The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 387

THE COMING OF THE CALLED j5owever,

and focus

it

347

not the Holy Spirit's only care in such a

is

of life to cause the

Word

to

come

way

to a regenerate person,

He adds also a second uwrk, viz., that by which the preached Word effectively enters the very center of his heart and life. By this second care He so illuminates his natural understandbut

ing and strengthens his natural ability and imagination that he receives the general tenor of the preached

understands

Word and thoroughly

its contents.

even pretended believers may have this. growth also in those who have received the seed into a rocky ground and among thorns. Hence to this is added the illumitiation of his understanding, which wonder-

But

this is not all, for

The seed

of the

Word

attains this

ful gift enables him not only to apprehend the general sense of the preached Word, but also to perceive and realize that this Word

comes very

and

to

him

directly _/rf;«

being, thus

feel the

God; that

sharp sting which effects

Lastly, the

it

affects

causing him to penetrate into

Holy

and condemns his hidden essence

its

conviction.

—

which otherwise would quickly vanish so long and so severely, that finally the sting, like the keen edge of a lancet, pierces the thick skin and lays open Spirit plies this conviction

—

This

the festering sore. tion.

The general

is in

the called a very wonderful opera-

understanding puts the matter before

illumination reveals to

him what

it

contains:

and the

him

;

the

conviction puts

the sharp two-edged sword directly upon his heart.

Then, howfrom that sword not to let it pierce glance harmlessly from the soul. But then

ever, he is inclined to shrink

through, but to let

it

;

the Holy Spirit, in full activity, continues to press that sword of conviction, driving

through and takes

it

so forcibly into the soul that at last

it

cuts

effect.

But this does not end the calling. For after the Holy Spirit has done all this. He begins to operate upon the will ; not by forcibly bending it, as an iron rod in the strong hand of the blacksmith, but

by making in.

He

it,

tho

stiff

and unyielding, pliant and tender from withBut having laid in

could not do this in the unregenerate.

regeneration the foundation of

all these subsequent operations in proceeds to build upon it or, to take another figure. He draws the sprouts from the germ planted in the ground. They do not start of themselves, but He draws them out of the germ. A

the soul.

He

;

grain of wheat deposited in a desk remains what

it is;

but

warmed

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