How may we obtain this assistance for the life of to-day? 1. Not by seeking it for its own sake. “The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets,
Before we reach the heavenly fields,
Or walk the golden streets.” But those who climb the hill for the sake of the “sacred sweets” will be disappointed. If any one desires the Holy Spirit only for the sake of the exaltedness of soul, or the comfort of the “divine afflatus,” he is on the wrong track. He is like a man who wants an armor and a sword for some other purpose than for battle. The name that is above every name is Jesus. Phil. 2:9. All desires and prayers must look toward being like Him, or telling of Him, or making His kingdom come. The Holy Spirit as a mere possession is not the “pearl of great price.” It is as an aid in Christian life and service that it must be sought. 2. By being familiar with the ideas and the ideals of the Christian life. This comes by reading much in the Bible; by association with Christian people; by avoiding unchristian companionships; and by keeping in a Christian atmosphere; but above all by having some definite Christian service to render which calls for help to do it. 3. By praying for the Holy Spirit, and expecting to have His help as an aid to the work we try to do, and the life we try to live. 4. By studying to distinguish the voice of the Spirit from the other voices that are heard in the soul. The one unfailing test is: The voice of the Spirit never urges to conduct or feeling which would be inharmonious with Jesus’ spirit or teaching. 5. By cultivating the habit of listening for the voice of the Spirit. Perhaps it will be better understood if I say cultivating a sensitiveness to the impressions of the Spirit, and a habit of quickly, hopefully, and faithfully acting on His suggestions. This is not easy to explain to the non-Christian man.7But I am writing for those who know something of the language of the Kingdom. Any one who tries this will be greatly delighted to find how soon this habit will develop into a sort of second nature. And how seldom he will have any reason to think he was misled! It is this which Paul calls being “led by the Spirit” (Gal. 5: 18). This will not make all ecstatic in their experience. Some will not be thus ever; it is not their nature to be so. But these suggestions, followed in faith, will make it true of all who do it that they will have the Holy Spirit in their life of to-day in such measure that they will live calmly, actively, patiently, usefully, led and helped by our great and heavenly Partner, the Holy Spirit.—Sunday School Times.