The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 217

:

CHARACTER OF NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE And

177

not supported by scientific which has mastered the reader The existence of the Holy Scripture in an entirely different way. of the Scripture is owing to an act of the unfathomable mercies of God; and for this reason man's acceptance must equally be an act It is only the broken and of absolute self-denial and gratitude. contrite heart, filled with thankfulness to God for His excellent

such

proof, for then

is

the origin of faith

it

would be no

mercy, that can cast

;

faith,

itself into

the Scripture as into

its life-element,

and feel that here is found real assurance, casting out all doubt. Hence we must distinguish a threefold operation of the Holy Spirit with reference to faith in the New Testament Scripture First, a divine working giving a revelation to the apostles. Second, a working called inspiration. Third, a working, active to-day, creating faith in the Scripture in the heart at first

First

comes

E.g.,

when

unwilling to believe.

revelation proper. St.

Paul wrote his treatise on the resurrection

Cor. XV.), he did not develop that truth for the

ably he had apprehended

it

"

(i

Prob-

Hence the revelation

it.

ante-

belonged to the things of which Jesus had the Holy Spirit has come He shall guide you into all

dates the epistle.

truth,

time.

previously, and in his sermons and

private correspondence expounded

said.

first

When He

and

It

will

show you things

that revelation in such a

way

to come."

And he

received

that he had the positive conviction

Holy Spirit had revealed it to him, and that thus he would see it in the Judgment day. But the epistle was not yet written. This required a second act of the Holy Spirit that of inspiration. Without this the knowledge that St. Paul had received a revelaWhat warrant should we have that he had tion would be useless. correctly understood and faithfully recorded it? He might have made a mistake in the communication, adding to it or taking from it, thus making it an unreliable report. Hence inspiration was indispensable for by it the apostle was kept from error while he rethat thus the

—

;

corded the revelation previously received. Lastly, the spiritual bond must be created connecting the soul and the consciousness with the spiritual realities of the infallible

— positive conviction of spiritual things.

Word

of God The Holy

Spirit accomplishes this

by the implanting of

faith,

with the various preparations that ordinarily precede the breaking 12

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