Untitled article by GEO. W. PARKER.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · September 3, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 12

"QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT."

By GEO. W. PARKER.

In Gen. 1, God surveys the earth and all created beings and pronounces them “good.” In the 6th chapter of the same book, about 2,000 years after, his eye sweeps over the earth and the sons of men are in his own word and judgment pronounced “exceeding wicked;” and thus he speaks: “My Spirit shall not always strive with man.”

From this language which was used before the deluge it may be seen that there is in the human heart an opposition to the motions of the Spirit; and that, as the scripture imports, the dealings of the Spirit with the heart are very earnest and vehement, so as to create strife. And where there is strife, conquest is the object. It is also shown by this declaration of God’s word, that there is a set time after which the convincing operations of his Spirit upon the hearts of men will be withdrawn.

There are a multitude of ways by which we may grieve the Spirit. It may be resisted externally by opposing the word of God, either written or preached, or by a careless and negligent hearing of the word, or the same negligent attendance to our known duties.

We may resist the strivings of the Spirit by our actions if they are contrary to the teachings of the word. Action is the very perfection and consummation of sin, and argues the overflowing of a sinful heart.

The strivings of the Spirit may also be resisted in its immediate internal workings upon the heart, and in rejecting the light of truth which would otherwise illuminate the understanding.

There are various kinds of light which tend to illuminate the understanding, and enable us to judge of the things of God. One is that universal light termed the light of nature. There is another which is a rational light of scripture, or a knowledge of, and an assent to, its truths. There is also a light of a higher degree, a special and convincing light. Yet this light may be resisted and totally extinguished. Those who resist this light do most assuredly bereave themselves of the Comforter.

How often does the Spirit ask us if we are individually striving with “zeal according to knowledge” to step forward in the various reforms taught us under the truths of the third angel’s message. Let every one be as careful and tender of grieving the Spirit as he would be of grieving his only and best friend.

There is a set time after which the Spirit will cease to strive, and depart. Believe it, it is this Spirit alone that is able to stand by and comfort you in all the disconsolate and dark passages of your lives. When he is gone, who shall resolve and clear up all the doubts and misgivings of our trembling consciences? Who shall subdue all our corruptions? Who shall bear up our desponding souls in the midst of affliction? With the flesh, the world, and the Devil against us, we shall have nothing to oppose them; and all the powers of sin let loose upon us, and we shall have none to assist us. Be ready therefore to entertain the Spirit in all its motions; to cherish all its suggestions, whensoever it knocks at the door of your hearts, stand prepared to open it, and receive it with joy. When it enables you to resist, relinquish, and forsake, some sins, never rest until you have forsaken them all.

When it raises you to the performance of some good duties, still press forward to perfection. Let every holy motion and desire, be improved into a holy action.

But if we should at any time chance to grieve or oppose, yet be sure we do not persist in it, but recover ourselves by a speedy and serious humiliation, mourn over our disobedience, and pray fervently for an obedient heart; and thereafter you will most assuredly find it is better to strive with God in prayer, than against his Spirit in its workings. May God add grace sufficient that we may all take hold on the various reforms brought to light in present truth, and may we do so in a thorough manner that we grieve not the Spirit. GEO. W. PARKER. Chicago, Ill.