The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 225

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

,85

TO avfi<pipov) (1

Cor, xii. 7). And, again, still more clearly: - Even so forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel, to the edifying of the Church" (i Cor. xiv. 12). Hence the petition, " Thy Kingdom come," which the Heidelberg Catechism interprets " Rule us so by Thy Word and Spirit that we may submit ourselves more and more to Thee preserve and increase Thy ye,

:

;

Church; destroy the works of the devil, and all violence which would exalt itself against Thee, and also all wicked counsels devised against

dom

Thy Holy Word,

takes place, wherein

Thou

till

the full perfection of the King-

shalt be all in all."

wrong, therefore, to consider the life of individual believers itself, separating it from the life of the Church. They exist not but in connection with the body, and thus they become It is

too

much by

partakers of the spiritual

gifts. In this sense the Heidelberg Catechism confesses the communion of saints " First, that all and every one who believes, being members of Christ, are in common par:

takers of Him and of all His riches and gifts; secondly, that every one must know it to be his duty readily and cheerfully to employ his gifts for the advantage and salvation of other members." The

parable of the talents has the same aim for the servant who with his talent failed to benefit others receives a terrible judgment. ;

Even

%\iX. must be stirred up, as St. Paul says; not to or to feed our pride, but because it is the Lord's and intended for the Church. \.\^Q

boast of

St.

Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and John ii. 20), and " Ye need not that any man John ii. 27), does not mean to say that every indi-

John writing,

know

ye

hidden

it

all

teach you "

things" ( i

"

(i

vidual believer possesses the full anointing, and in virtue of this

knoweth

For

were so, who would not despair of have the faith " ? Moreover, how could the statement, " Ye need not that any man teach you," be reconciled with the testimony of the same apostle, that the Holy Spirit qualiall things.

salvation, nor dare say

fies

:

if this

" I

teachers appointed by Jesus Himself? Not the individual bebut the whole Church as a body possesses the full anointing

liever,

of the

Holy One and knows

The Church as a body from without; for it possesses all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge, being united with the Head, who is the reflection of the glory of God, in whom dwelleth all wisdom. all things.

needs not that any come to teach

And

this applies not to the

it

Church of one period, but

of all

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