The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 384

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CALLING AND REPENTANCE

344

the effect of the ordinary call as

is

commonly

believed.

is

by no means as weak and meager

In the parable of the sower the fourth

class of hearers alone belong to the elect, for they alone bear fruit.

there

Still

amount

among two One

is

of the

of growth.

remaining classes a considerable

them even produces high

of

stalks

and

ears; only there is no fruit.

And

for this reason the

God should

Word

is

the result of having the seed sown in

is

so

and yet only

germ

of

company with the people of own hearts, whether their fol-

that

Oh, there

lowing'of the

ground."

men

earnestly examine their

much

of illumination

to be choked, because

it

and

"

good

of delight even;

does not contain the genuine

life.

All these unregenerate persons lack saving grace. They hear only with the carnal understanding. They receive the Word, but only in the field of their unsanctified imagination. They let it

work upon their natural conscience. It plays merely upon the waves of their natural emotions. Thus they may be moved to tears, and they ardently love whatever so affects them. Yea, they often perform many good works which are truly praiseworthy; they may even give their goods to the poor, and their bodies to be Their salvation is therefore considered to be a matter of But the holy apostle completely destroys their hope, saying: " Tho you speak with the tongues of men and of angels, tho you understand all mystery, tho you give all your goods to feed the poor, and tho you give your body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth you nothing." Hence to be God's child and not a sounding brass, deep insight into the divine mysteries, an excited imagination, a troubled conscience, and waves of feeling are not required, for all these may be experienced without any real covenant grace but what is needed is true, deep love operating in the heart, illuminating and vitaliburned.

fact.

;

zing

all

these things.

Adam's

God from

ent toward God.

And

Him.

Now it is When Adam

it is

who

man

ceased to love God, he began

get rid of that hatred and receive

says from the heart,

more can he

to

hate

God which no wlies at the bottom of Adam. Hence conversion means this,

this hatred of

the heart of every child of that a

he banished all the love of impossible to be neutral or indiffer-

sin consisted in this, that

his heart.

desire

" I

loi>e

love the Lord,"

in its place.

is all

right.

He What

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