THE FAMILY ALTAR

June 4.

"And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the in-

habitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplications;

and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced". Zech. 12:10.

It is terrible to hear that millions upon millions of the in-

habitants of our country grow up, live, and die without knowing

our holy Christian Creed, and therefore without knowing anything

of their Savior nor of His Holy Spirit. The only "spirit" they

hear of is the so-called "spirit of the times" which in the columns

of the newspapers and magazines preaches its ungodly doctrines

glorifying the progress and achievements of the human race. Can

we wonder that the very foundations of society are beginning to

totter when such a spirit, defying God and His holy Word, is

abroad in the land? We have been instructed in the saving truths

of our holy Christian Creed from our youth. We have learned

what the Bible teaches concerning our Savior and the person and

work of the Holy Spirit. We know that no man can call Jesus

Lord but by the Holy Ghost, and that he who hath not the Spirit

of Christ is none of His. Have we, then, Christ's Holy Spirit

dwelling in us? In other words, are we true Christians? For

to be a Christian means to be anointed with Christ's Spirit. From

our text we can all learn whether or not we are Christians who

have the Holy Spirit in us. Do we know and feel our great

need of a Savior from our sin and guilt? Do we earnestly desire

to be saved? And do we therefore long for the grace and mercy

of God? Lo, then we have the Holy Spirit; for He is a Spirit

of grace, as our text says. It is He that works this desire for

grace in us by pointing us to our crucified Eedeemer and showing

us in His wounded, pierced hands and feet the only ground of

our salvation. Do we pray ? Do we desire to pray more frequently

and fervently than we do ? Lo, then we have the Spirit of Christ ;

for He is a Spirit of supplications and prayer who cries also in

our hearts: "Abba, Father!"