September 25
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeTenth Wednesday after Trinity
My Spirit shall not always strive with man. Genesis 6:3.
THIS is a very important statement, as it teaches that the Holy Spirit may strive for awhile with those who resist Him and are lost in consequence. So that one of the earliest notices of the work of the Spirit seems expressly given to warn men that His work on the heart is not irresistible. Some find a difficulty in believing this. The very strength of their faith in the power and grace of the Spirit indisposes them to believe that His presence can ever be given in vain; no truth is more distinctly revealed than that some measure of His influence can be effectually resisted. Indeed the converse of this, when we come fairly to consider it, seems the more incredible view of things; for how could God justly condemn men unless He had first warned them, and convinced them, and in some degree enlightened them?
O faith! thou workest miracles Upon the hearts of men, Choosing thy home in those same hearts We know not how nor when.
To one thy grave unearthly truths A heavenly vision seem; While to another's eye they are A superstitious dream.
To one the deepest doctrines look So naturally true, That when he learns the lesson first He hardly thinks it new.
Thy choice, O God of goodness! then I lovingly adore: O give me grace to keep Thy grace, And grace to merit more!