The Spirit Resisted

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 4, 1856

The Spirit Resisted.

How long have you resisted the Spirit?

This question speaks to your conscience, dear reader. You alone can answer it; you alone can tell when you began to realize the solemn truth that you were a sinner, and that you need the blood of Christ to be sprinkled upon your guilty soul. Perhaps you can hardly say when your religious impressions first commenced; the time is so distant in the past that years must be numbered, and your thoughts carried back to the sunny hours of childhood. God has striven with you a long while, and you will not be subdued. He has called you again and again, but it has all been in vain. You have fought against him with all your energy. It has cost you a struggle to maintain the warfare. You have found it a hard battle to resist the spirit, and if you are lost you will have suffered severely in procuring your perdition.

Why will you strive against God? What do you mean? Do you desire to be ruined? You are acting as if you did.

You can never be saved, except by yielding to the blessed influence of the Holy Ghost. He begins the work of salvation in every soul, and you cannot even think a good thought without His aid. In driving him away, you part with every hope for eternity. Abandoned by Him you must be ruined for ever. Perhaps you have just commenced to think about the great duty of preparing to meet your God. You have just begun to be anxious. You have but lately felt your true position, and the Spirit of grace is now striving with your heart. The process may be unpleasant, but believe me it is necessary. He conceals nothing from you, in order that, having shown you your danger, you may be led to flee, to take refuge in Christ. You may quench the Divine spark, you may force him to abandon you in your folly; but it will be at the expense of your soul. Whether the struggle has been long or short, thank God if it has not ceased. Close in at once with the offer of salvation. Yield yourself to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Pray God to make your heart a temple of the Holy Ghost. He will lead you into all truth. He will bring you to the foot of the cross. He will give you joy and peace in believing. He will sanctify you wholly and make you meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light.—Ex.