The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 255

ANALYSIS NECESSARY with phrases far above their comprehension. according to

" the

tenor

of

their

way" A

215

Both should be taught

child talking on religious

matters in discriminating terms unpleasantly affects the spiritual

But not so the

feeling.

Word.

If

s'^WW.vlsX physician, i.e., the tninister

they who, pretending to treat and cure souls,

rance of the conditions and activities of the spiritual fore

we

insist that

spiritual

of

the

how much more betray their own igno-

the unskilled veterinarian be dismissed,

every minister of the

Word

life.

Where-

be a specialist in this

anatomy and physiology familiar with the various forms and always able out of Christ's fulness to select ;

of spiritual disease,

the spiritual remedies required.

And

the

same knowledge we claim, if not in the same degree, man or woman. The physician or lawyer who

of every intelligent

smiles at our ignorance of the to be equally

principles of his profession ought

first

ashamed when betraying

rance of the condition of his soul.

his

own lamentable

In the spiritual

life

igno-

each talent

Every man ought to be symmetrically develAccording to his range of vision, strength of powers, and depth of penetration, he should be able to distinguish spiritual things and his own soul's need. And that this knowledge is largely found only among our plain. God-fearing people, and not among the higher classes, is a serious and deplorable sign of the times. The knowledge which is power in the spiritual sphere, and able to heal, does not come in foreign terms, does not exhaust itself in should bear interest. oped.

the various criticism of Scripture, fond only of philosophic reasonings, starving souls

by giving them stones for bread

Word and work of God in the proves that a man has studied the the

souls of

men

;

but

it

searches

systematically, and

things in which he

is to

minister

to the Church.

Our

spiritual leaders, therefore,

who

and in the knowledge by various answer for. For the last

at the university

catechetical class have replaced this spiritual

and apologetics, have much to knowledge has been neglected in both these institutions. And so knowledge was lost, the preaching became monotonous, and a great part of the Church perished. There was still eye and ear for the objective work of the Son, but the work of the Holy Spirit is slighted and neglected. Consequently spiritual life has sunk to such a degree that, while scarcely one third of the fulness of g^ace which is in Christ Jesus is being known and honored, men dare to assert that they preach Christ and Him crucified. criticism

thirty years this

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