The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth Year: Divine Immanence and the Holy GhostRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth Year: Divine Immanence and the Holy Ghost
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
_4. Immanence and Manifestation:_ We must believe from the
scriptures previously considered in these lessons that God by his
spirit is everywhere and equally present, but it does not follow
that the _manifestation_ of God is everywhere and equally the same.
There are doubtless persons, conditions, and places, that present
more favorable natures and conditions to the manifestation of this
universal presence than others. Undoubtedly, if the assumption of
this treatise be the right one, _viz._, that the God Immanent, for
us men in the kingdom of the universe we inhabit known as "the Light
of Christ"--carries with it the divine attributes of truth, wisdom,
justice, holiness, and love, with the rest, then it follows, since like
his affinity[A] to like, that there may be, as said above, persons,
conditions and places more congenial to manifestation of the divine
spirit than others. There are individual men and perhaps races of men
more responsive to the Divine Presence and the divine attributes of
which that presence is the atmosphere, than others; and where this
is the case there will be the larger manifestation of God. Hence the
difference observable among individuals and races and at variant
times and places. Those who draw near to God, he draws near to them
in manifestations of his presence and power; those who love darkness
rather than light, because their deeds are evil, receive not the light;
the manifestation of God in them either in presence or power is not
possible because the conditions which attend upon that manifestation
are not there.
[Footnote A: "For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom
receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light
cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy, and claimeth
its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the
throne, and governeth and executeth all things." (Doc. & Cov. Sec.
lviii:37-40.)]
_6. The Law of Manifestation of the Immanent Spirit:_ "Draw nigh
unto God, and he will draw nigh to you,"[A] is the law of divine
manifestation. Christ, the Revealer of the Divine, Immanent Spirit,
as well as of the person, character, brightness, and glory of the
Father--the manifestation of all that is divine--"Came unto his own,
but his own received him not; but unto as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed
on his name.[B] He that believeth on him (i. e. the Christ) is not
condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he
hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
[Footnote A: James iv:8.]
[Footnote B: St. John i:11, 12.]
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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