Veni Creator

CONTENTS.

Purpose of the Book-Owen's theory of successive tests
of orthodox faith-Present supreme importance of
the truth of the Holy Spirit-The Veni Creator at
the Pleissenburg-The Personality of the Holy Spirit
-John xiv.-xvi. the ruling passage for its proof-
Affecting the interpretation of Scripture testimonies
at large-Reserve in the Scripture exhibition of the
Personality-Why?-Christ not Himself His subject
in the Scriptures-And in His dealings with the soul

-The truth of His Personality is full of life and

love-The writer's testimony-It is a truth meant

to be prominent in faith and experience-Rightful-

ness of prayer addressed to the Spirit-Addendum

-The Sin of Railing against the Holy Ghost

CHAPTER II.

(1) "The Dual Procession"-Here to be studied spirit-

ually-What the phrase imports-Light thrown by

it on the words, God is Love-And on the connexion

between the works of the Spirit and of Christ-

Scriptural basis for the belief-Redeeming work of

the divine Persons correspondent to Their inner

Relations-(2). Work of the Spirit in relation to

the Human Nature of Jesus Christ-The Incarna-

tion-The Baptism-The Ministry-The Resurrection

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-The Epistles to the Churches-The Spirit produced

and maintained the Manhood, the Son assumed It—

No independent Personality of the Manhood-Yet its

holiness and power was by the Holy Spirit -

Strengthening power of this truth-Place of Christ

in the Spirit's saving work for us-All parts of the

life of grace and faith are by the Spirit-And the

Life itself is Christ, in the mystical Union-Thus

the Spirit imparts not Himself, but Christ-Practical

spiritual importance of holding this truth and wit-

nessing to it

CHAPTER III.

(1) Union with Christ by the Spirit-Bearing of

previous enquiry on this truth-Its spiritual comfort

and power-The Spirit's work in material creation-

Noticed only in passing-(2) The Spirit's work in

relation to the Scriptures-Not an easy subject to

treat at the present day-Prevalence of humanitarian

views of Scripture-Its main cause in a certain

mental bias-Unification of phenomena-Inspira-

tion, a term vaguely used-Authority of Scripture-

Scripture as literature bears witness to Scripture

as oracle-" Consciousness" of the Scripture writers

not known in most cases-But the writings inspired

-So viewed and used by our Lord-The Holy Spirit

the ultimate and ruling Author-Testimonies to this

-How far this limits speculation as to the "human

element"-The First Homily on study of Scripture. 43

CHAPTER IV.

(1) The Holy Spirit as the Interpreter of Scripture-
Cowper's hymn-How is the work done?-Not by
supernatural illumination of the nature of infallible

intuition - But by impartation of spiritual recep-

tivity (2) Examination of leading passages in

the New Testament dealing with the doctrine of

the Holy Spirit-These mainly in St Paul and

St John-St John iii. 1-8 - Study of ver. 8-

"Born of the Spirit"-A phrase to be studied in

the light of Scripture on the signs of spiritual son-

ship-Augustine on 1 John v. 7- "Born of the

Spirit"-The whole process is His work-" So is

every one," etc. - Universality of the statement-

Significance of the simile employed, the wind-

Secrecy of process-Independence on human will-

Evidence in results-Bearing of these remarks on

our view of the function of Baptism-Beveridge on

Regeneration

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CHAPTER V.

The Spirit convincing of Sin-We retrace our steps, to

study in more detail the subject of the New Birth-

Conversion-Conviction of sin-John xvi. 8-11-Points

to be remembered in this passage "The World"

the sphere of the work-Some interpret the passage

accordingly with slight reference to individual con-

victions of sin-But these latter are at least not

excluded from the meaning of the words-Individual

convictions of sin have a powerful influence on

general conviction-Appeal to the reader-Convic-

tion of sin experienced irrespective of differences

of circumstance and character-Varieties of expe-

rience of it-Influence of the experience upon our

insight into the whole Gospel-The Cross and the

Resurrection are now seen in their true glory-

Beata culpa-Such conviction makes personal ex-

perience deep-And pastoral ministry faithful and

fruitful-Need to the last of an abiding and deve-

loped work of conviction of sin

CHAPTER VI.

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The Spirit glorifying Christ to the Soul-This is His

congenial and beloved work-A fact often forgotten

-Bonar on The Gospel of the Spirit's Love-The

Spirit's gift of faith-Proof from Scripture that faith

is a "gift"-How the gift is given-By the mani-

festation of Christ's all-sufficiency to the awakened

soul-Illustration from common experience-A recent

personal example-The work is at once natural and

supernatural-The case and testimony of Count Zin-

zendorf-Personal appeal to the reader-Realities

of experience, lighting up truths of doctrine-Let

us love Him who loves thus to bless us-Hart's hymn 100

CHAPTER VII.

The Spirit's Work as further seen in our Lord's last
Discourse and Prayer, John xiv.-xvii.-The whole
life of the regenerate is to the last by the Spirit-
In the present passage the Holy Spirit is implied
even where not mentioned-And the passage bears
not on the Apostles only, but on all believers-Who
are in some respects represented by the Apostles-
Oneness of believers with Christ by the Spirit-Depth
and preciousness of that truth-An appeal-They
live by Christ, through the Spirit-Holy realities of

personal experience of this-A record and testimony

-Fruit-bearing by the Spirit-Prayer in the Spirit-

Its connexion with fruit-bearing-Miss F. R. Havergal

-"Greater works than these "-Teaching work of

the Holy Spirit-The "unction" of 1 John ii.-The

keeping and sanctifying of the saints by the Spirit-

Let us live in the Upper Chamber

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VIII.

The Spirit's Work as seen in John vii. and xx., etc.-
A chapter of fragments-(i) John vii. 37-39-The
Tabernacle-feast-The Saviour's "cry"-A majestic
invitation and promise-At once interpreted by St

John-How "the Spirit was not yet given"-Diffu-

sive character of the Gospel age-How the water

shall flow from the man-(ii) John xx. 21-23-The

occasion-The act of breathing and its significance

-The words-What they do not mean-They mean

not mediation, but declaration-To be done by all

true Christians, though not anarchically - To be

done in the power of the Spirit-(iii) 1 John ii. 20, 27,

iii. 24-The spiritual believer is in a humble sense

a prophet-(iv) Rev. v. 6-The Spirit seen in vision

as the Vehicle of Christ's power and presence for

His Church below