There is an old story of a monk who, having been disobedient to the rules of the monastery, was told he must die.  They took him out into the graveyard, stood him upright in a grave, filled in the earth about his feet.  Then they asked, “Are you dead yet?” He said, “No.”  The earth was then filled in about him to his waist, and the question again asked.  He replied, “No.”  Then they filled in the earth until he was covered, all but his head, and could scarcely breathe.  When asked if he would die, he replied, “Yes, I will give up; I will die.”  So may we die to the old life of self and sin, and live the new life of entire surrender to our risen Lord!

    “If Christ would live and reign in me,
       I must die, I must die. 
     Like him I crucified must be,
       I must die, I must die. 
     So dead that no desire may rise,
     To pass for good, or great, or wise,
     To any but my Savior’s eyes,—­
       Let me die, let me die.”

STUDY X.

The Spirit’s witness.

Memory Verse:  “The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that
    we are children of God.”—­(Rom. viii, 16, R.V.)

Scripture for Meditation:  1 John v, 1-15.

When the life has been wholly surrendered to God, and Christ, the crucified and risen Savior, is enthroned in the heart and confessed before men, then the blessed assurance of our sonship with God will be clear and joyous.  No longer shall we say, “I hope I am a Christian,” or, “I am trying to be a Christian;” but, like Paul, we shall exclaim, “I know whom I have believed.”

The witness of the Spirit will give a holy confidence to the soul-winner.

    “What we have seen and felt,
      With confidence we tell.”

Much of the timidity and reluctance shown by Christians toward personal work may be traced to a refusal or neglect to live the surrendered life and have the clear assurance of acceptance with God.

This direct testimony to our adoption is given only by the Holy Spirit, and given only to believers because they are the sons of God.  It is God’s seal which he places upon his own, and we then no longer receive the spirit of bondage unto fear; but we receive the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The voice of God is heard in the soul bearing witness to our acceptance, and then the fruit of the Spirit speedily follows in the life to corroborate the inner voice and “give unmistakable confirmation to the testimony which was primary and direct.”

To some, this assurance comes like a sudden flash from the sky; to others, like the gentle breathing of the evening zephyr.  But it comes, it surely comes; and no soul should be satisfied until it comes; for it is essential to a useful, joyous life.  Look up now, and with eager expectancy await the “blessed assurance.”

    “Why should the children of a King
       Go mourning all their days? 
     Great Comforter, descend and bring
       The tokens of thy grace.