The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 604

LOVE

564

themselves best in the gracious operation of which they are the For when the Holy Spirit imparts talents and gifts, the tempter whispers in the ear that it will be for their best advantage subjects.

to use these gifts for

and

to shine

to

the blessing will crown the

many

own glory, with their brightness name among men, and in that way labor as a matter of course. And alas!

each one's

make himself

listen to these

a

whisperings and thus defraud the household

of faith of their individual gifts, not understanding the

meaning

of

the beehive, which teaches that one can purify honey without eat-

ing of

it.

And we

should not judge too severely

harder than

many

And by

it,

temptation

is

much

The people greatly admire your sermon,

ministers of the Word. praise you for

this

;

are willing to acknowledge, especially for the

talk about

this miserable

it,

and carry you upon

burning of incense one

is

their shoulders.

intoxicated before

he knows it. It is no more the question whether Jesus is satisfied, whether there is a spiritual gain for the glory of His name, but almost exclusively: Did the people like it? How did it affect them?

And

after a ten-years' ministry

under the influence

of such evil

whisperings, the result can scarcely be anything but the talent buried out of sight, the sacred office desecrated,

pended, and the minister of the to his

own

There

is

glory.

And

the

same

Word evil

all spiritual

little

operation sus-

more than a minister

appears

among

the laymen.

a lack of tenderness, of love, of consecration, frequently an

abuse of spiritual gifts for the gratifying of the ambitious heart.

Oh, we are so fearfully weak and sinful Surely, every talent would be buried and every good gift spoiled were there no Holy Spirit, who with divine and superior power watches against this evil. For when in the Church the conscience awakes, and talents and gifts are once more emancipated from the yoke of selfish amThen we bition, we see in it not our work, but the Holy Spirit's. do our duty. Then the communion of saints revives. Then the saints are once more ready with gift and talent to serve the Lord and their brethren. But the power which wrought the miracle of Love was not ours, but of the Holy Spirit. !

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