The Spirit's Glorification of the Past
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
JOHN xiv, 26,
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nb ST is the promise of a retrospective glory ey fex — a glorification of the past. Christ says that when the Spirit comes it will quicken old memories. Is it not ever so? Nothing can quicken my memory but the spirit of the thing remembered. Why is it that I remember some things so much better than others? It has nothing to do with comparative length of time; I may recollect best the farthest back incident. It depends entirely on the congruity of my spirit with the thing to be remembered. The scene which has best suited my taste will most easily be recalled by my memory. My memory depends on my interest and my interest is proportionate to my possession of a kindred spirit. Even so is it with the things of Christ.
To remember them I must sympathise with them. The scenes of His childhood would have been forgotten if a mother had not kept them in her heart. The scenes of His inner life would have been obliterated if a John had not treasured them in his soul. Inspiration is needed even for the recalling of history; it is the Spirit that brings to our remembrance.
Spirit divine, quicken my memory of Christ. often lament its shortness when I should blame its want of interest. Create within me a deeper interest and I shall have a longer memory. Inspire me with the glory of the subject, the beauty of the theme, the grandeur of the contemplation. {nspire me with the love of Him who speaks, with the admiration of Him who acts, with the Jevotion to Him who suffers. Love never forgets; its past is ever present; its yesterday is always to-day. Love makes every memory say “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Let Thy love make the past a present tome. Let it bring to the gates of my life the footsteps of the Son of Man. Let it make my country a Palestine, my home a Nazareth, my family circle a Bethany, my temptation a pinnacle of the temple, my solitude a Transfiguration, my storm a Gennesaret, my cross a Calvary, my crown an Olivet. Let it preserve from fading the Day-spring from on high; let
u it prevent from setting the star that rose in Bethlehem. The Gospel story shall not recede with time when Thy love has quickened the memory of my heart.