Now it is to lead its readers to a personal experience of all
this that this book has been written. No mere intellectual assent
to the truth it sets forth can satisfy its author, any more than
it can benefit his readers. What he seeks, and what I join him in
devoutly asking of God, is that you, dear friend, who may take
this little volume into your hands, may see what an infinite
privilege is yours, and may begin to act with God the Holy Ghost,
and to open your whole being to Him, that He may work with you.
BRAMWELL BOOTH.
LONDON, January, 1909.
I.
WHO IS HE?
"Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you."
On that last eventful evening in the upper room, just after the
Passover feast, Jesus spoke to His disciples about His departure,
and, having commanded them to love one another, He besought them
not to be troubled in heart, but to hold fast their faith in Him,
assuring them that, though He was to die and leave them, He was
but going to the Father's many-mansioned house to prepare a place
for them.
But already they were troubled, for what could this death and
departure mean but the destruction of all their hopes, of all
their cherished plans? Jesus had drawn them away from their
fishing-boats, their places of custom and daily employment, and
inspired them with high personal and patriotic ambitions, and
encouraged them to believe that He was the Seed of David, the
promised Messiah; and they hoped that He would cast out Pilate
and his hated Roman garrison, restore the kingdom to Israel, and
sit on David's throne, a King, reigning in righteousness and
undisputed power and majesty for ever. And then, were they not to
be His Ministers of State and chief men in His Kingdom?
He was their Leader, directing their labours; their Teacher,
instructing their ignorance and solving their doubts and all
their puzzling problems; their Defence, stilling the stormy sea
and answering for them when questioned by wise and wily enemies.
They were poor and unlearned and weak. In Him was all their help,
and what would they do, what could they do, without Him? They
were without social standing, without financial prestige, without
learning or intellectual equipment, without political or military
power. He was their All, and without Him they were as helpless as
little children, as defenceless as lambs in the midst of wolves.
How could their poor hearts be otherwise than troubled?
But then He gave them a strange, wonderful, reassuring promise:
He said, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray
the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may
abide with you for ever" (John xiv. 15, 16). I am going away, but
Another shall come, who will fill My place. He shall not go away,
but abide with you for ever, and He "shall be in you." And later
He added: "It is expedient for you"--that is, better for you--"that
I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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