way for the master's use. Thus the Holy Spirit impresses on the soul
now the image of Jesus Christ; and this is the sure pledge of the
everlasting inheritance.--_E. H. Bickersteth, "The Spirit of Life," p.
176_.

[7] John Owen, D. D., "Discourse Concerning the Spirit," pp. 406, 407.

[8] "Through the Eternal Spirit," by James Elder Cumming, D.D., pp.
146, 147.

[9] "_Veni Creator Spiritus_," by Principal H. C. G. Moule, p. 13.

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VI

THE COMMUNION OF THE SPIRIT

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"In his intimate union with his Son, the Holy Spirit is the unique
organ by which God wills to communicate to man his own life, the
supernatural life, the divine life--that is to say, his holiness, his
power, his love, his felicity. To this end the Son works outwardly,
the Holy Spirit inwardly."--_Pastor G. F. Tophel_.

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VI

THE COMMUNION OF THE SPIRIT

The familiar benediction which invokes upon us the "communion of the
Holy Ghost" has probably a deeper meaning in it than has generally been
recognized. The word "communion"--_choinonia_--signifies the having in
common. It is used of the fellowship of believers one with another,
and also of their mutual fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit dwelling
in us is the agent through whom this community of life and love is
effected and maintained. "And truly our fellowship," says John, "is
with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1: 3). But this
having in common with the first two persons of the Godhead were only
possible through the communion of the Holy Ghost, the third person. In
his promise of the Comforter, Jesus said: "He shall take of mine and
show it unto you." As the Son while on earth communicated to men the
spiritual riches of the invisible Father, so the Spirit now
communicates to us the hidden things of the invisible Son; and if we
were required to describe in a word the present office-work of the Holy
Ghost, we should say that it is to make true _in_ us that which is
already true _for_ us in {100} our glorified Lord. All light and life
and warmth are stored up for us in the sun; but these can only reach us
through the atmosphere which stands between us and that sun as the
medium of communication; even so in Christ are "hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge," and by the Holy Spirit these are
made over to us. It will be our endeavor in this chapter to count up
our hid treasures in Christ, and to consider the Spirit in his