February 6

Sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. — EPH. i. 13.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. — JOHN xiv. 16, 17.

HOW replete with inspiration is every clause of this passage! What wealth of deep spiritual meaning does it convey! Take the very term "Comforter," a Latin derivative, — "con," "fortis," together with strength. Here is implied the Spirit companionship that is strength-giving, softened and sweetened by his tenderness and love. Christ here assumes that he was the first Comforter. His mission was to bind up the broken-hearted: to this end he held within his incarnate person all the treasures of wisdom, grace, and compassion. But the demands of his mediatorial work made it expedient that he should go away. Comfortless or orphaned he could not and would not leave his disciples, hence another Comforter is promised. Equal in his essence with the Father, yet was he officially subordinate in the redeeming order, and so he prayed the Father and his prayer prevailed. An abiding Comforter was sent as the final manifestation of God to the Church. Bereaved, desolate, forsaken, lone one, wearing around the heart the rustling, withered, dead leaves of departed joy, this is your great heritage, — a companion who shall abide with you along the untravelled eternities, even the Spirit of truth, who shall guide you up the steeps of time and on to the blissful forever.

Geolouglas.

I worship thee, O Holy Ghost, I love to worship thee; My risen Lord for aye were lost But for thy company

I worship thee, O Holy Ghost, I love to worship thee; With thee, each day is Pentecost, Each night Nativity.

WILLIAM F. WARREN