The Secular Influences of the Spirit

‘* And when they came thither to the hill, behold a company of prophets met him (Saul); and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them,” — 1 SAM. x. ro.

Geo, HEN they were come thither to the AY hill, a company of prophets met him.”

; There were then two influences under which the Spirit of God came to him — the influence of outward nature, and the influence of human brotherhood. Might not the Spirit have dispensed with these aids? What had the vicinity of the hill, what had the company of the prophets to do with the mighty breath of God’s Spirit? Does the Spirit need the help of such poor allies as a physical scene and a human soul? No; it does not weed the help, but it takes it. {he Spirit uses many aids which it does not require; it loves to work through sacraments. It consecrates the hill-top and makes the traveller a worshipper; it consecrates a human companionship and makes the social hour an hour in the

B temple of God: It is not the hill-top that sanctifies, it is not the human voice that transforms. The scene that melts you to-day was perhaps unheeded yesterday; the words that struck home at night were perhaps powerless in the morning. God chooses His own sacraments, and He chooses His own objects to make sacramental. Only, be thou ready, be thou reverent, for, the hill that to-day is commonplace may to-morrow be inspiring, and the words which the morning despised may at evening time be thy light.

Spirit of Christ, consecrate the scenes amidst which I move. Consecrate the lonely hill-top where my soul communes with nature; consecrate the crowded thoroughfare where I meet the company of my fellow-men. Thou art not confined to temples made with hands, nor art Thou limited to the sacrament of bread and wine. Reveal to me the holiness of common things. Teach me the sacredness of what I call secular. Show me the sacramental glory of the lily of the field. Open mine eyes to the divine wonder of that universe whose miracles I have forgotten. Tell me again that the heavens declare Thy glory, that the earth is full of Thy goodness, that the tempest itself is the echo of Thy voice. Tell me above all that Thy voice speaks to me through the heart of my brother man, that Thou sendest now’

Thy messages not by angels but by human souls. My whole life shall be a sacrament when Thou shalt meet me alike in the company and on

the hill