The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 160

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THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY

SPIRIT

Third, this spiritual operation works either from without, imparting losable gifts, or from within, imparting the unlosable gift of salvation.

We

have spoken so far of the work of the Holy Spirit upon

indi-

vidual persons, which was sufficient to explain that work in the

But when we come to the day of PenFor His particular operation, on and after that day, consists in the extending of His operation to a company of men organically united. God did not create humanity as a string of isolated souls, but as a race. Hence in Adam the souls of all men are fallen and defiled. In like manner the new creation in the realm of grace has not wrought the generation of isolated individuals, but the resurrection And this favored of a new race, a peculiar people, a holy priesthood. days of the Old Testament.

no longer

tecost, this

suffices.

race, this peculiar people, this holy priesthood is also organically

one and partaking of the same spiritual blessing.

The Word

God

expresses this by teaching that the elect conwhich all are members, one being a foot, another an eye, and another an ear, etc. a representation that conveys the idea that the elect mutually sustain the relation of a vital, organic, and spiritual union. And this is not merely outwardly, by mutual love, but much more through a vital communion which is theirs by stitute

one

of

body, of

—

As our Liturgy beautifully exFor as out of many grains one meal is ground and one bread baked, and out of many berries, being pressed together, one wine floweth and mixeth itself together, so shall we all, who by a true faith are ingrafted into Christ, be altogether one body." This spiritual union of the elect did not exist among Israel, nor could it exist during their time. There was a union of love, but not a spiritual and vital fellowship that sprang from the root of life. This spiritual union of the elect was made possible only by the incarnation of the Son of God. The elect are men consisting of body and soul therefore it is partly at least a visible body. And only when in Christ the perfect man was given, who could be the temple of the Holy Spirit body and soul, did the inflowing and outpouring of the Holy Spirit become established in and through the body thus created. However, this did not occur directly after the birth of Christ, but after His ascension for His human nature did not unfold its fullest perfection until after He had ascended, when, as the glori-

virtue of their spiritual origin.

presses

it

:

"

;

;

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