary4 ,where the baptism of fire is used there was always something destroyed by fire4 ,this interpretation harmonizes with the universal use of the word fire in the ,new ,testament4 7#a7 ,in not a single instance is it used to denote a spiritual blessing conferred upon the good4 7#b7 ,in not a single instance does it refer to the work of the ,holy ,spirit in purifying sinners4 ,it is connected with judgments1 punishments1 fiery indignation1 devouring adversaries1 consuming1 and even with hell itself2 but in no case does it refer to the power of ,god in the scheme of redemption to convert and save men4 ,neither does the baptism of the ,holy ,spirit refer to cleansing men from sin and saving them4 ,it was not given for that purpose4 ,this is a foolish dream born out of the castaway doctrine of the total depravity of man and his total disability to hear1 believe and obey the truth4 ,those who claim the baptism of the ,holy ,spirit to-day claim that it is the regenerating1 converting1 purifying power of ,god4 ,but the ,bible does not so teach4 ,in every instance in which the word purify is found in the ,new ,testament it is an act of personal volition--something a man must do for himself4 ,john #aa3ee3 ,now the passover of the ,jews was at hand3 and many went up to ,jerusalem out of the country before the passover1 to purify themselves4 ,acts #ba3bd3 ,these take1 and purify thyself with them1 and be at charges for them1 that they may shave their heads2 and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning thee2 but that thou thyself also walkest orderly1 keeping the law4 ,acts #ba3bf3 ,then ,paul took the men1 and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple1 declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification1 until the offering was offered for every one of them4 ,jas4 #d3h3 ,draw nigh to ,god1 and he will draw nigh to you4 ,cleanse your hands1 ye sinners2 and purify your hearts1 ye doubleminded4 #a ,pet4 #a3bb3 ,seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren1 love one another from the heart fervently4 #a ,john #c3c3 ,and every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself1 even as he is pure4 ,men must cleanse themselves from wrong in thought1 word and deed1 and purify their souls in obeying the truth4 ,the ,bible teaches that this is ,god's way of purifying sinners 7,h4,r4 ,pritchard1 ,addresses1 p4 #cbc74 ,from this chapter the reader will obtain the following ,scripture facts3 #a4 ,the ,holy ,spirit rested on ,john the ,baptist from his mother's womb4 #b4 ,the ,holy ,spirit filled his father ,zacharias so that he prophesied4 #c4 ,the ,holy ,spirit bore witness to ,jesus by descending and abiding upon him1 enabling ,john to identify him4 #d4 ,john promised a baptism in the ,holy ,spirit to some of his auditors and threatened others with a baptism in fire4 #a ,pet4 #a3aa1 #ab3 ,searching what time or what manner of time the ,spirit of ,christ which was in them did point unto1 when it testified beforehand the sufferings of ,christ1 and the glories that should follow them4 ,to whom it was revealed1 that not unto themselves1 but unto you1 did they minister these things1 which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the ,holy ,spirit sent forth from heaven3 which things angels desire to look into4 ,v ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,jesus ,the relation sustained by the ,holy ,spirit to ,jesus ,christ is a twofold one4 ,first3 ,he predicted by the holy prophets the great facts in the life of the coming one4 ,second3 ,he associated himself with that one after he came4 #a4 ,,the ,,time ,,of ,,his ,,coming ,,was ,,clearly ,,foretold4 ,he was to come in the last days1 or in the end of the ,jewish ,dispensation4 ,and it shall come to pass in the latter days1 that the mountain of ,jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains1 and shall be exalted above the hills2 and all nations shall flow unto it 7,isa4 #b3b74 #b4 ,,he ,,was ,,to ,,come ,,while ,,the ,,second ,,temple ,,was ,,in ,,existence4 ,behold1 ,i send my messenger1 and he shall prepare the way before me3 and the ,lord1 whom ye seek1 will suddenly come to his temple2 and the messenger of the covenant1 whom ye desire1 behold1 he cometh1 saith ,jehovah of hosts 7,mal4 #c3a74 #c4 ,,the ,,place ,,of ,,his ,,nativity ,,was ,a ,,matter ,,of ,,prophecy4 ,but thou1 ,bethlehem ,ephrathah1 which art little to be among the thousands of ,judah1 out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in ,israel2 whose goings forth are from of old1 from everlasting 7,mic4 #e3b74 #d4 ,,his ,,lineage ,,was ,,declared ,,in ,,the ,,jewish ,,scriptures4 7#a7 ,he was to be a descendant of ,abraham4 ,in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed 7,gen4 #ab3c74 ,for verily not of angels doth he take hold1 but he taketh hold of the seed of ,abraham 7,heb4 #b3af74 7#b7 ,he was to be of the tribe of ,judah4 ,for it is evident that our ,lord hath sprung out of ,judah2 as to which tribe ,moses spake nothing concerning priests 7,heb4 #g3ad74 7#c7 ,he was to be of the house of ,david4 ,and it shall come to pass in that day1 that the root of ,jesse1 which standeth for an ensign of the peoples1 unto him shall the nations seek2 and his resting-place shall be glorious 7,isa4 #aa3aj74 #e4 ,,his ,,character ,,was ,,minutely ,,described ,,by ,,the ,,prophets4 7#a7 ,his wisdom4 ,and the ,spirit of ,jehovah shall rest upon him1 the spirit of wisdom and understanding1 the spirit of counsel and might1 the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of ,jehovah 7,isa4 #aa3b74 7#b7 ,his obedience4 ,for ,i am come down from heaven1 not to do mine own will1 but the will of him that sent me 7,john #f3ch74 7#c7 ,his love of righteousness4 ,thou hast loved righteousness1 and hated wickedness3 ,therefore ,god1 thy ,god1 hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows 7,ps4 #de3g74 7#d7 ,his gentleness and tenderness4 ,he will not cry1 nor lift up his voice1 nor cause it to be heard in the street4 ,a bruised reed will he not break1 and a dimly burning wick will he not quench3 he will bring forth justice in truth 7,isa4 #db3b1 #c74 7#e7 ,his compassion4 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord ,jehovah is upon me2 because ,jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek2 he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted1 to proclaim liberty to the captives1 and the opening of the prison to them that are bound 7,isa4 #fa3a74 #f4 ,,his ,,betrayal ,,and ,,trial4 ,as we approach the closing scenes of ,christ's life the prophecies become more minute and remarkable4 7#a7 ,the betrayal4 ,and ,i said unto them1 ,if ye think good1 give me my hire2 and if not1 forbear4 ,so they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver4 ,and ,jehovah said unto me1 ,cast it unto the potter1 the goodly price that ,i was prized at by them4 ,and ,i took the thirty pieces of silver1 and cast them unto the potter1 in the house of ,jehovah 7,zech4 #aa3ab1 #ac74 7#b7 ,his demeanor when on trial4 ,he was oppressed1 yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth2 as a lamb that is led to the slaughter1 and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb1 so he opened not ,his mouth 7,isa4 #ec3g74 7#c7 ,when crucified1 the soldiers were to part his garments among them and cast lots for his vesture4 ,they part my garments among them1 ,and upon my vesture do they cast lots 7,ps4 #bb3ah74 7#d7 ,he was to be numbered with the transgressors4 ,therefore will ,i divide him a portion with the great1 and he shall divide the spoil with the strong2 because he poured out his soul unto death1 and was numbered with the transgressors2 yet he bare the sin of many1 and made intercession for the transgressors 7,isa4 #ec3ab74 7#e7 ,he was to perish amid cruel mockings4 ,but ,i am a worm1 and no man2 a reproach of men1 and despised of the people4 ,all they that see me laugh me to scorn3 they shoot out the lip1 they shake the head1 saying1 ,commit thyself unto ,jehovah2 let him deliver him3 let him rescue him1 seeing he delighted in him 7,ps4 #bb3f-h74 #g4 ,,his ,,resurrection ,,and ,,coronation4 7#a7 ,he was to rise from the dead4 ,for thou wilt not leave my soul to ,sheol2 neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption 7,ps4 #af3aj74 7#b7 ,his ascension was also a subject of prophecy4 ,thou hast ascended on high1 thou hast led away captives2 thou hast received gifts among men1 yea1 among the rebellious also1 that ,jehovah ,god might dwell with them 7,ps4 #fh3ah74 7#c7 ,his coronation is foretold and described4 ,i saw in the night visions1 and1 behold1 there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man1 and he came even to the ancient of days1 and they brought him near before him4 ,and there was given him dominion1 and glory1 and a kingdom1 that all the peoples1 nations1 and languages should serve him3 his dominion is an everlasting dominion1 which shall not pass away1 and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed 7,dan4 #g3ac1 #ad74 ,the above are only a few of the many predictions made by the ,holy ,spirit as to the character1 life1 sacrifice and dominion of our ,lord4 ,we notice now the work of the ,spirit in1 upon and through him4 #a4 ,,he ,,was ,,conceived ,,by ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,now the birth of ,jesus ,christ was on this wise3 ,when his mother ,mary had been betrothed to ,joseph1 before they came together she was found with child of the ,holy ,spirit 7,matt4 #a3 #ah74 ,and the angel answered and said unto her1 ,the ,holy ,spirit shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,most ,high shall overshadow thee3 wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the ,son of ,god 7,luke #a3ce74 #b4 ,,he ,,was ,,anointed ,,by ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,and ,jesus1 when he was baptized1 went up straightway from the water3 and lo1 the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the ,spirit of ,god descending as a dove1 and coming upon him2 and lo1 a voice out of the heavens1 saying1 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased 7,matt4 #c3af1 #ag74 ,and it came to pass in those days1 that ,jesus came from ,nazareth of ,galilee1 and was baptized of ,john in the ,jordan4 ,and straightway coming up out of the water1 he saw the heavens rent asunder1 and the ,spirit as a dove descending upon him3 and a voice came out of the heavens1 ,thou art my beloved ,son1 in thee ,i am well pleased 7,mark #a3i-aa74 ,now it came to pass1 when all the people were baptized1 that1 ,jesus also having been baptized and praying1 the heaven was opened1 and the ,holy ,spirit descended in a bodily form1 as a dove1 upon him1 and a voice came out of heaven1 ,thou art my beloved ,son2 in thee ,i am well pleased 7,luke #c3ba1 #bb74 ,and ,john bare witness1 saying1 ,i have beheld the ,spirit descending as a dove out of heaven2 and it abode upon him1 and ,i knew him not3 but he that sent me to baptize in water1 he said unto me1 ,upon whomsoever thou shalt see the ,spirit descending1 and abiding upon him1 the same is he that baptizeth in the ,holy ,spirit 7,john #a3 #cb1 #cc74 #c4 ,,he ,,was ,,led ,,by ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,then was ,jesus led up of the ,spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil 7,matt4 #d3a74 ,and straightway the ,spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness 7,mark #a3ab74 ,and ,jesus1 full of the ,holy ,spirit1 returned from the ,jordan1 and was led in the ,spirit in the wilderness 7,luke #d3a74 #d4 ,,he ,,wrought ,,miracles ,,by ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,but if ,i by the ,spirit of ,god cast out demons1 then is the kingdom of ,god come upon you 7,matt4 #ab3bh74 ,but if ,i by the finger of ,god cast out demons1 then is the kingdom of ,god come upon you 7,luke #aa3bj74 #e4 ,,he ,,offered ,,himself ,,up ,,through ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,how much more shall the blood of ,christ1 who through the eternal ,spirit offered himself without blemish unto ,god1 cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living ,god8 7,heb4 #i3ad74 #f4 ,,he ,,was ,,raised ,,by ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,but if the ,spirit of him that raised up ,jesus from the dead dwelleth in you1 he