So you do not need to do some great evil, some deadly sin, to
quench the Spirit. Just cease to rejoice, through fear of man and
of being peculiar; be prim and proper as a white and polished
gravestone; let gushing joy be curbed; neglect to pray when you
feel a gentle pull in your heart to get alone with the Lord; omit
giving hearty thanks for all God's tender mercies, faithful
discipline and loving chastenings, and soon you will find the
Spirit quenched. He will no longer spring up joyously like a well
of living water within you.
But give the Spirit a vent, an opening, a chance, and He will
rise within you and flood your soul with light and love and joy.
Some years ago a sanctified woman of clear experience went alone
to keep her daily hour with God; but, to her surprise, it seemed
that she could not find Him, either in prayer or in His word. She
searched her heart for evidence of sin, but the Spirit showed her
nothing contrary to God in her mind, heart, or will. She searched
her memory for any breach of covenant, any broken vows, any
neglect, any omission, but could find none.
Then she asked the Lord to show her if there were any duty
unfulfilled, any command unnoticed, which she might perform, and
quick as thought came the often-read words, "Rejoice evermore."
"Have you done that this morning?"
She had not. It had been a busy morning, and a well-spent one,
but so far there had been no definite rejoicing in her heart,
though the manifold riches and ground for joy of all Christians
were hers.
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