"Thenshallweknow, ifwefollowontoknowtheLord:hisgoingforth is

preparedasthemorning."HOSEA6:3

IntroductionIFollowingHardafterGodIITheBlessednessofPossessingNothingIIIRemovingtheVeilIVApprehendingGodVTheUniversalPresenceVITheSpeakingVoiceVIITheGazeoftheSoulVIIIRestoringtheCreator-creatureRelationIXMeeknessandRestXTheSacramentofLiving

IntroductionHereisamasterlystudyoftheinnerlifebyaheartthirstingafterGod,eager

tograspatleasttheoutskirtsofHisways,theabyssofHisloveforsinners,andtheheightofHisunapproachablemajesty--anditwaswrittenbyabusypastorinChicago!

WhocouldimagineDavidwritingthetwenty-thirdPsalmonSouthHalstedStreet,oramedievalmystic finding inspiration inasmall studyon thesecondfloorofaframehouseonthatvast,flatchecker-boardofendlessstreets

Where cross the crowdedways of lifeWhere sound the cries of race andclan, In haunts of wretchedness and need, On shadowed threshold dark withfears,Andpathswherehidetheluresofgreed...

But even as Dr. FrankMason North, of New York, says in his immortalpoem,soMr.Tozersaysinthisbook:

AbovethenoiseofselfishstrifeWehearThyvoice,OSonofMan.My acquaintance with the author is limited to brief visits and loving

fellowshipinhischurch.ThereIdiscoveredaself-madescholar,anomnivorousreaderwith a remarkable library of theological anddevotional books, andonewhoseemedtoburnthemidnightoilinpursuitofGod.Hisbookistheresultoflongmeditationandmuchprayer. It isnotacollectionofsermons. ItdoesnotdealwiththepulpitandthepewbutwiththesoulathirstforGod.Thechapterscould be summarized in Moses' prayer, "Show me thy glory," or Paul'sexclamation, "O thedepthof the richesbothof thewisdomandknowledgeofGod!"Itistheologynotoftheheadbutoftheheart.

There isdeep insight, sobrietyof style, anda catholicityofoutlook that isrefreshing.Theauthorhasfewquotationsbutheknowsthesaintsandmysticsofthe centuries--Augustine, Nicholas of Cusa, Thomas a Kempis, von Hugel,Finney,Wesley andmanymore. The ten chapters are heart searching and theprayersatthecloseofeachareforcloset,notpulpit.IfeltthenearnessofGodwhilereadingthem.

Here is a book for every pastor,missionary, and devoutChristian. It dealswith thedeep thingsofGodand the richesofHisgrace.Aboveall, it has thekeynoteofsincerityandhumility.

SamuelM.Zwemer

NewYorkCityInthishourofall-but-universaldarknessonecheeringgleamappears:within

thefoldofconservativeChristianitytherearetobefoundincreasingnumbersofpersons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after GodHimself.Theyareeagerforspiritualrealitiesandwillnotbeputoffwithwords,norwill theybecontentwithcorrect"interpretations"of truth.TheyareathirstforGod,andtheywillnotbesatisfiedtilltheyhavedrunkdeepattheFountainofLivingWater.

This is theonly real harbingerof revivalwhich I havebeen able todetectanywhereonthereligioushorizon.

Itmaybethecloudthesizeofaman'shandforwhichafewsaintshereandtherehavebeenlooking.ItcanresultinaresurrectionoflifeformanysoulsandarecaptureofthatradiantwonderwhichshouldaccompanyfaithinChrist,thatwonderwhichhasallbutfledtheChurchofGodinourday.

But this hunger must be recognized by our religious leaders. Currentevangelicalismhas(tochangethefigure)laidthealtaranddividedthesacrificeintoparts,butnowseemssatisfiedtocountthestonesandrearrangethepieceswithneveracarethatthereisnotasignoffireuponthetopofloftyCarmel.ButGodbethankedthatthereareafewwhocare.Theyarethosewho,whiletheylovethealtaranddelightinthesacrifice,areyetunabletoreconcilethemselvestothecontinuedabsenceoffire.TheydesireGodaboveall.Theyareathirsttotasteforthemselvesthe"piercingsweetness"oftheloveofChristaboutWhomalltheholyprophetsdidwriteandthepsalmistsdidsing.

ThereistodaynolackofBibleteacherstosetforthcorrectlytheprinciplesof the doctrines of Christ, but too many of these seem satisfied to teach thefundamentalsofthefaithyearafteryear,strangelyunawarethatthereisintheirministrynomanifestPresence,noranythingunusualintheirpersonallives.Theyminister constantly to believerswho feelwithin their breasts a longingwhichtheirteachingsimplydoesnotsatisfy.

ItrustIspeakincharity,butthelackinourpulpitsisreal.Milton'sterriblesentenceappliestoourdayasaccuratelyasitdidtohis:"Thehungrysheeplookup,andarenotfed."Itisasolemnthing,andnosmallscandalintheKingdom,to see God's children starving while actually seated at the Father's table. Thetruth of Wesley's words is established before our eyes: "Orthodoxy, or rightopinion,is,atbest,averyslenderpartofreligion.Thoughrighttemperscannotsubsist without right opinions, yet right opinions may subsist without righttempers.Theremaybea rightopinionofGodwithouteither loveoronerighttempertowardHim.Satanisaproofofthis."

ThankstooursplendidBiblesocietiesandtoothereffectiveagenciesforthe

disseminationof theWord, there are todaymanymillionsof peoplewhohold"rightopinions,"probablymore than everbefore in thehistoryof theChurch.YetIwonderiftherewaseveratimewhentruespiritualworshipwasatalowerebb.TogreatsectionsoftheChurchtheartofworshiphasbeenlostentirely,andin itsplacehascomethatstrangeandforeign thingcalled the"program."Thiswordhasbeenborrowedfromthestageandappliedwithsadwisdomtothetypeofpublicservicewhichnowpassesforworshipamongus.

SoundBible exposition is an imperativemust in theChurch of theLivingGod.WithoutitnochurchcanbeaNewTestamentchurchinanystrictmeaningof that term. But exposition may be carried on in such way as to leave thehearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatever. For it is not merewords thatnourish thesoul,butGodHimself,andunlessanduntil thehearersfind God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard thetruth.TheBibleisnotanendinitself,butameanstobringmentoanintimateandsatisfyingknowledgeofGod, that theymayenter intoHim, that theymaydelightinHisPresence,maytasteandknowtheinnersweetnessoftheveryGodHimselfinthecoreandcenteroftheirhearts.

ThisbookisamodestattempttoaidGod'shungrychildrensotofindHim.Nothing here is new except in the sense that it is a discoverywhichmy ownhearthasmadeofspiritualrealitiesmostdelightfulandwonderfultome.Othersbeforemehavegonemuch farther into theseholymysteries than Ihavedone,butifmyfireisnotlargeitisyetreal,andtheremaybethosewhocanlighttheircandleatitsflame.

A.W.TozerChicago,Ill.June16,1948

IFollowingHardafterGodMysoulfollowethhardafterthee:thyrighthandupholdethme.--Psa.63:8Christian theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace, which briefly

statedmeansthis, thatbeforeamancanseekGod,Godmustfirsthavesoughttheman.

BeforeasinfulmancanthinkarightthoughtofGod,theremusthavebeenaworkof enlightenment donewithin him; imperfect itmaybe, but a trueworknonetheless,andthesecretcauseofalldesiringandseekingandprayingwhichmayfollow.

WepursueGodbecause,andonlybecause,Hehasfirstputanurgewithinusthatspursustothepursuit."Nomancancometome,"saidourLord,"excepttheFatherwhichhathsentmedrawhim,"anditisbythisveryprevenientdrawingthatGodtakesfromuseveryvestigeofcreditfortheactofcoming.Theimpulseto pursueGod originateswithGod, but the outworking of that impulse is ourfollowinghardafterHim;andallthetimewearepursuingHimwearealreadyinHishand:"Thyrighthandupholdethme."

Inthisdivine"upholding"andhuman"following"thereisnocontradiction.All is ofGod, for as vonHugel teaches,God is always previous. In practice,however,(thatis,whereGod'spreviousworkingmeetsman'spresentresponse)manmustpursueGod.Onourpart theremustbepositive reciprocation if thissecretdrawingofGodistoeventuateinidentifiableexperienceoftheDivine.InthewarmlanguageofpersonalfeelingthisisstatedintheForty-secondPsalm:"Asthehartpantethafterthewaterbrooks,sopantethmysoulafterthee,OGod.My soul thirsteth forGod, for the livingGod:when shall I come and appearbefore God?" This is deep calling unto deep, and the longing heart willunderstandit.

The doctrine of justification by faith--aBiblical truth, and a blessed relieffromsterile legalismandunavailingself-effort--has inour timefallen intoevilcompanyandbeen interpretedbymany insuchmannerasactually tobarmenfromtheknowledgeofGod.Thewholetransactionofreligiousconversionhasbeenmademechanicalandspiritless.FaithmaynowbeexercisedwithoutajartothemorallifeandwithoutembarrassmenttotheAdamicego.Christmaybe"received"withoutcreatinganyspecialloveforHiminthesoulofthereceiver.Theman is "saved," but he is not hungry nor thirsty after God. In fact he is

specificallytaughttobesatisfiedandencouragedtobecontentwithlittle.The modern scientist has lost God amid the wonders of His world; we

ChristiansareinrealdangeroflosingGodamidthewondersofHisWord.WehavealmostforgottenthatGodisaPersonand,assuch,canbecultivatedasanypersoncan. It is inherent inpersonality tobeable toknowotherpersonalities,but full knowledge of one personality by another cannot be achieved in oneencounter. It is only after long and loving mental intercourse that the fullpossibilitiesofbothcanbeexplored.

Allsocialintercoursebetweenhumanbeingsisaresponseofpersonalitytopersonality,gradingupwardfromthemostcasualbrushbetweenmanandmantothe fullest, most intimate communion of which the human soul is capable.Religion, so far as it is genuine, is in essence the response of createdpersonalities to the Creating Personality, God. "This is life eternal, that theymightknowtheetheonlytrueGod,andJesusChrist,whomthouhastsent."

God is a Person, and in the deep of His mighty nature He thinks, wills,enjoys, feels, loves, desires and suffers as any other person may. In makingHimself known to us He stays by the familiar pattern of personality. Hecommunicates with us through the avenues of our minds, our wills and ouremotions.The continuous and unembarrassed interchange of love and thoughtbetweenGodand thesoulof the redeemedman is the throbbingheartofNewTestamentreligion.

This intercourse between God and the soul is known to us in consciouspersonalawareness.Itispersonal:thatis,itdoesnotcomethroughthebodyofbelievers,assuch,but isknown to the individual,and to thebody through theindividualswhichcomposeit.Anditisconscious:thatis,itdoesnotstaybelowthe threshold of consciousness and work there unknown to the soul (as, forinstance,infantbaptismisthoughtbysometodo),butcomeswithinthefieldofawareness where the man can "know" it as he knows any other fact ofexperience.

YouandIareinlittle(oursinsexcepted)whatGodisinlarge.BeingmadeinHisimagewehavewithinusthecapacitytoknowHim.Inoursinswelackonlythepower.ThemomenttheSpirithasquickenedustolifeinregenerationourwholebeing senses its kinship toGodand leapsup in joyous recognition.ThatistheheavenlybirthwithoutwhichwecannotseetheKingdomofGod.Itis,however,notanendbutaninception,fornowbeginsthegloriouspursuit,theheart'shappyexplorationoftheinfiniterichesoftheGodhead.Thatiswherewebegin, I say,butwherewe stopnomanhasyetdiscovered, for there is in theawfulandmysteriousdepthsoftheTriuneGodneitherlimitnorend.

ShorelessOcean,whocansoundThee?ThineowneternityisroundThee,Majestydivine!

To have foundGod and still to pursueHim is the soul's paradox of love,scorned indeed by the too-easily-satisfied religionist, but justified in happyexperience by the children of the burning heart. St. Bernard stated this holyparadox in a musical quatrain that will be instantly understood by everyworshippingsoul:

WetasteThee,OThouLivingBread,AndlongtofeastuponTheestill:WedrinkofThee,theFountainheadAndthirstoursoulsfromTheetofill.

ComeneartotheholymenandwomenofthepastandyouwillsoonfeeltheheatoftheirdesireafterGod.TheymournedforHim,theyprayedandwrestledandsoughtforHimdayandnight,inseasonandout,andwhentheyhadfoundHim the findingwasall the sweeter for the long seeking.Mosesused the factthat he knewGod as an argument for knowingHimbetter. "Now, therefore, Ipraythee,ifIhavefoundgraceinthysight,showmenowthyway,thatImayknowthee, thatImayfindgraceinthysight";andfromthereherosetomakethedaringrequest,"Ibeseechthee,showmethyglory."Godwasfranklypleasedbythisdisplayofardor,andthenextdaycalledMosesintothemount,andthereinsolemnprocessionmadeallHisglorypassbeforehim.

David'slifewasatorrentofspiritualdesire,andhispsalmsringwiththecryoftheseekerandthegladshoutofthefinder.Paulconfessedthemainspringofhis life tobehisburningdesireafterChrist. "That ImayknowHim,"was thegoalofhisheart,andtothishesacrificedeverything."Yeadoubtless,andIcountallthingsbutlossfortheexcellencyoftheknowledgeofChristJesusmyLord:forwhomIhavesuffered the lossofall things,anddocount thembut refuse,thatImaywinChrist."

Hymnody is sweet with the longing after God, the God whom, while thesinger seeks,heknowshehasalready found. "His track I seeand I'llpursue,"sangourfathersonlyashortgenerationago,butthatsongisheardnomoreinthegreatcongregation.Howtragicthatweinthisdarkdayhavehadourseekingdoneforusbyourteachers.Everythingismadetocenterupontheinitialactof"accepting"Christ(aterm,incidentally,whichisnotfoundintheBible)andwearenotexpected thereafter tocraveanyfurther revelationofGod tooursouls.WehavebeensnaredinthecoilsofaspuriouslogicwhichinsiststhatifwehavefoundHimweneednomoreseekHim.Thisissetbeforeusasthelastwordinorthodoxy, and it is taken for granted that no Bible-taught Christian everbelieved otherwise. Thus the whole testimony of the worshipping, seeking,singing Church on that subject is crisply set aside. The experiential heart-theology of a grand army of fragrant saints is rejected in favor of a smuginterpretation of Scripture which would certainly have sounded strange to anAugustine,aRutherfordoraBrainerd.

Inthemidstofthisgreatchilltherearesome,Irejoicetoacknowledge,whowill not be content with shallow logic. They will admit the force of theargument,andthenturnawaywithtearstohuntsomelonelyplaceandpray,"OGod,showmethyglory."Theywanttotaste, totouchwiththeirhearts, toseewiththeirinnereyesthewonderthatisGod.

IwantdeliberatelytoencouragethismightylongingafterGod.Thelackofithasbroughtustoourpresentlowestate.Thestiffandwoodenqualityaboutourreligiouslivesisaresultofourlackofholydesire.Complacencyisadeadlyfoeof all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be nomanifestationofChristtoHispeople.Hewaitstobewanted.ToobadthatwithmanyofusHewaitssolong,soverylong,invain.

Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age ofreligiouscomplexity.ThesimplicitywhichisinChristisrarelyfoundamongus.In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervousactivitieswhichoccupy timeandattentionbutcanneversatisfy the longingofthe heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of ourworship, and that servile imitation of theworldwhichmarks our promotionalmethods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and thepeaceofGodscarcelyatall.

IfwewouldfindGodamidallthereligiousexternalswemustfirstdetermineto find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity. Now as always GoddiscoversHimselfto"babes"andhidesHimselfinthickdarknessfromthewiseandtheprudent.WemustsimplifyourapproachtoHim.Wemuststripdowntoessentials (and theywill be found tobeblessedly few).Wemustput awayallefforttoimpress,andcomewiththeguilelesscandorofchildhood.Ifwedothis,withoutdoubtGodwillquicklyrespond.

When religionhas said its lastword, there is little thatweneedother thanGodHimself. The evil habit of seekingGod-and effectively prevents us fromfindingGod in full revelation. In the "and" lies our greatwoe. Ifweomit the"and"weshallsoonfindGod,andinHimweshallfindthatforwhichwehaveallourlivesbeensecretlylonging.

We need not fear that in seeking God only we may narrow our lives orrestrict themotionsofourexpandinghearts.Theopposite is true.WecanwellaffordtomakeGodourAll,toconcentrate,tosacrificethemanyfortheOne.

The author of the quaint old English classic, The Cloud of Unknowing,teachesushowtodothis."LiftupthineheartuntoGodwithameekstirringoflove;andmeanHimself,andnoneofHisgoods.Andthereto,looktheeloathtothinkonaughtbutGodHimself.Sothatnoughtworkinthywit,norinthywill,butonlyGodHimself.ThisistheworkofthesoulthatmostpleasethGod."

Again,herecommendsthatinprayerwepracticeafurtherstrippingdownofeverything,evenofourtheology."Foritsufficethenough,anakedintentdirectuntoGodwithoutanyothercausethanHimself."Yetunderneathallhisthinkinglay the broad foundation of New Testament truth, for he explains that by"Himself"hemeans"Godthatmadethee,andboughtthee,andthatgraciouslycalledtheetothydegree."Andheisallforsimplicity:Ifwewouldhavereligion"lapped and folden in one word, for that thou shouldst have better holdthereupon, take theebuta littlewordofonesyllable:forso it isbetter thanoftwo,foreventheshorteritisthebetteritaccordethwiththeworkoftheSpirit.AndsuchawordisthiswordGODorthiswordLOVE."

WhentheLorddividedCanaanamongthetribesofIsraelLevireceivednoshareoftheland.Godsaidtohimsimply,"Iamthypartandthineinheritance,"and by thosewordsmade him richer than all his brethren, richer than all thekings and rajas who have ever lived in the world. And there is a spiritualprinciplehere,aprinciplestillvalidforeverypriestoftheMostHighGod.

ThemanwhohasGodforhistreasurehasallthingsinOne.Manyordinarytreasuresmaybedeniedhim,orifheisallowedtohavethem,theenjoymentofthemwillbesotemperedthattheywillneverbenecessarytohishappiness.Orifhemust see them go, one after one, hewill scarcely feel a sense of loss, forhaving the Source of all things he has inOne all satisfaction, all pleasure, alldelight.Whateverhemaylosehehasactuallylostnothing,forhenowhasitallinOne,andhehasitpurely,legitimatelyandforever.

