The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 617

;

ORGANICALLY ONE

577

and opening of hearts impossible but in the Christian life; a brotherly love so sweet as to surpass every other love. AnA. finally, for the present time these discords must continue, that in the last day the beauty and symmetry of the structure may appear to highest advantage. During the construction of a palace one looks in vain for symmetry the eye meets but disproportions and jarring contrasts. It can not be otherwise. Confusion there must be until the work is completed. Then the pure and perfect symmetry of the whole will be seen and admired. To call for it during the time of the building would make the final beauty imposIt would spoil the work. sible. It would be no profit, but loss. Perfect agreement of the parts, finished and unfinished, is out of the question so long as the whole work is not completed. Until then perfect harmony is a matter of faith, not of sight. This is ;

why

the saint can say, not,

I

see, but, "

I

believe

in,

the Holy,

Catholic, Christian Church."

This

caused by another separating element in the Church

is

antagonizing love,

viz., the truth.

This

is

word warning us against sentimental be no more children, but, doing the truth *

tolic

all

things unto

What

are

Him who

we

to

is

evident from the aposlove, saying: "

in love,

That we

we grow up

the Head, even Christ" (Ephes.

understand by truth opposing love?

iv.

in

15).

Are not

both from the same source?

Love

and binds together severed parts that may be done in two ways. The easiest way to match two non-fitting cogwheels is to remove the teeth; then their faces will cover each other. A much more difficult way is to file each tooth to the required size. Let us apply this to love. To make the wheels fit each other by removing the teeth is undoubtedly a work of love for now the wheels are perfectly matched they seem to be of one piece. But the truth is lost; the wheels are no longer cogwheels. The teeth which made them so are missing. It is true, to fit them by filing each tooth to the right size requires inexhaustible patience, but it retains the truth the wheels remain cogwheels; even tho love, which is the matching of the wheels, comes slowly, i.e., not until the last tooth is filed to its proper size. The love which ought to reign among God's people is not the excitement of a dreamy, mystic feeling, destroying individuality union

is

belong together.

;

it

joins

And

this

;

;

*

37

Dutch Translation.

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