36. Quenching the Spirit
Quenching the Spirit
TOO LATE NOW.—An old man said to a preacher, “When I was seventeen I began to feel deeply at times, and this continued for two or three years. But I determined to put it off until I should be settled in life. After I was married I reflected that the time had come when I had promised to attend to religion, but I had bought a farm, and I thought it would not suit me to become religious till it was paid for. I then resolved to put it off for ten years, tout when the ten years came around I thought no more about it.” He was urged to set about the work of repentance. “It is too late,” he said, “I believe my doom is sealed, and it is just that it should be so, for the Spirit strove with me but I refused.”
SUICIDE’S PRECAUTION.—When some poor, distracted one in Paris wants to put an end to his own life, he begins by stopping up every avenue by which the air might enter the room. He closes the door, he closes the windows, he fills every crevice before he kindles the fatal flame whose fumes are to destroy him. So it is when we quench the Spirit.
DROWNING THE VOICE.—In the days of martyrdom the persecutors of the day engaged drummers to beat their drums in order to drown the voice of the martyrs, lest the testimony of truth from their lips should reach the ears of the people. So do men deal with their own conscience, and seek to silence the truth-telling voice of the Holy Spirit.
REFUSED TO READ IT.—A young man in India received a letter from his father in England, but, as it contained no money, the son refused to read it. About a year after, while lying helpless in a hospital, he was led to read that letter. It told him that his father had purchased an estate for him, had sent money to bring him home, and affectionately urged his return. But, alas! it was too late. THE MATTER SETTLED.—A young man at the close of a meeting, was pressed to decide as to his soul’s salvation, but he said: “I will not do it tonight.” The Christian who was laboring with him said: “I insist that you either accept or reject God’s offer of salvation tonight.” “Well,” said he, “if you put it that way, I will reject it; there, now, the matter is settled.” On his way home on horseback, not knowing that a tree had fallen in the road, he struck against it and was killed.
MYSTERIOUS VOICE.—A young man, who had been piously brought up, but who had given himself up to every kind of vice and folly, at last joined a company of pirates. A voice, soft and gentle as a mother’s, seemed to be always pleading with him. He tried to shake off the effect; but again and again the sound troubled his soul. One night, when all was still around him, the tender reproachful murmur seemed to pierce his very heart. He could stand it no longer, and, throwing himself upon his knees in an agony of contrition, he vowed before God to forsake his evil ways. By God’s help he did so, and afterward lived a pious, useful life.
WORKINGS OF THE SPIRIT.—The doctrine of the workings of the Spirit upon the hearts of men is beyond human explanation. God alone knows how mind touches mind. I do not know how a mother pours her heart’s affection on the child’s heart, but she does. I do not know how soul touches soul, how thought touches thought, how mind touches mind, or how affection responds to affection, hut I know it does.