OGod,IhavetastedThygoodness,andithasbothsatisfiedmeandmademe thirsty formore. Iampainfullyconsciousofmyneedof furthergrace. Iam ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to wantThee;I long to be filledwith longing; I thirst to bemademore thirsty still.ShowmeThyglory, IprayThee, that so ImayknowThee indeed.Begin inmercyanewworkof lovewithinme.Say tomysoul,"Riseup,my love,myfairone,andcomeaway."ThengivemegracetoriseandfollowTheeupfromthismistylowlandwhereIhavewanderedsolong.InJesus'Name,Amen.

IITheBlessednessofPossessingNothingBlessedarethepoorinspirit:fortheirsisthekingdomofheaven.--Matt.5:3BeforetheLordGodmademanupontheearthHefirstpreparedforhimby

creatingaworldofusefulandpleasantthingsforhissustenanceanddelight.IntheGenesisaccountofthecreationthesearecalledsimply"things."Theyweremadeforman'suses,buttheyweremeantalwaystobeexternaltothemanandsubservient tohim. In thedeepheartof themanwasa shrinewherenonebutGodwasworthytocome.

Within himwas God; without, a thousand gifts which God had showereduponhim.

ButsinhasintroducedcomplicationsandhasmadethoseverygiftsofGodapotentialsourceofruintothesoul.

OurwoesbeganwhenGodwasforcedoutofHiscentralshrineand"things"were allowed to enter.Within the human heart "things" have taken over.Menhavenowbynaturenopeacewithin theirhearts, forGod is crowned therenolonger,butthereinthemoralduskstubbornandaggressiveusurpersfightamongthemselvesforfirstplaceonthethrone.

This is not ameremetaphor, but an accurate analysis of our real spiritualtrouble.Thereiswithinthehumanheartatoughfibrousrootoffallenlifewhosenatureistopossess,alwaystopossess.Itcovets"things"withadeepandfiercepassion.Thepronouns"my"and"mine"lookinnocentenoughinprint,buttheirconstantanduniversaluseissignificant.TheyexpresstherealnatureoftheoldAdamic man better than a thousand volumes of theology could do. They areverbalsymptomsofourdeepdisease.Therootsofourheartshavegrowndownintothings,andwedarenotpulluponerootletlestwedie.Thingshavebecomenecessary tous,adevelopmentneveroriginally intended.God'sgiftsnowtakethe place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstroussubstitution.

OurLordreferredtothistyrannyofthingswhenHesaidtoHisdisciples,"Ifanymanwill comeafterme, lethimdenyhimself, and takeuphis cross, andfollowme.Forwhosoeverwill savehis life shall lose it: andwhosoever shalllosehislifeformysakeshallfindit."

Breaking this truth into fragments for our better understanding, it wouldseem that there iswithin each of us an enemywhichwe tolerate at our peril.

Jesus called it "life" and "self," or as we would say, the self-life. Its chiefcharacteristicisitspossessiveness:thewords"gain"and"profit"suggestthis.Toallowthisenemytoliveisintheendtoloseeverything.TorepudiateitandgiveupallforChrist'ssakeistolosenothingatlast,buttopreserveeverythinguntolifeeternal.Andpossiblyalsoahintisgivenhereastotheonlyeffectivewaytodestroythisfoe:itisbytheCross."Lethimtakeuphiscrossandfollowme."

Theway todeeperknowledgeofGod is through the lonelyvalleysofsoulpovertyandabnegationofallthings.TheblessedoneswhopossesstheKingdomare theywhohave repudiated every external thing and have rooted from theirheartsallsenseofpossessing.Thesearethe"poorinspirit."TheyhavereachedaninwardstateparallelingtheoutwardcircumstancesofthecommonbeggarinthestreetsofJerusalem;that iswhat theword"poor"asChristuseditactuallymeans.Theseblessedpoorareno longerslaves to the tyrannyof things.Theyhavebrokentheyokeoftheoppressor;andthistheyhavedonenotbyfightingbutbysurrendering.Thoughfreefromallsenseofpossessing,theyyetpossessallthings."Theirsisthekingdomofheaven."

Letmeexhortyouto takethisseriously.It isnot tobeunderstoodasmereBibleteachingtobestoredawayinthemindalongwithaninertmassofotherdoctrines.Itisamarkerontheroadtogreenerpastures,apathchiseledagainstthesteepsidesofthemountofGod.Wedarenottrytoby-passit ifwewouldfollowoninthisholypursuit.Wemustascendastepatatime.Ifwerefuseonestepwebringourprogresstoanend.

Asisfrequentlytrue,thisNewTestamentprincipleofspirituallifefindsitsbestillustrationintheOldTestament.InthestoryofAbrahamandIsaacwehaveadramaticpictureofthesurrenderedlifeaswellasanexcellentcommentaryonthefirstBeatitude.

AbrahamwasoldwhenIsaacwasborn,oldenoughindeedtohavebeenhisgrandfather,andthechildbecameatoncethedelightandidolofhisheart.Fromthatmomentwhenhefirststoopedtotakethetinyformawkwardlyinhisarmshewasaneagerloveslaveofhisson.GodwentoutofHiswaytocommentonthe strength of this affection. And it is not hard to understand. The babyrepresented everything sacred to his father's heart: the promises of God, thecovenants,thehopesoftheyearsandthelongmessianicdream.Ashewatchedhimgrowfrombabyhoodtoyoungmanhoodtheheartoftheoldmanwasknitcloser and closerwith the life of his son, till at last the relationship borderedupon theperilous. Itwas then thatGodstepped in tosaveboth fatherandsonfromtheconsequencesofanuncleansedlove.

"Takenowthyson,"saidGodtoAbraham,"thineonlysonIsaac,whomthoulovest, and get thee into the land ofMoriah; and offer him there for a burnt-

offeringupononeofthemountainswhichIwilltelltheeof."Thesacredwritersparesusaclose-upoftheagonythatnightontheslopesnearBeershebawhentheagedmanhad itoutwithhisGod,but respectful imaginationmayview inawethebentformandconvulsivewrestlingaloneunder thestars.PossiblynotagainuntilaGreater thanAbrahamwrestled in theGardenofGethsemanedidsuchmortalpainvisitahumansoul. Ifonly themanhimselfmighthavebeenallowed todie.Thatwouldhavebeen easier a thousand times, for hewasoldnow,andtodiewouldhavebeennogreatordealforonewhohadwalkedsolongwithGod.Besides,itwouldhavebeenalastsweetpleasuretolethisdimmingvision rest upon the figure of his stalwart sonwhowould live to carry on theAbrahamiclineandfulfill inhimself thepromisesofGodmadelongbeforeinUroftheChaldees.

Howshouldheslaythelad!Evenifhecouldgettheconsentofhiswoundedandprotestingheart,howcouldhereconciletheactwiththepromise,"InIsaacshallthyseedbecalled"?ThiswasAbraham'strialbyfire,andhedidnotfailinthe crucible.While the stars still shone like sharpwhite points above the tentwherethesleepingIsaaclay,andlongbeforethegraydawnhadbeguntolightentheeast,theoldsainthadmadeuphismind.HewouldofferhissonasGodhaddirectedhimtodo,and then trustGod toraisehimfromthedead.This,saysthewritertotheHebrews,wasthesolutionhisachingheartfoundsometimeinthe dark night, and he rose "early in themorning" to carry out the plan. It isbeautifultoseethat,whileheerredastoGod'smethod,hehadcorrectlysensedthe secret of His great heart. And the solution accords well with the NewTestamentScripture,"Whosoeverwillloseformysakeshallfind."

God let thesufferingoldmango throughwith itup to thepointwhereHeknewtherewouldbenoretreat,andthenforbadehimtolayahandupontheboy.To the wondering patriarch He now says in effect, "It's all right, Abraham. Inever intended that you should actually slay the lad. I onlywanted to removehim from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there. Iwanted tocorrect theperversion thatexisted inyour love.Nowyoumayhavetheboy,soundandwell.Takehimandgoback toyour tent.NowIknowthatthoufearestGod,seeingthatthouhastnotwithheldthyson,thineonlyson,fromme."

Thenheavenopenedandavoicewasheardsayingtohim,"BymyselfhaveIsworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast notwithheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and inmultiplyingIwillmultiply thyseedas thestarsof theheaven,andas thesandwhichisupontheseashore;andthyseedshallpossessthegateofhisenemies;and in thy seed shall all thenationsof theearthbeblessed;because thouhast

obeyedmyvoice."TheoldmanofGodliftedhisheadtorespondtotheVoice,andstoodthere

on themount strong and pure and grand, a manmarked out by the Lord forspecial treatment, a friend and favorite of theMostHigh.Nowhewas amanwhollysurrendered,amanutterlyobedient, amanwhopossessednothing.Hehadconcentratedhisallinthepersonofhisdearson,andGodhadtakenitfromhim.God could have begun out on themargin ofAbraham's life andworkedinwardtothecenter;Hechoserathertocutquicklytotheheartandhaveitoverin one sharp act of separation. In dealing thus He practiced an economy ofmeansandtime.Ithurtcruelly,butitwaseffective.

IhavesaidthatAbrahampossessednothing.Yetwasnotthispoormanrich?Everythinghehadownedbeforewashisstilltoenjoy:sheep,camels,herds,andgoodsofeverysort.Hehadalsohiswifeandhisfriends,andbestofallhehadhis son Isaac safe by his side. He had everything, buthe possessed nothing.Thereisthespiritualsecret.Thereisthesweettheologyoftheheartwhichcanbelearnedonlyintheschoolofrenunciation.Thebooksonsystematictheologyoverlookthis,butthewisewillunderstand.

After thatbitterandblessedexperienceI think thewords"my"and"mine"neverhadagainthesamemeaningforAbraham.Thesenseofpossessionwhichtheyconnotewasgonefromhisheart.Thingshadbeencastout forever.Theyhadnowbecomeexternaltotheman.Hisinnerheartwasfreefromthem.Theworldsaid,"Abrahamisrich,"buttheagedpatriarchonlysmiled.Hecouldnotexplain it to them, but he knew that he owned nothing, that his real treasureswereinwardandeternal.

There canbenodoubt that this possessive clinging to things is oneof themostharmfulhabitsinthelife.Becauseitissonaturalitisrarelyrecognizedfortheevilthatitis;butitsoutworkingsaretragic.

WeareoftenhinderedfromgivingupourtreasurestotheLordoutoffearfortheirsafety; this isespecially truewhen those treasuresare lovedrelativesandfriends.Butweneedhavenosuch fears.OurLordcamenot todestroybut tosave. Everything is safewhichwe commit toHim, and nothing is really safewhichisnotsocommitted.

Our gifts and talents should also be turned over to Him. They should berecognizedforwhattheyare,God'sloantous,andshouldneverbeconsideredinanysenseourown.Wehavenomore right toclaimcredit for special abilitiesthan for blue eyes or strong muscles. "For who maketh thee to differ fromanother?andwhathastthouthatthoudidstnotreceive?"

The Christian who is alive enough to know himself even slightly willrecognizethesymptomsofthispossessionmalady,andwillgrievetofindthem

inhisownheart. If the longingafterGod is strongenoughwithinhimhewillwanttodosomethingaboutthematter.Now,whatshouldhedo?

Firstof all he shouldput awayall defense andmakenoattempt to excusehimselfeitherinhisowneyesorbeforetheLord.Whoeverdefendshimselfwillhave himself for his defense, and he will have no other; but let him comedefenselessbeforetheLordandhewillhaveforhisdefendernolessthanGodHimself.Let the inquiringChristian trampleunder foot every slippery trickofhisdeceitfulheartandinsistuponfrankandopenrelationswiththeLord.

Thenhe should remember that this is holybusiness.No careless or casualdealingswillsuffice.LethimcometoGodinfulldeterminationtobeheard.Lethim insist that God accept his all, that He take things out of his heart andHimselfreignthereinpower.Itmaybehewillneedtobecomespecific,tonamethingsandpeoplebytheirnamesonebyone.Ifhewillbecomedrasticenoughhecanshortenthetimeofhistravailfromyearstominutesandenterthegoodland longbeforehis slowerbrethrenwhocoddle their feelingsand insistuponcautionintheirdealingswithGod.

Letusneverforgetthatsuchatruthasthiscannotbelearnedbyroteasonewouldlearnthefactsofphysicalscience.Theymustbeexperiencedbeforewecanreallyknowthem.WemustinourheartslivethroughAbraham'sharshandbitter experiences ifwewouldknow theblessednesswhich follows them.Theancientcursewillnotgooutpainlessly;thetougholdmiserwithinuswillnotliedownanddieobedienttoourcommand.Hemustbetornoutofourheartlikeaplantfromthesoil;hemustbeextractedinagonyandbloodlikeatoothfromthejaw.HemustbeexpelledfromoursoulbyviolenceasChristexpelledthemoneychangers from the temple. And we shall need to steel ourselves against hispiteousbegging,andtorecognizeitasspringingoutofself-pity,oneofthemostreprehensiblesinsofthehumanheart.

IfwewouldindeedknowGodingrowingintimacywemustgothiswayofrenunciation.AndifwearesetuponthepursuitofGodHewillsoonerorlaterbring us to this test.Abraham's testingwas, at the time, not known to him assuch, yet if he had taken some course other than the one he did, the wholehistoryoftheOldTestamentwouldhavebeendifferent.GodwouldhavefoundHisman,nodoubt,butthelosstoAbrahamwouldhavebeentragicbeyondthetelling.Sowewillbebroughtonebyonetothetestingplace,andwemayneverknowwhenweare there.At that testingplace therewillbenodozenpossiblechoices for us; just one and an alternative, but our whole future will beconditionedbythechoicewemake.

Father,IwanttoknowThee,butmycowardheartfearstogiveupitstoys.Icannotpartwiththemwithoutinwardbleeding,andIdonottrytohidefrom

Thee the terrorof theparting. I come trembling,but Idocome.Please rootfrommyheartallthosethingswhichIhavecherishedsolongandwhichhavebecomeaverypartofmylivingself,sothatThoumayestenteranddwelltherewithout a rival.Then shaltThoumake the place ofThy feet glorious.Thenshallmyhearthavenoneedof thesuntoshine in it, forThyselfwiltbe thelightofit,andthereshallbenonightthere.InJesus'Name,Amen.

IIIRemovingtheVeilHavingtherefore,brethren,boldnesstoenterintotheholiestbythebloodof

Jesus.--Heb.10:19AmongthefamoussayingsoftheChurchfathersnoneisbetterknownthan

Augustine's, "Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless tilltheyfindrestinThee."

Thegreatsaintstateshereinfewwordstheoriginandinteriorhistoryofthehumanrace.GodmadeusforHimself:thatistheonlyexplanationthatsatisfiestheheart of a thinkingman,whatever hiswild reasonmay say. Should faultyeducationandperversereasoningleadamantoconcludeotherwise,thereislittlethatanyChristiancandoforhim.ForsuchamanIhavenomessage.MyappealisaddressedtothosewhohavebeenpreviouslytaughtinsecretbythewisdomofGod;Ispeaktothirstyheartswhoselongingshavebeenwakenedbythetouchof Godwithin them, and such as they need no reasoned proof. Their restlessheartsfurnishalltheprooftheyneed.

God formedus forHimself.TheShorterCatechism, "Agreeduponby theReverend Assembly of Divines at Westminster," as the old New-EnglandPrimerhasit,askstheancientquestionswhatandwhyandanswerstheminoneshortsentencehardlymatchedinanyuninspiredwork."Question:WhatisthechiefEndofMan?Answer:Man'schiefEnd is toglorifyGodandenjoyHimforever."With this agree the four and twenty elderswho fall on their faces toworshipHimthatlivethforeverandever,saying,"Thouartworthy,OLord,toreceivegloryandhonourandpower:forthouhastcreatedallthings,andforthypleasuretheyareandwerecreated."

GodformedusforHispleasure,andsoformedusthatweaswellasHecanin divine communion enjoy the sweet and mysterious mingling of kindredpersonalities.HemeantustoseeHimandlivewithHimanddrawourlifefromHissmile.Butwehavebeenguiltyofthat"foulrevolt"ofwhichMiltonspeakswhendescribingtherebellionofSatanandhishosts.WehavebrokenwithGod.WehaveceasedtoobeyHimorloveHimandinguiltandfearhavefledasfaraspossiblefromHisPresence.

Yet who can flee from His Presence when the heaven and the heaven ofheavens cannot contain Him?when as the wisdom of Solomon testifies, "theSpiritoftheLordfilleththeworld?"TheomnipresenceoftheLordisonething,

and is a solemn fact necessary to His perfection; the manifest Presence isanotherthingaltogether,andfromthatPresencewehavefled,likeAdam,tohideamongthetreesofthegarden,orlikePetertoshrinkawaycrying,"Departfromme,forIamasinfulman,OLord."

SothelifeofmanupontheearthisalifeawayfromthePresence,wrenchedloose from that "blissful center"which is our right andproper dwellingplace,ourfirstestatewhichwekeptnot,thelossofwhichisthecauseofourunceasingrestlessness.

ThewholeworkofGod in redemption is toundo the tragiceffectsof thatfoul revolt, and to bringus back again into right and eternal relationshipwithHimself. This required that our sins be disposed of satisfactorily, that a fullreconciliation be effected and the way opened for us to return again intoconscious communion with God and to live again in the Presence as before.Then by His prevenient working within us He moves us to return. This firstcomestoournoticewhenourrestlessheartsfeelayearningforthePresenceofGodandwesaywithinourselves,"IwillariseandgotomyFather."Thatisthefirststep,andastheChinesesageLao-tzehassaid,"Thejourneyofathousandmilesbeginswithafirststep."

The interior journey of the soul from the wilds of sin into the enjoyedPresenceofGod isbeautifully illustrated in theOldTestament tabernacle.Thereturningsinnerfirstentered theoutercourtwhereheofferedabloodsacrificeon the brazen altar and washed himself in the laver that stood near it. Thenthroughaveilhepassedintotheholyplacewherenonaturallightcouldcome,butthegoldencandlestickwhichspokeofJesustheLightoftheWorldthrewitssoftglowoverall.Therealsowas theshewbread to tellofJesus, theBreadofLife,andthealtarofincense,afigureofunceasingprayer.

Thoughtheworshipperhadenjoyedsomuch,stillhehadnotyetenteredthePresenceofGod.AnotherveilseparatedfromtheHolyofHolieswhereabovethemercyseatdwelttheveryGodHimselfinawfulandgloriousmanifestation.While the tabernaclestood,only thehighpriestcouldenter there,and thatbutonceayear,withbloodwhichheofferedforhissinsandthesinsofthepeople.ItwasthislastveilwhichwasrentwhenourLordgaveuptheghostonCalvary,and the sacredwriterexplains that this rendingof theveilopened theway foreveryworshipperintheworldtocomebythenewandlivingwaystraightintothedivinePresence.

