ut this is exactly what the Nicene Creed does not do. It does not say
that the Holy Spirit is life: but that He is the Lord and Giver of life--a
seemingly small difference in words: but a most vast and important
difference in meaning and in truth.

The true doctrine, it seems to me, is laid down most clearly by the
famous bishop, Cyril of Alexandria; who, whatever personal faults he
had--and they were many--had doubtless dialectic intellect enough for
this, and even deeper questions. And he says--"The Holy Spirit moves all
things that are moved; and holds together, and animates, and makes alive,
the whole universe. Nor is He another Nature different from the Father
and the Son: but as He is in us; of the same nature and the same essence
as they." And so says another divine, Eneas of Gaza--"The Father, with
the Son, sends forth the Holy Spirit; and inspiring with this Spirit all
things, beyond sense and of sense--invisible and visible--fills them with
power, and holds them together, and draws them to Himself." And he prays
thus to the Holy Spirit a prayer which is to my mind as noble as it is
true--"O Holy Spirit, by whom God inspires, and holds together, and
preserves all things, and leads them to perfection." I quote such words
to shew you that I am not giving you new fancies of my own: but simply
what I believe to be the ancient, orthodox and honest meaning of that
same Nicene Creed, which you just new heard; where it says that the Holy
Spirit is the Lord and Giver of life; and the meaning of the 104th Psalm
also, where it says--"Thou lettest Thy breath--Thy Spirit--go forth, and
they shall be made, and Thou shall renew the face of the earth."

And now--if anyone shall say--This may be all very true. But what is it
to me? You are talking about nature; about animals and plants, and lands
and seas. What I come to church to hear of, is about my own soul--

I should answer such a man--My good friend, you come to church to hear
about God as well as about what you call your soul. And any sound
knowledge which you can learn about God, must be--believe me--of use to
your immortal soul. For if you have wrong notions concerning God: how
can you avoid having wrong notions concerning your soul, which lives and
moves and has its being in God?

But look at it thus. At least I have been speaking of the works of God.
And are not you, too, a work of God? The Lord shall rejoice in His
works, even to the tiniest gnat that