Mental and Spiritual Culture
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their foreheads” (
Revelation 22:4
), the burden of every book and every
passage of the Bible is the unfolding of this wondrous theme,—man’s
uplifting,—the power of God, “which giveth us the victory through
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our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57
.
He who grasps this thought has before him an infinite field for
study. He has the key that will unlock to him the whole treasure house
of God’s word.
The science of redemption is the science of all sciences; the science
that is the study of the angels and of all the intelligences of the unfallen
worlds; the science that engages the attention of our Lord and Saviour;
the science that enters into the purpose brooded in the mind of the
Infinite—“kept in silence through times eternal” (
Romans 16:25
, R.V.);
the science that will be the study of God’s redeemed throughout endless
ages. This is the highest study in which it is possible for man to engage.
As no other study can, it will quicken the mind and uplift the soul.
“The excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them
that have it.” “The words that I speak unto you,” said Jesus, “they are
spirit, and they are life.” “This is life eternal, that they should know
Thee the only true God, and Him whom Thou didst send.”
Ecclesiastes
7:12
;
John 6:63
;
17:3
, R.V.
The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the
word of God. This word imparts power; it begets life. Every command
is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with
it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature and re-creates
the soul in the image of God.
The life thus imparted is in like manner sustained. “By every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (
Matthew 4:4
) shall man
live.
The mind, the soul, is built up by that upon which it feeds; and it
rests with us to determine upon what it shall be fed. It is within the
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power of everyone to choose the topics that shall occupy the thoughts
and shape the character. Of every human being privileged with access
to the Scriptures, God says, “I have written to him the great things of
My law.” “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great
and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Hosea 8:12
;
Jeremiah
33:3
.
With the word of God in his hands, every human being, wherever
his lot in life may be cast, may have such companionship as he shall