Everything in theNewTestament accordswith thisOldTestamentpicture.Ransomedmenneedno longerpause in fear toenter theHolyofHolies.GodwillsthatweshouldpushonintoHisPresenceandliveourwholelifethere.Thisistobeknowntousinconsciousexperience.Itismorethanadoctrineto

beheld,itisalifetobeenjoyedeverymomentofeveryday.This Flame of the Presence was the beating heart of the Levitical order.

Without it all the appointments of the tabernacle were characters of someunknownlanguage;theyhadnomeaningforIsraelorforus.Thegreatestfactofthe tabernaclewas thatJehovahwas there; aPresencewaswaitingwithin theveil.SimilarlythePresenceofGodisthecentralfactofChristianity.Attheheartof theChristianmessage isGodHimselfwaiting forHis redeemedchildren topushintoconsciousawarenessofHisPresence.ThattypeofChristianitywhichhappensnowtobethevogueknowsthisPresenceonlyintheory.ItfailstostresstheChristian'sprivilegeofpresentrealization.Accordingtoitsteachingswearein the Presence of God positionally, and nothing is said about the need toexperiencethatPresenceactually.ThefieryurgethatdrovemenlikeMcCheyneiswhollymissing.And thepresentgenerationofChristiansmeasures itselfbythisimperfectrule.Ignoblecontentmenttakestheplaceofburningzeal.Wearesatisfied to rest in our judicial possessions and for the most part we botherourselvesverylittleabouttheabsenceofpersonalexperience.

Who is thiswithin the veilwho dwells in fierymanifestations? It is noneother thanGodHimself,"OneGod theFatherAlmighty,Makerofheavenandearth, andof all thingsvisible and invisible," and "OneLord JesusChrist, theonlybegottenSonofGod;begottenofHisFatherbeforeallworlds,GodofGod,Light of Light, Very God of Very God; begotten, not made; being of onesubstance with the Father," and "the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life,WhoproceedethfromtheFatherandtheSon,WhowiththeFatherandtheSontogetherisworshippedandglorified."YetthisholyTrinityisOneGod,for"weworship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding thePersons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father,another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of theFather, of the Son, and of theHolyGhost, is all one: the glory equal and themajestyco-eternal."Soinpartruntheancientcreeds,andsotheinspiredWorddeclares.

Behind the veil is God, that God after Whom the world, with strangeinconsistency, has felt, "if haply they might find Him." He has discoveredHimselftosomeextentinnature,butmoreperfectlyintheIncarnation;nowHewaitstoshowHimselfinravishingfulnesstothehumbleofsoulandthepureinheart.

TheworldisperishingforlackoftheknowledgeofGodandtheChurchisfamishingforwantofHisPresence.Theinstantcureofmostofourreligiousillswould be to enter the Presence in spiritual experience, to become suddenlyaware thatwe are inGodand thatGod is inus.Thiswould lift usout of our

pitifulnarrownessandcauseourheartstobeenlarged.Thiswouldburnawaytheimpuritiesfromourlivesasthebugsandfungiwereburnedawaybythefirethatdweltinthebush.

Whatabroadworldtoroamin,whataseatoswiministhisGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist.Heiseternal,whichmeansthatHeantedatestimeandiswholly independentof it.TimebeganinHimandwillendinHim.ToitHepaysnotributeandfromitHesuffersnochange.Heisimmutable,whichmeansthatHe has never changed and can never change in any smallestmeasure.TochangeHewouldneed togo frombetter toworseor fromworse tobetter.Hecannot do either, for being perfectHe cannot becomemore perfect, and ifHeweretobecomelessperfectHewouldbelessthanGod.Heisomniscient,whichmeans that He knows in one free and effortless act all matter, all spirit, allrelationships,allevents.HehasnopastandHehasnofuture.Heis,andnoneofthelimitingandqualifyingtermsusedofcreaturescanapplytoHim.LoveandmercyandrighteousnessareHis,andholinesssoineffablethatnocomparisonsorfigureswillavailtoexpressit.Onlyfirecangiveevenaremoteconceptionofit.InfireHeappearedattheburningbush;inthepillaroffireHedweltthroughall the longwilderness journey.The fire thatglowedbetween thewingsof thecherubimintheholyplacewascalledthe"shekinah,"thePresence,throughtheyearsofIsrael'sglory,andwhentheOldhadgivenplacetotheNew,HecameatPentecostasafieryflameandresteduponeachdisciple.

SpinozawroteoftheintellectualloveofGod,andhehadameasureoftruththere;butthehighestloveofGodisnotintellectual,itisspiritual.GodisspiritandonlythespiritofmancanknowHimreally.InthedeepspiritofamanthefiremustgloworhisloveisnotthetrueloveofGod.ThegreatoftheKingdomhavebeen thosewho lovedGodmore thanothersdid.Weall knowwho theyhavebeenandgladlypaytributetothedepthsandsincerityoftheirdevotion.Wehavebuttopauseforamomentandtheirnamescometroopingpastussmellingofmyrrhandaloesandcassiaoutoftheivorypalaces.

FrederickFaberwasonewhosesoulpantedafterGodastheroepantsafterthewaterbrook,andthemeasureinwhichGodrevealedHimselftohisseekingheartsetthegoodman'swholelifeafirewithaburningadorationrivalingthatoftheseraphimbeforethethrone.HisloveforGodextendedtothethreePersonsoftheGodheadequally,yetheseemedtofeelforeachOneaspecialkindoflovereservedforHimalone.OfGodtheFatherhesings:

Only to sit and thinkofGod,Ohwhata joy it is!To think the thought, tobreathetheName;Earthhasnohigherbliss.

FatherofJesus,love'sreward!Whatrapturewillitbe,ProstratebeforeThythronetolie,AndgazeandgazeonThee!

HisloveforthePersonofChristwassointensethatitthreatenedtoconsumehim;itburnedwithinhimasasweetandholymadnessandflowedfromhislipslikemoltengold.Inoneofhissermonshesays,"WhereverweturninthechurchofGod,thereisJesus.Heisthebeginning,middleandendofeverythingtous....Thereisnothinggood,nothingholy,nothingbeautiful,nothingjoyouswhichHeisnottoHisservants.Nooneneedbepoor,because,ifhechooses,hecanhaveJesusforhisownpropertyandpossession.Nooneneedbedowncast,forJesusisthe joy of heaven, and it is His joy to enter into sorrowful hearts. We canexaggerate aboutmany things; but we can never exaggerate our obligation toJesus,or thecompassionateabundanceof theloveofJesustous.Allourliveslongwemight talk of Jesus, and yetwe should never come to an end of thesweetthingsthatmightbesaidofHim.EternitywillnotbelongenoughtolearnallHeis,ortopraiseHimforallHehasdone,butthen,thatmattersnot;forweshall be always with Him, and we desire nothingmore." And addressing ourLorddirectlyhesaystoHim:

IloveTheeso,IknownothowMytransportstocontrol;ThyloveislikeaburningfireWithinmyverysoul.

Faber's blazing love extended also to the Holy Spirit. Not only in histheologydidheacknowledgeHisdeityandfullequalitywiththeFatherandtheSon,buthecelebrateditconstantlyinhissongsandinhisprayers.

HeliterallypressedhisforeheadtothegroundinhiseagerfervidworshipoftheThirdPersonoftheGodhead.InoneofhisgreathymnstotheHolySpirithesumsuphisburningdevotionthus:

OSpirit,beautifulanddread!Myheart is fit tobreakWithloveofallThytendernessForuspoorsinners'sake.

IhaveriskedthetediumofquotationthatImightshowbypointedexamplewhatIhavesetout tosay,viz., thatGodissovastlywonderful,soutterlyandcompletely delightful that He can, without anything other thanHimself, meetandoverflow thedeepestdemandsofour totalnature,mysteriousanddeepasthatnatureis.SuchworshipasFaberknew(andheisbutoneofagreatcompanywhichnomancannumber)cannevercomefromameredoctrinalknowledgeofGod.Heartsthatare"fittobreak"withlovefortheGodheadarethosewhohavebeen in the Presence and have looked with opened eye upon the majesty ofDeity.Men of the breaking hearts had a quality about them not known to orunderstood by common men. They habitually spoke with spiritual authority.Theyhadbeen in thePresenceofGodand they reportedwhat theysaw there.Theywereprophets,notscribes,forthescribetellsuswhathehasread,andtheprophettellswhathehasseen.

Thedistinctionisnotanimaginaryone.Betweenthescribewhohasreadand

theprophetwhohasseenthereisadifferenceaswideasthesea.Wearetodayoverrunwithorthodoxscribes,buttheprophets,wherearethey?Thehardvoiceof the scribe sounds over evangelicalism, but theChurchwaits for the tendervoice of the saintwho has penetrated the veil and has gazedwith inward eyeupon theWonder that isGod.And yet, thus to penetrate, to push in sensitiveliving experience into the holyPresence, is a privilege open to every child ofGod.

WiththeveilremovedbytherendingofJesus'flesh,withnothingonGod'ssidetopreventusfromentering,whydowetarrywithout?WhydoweconsenttoabideallourdaysjustoutsidetheHolyofHoliesandneverenteratalltolookuponGod?Wehear theBridegroomsay, "Letme see thycountenance, letmehearthyvoice;forsweetisthyvoiceandthycountenanceiscomely."Wesensethat thecall is forus,butstillwefail todrawnear,and theyearspassandwegrowoldandtiredintheoutercourtsofthetabernacle.Whatdothhinderus?

Theanswerusuallygiven,simplythatweare"cold,"willnotexplainallthefacts. There is somethingmore serious than coldness of heart, something thatmaybebackofthatcoldnessandbethecauseofitsexistence.Whatisit?Whatbutthepresenceofaveil inourhearts?aveilnot takenawayas thefirstveilwas,butwhich remains therestill shuttingout the lightandhiding the faceofGodfromus.Itistheveilofourfleshlyfallennaturelivingon,unjudgedwithinus,uncrucifiedandunrepudiated.Itistheclose-wovenveiloftheself-lifewhichwehave never truly acknowledged, ofwhichwe have been secretly ashamed,andwhichforthesereasonswehaveneverbroughttothejudgmentofthecross.Itisnottoomysterious,thisopaqueveil,norisithardtoidentify.Wehavebuttolookinourownheartsandweshallseeitthere,sewnandpatchedandrepaireditmaybe,buttherenevertheless,anenemytoourlivesandaneffectiveblocktoourspiritualprogress.

This veil is not a beautiful thing and it is not a thing about which wecommonly care to talk, but I am addressing the thirsting souls who aredeterminedtofollowGod,andIknowtheywillnotturnbackbecausethewayleadstemporarilythroughtheblackenedhills.TheurgeofGodwithinthemwillassuretheircontinuingthepursuit.Theywillfacethefactshoweverunpleasantand endure the cross for the joy set before them. So I am bold to name thethreadsoutofwhichthisinnerveiliswoven.

It is woven of the fine threads of the self-life, the hyphenated sins of thehuman spirit. They are not somethingwe do, they are somethingweare,andthereinliesboththeirsubtletyandtheirpower.

To be specific, the self-sins are these: self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-loveandahostofothers like

them.Theydwelltoodeepwithinusandaretoomuchapartofournaturestocome to our attention till the light ofGod is focused upon them. The grossermanifestations of these sins, egotism, exhibitionism, self-promotion, arestrangelytoleratedinChristianleadersevenincirclesofimpeccableorthodoxy.Theyaresomuchinevidenceasactually,formanypeople,tobecomeidentifiedwith the gospel. I trust it is not a cynical observation to say that they appearthesedaystobearequisiteforpopularityinsomesectionsoftheChurchvisible.PromotingselfundertheguiseofpromotingChristiscurrentlysocommonastoexcitelittlenotice.

One should suppose that proper instruction in the doctrines of man'sdepravityandthenecessityfor justificationthroughtherighteousnessofChristalonewoulddeliverusfromthepoweroftheself-sins;butitdoesnotworkoutthatway. Self can live unrebuked at the very altar. It canwatch the bleedingVictimdieandnotbe in the least affectedbywhat it sees. It can fight for thefaithoftheReformersandpreacheloquentlythecreedofsalvationbygrace,andgainstrengthby itsefforts.To tell all the truth, it seemsactually to feeduponorthodoxyandismoreathomeinaBibleConferencethaninatavern.Ourverystateof longingafterGodmayafford it anexcellentconditionunderwhich tothriveandgrow.

SelfistheopaqueveilthathidestheFaceofGodfromus.Itcanberemovedonly in spiritual experience, never bymere instruction.Aswell try to instructleprosyoutofoursystem.TheremustbeaworkofGodindestructionbeforewearefree.Wemustinvitethecrosstodoitsdeadlyworkwithinus.Wemustbringourself-sinstothecrossforjudgment.WemustprepareourselvesforanordealofsufferinginsomemeasurelikethatthroughwhichourSaviourpassedwhenHesufferedunderPontiusPilate.

Letusremember:whenwetalkoftherendingoftheveilwearespeakinginafigure,andthethoughtofitispoetical,almostpleasant;butinactualitythereisnothing pleasant about it. In human experience that veil is made of livingspiritualtissue;itiscomposedofthesentient,quiveringstuffofwhichourwholebeingsconsist,andtotouchitistotouchuswherewefeelpain.Totearitawayis to injureus, tohurt us andmakeusbleed.To sayotherwise is tomake thecrossnocrossanddeathnodeathatall.Itisneverfuntodie.Toripthroughthedear and tender stuff ofwhich life ismade can never be anything but deeplypainful.YetthatiswhatthecrossdidtoJesusanditiswhatthecrosswoulddotoeverymantosethimfree.

Letusbewareoftinkeringwithourinnerlifeinhopeourselvestorendtheveil. Godmust do everything for us. Our part is to yield and trust.Wemustconfess, forsake, repudiate the self-life, and then reckon it crucified. But we

mustbecarefultodistinguishlazy"acceptance"fromtherealworkofGod.Wemust insist upon the work being done. We dare not rest content with a neatdoctrine of self-crucifixion. That is to imitate Saul and spare the best of thesheepandtheoxen.

Insist that theworkbedone invery truthand itwillbedone.Thecross isrough, and it is deadly, but it is effective. It does not keep its victim hangingthereforever.Therecomesamomentwhenitsworkisfinishedandthesufferingvictimdies.Afterthatisresurrectiongloryandpower,andthepainisforgottenfor joy that the veil is taken away and we have entered in actual spiritualexperiencethePresenceofthelivingGod.

Lord,howexcellentareThyways,andhowdeviousanddarkarethewaysofman.Showushowtodie,thatwemayriseagaintonewnessoflife.Rendtheveilofour self-life from the topdownasThoudidst rend theveilof theTemple.Wewoulddrawnearinfullassuranceoffaith.WewoulddwellwithTheeindailyexperiencehereonthisearthsothatwemaybeaccustomedtotheglorywhenweenterThyheaventodwellwithTheethere.InJesus'name,Amen.

IVApprehendingGodOtasteandsee.--Psa.34:8ItwasCanonHolmes,ofIndia,whomorethantwenty-fiveyearsagocalled

attentiontotheinferentialcharacteroftheaverageman'sfaithinGod.TomostpeopleGodisaninference,notareality.Heisadeductionfromevidencewhichthey consider adequate; butHe remainspersonally unknown to the individual."Hemustbe,"theysay,"thereforewebelieveHeis."Othersdonotgoevensofarasthis;theyknowofHimonlybyhearsay.Theyhaveneverbotheredtothinkthematteroutforthemselves,buthaveheardaboutHimfromothers,andhaveputbelief inHimintothebackof theirmindsalongwiththevariousoddsandendsthatmakeuptheirtotalcreed.TomanyothersGodisbutanideal,anothername for goodness, or beauty, or truth; or He is law, or life, or the creativeimpulsebackofthephenomenaofexistence.

ThesenotionsaboutGodaremanyandvaried,buttheywhoholdthemhaveone thing in common: they do not know God in personal experience. ThepossibilityofintimateacquaintancewithHimhasnotenteredtheirminds.WhileadmittingHisexistencetheydonotthinkofHimasknowableinthesensethatweknowthingsorpeople.

Christians, to be sure, go further than this, at least in theory. Their creedrequiresthemtobelieveinthepersonalityofGod,andtheyhavebeentaughttopray,"OurFather,whichart inheaven."Nowpersonalityandfatherhoodcarrywiththemtheideaofthepossibilityofpersonalacquaintance.Thisisadmitted,Isay, in theory,butformillionsofChristians,nevertheless,GodisnomorerealthanHeistothenon-Christian.Theygothroughlifetryingtoloveanidealandbeloyaltoamereprinciple.

Over against all this cloudy vagueness stands the clear scriptural doctrinethatGodcanbeknowninpersonalexperience.AlovingPersonalitydominatestheBible,walkingamong the treesof thegardenandbreathing fragranceoverevery scene. Always a living Person is present, speaking, pleading, loving,working,andmanifestingHimselfwheneverandwhereverHispeoplehavethereceptivitynecessarytoreceivethemanifestation.

TheBibleassumesasaself-evidentfactthatmencanknowGodwithatleastthe same degree of immediacy as they know any other person or thing thatcomeswithinthefieldof theirexperience.Thesametermsareusedtoexpress

theknowledgeofGodasareusedtoexpressknowledgeofphysicalthings."OtasteandseethattheLordisgood.""Allthygarmentssmellofmyrrh,andaloes,andcassia,outof the ivorypalaces.""Mysheephearmyvoice.""Blessedarethepureinheart,fortheyshallseeGod."ThesearebutfourofcountlesssuchpassagesfromtheWordofGod.AndmoreimportantthananyprooftextisthefactthatthewholeimportoftheScriptureistowardthisbelief.

Whatcanallthismeanexceptthatwehaveinourheartsorgansbymeansofwhichwe canknowGodas certainly asweknowmaterial things throughourfamiliar five senses? We apprehend the physical world by exercising thefacultiesgivenusforthepurpose,andwepossessspiritualfacultiesbymeansofwhichwecanknowGodandthespiritualworldifwewillobeytheSpirit'surgeandbegintousethem.

Thatasavingworkmustfirstbedoneintheheartistakenforgrantedhere.Thespiritual facultiesof theunregenerateman lieasleep inhisnature,unusedandforeverypurposedead; that is thestrokewhichhasfallenuponusbysin.TheymaybequickenedtoactivelifeagainbytheoperationoftheHolySpiritinregeneration;thatisoneoftheimmeasurablebenefitswhichcometousthroughChrist'satoningworkonthecross.

