The Holt Spirit

    "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matt. vii. 11.

    We are not here told what. The expression is unlimited. He knows best what is good for us. A child cries for a knife; for raw fruit. The wise parent denies, because not good for it. "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

    But let us compare this Scripture with a parallel place in Luke xi. 11—13: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" The Holy Spirit is the substance of all "good things "—their quintessence: "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." He gives the Holy Spirit to thee in answer to prayer. Thy youth is renewed. Thou art made a "new creature:" "Old things are passed away." If you have the Spirit, you have all good things. And this Spirit is given to all God's children, to work all their works in them and for them; and to make them meet for the heavenly state.

    By the Spirit we are enlightened; turned from the darkness of a sinful condition to the light of saving knowledge.

    It is the Spirit that quickens: that makes us alive, and lively in the ways of God.

    The Spirit is the Sanctifier. If we have any grace, it is of his working. Faith is wrought by the Spirit of faith.

    The Spirit teaches us to pray, and "helps our infirmities" in that duty.

    He is our Guide: "Led by the Spirit 01 God."

    Through the Spirit we "mortify the deeds of the body."

    He is our " Comforter." He fills us " with joy and peace in believing."

    And this Holy Spirit we are to ask of God, after the manner of children asking "good things" from their father. And we have his promise: "I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thy offspring." Christ has prayed for it; see John xvii. Our need is pressing. We are undone without it. He is our Father, therefore we may ask; see Matt, vii. 9—11. Lord, thou art my Father. I have children. "When they ask bread, I do not give them atones. We know how to give good things to our children; much more does our Father who is in heaven.