GOD'S WILLINGNESS TO GIVE HIS SPIRIT.
By Elder J. O. Corliss
HE who looks into the word of God to there behold the Lord's glorious character, may by the Spirit of the Lord be changed into the same image. 2 Cor. 3:18. The light of God's glory is in his word, and when it is read with a sincere desire to find him there, that light, which is his Spirit, shines out, and into the heart, transferring there the light of the knowledge of the glory, or character, of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. Therefore, to find God, and to know him by reading his word, one must look by faith into the face of Jesus Christ, and there behold the character of God, which will otherwise be hid from view. The light of this knowledge will thus shine into the heart, to light up the whole man. He will not see this light in himself. He will see Christ which will cause him to loathe self whenever seen and to desire Him who is altogether lovely and the chiefest among ten thousand. Yet, while self may appear repulsive, the light which is reflected from Christ through the earthen vessel will reveal to all who behold him the excellency of the power of God, rather than anything of the one in whom it dwells. But is not such excellency confined to a favored few? The Saviour has settled that question by asking another: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him." Luke 11:13. Can this question of the Saviour be definitely answered?—No indeed; for the one reason that the finite mind is not capable of weighing the proposition involved. True, every father knows somewhat of his desire to bestow good gifts on his own children, notwithstanding his evil tendencies. But who can measure the desire of Him who is good, and only good, to give his own good Spirit to those who sadly need it? Surely the gift of Christ—God's only begotten—does reveal that desire, but the knowledge of the extent of that gift is removed from the realm of human thought, by its very greatness. Who, then, will express it? One thing, however, may be safely stated: God will give his Spirit to all who sincerely ask it, as much more willingly, and surely, and to as much greater extent, than earthly parents give good gifts to their children, as that God is greater and better than earthly beings. Certainly, none need be without the aid of the Comforter. Another animating thought which accompanies this promise, as with all others from the source, is that it is by no means confined to the apostolic age. No, for "the word of the Lord endureth forever." "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away," is the unfailing statement of the Saviour himself. We may, therefore, be sure that God's willingness to give his Holy Spirit to men, has in no way diminished since the day in which the Saviour assured it to his disciples. The best of evidence to this effect is found in that other promise made on the day of Pentecost. The disciples were then filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke words which they never before had been able to utter. Under the power of this manifestation, Peter, especially, spoke burning words of reproof to those who had indifferently regarded the tragic death of Christ, closing his impassioned speech with the bold statement that the same Jesus whom they had crucified was even then exalted to the high position of "both Lord and Christ." Accompanied by the Spirit, these words penetrated the hearts of the wondering multitude, causing them to inquire with much seriousness and alarm what they should do. The answer was returned: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." How did he know that gift was for such as they? Was it not then confined to a few apostles? Had its power ever been demonstrated through the common people? On what ground, then, could they, the alleged murderers of Him whose Spirit was thus promised, expect any such exaltation? Notwithstanding all this, the apostle knew that the Lord wanted to bestow on them this gift, and so quickly and confidently gave his reason for the statement: "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:38, 39. So then the gifts of the Spirit are not withheld from any who will to have them. Whoever, to the latest hour of probation, will place himself in that relation to God necessary to receive his divine communication, can have these gifts as certainly, and in the same fullness, as they were then bestowed upon the immediate disciples of our Lord. "Many wonders and signs were done" by the power of the Spirit then. Why should not the same signs have always followed believers, since the same Spirit is promised to all? While it is true that many professed Christians have not the power of the Spirit, as then revealed, and even feigned to ignore it, yet it might be theirs to enjoy if they would but have it. When writing to the church at Corinth, the apostle said that he thanked God always on our behalf, "for the grace of God which is given us by Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 1:4. The particular grace referred to, which so engrossed the apostle's mind that he gave continued thanks to God, was that in everything we are enriched by him in all utterance, and in all knowledge. But to what extent? "Even as the testimony [witness] of Christ was confirmed in you; so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." It is the Spirit of Christ—the Comforter—which testifies of Christ. John 15:26. It is the same Spirit that "beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." Rom. 8:16. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Rev. 19:10. Therefore to have the testimony of Christ confirmed in us is to have the Spirit take up its abode in the heart, and thereby seal the individual unto the day of redemption. Eph. 4:30. But this reception of the Spirit is not only the abiding evidence of God's ability and willingness to confirm us to the end, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, but is also the taking in of God's power, by which is manifested the operation of every special gift of God. The bestowal of this Spirit is God's testimony to the church that he desires its members to enjoy the fullness of every gift. So then, when the testimony of Christ is confirmed in believers, the gifts of the Spirit will be signified among them.