THE CHRISTIAN'S PRIVILEGE.
By A. P. Lawton
“REJOICE evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Of course it is not to be expected that we shall be continually upon our knees; but it is the will of God that we should be so fully consecrated to him, and that our confidence in his word should be so implicit, that we may always be filled with the Spirit. God’s people have become so afraid of the spirit of fanaticism, and the Spirit of the Lord has been so long grieved, that but little joy and sweet hope are left. A sense of the free pardon of all our sins brings with it a spirit of praise and thanksgiving which is pleasing to God. Lacking this, we have but the shadow without the substance. I would not be an accuser of the brethren, but I am anxious to see God’s people forgetting their feebleness, and to see them clothed with the whole armor, speaking forth the word of God with power,—living epistles known and read of all men. God is waiting for us to attain to this blessed state. We ask, and then go our way without expecting to receive an answer; and, of course, we receive nothing. This is why so many are weak and sickly among us. God is the same as formerly. It is our sins that separate us from him, our unbelief that hinders his Spirit from dwelling richly in our hearts. But, says my brother, we must serve God from principle, whether we have feeling or not. This is true; but God seeks such to worship him as will do it in Spirit and in truth, and this we cannot do without feeling. If we would thus worship him, our peace would be like a river; it would be in us a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Those who are content without this will see the city, but will never enter it. We are exhorted to be filled with the Spirit. If any people should heed this injunction, it is those who are looking for the return of our blessed Lord from Heaven.