But thevery ransomed children ofGod themselves:whydo they know solittleofthathabitualconsciouscommunionwithGodwhichtheScripturesseemtooffer?Theanswerisourchronicunbelief.Faithenablesourspiritualsensetofunction. Where faith is defective the result will be inward insensibility andnumbness toward spiritual things. This is the condition of vast numbers ofChristianstoday.Noproofisnecessarytosupportthatstatement.WehavebuttoconversewiththefirstChristianwemeetorenterthefirstchurchwefindopentoacquirealltheproofweneed.

Aspiritualkingdomliesallaboutus,enclosingus,embracingus,altogetherwithinreachofourinnerselves,waitingforustorecognizeit.GodHimselfisherewaitingourresponsetoHisPresence.Thiseternalworldwillcomealivetousthemomentwebegintoreckonuponitsreality.

Ihavejustnowusedtwowordswhichdemanddefinition;orifdefinitionisimpossible,Imustat leastmakeclearwhatImeanwhenIuse them.Theyare"reckon"and"reality."

WhatdoImeanbyreality?Imeanthatwhichhasexistenceapartfromanyidea anymindmay have of it, and which would exist if there were nomindanywhere to entertain a thoughtof it.Thatwhich is real hasbeing in itself. Itdoesnotdependupontheobserverforitsvalidity.

Iamawarethattherearethosewholovetopokefunattheplainman'sideaof reality. They are the idealists who spin endless proofs that nothing is real

outsideofthemind.Theyaretherelativistswholiketoshowthattherearenofixedpoints in theuniverse fromwhichwecanmeasureanything.Theysmiledown upon us from their lofty intellectual peaks and settle us to their ownsatisfactionbyfasteninguponusthereproachfulterm"absolutist."TheChristianisnotputoutofcountenancebythisshowofcontempt.Hecansmilerightbackatthem,forheknowsthatthereisonlyOnewhoisAbsolute,thatisGod.ButheknowsalsothattheAbsoluteOnehasmadethisworldforman'suses,and,whilethere isnothingfixedorreal in the lastmeaningof thewords(themeaningasappliedtoGod)foreverypurposeofhumanlifewearepermittedtoactas ifthere were. And every man does act thus except the mentally sick. Theseunfortunates also have troublewith reality, but they are consistent; they insistupon living inaccordancewith their ideasof things.Theyarehonest,and it istheirveryhonestythatconstitutesthemasocialproblem.

The idealists and relativists are not mentally sick. They prove theirsoundness by living their lives according to the very notions of realitywhichtheyintheoryrepudiateandbycountingupontheveryfixedpointswhichtheyprovearenotthere.Theycouldearnalotmorerespectfortheirnotionsiftheywerewillingtolivebythem;butthistheyarecarefulnottodo.Theirideasarebrain-deep, not life-deep. Wherever life touches them they repudiate theirtheoriesandlivelikeothermen.

TheChristianistoosinceretoplaywithideasfortheirownsake.Hetakesnopleasureinthemerespinningofgossamerwebsfordisplay.Allhisbeliefsarepractical.Theyaregearedintohislife.Bythemhelivesordies,standsorfallsforthisworldandforalltimetocome.Fromtheinsinceremanheturnsaway.

Thesincereplainmanknowsthattheworldisreal.Hefindsitherewhenhewakestoconsciousness,andheknowsthathedidnotthinkitintobeing.Itwashere waiting for himwhen he came, and he knows that when he prepares toleavethisearthlysceneitwillbeherestilltobidhimgood-byeashedeparts.Bythedeepwisdomoflifeheiswiserthanathousandmenwhodoubt.Hestandsupontheearthandfeelsthewindandraininhisfaceandheknowsthattheyarereal.Heseesthesunbydayandthestarsbynight.Heseesthehotlightningplayout of the dark thundercloud. He hears the sounds of nature and the cries ofhumanjoyandpain.Theseheknowsarereal.Heliesdownonthecoolearthatnightandhasnofearthatitwillproveillusoryorfailhimwhilehesleeps.Inthemorning the firm ground will be under him, the blue sky above him and therocksandtreesaroundhimaswhenheclosedhiseyes thenightbefore.Sohelivesandrejoicesinaworldofreality.

Withhisfivesensesheengages this realworld.All thingsnecessary tohisphysical existence he apprehends by the faculties with which he has been

equippedbytheGodwhocreatedhimandplacedhiminsuchaworldasthis.Now,byourdefinitionalsoGodisreal.Heisrealintheabsoluteandfinal

sense that nothing else is. All other reality is contingent uponHis. The greatReality is God who is the Author of that lower and dependent reality whichmakes up the sum of created things, including ourselves. God has objectiveexistence independent of and apart from any notions which we may haveconcerningHim.TheworshippingheartdoesnotcreateitsObject.ItfindsHimherewhenitwakesfromitsmoralslumberinthemorningofitsregeneration.

Another word that must be cleared up is the word reckon. This does notmean to visualize or imagine. Imagination is not faith. The two are not onlydifferentfrom,butstandinsharpoppositionto,eachother.Imaginationprojectsunrealimagesoutofthemindandseekstoattachrealitytothem.Faithcreatesnothing;itsimplyreckonsuponthatwhichisalreadythere.

Godandthespiritualworldarereal.Wecanreckonuponthemwithasmuchassuranceaswereckonuponthefamiliarworldaroundus.Spiritual thingsarethere (or ratherweshouldsayhere) invitingourattentionandchallengingourtrust.

Our trouble is that we have established bad thought habits.We habituallythinkof thevisibleworldasrealanddoubt therealityofanyother.Wedonotdeny the existence of the spiritual world but we doubt that it is real in theacceptedmeaningoftheword.

Theworldofsenseintrudesuponourattentiondayandnightforthewholeof our lifetime. It is clamorous, insistent and self-demonstrating. It does notappeal to our faith; it is here, assaulting our five senses, demanding to beacceptedasrealandfinal.Butsinhassocloudedthelensesofourheartsthatwecannotsee thatother reality, theCityofGod,shiningaroundus.Theworldofsensetriumphs.Thevisiblebecomestheenemyoftheinvisible;thetemporal,oftheeternal.ThatisthecurseinheritedbyeverymemberofAdam'stragicrace.

AttherootoftheChristianlifeliesbeliefintheinvisible.TheobjectoftheChristian'sfaithisunseenreality.

Ouruncorrected thinking, influencedby theblindnessofournaturalheartsandtheintrusiveubiquityofvisiblethings,tendstodrawacontrastbetweenthespiritual and the real; but actually no such contrast exists. The antithesis lieselsewhere: between the real and the imaginary, between the spiritual and thematerial,betweenthetemporalandtheeternal;butbetweenthespiritualandthereal,never.Thespiritualisreal.

Ifwewould rise into that region of light and power plainly beckoning usthrough the Scriptures of truth we must break the evil habit of ignoring thespiritual.Wemust shiftour interest from the seen to theunseen.For thegreat

unseenRealityisGod."HethatcomethtoGodmustbelievethatheis,andthathe is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."This is basic in the life offaith.Fromtherewecanrisetounlimitedheights."YebelieveinGod,"saidourLordJesusChrist,"believealsoinme."Withoutthefirsttherecanbenosecond.

IfwetrulywanttofollowGodwemustseektobeother-worldly.ThisIsayknowingwellthatthatwordhasbeenusedwithscornbythesonsofthisworldandapplied to theChristianasabadgeof reproach.Sobe it.Everymanmustchoose his world. If we who follow Christ, with all the facts before us andknowingwhat we are about, deliberately choose the Kingdom of God as oursphereofinterestIseenoreasonwhyanyoneshouldobject.Ifwelosebyit,thelossisourown;ifwegain,werobnoonebysodoing.The"otherworld,"whichis theobject of thisworld's disdain and the subject of thedrunkard'smockingsong,isourcarefullychosengoalandtheobjectofourholiestlonging.

Butwemustavoidthecommonfaultofpushingthe"otherworld" into thefuture.It isnotfuture,butpresent.Itparallelsourfamiliarphysicalworld,andthedoorsbetweenthetwoworldsareopen."Yearecome,"saysthewritertotheHebrews(andthetenseisplainlypresent),"untoMountZion,anduntothecityof the livingGod, theheavenly Jerusalem,and to an innumerable companyofangels,tothegeneralassemblyandchurchofthefirstborn,whicharewritteninheaven,andtoGodtheJudgeofall,andtothespiritsofjustmenmadeperfect,and toJesus themediatorof thenewcovenant,and to thebloodofsprinkling,thatspeakethbetterthingsthanthatofAbel."Allthesethingsarecontrastedwith"themountthatmightbetouched"and"thesoundofatrumpetandthevoiceofwords"thatmightbeheard.Maywenotsafelyconcludethat,astherealitiesofMountSinaiwereapprehendedbythesenses,sotherealitiesofMountZionaretobegraspedbythesoul?Andthisnotbyanytrickof theimagination,but indownrightactuality.Thesoulhaseyeswithwhichtoseeandearswithwhichtohear.Feebletheymaybefromlongdisuse,butbythelife-givingtouchofChristalivenowandcapableofsharpestsightandmostsensitivehearing.

AswebegintofocusuponGodthethingsofthespiritwilltakeshapebeforeourinnereyes.ObediencetothewordofChristwillbringaninwardrevelationoftheGodhead(John14:21-23).ItwillgiveacuteperceptionenablingustoseeGod even as is promised to the pure in heart.A newGod consciousnesswillseize uponus andwe shall begin to taste andhear and inwardly feel theGodwhoisourlifeandourall.Therewillbeseentheconstantshiningofthelightthat lighteth every man that cometh into the world. More and more, as ourfacultiesgrowsharperandmoresure,GodwillbecometousthegreatAll,andHisPresencethegloryandwonderofourlives.

O God, quicken to life every power within me, that I may lay hold on

eternal things. Open my eyes that I may see; give me acute spiritualperception; enable me to taste Thee and know that Thou art good. Makeheavenmorerealtomethananyearthlythinghaseverbeen.Amen.

VTheUniversalPresenceWhithershallIgofromthyspirit?orwhithershallIfleefromthypresence?-

-Psa.139:7InallChristianteachingcertainbasictruthsarefound,hiddenattimes,and

ratherassumedthanasserted,butnecessarytoalltruthastheprimarycolorsarefound in and necessary to the finished painting. Such a truth is the divineimmanence.

Goddwells inHiscreationand iseverywhere indivisiblypresent inallHisworks.ThisisboldlytaughtbyprophetandapostleandisacceptedbyChristiantheologygenerally.Thatis,itappearsinthebooks,butforsomereasonithasnotsunk into the averageChristian'sheart so as tobecomeapartofhisbelievingself.Christianteachersshyawayfromitsfullimplications,and,iftheymentionitatall,muteitdowntillithaslittlemeaning.Iwouldguessthereasonforthisto be the fear of being chargedwith pantheism; but the doctrine of the divinePresenceisdefinitelynotpantheism.

Pantheism'serroristoopalpabletodeceiveanyone.ItisthatGodisthesumofallcreatedthings.NatureandGodareone,sothatwhoevertouchesaleaforastone touchesGod.That is of course to degrade the glory of the incorruptibleDeity and, in an effort tomake all things divine, banish all divinity from theworldentirely.

ThetruthisthatwhileGoddwellsinHisworldHeisseparatedfromitbyagulfforeverimpassable.HowevercloselyHemaybeidentifiedwiththeworkofHishandstheyareandmusteternallybeotherthanHe,andHeisandmustbeantecedenttoandindependentofthem.HeistranscendentaboveallHisworksevenwhileHeisimmanentwithinthem.

WhatnowdoesthedivineimmanencemeanindirectChristianexperience?Itmeans simply thatGod ishere.Whereverwe are,God is here.There is noplace,therecanbenoplace,whereHeisnot.Tenmillionintelligencesstandingatasmanypointsinspaceandseparatedbyincomprehensibledistancescaneachonesaywithequaltruth,Godishere.NopointisnearertoGodthananyotherpoint.ItisexactlyasneartoGodfromanyplaceasitisfromanyotherplace.NooneisinmeredistanceanyfurtherfromoranynearertoGodthananyotherpersonis.

ThesearetruthsbelievedbyeveryinstructedChristian.Itremainsforusto

thinkonthemandprayoverthemuntiltheybegintoglowwithinus."InthebeginningGod."Notmatter,formatterisnotself-causing.Itrequiresanantecedentcause,and

GodisthatCause.Notlaw,forlawisbutanameforthecoursewhichallcreationfollows.Thatcoursehadtobeplanned,andthePlannerisGod.Notmind,formindalsoisacreatedthingandmusthaveaCreatorbackofit.InthebeginningGod,theuncausedCauseofmatter,mindandlaw.Therewemustbegin.

Adamsinnedand,inhispanic,franticallytriedtodotheimpossible:hetriedtohide from thePresenceofGod.Davidalsomusthavehadwild thoughtsoftrying toescapefromthePresence, forhewrote,"Whithershall Igofromthyspirit?orwhither shall I flee from thy presence?"Then he proceeded throughoneofhismostbeautifulpsalmstocelebratethegloryofthedivineimmanence."IfIascendupintoheaven,thouartthere:ifImakemybedinhell,behold,thouartthere.IfItakethewingsofthemorning,anddwellintheuttermostpartsofthe sea; even there shall thyhand leadme,and thy righthand shallholdme."Andheknew thatGod'sbeing andGod's seeing are the same, that the seeingPresencehadbeenwithhimevenbeforehewasborn,watchingthemysteryofunfolding life. Solomon exclaimed, "ButwillGod indeed dwell on the earth?behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee: howmuchless thishousewhichIhavebuilded."Paulassured theAthenians that"God isnotfarfromanyoneofus:forinhimwelive,andmove,andhaveourbeing."

IfGodispresentateverypoint inspace, ifwecannotgowhereHeisnot,cannotevenconceiveofaplacewhereHeisnot,whythenhasnotthatPresencebecometheoneuniversallycelebratedfactoftheworld?ThepatriarchJacob,"inthewastehowlingwilderness,"gavetheanswertothatquestion.HesawavisionofGodandcriedoutinwonder,"SurelytheLordisinthisplace;andIknewitnot."Jacobhadneverbeenforonesmalldivisionofamomentoutsidethecircleofthatall-pervadingPresence.Butheknewitnot.Thatwashistrouble,anditisours.MendonotknowthatGodishere.Whatadifferenceitwouldmakeiftheyknew.

ThePresenceandthemanifestationofthePresencearenotthesame.Therecanbetheonewithouttheother.Godisherewhenwearewhollyunawareofit.He ismanifest onlywhen and aswe are aware ofHis Presence.On our parttheremustbesurrender to theSpiritofGod, forHiswork it is toshowus theFather and the Son. Ifwe co-operatewithHim in loving obedienceGodwillmanifestHimselftous,andthatmanifestationwillbethedifferencebetweenanominalChristianlifeandaliferadiantwiththelightofHisface.

Always, everywhere God is present, and always He seeks to discoverHimself.ToeachonehewouldrevealnotonlythatHeis,butwhatHeisaswell.HedidnothavetobepersuadedtodiscoverHimself toMoses."AndtheLorddescendedin thecloud,andstoodwithhimthere,andproclaimedthenameof

theLord."HenotonlymadeaverbalproclamationofHisnaturebutHerevealedHis very Self to Moses so that the skin of Moses' face shone with thesupernatural light. Itwillbeagreatmoment forsomeofuswhenwebegin tobelieve thatGod'spromiseof self-revelation is literally true: thatHepromisedmuch,butpromisednomorethanHeintendstofulfill.

Our pursuit of God is successful just because He is forever seeking tomanifestHimself tous.The revelationofGod to anyman is notGodcomingfromadistanceuponatimetopayabriefandmomentousvisittotheman'ssoul.Thustothinkofitistomisunderstanditall.TheapproachofGodtothesoulorofthesoultoGodisnottobethoughtofinspatialtermsatall.Thereisnoideaofphysicaldistance involved in the concept. It isnot amatterofmilesbutofexperience.

To speak of being near to or far from God is to use language in a sensealways understood when applied to our ordinary human relationships. Amanmaysay,"I feel thatmyson iscomingnearer tomeashegetsolder,"andyetthatsonhaslivedbyhisfather'ssidesincehewasbornandhasneverbeenawayfrom homemore than a day or so in his entire life.What then can the fathermean?Obviouslyheisspeakingofexperience.Hemeansthattheboyiscomingtoknowhimmoreintimatelyandwithdeeperunderstanding,thatthebarriersofthought and feeling between the two are disappearing, that father and son arebecomingmorecloselyunitedinmindandheart.

So when we sing, "Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord," we are notthinking of the nearness of place, but of the nearness of relationship. It is forincreasingdegreesofawarenessthatwepray,foramoreperfectconsciousnessofthedivinePresence.WeneednevershoutacrossthespacestoanabsentGod.Heisnearerthanourownsoul,closerthanourmostsecretthoughts.

Why do some persons "find"God in away that others do not?Why doesGodmanifestHisPresencetosomeandletmultitudesofothersstrugglealonginthehalf-lightofimperfectChristianexperience?OfcoursethewillofGodisthesameforall.HehasnofavoriteswithinHishousehold.AllHehaseverdoneforanyofHis childrenHewill do for all ofHis children.Thedifference lies notwithGodbutwithus.

Pickatrandomascoreofgreatsaintswhoselivesandtestimoniesarewidelyknown.LetthembeBiblecharactersorwellknownChristiansofpost-Biblicaltimes.Youwill be struck instantlywith the fact that the saintswerenot alike.Sometimes the unlikenesses were so great as to be positively glaring. Howdifferent for example wasMoses from Isaiah; how different was Elijah fromDavid;howunlikeeachotherwereJohnandPaul,St.FrancisandLuther,Finneyand Thomas a Kempis. The differences are as wide as human life itself:

differences of race, nationality, education, temperament, habit and personalqualities.Yettheyallwalked,eachinhisday,uponahighroadofspirituallivingfarabovethecommonway.

Their differencesmust have been incidental and in the eyes ofGod of nosignificance.Insomevitalqualitytheymusthavebeenalike.Whatwasit?

Iventuretosuggestthattheonevitalqualitywhichtheyhadincommonwasspiritualreceptivity.Something

inthemwasopentoheaven,somethingwhichurgedthemGodward.WithoutattemptinganythinglikeaprofoundanalysisIshallsaysimplythattheyhadspiritualawarenessandthattheywentontocultivateituntilitbecamethebiggestthingintheirlives.Theydifferedfromtheaveragepersoninthatwhentheyfelttheinwardlongingtheydidsomethingaboutit.Theyacquiredthelifelonghabitofspiritualresponse.Theywerenotdisobedienttotheheavenlyvision.AsDavidputitneatly,"Whenthousaidst,Seekyemyface;myheartsaiduntothee,Thyface,Lord,willIseek."

