and this
hinders the outflow. Confession and cleansing are still God's remedy. Or
the hindrance may be our unbelief, "limiting the Holy One of Israel;"
opening the tap but a little instead of opening it full; expecting little
when we were divinely authorized to expect much; refusing to obey the
command, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it" (Ps. lxxxi. 10).
"Rivers" cannot flow through a heart full of unbelief.

Sometimes, again, on going to the tap we get a little water and a great
deal of air. What a noise! Now air is a very good thing in its own place,
but that is not in a water pipe; that is meant to convey water and nothing
else, and for the water pipe to do its work, it is necessary that it be
emptied and cleansed of everything else, even of air. Scripture hath said
that some things "puff up," and there is a good deal of "puff" in some
hearts through which the living water is supposed to be flowing. God be
merciful unto us! Such hearts, like our water pipe, need emptying and
cleansing.

Yet once more, on going to the tap, we find a splendid supply; the pipe
is clean, the pressure is good. Now before we open the tap the pipe is
full of water; when the tap is opened and the bucket filling, the pipe is
still full, for although the water is pouring out at the tap, it is
pouring in at the reservoir, so that the pipe is _kept full_, even though
the tap is open and the water streaming from it. When the tap is shut,
you cannot say any more about the pipe now than that it is still full of
water. Even so may it be with the believer who is spiritually adjusted.
When resting at his Master's feet he is full; when actively engaged in
service he is still full; his normal condition is, "full of the Holy
Ghost," because he has learnt how to obey the command, "Be ye filling
with the Spirit."

CHAPTER XV.

_ITS EFFECTS._

Among the effects and benefits which in this life accompany and flow from
being filled with the Holy Ghost, may be mentioned the following:--

_1. Courage._

"Oh, I could not do so and so--I have not the courage," is a reply
frequently made by Christian people when asked to undertake some piece of
service or other for the Master. The first point to be settled is, "Is
that the Master's will for me?" If so, lack of courage is a confession to
the lack of the "Fullness of the Holy Ghost." The Spirit-filled man knows
the fear of God and knows no other fear.

Acts ii. 14, "Peter, standing up with