The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-07-14
SATURDAY NIGHT
SERMONS
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SYMBOLS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

come upon you. Acts !, 3.
The man of affairs is often puzzled
about spiritual things. How can God,
a Spirit, be revealed to questioning
mortals? Your preacher answers, Only
by earthly similitudes can finite being
understand infinite. Signs or symbols
are visible things which may stand for
the invisible. They can only be rela-
tive, Of course. The triune God, Fa-
ther, Son, Holy Ghost, cannot be ex-
planned, only illustrated by figures that
may not be pushed too far, for they are
finite, too. Three in one"-a clover
leaf is that. A triangle-God at the
apex, the left line running down rep
resenting God come down to earth.
The basal line Christ's earthly life.
The right third line representing the
Holy Spirit leading fallen men up to
God. All three sides of one geometri-
cal figure. Take the three forms of
water-liQuid as a fluid, vapor as in
steam, solid as in ice-three forms, yet
all water. Three forms of vibration
light, sound and heat. These things are
only symbols OF the manifestations
Holy Spirit is the most difficult to the
human mind. Jesus Christ we know
of in the flesh like ourselves. There
are two definitions of God, and two
only in the Bible, "God is spirit" and
"God is love" There are five SYM
bols of the Holy Ghost.
The Wind-John iii, 8.
The Holy Spirit-"Holy Breath
must not be taken as an absolute par
allel, but a suggestive, instructive fig
ure Breath, spirit, wind, are from the
same root and are often interchange
able. The symbol of the wind is in
visible power. 1t is powerful. Free
dynamite on one side against it, it
brushes rock on the other. Yet gentle,
breathing around the rose, tanning
cheek of sick child. 1t is pure all per-
vasive, necessary for life. If there is
a rush Of wind it presupposes an empty
space. If we could expel pride, van
ity, self righteousness by some di-
vine power we should be emptied of all
that-then the Breath of Pentecost
would come in and fill our spiritual be-
ings.
Oil John ii, 20.
Oil has been a medicine and a SYM
Dol of healing for ages. There is kin
ship between healing of body and heal
ing of soul Thy faith hath made
thee whole (welD," Christ said, imply
ing relation between physical and spir-
itual. How far healing by the Holy
Spirit may prevail today 1 know not.
am too much a student of psychology
to scott at any reported healing by
any school Of thought, philosophy, re
1igion or any of the "shrineS." But 1
do know of the results of inspired sci
ence today against bacteria, the al
most invisible enemy Of the human
body 1 also know Of the bacteria of
bigotry, prejudice, hatred, suspicion;
germs of impurity, envy and greed.
These are invaders into our spiritual
bodies. The presence of the Holy Spir-
it speaks for an amounting Of better
physical and spiritual health.
Dove-Matt. iii, 16.
OF all Bible birds the dove is the
most sacred. 1t is symbol of meekness,
innocence and love. BE We harmless
as doves" said Christ. The Spirit of
God descended on Christ as dove. 1t
was the only bird offered as a sacrifice
Its gentle cooings, graceful motions,
fidelity to its mate, spotless purity,
fondness for home, love Of peace, make
it fit representative of spiritual pres
ence. When the waters of avenging
flood assuaged the dove returned with
the olive leaf, harbinger of Gods peace.
When our souls have been beaten and
tossed like the ark for many days by
tempest of affliction, when our sky has
been darkened by thick clouds, when
all earth's possessions have been swept
away. the Spirit of divine consolation
comes with the message Of peace and
reconciliation.
Water-John vii, SO, SO.
The English think much of the
Thames, France of the Seine, Ger
many of the Rhine, Egypt of the Nile,
America of the Mississippi. The ''riv
er in the ocean," known as the guilt
stream, flows from the Gulf of Mexico
to the Azores, 5000 miles long, 40
in width. 1t gives color to the verdure
OF the Emerald Isle and tempers the
climate of western Europe. 1t arrests
the chilling arctic icebergs and melts
them into tepid waters. The Holy
Spirit is the gulf stream of humanity.
1t is the river of salvation. Every
thing shall live whittier the river
cometh." This is the water of life, to
cleanse every foul sin, to satisfy the
worlds thirst The desert dweller, the
wounded soldier, the sick child, cries
for satisfying water. Christ's pitiful
cry on the cross was, II thirst"
Fire-Matt. iii, II.
Fire has always been the symbol OF
divine presence, from flaming sword
Of Paradise to flaming tongue of Pen
tecost. Each new sphere is inaugu-
rated with fire. 1t is the life of vegeta-
BILE and animal existence. There is no
reproduction without heat. 1t is the
purifier for the potter, the refiner for
the steelmaster. 1t is the illuminant.
The beacon fires of Victoria's Jubilee
flashed from Malvern hill to the lake
country in Cumberland. Fire is the
revealer. Not earthquake, but fire, in
San Francisco revealed rottenness in
building, corruption of contractor. Do
not let altar fires go out. my Spirit
shall not always strive,' is the warn
Ing.
Fifty Years Ago Today.