The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 688

;

PRAYER

648 ber of glory Christ

But

the soul.

and

light,

it is

reflect

it

is

the Light which

is

reflected in the mirror of

not sufficient that every soul-mirror receive the in thanksgiving; but

from mirror to mirror

glory of the Son must be reflected here or there until there

this

an never-ending scintillation of increasing brightness, and everything is is

baptized in the overflowing luster in which the Son glorifies Himself.

And

this leads us to speak of mutual prayer. Mutual prayer is intercession of the richest sort for its value is enhanced by the consciousness of its being mutual. In ordinary intercession, one prays for another not knowing whether the other also prays for him but in the mutual prayer, " I " is turned into " we," as in the Lord's Prayer. It is no longer one wrestling before ;

;

the throne of grace, but all together, thus giving expression to the

They cry from one dissame grace they plead the same promise they look forward to the same glory they come to the same Father in the name of the one Mediator, leaning upon the same atoning blood. Then it is that the work of the Holy Spirit attains its highest glory. Then He joins faith and love, not in one heart, but in many then He opens the hearts and unites the souls of the saints then He causes them to meet together in the audience-chamber of the Lord God, one people, a multitude of believers, who in their unity and fellowship of the body of Christ. tress

they bless

;

Him for

the

;

;

;

;

spiritual kinship reflect the unity of the

Hence there the closet

is

nothing so

is

easy

;

difficult as

to pray for others

is

body of Christ. mutual prayer. not hard

;

Prayer in

but to pray with

each other requires such exalted spiritual tone, such pure love, such clear perception of the unity of the body, as, alas

!

in the

midst of

by large bodies of believers. And he be indeed the mouthpiece of the people, has a task, and must himself be in a thoroughly spiritual

this sinful life is rarely attained

the leader,

very

if

difficult

frame of mind. the Holy Spirit left us to ourselves, every activity of and prayer would soon be paralyzed. But, blessed be God He knows our infirmity, and with divine pity He looks upon our painful helplessness. He is and remains the Comforter; His work is never ended. When we slept, having no oil in our lamps, He watched over our souls. When our love failed. He loved us just the same. When our faith became dull and faint, and prayer became dumb upon our lips, He prayed for us with groanings that

Surely

if

faith, love, !

can not be uttered.

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