Aswitheverythinggoodinhumanlife,backofthisreceptivityisGod.Thesovereignty of God is here, and is felt even by those who have not placedparticularstressuponittheologically.ThepiousMichaelAngeloconfessedthisinasonnet:

Myunassistedheart isbarrenclay,Thatof itsnativeselfcannothingfeed:Of good and piousworks Thou art the seed, That quickens onlywhere Thousayestitmay:UnlessThoushowtousThineowntruewayNomancanfindit:Father!Thoumustlead.

Thesewordswill repay studyas thedeepand serious testimonyof agreatChristian.

Important as it is thatwe recognizeGodworking in us, Iwould yetwarnagainst a too-great preoccupationwith the thought. It is a sure road to sterilepassivity. God will not hold us responsible to understand the mysteries ofelection,predestinationand thedivine sovereignty.Thebest and safestway todealwiththesetruthsistoraiseoureyestoGodandindeepestreverencesay,"OLord,Thouknowest."ThosethingsbelongtothedeepandmysteriousProfoundofGod'somniscience.Pryingintothemmaymaketheologians,butitwillnevermakesaints.

Receptivity is not a single thing; it is a compound rather, a blending ofseveral elements within the soul. It is an affinity for, a bent toward, asympathetic response to, adesire tohave.From this itmaybegathered that itcan be present in degrees, thatwemay have little ormore or less, dependingupontheindividual.Itmaybeincreasedbyexerciseordestroyedbyneglect.Itisnot a sovereign and irresistible forcewhich comes upon us as a seizure fromabove. It is a gift of God, indeed, but one which must be recognized andcultivatedasanyothergiftifitistorealizethepurposeforwhichitwasgiven.

Failure to see this is the cause of a very serious breakdown in modern

evangelicalism.Theideaofcultivationandexercise,sodeartothesaintsofold,hasnownoplaceinourtotalreligiouspicture.Itistooslow,toocommon.Wenow demand glamour and fast flowing dramatic action. A generation ofChristians reared among push buttons and automaticmachines is impatient ofslowerand lessdirectmethodsofreaching theirgoals.Wehavebeen trying toapplymachine-agemethodstoourrelationswithGod.Wereadourchapter,haveour short devotions and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inwardbankruptcybyattendinganothergospelmeetingorlisteningtoanotherthrillingstorytoldbyareligiousadventurerlatelyreturnedfromafar.

The tragic results of this spirit are all about us. Shallow lives, hollowreligious philosophies, the preponderance of the element of fun in gospelmeetings,theglorificationofmen,trustinreligiousexternalities,quasi-religiousfellowships,salesmanshipmethods,themistakingofdynamicpersonalityforthepoweroftheSpirit:theseandsuchasthesearethesymptomsofanevildisease,adeepandseriousmaladyofthesoul.

Forthisgreatsicknessthat isuponusnoonepersonisresponsible,andnoChristian is wholly free from blame. We have all contributed, directly orindirectly,tothissadstateofaffairs.Wehavebeentooblindtosee,ortootimidtospeakout,ortooself-satisfiedtodesireanythingbetterthanthepooraveragedietwithwhichothersappearsatisfied.Toput itdifferently,wehaveacceptedone another's notions, copied one another's lives and made one another'sexperiences the model for our own. And for a generation the trend has beendownward.Nowwehavereachedalowplaceofsandandburntwiregrassand,worst of all,wehavemade theWordofTruth conform toour experience andacceptedthislowplaneastheverypastureoftheblessed.

Itwill requireadeterminedheartandmore thana littlecourage towrenchourselvesloosefromthegripofourtimesandreturntoBiblicalways.Butitcanbedone.EverynowandtheninthepastChristianshavehadtodoit.Historyhasrecorded several large-scale returns led by such men as St. Francis, MartinLutherandGeorgeFox.UnfortunatelythereseemstobenoLutherorFoxonthehorizonatpresent.WhetherornotanothersuchreturnmaybeexpectedbeforethecomingofChrist is aquestionuponwhichChristiansarenot fullyagreed,butthatisnotoftoogreatimportancetousnow.

WhatGodinHissovereigntymayyetdoonaworld-scaleIdonotclaimtoknow:butwhatHewill do for theplainmanorwomanwho seeksHis face Ibelieve Idoknowandcan tellothers.Letanyman turn toGod inearnest, lethimbegintoexercisehimselfuntogodliness,lethimseektodevelophispowersofspiritualreceptivitybytrustandobedienceandhumility,andtheresultswillexceedanythinghemayhavehopedinhisleanerandweakerdays.

AnymanwhobyrepentanceandasincerereturntoGodwillbreakhimselfoutofthemoldinwhichhehasbeenheld,andwillgototheBibleitselfforhisspiritualstandards,willbedelightedwithwhathefindsthere.

Letussayitagain:TheUniversalPresenceisafact.Godishere.Thewholeuniverse is alivewithHis life. AndHe is no strange or foreignGod, but thefamiliarFatherofourLordJesusChristwhoselovehasfor thesethousandsofyears enfolded the sinful race of men. And always He is trying to get ourattention, to revealHimself tous, tocommunicatewithus.Wehavewithinustheability toknowHim ifwewillbut respond toHisovertures. (And thiswecallpursuingGod!)WewillknowHim in increasingdegreeasour receptivitybecomesmoreperfectbyfaithandloveandpractice.

OGodandFather,Irepentofmysinfulpreoccupationwithvisiblethings.Theworldhasbeentoomuchwithme.ThouhastbeenhereandIknewitnot.Ihavebeenblind toThyPresence.Openmyeyes thatImaybeholdThee inandaroundme.ForChrist'ssake,Amen.

VITheSpeakingVoiceInthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWord

wasGod.--John1:1Anintelligentplainman,untaughtinthetruthsofChristianity,comingupon

thistext,wouldlikelyconcludethatJohnmeanttoteachthatitisthenatureofGodtospeak,tocommunicateHisthoughtstoothers.Andhewouldberight.Awordisamediumbywhichthoughtsareexpressed,andtheapplicationoftermto the Eternal Son leads us to believe that self-expression is inherent in theGodhead,thatGodisforeverseekingtospeakHimselfouttoHiscreation.Thewhole Bible supports the idea. God is speaking. Not God spoke, butGod isspeaking.HeisbyHisnaturecontinuouslyarticulate.HefillstheworldwithHisspeakingVoice.

OneofthegreatrealitieswithwhichwehavetodealistheVoiceofGodinHisworld.Thebriefestandonlysatisfyingcosmogonyisthis:"Hespakeanditwasdone."ThewhyofnaturallawisthelivingVoiceofGodimmanentinHiscreation.And thiswordofGodwhichbroughtallworlds intobeingcannotbeunderstoodtomeantheBible,foritisnotawrittenorprintedwordatall,buttheexpressionofthewillofGodspokenintothestructureofallthings.ThiswordofGodisthebreathofGodfillingtheworldwithlivingpotentiality.TheVoiceofGodisthemostpowerfulforceinnature,indeedtheonlyforceinnature,forallenergyishereonlybecausethepower-filledWordisbeingspoken.

TheBibleisthewrittenwordofGod,andbecauseitiswrittenitisconfinedand limitedby thenecessitiesof inkandpaperand leather.TheVoiceofGod,however,isaliveandfreeasthesovereignGodisfree."ThewordsthatIspeakuntoyou, theyare spirit, and theyare life."The life is in the speakingwords.God'sword in theBible canhavepoweronlybecause it corresponds toGod'swordintheuniverse.ItisthepresentVoicewhichmakesthewrittenWordall-powerful.Otherwiseitwouldlielockedinslumberwithinthecoversofabook.

WetakealowandprimitiveviewofthingswhenweconceiveofGodatthecreation coming into physical contact with things, shaping and fitting andbuildinglikeacarpenter.TheBibleteachesotherwise:"BythewordoftheLordwere theheavensmade;andall thehostof themby thebreathofhismouth....Forhespake,anditwasdone;hecommanded,anditstoodfast.""ThroughfaithweunderstandthattheworldswereframedbythewordofGod."Againwemust

rememberthatGodisreferringherenottoHiswrittenWord,buttoHisspeakingVoice.Hisworld-fillingVoiceismeant,thatVoicewhichantedatestheBiblebyuncounted centuries, that Voice which has not been silent since the dawn ofcreation,butissoundingstillthroughoutthefullfarreachesoftheuniverse.

The Word of God is quick and powerful. In the beginning He spoke tonothing, and itbecamesomething.Chaosheard it andbecameorder,darknesshearditandbecamelight."AndGodsaid--anditwasso."Thesetwinphrases,ascause and effect, occur throughout theGenesis story of the creation.Thesaidaccountsfortheso.Thesoisthesaidputintothecontinuouspresent.

ThatGodishereandthatHeisspeaking--thesetruthsarebackofallotherBibletruths;withoutthemtherecouldbenorevelationatall.Goddidnotwriteabookand send it bymessenger tobe readat adistancebyunaidedminds.HespokeaBookandlivesinHisspokenwords,constantlyspeakingHiswordsandcausingthepowerofthemtopersistacrosstheyears.Godbreathedonclayanditbecameaman;Hebreathesonmenandtheybecomeclay."Returnyechildrenofmen"was theword spoken at the Fall bywhichGod decreed the death ofeveryman,andnoaddedwordhasHeneededtospeak.Thesadprocessionofmankind across the face of the earth frombirth to the grave is proof thatHisoriginalWordwasenough.

WehavenotgivensufficientattentiontothatdeeputteranceintheBookofJohn,"Thatwas the trueLight,which lightetheveryman that cometh into theworld."Shift thepunctuationaroundaswewill and the truth is still there: theWordofGodaffectstheheartsofallmenaslightinthesoul.Intheheartsofallmenthelightshines,theWordsounds,andthereisnoescapingthem.SomethinglikethiswouldofnecessitybesoifGodisaliveandinHisworld.AndJohnsaysthat it is so.Even those personswho have never heard of theBible have stillbeenpreachedtowithsufficientclaritytoremoveeveryexcusefromtheirheartsforever. "Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, theirconscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while eitheraccusingorelseexcusingoneanother.""Fortheinvisiblethingsofhimfromthecreationof theworld are clearly seen, beingunderstoodby the things that aremade,evenhiseternalpowerandGodhead;sothattheyarewithoutexcuse."

This universal Voice of God was by the ancient Hebrews often calledWisdom,andwassaidtobeeverywheresoundingandsearchingthroughouttheearth, seeking some response from the sonsofmen.Theeighthchapterof theBookofProverbsbegins, "Dothnotwisdomcry? and understanding put forthhervoice?"Thewriterthenpictureswisdomasabeautifulwomanstanding"inthetopofthehighplaces,bythewayintheplacesofthepaths."Shesoundshervoicefromeveryquartersothatnoonemaymisshearingit."Untoyou,Omen,

Icall;andmyvoiceistothesonsofmen."Thenshepleadsforthesimpleandthe foolish to give ear to her words. It is spiritual response for which thisWisdomofGodispleading,aresponsewhichshehasalwayssoughtandisbutrarelyable tosecure.The tragedy is thatoureternalwelfaredependsuponourhearing,andwehavetrainedourearsnottohear.

ThisuniversalVoicehasever sounded,and ithasoften troubledmenevenwhentheydidnotunderstandthesourceoftheirfears.CoulditbethatthisVoicedistilling like a livingmist upon the hearts ofmen has been the undiscoveredcauseof the troubledconscienceand the longing for immortalityconfessedbymillionssincethedawnofrecordedhistory?Weneednotfeartofaceuptothis.ThespeakingVoiceisafact.Howmenhavereactedtoitisforanyobservertonote.

WhenGodspokeoutofheaventoourLord,self-centeredmenwhohearditexplaineditbynaturalcauses:theysaid,"Itthundered."ThishabitofexplainingtheVoicebyappealstonaturallawisattheveryrootofmodernscience.Intheliving breathing cosmos there is a mysterious Something, too wonderful, tooawful for any mind to understand. The believing man does not claim tounderstand.Hefallstohiskneesandwhispers,"God."Themanofearthkneelsalso,butnottoworship.Hekneelstoexamine,tosearch,tofindthecauseandthehowofthings.Justnowwehappentobelivinginasecularage.Ourthoughthabitsarethoseofthescientist,notthoseoftheworshipper.Wearemorelikelytoexplainthantoadore."Itthundered,"weexclaim,andgoourearthlyway.ButstilltheVoicesoundsandsearches.TheorderandlifeoftheworlddependuponthatVoice,butmenaremostlytoobusyortoostubborntogiveattention.

Everyoneof us has had experiences which we have not been able to explain: a sudden sense ofloneliness,orafeelingofwonderoraweinthefaceoftheuniversalvastness.Orwehavehadafleetingvisitationoflightlikeanilluminationfromsomeothersun,givingusinaquickflashanassurancethatwearefromanotherworld, thatouroriginsaredivine.Whatwesawthere,or felt,orheard,mayhavebeencontrarytoallthatwehadbeentaughtintheschoolsandatwidevariancewithallourformerbeliefsandopinions.Wewereforcedtosuspendouracquireddoubtswhile,foramoment,thecloudswererolledbackandwesawandheardforourselves.Explainsuchthingsaswewill,I thinkwehavenotbeenfair tothefactsuntilweallowatleastthepossibilitythatsuchexperiencesmayarisefromthePresenceofGodintheworldandHispersistenteffort tocommunicatewithmankind.Letusnotdismisssuchanhypothesis tooflippantly.

Itismyownbelief(andhereIshallnotfeelbadifnoonefollowsme)thateverygoodandbeautiful thingwhichmanhasproducedin theworldhasbeentheresultofhisfaultyandsin-blockedresponsetothecreativeVoicesoundingovertheearth.Themoralphilosopherswhodreamedtheirhighdreamsofvirtue,thereligiousthinkerswhospeculatedaboutGodandimmortality,thepoetsandartistswho created out of common stuff pure and lasting beauty: how canweexplain them? It is not enough to say simply, "It was genius." What then is

genius? Could it be that a genius is a man haunted by the speaking Voice,laboringandstrivinglikeonepossessedtoachieveendswhichheonlyvaguelyunderstands?ThatthegreatmanmayhavemissedGodinhislabors,thathemayeven have spoken or written against God does not destroy the idea I amadvancing.God's redemptive revelation in theHoly Scriptures is necessary tosaving faith and peace with God. Faith in a risen Saviour is necessary if thevague stirrings toward immortality are to bring us to restful and satisfyingcommunionwithGod.TomethisisaplausibleexplanationofallthatisbestoutofChrist.ButyoucanbeagoodChristianandnotacceptmythesis.

TheVoiceofGodisafriendlyVoice.Nooneneedfeartolistentoitunlesshehasalreadymadeuphismindtoresistit.ThebloodofJesushascoverednotonlythehumanracebutallcreationaswell."Andhavingmadepeacethroughthebloodofhiscross,byhimtoreconcileallthingsuntohimself;byhim,Isay,whether theybe things inearth,or things inheaven."WemaysafelypreachafriendlyHeaven.TheheavensaswellastheeartharefilledwiththegoodwillofHimthatdweltinthebush.Theperfectbloodofatonementsecuresthisforever.

WhoeverwilllistenwillhearthespeakingHeaven.Thisisdefinitelynotthehourwhenmentakekindlytoanexhortationtolisten,forlisteningisnottodayapart of popular religion. We are at the opposite end of the pole from there.Religionhasacceptedthemonstrousheresythatnoise,size,activityandblustermake aman dear to God. But wemay take heart. To a people caught in thetempestofthelastgreatconflictGodsays,"Bestill,andknowthatIamGod,"andstillHesaysit,asifHemeanstotellusthatourstrengthandsafetylienotinnoisebutinsilence.

It is important thatwe get still towait onGod.And it is best thatwe getalone, preferablywithourBibleoutspreadbeforeus.Then ifwewillwemaydrawneartoGodandbegintohearHimspeaktousinourhearts.Ithinkfortheaveragepersontheprogressionwillbesomethinglikethis:FirstasoundasofaPresencewalkinginthegarden.Thenavoice,moreintelligible,butstillfarfromclear. Then the happy moment when the Spirit begins to illuminate theScriptures, and that which had been only a sound, or at best a voice, nowbecomesanintelligibleword,warmandintimateandclearasthewordofadearfriend.Thenwillcomelifeandlight,andbestofall,abilitytoseeandrestinandembraceJesusChristasSaviourandLordandAll.

TheBiblewillneverbealivingBooktousuntilweareconvincedthatGodis articulate in His universe. To jump from a dead, impersonal world to adogmaticBibleistoomuchformostpeople.TheymayadmitthattheyshouldaccepttheBibleastheWordofGod,andtheymaytrytothinkofitassuch,buttheyfinditimpossibletobelievethatthewordsthereonthepageareactuallyfor

them.Amanmaysay,"Thesewordsareaddressedtome,"andyetinhisheartnot feel andknow that theyare.He is thevictimof adividedpsychology.HetriestothinkofGodasmuteeverywhereelseandvocalonlyinabook.

IbelievethatmuchofourreligiousunbeliefisduetoawrongconceptionofandawrongfeelingfortheScripturesofTruth.AsilentGodsuddenlybegantospeakinabookandwhenthebookwasfinishedlapsedbackintosilenceagainforever.NowwereadthebookastherecordofwhatGodsaidwhenHewasforabrieftimeinaspeakingmood.Withnotionslikethatinourheadshowcanwebelieve?ThefactsarethatGodisnotsilent,hasneverbeensilent.ItisthenatureofGodtospeak.ThesecondPersonoftheHolyTrinityiscalledtheWord.TheBible is the inevitableoutcomeofGod's continuous speech. It is the infallibledeclarationofHismindforusputintoourfamiliarhumanwords.

I thinkanewworldwillariseoutof thereligiousmistswhenweapproachourBiblewiththeideathatitisnotonlyabookwhichwasoncespoken,butabook which is now speaking. The prophets habitually said, "Thus saith theLord." They meant their hearers to understand that God's speaking is in thecontinuous present. We may use the past tense properly to indicate that at acertaintimeacertainwordofGodwasspoken,butawordofGodoncespokencontinues tobe spoken, as a childonceborncontinues tobealive,or aworldonce created continues to exist. And those are but imperfect illustrations, forchildrendieandworldsburnout,buttheWordofourGodendurethforever.

Ifyouwould followon toknow theLord,comeatonce to theopenBibleexpectingittospeaktoyou.Donotcomewiththenotionthatitisathingwhichyoumaypusharoundatyourconvenience.Itismorethanathing,itisavoice,aword,theveryWordofthelivingGod.

