Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 606

582

§ 89.

RELATION TO SPIRITUAL REALITY

work than what Hiram wrought on

Sion's

[Div. Ill

And

mount.

if,

instead of Hiram, a master builder of Israel, rejoicing in Jehovah, could have built the Temple of Solomon, the work undoubtedly would have been inspired by a higher impulse Our observation merely tends to do full justice to of art. the intelligence which, without being interwoven with the life of

the

Holy

Spirit,

has been expended upon these peri-

pherical studies in the field of theology. So far as connection with the spiritual reality

put

is

merely

as a requisite in the theologian, it does not touch the

method

But

of theology.

it

is

not

difficult

to

show how

there flows an immediate result from this requisite for the method of theology. For fellowship with this spiritual reality is not a constant conception, but it changes and is suscepThis fellowship tible to becoming both faint and strong. one time react will at with the Father and with the Son strongly, and again weakly in one and the same person, and

run a lasting increase will follow. If the person this, and went through these changes merely as nature goes through the changes of heat and cold,

in the long

himself were passive in

it

would not

affect the

method

But

of theology.

this is not

has been regenerated is a fellow-worker the case. as he neglects or practises holy livaccording with God, and Unseen diminishes or increases. the ing, his fellowship with

He who

And from this follows the demand

of theological

the theologian shall be on the alert to feed this fellowship.

He who

fails in this dulls

and

method, that to strengthen

the spiritual sense

by which he must observe what goes on in the sacred domain while on the contrary he who wants to perfect himself in ;

the accuracy of his observations within this sacred domain, is bound to apply himself to mystical devotion as well as to pietistic practice of holiness.

As

the pianist

must make

his

by a greater velocity to accommodate of the world of sounds, so the theovibrations to the them being and hold it to that pitch inner his logian must tune and daily practice in order self-denial by prayer, meditation, of heavenly things. sound the to accommodate himself to

fingers supple in order

Not

in the sense that

prayer and meditation could ever take

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