The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 533

THE PERSON SANCTIFIED

493

On the contrary, for altho absolutely dependent upon the consciousness, yet even the will itself is corrupted by sin. It did not lose its functional plete the sanctification of our person.

the will

is

operation feeling

;

judgment

but, as in the sinner the

still feels,

so

is

the will

reach out in every direction

still

able

still

to will.

judges and the

But

its ability to

and the calamity has befallen us that by nature we can not will what God wills. And that stiffness and hardness which prevent the will's free action in this respect must be removed. The Scripture calls this the taking away of the stony heart and the giving of a heart of flesh which is no longer hard and insensible. Where sin had bound the will by inclining it to evil, thereby depriving it of the power is lost

;

of bending in the opposite direction, gift of sanctification

now comes

i.e.,

toward God, the gracious bending over to hell,

to relieve that

and to give it power to incline to God. Formerly our knowledge and conviction of the oughtness of things did not avail for they left our will powerless as a chained wheel, unable to turn in the right direction. But not only had the consciousness a better idea of and clearer insight into the oughtness ;

of things, and we had assented to it, but the will was also inclined by correct volition to choose the good then the work of God had attained its end, had accomplished its purpose, and had changed the whole man. ;

And thus man regains also control over his passions. Every man has passions and propensities which sin has made unruly and uncontrollable. In fact, man is their toy they can use him as they ;

please.

true the unconverted sometimes succeed in curbing and muzzling one passion, but always by becoming more hopelessly It is

the slaves of another.

Dissipation is conquered only by the excitesensuality by cherishing inward pride anger by nursing the thirst for revenge. Kamosh is cast out only to make

ment

of avarice

room

;

;

for Molech the north wind conjured away only to be followed by a blast from the east. But the passions of the saint are controlled in a different way. Sanctification gives them another direction. He feels their whip and spur, but they are to him the violence of a foreign power. Wherefore St. Paul declares " It is no more I that do it, but sin ;

:

that dwelleth in me."

the

power

of

And no

passion can overtake him which in

God he can not master and

control.

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