Lord,teachmetolisten.Thetimesarenoisyandmyearsarewearywiththe thousand raucous soundswhich continuously assault them.Giveme thespirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, "Speak, for thy servantheareth.” Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to thesoundofThyVoice,thatitstonesmaybefamiliarwhenthesoundsofearthdieawayandtheonlysoundwillbethemusicofThyspeakingVoice.Amen.

VIITheGazeoftheSoulLookinguntoJesustheauthorandfinisherofourfaith.--Heb.12:2Letusthinkofourintelligentplainmanmentionedinchaptersixcomingfor

thefirst timetothereadingoftheScriptures.HeapproachestheBiblewithoutanypreviousknowledgeofwhatitcontains.Heiswhollywithoutprejudice;hehasnothingtoproveandnothingtodefend.

Suchamanwillnothavereadlonguntilhismindbeginstoobservecertaintruths standing out from the page.They are the spiritual principles behind therecordofGod'sdealingswithmen,andwovenintothewritingsofholymenasthey"weremovedbytheHolyGhost."Ashereadsonhemightwanttonumberthesetruthsastheybecomecleartohimandmakeabriefsummaryundereachnumber. These summaries will be the tenets of his Biblical creed. Furtherreadingwillnotaffect thesepointsexcept toenlargeandstrengthen them.OurmanisfindingoutwhattheBibleactuallyteaches.

HighuponthelistofthingswhichtheBibleteacheswillbethedoctrineoffaith.TheplaceofweightyimportancewhichtheBiblegivestofaithwillbetooplainforhimtomiss.Hewillverylikelyconclude:Faithisall-importantinthelifeof thesoul.Without faith it is impossible topleaseGod.Faithwillgetmeanything,takemeanywhereintheKingdomofGod,butwithoutfaiththerecanbe no approach to God, no forgiveness, no deliverance, no salvation, nocommunion,nospirituallifeatall.

By the time our friend has reached the eleventh chapter of Hebrews theeloquentencomiumwhichistherepronounceduponfaithwillnotseemstrangeto him.Hewill have read Paul's powerful defense of faith in his Roman andGalatianepistles.LaterifhegoesontostudychurchhistoryhewillunderstandtheamazingpowerintheteachingsoftheReformersastheyshowedthecentralplaceoffaithintheChristianreligion.

Now if faith is so vitally important, if it is an indispensablemust in ourpursuitofGod, it isperfectlynatural thatweshouldbedeeplyconcernedoverwhether or notwepossess thismost precious gift.Andourminds beingwhattheyare, it is inevitable that sooneror laterwe shouldget around to inquiringafterthenatureoffaith.Whatisfaith?wouldlieclosetothequestion,DoIhavefaith?andwoulddemandananswerifitwereanywheretobefound.

Almostallwhopreachorwriteonthesubjectoffaithhavemuchthesame

thingstosayconcerningit.Theytellusthat it isbelievingapromise, that it istakingGodatHisword,thatitisreckoningtheBibletobetrueandsteppingoutupon it. The rest of the book or sermon is usually taken up with stories ofpersonswho have had their prayers answered as a result of their faith. Theseanswersaremostlydirectgiftsofapracticalandtemporalnaturesuchashealth,money, physical protection or success in business. Or if the teacher is of aphilosophicturnofmindhemaytakeanothercourseandloseusinawelterofmetaphysicsor snowusunderwithpsychological jargonashedefinesand re-defines,paring the slenderhairof faith thinnerand thinner till itdisappears ingossamer shavingsat last.Whenhe is finishedwegetupdisappointedandgoout"bythatsamedoorwhereinwewent."Surelytheremustbesomethingbetterthanthis.

IntheScripturesthereispracticallynoeffortmadetodefinefaith.Outsideofa brief fourteen-word definition in Hebrews 11:1, I know of no Biblicaldefinition,andeventherefaithisdefinedfunctionally,notphilosophically;thatis, it is a statement ofwhat faith is inoperation,notwhat it is in essence. Itassumesthepresenceoffaithandshowswhatitresultsin,ratherthanwhatitis.Wewillbewisetogojustthatfarandattempttogonofurther.Wearetoldfromwhenceitcomesandbywhatmeans:"FaithisagiftofGod,"and"Faithcomethby hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This much is clear, and, toparaphrase Thomas a Kempis, "I had rather exercise faith than know thedefinitionthereof."

From here on, when the words "faith is" or their equivalent occur in thischapter I ask that they be understood to refer towhat faith is in operation asexercisedbyabelievingman.Rightherewedrop thenotionofdefinitionandthink about faith as it may be experienced in action. The complexion of ourthoughtswillbepractical,nottheoretical.

In a dramatic story in theBook ofNumbers faith is seen in action. Israelbecame discouraged and spoke against God, and the Lord sent fiery serpentsamong them."And theybit thepeople;andmuchpeopleof Israeldied."ThenMosessoughttheLordforthemandHeheardandgavethemaremedyagainstthebiteof theserpents.HecommandedMoses tomakeaserpentofbrassandput it upon a pole in sight of all the people, "and it shall come to pass, thateveryonethatisbitten,whenhelookethuponit,shalllive."Mosesobeyed,"anditcametopass,thatifaserpenthadbittenanyman,whenhebeheldtheserpentofbrass,helived"

(Num.21:4-9).IntheNewTestamentthisimportantbitofhistoryisinterpretedforusbyno

less an authority than our Lord JesusChristHimself. He is explaining toHis

hearers how theymaybe saved.He tells them that it is bybelieving.Then tomakeitclearHereferstothisincidentintheBookofNumbers."AsMoseslifteduptheserpentinthewilderness,evensomusttheSonofmanbeliftedup:thatwhosoeverbelievethinhimshouldnotperish,buthaveeternallife"(John3:14-15).

Ourplainmaninreadingthiswouldmakeanimportantdiscovery.Hewouldnoticethat"look"and"believe"weresynonymousterms."Looking"ontheOldTestament serpent is identical with "believing" on the New Testament Christ.That is, the looking and the believing are the same thing. And he wouldunderstand thatwhile Israel lookedwith their external eyes, believing is donewiththeheart.Ithinkhewouldconcludethat

faithisthegazeofasouluponasavingGod.Whenhehadseenthishewouldrememberpassageshehadreadbefore,and

theirmeaningwouldcomefloodingoverhim."Theylookeduntohim,andwerelightened: and their faceswere not ashamed" (Psa. 34:5). "Unto thee lift I upmineeyes,Othouthatdwellestintheheavens.Behold,astheeyesofservantslookuntothehandoftheirmasters,andastheeyesofamaidenuntothehandofhermistress;sooureyeswaitupontheLordourGod,untilthathehavemercyuponus"(Psa.123:1-2).HerethemanseekingmercylooksstraightattheGodofmercyandnevertakeshiseyesawayfromHimtillmercyisgranted.AndourLordHimself looked always at God. "Looking up to heaven, he blessed, andbrake, and gave the bread to his disciples" (Matt. 14:19). Indeed Jesus taughtthatHewroughtHisworksbyalwayskeepingHisinwardeyesuponHisFather.HispowerlayinHiscontinuouslookatGod(John5:19-21).

In full accordwith the few textswehavequoted is thewhole tenorof theinspired Word. It is summed up for us in the Hebrew epistle when we areinstructed to run life's race "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of ourfaith."Fromallthiswelearnthatfaithisnotaonce-doneact,butacontinuousgazeoftheheartattheTriuneGod.

Believing,then,isdirectingtheheart'sattentiontoJesus.Itisliftingthemindto"behold theLambofGod,"andneverceasing thatbeholding for the restofourlives.Atfirstthismaybedifficult,butitbecomeseasieraswelooksteadilyatHiswondrousPerson,quietlyandwithoutstrain.Distractionsmayhinder,butoncetheheartiscommittedtoHim,aftereachbriefexcursionawayfromHimtheattentionwillreturnagainandrestuponHimlikeawanderingbirdcomingbacktoitswindow.

Iwould emphasize this one committal, this one great volitional actwhichestablishes the heart's intention to gaze forever upon Jesus. God takes thisintention forourchoiceandmakeswhatallowancesHemust for the thousand

distractionswhich beset us in this evilworld.He knows thatwe have set thedirection of our hearts toward Jesus, and we can know it too, and comfortourselveswiththeknowledgethatahabitofsoulisformingwhichwillbecomeafterawhileasortofspiritualreflexrequiringnomoreconsciouseffortonourpart.

Faithistheleastself-regardingofthevirtues.Itisbyitsverynaturescarcelyconsciousofitsownexistence.Liketheeyewhichseeseverythinginfrontofitandneversees itself, faith isoccupiedwith theObjectuponwhich it restsandpays no attention to itself at all.Whilewe are looking atGodwe do not seeourselves--blessed riddance.Themanwhohas struggled topurifyhimself andhashadnothingbut repeated failureswill experience real reliefwhenhe stopstinkeringwith his soul and looks away to the perfectOne.While he looks atChrist the very things he has so long been trying to do will be getting donewithinhim.ItwillbeGodworkinginhimtowillandtodo.

Faithisnotinitselfameritoriousact;themeritisintheOnetowardWhomitisdirected.Faith isa redirectingofoursight,agettingoutof thefocusofourownvision andgettingGod into focus.Sinhas twistedourvision inward andmade it self-regarding. Unbelief has put self where God should be, and isperilouslyclosetothesinofLuciferwhosaid,"IwillsetmythroneabovethethroneofGod."Faithlooksoutinsteadofinandthewholelifefallsintoline.

All thismay seem too simple.Butwehaveno apology tomake.To thosewhowouldseektoclimbintoheavenafterhelpordescendintohellGodsays,"Thewordisnighthee,eventhewordoffaith."ThewordinducesustoliftupoureyesuntotheLordandtheblessedworkoffaithbegins.

WhenweliftourinwardeyestogazeuponGodwearesuretomeetfriendlyeyesgazingbackatus,foritiswrittenthattheeyesoftheLordruntoandfrothroughoutall theearth.Thesweet languageofexperience is"ThouGodseestme."When the eyesof the soul lookingoutmeet the eyesofGod looking in,heavenhasbegunrighthereonthisearth.

"WhenallmyendeavouristurnedtowardTheebecauseallThyendeavouristurnedtowardme;whenIlookuntoTheealonewithallmyattention,noreverturnasidetheeyesofmymind,becauseThoudostenfoldmewithThyconstantregard;whenIdirectmylovetowardTheealonebecauseThou,whoartLove'sself hast turned Thee towardme alone.Andwhat, Lord, ismy life, save thatembracewhereinThydelightsomesweetnessdothsolovinglyenfoldme?"[1]SowroteNicholasofCusafourhundredyearsago.

IshouldliketosaymoreaboutthisoldmanofGod.HeisnotmuchknowntodayanywhereamongChristianbelievers,andamongcurrentFundamentalistsheisknownnotatall.Ifeelthatwecouldgainmuchfromalittleacquaintance

withmenofhisspiritualflavorandtheschoolofChristianthoughtwhichtheyrepresent.Christian literature, to be accepted and approved by the evangelicalleadersofourtimes,mustfollowverycloselythesametrainofthought,akindof"partyline"fromwhichitisscarcelysafetodepart.Ahalf-centuryofthisinAmerica has made us smug and content. We imitate each other with slavishdevotionandourmoststrenuouseffortsareputforthtotrytosaythesamethingthateveryonearoundusissaying--andyettofindanexcuseforsayingit,somelittle safe variation on the approved theme or, if no more, at least a newillustration.

Nicholas was a true follower of Christ, a lover of the Lord, radiant andshining inhisdevotion to thePersonofJesus.His theologywasorthodox,butfragrantandsweetaseverythingaboutJesusmightproperlybeexpectedtobe.Hisconceptionofeternallife,forinstance,isbeautifulinitselfand,ifImistakenot, isnearer in spirit to John17:3 than thatwhich iscurrentamongus today.Lifeeternal,saysNicholas,is"noughtotherthanthatblessedregardwherewithThouneverceasest tobeholdme,yea,even thesecretplacesofmysoul.WithThee,tobeholdistogivelife;'tisunceasinglytoimpartsweetestloveofThee;'tis to inflame me to love of Thee by love's imparting, and to feed me byinflaming,andby feeding tokindlemyyearning,andbykindling tomakemedrinkofthedewofgladness,andbydrinkingtoinfuseinmeafountainoflife,andbyinfusingtomakeitincreaseandendure."[2]

Now,iffaithisthegazeoftheheartatGod,andifthisgazeisbuttheraisingoftheinwardeyestomeet theall-seeingeyesofGod, thenitfollowsthat it isoneoftheeasiestthingspossibletodo.ItwouldbelikeGodtomakethemostvital thingeasyandplaceitwithintherangeofpossibilityfortheweakestandpoorestofus.

Severalconclusionsmayfairlybedrawnfromall this.Thesimplicityof it,forinstance.Sincebelievingislooking,itcanbedonewithoutspecialequipmentorreligiousparaphernalia.Godhasseentoitthattheonelife-and-deathessentialcanneverbesubjecttothecapriceofaccident.Equipmentcanbreakdownorgetlost,watercanleakaway,recordscanbedestroyedbyfire,theministercanbedelayed or the church burn down. All these are external to the soul and aresubjecttoaccidentormechanicalfailure:butlookingisoftheheartandcanbedonesuccessfullybyanymanstandinguporkneelingdownorlyinginhislastagonyathousandmilesfromanychurch.

Sincebelievingislookingitcanbedoneanytime.Noseasonissuperiortoanother season for this sweetest of all acts.God nevermade salvation dependuponnewmoonsnorholydaysor sabbaths.Aman is not nearer toChrist onEasterSundaythanheis,say,onSaturday,August3,orMonday,October4.As

longasChristsitsonthemediatorialthroneeverydayisagooddayandalldaysaredaysofsalvation.

Neitherdoesplacematter in thisblessedworkofbelievingGod.LiftyourheartandletitrestuponJesusandyouareinstantlyinasanctuarythoughitbeaPullmanberthorafactoryorakitchen.YoucanseeGodfromanywhereifyourmindissettoloveandobeyHim.

Now,someonemayask,"Isnotthisofwhichyouspeakforspecialpersonssuchasmonksorministerswhohavebythenatureoftheircallingmoretimetodevote to quietmeditation? I am a busyworker and have little time to spendalone." I am happy to say that the life I describe is for everyone of God'schildrenregardlessofcalling.Itis,infact,happilypracticedeverydaybymanyhardworkingpersonsandisbeyondthereachofnone.

Many have found the secret of which I speak and, without giving muchthought to what is going on within them, constantly practice this habit ofinwardlygazinguponGod.Theyknow that something inside their hearts seesGod. Even when they are compelled to withdraw their conscious attention inorder to engage in earthly affairs there is within them a secret communionalwaysgoingon.LettheirattentionbutbereleasedforamomentfromnecessarybusinessanditfliesatoncetoGodagain.ThishasbeenthetestimonyofmanyChristians,somanythatevenasIstateitthusIhaveafeelingthatIamquoting,thoughfromwhomorfromhowmanyIcannotpossiblyknow.

Idonotwanttoleavetheimpressionthattheordinarymeansofgracehavenovalue.Theymostassuredlyhave.PrivateprayershouldbepracticedbyeveryChristian.LongperiodsofBiblemeditationwill purify our gaze anddirect it;church attendance will enlarge our outlook and increase our love for others.Serviceandworkandactivity;allaregoodandshouldbeengagedinbyeveryChristian.Butatthebottomofallthesethings,givingmeaningtothem,willbetheinwardhabitofbeholdingGod.Anewsetofeyes(sotospeak)willdevelopwithinusenablingustobelookingatGodwhileouroutwardeyesareseeingthescenesofthispassingworld.

Someone may fear that we are magnifying private religion out of allproportion, that the "us"of theNewTestament is beingdisplacedby a selfish"I."Has iteveroccurred toyou thatonehundredpianosall tuned to thesamefork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by beingtuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one mustindividually bow.Soonehundredworshippersmet together, eachone lookingawaytoChrist,areinheartnearertoeachotherthantheycouldpossiblybewerethey tobecome"unity"consciousand turn theireyesawayfromGod tostrivefor closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is

purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. ThewholeChurchofGodgainswhenthemembersthatcomposeitbegintoseekabetterandahigherlife.

AlltheforegoingpresupposestruerepentanceandafullcommittalofthelifetoGod.Itishardlynecessarytomentionthis,foronlypersonswhohavemadesuchacommittalwillhavereadthisfar.

When the habit of inwardly gazingGodward becomes fixedwithin us weshall be ushered onto a new level of spiritual life more in keeping with thepromisesofGodandthemoodoftheNewTestament.TheTriuneGodwillbeourdwellingplace evenwhileour feetwalk the low roadof simpledutyhereamongmen.Wewill have found life's summumbonum indeed. "There is thesourceofalldelightsthatcanbedesired;notonlycannoughtbetterbethoughtoutbymenandangels,butnoughtbettercanexistinmodeofbeing!Foritistheabsolutemaximumofeveryrationaldesire,thanwhichagreatercannotbe."[3]

OLord,IhaveheardagoodwordinvitingmetolookawaytoTheeandbesatisfied.Myheart longs to respond,but sinhas cloudedmyvision till I seeTheebutdimly.Bepleased to cleanseme inThineownpreciousblood,andmakemeinwardlypure,sothatImaywithunveiledeyesgazeuponTheeallthedaysofmyearthlypilgrimage.ThenshallIbepreparedtobeholdTheeinfullsplendorinthedaywhenThoushaltappeartobeglorifiedinThysaintsandadmiredinallthemthatbelieve.Amen.

FOOTNOTES:[1] NicholasofCusa,TheVisionofGod,E.P.Dutton&Co., Inc.,New

York, 1928.This and the followingquotationsusedbykindpermissionof thepublishers.

[2]TheVisionofGod[3]TheVisionofGod

VIIIRestoringtheCreator-creatureRelationBe thouexalted,OGod, above theheavens; let thyglorybe above all the

earth.--Psa.57:5Itisatruismtosaythatorderinnaturedependsuponrightrelationships;to

achieveharmonyeachthingmustbeinitsproperpositionrelativetoeachotherthing.Inhumanlifeitisnototherwise.

I have hinted before in these chapters that the cause of all our humanmiseries is a radicalmoral dislocation, an upset in our relation toGod and toeachother.Forwhatever else theFallmay have been, itwasmost certainly asharpchangeinman'srelationtohisCreator.HeadoptedtowardGodanalteredattitude,andbysodoingdestroyedtheproperCreator-creaturerelationinwhich,unknowntohim,histruehappinesslay.Essentiallysalvationistherestorationofaright relationbetweenmanandhisCreator,abringingback tonormalof theCreator-creaturerelation.

