ave us until he raises our bodies
from the dead and fashions our vile bodies like unto the glorious body
of our Lord. It matters much where we now live; it matters little where
and how we die. Our bodies may be buried in the unfathomed caves of
ocean; they may lie upon some mountain-peak or be placed in a crowded
cemetery of some great city. No stone may mark our resting-place, no
friend may be able to find the spot and place a flower of love upon it;
but that abiding-place is known to the infinite Spirit of God, and from
our ashes he will quicken our bodies and present us faultless before the
throne of God.
"I know not where His isles may lift
Their fronded palms in air:
I only know I can not drift
Beyond His love and care."
We have not space in this chapter to notice other than the principal
passages which refer to the work of the Spirit as it relates to
Christians, but in the five above mentioned there is no hint that he
does anything in us other than through the instrumentality of the
gospel, and there are no other passages that teach a direct work upon
us more clearly than those mentioned.
There are many passages that trace the blessed and glorious work of the
Spirit in us and through us, but they all confirm the clear statement
quoted from the _Sunday School Times_ that he works _mediately_, and not
_immediately_.
X
THE PARTING WORD
_Blasphemy against the Spirit_. This is a subject that is intensely
interesting to many people. They imagine that in some way unknown to
themselves they _may_ have committed this act, and it causes them great
concern. I will say that such people need have no alarm. The man who has
actually committed this sin _never_ feels any alarm about it. He is the
last man to feel concern over it. By reading the twelfth chapter of
Matthew the reader can obtain a clear view of this sin. Jesus was being
hounded by the Pharisees, who had determined to procure his death at all
hazards. They were watching, exaggerating and criticizing everything he
did.
He went on a Sabbath day through the field of corn and his disciples
plucked and ate some of the corn. There was an immediate outcry of "The
Sabbath is violated." Again, Jesus healed the man with a withered hand
and the Pharisees went out and held a council to plan his destruction.
Again, there was brought to him a man possessed of a devil, rendering
him blind and dumb. Jesus healed him by casting out the de
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