ST. JOHN XIV. 15-17 149
I lift my eyes to it, yet the picture is always the same, Floating clouds overhead may modify the light and shadow, but they do not change the permanent features in the least. And yet I know the picture is not out there : it is within me ; it is not the eye but the mind that sees. The effect of the landscape is being impressed upon my consciousness, by the light of day — itself invisible. And every ray of light contains the perfect picture. I may look up a thousand times — it will always be there, while the light can fall upon the eye. And you may come with me and view the same picture. If you have eyes to see you shall have the perfect picture too. And a million persons may, if they choose, stand and gaze. The whole scene is theirs, as much as yours or mine. There is but one scene and one sun, but every ray of the energies of the latter reveals the whole of the former to every eye that is turned upon it. So it is with the work of the Divine Spirit, the other Paraclete. He reveals the Christ to those who seek Him, writes His name, and forms His likeness within the human soul. The living Christ, the indwelling Christ, becomes a rich personal spiritual experience in the power of the Holy Ghost.i
(2) He encourages us to appropriate Christ. — We feel entitled, without being chargeable with any vain confidence, to appropriate and apply to ourselves such words of personal conviction as, " The Lord is my Shepherd," " Thou knowest that / love thee" or, " I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him." The very sting of death is extracted, and its terrors no longer keep the soul in thrall. So the dying saint, falling back at last as at first into the arms of a glorified Eedeemer, breathes out his soul in fidelity, meekness, and hope, saying in fearless triumph, " Into thy hands I commend my spirit."
^ The immortal Bengel died in 1752. One of his friends was travelling, and spent all night at Bengel's house. The great commentator was very busy with his Bible, and worked till nearly midnight. But the friend still waited. He knew the rich Christian character of the scholar, and wished to hear his evening prayer. At length the books were put on one side ; Bengel arose, and knelt down beside his chair. He had been studying the words of Christ, and he knew that the blessed Master was near him all the time. So now there was no lengthened agony of supplication. Sweetly and simply the words of the scholar rose to heaven,
1 R. J. Campbell.
I50 THE GIVING OF THE COMFORTER
" Lord Jesus, things are just the same between us," and then he laid himself down to rest. Perfect peace ! perfect confidence ! For he had appropriated Christ as his personal Saviour, and he knew Christ was his}
(3) He enables us to overcome sin and grow in true holiness. — Our Lord prays, " Sanctify them through thy truth : thy word is truth." Men of science have at length discovered what is the character of the world so far as it consists of animated things. *' It is a struggle for existence ; " it is " the survival of the fittest." So it is with the Christian life. The old man conquered, but not thoroughly subdued, contends with the new life which has been superinduced. It is a contest between the lower principles of man's nature and the higher, quickened and sanctified by the Spirit of God. It is a struggle between the animal man and the spiritual man ; between pleasure and duty ; between selfishness and benevolence ; between appetite and conscience ; between lust and reason ; between love of ease and zeal for good ; between cowardice and courage ; between deceit and candour ; between selfishness and love; between the fear of man and the fear of God ; between earth and heaven. But they that be with us are far stronger than they that can be against us. The believer is not perfect in this world, but he is going on towards perfection in obedience to the command, " Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." " He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
^ The connexion between justification and sanctification is not merely human gratitude for Divine grace as the motive of a new life ; it is not only a conscious personal communion with a Divine Saviour and Lord, a communion that must be potent in conforming man to His moral perfection ; but it is a habitation and operation in man of God by His Spirit, the very life of God become the life of man,^
(4) He gives strength for witness and for service. — The Holy Spirit who comes to give fulness to the work of Jesus must communicate new power proportionate to the new revelation. The new kingdom is to be marked by profounder spiritual life,
» J. A. Clapperton, Culture of the Christian Heart, 36. ' A. E. Garvie, Studies of Paul and his Oos2)el, 190.