A satisfactory spiritual life will begin with a complete change in relationbetweenGodandthesinner;notajudicialchangemerely,butaconsciousandexperiencedchangeaffectingthesinner'swholenature.TheatonementinJesus'blood makes such a change judicially possible and the working of the HolySpiritmakes it emotionally satisfying. The story of the prodigal son perfectlyillustratesthis latterphase.Hehadbroughtaworldoftroubleuponhimselfbyforsakingthepositionwhichhehadproperlyheldassonofhisfather.Atbottomhisrestorationwasnothingmorethanare-establishingofthefather-sonrelationwhichhadexistedfromhisbirthandhadbeenalteredtemporarilybyhisactofsinful rebellion. This story overlooks the legal aspects of redemption, but itmakesbeautifullycleartheexperientialaspectsofsalvation.

In determining relationships we must begin somewhere. There must besomewhereafixedcenteragainstwhicheverythingelseismeasured,wherethelawof relativitydoesnot enter andwecan say "IS" andmakenoallowances.SuchacenterisGod.WhenGodwouldmakeHisNameknowntomankindHecouldfindnobetterwordthan"IAM."WhenHespeaksinthefirstpersonHesays,"IAM";whenwespeakofHimwesay,"Heis";whenwespeaktoHimwesay,"Thouart."Everyoneandeverythingelsemeasuresfromthatfixedpoint."IamthatIam,"saysGod,"Ichangenot."

Asthesailorlocateshispositionontheseaby"shooting"thesun,sowemay

getourmoralbearingsbylookingatGod.WemustbeginwithGod.Wearerightwhen and onlywhenwe stand in a right position relative toGod, andwe arewrongsofarandsolongaswestandinanyotherposition.

MuchofourdifficultyasseekingChristiansstemsfromourunwillingnesstotake God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly.We insist upon trying tomodifyHim and to bringHim nearer to our own image. The fleshwhimpersagainst the rigor of God's inexorable sentence and begs like Agag for a littlemercy,alittleindulgenceofitscarnalways.Itisnouse.WecangetarightstartonlybyacceptingGodasHeisandlearningtoloveHimforwhatHeis.AswegoontoknowHimbetterweshallfinditasourceofunspeakablejoythatGodisjustwhatHeis.SomeofthemostrapturousmomentsweknowwillbethosewespendinreverentadmirationoftheGodhead.InthoseholymomentstheverythoughtofchangeinHimwillbetoopainfultoendure.

So letusbeginwithGod.Backofall, aboveall,beforeall isGod; first insequentialorder,aboveinrankandstation,exaltedindignityandhonor.Astheself-existentOneHegavebeingtoallthings,andallthingsexistoutofHimandforHim."Thouartworthy,OLord,toreceivegloryandhonourandpower:forthouhastcreatedallthings,andforthypleasuretheyareandwerecreated."

EverysoulbelongstoGodandexistsbyHispleasure.GodbeingWhoandWhat He is, and we being who and what we are, the only thinkable relationbetweenusisoneoffulllordshiponHispartandcompletesubmissiononours.WeoweHimeveryhonor that it is inourpower togiveHim.OureverlastinggriefliesingivingHimanythingless.

ThepursuitofGodwillembracethelaborofbringingour totalpersonalityintoconformitytoHis.Andthisnotjudicially,butactually.IdonothererefertotheactofjustificationbyfaithinChrist.IspeakofavoluntaryexaltingofGodtoHisproperstationoverusandawillingsurrenderofourwholebeingtotheplaceofworshipfulsubmissionwhichtheCreator-creaturecircumstancemakesproper.

The moment we make up our minds that we are going on with thisdeterminationtoexaltGodoverallwestepoutoftheworld'sparade.Weshallfindourselvesoutofadjustmenttothewaysoftheworld,andincreasinglysoaswemakeprogressintheholyway.Weshallacquireanewviewpoint;anewanddifferent psychology will be formed within us; a new power will begin tosurpriseusbyitsupsurgingsanditsoutgoings.

Ourbreakwiththeworldwillbethedirectoutcomeofourchangedrelationto God. For the world of fallen men does not honor God. Millions callthemselvesbyHisName, it is true,andpaysome token respect toHim,butasimple test will show how little He is really honored among them. Let the

averagemanbeput to theproofon thequestionofwho isabove, andhis truepositionwillbeexposed.LethimbeforcedintomakingachoicebetweenGodandmoney, betweenGod andmen, betweenGod and personal ambition,Godandself,Godandhumanlove,andGodwilltakesecondplaceeverytime.Thoseotherthingswillbeexaltedabove.Howeverthemanmayprotest,theproofisinthechoiceshemakesdayafterdaythroughouthislife.

"Be thou exalted" is the languageof victorious spiritual experience. It is alittlekeytounlockthedoortogreattreasuresofgrace.ItiscentralinthelifeofGodinthesoul.Lettheseekingmanreachaplacewherelifeandlipsjointosaycontinually"Bethouexalted,"andathousandminorproblemswillbesolvedatonce.HisChristianlifeceasestobethecomplicatedthingithadbeenbeforeandbecomestheveryessenceofsimplicity.Bytheexerciseofhiswillhehassethiscourse, and on that course he will stay as if guided by an automatic pilot. Ifblownoffcourseforamomentbysomeadversewindhewillsurelyreturnagainasbyasecretbentofthesoul.ThehiddenmotionsoftheSpiritareworkinginhis favor, and "the stars in their courses" fight for him. He has met his lifeproblematitscenter,andeverythingelsemustfollowalong.

Let no one imagine that he will lose anything of human dignity by thisvoluntarysell-outofhisalltohisGod.Hedoesnotbythisdegradehimselfasaman;ratherhefindshisrightplaceofhighhonorasonemadeintheimageofhis Creator. His deep disgrace lay in his moral derangement, his unnaturalusurpationoftheplaceofGod.Hishonorwillbeprovedbyrestoringagainthatstolenthrone.InexaltingGodoverallhefindshisownhighesthonorupheld.

Anyonewhomightfeelreluctanttosurrenderhiswilltothewillofanothershould remember Jesus' words, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant ofsin."Wemustofnecessitybeservant tosomeone,either toGodor tosin.Thesinnerprideshimselfonhisindependence,completelyoverlookingthefactthatheistheweakslaveofthesinsthatrulehismembers.ThemanwhosurrenderstoChristexchangesacruelslavedriverforakindandgentleMasterwhoseyokeiseasyandwhoseburdenislight.

Made aswewere in the image ofGodwe scarcely find it strange to takeagainourGodasourAll.Godwasouroriginalhabitatandourheartscannotbutfeelathomewhentheyenteragainthatancientandbeautifulabode.

I hope it is clear that there is a logic behindGod's claim to pre-eminence.ThatplaceisHisbyeveryrightinearthorheaven.WhilewetaketoourselvestheplacethatisHisthewholecourseofourlivesisoutofjoint.Nothingwillorcan restore order till our heartsmake the great decision:God shall be exaltedabove.

"ThemthathonourmeIwillhonour,"saidGodoncetoapriestofIsrael,and

thatancientlawoftheKingdomstandstodayunchangedbythepassingoftimeor the changes of dispensation. The whole Bible and every page of historyproclaimtheperpetuationofthatlaw."Ifanymanserveme,himwillmyFatherhonour," said ourLord Jesus, tying in the oldwith the new and revealing theessentialunityofHiswayswithmen.

Sometimesthebestwaytoseeathingistolookatitsopposite.EliandhissonsareplacedinthepriesthoodwiththestipulationthattheyhonorGodintheirlivesandministrations.Thistheyfailtodo,andGodsendsSamueltoannouncetheconsequences.UnknowntoElithislawofreciprocalhonorhasbeenallthewhilesecretlyworking,andnowthetimehascomeforjudgmenttofall.Hophniand Phineas, the degenerate priests, fall in battle, the wife of Hophni dies inchildbirth, Israel flees before her enemies, the ark of God is captured by thePhilistinesandtheoldmanElifallsbackwardanddiesofabrokenneck.ThusstarkuttertragedyfolloweduponEli'sfailuretohonorGod.

Nowsetoveragainst thisalmostanyBiblecharacterwhohonestly tried toglorifyGodinhisearthlywalk.

SeehowGodwinkedatweaknesses andoverlooked failures asHepoureduponHisservantsgraceandblessinguntold.Let itbeAbraham,Jacob,David,Daniel,Elijahorwhomyouwill;honorfollowedhonorasharvesttheseed.ThemanofGodsethisheart toexaltGodaboveall;Godacceptedhisintentionasfact and acted accordingly. Not perfection, but holy intention made thedifference.

InourLordJesusChristthislawwasseeninsimpleperfection.InHislowlymanhoodHehumbledHimselfandgladlygaveallglorytoHisFatherinheaven.HesoughtnotHisownhonor,butthehonorofGodwhosentHim."IfIhonourmyself,"Hesaidononeoccasion, "myhonour isnothing; it ismyFather thathonourethme."SofarhadtheproudPhariseesdepartedfromthislawthattheycouldnotunderstandonewhohonoredGodathisownexpense."IhonourmyFather,"saidJesustothem,"andyedodishonourme."

AnothersayingofJesus,andamostdisturbingone,wasputintheformofaquestion,"Howcanyebelieve,whichreceivehonouroneofanother,andseeknot the honour that cometh from God alone?" If I understand this correctlyChrist taught here the alarming doctrine that the desire for honor amongmenmadebeliefimpossible.Isthissinattherootofreligiousunbelief?Coulditbethat those "intellectual difficulties" which men blame for their inability tobelievearebut smokescreens toconceal the realcause that liesbehind them?WasitthisgreedydesireforhonorfrommanthatmademenintoPhariseesandPharisees intoDeicides? Is this the secret back of religious self-righteousnessandemptyworship?Ibelieveitmaybe.Thewholecourseofthelifeisupsetby

failuretoputGodwhereHebelongs.WeexaltourselvesinsteadofGodandthecursefollows.

InourdesireafterGodletuskeepalwaysinmindthatGodalsohathdesire,andHis desire is toward the sons ofmen, andmore particularly toward thosesonsofmenwhowillmaketheonce-for-alldecisiontoexaltHimoverall.Suchas these are precious toGod above all treasures of earth or sea. In themGodfindsatheaterwhereHecandisplayHisexceedingkindnesstowardusinChristJesus.With themGod canwalk unhindered, toward themHe can act like theGodHeis.

Inspeaking thusIhaveonefear; it is that Imayconvince themindbeforeGodcanwintheheart.Forthis

God-above-all position is one not easy to take. Themindmay approve itwhile not having the consent of the will to put it into effect. While theimagination races ahead to honor God, the will may lag behind and themanneverguesshowdividedhis heart is.Thewholemanmustmake thedecisionbefore theheartcanknowany real satisfaction.Godwantsusall, andHewillnotresttillHegetsusall.Nopartofthemanwilldo.

Letusprayoverthisindetail,throwingourselvesatGod'sfeetandmeaningeverythingwesay.Noonewhopraysthusinsincerityneedwaitlongfortokensofdivineacceptance.GodwillunveilHisglorybeforeHis servant's eyes, andHewillplaceallHistreasuresatthedisposalofsuchaone,forHeknowsthatHishonorissafeinsuchconsecratedhands.

OGod,beThouexaltedovermypossessions.Nothingofearth'streasuresshallseemdearuntomeifonlyThouartglorifiedinmylife.BeThouexaltedovermyfriendships.Iamdetermined thatThoushaltbeaboveall, thoughImuststanddesertedandaloneinthemidstoftheearth.BeThouexaltedabovemycomforts.ThoughitmeanthelossofbodilycomfortsandthecarryingofheavycrossesIshallkeepmyvowmadethisdaybeforeThee.BeThouexaltedovermy reputation.Makeme ambitious to pleaseThee even if as a result Imustsinkintoobscurityandmynamebeforgottenasadream.Rise,OLord,into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes anddislikes,abovemyfamily,myhealthandevenmy life itself.LetmedecreasethatThoumayestincrease,letmesinkthatThoumayestriseabove.Rideforthuponme asThou didst ride into Jerusalemmounted upon the humble littlebeast, a colt, the foal of an ass, and let me hear the children cry to Thee,"Hosannainthehighest."

IXMeeknessandRestBlessedarethemeek:fortheyshallinherittheearth.--Matt.5:5A fairly accurate description of the human race might be furnished one

unacquaintedwithitbytakingtheBeatitudes,turningthemwrongsideoutandsaying,"Hereisyourhumanrace."For theexactoppositeof thevirtues in theBeatitudesaretheveryqualitieswhichdistinguishhumanlifeandconduct.

IntheworldofmenwefindnothingapproachingthevirtuesofwhichJesusspoke in the opening words of the famous Sermon on theMount. Instead ofpovertyofspiritwefindtherankestkindofpride;insteadofmournerswefindpleasure seekers; instead of meekness, arrogance; instead of hunger afterrighteousnesswehearmensaying,"Iamrichandincreasedwithgoodsandhaveneedof nothing"; insteadofmercywe find cruelty; insteadof purity of heart,corrupt imaginings; instead of peacemakers we find men quarrelsome andresentful; insteadof rejoicing inmistreatmentwefind themfightingbackwitheveryweaponattheircommand.

Ofthiskindofmoralstuffcivilizedsocietyiscomposed.Theatmosphereischargedwith it;webreathe itwitheverybreathanddrink itwithourmother'smilk.Cultureandeducationrefinethesethingsslightlybutleavethembasicallyuntouched.Awholeworldof literaturehasbeencreated to justify thiskindoflifeastheonlynormalone.Andthisisthemoretobewonderedatseeingthatthesearetheevilswhichmakelifethebitterstruggleitisforallofus.Allourheartachesandagreatmanyofourphysicalillsspringdirectlyoutofoursins.Pride, arrogance, resentfulness, evil imaginings, malice, greed: these are thesourcesofmorehumanpainthanallthediseasesthateverafflictedmortalflesh.

IntoaworldlikethisthesoundofJesus'wordscomeswonderfulandstrange,avisitationfromabove.ItiswellthatHespoke,fornooneelsecouldhavedoneitaswell;anditisgoodthatwelisten.Hiswordsaretheessenceoftruth.Heisnot offering an opinion; Jesus never uttered opinions. He never guessed; Heknew,andHeknows.HiswordsarenotasSolomon'swere, the sumof soundwisdomor the resultsofkeenobservation.He spokeoutof the fulness ofHisGodhead,andHiswordsareveryTruthitself.Heistheonlyonewhocouldsay"blessed" with complete authority, for He is the Blessed One come from theworld above to confer blessedness upon mankind. And His words weresupportedbydeedsmightierthananyperformedonthisearthbyanyotherman.

Itiswisdomforustolisten.As was often so with Jesus, He used this word "meek" in a brief crisp

sentence, and not till some time later didHe go on to explain it. In the samebookofMatthewHetellsusmoreaboutitandappliesittoourlives.

"Comeuntome,allyethatlabourandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest.Takemyyokeuponyou,andlearnofme;forIammeekandlowlyinheart:andye shall find restuntoyour souls.Formyyoke is easy, andmyburden islight."Herewehavetwothingsstandingincontrasttoeachother,aburdenandarest.Theburdenisnotalocalone,peculiartothosefirsthearers,butonewhichis borne by the whole human race. It consists not of political oppression orpovertyorhardwork.Itisfardeeperthanthat.Itisfeltbytherichaswellasthepoorforitissomethingfromwhichwealthandidlenesscanneverdeliverus.

The burden borne bymankind is a heavy and a crushing thing. ThewordJesususedmeansaloadcarriedortoilbornetothepointofexhaustion.Restissimplyreleasefromthatburden.Itisnotsomethingwedo,itiswhatcomestouswhenweceasetodo.Hisownmeekness,thatistherest.

Letusexamineourburden.Itisaltogetheraninteriorone.Itattackstheheartandthemindandreachesthebodyonlyfromwithin.First,thereistheburdenofpride.Thelaborofself-loveisaheavyoneindeed.Thinkforyourselfwhethermuchofyoursorrowhasnotarisenfromsomeonespeakingslightinglyofyou.Aslongasyousetyourselfupasalittlegodtowhichyoumustbeloyaltherewillbe thosewhowilldelight tooffer affront toyour idol.How thencanyouhopetohaveinwardpeace?Theheart'sfierceefforttoprotectitselffromeveryslight,toshielditstouchyhonorfromthebadopinionoffriendandenemy,willneverletthemindhaverest.Continuethisfightthroughtheyearsandtheburdenwill become intolerable. Yet the sons of earth are carrying this burdencontinually,challengingeverywordspokenagainst them,cringingundereverycriticism, smarting under each fancied slight, tossing sleepless if another ispreferredbeforethem.

Suchaburdenasthisisnotnecessarytobear.JesuscallsustoHisrest,andmeeknessisHismethod.Themeekmancaresnotatallwhoisgreaterthanhe,forhehaslongagodecidedthattheesteemoftheworldisnotworththeeffort.Hedevelopstowardhimselfakindlysenseofhumorandlearnstosay,"Oh,soyouhavebeenoverlooked?Theyhaveplaced someoneelsebeforeyou?Theyhavewhisperedthatyouareprettysmallstuffafterall?Andnowyoufeelhurtbecause the world is saying about you the very things you have been sayingaboutyourself?Onlyyesterdayyouwere tellingGod thatyouwerenothing,amerewormofthedust.Whereisyourconsistency?Comeon,humbleyourself,andceasetocarewhatmenthink."

The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his owninferiority.RatherhemaybeinhismorallifeasboldasalionandasstrongasSamson;buthehasstoppedbeingfooledabouthimself.HehasacceptedGod'sestimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God hasdeclaredhimtobe,butparadoxically,heknowsatthesametimethatheisinthesight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God,everything.Thatishismotto.HeknowswellthattheworldwillneverseehimasGodseeshimandhehasstoppedcaring.HerestsperfectlycontenttoallowGod to place His own values. He will be patient to wait for the day wheneverythingwillgetitsownpricetagandrealworthwillcomeintoitsown.Thenthe righteousshall shine forth in theKingdomof theirFather.He iswilling towaitforthatday.

Inthemeantimehewillhaveattainedaplaceofsoulrest.Ashewalksoninmeeknesshewill behappy to letGoddefendhim.Theold struggle todefendhimselfisover.Hehasfoundthepeacewhichmeeknessbrings.

