Having the Spirit of Christ
By E. MACOMBER, jr.
Except ye have the Spirit of Christ ye are none of his. "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his." There are faithful spirits, hasty spirits, humble spirits, excellent spirits, spirit of judgment, a perverse spirit, spirit of heaviness, unclean spirits, foul spirits, a spirit of strife, envy, &c. &c. But we are to have the Spirit of Christ. I have thought when I felt fretful about temporal matters, that this is not the Spirit of Jesus. When I have felt fretful about ungodly professors of religion and the wicked, I have thought, this is not the spirit of Jesus. Perhaps some of my dear brethren have not suited me in every point, and I would get a little fretful about it. I am satisfied that this does not agree with the Spirit of the Lord; therefore I will try and not fret any more about these things, and the Lord will help me and all others who will try to overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil. "Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Cease from anger and forsake wrath, fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." May the Lord help me, with all such as are honestly seeking to know the truth, and mean to obey the commandments of God, that we may have the Spirit of Jesus within us now and until he comes. We read in Rom. viii, 11, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Verse 13. "For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live." Verse 14. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God." Surely the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are walking therein; but the Lord will help in every time of need, such as honestly strive to walk in the way. This is my experience, and many have testified to the same. Dear brethren and sisters, I never have seen many of your faces, but I expect to meet you when the Lord comes. Though far from each other here, some of us, we shall be near together in the blessed kingdom. It cheers my heart to hear from you through the Review. I meet with a little church of brethren here, and we have heavenly times. The Lord does refresh us with his Holy Spirit. I feel sometimes that I have almost a double portion. Thank the Lord that the promise is to two or three that meet together in his name that he will be in the midst. To such the promise is sure. He also says, "Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."