And because we do not see him, be
sure that it is not good.
We may say, again, 'Ah that the Lord Jesus had but remained on earth,
what just laws, what peace and prosperity would the world have
enjoyed! Wars would have ceased long ago; oppression and injustice
would be unknown.'
It may be so. And yet again it may not. Perhaps our Lord's staying
on earth would have had some quite different effect, of which we
cannot even dream; and done, not good, but harm. Let us have faith
in him. Let us believe in his perfect wisdom, and in his perfect
love. Let us believe that he is educating us, as he educated the
apostles, by going away. That he is by his absence helping men to
help themselves, teaching men to teach themselves, guiding and
governing men to guide and govern themselves by that law of liberty
which is the law of his Spirit; to love the right, and to do the
right, not from fear of punishment, but of their own heart and will.
For remember, he has not left us comfortless. He has not merely
given us commands; he has given us the power of understanding,
valuing, obeying these commands. For his Spirit is with us; the
Spirit of Whitsuntide; the Comforter, the Encourager, the
Strengthener, by whom we may both perceive and know what we ought to
do, and also have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same.
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