To be near unto God - pagina 370

God; but they

are not able to impart their faith

and to open the inner ear of their fellowmen to the holy mysticism of our God. There is a difference here. Among those who do to

others,

know the Lord, there are enemies who have stopped their ears to every not

of

God

voice

of

God; but there are also seeking, wandering spirits, who envy you your faith, and who would thank VGU if you might be the means in God's hand to bring them to it. Of the first, Jesus said: ''Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine" (Matt. 7:6). Nothing can be done with them but to resist them; to suffer their scorn, and to show them the power of faith. But of the others Jesus said: "He who is not against me, is for me." On them the service of seeking love must be expended.

They are the spiritually sick, who wait for spiritual nursing of a twofold character. First that we shall treat them every one according to the nature of his spiritual malady. John the Baptist had a proper word for everyone that came to him, and Jesus administered appropriate medicine every spiritual

to

This implies the condemnation of those who deal with all unbelievers alike, and who thereby show that they know neither their way nor their time. And secondly this spiritual nursing posits the no less imperious claim that as believers we shall spare them offense Nothing is more repulsive and more continuously offensive to those who have not faith, than the unspirituality of believers, their formal profession without moral and spiritual fruit, their zeal without an holy background, their bold assertions without corresponding seriousness of life. They invalid.

S62

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