GRIEVING THE SPIRIT by J. Clarke

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 22, 1860

GRIEVING THE SPIRIT.

By J. Clarke

THERE are many ways of doing this; for the Spirit of God is a gentle, pure Spirit, and will not always be trifled with. There is a time when this good Spirit takes its final flight from the heart that little realizes that those gentle influences, those friendly admonitions of conscience, are given for the last time.

O, sad conclusion! O, poor forsaken heart! O, lost, irremediably lost! Who could measure thy loss! Alas for thee, O thoughtless, unwatchful soul! Thou dost not know how thou hast abused the heavenly messenger, how often thou hast grieved him from thy heart; but it is too late! the gentle dove has forever flown; now in vain wilt thou lift thy voice, and stretch forth thine hand; in vain wilt thou weep for thy loss!

But whom hast thou grieved away from thy soul? What ambassador is this, that has knocked at the portals of thine heart for many a weary year? Whose representative is this whom thou hast so slighted, so neglected, so abused? Who is this that has so gently, so sweetly called thee, so often, so perseveringly wooed thee, sometimes sharply agonizing thy conscience, and alarming thee with needful terrors?

Who? Is he some emperor's legate? Then wouldst thou have listened with more than respectful attention; but this legate whom thou hast insulted, is the messenger of the King of kings.

What was the power of this slighted messenger? Was it to crown thee a king of some earthly dominion? to enrich thee with the wealth of cities and of empires? Nay, more! He was clothed with plenipotentiary powers, to make thee an heir of the great Jehovah, and a joint-heir of Jesus Christ. He would have initiated thee into the etiquette of heaven, in whose court the lowest member will shine brighter than the stars; whose least gift will outweigh the heaviest crown of gold ever worn by the highest earthly potentate. But has this heavenly messenger gone, quite flown away from thy heart?

This, O man, is for thee to answer! Dost thou mourn his absence? Perhaps he will return; yea, perhaps he has returned, and is now knocking at thine heart. Does it melt with warm desire for his return? Is earth to thee a dreary wilderness without his presence? Then thou mayest hope.

But if thy heart is indifferent and cold, beware! Heaven grants eternal life to none but ardent seekers. Paradise opens her gates to none but warm admirers.

The crown of life is offered to none but gallant warriors. The tree of life presents its fruit to none but self-denyers. The "fine gold" is found by none except the patient workers. The white raiment covers none except the pure in heart. Eye-salve is applied to eyes that often weep for sin.

But how shall we know when we grieve the Spirit? There is only one way; that is, to live continually in the light of that Spirit. Then we shall know when we or others offend. If the Spirit of God dwells in the spacious apartment of the inner man, there will be movings there when offences bud and blossom; but if the Devil dwells in the inner apartments of the soul, then, alas, the tumults, the heart-burnings, the swayings to and fro! Alas! the endless permutations and combinations of evil! Who shall stay the tide! Nay, but fill thine heart with the truth. Write it upon thy memory, and invite the Spirit to come in, and dwell in the heart so furnished; and then shall the inner apartment be a finished, furnished dwelling, and its occupant, this heavenly legate. Then grieve him not away. J. CLARKE.