that raised up ,christ ,jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his ,spirit that dwelleth in you 7,rom4 #h3aa74 ,who was declared to be the ,son of ,god with power1 according to the spirit of holiness1 by the resurrection from the dead 7,rom4 #a3d74 #g4 ,,he ,,gave ,,the ,,commission ,,by ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,the former treatise ,i made1 ,o ,theophilus1 concerning all that ,jesus began both to do and to teach1 until the day in which he was received up1 after that he had given commandment through the ,holy ,spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen 7,acts #a3a1 #b74 #h4 ,,his ,,ascension ,,and ,,coronation ,,were ,,announced ,,by ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,being therefore by the right hand of ,god exalted1 and having received of the ,father the promise of the ,holy ,spirit1 he hath poured forth this1 which you see and hear 7,acts #b3cc74 ,let all the house of ,israel therefore know assuredly1 that ,god hath made him both ,lord and ,christ1 this ,jesus whom ye crucified 7,acts #b3cf74 ,thus the ,spirit predicted the coming of ,jesus and the great facts of his birth1 baptism1 anointing1 miracles1 death1 burial and resurrection1 ascension and coronation1 and then came from the ,father to carry on the work of extending his kingdom4 ,in the light of this testimony we can truly say with ,paul in #b ,cor4 #ab3c3 ,wherefore ,i make known unto you1 that no man speaking in the ,spirit of ,god saith1 ,jesus is anathema3 and no man can say1 ,jesus is ,lord1 but in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world3 thine they were1 and thou gavest them to me2 and they have kept thy word4 ,now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee3 for the words which thou gavest me ,i have given unto them2 and they received them1 and know of a truth that ,i came forth from thee1 and they believe that thou didst send me4444 ,while ,i was with them1 ,i kept them in thy name which thou hast given me3 and ,i guarded them1 and not one of them perished1 but the son of perdition2 that the scripture might be fulfilled4444 ,i have given them thy word2 and the world hated them1 because they are not of the world1 even as ,i am not of the world4 ,i pray not that thou shouldst take them from the world1 but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one 7,john #ag3f-h1 #ab1 #ad1 #ae74 ,,vi ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,apostles ,in interpreting ,scripture1 attention should be paid not only to the speaker and his message1 but also to the parties addressed4 ,there are passages that are universal in their application1 others that are national1 and still others that are addressed to individuals only4 ,many promises are addressed to children of ,god only1 and do not apply to those who are not citizens of ,christ's kingdom4 ,again1 there are commands that are addressed solely to men in a state of condemnation1 and have no relevancy when applied to the children of ,god4 ,christ uttered many things to his chosen ambassadors1 chosen to establish his kingdom on earth1 which were never intended to be applied to any others4 ,it is a mistake for the ,christian of to-day to make universal1 promises that were intended by our ,lord for special individuals4 ,it confuses the whole scheme of redemption and makes a mystery out of ,scriptures that are perfectly clear when proper limitations are made4 ,things addressed to a chosen few have been wrongly applied to all and great confusion has resulted therefrom4 ,it is my purpose in this chapter to notice some of these4 ,the fourteenth1 fifteenth and sixteenth chapters of ,john contain a record of a private talk by our ,lord to the twelve1 and to them alone4 ,jesus was approaching the close of his earthly ministry4 ,he had chosen his apostles1 and they had left all to follow him4 ,he had eaten1 slept and companied with them4 ,he had taught them the great truths upon which his kingdom would be founded4 ,they had learned to depend upon him for advice1 instruction1 comfort and guidance4 ,they confessed this when they said1 ,thou hast the words of eternal life4 ,he was soon to leave them1 and knew that they would feel that they were as sheep without a shepherd4 ,he wishes them to know that they should not be left orphaned4 ,he tells them1 ,i will pray the ,father1 and he shall give you another ,comforter that he may abide with you for ever1 or to the remotest age4 ,that is1 as long as you shall have need of him4 ,the ,greek word translated for ever does not necessarily mean unlimited duration4 ,it is often applied to much shorter periods1 even to a lifetime4 ,the word ,comforter is a translation from the ,greek word ,paracletos1 and it is a very inadequate translation4 ,there is no word within my knowledge that will fully express in ,english the ,greek word4 ,it is much better to ,anglicize the word into the ,english ,paraclete4 ,this word is used of the ,holy ,spirit only four times in the ,new ,testament1 and is only used by the ,saviour in his private address to the twelve1 found in the fourteenth1 fifteenth and sixteenth chapters of ,john4 ,it is never applied to the work of the ,holy ,spirit in relation to mankind in general4 ,it is promised only to the chosen1 and ,jesus tells them that the world can not receive him4 ,this ,paraclete is a distinct gift to the twelve1 to take the place of the personal presence and guidance of the leader who is preparing to leave them4 ,what is the nature of this promised one8 ,by examining the lexicons we find that ,paraclete is3 #a4 ,one called or sent to assist another4 #b4 ,one who pleads the cause of another4 #c4 ,a monitor4 #d4 ,an instructor4 #e4 ,a guide4 #f4 ,a helper4 #g4 ,a supporter4 #h4 ,a comforter4 ,of this ,paraclete ,jesus says3 #a4 ,whom the world can not receive4 #b4 ,he dwelleth with you and shall be in you4 #c4 ,he shall teach you all things4 #d4 ,he shall bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever ,i have spoken unto you4 #e4 ,he shall testify of me4 #f4 ,he shall convict the world of sin4 #g4 ,he shall convict the world of righteousness4 #h4 ,he shall convict the world of judgment4 #i4 ,he shall guide you into all truth4 #aj4 ,he shall show you things to come4 #aa4 ,he shall receive of mine and show it unto you4 ,here we have eleven distinct things that the ,paraclete is to do for the apostles4 ,all these offices of the ,paraclete were needed by the apostles in their work of proclaiming ,christianity and establishing the church4 ,they were ignorant and unlearned1 humanly speaking1 and could never have gone forth to success without this supernatural ,paraclete4 ,they took no thought what they should say1 for it was given them at the proper time4 ,others have to take thought4 ,paul tells ,timothy to study to show thyself approved unto ,god1 a workman that needeth not to be ashamed1 rightly dividing the word of truth4 ,timothy had to study because he did not possess the ,paraclete4 ,yet ,timothy did possess the gift of the ,spirit4 ,for which cause ,i put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of ,god1 which is in thee through the laying on of my hands 7#b ,tim4 #a3f74 ,men to-day are required to study that they may know what to say4 ,a failure to observe this exhortation of the apostle is the reason why a great many do not know what to say4 ,the ,paraclete was not only an instructor1 but he was an infallible guide4 ,this is evident from the fact that no apostle ever contradicted another nor said anything foolish4 ,i never heard a man of to-day lay claim to being guided into all truth by the ,spirit1 who did not say something foolish in the next five minutes4 ,if any man claims the direct guidance of the ,spirit to-day1 he can not consistently deny that same claim to others4 ,but we have all sorts of men teaching all sorts of doctrines1 often contradicting each other4 ,does the ,spirit guide one man to preach up ,universalism and another man to preach it down6 ,the same is true of ,calvinism1 ,mormonism or any other ism4 ,this teaching places the ,spirit in a very unenviable position1 that of preaching four or five different teachings at the same time1 each within a half-mile of the other4 ,suppose a preacher were to do that6 ,what would the people think of him8 ,it would ruin the reputation of any preacher in ,christendom4 ,there is something wrong1 and that something is to apply to the world the promise of the ,paraclete1 which was only given to the apostles4 ,paul tells ,timothy3 ,the things thou hast heard of me among many witnesses1 the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also4 ,was that not an impertinence in ,paul if ,timothy had the same divine leading as he8 ,was it not impertinence in ,jude to say that the faith was once for all delivered to the saints1 if there were deliverances being constantly made8 ,what need to preach the gospel to the heathen world if ,god is directly leading men into the truth8 ,what need for a ,new ,testament if all men possess this ,paraclete8 ,how can one man deny the claims of another whom he admits to be divinely guided into all truth8 ,some have thought that ,christ bestowed the ,paraclete upon the apostles when he breathed upon them and said3 ,receive ye the ,holy ,spirit4 ,at best that was a prophetic and not an actual bestowal1 for after that onbreathing we find ,peter 7,acts ,i7 calling upon the assembly of brethren to take a vote as to who should succeed ,judas in the apostolic college4 ,if he had possessed the ,paraclete at that time1 he would not have been compelled to resort to the judgment of his brethren to determine such a question4 ,moreover1 ,christ indicated when the ,paraclete would come1 by stating the work that would follow his coming3 ,when he is come he shall convict the world age of sin1 of righteousness and of judgment4 ,how did he do this8 #a4 ,his first act at his coming was to baptize the apostles in the ,spirit and endow them with the ,paraclete4 ,ye shall be baptized in the ,holy ,spirit not many days hence 7,acts #a3e74 #b4 ,when the ,spirit baptized these apostles with divine guidance he began his work of convicting the world through them4 7#a7 ,to convict the world of sin4 ,not of sin in general4 ,it is a mistaken idea that the ,spirit is sent to personally convict a man of the sin of lying1 stealing or defrauding his neighbor4 ,when ,i was a boy in old ,kentucky the colored people used to hold great revivals2 they generally selected corn-planting-time or harvest-time for these meetings4 ,many of them would lie for days in a cataleptic condition1 which1 they said1 was a conviction of the ,spirit4 ,a man would go groaning and moping to his task because he was under conviction of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the above passage teaches nothing of the kind1 nor does any other passage in the ,new ,testament teach it4 ,there is not a case in the ,new ,testament where the ,holy ,spirit ever made an issue with a man to personally convict him of sin4 ,all men are convicted of sin by the ,spirit1 but it is the ,spirit working through the preaching of ,spirit-filled men4 ,and he1 when he is come1 will convict the world the ,jewish world or age in respect of sin1 because they believe not on me4 ,they called him a blasphemer1 they rejected him1 they took him with wicked hands and crucified and slew him2 and the first thrust of the ,spirit on the day of ,pentecost was at this sinful act of the world3 ,this same ,jesus whom ye took with wicked hands and crucified and slew1 ,god hath raised him up and made him both ,lord and ,christ4 7#b7 ,of righteousness1 because ,i go to the ,father1 and ye behold me no more4 ,if this passage teaches that men are individually convicted of sin1 it also teaches that they are individually convicted of righteousness1 and this would be a most herculean task1 even for the ,spirit1 to perform4 ,it is a contradiction of terms to say that the ,spirit convicts a man of sin1 then1 in the next breath1 that he convicts the same man of righteousness4 ,and yet1 the ,spirit was to convict men of righteousness2 but whose righteousness8 ,the righteousness of ,jesus ,christ4 ,of righteousness1 because ,i go to the ,father1 and ye behold me no more4 ,when ,jesus was on earth he claimed to be the ,son of ,god2 he claimed to come down from