To be near unto God - pagina 366

Grod; but they are not able to impart their faith to others, 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 not know the Lord, there are enemies of God who have stopped their ears to ever}^ voice of God; but there are also seeking, wandering spirits, j'our faith, and who would thank you might be the means in God's hand to bring them to it. Of the first, Jesus said: "Give

who envy you

you

if

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 nin-sing-of a twofold character. First that we shall treat them ever}' 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 to every spiritual invalid. This implies the condemnation of those who deal with all unbeliever?; alike, and who thereby show that they know neither their way nor their time. And secondly (his 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 862

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