By Very Rev. THOMAS S. PRESTON, V.G.,
Such is the plan of infinite wisdom, in perfect harmony with the needs of our race and with the nature of God. Indeed, so far as we are able to see, we can conceive of no other plan which would restore order in the intelligent creation, and of many wandering and jarring wills make a unity in one God, acceptable to Him because really in Him.
Our subject will become more clear by considering the following propositions in their.order and connection:
I. From our knowledge of God and our own needs, reason demands a visible body of the redeemed, in which the new creation shall be wrought.
II. Our Lord Himself established a visible church, which is a unity, by its constitution and, indeed, by necessity.
III. Into this visible body the Holy Spirit entered, thus taking possession of it and giving it a divine character.
IV. He is the principle of its life, and therefore of its unity, since disunion contradicts life, and is death.
V. The sphere of sanctifying grace is in the church, which is the temple of the Holy Ghost.
Depending upon the divine Spirit for our knowledge of the way of salvation, and of the dispensation of which He is the ruler, let us at this time humble ourselves before Him, and ask for light to see, and grace to appreciate the beauties of the new creation as they unfold themselves to true and obedient hearts.