heaven2 he claimed to be ,god manifest in the flesh2 but1 at the same time1 he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief4 ,there was no beauty that we should desire him4 ,on this account the ,jews refused to accept him as the ,son of ,god2 they denied his claim to divinity and called him a blasphemer for making himself equal with ,god2 they believed that he was unrighteous in making that claim1 and ,jesus died because his claims were not accepted by his people2 but after his death he was crowned with glory and honor at the right hand of the ,majesty on high1 and the ,spirit came to demonstrate the righteous claims ,jesus made while on earth4 ,the ,spirit came to convict men of the righteousness of ,christ1 and not their own righteousness4 ,a simple illustration will probably throw light upon this thought4 ,forty years ago my father lived in a little village in the ,state of ,illinois1 midway between ,st4 ,louis and ,indianapolis4 ,one afternoon two young lads1 covered with dust and toilworn1 came to his house and told him they were sons of an elder of a ,christian ,church in ,indiana2 that they had been robbed in ,st4 ,louis1 and were making their way home on foot2 they asked for something to eat4 ,my father doubted their claims2 he felt that they were impostors2 but my mother1 who had boys of her own out in the world1 and who always believed the best of everybody1 said3 ,we will feed them and care for them during the night4 ,their wants were supplied1 and they were given lodging for the night1 and sent on their way the next morning with a good lunch for the day4 ,six months afterward1 ,i preached in ,monroe ,county1 ,indiana1 and1 stopping with one of the elders of the church1 two young lads were introduced to me as his boys4 ,they asked me if my father lived in ,illinois4 ,i told them he did4 ,they then recounted their experience at my father's home1 and said to me3 ,we would be glad when you return home if you will tell your father that you stopped at our house1 and that you know we were what we claimed to be when we sought his aid4 ,when ,i returned to my father's home ,i convicted him of the righteousness of those boys in the claim which they set forth1 and which he had hitherto doubted4 ,in a similar manner the ,spirit of ,god came down to convict the world1 that had rejected the claims of ,jesus1 of his righteousness in making those claims4 7#c7 ,he will convict the world of judgment1 because the prince of this world is judged4 ,this passage does not say1 as many preachers quote it1 of judgment to come1 but of judgment1 because the prince of this world is judged4 ,this ,scripture is often quoted to show that a judgment was pronounced upon ,satan1 who is often called the prince of this world4 ,the word for prince in the original is used thirty-seven times--thirty-two times it clearly means an earthly ruler1 and five times it may apply to ,satan4 ,there is no reason why the expression1 the prince of this world1 may not mean an earthly ruler4 ,it evidently refers to ,pontius ,pilate1 in ,john #ad3cj1 when ,jesus says3 ,the prince of this world cometh1 and he hath nothing in me4 ,pilate justifies that statement when he says3 ,i find no fault in this man4 ,nevertheless1 as prince of this world1 he pronounced the death-sentence and delivered him up to be crucified4 ,this was the judgment of the prince of this world1 but the descent of the ,holy ,spirit on the day of ,pentecost reversed this judgment and pronounced a righteous judgment in its place1 thus judging ,pilate the prince of this world4 ,the above three things were accomplished on the day of ,pentecost by the coming of the ,spirit4 ,the ,jews were convicted of sin in rejecting and crucifying ,christ2 they were also convicted of the righteousness of ,christ in claiming to be the ,son of ,god1 and likewise convinced that ,god had raised up ,jesus and made him both ,lord and ,christ4 ,in accomplishing this work the ,spirit did it through the instrumentality of gospel preaching1 and all subsequent convictions of sin1 of righteousness and of judgment have been accomplished through the same agency1 and will be till the end of time4 ,this ,paraclete continued with the apostles till the end of their ministry1 guiding1 leading1 and showing them things to come1 bringing all things to their remembrance that ,christ had spoken unto them4 ,under this direct and supernatural control they preached the gospel to all the nations of the earth1 and established the church with all its officers1 ordinances1 privileges and duties4 ,they wrote the epistles to the churches and gave to mankind the ,new ,testament1 the perfect law of liberty4 ,the work of the ,paraclete being finished1 and his mission ended1 no man has been guided1 shown and directed personally by him since4 ,god does no unnecessary work1 and the work of the ,paraclete is not necessary now4 ,his work remains in the teachings and lives of the apostles4 ,there are many things in the above-mentioned chapters that rightfully have a universal application1 but the special promises concerning the ,paraclete are not included in those things4 ,wherefore he saith1 ,when he ascended on high1 he led captivity captive1 ,and gave gifts unto men4444 ,and he gave some to be apostles2 and some1 prophets2 and some1 evangelists2 and some1 pastors and teachers2 for the perfecting of the saints1 unto the work of ministering1 unto the building up of the body of ,christ3 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith1 and of the knowledge of the ,son of ,god1 unto a fullgrown man1 unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ 7,eph4 #d3h1 #aa-ac74 ,,vii ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,apostolic ,,church ,that the ,holy ,spirit sustained a relation to the apostolic church that it does not sustain to the church of to-day is clearly evident to the student of the ,divine ,word4 ,the church of the apostolic age had no ,new ,testament as we have to-day4 ,hence the necessity of a more direct and immediate leading than is necessary to-day4 ,the apostle ,paul states the difference between the two when he says3 ,for we know in part1 and we prophesy in part2 but when that which is perfect is come1 that which is in part shall be done away4 ,this is not a contrast between the imperfections of our day and the perfection of heaven1 but between the imperfection of the apostolic church and the perfection of the church of to-day4 ,that which is perfect has come2 a perfect revelation of ,christian character1 a perfect gospel1 a perfect law of liberty1 a perfect ,new ,testament4 ,the apostolic church was limited to knowing in part and prophesying in part4 ,but to each one is given the manifestation of the ,spirit to profit withal4 ,for to one is given through the ,spirit the word of wisdom2 and to another the word of knowledge1 according to the same ,spirit3 to another faith1 in the same ,spirit2 to another gifts of healings1 in the one ,spirit2 and to another workings of miracles2 and to another prophecy2 and to another discernings of spirits3 to another divers kinds of tongues2 and to another the interpretation of tongues3 but all these worketh the one and the same ,spirit1 dividing to each one severally even as he will 7#a ,cor4 #ab3g-aa74 ,now1 here was manifestly a condition in the first churches that does not exist to-day4 ,here are various direct and supernatural workings that are manifestations of spiritual power resulting from a direct gift of the ,spirit to members of apostolic churches4 ,now1 there was a purpose to be accomplished by this special gift of the ,spirit4 ,in the fourth chapter of ,ephesians the apostle tells us the purpose of this gift4 ,and he gave some1 apostles2 and some1 prophets2 and some1 evangelists2 and some1 pastors and teachers2 for the perfecting of the saints1 for the work of the ministry1 for the edifying of the body of ,christ3 ,till we all come to the unity of the faith1 and of the knowledge of the ,son of ,god4 ,this gift of the ,spirit accompanied the baptism of the ,spirit on the day of ,pentecost4 ,this brings us to a very-interesting question2 viz41 ,was the promise of the gift of the ,holy ,spirit1 referred to by ,peter on the day of ,pentecost1 a universal one to all who obey the gospel1 or was it limited to those of the apostolic church who received it that they might manifest it in a supernatural way to profit withal1 or to the profit of all8 ,there are some who claim that the gift of the ,spirit is one that belongs to all who obey the gospel to-day1 that it is independent of the instrumentality of the gospel1 and is the peculiar heritage of those who repent and are baptized for the remission of sins2 that it performs a work in them other than is performed by the ,spirit operating through the truth4 ,there are others who claim that the gift of the ,spirit was a supernatural power and was conferred on persons to qualify them to do a work or works peculiar to the age of miracles which obtained in the apostolic church4 ,the only way to settle this is by appealing to 7#a7 the consciousness of individuals1 7#b7 to the ,divine ,word4 ,before appealing to either of these tribunals1 there are a few facts that we must consider4 7#a7 ,this is the only passage in the ,new ,testament that connects the gift of the ,spirit with obedience to the gospel in the preaching of the apostles4 ,we have remission of sins so connected on various occasions 7see ,acts #e3ca2 #aj3dc2 #ac3ch2 #bf3ah1 etc41 etc471 but nowhere else is this gift of the ,spirit promised4 ,if it is to be as universal as remission of sins1 ought it not to have the same prominence in apostolic preaching8 ,this is an important factor in settling the matter4 7#b7 ,in the only instance in which it is promised it is inexorably connected with baptism for the remission of sins4 ,it is promised to no others1 and all others are ruled out by the explicit terms of the promise4 ,with these facts before us1 let us now appeal to the consciousness of the individual4 ,if we consider numbers1 it is safe to say that ninety-five per cent4 of those who to-day claim the gift of the ,spirit have never been baptized for the remission of sins4 ,they have never performed the conditions upon which the gift was bestowed4 ,are they competent to testify8 ,of the remaining five per cent41 there is not one who can give any definite reason why he is conscious of the personal indwelling of the ,spirit within him4 ,to demonstrate my statement ,i appeal to the consciousness of my readers4 ,are you conscious of any influence within you except a holy joy that comes from obedience to the will of ,god8 ,if you are not1 what evidence have you that the ,spirit personally dwells in you8 ,so much for the argument from consciousness4 ,now let us appeal to the ,divine ,word4 ,when the apostle ,peter promised the gift of the ,spirit1 he followed it with the words1 ,for the promise is to you and to your children1 and to all them that are afar off1 even as many as the ,lord our ,god shall call4 ,he distinctly states that the gift of the ,spirit is in fulfillment of the promise4 ,now1 is there in the ,scripture any promise of a personal indwelling of the ,holy ,spirit as a result of obedience8 ,let us search the words of the ,master4 ,in ,luke #aa3ac our ,lord says3 ,if ye then1 being evil1 know how to give good gifts unto your children1 how much more shall your heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask him8 ,this passage may be disposed of by saying that in the original it is a holy spirit and does not refer to the ,holy ,spirit at all4 ,it represents ,god's willingness to give a holy disposition4 ,matthew explains it in the words good gifts to them that ask him4 ,in ,john #g3ch1 #ci we have recorded another promise3 ,he that believeth on me1 as the scripture hath said1 from within him shall flow rivers of living water4 ,but this spake he of the ,spirit1 which they that believed on him were to receive3 for the ,spirit was not yet given2 because ,jesus was not yet glorified4 ,this is evidently a supernatural gift1 as he represents the recipient of it as a fountain from which flows rivers of living water4 ,this is obviously not true of us to-day4 ,our ,saviour also dates the bestowal as following his glorification1 or on the day of ,pentecost4 ,in ,mark #af3af-ah3 