Then also he will get deliverance from the burden of pretense. By this Imeannothypocrisy,butthecommonhumandesiretoputthebestfootforwardandhidefromtheworldourrealinwardpoverty.Forsinhasplayedmanyeviltricks upon us, and one has been the infusing into us a false sense of shame.Thereishardlyamanorwomanwhodarestobejustwhatheorsheiswithoutdoctoring up the impression. The fear of being found out gnaws like rodentswithintheirhearts.Themanofcultureishauntedbythefearthathewillsomedaycomeuponamanmoreculturedthanhimself.Thelearnedmanfearstomeetamanmorelearnedthanhe.Therichmansweatsunderthefearthathisclothesorhiscarorhishousewillsometimebemadetolookcheapbycomparisonwiththoseofanother richman.So-called"society" runsbyamotivationnothigherthanthis,andthepoorerclassesontheirlevelarelittlebetter.

Letnoonesmilethisoff.Theseburdensarereal,andlittlebylittletheykillthevictimsofthisevilandunnaturalwayoflife.Andthepsychologycreatedbyyearsof thiskindof thingmakes truemeeknessseemasunrealasadream,asaloofasa star.Toall thevictimsof thegnawingdisease Jesus says, "Yemustbecomeaslittlechildren."Forlittlechildrendonotcompare;theyreceivedirectenjoymentfromwhattheyhavewithoutrelatingittosomethingelseorsomeoneelse.Onlyastheygetolderandsinbeginstostirwithintheirheartsdojealousyandenvyappear.Thentheyareunabletoenjoywhattheyhaveifsomeoneelsehas something largerorbetter.At that earlyagedoes thegallingburdencomedownupontheirtendersouls,anditneverleavesthemtillJesussetsthemfree.

Anothersourceofburdenisartificiality. Iamsurethatmostpeopleliveinsecretfearthatsomedaytheywillbecarelessandbychanceanenemyorfriend

willbeallowedtopeepintotheirpooremptysouls.Sotheyareneverrelaxed.Bright people are tense and alert in fear that theymay be trapped into sayingsomething common or stupid. Traveled people are afraid that they may meetsomeMarcoPolowho isable todescribe some remoteplacewhere theyhaveneverbeen.

Thisunnaturalconditionispartofoursadheritageofsin,butinourdayitisaggravatedbyourwholewayoflife.Advertisingislargelybaseduponthishabitofpretense."Courses"areofferedinthisorthatfieldofhumanlearningfranklyappealing to thevictim'sdesire toshineataparty.Booksaresold,clothesandcosmeticsarepeddled,byplayingcontinuallyuponthisdesiretoappearwhatwearenot.Artificiality is one curse thatwill drop away themomentwekneel atJesus'feetandsurrenderourselvestoHismeekness.Thenwewillnotcarewhatpeople think of us so long as God is pleased. Then what we are will beeverything;whatweappearwilltakeitsplacefardownthescaleofinterestforus.Apartfromsinwehavenothingofwhichtobeashamed.Onlyanevildesiretoshinemakesuswanttoappearotherthanweare.

The heart of the world is breaking under this load of pride and pretense.There is no release fromourburden apart from themeeknessofChrist.Goodkeen reasoningmay help slightly, but so strong is this vice that ifwe push itdownoneplaceitwillcomeupsomewhereelse.TomenandwomeneverywhereJesussays,"Comeuntome,andIwillgiveyourest."TherestHeoffersistherestofmeekness,theblessedreliefwhichcomeswhenweacceptourselvesforwhat we are and cease to pretend. It will take some courage at first, but theneededgracewillcomeaswelearnthatwearesharingthisnewandeasyyokewiththestrongSonofGodHimself.Hecallsit"myyoke,"andHewalksatoneendwhilewewalkattheother.

Lord, make me childlike. Deliver me from the urge to compete withanother for placeor prestigeor position. Iwouldbe simpleandartless as alittle child. Deliver me from pose and pretense. Forgive me for thinking ofmyself.Helpme to forgetmyselfand findmy truepeace inbeholdingThee.ThatThoumayestanswerthisprayerIhumblemyselfbeforeThee.LayuponmeThyeasyyokeofself-forgetfulnessthatthroughitImayfindrest.Amen.

XTheSacramentofLivingWhetherthereforeyeeat,ordrink,orwhatsoeveryedo,doalltothegloryof

God.--ICor.10:31One of the greatest hindrances to internal peace which the Christian

encountersisthecommonhabitofdividingourlivesintotwoareas,thesacredandthesecular.Astheseareasareconceivedtoexistapartfromeachotherandto be morally and spiritually incompatible, and as we are compelled by thenecessities of living to be always crossing back and forth from the one to theother, our inner lives tend to break up so that we live a divided instead of aunifiedlife.

OurtroublespringsfromthefactthatwewhofollowChristinhabitatoncetwoworlds,thespiritualandthenatural.AschildrenofAdamweliveourliveson earth subject to the limitations of the flesh and theweaknesses and ills towhichhumannature isheir.Merely to liveamongmenrequiresofusyearsofhard toil and much care and attention to the things of this world. In sharpcontrasttothisisourlifeintheSpirit.Thereweenjoyanotherandhigherkindof life;wearechildrenofGod;wepossessheavenlystatusandenjoy intimatefellowshipwithChrist.

This tends to divide our total life into two departments. We comeunconsciously to recognize two setsof actions.The first areperformedwith afeelingofsatisfactionandafirmassurancethattheyarepleasingtoGod.Theseare the sacred acts and they are usually thought to be prayer, Bible reading,hymn singing, church attendance and such other acts as spring directly fromfaith.Theymaybeknownby the fact that theyhavenodirect relation to thisworld,andwouldhavenomeaningwhateverexceptas faith showsusanotherworld,"anhousenotmadewithhands,eternalintheheavens."

Overagainst thesesacredactsare thesecularones.They includeallof theordinaryactivitiesoflifewhichwesharewiththesonsanddaughtersofAdam:eating, sleeping,working, looking after the needs of the body and performingourdullandprosaicdutieshereonearth.Theseweoftendoreluctantlyandwithmanymisgivings,oftenapologizingtoGodforwhatweconsiderawasteoftimeandstrength.Theupshotofthisis thatweareuneasymostofthetime.Wegoabout our common tasks with a feeling of deep frustration, telling ourselvespensivelythatthere'sabetterdaycomingwhenweshallsloughoffthisearthly

shellandbebotherednomorewiththeaffairsofthisworld.This is the old sacred-secular antithesis.Most Christians are caught in its

trap.They cannot get a satisfactory adjustment between the claims of the twoworlds.Theytrytowalkthetightropebetweentwokingdomsandtheyfindnopeace in either.Their strength is reduced, their outlookconfused and their joytakenfromthem.

I believe this state of affairs to be wholly unnecessary. We have gottenourselvesonthehornsofadilemma,trueenough,butthedilemmaisnotreal.Itis a creature of misunderstanding. The sacred-secular antithesis has nofoundationin theNewTestament.WithoutdoubtamoreperfectunderstandingofChristiantruthwilldeliverusfromit.

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is our perfect example, and He knew nodividedlife.InthePresenceofHisFatherHelivedonearthwithoutstrainfrombabyhoodtoHisdeathonthecross.GodacceptedtheofferingofHistotallife,andmadenodistinctionbetweenactandact."Idoalwaysthethingsthatpleasehim,"wasHisbriefsummaryofHisownlifeasitrelatedtotheFather.AsHemovedamongmenHewaspoisedandrestful.WhatpressureandsufferingHeenduredgrewoutofHispositionastheworld'ssinbearer;theywerenevertheresultofmoraluncertaintyorspiritualmaladjustment.

Paul'sexhortationto"doalltothegloryofGod"ismorethanpiousidealism.It is an integralpart of the sacred revelationand is tobe acceptedas theveryWordofTruth.Itopensbeforeusthepossibilityofmakingeveryactofourlivescontribute to the glory of God. Lest we should be too timid to includeeverything, Paul mentions specifically eating and drinking. This humbleprivilegewesharewiththebeaststhatperish.IftheselowlyanimalactscanbesoperformedastohonorGod,thenitbecomesdifficulttoconceiveofonethatcannot.

ThatmonkishhatredofthebodywhichfiguressoprominentlyintheworksofcertainearlydevotionalwritersiswhollywithoutsupportintheWordofGod.CommonmodestyisfoundintheSacredScriptures,itistrue,butneverpruderyorafalsesenseofshame.TheNewTestamentacceptsasamatterofcoursethatinHisincarnationourLordtookuponHimarealhumanbody,andnoeffortismadetosteeraroundthedownrightimplicationsofsuchafact.Helivedinthatbodyhereamongmenandneveronceperformedanon-sacredact.HispresenceinhumanfleshsweepsawayforevertheevilnotionthatthereisaboutthehumanbodysomethinginnatelyoffensivetotheDeity.Godcreatedourbodies,andwedo not offend Him by placing the responsibility where it belongs. He is notashamedoftheworkofHisownhands.

Perversion, misuse and abuse of our human powers should give us cause

enoughtobeashamed.BodilyactsdoneinsinandcontrarytonaturecanneverhonorGod.Wherever thehumanwill introducesmoralevilwehaveno longerour innocent and harmless powers as God made them; we have instead anabusedandtwistedthingwhichcanneverbringglorytoitsCreator.

Let us, however, assume that perversion and abuse are not present.Let usthinkofaChristianbeliever inwhose life the twinwondersof repentanceandthenewbirthhavebeenwrought.HeisnowlivingaccordingtothewillofGodasheunderstands it from thewrittenWord.Of suchaone itmaybe said thateveryactofhislifeisorcanbeastrulysacredasprayerorbaptismortheLord'sSupper.Tosaythisisnottobringallactsdowntoonedeadlevel;itisrathertolifteveryactupintoalivingkingdomandturnthewholelifeintoasacrament.Ifa sacrament is an external expression of an inward grace than we need nothesitatetoaccepttheabovethesis.ByoneactofconsecrationofourtotalselvestoGodwecanmakeeverysubsequentactexpressthatconsecration.Weneednomorebeashamedofourbody--thefleshlyservant thatcarriesus throughlife--than Jesuswasof thehumblebeast uponwhichHe rode into Jerusalem. "TheLordhathneedofhim"maywellapplytoourmortalbodies.IfChristdwellsinuswemaybearabout theLordofgloryas the littlebeastdidofoldandgiveoccasiontothemultitudestocry,"Hosannainthehighest."

Thatweseethistruthisnotenough.Ifwewouldescapefromthetoilsofthesacred-secular dilemma the truth must "run in our blood" and condition thecomplexion of our thoughts. We must practice living to the glory of God,actuallyanddeterminedly.Bymeditationuponthistruth,bytalkingitoverwithGod often in our prayers, by recalling it to ourminds frequently aswemoveaboutamongmen,asenseofitswondrousmeaningwillbegintotakeholdofus.The old painful duality will go down before a restful unity of life. TheknowledgethatweareallGod's, thatHehasreceivedallandrejectednothing,willunifyourinnerlivesandmakeeverythingsacredtous.

Thisisnotquiteall.Long-heldhabitsdonotdieeasily.Itwilltakeintelligentthoughtandagreatdealofreverentprayertoescapecompletelyfromthesacred-secularpsychology.ForinstanceitmaybedifficultfortheaverageChristiantoget hold of the idea that his daily labors can be performed as acts ofworshipacceptabletoGodbyJesusChrist.Theoldantithesiswillcropupinthebackofhisheadsometimes todisturbhispeaceofmind.Norwill thatoldserpent thedeviltakeallthislyingdown.Hewillbethereinthecaboratthedeskorinthefield to remind theChristian that he is giving thebetter part of his day to thethingsofthisworldandallottingtohisreligiousdutiesonlyatriflingportionofhis time. And unless great care is taken this will create confusion and bringdiscouragementandheavinessofheart.

Wecanmeetthissuccessfullyonlybytheexerciseofanaggressivefaith.Wemust offer all our acts to God and believe that He accepts them. Then holdfirmlytothatpositionandkeepinsistingthateveryactofeveryhourofthedayandnight be included in the transaction.Keep remindingGod in our timesofprivateprayerthatwemeaneveryactforHisglory;thensupplementthosetimesbyathousandthought-prayersaswegoaboutthejobofliving.Letuspracticethefineartofmakingeveryworkapriestlyministration.LetusbelievethatGodisinalloursimpledeedsandlearntofindHimthere.

A concomitant of the error which we have been discussing is the sacred-secularantithesisasappliedtoplaces.ItislittleshortofastonishingthatwecanreadtheNewTestamentandstillbelieveintheinherentsacrednessofplacesasdistinguished from other places. This error is sowidespread that one feels allalone when he tries to combat it. It has acted as a kind of dye to color thethinkingofreligiouspersonsandhascoloredtheeyesaswellsothatitisallbutimpossibletodetectitsfallacy.InthefaceofeveryNewTestamentteachingtothecontraryithasbeensaidandsungthroughoutthecenturiesandacceptedasapartoftheChristianmessage,thewhichitmostsurelyisnot.OnlytheQuakers,sofarasmyknowledgegoes,havehad theperception tosee theerrorand thecouragetoexposeit.

HerearethefactsasIseethem.ForfourhundredyearsIsraelhaddweltinEgypt, surrounded by the crassest idolatry. By the hand of Moses they werebrought out at last and started toward the land of promise. The very idea ofholiness had been lost to them. To correct this,God began at the bottom.HelocalizedHimself in thecloudandfireand laterwhen the tabernaclehadbeenbuilt He dwelt in fiery manifestation in the Holy of Holies. By innumerabledistinctions God taught Israel the difference between holy and unholy. Therewere holy days, holy vessels, holy garments. Therewerewashings, sacrifices,offeringsofmanykinds.BythesemeansIsraellearnedthatGodisholy.Itwasthis that He was teaching them. Not the holiness of things or places, but theholinessofJehovahwasthelessontheymustlearn.

Then came the great daywhenChrist appeared. ImmediatelyHe began tosay,"Yehaveheard that itwassaidby themofold time--butI sayuntoyou."TheOldTestamentschoolingwasover.WhenChristdiedonthecrosstheveilofthe temple was rent from top to bottom. The Holy of Holies was opened toeveryonewhowouldenterinfaith.Christ'swordswereremembered,"Thehourcometh,whenyeshallneitherinthismountain,noryetatJerusalem,worshiptheFather.... But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shallworshiptheFatherinspiritandintruth:fortheFatherseekethsuchtoworshipHim.GodisSpirit,andtheythatworshiphimmustworshiphiminspiritandin

truth."Shortly after, Paul took up the cry of liberty and declared allmeats clean,

every day holy, all places sacred and every act acceptable to God. Thesacredness of times and places, a half-light necessary to the education of therace,passedawaybeforethefullsunofspiritualworship.

Theessentialspiritualityofworshipremainedthepossessionof theChurchuntilitwasslowlylostwiththepassingoftheyears.Thenthenaturallegalityofthe fallen hearts of men began to introduce the old distinctions. The Churchcametoobserveagaindaysandseasonsandtimes.Certainplaceswerechosenandmarkedoutasholy inaspecialsense.Differenceswereobservedbetweenoneandanotherdayorplaceorperson,"Thesacraments"were first two, thenthree,thenfouruntilwiththetriumphofRomanismtheywerefixedatseven.

In all charity, and with no desire to reflect unkindly upon any Christian,howevermisled, Iwould point out that theRomanCatholic church representstoday the sacred-secular heresy carried to its logical conclusion. Its deadliesteffect is the complete cleavage it introduces between religion and life. Itsteachers attempt to avoid this snare by many footnotes and multitudinousexplanations,butthemind'sinstinctforlogicistoostrong.Inpracticallivingthecleavageisafact.

Fromthisbondagereformersandpuritansandmysticshavelaboredtofreeus.Todaythetrendinconservativecirclesisbacktowardthatbondageagain.Itissaidthatahorseafterithasbeenledoutofaburningbuildingwillsometimesby a strange obstinacy break loose from its rescuer and dash back into thebuildingagain toperish in the flame.Bysomesuchstubborn tendency towarderrorFundamentalism inourday ismovingback toward spiritual slavery.Theobservationofdaysandtimesisbecomingmoreandmoreprominentamongus."Lent" and "holy week" and "good" Friday are words heard more and morefrequentlyuponthelipsofgospelChristians.Wedonotknowwhenwearewelloff.

InorderthatImaybeunderstoodandnotbemisunderstoodIwouldthrowinto relief the practical implications of the teaching for which I have beenarguing, i.e., the sacramental quality of every day living. Over against itspositivemeaningsIshouldliketopointoutafewthingsitdoesnotmean.

Itdoesnotmean,forinstance,thateverythingwedoisofequalimportancewitheverythingelsewedoormaydo.Oneactofagoodman'slifemaydifferwidelyfromanother in importance.Paul'ssewingof tentswasnotequal tohiswritingof anEpistle to theRomans, but bothwere acceptedofGod andbothweretrueactsofworship.CertainlyitismoreimportanttoleadasoultoChristthantoplantagarden,buttheplantingofthegardencanbeasholyanactasthe

winningofasoul.Again,itdoesnotmeanthateverymanisasusefulaseveryotherman.Gifts

differinthebodyofChrist.ABillyBrayisnottobecomparedwithaLutheroraWesleyforsheerusefulnesstotheChurchandtotheworld;buttheserviceofthelessgiftedbrotherisaspureasthatofthemoregifted,andGodacceptsbothwithequalpleasure.

The"layman"needneverthinkofhishumblertaskasbeinginferiortothatofhisminister.Leteverymanabideinthecallingwhereinheiscalledandhisworkwillbeassacredastheworkoftheministry.Itisnotwhatamandoesthatdetermineswhetherhisworkissacredorsecular,itiswhyhedoesit.Themotiveiseverything.LetamansanctifytheLordGodinhisheartandhecanthereafterdo no common act.All he does is good and acceptable toGod through JesusChrist.Forsuchaman,livingitselfwillbesacramentalandthewholeworldasanctuary.Hisentirelifewillbeapriestlyministration.Asheperformshisneversosimpletaskhewillhearthevoiceoftheseraphimsaying,"Holy,Holy,Holy,istheLordofhosts:thewholeearthisfullofhisglory."

Lord,IwouldtrustTheecompletely;IwouldbealtogetherThine;IwouldexaltTheeaboveall.IdesirethatImayfeelnosenseofpossessinganythingoutsideofThee.IwantconstantlytobeawareofThyovershadowingPresenceand tohearThyspeakingVoice. I long to live in restful sincerityofheart. IwanttolivesofullyintheSpiritthatallmythoughtmaybeassweetincenseascendingtoTheeandeveryactofmylifemaybeanactofworship.ThereforeI pray in the words of Thy great servant of old, "I beseech Thee so for tocleansetheintentofmineheartwiththeunspeakablegiftofThygrace,thatImayperfectlyloveTheeandworthilypraiseThee."AndallthisIconfidentlybelieveThouwiltgrantmethroughthemeritsofJesusChristThySon.Amen.