THE HOLY GHOST
‘By the Holy Ghost.’
The Holy Ghost is the greatest power in the world in the formation of character, in the shaping of history, in the ordering of the universe. To ignore this in education is to put the clock back; to neglect it in morals is retrogressive to the last degree; to supersede its influence is to put a bar in the way of progress.
I. Patient, kind, long-suffering a man may be, but he will not be what he might be without the Holy Ghost.—It may be that the Holy Ghost is a power unrecognised, ignored, and forgotten, and even unknown, but still He is a great force for all that. So the lightning flash toppled down towers, crashed trees, and killed life before men bound electricity to be their servant. So steam displayed its power in every house in the land before men thought how to bind that power to their service. So now and then a brilliant life starts up out of an inexplicable environment. The lake fisherman lives where great names are forgotten, a humble Customs House officer writes a book of imperishable fame. A saint starts up out of Cæsar’s household, and the victories of simple goodness startle and confound those who thought to appeal to their generation, and to demand the homage of those who now neglect them. But still few pause to think of this great power as connected with us all, as offered to us all, open to us all—the Holy Ghost. We are face to face to-day with the greatest of all influences, the Holy Ghost. Here is the Maker of heroism, the Fount of saintliness, the Author of greatness, the Parent of unselfishness. Here is the Influence in Whose power, if we were true to it, we could become really ourselves, and give that message to the world for which we were sent here, that message which we alone can give, that individual contribution, that life’s work which we are kept alive to accomplish.
II. The Holy Ghost is the very spirit of unity and truth.—Do not let us for one moment think that unity is to be brought about by the concession of vital faith, or that any unity is possible but unity in the truth. If we are true to ourselves, if we are true to God and His revelation, then as in some strong building as it rises in its might there will be seen those points of junction, those projecting stones and half-turned arches which speak of incompleteness and invite union; but you will never be able to build on to a crumbling wall without foundation, without stability. In bridging a river we see just rising up, on deeply submerged foundations, those solid piers, stately, tall, isolated as they seem, which are, however, at last to carry the roadway. So one contribution to unity among Christians to-day, and a solid one, will be to build up ourselves on our most holy faith, and to throw into that great cause our own individual life, strong in the power of the Holy Ghost. A great deal of the controversy of the day, which keeps us so much apart, is kept alive by men who have failed, by men who have spent their whole lives in watching other people, and who turn polemical bitterness into gain. One great source of discord would be removed if there were a greater effort after self-discipline, if people bestowed on themselves much of that criticism which they expend on others. If every man were to answer to the call which God makes, and throw himself resolutely into that which henceforth becomes to him his vocation, then he would stretch out hands on either side of him, not to rivals but to fellow-workers; then he would seek not to pull down, but to build up; then he would feel that the work was great, and the work was large, and that his contribution to the unity of the whole was first himself, and then the portion of the work allotted to him.
III. Let us anxiously seek to know whether this Holy Spirit is the predominant power in the formation of our character, for He brooks no rival. It is no use attempting to be centres of unity if our own lives are torn and distracted and rent with rebellious factions which war in our members. It is no use praying for the unity of Christendom if we are merely praying for the success of our own party or for the wilful having of our own way. It is no use pulling down the sheepfold in order to increase, as we think, the amplitude of our flock. It is no use burning and slaying with political rancour and deadly rivalry, and making a solitude and calling it peace. My first contribution to unity to-day shall be myself. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty; where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is unity; where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is power. Are all the channels open by which He may enter into my heart? Prayer, with its wide door reaching up into the very courts of heaven. Sacraments, laden with which the spies from the good land come to me, bearing the fruits of the country. The Holy Scriptures, with their never-dying message, the news of a far country, welcome as cold in the time of harvest. At certain great times of our life the Holy Spirit has entered. He breathed order upon chaos at baptism and gave us the gift of new life. He strengthened us with His might at confirmation, He dissipated in absolution the powers of evils. By His might Jesus Christ waits to be gracious to us in His Sacrament. Only remember that in whatever way He comes, it is for us to yield ourselves to His power. The Holy Spirit and sin cannot dwell together in the same heart. And if we will then trust Him, and work with Him, we shall see how true it is that here is a power greater than skill, intellect, endowment, or any bodily strength; here is a centre of unity which nothing can resist—the power of the Holy Ghost.
—Rev. Canon Newbolt.
Illustration
‘A distinguished modern psychologist has said, “Economically the saintly group of qualities is indispensable to the world’s welfare. The great saints are immediate successes; the smaller ones are at least heralds and harbingers, and they may be leavens also of a better mundane order.” ’