THE FAMILY ALTAR

 May 14.

"It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away,

the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send

Him unto you". John 16:7

It was as necessary for our Lord Jesus to leave the world

and to return unto His Father as it was for Him to have come

from the Father into the world. If He had not come into the

world and assumed our flesh and blood when the time was fulfilled,

He could not have accomplished His blessed work of our re-

demption. If He had not returned to the Father and sent the

Holy Spirit with the Gospel into the world, the world would

know nothing of its Redeemer and Savior. On Pentecost the

Holy Ghost came to the disciples with His miraculous gifts, and

endowed them with the wisdom, zeal, and courage they needed

to preach the Gospel of the crucified Savior in all the then known

languages of the world. To us the Holy Ghost comes with His

converting and sanctifying gifts in the word of the Gospel; and

it is expedient, very good and necessary, that He thus comes to

us; for we must all confess with Luther in the explanation of

the Third Article: "I believe that I cannot by my own reason

or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him;

but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me

with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith." No man

can say that Jesus is the Lord, his Lord and Savior, but by the

Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 12, 3. Then let us thank the Savior for the

precious gift of the Holy Ghost, and let us earnestly pray Him,

particularly during the season of Pentecost, to shed His Holy

Spirit more and more abroad in our hearts that we may grow in

faith, and grace, and all spiritual gifts.

Our blest Redeemer, ere He breathed

His tender, last farewell,

A Guide, a Comforter, bequeathed

With us to dwell.

He came sweet influence to impart,

A gracious, willing guest,

While He can find one humble heart

Wherein to rest.

And every virtue we possess,

And every victory won,

And every thought of holiness

Are His alone.

Spirit of purity and grace,

Our weakness, pitying, see;

Oh, make our hearts Thy dwelling-place,

And meet for Thee.