The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 671

PRAYER to his original

THE UNCONVERTED

IN

Image.

631

Wherefore we may call it a spiritual magupon him, and originated in his is different from magnetism in a twofold

netism, which operates unceasingly

However,

creation.

aspect: (i) in that

it

man

is conscious of it; (2) in

that

it is

a

ffiutiial

attraction.

The the

second point needs special emphasis.

magnet

active

In magnetic attraction

and the iron passive; but

in prayer it is not so. Prayer rests upon the foundation of mutual attraction. So long as it proceeds from God's side alone, there is no prayer; but there is, is

when our being begins to draw to God, when we feel the impulse if draw God to us: " Come, Lord, how long! Lord, delay not! come quickly!" possible to

This

the

is

power

manifestation.

of love

Prayer

which

finds in prayer its

most glorious

the fairest flower that grows upon the

is

stem of holy love. Then love works in Qiodifor man, on account of the image in which He created him. And in man love works /"^r God, because of the Image after which he was created. In fact, every distress from which we cry to be delivered is to the soul but the conscious need of the power and faithfulness of God. So love labors to meet love, that in tranquil whisperings it may pray not for deliverance from trouble, but to possess Him for whose love alone the heart

is

yearning.

Upon

a lower level prayer certainly assumes a lower form, which by sin has become so low and selfish that prayer, which should be

become an egoistic cry. But we discuss prayer as was originally, before sin had affected it. And as the true heir of heaven yearns for his heavenly home not for the sake of crown and palm and golden harp, but for his God alone so is prayer, pure and undefiled, a longing, not for God's gifts, but for God Himself. As the Shulamite calls for her bridegroom, so does the praying soul, from the consuming desire of love, pray and thirst for the possession of its Maker and to be possessed of Him. Since it is the Third Person in the Godhead who makes this communion between God and the soul possible, working and mainlove's breath, has

it

;

taining er

it

in the soul,

domain

of

the

it is

Holy

prayer be understood in

The

other question

evident that prayer belongs to the propSpirit;

its

now

only

when thus considered can

deepest significance. arises,

Spirit in our prayer, after that

regarding the work of the Holy

we became

sinners.

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