THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST.
By D. Downer
Power is the special prerogative of God alone. If he delegates a portion of it to his creatures it is no less his power. The archangel near the throne, though he may excel in strength, has no strength but that which God gives him. The power of the Spirit has never been dormant. It has exerted itself. Not only when it moved upon the face of the waters was its power manifested, but also in the resurrection of Christ. Some may be surprised to find that in some instances the resurrection is ascribed to Christ himself, as though he had raised himself by his own power. In other places, the power is ascribed to God the Father. But again we read that Christ was raised by the Holy Spirit. Now all these are true. He was raised by the Father; because the Father said, “Loose the prisoner; let him go; he has fulfilled the law. Vengeance has had its due.” Here the official message of the Father raised the Son. He was raised by his own power, because he had a right to come out of the grave. He therefore came forth, bursting the bands of death. In 1 Pet. 3:18, we read that he was quickened by the Spirit. Who, viewing Jesus cold and lifeless in the tomb, would have thought that body would live? But it must live, and be an illustration of the power of the Spirit. For when the Spirit fell on him, as it will on the dry bones of the house of Israel, he arose in the majesty of his divinity, and now declares of himself, “I am he that liveth, and was dead.” When Jesus went into the stream of baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove. By him the dead were raised, lepers were cleansed, and all by the power of the Spirit. But why such power in Christ, and so little in others? Because the Spirit dwelt in him without measure. And after he ascended, we see its power on the apostles, as it came like a rushing wind and cloven tongues. They were thus fitted for their mission by the Spirit’s power. Then three thousand were converted in a day. Dorcas was raised by Peter, and life was breathed into Eutychus. Think of these mighty deeds wrought through the Spirit’s agency. Why not look for just such manifestations now? There is no good reason why we should not. Why do not Christians possess this precious gift? Because much of the Spirit or its power is never given to people of little faith. Even in the days of Christ, there were places where many mighty works were not done. Why? Because of unbelief. But further. Heathens begin to read and obey the Scriptures. The savage becomes polite, and by his mouth the power of the Spirit is confessed. Oh! there are thousands of witnesses to the Spirit’s power. Armies of reformed drunkards, thousands of liars, thieves, and profane men, are now led from crime to the altar of prayer through its influence. Among God’s professed people there are many who say the Spirit’s power is not needed now, as it used to be manifested; and instead of “contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints,” as we are commanded to do, they have a form of godliness, but deny the power. Who can wonder at the weakness of professors while they oppose the very Source from whence we receive our strength? How many are putting unbounded faith in drugs and patent medicines, who will not even believe the promises of God! But there is an inward power of the Spirit. Men’s hearts are very hard to affect. If you want to influence them for worldly objects you can do it. Man will listen to the trump of fame, the clamors of applause, or the offer of gold; but no minister can win men’s hearts to God. He can win their ears, eyes, and attention; but the heart is slippery. If any man thinks he can convert the soul, he will find out his mistake. The power of God alone can do that, and have it lasting in its results. I have read Rowland Hill and Whitefield to see what they did, and have tried to imitate their manner in order to have the power that attended their preaching. But I confess I failed. It is the Spirit’s power that sustains us and subdues stony hearts. But our imaginations are evil. Sometimes the thoughts fly up to God. We seem to see the King in his beauty. If our imaginations would stay there; but next they go down low—oh! who will tell it all? We become horrified at our own thoughts. No; no; dear reader, we cannot chain our imaginations, but the Holy Spirit can, and will if we will let it. I solemnly believe we must call our imaginations home, keep under our whole body, and let the Spirit control us, will and all. If our will controls us we are lost. There is one thing yet to be accomplished by the Spirit. It is to fit us for translation. In a few more years (I know not how soon) the Holy Spirit will be poured out in greater power than now. Ministers have gone on preaching in that common, dull routine. Little good has been done; but a new era is dawning. There is to be a fuller pouring out of the Spirit. Reports in our papers are more than ever encouraging. I am glad to live in the time when there is a running to and fro, and knowledge is increasing. I want to live to behold the fulfillment of the words, “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions,” etc. Oh! that I may live to enjoy the fruits of the latter rain. As we near the time of translation we need more of the Spirit’s power. Shall we have it unless we get much nearer to God? Many of our people are satisfied with being able to quote Scripture and defend our harmonious truth. This is not enough. The Spirit’s influence—real life—is what we want. We may have form and no life. Dear brethren, do not read this lightly and forget it. I have broken down in tears often when I have seen our dear people living carelessly. We can do more for the devil in the church than out of it. I believe our worst enemies are Seventh-day Adventists. Men move into new communities, keep the Sabbath, advocate our faith, live loosely, and profess to have the truth, while in their lives they imitate Satan more than Christ. I have met some such persons. They talk our faith and seem to be zealous, when they are a curse to the cause. They will chew tobacco, and preach the seventh-day Sabbath. I warn such that if I find them in new fields I will expose them the first thing I do. I will brand them as unworthy, and not of us. God pity such, having the shell and nothing more! “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” I believe it to be the duty of our preachers to smother such men till they will bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Give me the influence of a man that has lived the truth and said but little, rather, than that of one who has talked it all over his town, and has lived a life with which the devil is pleased, and by which God is dishonored. There are too many among us, like the Dead Sea, always taking in, but never giving out. Let us not be overcome of murmuring and laziness. We are just getting ready to work, and many think we have done enough. We must do more in the next four years than we have done in the last ten. If we fail to follow up the openings made for our message, and fill them, we shall be left, and God will call others more humble and devoted. He cannot much longer bear with our poor, sickly, half-hearted work. I must take this to myself also. Now, let us, to a man, prove our loyalty to the cause by offering to God acceptable offerings. We must go to our closets in prayer. The power of the Spirit must attend our efforts. Let us no longer pray, “Thy will be done,” and there stop; but let us every one do the will of God. Dear brethren, let me warn you earnestly that from now to the end we must move out, labor, sacrifice, and be more earnest, or be lost.
D. DOWNER.