13).
What truth? Not the truth of the multiplication table, or of
physical science, or art, or secular history, but spiritual
truth--the truth about God and His will and character, and our
relations to Him in Christ--that truth which is necessary to
salvation and holiness--into all this truth the Holy Spirit will
guide us. "He shall teach you all things," said Jesus (John xiv.
26).
How, then, shall we escape error and be "sound in doctrine"? Only
by the help of the Holy Spirit.
How do we know Jesus Christ is divine? Because the Bible tells us
so? Infinitely precious and important is this revelation in the
Bible; but not by this do we know it. Because the Church teaches
it in her creed, and we have heard it from the catechism? Nothing
taught in any creed or catechism is of more vital importance; but
neither by this do we know it.
How then? Listen to Paul: "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord,
but by the Holy Ghost" (I Cor. xii. 3). "No man," says Paul. Then
learning it from the Bible or catechism is not to know it except
as the parrot might know it; but every man is to be taught this
by the Holy Spirit, if he is to really know it.
Then it is not a revelation made once for all, and only to the
men who walked and talked with Jesus, but it is a spiritual
revelation made anew to each believing heart that in penitence
seeks Him and so meets the conditions of such a revelation.
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