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned4 ,and these signs shall accompany them that believe3 in my name shall they cast out demons2 they shall speak with new tongues2 they shall take up serpents1 and if they drink any deadly thing1 it shall in no wise hurt them2 they shall lay hands on the sick1 and they shall recover4 ,these five things that accompanied the believers are all supernatural4 ,of the three promises of ,jesus--which are all that are recorded in the ,new ,testament--only two refer to the ,holy ,spirit1 and both of these to its supernatural manifestation4 ,if we go back of the ,saviour to the ,old ,testament1 we find a distinct promise of the gift of the ,spirit3 ,and it shall come to pass afterward1 that ,i will pour out my ,spirit upon all flesh2 and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy1 your old men shall dream dreams1 your young men shall see visions3 and also upon the servants and upon the hand-maids in those days will ,i pour out my ,spirit 7,joel #b3bh1 #bi74 ,this promise is the one quoted by ,peter to explain the manifestations on the day of ,pentecost to the people drawn together by that wonderful event4 ,from it he delivers by the ,spirit a sermon on the claims of our ,lord4 ,he shows that they had taken the ,lord by wicked hands and had crucified and slain him2 that ,god had raised him from the dead and had exalted him to his right hand2 had given him the promise of the ,holy ,spirit2 that what they saw and heard was the fulfillment of ,joel's promise4 ,this promise was not simply to the apostles1 for we read in the preceding chapter that the apostles1 and the women and ,mary the mother of ,jesus1 and his brethren to the number of one hundred and twenty all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication4 ,and when the day of ,pentecost was now come1 they were all together in one place4 ,and suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind1 and it filled all the house where they were sitting4 ,and there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder1 like as of fire2 and it sat upon each of them4 ,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and began to speak with other tongues1 as the ,spirit gave them utterance4 ,this shows that the gift of the ,spirit came upon all the followers ,jesus left behind him4 ,when the multitude were convicted by the apostle's discourse1 they said unto ,peter and the rest of the apostles1 ,brethren1 what shall we do8 ,and ,peter said unto them1 ,repent ye1 and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ unto the remission of your sins3 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,for to you is the promise1 and to your children1 and to all that are afar off1 even as many as the ,lord our ,god shall call unto him4 ,what promise6 ,evidently the promise of ,god1 ,i will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh4 ,there is no other promise in the mind of ,peter and his hearers1 and ,i know of no other promise the reader can have in mind4 ,this position is amply supported by after-developments4 ,while ,peter yet spake these words1 the ,holy ,spirit fell on all them that heard the word4 ,and they of the circumcision that believed were amazed1 as many as came with ,peter1 because that on the ,gentiles also was poured out the gift of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,for they heard them speak with tongues1 and magnify ,god4 ,then answered ,peter1 ,can any man forbid the water1 that these should not be baptized1 who have received the ,holy ,spirit as well as we8 7,acts #aj3dd-dg74 ,this was in fulfillment of the promise not only to the ,jews1 but the ,gentiles1 whom the ,jews regarded as far off4 ,paul1 speaking to ,gentiles1 says3 ,but now in ,christ ,jesus1 ye that were once far off are made nigh in the blood of ,christ 7,eph4 #b3ac74 ,in this incident the gift of the ,holy ,spirit and receiving the ,spirit are the same4 ,and when ,peter was taken to task for baptizing the ,gentiles1 he defends himself on the ground that ,god1 who knows the heart1 bore witness to them1 giving them the ,holy ,spirit1 the like gift as he did also unto us4 ,in the above instances1 ,pentecost and the house of ,cornelius1 the gift of the ,spirit was the result of the baptism of the ,spirit1 the baptism of the ,spirit was an outpouring or falling of the ,spirit upon the ,jews at ,pentecost and the ,gentiles at the house of ,cornelius1 to signify his acceptance of both ,jew and ,gentile into the kingdom of ,christ4 ,paul undoubtedly refers to this when he says3 ,for in one ,spirit were we all baptized into one body1 whether ,jews or ,greeks 7#a ,cor4 #ab3ac74 ,the baptism of the ,spirit ceased when its object--the making of one body out of ,jews and ,gentiles--was accomplished1 but the gift of the ,spirit did not cease4 ,it was conferred by the laying on of the hands of the apostles through all their lives4 ,a few illustrations may be mentioned from the ,scriptures4 ,the ,samaritans4 ,when a bloody persecution arose at ,jerusalem1 following the death of ,stephen1 the disciples were scattered and went everywhere preaching the ,word4 ,philip went to the city of ,samaria and preached ,christ to them4 ,but when they believed ,philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of ,god and the name of ,jesus ,christ1 they were baptized1 both men and women 7,acts #h3ab74 ,for as yet the ,holy ,spirit was fallen upon none of them3 only they had been baptized into the name of the ,lord ,jesus 7,acts #h3af74 ,if the gift of the ,spirit is to all baptized believers1 why did not the ,samaritans receive it8 ,philip was not an apostle and did not have the power to confer the gift of the ,spirit by the imposition of hands1 and1 in order that they might receive this gift1 it was necessary that two apostles1 ,peter and ,john1 should go to ,samaria and lay hands on them1 that they might receive the ,spirit4 ,here is a clear case of baptized believers receiving the ,holy ,spirit by the imposition of hands4 ,disciples at ,ephesus4 ,in ,acts #ai ,paul met certain disciples that had received the baptism of ,john4 ,he showed them that ,john did not preach a full gospel1 which embraced a belief in ,christ4 ,and when they heard this1 they were baptized into the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 and when ,paul had laid his hands upon them1 the ,holy ,spirit came on them4 ,this is another clear case of the ,spirit being given by the imposition of hands4 ,timothy4 ,in #b ,tim4 #a3f ,paul tells ,timothy3 ,for which cause ,i put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of ,god1 which is in thee through the laying on of my hands4 ,this is a third instance of the gift of the ,spirit by the imposition of hands1 and they form just three more instances than can be found of the ,spirit taking his personal abode in men because they have believed and been baptized4 ,that the ,spirit was imparted to many ,christians in a similar way is clear4 ,paul tells the brethren at ,borne3 ,for ,i long to see you1 that ,i may impart unto you some spiritual gift1 to the end that ye may be established4 ,it was not necessary that he see these brethren to the end that he might proclaim the gospel unto them2 but it was necessary that he see them that he might lay hands on them and impart the gift of the ,spirit4 ,in ,mark #af3ag1 #ah ,jesus concludes the commission as follows3 ,and these signs shall accompany them that believe3 in my name shall they cast out demons2 they shall speak with new tongues2 they shall take up serpents1 and if they drink any deadly thing1 it shall in no wise hurt them2 they shall lay hands on the sick1 and they shall recover4 ,here is clearly the promise of supernatural power which he calls signs4 ,signs of what8 ,there is but one answer that can be given3 signs of the indwelling of ,god's ,spirit by which alone they could work these signs4 ,are these signs in existence to-day8 ,no thoughtful reader will so affirm4 ,if the manifestations of the ,spirit have ceased1 is it not reasonable that the gift has also ceased8 ,if not1 we have the remarkable fact of the ,spirit dwelling in man and not being able to manifest any signs of his indwelling4 ,we are now enabled to reach two conclusions of importance3 ,first1 the gift of the ,spirit was a supernatural gift for the purpose of enabling the believers in apostolic days to work the signs which ,christ said should accompany them that believe1 and ceased when the signs ceased4 ,second1 many of the exhortations of the ,new ,testament writers were to a church whose members were filled with the supernatural power of the ,spirit1 and should be interpreted in the light of that fact4 ,we give a few examples that fall under this head3 ,declared to be the ,son of ,god with power1 according to the spirit of holiness 7,rom4 #a3d74 ,but ye are 444 in the ,spirit1 if so be that the ,spirit of ,god dwelleth in you 7,rom4 #h3i74 ,ourselves also1 who have the first-fruits of the ,spirit 7,rom4 #h3bc74 ,my conscience bearing witness with me in the ,holy ,spirit 7,rom4 #i3a74 ,now ,i beseech you1 brethren1 by our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and by the love of the ,spirit 7,rom4 #ae3cj74 ,now he that wrought us for this very thing is ,god1 who gave unto us the earnest of the ,spirit 7#b ,cor4 #e3e74 ,ye were sealed with the ,holy ,spirit of promise1 which is an earnest of our inheritance 7,eph4 #a3ac1 #ad74 ,through him we both have our access in one ,spirit unto the ,father 7,eph4 #b3ah74 ,be filled with the ,spirit 7,eph4 #e3ah74 ,if there is therefore any 444 fellowship of the ,spirit 7,phil4 #b3a74 ,therefore he that rejecteth1 rejecteth 444 ,god1 who giveth his ,holy ,spirit unto you 7#a ,thess4 #d3h74 ,for ,god gave us not a spirit1 of fearfulness2 but of power and love and discipline 7#b ,tim4 #a3g74 ,he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the ,holy ,spirit 7,tit4 #c3e74 ,god also bearing witness with them1 both by signs and wonders and by manifold powers1 and by gifts of the ,holy ,spirit 7,heb4 #b3d74 ,doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying8 7,jas4 #d3e74 ,ye have an anointing from the ,holy ,one 7#a ,john #b3 #bj74 ,the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you 7#a ,john #b3bg74 ,he hath given us of his ,spirit 7#a ,john #d3ac74 ,all the above ,scriptures become clear if we understand them to apply to a people through whom ,god was manifesting his presence by supernatural demonstrations1 but many of them lack meaning when applied to people of ,god who no longer exhibit these supernatural powers4 ,,viii ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,world ,hitherto we have been treating the ,holy ,spirit in terms of the past1 but now we come to the present tense4 ,is the ,holy ,spirit a power in the present age8 ,if so1 what kind of a power8 ,is he making an issue with men as a direct power and working upon them immediately1 or is he working through an instrumentality1 and1 if so1 what is the instrumentality8 ,the ,spirit is undoubtedly dealing with two classes of persons in his work to-day4 ,first1 those who are not believers1 and therefore unconverted and aliens from the commonwealth of ,israel4 ,second1 those who have believed and obeyed the gospel1 and are therefore children of ,god4 ,we shall devote this chapter to the influence of the ,spirit upon the unbelieving world4 ,in the very nature of things1 the work of the ,spirit is to make believers out of unbelievers1 and convert the perverted4 ,we all believe this4 ,we believe that all believers are made by the power of the ,spirit4 ,we differ about whether he exercises that power directly from himself to the individual soul1 or whether he exercises that power through the gospel1 through the apostles and through ,christ's word of truth4 ,reason1 philosophy and experience exhausted themselves in discovering but two methods by which one spirit can exercise an influence over another4 ,first1 a direct mechanical1 immediate influence taking possession of the will and influencing the mind of and controlling the speech and actions of the subject4 ,this takes place in hypnotism and is supposed to take place in clairvoyance and clairaudience4 ,second1 a rational moral influence exerted by ideas impressed upon the mind by teaching and words that represent ideas4 ,there is1 there can be1 no third way by which one spirit can influence another4 ,you may study till you are gray-headed or bald-headed1 for that matter1 and you will discover no other way4 ,the ,holy ,spirit has used both of these methods in the past4 #a4 ,in the case of the apostles and prophets1 he immediately1 mechanically and directly controlled their actions and speech1 so much so that ,jesus told them that under the influence of the ,spirit they should take no thought what they should say4 ,for it is not ye that speak1 but the ,holy ,spirit 7,mark #ac3aa74 ,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and began to speak with other tongues1 as the ,spirit gave them utterance 7,acts #b3d74 #b4 ,in the case of the men to whom the apostles preached on the day of ,pentecost1 the ,spirit used a rational moral influence through the words of ,peter's sermon1 which conveyed ideas that swayed their minds and hearts4 ,it is claimed by some that both of these methods are used by the ,spirit to-day4 ,the modern teaching concerning the first of these influences is well set forth in the following selection from a widely known book by ,l4,b4 ,dunn1 entitled ,the ,mission of the ,spirit3 ,even where the light of the gospel does not shine1 and the institutions of the gospel are not enjoyed1 there the ,spirit acts directly upon man's heart and conscience1 writes the law of ,god upon his mind1 gives him the sense of sin and the need of forgiveness4 ,hence1 wherever man is1 there the ,comforter is at work upon his heart and mind4 ,the divine influence is imparted unconditionally and irresistibly4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is ever employed to bring man back to ,god2 and whether he desires it or not1 whether he is willing or unwilling1 still the ,comforter comes to him with his heavenly illumination1 his divine influence1 convincing him of sin1 and his consequent need of the mercy of ,god4 ,may ,i not truly say that man really has no choice in the matter as to whether he will or will not have this divine influence upon his soul8 ,he is1 he must be1 enlightened and convinced1 whether he will hear or forbear1 whether he will be saved or damned4 ,he can not prevent the entrance of the ,spirit into his heart4 ,in connection with the above we quote also from a sermon in ,the ,baptist ,pulpit1 by ,rev4 ,j4,w4 ,hayhurst3 ,god has given us no means by which the conversion of sinners1 or the general revival of religion1 can be effected1 irrespective of the direct agency of the ,spirit4 ,the gospel itself will not do it4 ,these quotations give us a pretty clear and explicit statement of the theory of the direct mechanical and immediate operation of the ,holy ,spirit upon the human spirit4 ,the second method is aptly stated by an editorial which appeared in the ,sunday ,school ,times during the year #aijh3 ,it is a strange fact that1 notwithstanding the explicitness and uniformity of the ,new ,testament teachings on this subject1 there is a widespread popular opinion that the ,holy ,spirit's work is directly and immediately on or in the heart of the unbeliever1 without the intervention or agency of the ,christian whatever4 ,to hear what is said in the sermons1 or sung in the hymns1 or prayed in the prayers of many ,christians1 one might believe that the ,holy ,spirit is sent directly to the unbelieving sinner1 to strive with him1 to show him his sin1 and to point him to1 the ,saviour2 and that therefore the ,christian preacher or teacher has rather to wait the results of this work of the ,spirit1 than to be the instrument or the avenue of this work4 ,many a ,christian seems to think that the ,holy ,spirit's work is that of a revival preacher1 in moving sinners to repentance by a direct appeal to their consciences and understandings1 instead of stirring up ,christians to appeal1 in the power of the ,spirit1 to unbelievers to believe and turn to ,god4 ,it is true that1 in this present dispensation of the ,spirit1 all power in the evangelizing of the world1 and in the swaying of the hearts of men toward ,christ and in the service of ,christ1 is primarily with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,but it is also true that the ,holy ,spirit1 according to the ,bible teachings1 works in and by and through believers in ,jesus4 ,hence if one who is not a believer in ,jesus is to be won to discipleship1 the question is not1 ',will the ,holy ,spirit work on his mind immediately1 or will the ,holy ,spirit work through one who already believes8' for that question the ,bible has already answered4 ,the ,holy ,spirit can use the written words1 like the spoken words1 of a chosen messenger of ,god to an unbelieving soul4 ,but in every case the ,spirit reaches the believer mediately1 not immediately4 ,now1 these theories are directly contradictory4 ,if one is true1 the other can not be4 ,the only question to decide is as to which one is true4 ,let us examine these theories in the light of reason1 revelation and experience4 ,if the ,holy ,spirit works directly and immediately on the heart of man1 surely there should be some tangible evidence of it given in such a striking way as to demonstrate the truth of the theory4 ,but the experience of ,christendom for nineteen centuries fails to furnish a single unquestioned evidence of it4 ,the proof of the theory is made to hinge upon far-fetched inferences drawn from ,scripture statements1 and even these fail to furnish the evidence sought4 ,let us notice some of the ,scriptures that are relied upon to prove a direct operation of the ,spirit in the conversion of sinners3 #a4 ,a new heart also will ,i give you1 and a new spirit will ,i put within you2 and ,i will take away the stony heart out of your flesh1 and ,i will give you a heart of flesh4 ,and ,i will put my ,spirit within you1 and cause you to walk in my statutes1 and ye shall keep mine ordinances1 and do them 7,ezek4 #cf3bf1 #bg74 ,this passage has been much relied upon to prove the theory of an abstract operation of the ,spirit upon the sinner in conversion4 ,its failure to support the theory is evidenced by the following facts3 7#a7 ,the ,lord was not talking about the conversion of a sinner1 but the renewal of ,israel as a people4 7#b7 ,the passage says nothing about the work of the ,holy ,spirit4 7#c7 ,there is nothing mentioned in the passage that could not have been accomplished by ordinary means4 7#d7 ,the very point to be proven is assumed4 #b4 ,but their minds were hardened3 for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth1 it not being revealed to them that it is done away in ,christ4 ,but unto this day1 whensoever ,moses is read1 a veil lieth upon their heart4 ,but whensoever it shall turn to the ,lord1 the veil is taken away 7#b ,cor4 #c3ad-af74 ,just what is found here to prove a direct operation of the ,spirit would be difficult to say4 ,the apostle is speaking of the ,jews reading the ,scriptures with a veil which blinds them4 ,the veil was undoubtedly a false interpretation1 which prevented their seeing ,christ in their ,scriptures4 ,if they had not this wrong interpretation1 they would see ,christ and their ,scriptures would be plain4 ,as it was1 they were dark and mysterious4 ,the apostle tells what will remove the veil3 ,when they shall turn to the ,lord1 the veil shall be taken away4 ,there is nothing in the whole passage that even hints at an immediate operation of the ,spirit4 #c4 ,for we are his workmanship1 created in ,christ ,jesus for good works1 which ,god afore prepared that we should walk in them 7,eph4 #b3aj74 ,there is nothing here to even hint at a direct operation4 ,it says the ,ephesians were created in ,christ ,jesus 7not in the ,holy ,spirit7 unto good works4 ,if the reader wishes to learn by what means they were so created1 let him turn to chapter #a1 verse #ac1 and he will obtain the information3 ,in whom ye also1 having heard the word of the truth1 the gospel of your salvation1--in whom1 having also believed1 ye were sealed with the ,holy ,spirit of promise4 ,that is something to the point4 ,they heard the word of truth1 the gospel of their salvation4 ,then1 after they believed1 they were sealed with the ,holy ,spirit of promise4 ,there is nothing in the passage to warrant the teaching of a special operation to enable them to believe4 #d4 ,and a certain woman named ,lydia1 a seller of purple1 of the city of ,thyatira1 one that worshipped ,god1 heard us3 whose heart the ,lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by ,paul 7,acts #af3ad74 ,this is relied upon to prove a direct work of the ,spirit upon ,lydia that she might hear and believe4 ,the very thing to be proved is again assumed4 ,true1 the ,lord opened ,lydia's heart1 but he didn't do so that she might receive the word1 for ,paul had already preached it to her4 ,her heart was opened that she gave heed to the things spoken by ,paul4 ,before she heard ,paul she had a narrow1 bigoted ,jewish heart4 ,after she heard the preaching1 her heart was opened to attend to the things she had heard4 ,that is1 she obeyed the gospel4 ,nothing about the ,holy ,spirit in the entire history4 #e4 ,and ,i will pray the ,father1 and he shall give you another ,comforter1 that he may be with you for ever1 even the ,spirit of truth3 whom the world cannot receive2 for it beholdeth him not1 neither knoweth him3 ye know him2 for he abideth with you1 and shall be in you 7,john #ad3af1 #ag74 ,as ,i have elsewhere shown1 this passage has a private and peculiar application to the apostles1 and not to the world of mankind4 ,it specifically states that the world cannot receive this ,comforter4 ,that kills it as a proof-text that the world must receive it before it can believe4 ,those who affirm a direct operation of the ,spirit on the world make a clear-cut issue with the ,saviour4 #f4 ,i planted1 ,apollos watered2 but ,god gave the increase 7#a ,cor4 #c3f74 ,those who use this to prove a special operation of the ,spirit make it mean1 ,i have planted the word and ,apollos has watered it1 but ,god by a special work of the ,holy ,spirit makes the increase of the word4 ,this is a false interpretation1 as the apostle was not speaking of the word at all4 ,how could ,apollos water the word8 ,the apostle was speaking of the congregation at ,corinth1 which he had planted and ,apollos had tended1 and which1 under the care of ,god1 had made increase4 ,there is nothing in the passage about the ,holy ,spirit4 #g4 ,while ,peter yet spake these words1 the ,holy ,spirit fell on all them that heard the word 7,acts #aj3dd74 ,this has reference to ,god's signifying his acceptance of the ,gentiles by an outpouring similar to the one on the day of ,pentecost4 ,it was purely a supernatural act1 and has never been repeated since that day4 ,but even then it would not prove the necessity of an operation of the ,spirit1 that men might hear the gospel and believe it4 ,the record says it fell on all them that heard the word4 ,cornelius was told by the angel to send for ,peter1 who shall tell thee words whereby thou shalt be saved4 #h4 ,now the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god3 for they are foolishness unto him2 and he cannot know them1 because they are spiritually judged4 ,but he that is spiritual judgeth all things1 and he himself is judged of no man 7#a ,cor4 #b3ad1 #ae74 ,this is held to be one of the strongest passages to confirm the teaching of the necessity of a direct operation of the ,holy ,spirit to enable a man to hear and to believe the gospel4 ,a brief examination of the context will show that such an idea was not in the mind of the apostle at all4 ,the apostle is not even speaking of conversion when he uses the language4 ,he is speaking of inspiration4 ,the spiritual man in ,paul's mind was a man inspired by the ,spirit1 and the natural man was an uninspired man4 ,if the reader will turn to the ninth verse of the chapter and read to the conclusion of the chapter1 and place uninspired where he finds natural1 and inspired where spiritual is found1 the passage will be as clear as a sunbeam4 ,the things of the ,spirit are things produced by the ,spirit1 which needed an inspired man to explain4 ,the day of ,pentecost was a thing of the ,spirit1 and there was not an uninspired man in all that great throng that could understand it4 ,the best solution they could give was1 ,these men are drunk1 but ,peter1 an inspired man1 explained in inspired language that this is that which was spoken by the prophet ,joel3 ,it shall come to pass in the last days1 saith ,god1 that ,i will pour out of my ,spirit upon all flesh4 ,when these natural 7uninspired7 men heard ,peter's 7inspired7 spiritual explanation1 they could understand it4 ,they did understand it and obeyed it to the number of three thousand4 ,nebuchadnezzar's vision was a thing of the ,spirit1 and there was not a natural 7uninspired7 man in all his realm that could interpret it4 ,but ,daniel1 a spiritual 7inspired7 man1 explained it in spiritual language and then all could understand it4 ,there is nothing in the passage to support the theory of a direct operation to enable man to understand the gospel4 #i4 ,him did ,god exalt with his right hand to be a ,prince and a ,saviour1 to give repentance to ,israel1 and remission of sins 7,acts #e3ca74 ,this passage is used because it speaks of ,christ giving repentance4 ,they infer that is done by a direct operation of the ,spirit4 ,but the passage says nothing as to how he grants repentance4 ,christ gives many things that are not the result of a direct operation of the ,spirit4 ,the very next verse says ,god gives the ,holy ,spirit to all them that obey him4 ,this directly contradicts the theory of the necessity of a direct operation of the ,spirit to enable men to obey him4 #aj4 ,no man can come to me1 except the ,father that sent me draw him3 and ,i will raise him up in the last day 7,john #f3dd74 ,this is greatly relied upon to show the necessity of an irresistible drawing before men can come to ,christ4 ,the word draw1 in the ,scriptures1 is a translation of two words in the original4 ,one means to draw by force1 to drag2 the other means to entice1 allure or persuade--that men are drawn by moral arguments1 or allured4 ,in the next verse ,christ tells how men are drawn4 ,every one that hath heard from the ,father1 and hath learned1 cometh unto me4 ,christ draws men by teaching1 and they come as result of learning4 ,that is why he told his disciples to go teach all nations4 ,that is ,christ's method of drawing4 ,now1 ,i have selected ten of the strongest passages in the ,new ,testament that support the theory of a direct operation of the ,spirit before men are qualified to hear and obey the gospel4 ,if it is not taught in the above passages1 it is not taught in the ,bible4 ,when rightly considered1 not one of them even leans toward the theory4 ,are we not justified in saying that the theory is not supported by the ,scriptures6 ,now1 how are persons made believers8 ,hear the word of ,god3 #a4 ,for ,i am not ashamed of the gospel3 for it is the power of ,god unto salvation to every one that believeth2 to the ,jew first1 and also to the ,greek 7,rom4 #a3af74 ,now1 here is the unequivocal statement that ,god's power to save is lodged in the gospel4 ,in all ages of ,christianity there is not a record of a single soul ever being saved without the presence of this power4 ,but this is not a magical power4 ,it must be heard in order that it produce faith4 ,but how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall he preach except he be sent8 ,the order is1 then1 7#a7 send1 7#b7 preach1 7#c7 hear1 7#d7 believe1 7#e7 obey1 7#f7 saved4 ,now1 this is the order of the ,saviour's commission to his followers4 ,go preach the gospel to every creature2 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved4 ,that is our marching order to-day4 #b4 ,now these were more noble than those in ,thessalonica1 in that they received the word with all readiness of mind1 examining the scriptures daily1 whether these things were so4 ,many of them therefore believed2 also of the ,greek women of honorable estate1 and of men1 not a few 7,acts #ag3aa1 #ab74 ,here were believers made by searching the ,scriptures and by receiving the ,word with all readiness of mind4 ,the same method will make believers of unbelievers to-day4 #c4 ,for though ye have ten thousand tutors in ,christ1 yet have ye not many fathers2 for in ,christ ,jesus ,i begat you through the gospel 7#a ,cor4 #d3ae74 ,no clearer statement could be made as to the power exercised in begetting men to a new life4 ,they are begotten through the gospel4 #d4 ,of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth1 that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures 7,jas4 #a3ah74 ,this is as clear as the one above it4 ,we are brought forth by the ,word of truth4 #e4 ,for this people's heart is waxed gross1 ,and their ears are dull of hearing1 ,and their eyes they have closed2 ,lest haply they should perceive with their eyes1 ,and hear with their ears1 ,and understand with their heart1 ,and should turn again1 ,and ,i should heal them 7,matt4 #ac3ae74 ,to be healed1 one must be converted2 to be converted1 one must understand with the heart2 to understand with the heart1 one must perceive and hear4 ,but the people the ,lord mentions were not healed4 ,why8 ,because they were not converted4 ,why were they not converted8 ,because they had not perceived with their eyes and heard with their ears4 ,why had they not seen and heard6 ,their ears are dull of hearing1 ,and their eyes they have closed2 ,lest at any time they should see with their eyes1 ,and hear with their ears4 ,men talk of the ,bible being a sealed book4 ,they would better talk of sealed eyes1 ears and hearts1 as does the ,saviour4 ,,ix ,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,christians ,it has been aptly and truthfully said that no importance can be attached to a religion that is not begun1 carried on and completed by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,that the ,christian is led1 guided and strengthened by the ,spirit can not be denied by any ,bible reader4 ,to deny the fact that the ,spirit dwells in us is to deny the ,bible4 ,but it is asserted with equal clearness in the ,divine ,word that ,god dwells in us4 ,and what agreement hath a temple of ,god with idols8 for we are a temple of the living ,god2 even as ,god said1 ,i will dwell in them1 and walk in them2 and ,i will be their ,god1 and they shall be my people 7#b ,cor4 #f3af74 ,this not only says that ,god will dwell in us1 but that he walks in us4 ,it is also clearly taught that ,christ dwells in us4 ,that ,christ may dwell in your hearts through faith2 to the end that ye1 being rooted and grounded in love 7,eph4 #c3ag74 ,now1 if ,god1 ,christ and the ,spirit dwell in us1 is there any teaching that the ,spirit dwells in us in a different sense from that in which the ,father and the ,son dwell in us8 ,how1 then1 does the ,father dwell in us8 ,by referring to ,lev4 #bf3ab1 from which ,paul quoted1 we find that ,god promised to be in communion with ,israel1 but there is nothing in the passage to show his personal indwelling in any one person4 ,how does ,christ dwell in us8 ,the passage above quoted says1 ,christ shall dwell in your hearts by faith2 more correctly rendered1 the faith or the gospel4 ,how does the ,spirit dwell in us8 ,in ,gal4 #c3b1 ,paul asks the ,galatians3 ,received ye the ,spirit by the works of the law1 or by the hearing of the faith8--or the gospel4 ,the above ,scriptures clearly teach that when the words1 thoughts and ,spirit of ,god are controlling in our lives1 ,god dwells in us2 that when the gospel controls us1 ,christ dwells in us2 that when we receive the gospel by the hearing of faith1 the ,spirit dwells in us4 ,now1 what reason has any man for declaring that the ,spirit dwells in us in any other way1 unless he can point to an explicit declaration of ,god's word defining and explaining that other way8 ,this can not be done1 for there is no such passage4 ,but1 says one1 ,i do not have to depend upon the ,word4 ,i know it by my own consciousness4 ,it is a principle as old as metaphysics that consciousness does not take cognizance of causes1 but of effects4 ,you may be conscious of an effect within you1 but you can not be conscious of the cause that produced the effect4 ,suppose you are lying asleep on the ground2 you are suddenly awakened by a severe pain in your lower limb2 consciousness tells you that you are suffering pain1 but it does not tell you what produced that pain4 ,this must be decided by reason or faith4 ,if you find a thorn in the grass where your limb was resting1 reason says the thorn stuck you2 if you find a bumblebee mashed in the grass1 reason will say the insect stung you2 or1 if some one near you says a boy with a pin in his hand ran away from you1 faith will say the boy stuck you4 ,but in either case it was reason or faith that decided the cause of your pain4 ,now1 when a man says1 ,i am conscious of the presence of the ,holy ,spirit within me1 he simply means1 ,i am conscious of a feeling within me which ,i have been taught was caused by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if the man has been taught wrong1 he assigns a wrong cause for the feeling4 ,what is the feeling usually assigned for the presence of the ,holy ,spirit's personal indwelling8 ,it is a feeling of joy1 peace and love4 ,but can not such feeling be excited by other causes8 ,we know there are dozens of causes that will produce such feelings4 ,in the absence of clear testimony1 what right has any one to attribute such feeling to the personal presence of the ,holy ,spirit8 ,a man is found murdered4 ,the testimony shows that any one of a dozen men could have killed him4 ,is there an intelligent jury in the land that would convict any one of the men of being the murderer8 ,what would you think of a jury that would render such a verdict8 ,well1 says one1 what of the great numbers who pray for a ',pentecostal revival'8 ,are they all wrong8 ,not wrong in what they want1 but wrong in what they call it4 ,all that those people desire1 is to be filled with a genuine revival of religious enthusiasm4 ,their mistake is in calling it a ,pentecostal shower4 ,a ,pentecostal shower would lead every preacher under its influence to say1 with the apostle ,peter1 to inquiring sinners3 ,repent1 and be baptised every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ for the remission of sins4 ,this is what they are careful not to say4 ,it is a clear evidence that the ,spirit which guided ,peter is not guiding them4 ,i assert it to be a fact that everything that is claimed to be effected by a personal indwelling of the ,spirit is as clearly accomplished by the ,spirit acting through the word of ,god4 ,i do not wish to rest content with asserting that statement1 but ,i wish to prove it4 ,what are the things that might be accomplished by a direct personal indwelling of the ,spirit in us8 #a4 ,he might give us faith4 ,but through the ,word he does that4 ,so belief cometh of hearing1 and hearing by the word of ,christ 7,rom4 #aj3ag74 #b4 ,he might enable us to enjoy a new birth4 ,but through the ,word he does that4 ,having been begotten again1 not of corruptible seed1 but of incorruptible1 through the word of ,god1 which liveth and abideth 7#a ,pet4 #a3bc74 #c4 ,he might give us light4 ,but through the ,word he does that4 ,the entrance of thy word giveth light 7,ps4 #aai3acj74 #d4 ,he might give us wisdom4 ,but through the ,word he does that4 ,but abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of1 knowing of whom thou hast learned them2 and that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in ,christ ,jesus 7#b ,tim4 #c3ad1 #ae74 ,the testimony of ,jehovah is sure1 making wise the simple 7,ps4 #ai3g74 #e4 ,he might convert us4 ,but he does that through the ,word4 ,the law of ,jehovah is perfect1 converting the soul 7,ps4 #ai3g74 #f4 ,he might open our eyes4 ,but he does that through the ,word4 ,the precepts of ,jehovah are right1 rejoicing the heart2 ,the commandment of ,jehovah is pure1 enlightening the eyes 7,ps4 #ai3h74 #g4 ,he might give us understanding4 ,but he does that through the ,word4 ,through thy precepts ,i get understanding3 ,therefore ,i hate every false way 7,ps4 #aai3ajd74 #h4 ,he might quicken us4 ,but he does that through the ,word4 ,this is my comfort in my affliction2 ,for thy word hath quickened me 7,ps4 #aai3 #ej74 #i4 ,he might save us4 ,but he does that through the ,word4 ,wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness1 receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls 7,jas4 #a3ba74 #aj4 ,he might sanctify us4 ,but he does this through the ,word4 ,sanctify them in the truth3 thy word is truth 7,john #ag3ag74 #aa4 ,he might purify us4 ,but he does that through the ,word4 ,seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren1 love one another from the heart fervently 7#a ,pet4 #a3bb74 #ab4 ,he might cleanse us4 ,but he does that through the ,word4 ,already ye are clean because of the word which ,i have spoken unto you 7,john #ae3c74 #ac4 ,he might make us free from sin4 ,but he does that through the ,word4 ,but thanks be to ,god1 that whereas ye were servants of sin1 ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered2 and being made free from sin1 ye became servants of righteousness 7,rom4 #f3ag1 #ah74 #ad4 ,he might impart a divine nature4 ,but he does that through the ,word4 ,whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises2 that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature1 having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust 7#b ,pet4 #a3d74 #ae4 ,he might fit us for glory4 ,but he does that through the ,word4 ,and now ,i commend you to ,god1 and to the word of his grace1 which is able to build you up1 and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified 7,acts #bj3cb74 #af4 ,he might strengthen us4 ,but he does that by his ,word4 ,strengthen me according to thy word 7,ps4 #aai3bh74 ,in the above cases we have covered all the conceivable things a direct indwelling ,spirit could do for one1 and have also shown that all these things the ,spirit does through the word of ,god4 ,it is not claimed that a direct indwelling of the ,spirit makes any new revelations1 adds any new reasons or offers any new motives than are found in the word of ,god4 ,of what use1 then1 would a direct indwelling ,spirit be8 ,god makes nothing in vain4 ,we are necessarily1 therefore1 led to the conclusion that1 in dealing with his children to-day1 ,god deals with them in the same psychological way that he deals with men in inducing them to become children4 ,this conclusion is strengthened by the utter absence of any test by which we could know the ,spirit dwells in us1 if such were the case4 ,,what ,,the ,,spirit ,,does ,,for ,,christians4 #a4 ,he is active in our birth4 ,jesus answered1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 ,except one be born of water and the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god 7,john #c3e74 ,here is a distinct statement of a radical change1 so radical as to be likened to a new birth in order that we may enter the kingdom of ,god4 ,what is it that is born8 ,christ says1 ,a man4 ,but what is a man8 ,we regard a man as having a mind1 a heart and a body4 ,there is no perfect man where any of these elements is lacking4 ,if1 therefore1 a man is born again1 he must be born in mind1 in heart1 in body4 ,how is this birth accomplished8 ,let us see what the ,word says4 ,but as many as received him1 to them gave he the right to become children of ,god1 even to them that believe on his name3 who were born1 not of blood1 nor of the will of the flesh1 nor of the will of man1 but of ,god 7,john #a3ab1 #ac74 ,god gives all things--sometimes directly1 sometimes through an agent4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the agent4 ,born of water and the ,spirit4 ,but an agent often works through an instrument4 ,what is the instrument8 ,the word of ,god4 ,seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren1 love one another from the heart fervently2 having been begotten again1 not of corruptible seed1 but of incorruptible1 through the word of ,god1 which liveth and abideth 7#a ,pet4 #a3bb1 #bc74 ,how can the word of ,god accomplish the new birth8 ,by the only way that words can accomplish any change--by being heard1 understood1 and influencing the life4 ,the ,holy ,spirit puts himself into the words that contain his motives1 actions and promises4 ,how can this be done6 ,just as man does it4 ,years ago the prophet ,mohammed put his spirit into the words1 ,there is one ,god1 and ,mohammed is his prophet4 ,when a man reads these words and believes and acts upon them1 the spirit of ,mohammed enters into that man and dwells there as long as the man continues true to those words4 ,the only way to take the spirit of ,mohammed out of those words is to transpose them so they will not say what he said4 ,george ,washington put his spirit into the sentence1 ,united we stand1 divided we fall4 ,as long as the ,american people are true to the above words1 the spirit of ,george ,washington will live in them4 ,but make the same words read1 ,divided we stand1 united we fall1 and the spirit of ,washington is removed from them4 ,the only way to take the ,spirit of ,god from the word of ,god is to add to1 take from or transpose the ,word so it will not say what the ,spirit said in it4 ,well1 says one1 if we are born of the ,spirit operating through the ,word1 must we not understand all the ,word in order that we may be born again8 ,no1 the apostle limits the part of the ,word we must understand in verse #be of this same chapter3 ,this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you4 ,let us now endeavor to learn how the gospel produces this change4 ,how is the mind born again6 ,in order to learn this we must understand what is the normal condition of the mind of the unregenerate4 ,in general we may say it is in a state of unbelief4 ,now1 the proclamation of the great facts of the death1 burial and resurrection of ,christ according to the ,scriptures will break up that condition of unbelief and produce a conviction of the truth of the gospel4 ,when the mind is changed from a state of unbelief to one of hearty belief the birth of the mind is complete4 ,but the mind is only a part of man4 ,the heart must be born again4 ,what is the normal state of the unregenerate heart8 ,it is one of either indifference or hatred4 ,the latter is the former fully ripened4 ,it is said that ,voltaire carried a seal ring upon which were engraved the words1 ,crush the wretch1 and every time he sealed a letter he impressed his spirit of hatred upon that letter4 ,now1 the gospel sets forth the love of ,god in ,christ and the loveliness of ,christ's sacrifice for us in such a manner as to change the indifferent or malignant heart into one of supreme love to ,christ4 ,when the heart has thus been changed from hatred to love it is born again4 ,but man has also a body1 and upon this spirit can not act4 ,if the body is to be born again1 some element must be used that can act upon the body4 ,hence our ,saviour says1 born of water and the ,spirit1 because water can act upon the body4 ,now1 the only use of water in the new birth is in the act of baptism4 ,all scholars of note in the religious world agree that ,christ's use of water in the new birth has reference to baptism4 ,paul also speaks of having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water4 ,thus1 with mind and heart changed by the ,spirit through the gospel1 and the body solemnly consecrated to ,god in baptism1 the entire man is born again4 ,this is all accomplished by the ,spirit of ,god working in and through the gospel4 #b4 ,another work of the ,spirit is to bear witness with our spirits that we are children of ,god1 and if children1 then heirs 7,rom4 #h3af74 ,it does not say1 bear witness to our spirits1 but with our spirits4 ,many people gauge the witness of the ,spirit by feelings within themselves4 ,if they feel good1 it is evidence to them of the ,spirit's testimony1 but they frequently feel bad also2 whose testimony is that8 ,the testimony of the ,spirit should be clear testimony1 and not fluctuating2 it should be in words1 and not in feelings4 ,feelings1 impressions and emotions come and go like the waves of the sea1 but words remain forever the same4 ,heaven and earth shall pass away1 but my word shall not pass away1 saith the ,lord4 ,the idea of the conscious testimony of the ,spirit is not sustained by either the word of ,god nor a correct psychology4 ,it is the testimony of metaphysicians1 from ,sir ,william ,hamilton down to the writer1 that consciousness does not take cognizance of causes1 but effects4 ,feelings are effects and not causes4 ,consciousness tells us when we feel good or bad1 but it does not tell us what makes us feel good or bad4 ,when a man has been taught that a certain feeling in the heart is produced by a certain agency1 his faith and reason may decide that that agency produced the feeling1 but consciousness has nothing whatever to do with the cause of the feeling4 ,likewise1 a certain feeling in the heart may be attributed to the ,spirit because one has been taught that the ,spirit will produce such a feeling1 but consciousness can not trace that feeling to the ,spirit himself4 ,a man should feel right because he knows he is right1 and not know he is right because he feels right4 ,in deciding whether we be children of ,god1 we have two witnesses3 first1 the ,spirit himself1 and1 second1 our spirit4 ,the ,spirit testifies as to who is a child of ,god2 our spirits testify as to what we are4 ,if our spirits testify that we are the character which the ,spirit says belongs to a child of ,god1 then we have the testimony of the ,spirit himself bearing witness with our spirits that we are children of ,god4 ,the testimony of the ,spirit1 in the nature of the case1 must be general4 ,he testifies that whosoever believes in ,christ1 repents of his sins1 and is baptized into him1 is a child of ,god4 ,this is the whole of his testimony4 ,your spirit1 likewise1 must bear witness to your position on all of these points4 ,no one but your own spirit can testify that you believe in ,christ2 you may profess to1 and the whole world may believe that you do1 but your own spirit knows that you are a hypocrite in making the profession4 ,likewise1 no one can testify but your own spirit that you have repented2 you may make professions of repentance1 and the world may believe you thoroughly sincere1 but your own spirit may tell you that your profession is false4 ,in a similar manner1 no one but your own spirit can testify that you have been baptized2 your father and mother may say so1 the church record may so testify1 and yet it is possible for them to be mistaken4 ,to be certain you are a child of ,god you must have the testimony of your own spirit that you believe1 that you have repented and that you have been baptized4 ,if1 in the judgment day1 ,god should ask such people1 ,have you obeyed me in the act of ,christian baptism8 they would not have the testimony of their spirit that they had so obeyed2 they would have to fall back upon the church record or that of their father and mother4 ,others may be satisfied with such testimony1 but1 as for myself1 if ,i did not have the testimony of my own spirit that ,i had obeyed the ,lord in ,christian baptism1 ,i would obtain that testimony before the going down of the sun4 ,well1 says one1 is that all the witness of the ,spirit mentioned by the apostle8 ,yes1 that is all2 absolutely and unqualifiedly all4 ,what more can you desire8 ,well1 says another1 ,i want something more than the mere word2 ,i want to be saved like the thief on the cross4 ,how do you know that the thief on the cross was saved8 ,oh1 the ,bible says he was4 ,true1 but that is the testimony of the mere word2 so you have as much testimony to your own salvation as you have for the salvation of the thief on the cross1 and it would be impossible for you to have any more4 ,suppose the ,lord were to come down and take you up bodily and set you down before his throne in heaven1 and1 in the presence of all the angels and archangels1 say to you3 ,my child1 your sins are all forgiven4 ,now1 says one1 that would be testimony indeed4 ,yes1 it would be testimony1 but no more testimony than you have in the word of ,god now2 you would then have only the testimony of the mere word of ,god that you were forgiven4 ,all such criticisms arise out of infidelity as to the truthfulness of ,god's word4 #c4 ,the ,spirit maketh intercession for us4 ,this is not a work done in us nor upon us1 but is something done for us before the throne of ,god4 ,we can not dogmatize as to how the ,spirit maketh intercession1 but ,paul says he does it according to the will of ,god4 ,this is a fact that appeals to our faith and not to our ,christian