The Knowledge of God; And Other Sermons

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 edition. Excerpt: ... THE CORPORATE LIFE OF THE CHURCH. Preached during the Octave of the Consecration of Portsca Church, 1889. In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.--Era. ii. 21, 22. There are few passages into which greater light and meaning are introduced by the Revised Version than this. You will find that in that version the former of the two verses I have read to you is translated thus: In whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord. I have no doubt this gives the Apostle's meaning more exactly, and, if so, you will notice that the two verses present to us the two great aspects in which all religion must be regarded--the one the individual, the other the corporate, life of Christians; the one the building up of each single separate soul as a dwelling-place of God, the other the building up of the whole company of the faithful as a dwelling-place of God. In Christ each several building thus grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Christ ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Now I am going to speak to you this evening of the latter of these two verses, believing that the Consecration of this magnificent Church is an occasion which most naturally suggests to us thoughts of our common faith, our common worship, our common life in Christ. But I dare not pass by without at least some few words of earnest enforcement the momentous truth set forth in the earlier of the two verses. When our blessed Lord spoke of the Holy Spirit, which dwelleth with you, and shall be in you it would seem that He spoke of a personal individual indwelling...