[Sep. 21st, 1862.]
The manifestation spoken of is, 1. Peculiar to believers. 2. Common to all believers, and therefore not that made in the body after his resurrection.
The great truth therefore here taught is: an inward spiritual manifestation of Christ to the souls of his people. He reveals himself to them so that they may be said to see him, to have intercourse or communion with him. As to this, it may be remarked, 1. That we are surrounded by a material world which reveals itself to our senses and acts upon them. And we are surrounded by a spiritual world, i.e., by the souls of other men, by spirits good and bad, by God.
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We know that these spirits reveal themselves to us and act upon us. Our fellow-men address themselves to us in words, looks, and acts. Evil spirits we know act on the soul, as in the case of Satanic temptation and in the case of demoniacs. So God thus acts. This is the doctrine of natural religion and of all Christians.
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This manifestation of God’s presence in his providential agency, is analogous to that made by the soul of a man on the control and government of the body.
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But the manifestation which he makes to his people is peculiar not only as to the mode in which it is made, i.e., by the Holy Ghost, but also as to what is revealed. God reveals himself to the wicked as an avenger, as a consuming fire. To his people he reveals his glory and his love.
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The scriptural doctrine is distinguished on the one hand from the Deistical or Rationalistic doctrine, in that God’s revelation of himself is only mediate, that there is no intercourse between the soul and God; and on the other hand from mysticism. This system teaches,
a. The immediate communication and contact of the soul with God.
b. That thus new truth is revealed and guidance granted. c. That the soul is ultimately merged in God. d. That this beatific vision is attained by passivity and abstraction. In opposition to both these errors, the Scriptures teach, as above stated,
- That God has intercourse with the soul, not merely through his works and by his word, but immediately by his Spirit. 2. That the effects of this manifestation are, a. Vision, we are said to see him. b. Knowledge. c. Holiness; we are transformed into his image. d. Assurance of God’s love. e. Hope of his glory. f. Joy unspeakable. 3. That the subjective conditions of this manifestation are love and obedience. We must be first reconciled to God through Christ. But this may be with little or no intercourse between the soul and God, as in infants and children. And when reconciled we must have the soul in the requisite state, free from unholy and disturbing passions, and the conscience purged from dead works. 4. That this manifestation is not a matter of consciousness, only its effects. But this is true of all spiritual manifestations.
Inferences
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As intercourse with God is possible and is productive of such incalculable benefits, we should most earnestly desire it and assiduousl cultivate it.
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We should be on our guard against either denying or abusing the doctrine.
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