HE was such a fine aristocratic looking old gentleman, with all the dignified military bearing of an officer of the time of Queen Victoria. In spite of his four score and more years, he had spoken at some length, and with great power, on the various offices of the Holy Ghost.
“Every year I go to the Isle of Wight. I make a point of going each summer to look at a little house near Ryde. I am not sure that it is more than a cottage. Most probably if you saw it you would call it a cottage. But I love it. Every brick of it is dear to me, and each year I take the steamer and cross the water so that I may have another look at it. Unfortunately now the place is occupied by strangers, so that I cannot wander at will all over the inside of it, but I have a good look at the old cottage from the outside. First I look at the front, then I walk round and look at both sides of it, and then at as much of the back as is visible. You see I love the place and that is why I take all this trouble. Shall I tell you why I love it? Well the reason is that I was born there, and in that little house I spent the first eight years of my life. Oh, the happy days of my childhood that it recalls! What delightful memories of early days it brings back to my mind. I love the place, and if I had my way it should never be pulled down.
“Now that is exactly what the Holy Ghost says as He looks at your poor body. Maybe it is not a very fine one, and likely enough nearly worn out, but the Holy Ghost says “I love it, that has been My home. I have lived in it, for ten, twenty or thirty years and it shall never be destroyed. Even should it fall asleep, I shall one day quicken that mortal body and raise it in glory.”
What a cheer for the sick! In 1 Corinthians, each member of the Trinity is mentioned in connection with our body. It is called the “temple of God” (3:16) “members of Christ.” (6:15), and a “temple of the Holy Ghost.” (6:19). When the time comes for us to fall asleep, it is the special work of the Holy Ghost to call us home, for “the grass withereth and the flower fadeth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it.” (Isa. 40:77The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. (Isaiah 40:7)).
“Delays are not refusals. Many a prayer is registered and underneath it the words, “My time is not yet come.” God has a set time, as well as a set purpose.”