The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 92

—

XI.

The Church

Before and After Christ. " All these having obtained a good report through faith, received not

the promise."

Heb.

xi. 39.

Clearness requires to distinguish two operations of the Holy work of re-creation before the Advent, viz., (i) preparing redemption for the whole Church, and (2) regenerating and Spirit in the

sanctifying the saints then living. If

there had been no elect before Christ, so that

church until Pentecost; and of the

if,

like

Balaam and

He had no

Saul, the bearers

Old Testament revelation had been without personal

in Messiah, then it is self-evident that, before the

interest

Advent, the Holy

have had but one work of re-creation, viz., the preparacoming salvation. But since God had a church from the beginning of the world, and nearly all the bearers of the revelation were partakers of His salvation, the Spirit's re-creative work must consist of two parts first, of the preparation of redemption for the whole Church and, secondly, of the sanctification and consolation of the Old Testament saints. However, these two operations are not independent, like two Spirit could

tion of the

:

;

separate water-courses, but are like drops of rain falling in the

They are not even like two streams of mingling in the same river-bed; for neither did the one contain anything for the Church of the future which had not meaning also for the saints of the Old Covenant; nor did the latter receive any revelation or commandment without significance also same stream

of revelation.

different colors

New

The Holy Spirit so interwork that what was the preparing of redemption for us, was at the same time revelation and exercise of faith for the Old Testament saints; while, on the other hand, He used their personal life, conflict, suffering, and hope as the canvas upon which He embroidered the revelation of redemption for us.

for the

Church of the

wove and

Covenant.

interlaced this twofold

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