The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 55

INDWELLING AND OUTGOING WORKS OF GOD surpass their

strongest utterances in

weep," says the afflicted one,

my

son-ow!"

And what

grief, relieving the child-^^ar/Vi!^ of

cree that

it

"

"

I

but

I

bear

are tears but the outward expression of

pain and strain of the heart?

the mother before delivery.

hath

Could

easily could

intensity.

how much more

"

15

brought forth" (Zeph.

ii.

2),

It is

Or think

of the

said of the de-

which

signifies that

phenomenon is only the result of preparation hidden from the eye, but more real than the production, and without which there the

would be nothing to bring forth. Thus the expression of our earlier theologians is justified, and the difference between the indwelling and the outgoing works is patent.

Accordingly the indwelling works of God are the activities of His Persons; while His outgoing

Being, without the distinction of

works admit and to some extent demand this distinction: e.g., common and well-known distinguishing of the Father's work as that of creation, the Son's as that of redemption, and the Holy Spirit's as that of sanctification relates only to God's outgoing works. While these operations creation, redemption, and sanctification are hidden in the thoughts of His heart. His counsel, and His Being, it is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost who creates, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost who redeems. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost who sanctifies, without any division or distinction of activities. The rays of light hidden in the sun are indivisible and indistinguishable until they radiate so in the Being of God the indwelling working is one and undivided His personal glories remain invisible until revealed in His outgoing works. A stream is one until it falls over the precipice and divides into many drops. So is the life of God one and undivided while hidden within Himself; but when it is poured out into created things its colors stand revealed. As, therefore, the indwelling works of the Holy Spirit are common to the three Persons of the Godhead, we do not discuss them, but treat only those operations that bear the personal marks of His outgoing the

—

—

;

;

works.

But we do not mean to teach that the distinction of the personal and Holy Ghost did not exist in the divine Being, but originated only in His outward activities. The distinction of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the divine attributes of Father, Son,

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