Our Divine 'Other Self.'

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 190, 10 August 1895, Page 3 (Supplement)

Our Divine 'Other Self.'

By the Rkv. William Bikcii, D.D.

Heraby know we that we abide in Him. and he iv us, because ho hath Riven us ot liis Spirit. -I. John iv., 13.

As previously shown, the world's knowledge of God has been progressive. Beginning wibh worshipping bho sun, boasts and heroes, ib advanced from many cruel gods to ono who waß both righteous and immoral, and afterwards to tho pure heavenly Futher revealed by our Lord. God ia au ever-near Father, who feels bhe sob of our grief and bho pang ot our pain, who weeps with us in our sorrow and rejoices in our joy. Ho is Spirib, and we are of His substance, like Himself. Mon are not God incarnate; wo aro spirits incarnate. It is an ancient conception of truth confirmed by modern science, thab our Fabher is ' the God of the spirits of all flesh' (Numbers 16 22).

It is said thab every man haa a mabe specially intended for him, his alter <v/o, the ' other I,' hia other aelf, and it may be true : but ie ia an inspiring thought thab God ia our Spirit alter ego. He is iv me, lam in Hiui. Ib is bho mightiest truth revealed bo man ; butt, oven in bhis enltght- j enod day, are we prepared to receive ib aa ; bhe inspiration of lifo. 'He ia mine, and I am His !' 'He «upa with me, and I with j Him.'" i lb meana thab, when wo do well, cur Divine alter ego is glorified, and when we disobey the light Ho gives, Ho ia dogradod, shamed, wounded, like Chrisb when betrayed, spab upon, and the nails driven through Hifi hands and feeb. You bhoughb bho sin which no onß know bub yourself degraded and injured only yourself, but now you know thab to wilfully do wrong grieves and wounds God. Will you nob fall on your knees in prayor, aud receive Hia patience, peace, purity, righteousueaa and love bo inspire you aa bhoeedisposibiona inspire Him ? Hia love blobs, oub all the past; bub 'em no more.' Brothers, no powers can separate you from your heavenly Father. He and you are eternally joined. He is nob like an echo which only reaounda your cry, but the 'Obber Self,' which feela whab you feel. '■ He is the Spirib while you are a spirib ' dwelling in this human body, bub you, bho inner you, are of the same mould ; therefore Ho and you may have fellowahip, your Bubsbanceis his image and likeness. Conversion and sanctifjeabion are Scriptural berms for reaiiaations of thia spiribfellowship. Many a time have I wibnesaed bhe entrance of bhe human child inbo bhe felt-presence of God ; bo come as their forgiving Father, to others as bheir cleanser from sinfulness. One momenb, tears or sobs with prayer for pardon, or for aancbiGcation ; then, suddenly, a radiant smile, uplifted eyes, streaming, blissful bears, and bho joyous voice, ' Jesua !' ' Father 1' or ' Glory !' According to bho beaching of our Lord, :ib ia personal purity and benevolenb 1 righteousness to others. Ho shows thab to ' degrade a womau, to deal unrighteously wibh our fellow-creatures, to neglect a suffering or helpless neighbour, bo refuse bo. forgive bhe penibenb who has Binned againsb us, to harden our hearb againab our brobher— bhab such inhumanity is a greabar • world-evil, and, bherefore, more grievous bo • God, than bbc personal immorality of bhe 'sinners ' who ,are .supposed to be unfit to ' worship Him ; and since this benevolentlyi righteous conduct to ono another is in 1 harmony wibh sanctified common sense, it • should be the backbone of religious ethics ! and the aim Of couseorabed men. • May bhe blessed truth of reciprocal ' immanence, God in us and we in Him, ' inßpire truth and courage in every event of m\t daily life and sublime jay when we pass 1 through death into the celestial world. ■ Amen.

A cock, having found a pearl, said that a grain of corn would be of more value bo him.—Laroux,

To see and liaten to the wicked ia already the beginning of wickedness.—Confucius,