[Oct. 18th, 1874.]
There are two classes of men in the world, the (psychici), and the ; the natural and the spiritual; those who are controlled by their own nature, and those who are controlled by the Spirit of God. The former are governed as to their thoughts, opinions, feelings and outward life, by the principles of human nature in its present state. These principles are numerous and complete, some evil and some good. Reason, conscience, regard for their own interest, natural fear of God, are among the principles which control the inward and outward life of the majority of men, who are not openly and avowedly wicked. Such men never rise above the sphere of the natural. They look at the things which are temporal. They live for the present.
The spiritual are those in whom the Spirit of God dwells and reigns. The Bible teaches that God is immanent in the world, preserving and controlling all the physical causes, and the immediate author of all organic structure indicative of design. In like manner the Spirit of God is immanent in the souls of believers. He controls the operations of their minds and hearts as God controls the operations of nature. And as God does not violate natural laws, so neither does he violate the laws of our rational and moral constitution, nor does he disregard them. He does not say: Let it rain, let it snow, let there be a harvest; but he controls natural causes to produce those effects. So neither does he govern his people by blind impulses. He works in them to will and to do. In acting thus, he uses appropriate means.
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He leads them into conformity with the mind of the Spirit, so that they receive and see to be true what the Spirit reveals to be true, to approve what the Spirit approves.
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He controls their affections, so that they love what the Spirit sets forth as the proper objects of love, God, Christ. He leads them to set their affections on things above.
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He leads them to endeavor to subdue all evil in their hearts, to be humble, long-suffering, benevolent, to live for others rather than for themselves.
Those led by the Spirit are conformed to the Spirit in their judgments and feelings; and to his will as to their mode of life.
Whether we are natural or spiritual is not a matter of profession or belief, but of fact. If led by the Spirit, we are the sons of God. If not so led, we are not sons of God.
If sons, then, 1. We have the nature of God; 2. We are the objects of his special care and love; 3. We are heirs of his kingdom.
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