The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-12-04

-. &W perlenCe OF men Is
EsssS fx q process OF three
k ~ stages. Christ
must be formed in
their understanding and In their will,
but especially in the affections which
mold their character and conduct
Their understanding is reached in the
preaching OF the Word of God, but their
Wills and affections are moved only as
the power OF the Holy Spirit accompa-
MES that Word. This explains why
there is much preaching and teaching
of the Bible. and so little effected In
the conversion of souls. How much
Christians need to pray for their pas
tors, for the Sunday school teachers
Of their children, and, above all. for
themselves, that the JUNCTION OF the
Holy One may rest upon them as they
witness for Christ, that their testi-
mony may beget In others the new
life through faith in him.
Tho Second Adam.
H. But the text suggests that the
birth Of Christ in the soul would be
impossible had not Christ himself
been born into the world. Our nat
ural man could have 10 existence
without natural progenitor, and this
Is equally clear OF our spiritual or
regenerated man. Why is Christ
called in Scripture the second Adam.
II not that he was, so to speak, a new
starting point for man. "the pure
90 raAAapoAI ronaDo Thfc
does not mean merely that he was
the purest, noblest and best man who
ever lived, but that in his humanity
he was much more than any other
man from Adam down. In a certain
sense humanity was reborn I'm the
manger at bethlehem. Redemption
begins by a new birth In the race
which includes all men, at least TO
this degree, that In Christ dwells
potentially all that all men need.
There is now a chance, which but
for the incarnation OF Christ never
could have been, that each Of us may
become regenerated and begin cur
life over again.
But in speaking OF the humanity OF
Christ, II must be kept In mind that
In his person there was united the
two natures, the human and the di.
vine. Christ was man, but also he
was God We are unable to under.
stand this mystery, but we accept 1t
by faith on abundant testimony, while
we adore and praise him that OF his
fullness all we may receive, and grace
for grace.
Birth Of Christ In the Soul.
III. Just as the Holy Ghost was
instrumental in the birth OF Christ
into the world. SO is he necessary to
the birth OF Christ In the soul. The
virgin could not have given birth to-
the Son of Man had not the Holy
Ghost come upon her and the power
OF the highest overshadowed her, and
It is written that mo man can say
that Jesus Is the Lord but by the
Holy Ghost" As the great Puritan
divine, John Owen. used TO say, I'VE
can have no real design OF conform
lty to Christ unless we have their
eyes who beheld his glory" But how
shall we obtain those eyes II they
are not given US from above? The
natural man beholds no excellency in
Christ, and appreciates no need OF
him as a Savior, until these expert
ences are begotten In him by super
natural power and grace. We have
referred TO this before but Il needs
10 be emphasized again and again.
w. Finally, as the birth OF Christ
into the world marks the most impor-
tant era In the world, so the birth
OF Christ into the soul marks the
most important era In the soul. IL
ls this which turns the believer
from darkness 10 light, and from the
power OF Satan unto God" No con-
verted man would change his expert
ence OF salvation and the indwelling
Christ for all the world could give
him. II is this fact that makes the
Chrietmastide a time OF sadness as
well as one OF happiness and Joy.
We see merriment about US, yet we
shrink from IL an from the thought OF
that infldel who strove TO balk the
King OF Terrors by ordering IN a
game OF cards with his dying breath.
There is no Christmas JOY a believer
IN Christ 30 earnestly covets as to
learn Of some one who, az a result Of
his ministry. has come TO interpret
the Christmas In the earth from the
point Of view of Christmas IN the
soul. While II is the work Of the
Holy Spirit 10 perform this miracle OF
grace In him, yet IL IL his duty TO
yield his viii to him that he may
perform It.