The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 618

— LOVE

578

but such uniting and knitting together of the elect that each can attain the full

measure

of his individual

growth ordained

him

for

in

the divine counsel; so that in this completion the glory of their

membership

in the

same body may appear and be tasted

in the

blessed consciousness of the most tender and intimate union. is contained in Ephes. iv. i6: " From which the whole body framed together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself

This

fitly

in love."

In the

first

place, the apostle does full justice to the di-

vine ordinance and honors the divine disposition in the

together" and

"

"

joining

compacting" and "joints of supply"; and then, by

this clearly defined path,

he returns with the words,

"

To

the edi-

fying of itself in love," to the deep mystery of this holy intimacy. It is

easy to cultivate love without regarding the truth.

quires neither conflict nor exertion.

We

simply

file

It re-

down every

rough place and rub away every wrinkle and at last nothing remains to oppose love. But in that way the Lord's disposition is simply set aside. His ordinance made of no effect, and His truth stumbles in the street. But if you acknowledge the truth and the divine counsel and disposition if you do not cavil at the divine ordinance and arrangement; if you do not plane, file, and level, but seek the union of spirits in such a way that together they form a whole, so that the teeth of the wheels always clasp each other then the cultivation of love meets many more obstacles and re;

;

more care and labor. But finally it will be crowned with the glorious success of obtaining love without sacrifiquires infinitely

cing divine truth.

more comprehensively: God Himself is the way of that quickly grown and immature If God did not exist, two seriously minded men could be love. made to agree much more easily. Then they would be at liberty

Or

to express

it

greatest obstacle in the

and arrange matters to suit themselves, according to their otvn choice. But God exists hence the disposition of things must be according to His choice. In the covenant of love between two persons He is always the Third, and claims that He and His name be not sacrificed to their mutual love. Hence all the conflict, difficulty, and vexation of spirit. Among God's people love in whatever form is ever subject to the first and greatest commandment: God first and last. This is why it is not lawful to cherish and cul to dispose

;

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