The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 73

THE CREATURELY MAN

In the visible world this action con-

Spirit to effect such contact. sists in

the kindling and fanning of the spark of

life

;

hence

it is

harmony with the general tenor of the Scripture that the Spirit of God moves upon the face

quite natural

teaching of

33

and

of the waters, that

in full

He

brings forth the host of heaven and earth,

ordened, animated, and resplendent.

Besides this visible creation there

is also

an invisible, which, so

concerned, concentrates itself in the heart of man ; hence, in the second place, we must see how far the work of the far as

our world

is

Holy Spirit may be traced in man's creation. Of the animal world we do not speak. Not as tho the Holy Spirit had nothing to do with their creation. From Psalm civ. 30 we have proven the contrary. Moreover, no one can deny the admirable traits of cunning, love, fidelity, and thankfulness in many of the animals. Not that we would be foolish on that ground to call the dog half human; for these higher animal properties are evidently but instinctive preformations, sketches of the Holy Spirit, carried to their

however

proper destiny in

striking these traits

may

man

be, it is not

And

alone.

a.

yet,

person that meets

The animal proceeds from the world of matter, and returns to it in man alone appears that which is new, invisible, and spiritual, justifying us in looking for a special work of the Holy

us in the animal.

;

Spirit in his creation.

Of himself,

i.e.,

of a tnan. Job declares: "

The

Spirit of

God hath

Almighty hath given me life." The 7ne. That which I am as a hiwian personality is the work of the Holy Spirit. To Him I owe the human and personal that constitute me the being that I am. He adds: "The breath of the Almighty hath given me life"; which evidently echoes the words: "The Lord God breathed into His nostrils the

made me, and the breath Spirit of God hath made

breath of

of the

life."

we ought to feel and to acknowledge that in Adam you and I aie created; when God created Adam He created us ; in Adam's nature He called forth the nature wherein we now live. Gen. i. and ii. is not the record of aliens, but of ourselves concerning the flesh and blood which we carry with us, the human nature in which we sit down to read the Word of God. Like Job,

—

He amiss.

that reads his Bible without this personal application reads It

leaves

him cold and

the days of his childhood, 3

indifferent.

when one

is

It

may charm him

fond of tales and

stories,

in

but

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