experience4 ,it can not be uttered4 ,we can rest upon it and draw comfort from it as a child draws strength from its mother's breast4 ,we can also draw comfort from the fact that ,christ ever liveth to make intercession for us1 though we have no knowledge as to how he does it4 #d4 ,another work of the ,spirit is to change us from glory to glory4 ,but we all1 with unveiled face1 reflecting as a mirror the glory of the ,lord1 are transformed into the same image from glory to glory1 even as from the ,lord the ,spirit 7#b ,cor4 #c3ah74 ,the figure used here by the apostle is taken from the process of mirror-making among the ancients4 ,they hadn't the glass mirrors of our day1 but a mirror of highly polished metal4 ,a piece of coarse metal would be placed upon a stone and the workmen would begin to polish it2 at first it made no reflection at all1 but when polished for awhile would give a distorted and perverted reflection2 but in the process of polishing1 that reflection would grow clearer and clearer1 when finally a man could behold his face in it perfectly reflected4 ,and so with us4 ,when taken into the great spiritual laboratory of ,christianity we are blocks in the rough1 but in the polishing process of the church and spiritual surroundings we begin to reflect the image of our ,master1 and when we have completed the work1 we reflect him as perfectly as a human being can4 ,take1 for illustration1 the brothers ,peter and ,john4 ,at first they were called ,boanerges1 sons of thunder2 they wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy men who differed from them2 but in the great laboratory of the ,christian life they grew more and more ,christlike1 transformed by the ,spirit of ,god1 until at last we see the old apostle ,john at ,ephesus1 beautified and ennobled1 sitting in his chair and lifting up trembling hands1 and saying to the young disciples3 ,little children1 love one another1 for love is of ,god4 ,we see the transforming power of the spiritual atmosphere of the church and the ,christian life upon human nature4 ,christian1 with this illustration before you1 how can you excuse yourself for keeping out of the spiritual atmosphere of ,god1 for staying away from the communion and the spiritual convocation of ,god's people8 ,is it a burden and a duty to attend the house of ,god1 or is it a pleasure gladly and joyfully anticipated8 ,when you rise on the ,lord's ,day morning1 do you say1 ,must ,i go to church to-day8 or do you say3 ,you may sing of the beauty of mountain and dale1 ,the water of streamlet and the flowers of the ,vale1 ,but the place most delightful this earth can afford1 ,is the place of devotion1 the house of the ,lord8 #e4 ,the last work of the ,spirit which the word of ,god mentions is the quickening of our mortal bodies4 ,but if the ,spirit of him that raised up ,jesus from the dead dwell in you1 he that raised up ,christ ,jesus from the dead shall quicken your mortal bodies through his ,spirit that dwelleth in you 7,rom4 #h3aa74 ,this ,spirit which has ever been with us1 watching over us1 will never leave us until he raises our bodies from the dead and fashions our vile bodies like unto the glorious body of our ,lord4 ,it matters much where we now live2 it matters little where and how we die4 ,our bodies may be buried in the unfathomed caves of ocean2 they may lie upon some mountain-peak or be placed in a crowded cemetery of some great city4 ,no stone may mark our resting-place1 no friend may be able to find the spot and place a flower of love upon it2 but that abiding-place is known to the infinite ,spirit of ,god1 and from our ashes he will quicken our bodies and present us faultless before the throne of ,god4 ,i know not where ,his isles may lift ,their fronded palms in air3 ,i only know ,i can not drift ,beyond ,his love and care4 ,we have not space in this chapter to notice other than the principal passages which refer to the work of the ,spirit as it relates to ,christians1 but in the five above mentioned there is no hint that he does anything in us other than through the instrumentality of the gospel1 and there are no other passages that teach a direct work upon us more clearly than those mentioned4 ,there are many passages that trace the blessed and glorious work of the ,spirit in us and through us1 but they all confirm the clear statement quoted from the ,sunday ,school ,times that he works mediately1 and not immediately4 ,x ,,the ,,parting ,,word ,blasphemy against the ,spirit4 ,this is a subject that is intensely interesting to many people4 ,they imagine that in some way unknown to themselves they may have committed this act1 and it causes them great concern4 ,i will say that such people need have no alarm4 ,the man who has actually committed this sin never feels any alarm about it4 ,he is the last man to feel concern over it4 ,by reading the twelfth chapter of ,matthew the reader can obtain a clear view of this sin4 ,jesus was being hounded by the ,pharisees1 who had determined to procure his death at all hazards4 ,they were watching1 exaggerating and criticizing everything he did4 ,he went on a ,sabbath day through the field of corn and his disciples plucked and ate some of the corn4 ,there was an immediate outcry of ,the ,sabbath is violated4 ,again1 ,jesus healed the man with a withered hand and the ,pharisees went out and held a council to plan his destruction4 ,again1 there was brought to him a man possessed of a devil1 rendering him blind and dumb4 ,jesus healed him by casting out the devil1 so that he both saw and heard4 ,casting out devils had always been regarded by the ,jews as a direct work of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,the people are amazed1 and proclaimed him the ,son of ,david1 or the ,messiah4 ,the ,pharisees could not deny the fact1 but they said3 ,he does it by ,beelzebub1 the prince of devils4 ,these three incidents show a disposition on their part to deliberately reject all testimony contrary to their plan to compass his death4 ,they had rendered their verdict in advance and were not open to conviction1 no matter what testimony might be offered4 ,jesus tells them that if he casts out devils by ,beelzebub1 then ,satan is divided against himself4 ,but if ,i by the ,spirit of ,god cast out devils1 then is the kingdom of ,god come upon me 7,matt4 #ab3bh74 ,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men3 but the blasphemy against the ,spirit shall not be forgiven4 ,and whosoever shall speak a word against the ,son of man1 it shall be forgiven him3 but whosoever shall speak against the ,holy ,spirit1 it shall not be forgiven him1 neither in this world1 nor in that which is to come 7,matt4 #ab3ca1 #cb74 ,that these men had committed1 or were in great danger of committing1 this blasphemy is evident from the caution uttered above4 ,when a man to-day reaches the comprehensive state of mind that he is going to reject ,jesus over any and all evidence1 he has gone into the house1 shut and locked the door and thrown away the key4 ,god can not reach him4 ,such a man will be let alone by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,that ,paul understood this condition to be unpardonable1 we read in ,heb4 #f3d-f3 ,but as touching those who were once enlightened1 and tasted of the heavenly gift1 and were made partakers of the ,holy ,spirit1 and tasted the good word of ,god1 and the powers of the age to come1 and then fall away1 it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance2 seeing they crucify to themselves the ,son of ,god afresh1 and put him to an open shame4 ,paul says it is impossible to renew such a one to repentance4 ,why8 ,seeing they crucify to themselves the ,son of ,god afresh4 ,that is1 they have reached the same state of mind the ,pharisees had who crucified him the first time4 ,men can commit that same act to-day1 but when they do it they lose all concern regarding the consequences4 ,as long as one has concern1 he may rest assured that he has not blasphemed the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,fruits of the ,spirit4 ,i have not treated this passage hitherto1 because ,i do not understand the apostle to be referring to the ,holy ,spirit1 but to man's spirit4 ,in this fifth chapter of ,galatians the apostle divides man into two domains1 one of the flesh and another of the spirit4 ,he says3 ,the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit1 and the ,spirit against the flesh3 for these are contrary the one to the other3 that ye may not do the things that ye would 7,gal4 #e3ag74 ,it is impossible to imagine the flesh preventing the ,holy ,spirit from doing the things he would4 ,it is also impossible to conceive that the ,holy ,spirit is lusting against man's flesh4 ,but we all recognize that there is a terrible conflict between man's flesh and his spirit4 ,these are contrary the one to the other and lust against each other4 ,when man's flesh triumphs over his spirit1 certain works are inevitable which ,paul enumerates4 ,when the ,spirit 7in man7 dominates the flesh1 then certain fruits of the ,spirit appear4 ,they are the fruits of man's spiritual nature triumphing over his fleshly nature4 ,the same contrast is set forth in ,galatians1 chapter #f1 where it speaks of sowing to the flesh and to the ,spirit4 ,how can any man sow to the ,holy ,spirit8 ,paul describes the same conflict in the seventh chapter of ,romans4 ,i think that the spirit 7of man7 can be aided by the ,holy ,spirit in its battle against the flesh1 but the fruits mentioned are of man's spirit and not the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,spirit of ,god at ,work ,to-,day4 ,says one1 ,is not the ,spirit actively at work in the world to-day8 ,of course he is4 ,it is not a question of what he is doing but how he is doing it4 ,the religious world is pretty generally agreed that the ,spirit is pleading with the world of the unsaved through the motives and inducements of the gospel1 the moral truth which appeals to the intellect and heart of the unconverted to turn to ,god and be saved2 that all the saving power of ,god is found in ,christ and the gospel which reveals him2 that ,god will not go beyond the cross of ,christ to save any man4 ,it is ,christ who was made unto us wisdom from ,god1 and righteousness and sanctification1 and redemption3 that1 according as it is written1 ,he that glorieth1 let him glory in the ,lord4 ,all that is necessary for wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification and redemption--and that is all we need--is found in ,christ4 ,this being so1 we need no other power but gospel power in our attempts to become children of ,god or to live as children of ,god4 ,we get into confusion when we try to obtain some other and more direct power4 ,we are led into a dependence upon our feelings1 which are unreliable4 ,bishop ,j4,h4 ,vincent1 than whom stands no higher in the ,northern ,m4,e4 ,church1 aptly states the whole matter thus3 ,there are people who put stress on sentiment and emotion in religion4 ,if they 'feel good1' they have no doubt as to their present security and their acceptance with ,god4 ,these people covet moods and states of feeling4 ,they revel in songs and prayers and hallelujahs4 ,the thrill of sentiment and the warm currents of emotion are 'the all and in all' of religion4 ,such saints forget that mere mental exhilaration and good feeling may coexist with carnal hearts1 selfish aims1 and utter worldliness of temper4 ,his brethren will scarcely accuse the ,bishop of not believing in heartfelt religion1 and yet they used to strongly accuse us of denying it1 because we plead for the testimony of the ,book rather than the testimony of feelings4 ,we get into the same confusion when we attempt to fall back upon some inward power1 independent of ,god's word1 in living the ,christian life4 ,the writer has known many good1 honest people that claimed to have an inward monitor to lead them1 who at the same time would reject the clear teaching of ,god's word4 ,the ,spirit of ,god never led any man to contradict the ,word which he has so clearly revealed4 ,the whole ,christian life is a life of faith4 ,it begins1 continues and ends in faith4 ,god is no respecter of persons1 but in every nation he that fears ,god and works righteousness is accepted of him4 ,the sword of the ,spirit is the word of ,god4