The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 509

PERFECT

IN PARTS,

IMPERFECT IN DEGREES

469

vital principle, pervading all the the expanding force of an inherent

members and every

part.

in the second birth even This applies to the children of God are no deformities; all kingdom more forcibly, for in the divine perfect creation. This a Creator their proceed from the hand of essentially belongs to i.e., they have what

perfection

is in

the parts,

and wrought And every member is internally animated them such a way in Spirit, Holy the by upon from one vital principle, in saneHence spontaneously. it by parts are affected that

all

the

spring from that interholy desires and inclinations must pervade every member. nal vital principle in the parts and perfect work; not externally, a. is In this sense sanctification the sanctifying principle to but on God's part, in that He causes He does not first sanctify the will, then the affect every member. the body; but His work understanding, or first the soul and then

tification

embraces the entire new man at once. of its development. But sanctification is imperfect in the degree desire must be When for ten years God has wrought in us, the holy result of growth. much stronger than in the beginning. This is the ups and downs, almost imperof gradual increase, despite many more with Hence there are steps, ascending from less to ceptible. less in the to from more reference to the new man and descending from farther change, ever dying of the old; but in both a gradual Satan and nearer to God. as our godly fathers " Perfect in parts, imperfect in degrees." the second birth by comparused to say. by which they illustrated Scripture, this they simply followed it with the first; and in ;

ing

God's gift alongside the imperfection The Catechism expresses it as follows: of our gradual increase. only small begin" Even the holiest men. while in this life, have resolution they sincere nings of this obedience; yet so that with a the commandall, but to begin to live not only according to some, given some " has Christ St. Paul says that

which places the perfection

ments

of

God"

(q.

1

of

14).

work for the perfecting of saints, for the all we till Christ; of the body of the ministry, for the edifying of of Son the of knowledge come in the unity of the faith and of the the of stature the of unto the measure

pastors and some teachers,

God unto

a perfect man.

fulnLss of Christ" (Ephes.

enlarged

among them

Colossians he writes:

iv.

12).

In 2 Cor.

x.

15

he hopes to be

when their faith shall be increased To the "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord.

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